Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-07-29

| the brute creation, let them not, for the
sake of humanity, neglect the coDdi-
tlon OF British seamen.
Sir George Ccckburn said, every ma
val officer preferred volunteers to man
his ship, rather than pressed men; but
consistently with the safety of the state,
| he did not think they could do without the
1 law Of impressment, which had been re-
| cognised by both Lord Mansfield and Lord
| Kenyon as law. Ii they had not the pow-
er OF instantly manning fleet by impress.
lnent, it would have been impossible tor
/ US TO have lain quiet in lbe slate in which
Europe was only twelvemonth ago
With respect 10 what the Hon. Gentle
man had said about the American navy,
| it surely was not wonderful that America
had no difficulty 10 manning half dozen
| frgates, and yet that that was made
matter OF charge against them. Now The
good men would not go in merchantmen,
but would enter into man OF war. He
stated, that gallant officer had written TO
him, stating thai be was lying along side
the American IA, in the Mediterranean;
| his men went ashore 10 divisions every day,
while, when the Americans went ashore,
a guard went in the bow OF the boat. he
also stated, that be had applications every
day from the American seamen TO be Ia
! ken on board bis ship. We had hardly
! sufficient seamen for our immense mer-
! camille marine, and they were bringing up
f! boys TO the profession. He was therefore
determined to oppose any motion Tor do
! ing away with impressment. As to the
power of the officers. there was a differ
ence in having and exercising It. 1t was
necessary to have the means of striking a
momentary terror into the many. In his
opinion the thing could not be better re-
! gulated than 1t now was; tor, without this
! power how could single man manage
F, or 500 men I'D the midst OF the ocean? He
was quite sure that The House of Com
mons could not understand The difficulties
| which an officer of the navy bad to 90
| through. The seaman was allowed TO
have halt his pay tor his family, and it
was unfair 10 compare them with man
working at home He had 10 provide his
own lodging, victuals, and clothing, all of
which, sand many more comforts, were
provided by the Admiralty aOd The cap
,ains tor the seamen. 1he subject Of
paying the men was under the considera.
| ton of the admiralty. He declared that
Jogging was so frequent in the merchant
service that many Of the men entered on
board men OF war, and would not 60 back
to their own ships. The condition OF the
seamen had been greatly improved, and
be had no doubt OF being able to improve
it still more. They had received great.
err boon than all the Hon. movers speech.
es would obtain for them, and that was
long service pensions.
Sir Isaac Coffin observed, that if the
Hon. Member bad not called seamen white
slaves be should not have risen. ADM.
rails Bourmaster, Mitchell, Captain But.
terfeld, and The circumnavigtor Captain
Cook, were white slaves, for they had
formerly been impressed. He had no
doubt twenty thousand such slaves could
be found on the admiralty records. The
navy must be manned, and be would me-
yer admit that there was any slavery in o.
blgiDg man TO wear good coat on his
back, belly full OF good victuals, and
good medicine when he was sick.
Mr.. Hobhouse said. person might have
good food and clothing, and yet be the
verest slave on earth When his Hon.
friend. spoke OF white slaves, he only
meant that the privileges of all other En-
glishmen were TO 1e denied to the seaman
He was convinced that under existing cir
cumstances-under the improved State of
know edge-the spreading OF eduCaton-
the knowledge which men had now &C.
quired OF the Constitution and The ccnsti
tuuonal rights OF the subject-lhat in case
OF another war breaking out, impress war
rants would never again be executed with
out the most desperate conflicts and bood>
shed. He was convinced, on the other
hand, that It this oppressive system was
done away, and proper encouragement
given TO sailors, ilhfre would be no more
difficulty in supplying toe navy in tine of
war than 10 time OF peace. The whole |
number Of men required for the navy 10
1914, was only 100000, :and OF these 3d.
900 were Marines, and would the gallant
officer contend, that from population OF
II or 10 millions, we could rot find ! TO- |
600 men to supply our navy, without hav-
ing recourse TO these highly demonstrations
al means.
Captain Gordon was convinced The pro-
position Of the Hon. Gentleman could not |
be adopted, without the most dangerous
and degrading results. He trusted the
House would not take away the power
which the Navy possessed OF impressment;
if they did, he was convinced that the |
Navy, which was now our pride, glory |
aud defence, would be reduced to slate,
at once coulemptible and insignificant.
Sir George Clarke, thought the Admiral |
~ were the bes, judges OF the question -
lie was convinced impresment was ndis-
pensably necessary, although be was rea-
dy 10 acknowledge, it ought never TO be |