Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-21

he tmmediately laiu siege 90 the. en-
closure and summoned the men Co
Surrender.
Coroett, who with the cool intrepid
ity of Nelson, reasoned, remonstra-
ted and laid down the law with the
precision of a Mansfield. --s' 1 know
who you are. You are Tie Lieutenant
of a man of war, come with aNprcss-
gang to deprive ne OF my liberty. You
. have no light TO impress me.
have retreated from you as lar as
can | Gao go no farther. I and nv
compa- Gus are determined to e.aud in
our defence. Stand off" The sailors
within and without employed their H..
sual language at each other, and a
midshipman, i'll the confusion fired
pistol into the forepeak and broke an
arm of Que of the four. Corbett, who
stood at the entranc was engaged IN
a contest of menaces and defiance
with the lieutenant.
lie repeated what he had before said,
and marking line with harpoon in
the salt, with which the ship was load
ed, said You are determined to de-
pr've me OF my libera. AID 1 am dc
rermiued to defend It. Ii you step O.
yer That hue, shall consider it as a
proof that YOU are determ;ued to inn
press me, and by the eternal God of
Heaven, you are dead man." g ave
MY lad said the lieutenant, have
seen many a brave fellow, before now"
i aking his snuif-box out of his pocket,
and taking pinch Of snuff, he very de-
libera,ely stepped over the line add
attempted TO seize Corbett. fne lat.
ter drawing back his arm, aud driving
his harpoon with all his torce. cut the
OF carotid artery and jugnlar vein, and
Lid the lieutenant dead at his feet.
The Rose sent a reinforcement TO the
press gang broke down the bulk head,
and seized the four Irishmen, and
Thought them to trial for piracy aud
murder.
The court consisted of governor
BERNARD, governor Wentworth. chief
justice HUTCHINSON, Judge Ach mutv,
commodore Hood himself, who then
commanded all the ships of war on The
station, now peer or the British en-
pre-, and twelve or fifteen others, coun-
sellers OF Massachusetts, New Hamp.
shire and Rhode-Island. After the
trial, the President, governor Bernard,
pronounced the Judgment of the court
that the &C. ct prisoners was iustihable
hoinicide, and in this opinion the
4. whole court was unanimous. The
sailor who was wounded in the arm.
brought an action against the midship.
man, and commodore Hood himself
InierPased and made compensation 10
the sailor, to his satisfaction, after
winch the action was Withdrawn.
Such was the imprsssmeut of sea
men, as IL stood, by law, before our re-
yciH-.cn."
l. is now about six wears since bill
WAS laid ,eiore the Senate Of the IT.
med States By an honorable meinber
from Maryland. having fer its object
toe vindication Of the personal rights
of our seamcn.--i This bill labored I'M
der the same disadvantage which has
attended many Others, and some OF
the ePhemeral laws, Of congress, that
Rave appeared and disappeared with
IN fewyeaFs ,Past. Il was out of
the element, ana had nothing Of the
spirit Of our modern legislation. 1t
was without either or nurse. 1t nei.
iher quadra.ted with thu calculations
cfihe British cabinet nor the Ameri-
can counting room. Il scknowlede.
cd no exclusive rightto the sovereip9-
Is of the seas IN The maniac kim Of
st pira'ical horde ofislaud rs. II con
tsiaed 10 Swing clause of indemnify
70 our merchants for suoh loss oi
property az they might sustain by the
rude Efforts of GU, seamen 10 save
themselves. 1t had nothing of that
ooartiy deiicacy Of phrase, which has
since been christian named a three
fold piracy, involving in one act, the
most rantcn murder, man stealing &
pillsge ; IN can affair."" and which 10
leave no reproaches on the offender,
wherever the kings English is read.
has politely passed of the unfortn-
nate" transaction as the "afli-'' OF
the suffering party. 4 neither barter.
cd nor proposed to barter shy sub.
stsntial right, national or personal, ier
:. spontaneous act ofroysl generosi.
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