Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-05-16

| "hSH' VI SSeui-" was lrSH out tuC CVih
nit etc answered him respectfully, bn,
irmly, tho in ,h- presence ofihe king IN
council" We a:knowi, Dig. the high .u-
thprity OF your Lordsh,p's opinion, buS we
must declare that we are os very d fer
eni opinion = and their answer appeared
to be applauded 10y The Ra;iDn. Pes,
gangs are cvn inualiy opposed and res sted
al sea, by the sailors, Whenever they have
the means or the least hope of csc. pipg.
NAVY officers aud men are som :.im 5
killed, and their is 70 inquisi.ion for their
blood. AS little noise as possible is made
about l.. IL IS known 10 be jui;,f able no.
micide 10 take the life OF an assailant in
the necessary defence OF man's liberty.
There is not Il Jury in Eng Land who w ,uid
had q yetdicl of murder or mauslaughter
against any sailor. ON land OF at sea, who
should k'si any one or press. gang in the
neccss"y defeace OF his liberty from
impr .sment. Press gangs ON shore are
often resist. 4 by IN, people, fred on, some
OF them woanded, some rms killed. Yet
| no irquisltion is made for ,his. The prac-
tice IS held IN abhorrence by the men
OF wars mea themselves. The boat.
swain OF The Rose fnga,e, after he ac.
qur..al OF the four Irish sailors w.lo were
! prosecuted IN special cour, OF Admiral.
~ at Bos'on, for killing illan1 and :
misble oilicer, Lieu,enan. Panton, SAID
This Is kind oil work in whch have
been amrs' Constantly engaged for tween
ty-years, !. {. IN igh,,ng with homes,
sailors Tor their lib say, Ih.ve always sus
pected that l ought to be hanged for it.,
but nov know ~" Since have aIiu.
ded - this CAS-, i, may not be a.niss 10
reco!iect some oiher circums ances Of T..
a press gang from thS Rose, commap.
ded by lieu enan, Pan!oo, with midshp
man and a number of ordinary seamsn,
visited and searched merchant shin
from Marblehead, bel ongins to Mr. Hoop.
er, at sea. The llsu enant enluired #
any English, Irish or SEQ, chmzn were on
board! No satisfied with the answer he
re c ed he prepared 10 search the shin
rom stem TO ern, At last he found
tour lrishnen retired md concealed in the
torepeak With swords and Pistols he
immediately laid siege to the enclosure
and summoned The men TO surrender.
Corbetl, who had the cool intrepidity of
Nelson, reasoned, demonstrated, Sc laid
down the law with the precision Of +,
Mansfield. - Know who you are. You
are the lieutenant OF man of war, com
win Press gang to deprive me of fny
''oer'y. You have no right to impress
me- nave re'rea'e ed from you as far as
can; ctn go no farther. I and nv
companions are determined 10 stand M.
on QUE defence Stand III. The sailors
wi'h'n ani~wiihout employed their usual
'ananage 10 each g her. and midsh;p
man, IN the Confusion, fired a pistol into
the forepeak, and broke an arm of one
o. the Tour. Corheit, who stood ., the
entrance, WAS engaged in contest OF
menaces and .de6ances With The lien,
tsaaat. he repeated VIVA, he had be
,ore SAID, and m4rkins line with a
haFpoon IN the salt, with which the shin
was loaded, SAID -. You are determined
10 deprive me of nv liberty, and am de
ter'nined TO defend it. IF you step over
| that line, l shah consider il as prooi
thai you are determined "a i'm ,ress me.
and 6y .he e:ernai God of H-zver. Won are
dead man " Aye, nv lad said the
Lieutenant, have seen many brave
fellow before nov" Taking his snn # box
out OF his pocket. and tax ng pinch OF
snuff, he very deliberately stepped over
the line and attempted 10 seize Cob 1T.
Inc latter, drawing back his arm, and
driving his harpopD with all his force.
cut Off the carotid artery AID iurular vein
and laid the lieutenant dead at his feet.
The Rose sent reinforcement to the press
gang /; broke down the bulk head and
seized the four Irishmcn, and brough,
them to trial for piracy and murder.--
the Court consisted of Governor Bernard
Governor Wentworth, Chief Jus,ice
Hutchinson, Judge Achmuty, Commo
dore Hood himself, who then canman.
| ded all tbs ships Of war on the station, no
4 peer OF the British Empire, and twelve
! or fifteen others, counseliors OF MassachD.
sets, New HamP hire and Rhode Island.
After the trial, the President, Governor
Bernard, pronounced the Judgment OF
the court, that the action Of the prisoners
was Justitiable homicide, and in this OBI
mon the whole court was unanimnus.-
The sailor who was wounded in the arm
brought an action against the midshipEsn.
and commodore Hood himself interrosed
and made compensation to the sailor, tn
his satisfaction, after which the acti.n was
withdrawn -%uch was the inonrs.s.,,o..,