The Sun.
London, England, 1816-03-18 00:00:00

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Futtl,lv, tt.tttti 1%,
%UrlON :V. WittESn'titllll AN 11 OTH4ii.

This n an action e.f a novel ,sort. mti
brought against the deluatilants, as Owners of a,
vessel called the Gunson, for salvage tit the lives
ut Ate :seamen, and ASO t Very :small part of the
vessel, The defendants had paid.sol. into Court.
The plaintiff, Sutton, is resident at Colchester, its
thi,'connty, and is owner of a Swill vessel called"
the Secceis. !flit master of the vessel gave tho
following account of the transaction mu
the tub of December last it was blowing a very
heavy gale at wind, with a rolling sea, tilld there
were several ships in the oiling making signals of
distress. He went out with the intentiunof assist;'
ing a large Russian vessel on the semis, when het
perceived the Gunson lying on her beam-cradle
and perceived some men sticking to the wreck
he-immediately turned his: attentiuotowards themi
and with great danger and difficulty saved the unA.:
and four men front inevitable deatirifthey also picky('
up a yard, a boont, and some other pieces of the ves-
sel, of no great value, net in the whole amount-
.ing to 501. • •
This ease being proved, Mr. MARRYATT, for the
defendahtS, said they were riot at all liable in this
action ; .for with respect to those parts of• the
vessel for which salvage Was dile; the telendants
had given notice to the 'plaintiffs that they In.d
abandoned them to the underwritcrs,
fore whatever was due on that head MIS due frwis
the nuderwritere, and not trout the defendants.
With respect to the other head of ciniw, namely,
salvage fur the lives of the :nee, no such china
existed in our law. It was a duty 01.11""01
which the plaintiffs 'trete morally bound to 'Pa'
form ; at must it could only be eutliiitiProl as "14
and labour clone for the defendants' servants. AM.
it had beep t hied, that where a servant had broke
his leg in his' master's employ, the master was oot •
bound to pay the doctor. The defendmits, how':
ever, though they were not liable for any thing,
had nevertheless paid frOl. into Count, which *O4
abundant comptusatiOn fiir the use of thirplain'
taf's vessel for the day which it was occupied.
Mr. Justice AltliOTT said, that this eetini!
the first instance ha had ever recollected of II
claim being made for saviii_ the life of a moil.--
There conic' not be any selvage tar the lifeall mans
tar salvage was. a reward proportioned'to the i'2l-
- Of the thing saved ; but the law conteinpleted
the life of man us above all measure of value.
wis considered in law as juts t iJnable, and although

tin recompence ,could iii thi-i case be legally de
mantled no that ground, he was sure that the lin.
inanity of British seamen would always be etintillY
exerted on behalf of their fellow-ercuturcsirY

di6tress. IVith respect to the articles .of the vcs.,
sel which were saved, and for which a. salvage'
would he due, the detetulant bad4lischtiased,

title to them, and therefore they Tvere.notesbao-.
able on that. bead. The oitly way in 'whieit' the
dcremlitiits might be at all eltelrgellble
tint) 'night be , for work and laboarl'and saving
t he: servants of the deiettilants::for the !dahlia!
benefit. The•measure this*ottof beitelit'saved '
to the defendants nt1144.-..te the value of the •er-
% 4u 144. area. 'lll4, Jmy woistd on :11111 heint
conisitierT whether the, bOt. paid apt° Coort:tvoultp..,
satisfy this part of. the case.---Verdict tor the ,
Pendants.