The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-06 00:00:00

AD I) ES S

F 'PH b.

11110 V OF THE STORE,
'IN BEHALF OF BRITI.SII 'sBAkEN..

FOR THE SUN.

EtYrrot,,-1 take the lit arty Of addressing
Jotl, knowing-you to be an old and steady friend
Of the.men whose cansel Wls4-to advocate, name—
rhe Ilistre'ssed Seamen V the •B riiish Empire
and entreat your prompt, earnest, effectual, 'Aud
"able aid in their behalf.

Having-passed the Whole Of my life'in their So-
ciety, and, during tlwlast 25 years, at the moor-
"logs I still occupy-, frequently heard with joy and
-pride triumphantly echoed from wave to wave,
amidst the swelling waves by which I am.con-i
Igantly surrounded, the shouts of victory and con-
-gratulation of Kings upon the glorious achieve-
,bents of 'the British Navy ; and having viewed
with heartfelt delight the commerce of Blitaio in
'thousands, nay tens of thousands of tons, yearly
'passing by me in safety, to the great emporium of
wealth and luxury, protected by the prowess, and
'assisted by the zeal of British Seamen ; picture
to yourself, Mr. Editor, my feelings, while, fro;n
a man of war's boat, that was made last to me
yesterday to wait the turn of title, l heard an Of-
ficer read, out of some of the Daily Papers, the
deplorable and heart-reoding account of the many
miserable wretched creatures in the Metropolis
at this inclement season, wandcri.ig in want of
bread, destitute of a home to yield them shelter,
and of clothes to cover their nakedness, the greatest
part of whom are said to be British Seamen, un-
able to procure employ, and ashamed to beg.—
.The language in 1.% hid) their case was stated, did
honour to the writer's heart and head, and I sin-
terely hope, before this reaches you, public
meetings s ill be convened, Philanthropy rear its
head, and Benevolence extend its cheering in-
ilocnce fur the general relief of such a mass of mi-
sery as-t he BritislaMetropolis is now said to exhibit
llut, Mr. &lit or, British Seamen deserve exclusively
iroin the British Nation 'a better fate than to be
lett thus destitute, wandering, wretched, forsaken,
and forlorn. Their natural character fur open-
h eat tecl generosity, an,i I honglitlesr, improvidence,
sender: them objects of special commiseration
bad compassion. While gallant, tiauntless
bravery, successful, enterprising, universal devo-
tion of life for, the good and glory of their L-ing
and-Country, render them just claimants to all
the bounty that benevolence, inspired by gratanl
recoll,ctioti of their past ser.,ices, can be prompted
to bestow.

st, then, permit meta intp;re, through your
'means, if cover, at least, from Tie inclemency of
the weather, could not be aifordLd to distressed
and destitute Seamen, by mooting a few old ships
in the River Thatne3, in situations easy of access,
and approachable by a gang-board, to be in
charge of trusty petty officers ?
Secondly, whether 'a public subscription, to
be specially appropriated fur the Relief Dedi-
tale Seamen, might not be advisable ; iu order to
otmlin food, or at least. a mess of soup daily, for
all who seek such a refuge, until they eau pro-
cure employ.

Thirdly, to invite a competent number of Naval
Officers (who would doubtless he found humane
and charitable enough to come gnatuituu•ly for-
ward) to investigate the claims and condltions
of all persons calling themselves Seamen, in or-
der; if possible, to ameliorate and better their
condition, by recommending theya to the recep-
tacles alluded to, and athnding such other advice
or assistance as they may appear to need.

Fourthly, I would propose a Premium to any
Person %vho shall succeed in fiudiug a plover me-
thod of employing Seamen ►s•bile on board such
teceptacle or depCits, so as to enable then► to, earn
the amount of their su6sisteuce.

Among the humane methods recommended for
employing the distressed and destitute objects al-
luded to, one is, s.xeeping :tefore the doors of the
inhabitants of the Metropolis for a trifling daily
; dividing the parishes into districts and
the streets into portions, tinder the aid of paro-
chial ()racers. This, lam fully persttatled, many
re-41 Sailors would rather perish tl►an submit to
not altogether front foolish or wanton pride, but
from mistaken prejudice—because the office of
sweeper on board of a Ship is disgraceful, and
usually assigned, by way of-punishment, to the
most worthless and profligate of the crew. Other
means of useful industry may, I presume, be
easily devised, which, Mr. Editor, my marine
situation reyents use the moans of knowing suf-
ficiently to point out, but to you 1 fervently and
earnestly apply for assistance in such particular.
I can only vouch for the t►sefulness of British Sea-
men during the late eventful war—and as 1 ant
old enough to remember the burthen of a very
excellent song-, -frequently sung in my hearing at
the terminatino of the former,.or, American War,
I shall take leave to conclude this ad-dress by re-
peating it
Then oh ! protect the hardy Tar,
Be mindful of his merit,
And when again your plung'd in war
He'll shew his daring spirit.
1 am, Mr. Editor, your's,
Jan. 2, 1818. THE BUOY OF THE SORE.

N.S. I think you will need no stimulant to give
immediate insertion to the foregoing ; but I have
beard that most of the ward-roorus in the late
war went constantly supplied with your Paper.