[91] The question of impressment is too important to be passed over without any notice. Every well-constituted mind holds the principle of impressment in abhorrence; but every reflecting statesman is aware of the immense importance of such a power, especially as it is never brought into use but when the country is in actual peril. Admiral Martin, in his evidence, furnished his experience of what impressment had practically done for us in times past, he having been in three armaments, 1787, 1790, and 1791, on all of which occasions the equipment of the fleet was like magic[92], and the effect of the prompt display of the gigantic naval strength of this country in each case saved the expenditure of thousands of lives and millions of money. If these objects be worthy of national regard, we must submit to the mortification of sanctioning even so great a trespass on the liberty of the subject. The event of 1790, Admiral Martin thought, deserves especial mention as showing distinctly what the nation gained by impressment, and the results of a great naval demonstration. A quarrel had at that time arisen, though, perhaps, from an insignificant cause, with the Court of Spain; it became, however, of the greatest importance, owing to the threatened alliance of France, then under the control of the National Assembly, with the Court of the Escurial. On the 2nd of May, the King in Council authorized the issue of warrants of impressment of seafaring men, and, in the middle of June, Admiral Barrington put to sea with a large division of the fleet. It was insisted that this could never have been accomplished except by the power of impressment; and Admiral Martin, doubtless, expressed the general opinion of his profession in stating as his sincere belief that “if we lost the power of impressment we should lose the country.” Yet, while urging the necessity of preserving the power of impressment, he also maintained that nothing should be left undone which could tend to render the practice as infrequent as possible, and that every exertion should be made to render the service itself attractive to the seamen. [92] In 1787, we equipped a fleet to support the Stadtholder. In 1790, we had a misunderstanding with Spain about Nootka Sound; and in 1791, we raised a naval armament to check the ambition of Russia. [93] By the law then in force every seaman, before he could be employed on board a merchant ship, was required to produce a certificate from the officer of the Registrar of Seamen, called a register-ticket, showing that he was duly qualified for his duties, either as able or ordinary seaman; but the system was found to be impracticable, and was so grossly abused that it has since been abolished.