"As the commanding officer had not humanity enough to order my wounds to be dressed, and I could not use my own hands, I desired one of my fellow-captives who was unfettered, to take a handkerchief out of my pocket, and tie it round my head, to stop the bleeding. He pulled out my handkerchief ('tis true), but, instead of applying it to the use for which I designed it, went to the grating of the hatchway, and, with astonishing composure, sold it before my face to a bum boat woman, then on board, for a quart of gin, with which he treated my companions, regardless of my circumstances, and entreaties. "I complained bitterly of this robbery, to the midshipman on deck, telling him, at the same time, that, unless my wounds were dressed, I should bleed to death. But compassion was a weakness of which no man could justly accuse this person, who squirted a mouthful of dissolved tobacco upon me through the gratings, told me 'I was a mutinous dog, and that I might die, and be damned.' Finding there was no other remedy, I appealed to patience, and laid up this usage in my memory, to be recalled at a fitter season. In the meantime, loss of blood, vexation, and want of food, contributed, with the noisome stench of the place, to throw me into a swoon; out of which I was recovered by the tar who stood centinel over us, who at the same time regaled me with a draught of flip, and comforted me with the hopes of being put on board the _Thunder_ next day, where I should be freed of my handcuffs, and cured of my wounds by the doctor." Now let us see how the press worked-- "The Press in the River Thames, for the three last days, has been very severe. Five or six hundred seamen have been laid hold of."--(_Times, February 18th, 1793._) * * * * * "On Wednesday night the press was very hot on the river Thames; all the ships, both homeward, and outward, bound, were stripped of their hands; not excepting two outward bound East Indiamen, which were to have sailed yesterday."--(_Times, March 9, 1793._) * * * * * "The press has been so hot, for seamen, since the order of Friday last, that three Tenders, full of men, have been dispatched from the Tower to the 'Sandwich' guardship at the Nore."--(_Times, March 27, 1793._) * * * * * "A hot press has, for the last two nights, been carried on from London bridge to the Nore; protections are disregarded, and almost all the vessels in the River have been stripped of their hands."--(_Times, April 26, 1793._) * * * * *