Star.
London, England, 1824-06-11 00:00:00

.
In that impressment was justified by the •
common
tor, Mr. Justice Foster and Lord Kenyon were of
the same opinion, and that, he thought, was a clear
,c;1501 why it should not be departed from. It was
t„ t tik of keeping up an establishment of sailors
shore: it required practice to render them use-
f.n ut. At ex hieaking out of a war the sea wa,
'covered wee merchantmen. and the men of war had no-
thing to do 'inn to take the sailors out of them, and
they were im-oediately fitted for service: and it should
be reeellected that this was done for the benefit of
commerce, as the men of war immediately took charge
of the mmehantmen. Ile ought to state to the !louse
that them was no i3,pressment during peace, and that it
seas only during war that the practice was adopted.
Toe Honourable Member had instanced America as an
(ample which this country ought to follow. It was a
eery different thing to man five or six frigates, to manning
such a naval force as England was obliged to keep up.
Ttie sailors, notwithstanding the repre,entation of the
Honourable Member for Aberdeen, evinced such a pre-
ference to set se on board men of war, that the mer-
eherathen found great difficulty, on foreign stations, in
keeping a sufficient number of seamen to navigate the
,hip,
SO great was the anxiety of the sailors to volun-
tcer on board a King's ship ; and British Officers had
felnently occasion to interfere to reptess this desire,
a„j co direct that volunteers should not be received, if
any detriment was likely to ensue to the merchantmen.
lie had no hesitation to say, that the English sailor was
eater off than any other etas of people in his station,
;lad be s, as therefore convinced that all new plans were
oa:s• calculated to do mischief, and be on that account
$llOll4l oppose the motion. Next, with regard t r the
diiciplin: necessary. to be preserved; it was requisite
t;„t die power of punishment should be left with the
cleain in the Sit:ne way as it was at present, as, where
te-,: or :ix bundled men were commanded by nine or
iti, Oili:ers, it was sometimes necessary to strike ter roe
i:;:a the soli actory, in order to muse obedience and Sq-
boidination. Eves y Officer in the Navy was using his
endeavours to repress punishment, but the taking the
nia:ter up in the way it had been was calculated to pie-
iudice those endeavours. The Admisalty was every
to- emplojed improving the condition of the Navy,
their exertions would effect more good than the
ll000niab:e Ic-tuber's speeches. The sailor now, after
;,;,crvice of twenty Tears, was entitled to what was
(Ailed the long sets ice pension, and was privileged to
ti.intand his discharge whenever he pleased—((•hccrs).
Sir 1. COP: IN said, he should not have spoken on
1:,15 subject if Cie Hon. Member for Aberdeen had not
ailed she navy dig u white negroes"—(A laugh.)
The moment an impressed man was brought on board
ship there was no difference between hint and a volun-
tar, :ind mine vo:unteers ran front ships of war ih:in
re,sed men. He could enumerate a number of eminent
fei.sons in the navy who had been pressed men. There.
was old Admiral Bowater, be was a white slave! These
vas Admiral Mitchell, who was first Lieutenant in the
Freeiroyent, in the action smith the Pegase, lie was a
v. Lee slave I There was Sir Thomas Trowbt idge, whom
ad hid heard of, he was a white slave! There was Cap-
ra,' Butterfield, who was impressed in 1793, and was a
a'tam in 1798. There was Captain Cook, one of the
arst of navigators, he was another, and there were, he
hal no doubt, 20,000 of these white slaves! If the men
ue:e not otherwise to be had, it was necessary to press
trees, and if they had a good bellyful of victuals, coats
their backs, and mes!icine if they were sick, they
could Ten be called sl lye..

Mr. 11011 HOUSE said, that the gallant Admiral op-
posite (Sir G. Cockburn) had assumed rather a high
tone; but he was nut aware of what he had ever done
and lie was pretty well versed in the naval his-
tory of us-dern digs. But he knew what his Honour-
able Friend bad done ashore, and the whole country was
ready to acknow ledge his eke; tions—(iear, hear).—
Notwithstanding all that the gallant Admiral had as-
serted. he was nt.t at all shaken by his arguments, nor
had any refutation been given to the powerful statement
of his I immutable Friend. It was the opinion among
Naval Officers that unless something was done before
the neat war, it would be impossible to carry impress-
ment into effect at all. He knew that during the late
war, many citizens of Westmin•tet never went out un-
less arme.l with knives. which they certainly would
have used agaii:st pi ess-gangs, as they never would have
sniffled their rights as Citizens 10 be infiir on He
did nit cate for the opinions of Judge oster, Judge
Mankfield, and Judge Kenyon, as he did not think that
the liberties of the subject were to be trifled away by
judicial opinions. It was ridiculous to say that 110,000
men could not be raised out of a population of 18 or 19
vullions, without having recourse to coercive measures.
He would ask, were the Biitish seamen satisfied with
this system ? Was there no discontent among them on
this subject? Me knew that there was. Toe gallant
Admiral had alluded to the Captain of a merchantman,
who had adoptel flogging in his ship. He (Mr. Hob-
l'ouse) called on the gallant Admiral to mention the
rime of that person, which, from a mistaken motive of
delicacy, he had concealed, in order that it might be
known and reprobated (tom one end of the empire
to the alter.
Dr G. COCKBURN explained, and said:that he did not use
the words imputed to him by the lion. Gentleman. Ile merely
reasoneu on the necessity of procuring sailors at a moment's warn-
ing in a time cat war.
Captain GORDON said, that in many cases it would be impos-
rible to man the navy unless by impressment. He would readily
a:low that it was only justibed by necessity, and ought to be used
v its much caution. He entreated the House to pause before they
deprived the navy of its privileges, without which it would become
ntsigaific.mt to foreign Powers and degrading to this country.
31e.W.SMITH thought with the Hon.Olßeer (Sir G.Coekburn),
et. t it would he dangerous to adopt instantaneously the plan sug-
gested by the Member for Aberdeen, but be thought that, at all
events, an inquiry into the subject should take place. It appeared
tr• hitn that no evil could arise fronia change in the system, but that
rases food might be expected from it.
Sir C. CLISIIK perfectly agreed that impressment was not to be
5• mined to unless in cases of emergency; and be knew it was never
o,•re ton when necessity warranted it, because every Officer would
re (lei taking with hint men who served voluntarily to those who
, re forced to act.
3lr. NV A RILE objected to the assertion of an Hon. 31ember,
!!tat those connected with the prmession were alone capable of form-
ai,: opinions on the subject. He did not wish to give a silent'vute
Oh this important subject.
Sit E. HA RVEY knew, that In nineteen cases out of twenty,
et.: system of impressment had formed the greatest safeguard to the
commercial interest's.
:air It. W ILSOS: said, that he would give his vote fur the mo-
-15- of his Honoutable Friend, because he was convinced that the
traidt navy would be more effectually manned without impress-
ment. He thought it opposed to all the best rrinciples of liberty.
HeLil trot believe that in time of war there would be a grater
scarci:y of seamen than during a time of peace.
Air. 11L731E replied.
Strargers w!:re then ordered to withdraw, and the Bosse di-
vided, w hen the riunbers appeared,
For tile motion, Z,S Against it, 108 I Mairacitls 70E.
TUT. CATHOLIC ASSOCIATIOIL
.Mr. BROWNLOW then rose to move that the Peti-
um against the Catholic Aklii"iatipa be referred to the