Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-07-09
From the United States Gazette.

l.--.
from the United States Gazette.
f-fcfsf7f9n Of Ftasriean Sea,oen.--An a0 paitd
'he 2Sth OF Feb. I8o3, I" for the further pro-
lection OF American fcamen," among other
t'.liiss, provides that "a matters and com
s',1lders o. vetiels belonging TO citizens Of the
~ ntates, and bound TO ionie po.t of the fame
thaii take inch mariners or ieatneh on board Of
their ih'ps or vefels NAV be found denitute III
any part OF the world, at the requen OF any con-
iu OF the V. States Who may happen TO be pref
ent, and tranlport them to the port in The u
States, 10 which 1uch thips or yeaels may Be
bound, at the expenfe of the y States, provii-
cd 1t does not excesd ten dollars" This feens
80 be Very proper and humane provision, but
Ike every thing Gle nova days, it is 70 care
fully directed by the ipirit Of sss1oio,Di,, that
It is neither equal nor iuit 1t is certainly fiji
that our government ihould pfoside for deiti-
trte ieamen in foreign ports but this hould
g done at the expenfe of the nation howev-
er, it is done al The expenfe Of the captain or
rather of the owner merchants, being a, cIafs
OF men always deGgnated by the prefent at
intimidation as thief. on-whom the burden of
Importing go7ernment is, principally TO fall.
The law allows ten dollars for bringing man
from any foreign country and when he is fet a.
ihore, even this is refalcd ; no proviGons. being
made fer the payment of the money. 1t is on
" iaa Saturday that Ike following cafe happen
cd in this city.
Capt. W., TN this infancc both
owner and captain waited on the collector Of
the port, to receive from him ten dollars for the
/. raiIage of faor from Leghorn to this port.
Your demand, Sir, faid the collector, is very
juff; but cannot pay il /; the law has made no
proyifion, no appropriation fer the payment
juh iaid the captain, il was worth at leaf fif-
ty dollars nltead of ten but l think it reaiy
hard if am not to receive my ten. Certainly
replied the collector, and am veryxicrry my
friend, that it is not in my power. Under the
law pay it. Well, fad the captain, IS this is
the way, fhaIl be more cautious mex. time how
bring American failoYs from Leghorn, for ten
dollars which is never to be paid. As to that,
replied the collector, you will 60 as you pleaie,
but if you refufe TO receive all that may be Of
rered, to the amount at leait Of two for every
hundred tons of your vefFel, you are laSle by the
act TO pretty heavy penalty. Let me fec
g And il any fuch captain or MATER taking
up the act and reading it with an audible voice.
fhall refuie the fame on the requeit or order Of
the conful, vice coniul, commercial agent, or
vice commercial agent, fuch Captain or matter
thali forfeit and pay the fun of ONE HUNDRED
dollars fer each mariner or feaman 70 refufcd,
to be recovered forthe benefit Of the United
States. And, added the collector, feyeral
projections and recoyeries have actually taken
place under the act.
But after all am afraid this refufal TO pay
becaufc there has been no appropriation, is
only trick; for did not Mr.. iecIetary Smith
lately pay 600 dollars without any appropriation,
10 a lawyer for officiating as Judge advocate a.
gainit Commodore Morris 1t is to be cbteryed
! that little S;lky Smith has lately ATTEMPTED 70
: anfaer the remarks in this paper on Morris
dfn,iilal in the couffe of which as ufuai, took
care to make fome mifieprcfsntations Of the
piece he attempted TO antwcr, but as TO the
charge advanced asainf Mr.. feeretary of put
ring his hand into the public purle and taking
out three hundred dollars to pay the lawyer,
without any legal power to do 70 Silky Milky
10 as Client as eonicous guilt might have deiir-
ed
Now whip me, if I don't think this the mott
comica fort Of economies ever yet attempted
Once the urrfid ent's fri r,eGsce