"The sailors are so scarce, that upwards of 60 sail of merchants ships, bound to the West Indies, and other places, are detained in the River, with their ladings on board; seven outward bound East Indiamen are likewise detained at Gravesend, for want of sailors to man them."--(_Times, Jan. 7, 1794._) * * * * * "The number of seamen to be voted for the service of the present year, including 12,000 marines, will be 85,000 men."--(_Times, Jan. 29, 1794._) * * * * * "There was a smart press on Monday, on the river, for seamen, and, in many of the avenues to the town, several hundreds were picked up, and put on board the receiving ship at the Tower."--(_Times, April 2, 1794._) * * * * * "Poole, Nov. 30. "This morning arrived in Steedland Bay, the 'Maria,' from Newfoundland, having some passengers on board, besides the crew; the officers of the impress service expecting to meet some resistance, had called for military assistance, and 20 soldiers, armed, went on board the tender, which went down the harbour, to meet the vessel; when coming alongside, and finding the people obstinate, orders were given to the soldiers to fire, which they did; the pilot (then at the helm), and two other men, were killed on the spot, and seven others dangerously wounded, one of whom is since dead. Lieutenants Phillips and Glover, with all who were on board the tender, are taken into custody, and the whole town is in the greatest commotion."--(_Times, Dec. 3, 1794._) * * * * * "That part of Mr. Pitt's plan for manning the navy, which recommends to the Magistrates to take cognizance of all idle, and disorderly people, who have no visible means of livelihood, may, certainly, procure a great number of able bodied men who are lurking about the metropolis, if properly enforced. But experience teaches, that, unless the Magistrates see that their _Runners_ do justice to the public, this salutary measure may be in a great measure defeated, from the interest which the _Runners_ are known to have, in _nursing_ those vagabonds, which the law enacts should be laid hold of."--(_Times, Feb. 11, 1795._) * * * * *