The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-07-21

fore my mind was famiiiariscd to these forms
OF etiquette, had occasion to speak to the
captain. i had suffered from some wanton
abuse OF power on the part OF an arrogant
! midshipman, and was determined at once
! to bring my complaint before the Sultan of
the ship. l was about to enter the cabin
when the centinel, who was ON duty, at the
! door. arrested me. Without trial, without
a hearing, without a single apology being de.
manded or received, was ordered to the
boatswain's cat-my jacket and shirt were
| torn .off-and a cool dozen was merclessly
INFECTED upon my bare back--on me, d free
Citizen of the u. States; who had been torn
from the decks of my country who was con-
fiued, by compulsion, on board of a foreign
ship. of whose customs was ignorant, and
whose authotity was not bound to obey.
am not prepared to deny but that the
strictest subordination is essential OH board
OF ship of war. Where the number of the
crew is so much greater than that of the
officers-where it is impossible, as il fire.
luently is or the seas, to call in any other
force to repress the turbG.ent spirit of mutt
neers-wherc not only the real force of the
shipis therefore in the crew, but the chances
OF impunlty are so strong, 1t is Certainly ne
cessary to be extremely rigid in5eXacting the
performance of their duties. The line be-
tween obedience and respect is too i'm many
cases not easy to be drawn. 1t would be
difficult to make most seamen perform the
strict duties of a military snip, without
inspiring them with more than ordinary
awe for their superior officers. But what
had these considerations to do with me p
Had voluntarily enlisted in his Majesty's
service, from the small temptations held ont
| by his bounty, or his wages, or from the
| superior hopes of acquiring booty or reputa-
tion,. should have known how to have borne
the kardships of my situation without repi-
ming. Having. placed the cross upon my own
shoulders, l should not have profusely muir
INJURED against the pressure which il impo-
sed But how different was my lot My
hardships had not an atom of merit, from
their having been OF my own seeking.
! was impressed---not enlisted. i was slave
dr. 6ged reluctantly intothe service. :, There
was not single ingredient of will, understan-
| ding, or volition, in the whole composition
! OF my destiny. 1t was impossible therefore,
out my whole soul must rebel against every
petty act or ceremony OF authority which
weighed me down. .--@. =. ,
| Had been impressed into the service of
my couptry--if such had been its practice--I
could have borne it with more tranquility.
i might then have. INDUCED the hope, that
all this compulsion, all these hardships,
were iii some form or other calculated for
her benefit Bat even this poor consolation
was denied to me. l had been dragged from
vessel OF my own country into the service
OF another-of one too, that had dssipated
the blood and treasure Of my own, in So
ven years war. / could however, have for
given McSe injuries With the tomahawk
could have buried all my resentmcnts. But
/ She would not permit me. She was continu-
ally opening the ciCatriZcd wounds of nv
country-and they were continually bleed
m az, Ilatr u
some new and insoIeEt enCroach meut. Eve
~ sea was disturbed by her presumption
and tyranny. There seemed to be an eter-
nal Strife between the extent of her power
and the abuse of II. She ntertlictS the fair
trade, which we pursue in the colonial pro-
/ duce OF her, not our, enemies. She closes
entire coasts against us, by the mere virtue of
paper blockades. She condemns our YES
sells. She impresses our CONFERENCE.-The
drass them into bondage-of the hardships
/ OF which situation, was able TO Judge. be-
cause | my self had felt the "iron penetrate
into my soul. surely there was nothing in
all these things to reconcile nae to the severi-
jty OF my destiny.
! Not a day passed over my head, without
some new indignity upon my feelings. NV
country was aspcVsed-its government was
covered with ridiCule or execration-its glo-
rious revolution was insulted with the name of
rebellion. was sneercd at as Rebel! poor
yankee! All epicure in molasses & pork a mi
SCRABBLE dealerin Goldfish & herring II was i'm
vain that l attempted to- rebut these contu-
melious eXpreSSions--it was in vain that I
wished TO retort upon them, the indignant
contempt, which | felt for the in;quities of
their own government. If but raised whis-
per against his most sacred Majesty,
George the Sd, or his wife, or any of
his children, or his Jack-asseS, or any thing
that was his--the boatSwain's sceptre of au-
thority was raised upon riy back. 1t was
treason notwithstanding, for which de-
served no other punishment than to be hung
up at the yard-arm. What could | do.-
Submit.
The greatest of all my caIamities was to
be made reluctant instrument in the hands
OF these men, for robbilg and insulting ,ny
o7vH cOuntrymeI.-Tw of the most horrible
aspects, III which the impressment of Amc.
ricans presents itself, are, when these very
meu are called upon, to aid in the infection
OF fjritish injustice upon their own citizens,
and to take part in the wars of Great Ri
tam against her in
which we have 10 interest and an enemy,
who IS our friend.--it is indeed possible to
conceive worse sitnation--wilen this very
American victim may be made to take part
III war against his own country--when the
arm OF the father may be lifted against that
of the snn.-But there has been 10 war, no
calamity OF this sort. 1t may however east
ly occur.-Cases of the former descriptions
frequently fell under my own observation.
Yes, sir, myself have been one OF a press
gang Tor the impressment of American Cit
zens--Certainly no description of mine could