Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-30
IMPRESSnIENT.

l..
New YORK, Dec. 22.--We regret that we
were not acquainted with the circumstances
which we are now about TO relate at AN earlier
period. We should have taken measures to
have prevented, II possible, AN American citi-
zen from being detained on board of British
man OF war-and we regret to say, that the
want or Prempiness and due attention has pre-
vented tue liberation OF the person before the
vessel sailed.
Tie British sloop of war Esk. lately arrived
IN this port from Jamaica, had OF board an i'm
pressed American citizen. On the l2lh inst
the butcher serving the vessel With provisions,
brought up the following leiier addressed TO
Miss Edwards, No 80, Cross st.
Staten Island, Dec s, 1917.
Dear Sister-i take this favorable opportu
nity OF writing YOU tew lines hoping tins will
hnd yoa ENJOY good health, as this leaves me
Thank God Tor his mercieS. lhave had a great
deal OF trouble sluce l saw YOU last beg
you wiiigo TO ii. pcrsous where boarded 4
hope YOU will beg of him TO 20 to MIR. vii
Iiains heSs, Puohc notary, as he got me pro-
lection once before. aud through me not hq wing
one, am kept on board of an English man OF
war. had IL taken from me by the Spauiards.
III Havana, and destroyed. You may tell him
my ndmeis john Williams, born in Albany,in
the stale OF New York, and a. ed III wears .
feet iiches high, light mulatto, brown eyes
black curly hair, scar on the left thumb, also
Two scars on the left leg but lie will find the
particulars IN the book. lfyou viii he kind e.
nough To get me IL, shall never forget and /
hope il will be soon in my power TO repay YOU
Hope yon will acquaint Nus Wells, Orange
street, of my deptorable situation. | am now
on board n b. Nj. ship Esk, lying at Staten
Island, and is expected to sail in day or two
don't see that they have got any right TO keep
me, as have not entered with them nor have
got any bounty nor wages.
Dear sister, 1 conclude, and remain Your at
fectionate brother.
JOHN WILLIAMS.
y. s.. beg your answer by return of post,
and direct for John Williams, on board OF H.
Nj. sup EsA, Port Royal, Jam. or elsewhere if
sail before get yonr answer.
This letter was carried TO the recorder of
this city, and such testimony afforded as TO iu-
duce him to issue writ OF hdbeas cOJpl,s gainst
captain Lenox, the commander of the Esk ; Il
Robert Phillips the constable OF the 18th ward
volunteered al his own expence, TO serve tue
writ, aud accordingly proceeded 10 the Quaran-
tine ground, aud served the captain with a CO.
py OF the same, and then returned 10 the city
and reported the performance of his duty 10
the recorder. This was on the 18th, and on
the 10th no return nlDde tofhe irrit. The
captain of the Esk proceeded 10 sea with the
man on board, disresarding not only his claims
as AN American citizen, to release, but treat
ing with disrespect the laws osthis country.
Censurable as the captain of the Esk Sun-
deubtedly is, for not obeying the authorities
ola country which he is bound to respect
there il something lett for complaint at the
uGaccountable secrecy with winch the affair
was managed The writ was served Oh the
18th, and no effort was made, even on the 18th
TO ascertain why the captainhad not obeyed it,
and this affair, certainly or Importance 10 the
rights of oar citizens, was not made known un
I'll after the vessel sailed 1t really appears 10
us, that if, on the 18th, no notice had been ia
ken of the writ the authorities were bound to
ascertain the motives and had precaution
been taken, the vessel would have been pre-
vented going to sea, and as in the case lately
at New Orleans, the captain would have been
compelled TO treat our laws with proper dete-
renee, aud the citizen would have been restor-
ed to his country. Nat. Adr.