Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-13
advocate the present war, within year
past, must have observed the figures

advocate the present war, within a year
past, must have observed the figures
6257 49,.
frequently exhibited 10 large characters,
and stated to comprise the number OF
American seamen impressed according
to report made to Congress, at their
last session. This has gone forth far K
near for an established fact; and has
been made use of, with great zeal and
industry, to influence the minds OF the
people, and to lead the country into the
war, or to Justify it since iti'as been
commenced.
We have now before us very inte-
resting pamphlet relating to this 'mpor-
tant concern, written by Mr.. Taggart,
one of the representatives in Congress
from Massachusetts, and addressed to
his constituents. This gentleman, has
examined all the documents relating to
the sabject in the Office OF the Secretary
of State and the result OF his laoors anu
investigation is as follows:
The impressments have been
overrated in the above num-
her (6257.) 757
The number has also been IN.
creased by counting dupli-
cate, triplicate and quad.ru.
plicate applications.--That
is. by counting every appli-
cation respecting the same
person as new case. 54S
Imprcssments from British YES.
sells & other foreign vessels, 1850
Discharged and ordered to be
discharged. 1879
Acknowledged to be British
subjects. $40
Had entered Voluntarily. 2sl
Deserted. 80
Projections evidently fraudulent. l9'
Neutral aliens. ~
Married in Great Britain. AZ
Prisoners of war. ~
5d79
Mr. Taggart observes: that in 1894 sp-
plications respecting persons stated to
he impressed it is only in 1864 cases that
any place Of residence is attempted to
be named, and in more than halt OF these
cases the statements are so deficient IN
precision, as only to name the state they
are reputed to be from, and in some ca.
ses it is only mentioned that they belong.
d to the United States.
Thus it appears that the statement
which has been so long running the
r,unds in the administration papers OF
ea57 Americans being impressed, is
gross imposition upon the American
People.
1t may be. and probably is the case,
that some Of those impressed from Bril-
fish vessels are Americans-but In en-
listing on board such vessels they knew
their liability to impressment, and sure
ly this nation is not bound to SO to war
10 relieve them from situation they
had been so imprudent asto place them
selves in.
Mr.. Taggart further remarks that ter
several years before this war was declar'
cd, the number ofimpressments was We
~ much diminished according to the re-
ports made to administration i'll that res
pect.
Deaucting the above footing from the
reputed number of impressments (626J
leaves a balance of 587-A number have
been refused to be discharged because
there were no decuments brought tor
ward in their favor, or documents which !,
were insufficient
1, also appears, says Mr.. Taggsrt, that
the number of sailors which have been
released is equal in amount to the num-
Der which have been impressed from H.
merican vessels. Greater part OF the
applications relative to impressments
are from persons impressed in English
ports-not taken from American ves-
sells.
A letter from Gottenburg, dated the