Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth centuryAshton, John
History
Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth century
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs
"A meeting on the subject of the Navy was held last week at
Newcastle, the result of which was, the choosing of a Committee,
three of whom are to confer with Mr. Dundas--'to recommend the
suspension of the impress, to send into actual service the gangs
and crews of the tenders, (amounting, it is said, from seven to
ten thousand,) to increase the wages of seamen in the navy, and
to pay half of it, monthly, for the support of their
families.'"--(_Times, Feb. 11, 1795._)
* * * * *
"An Embargo is about to take place on all the shipping in our
ports, which it is thought will last SIX WEEKS, or until 20,000
seamen are procured. The embargo was to take place as last
night."--(_Times, Feb. 19, 1795._)
* * * * *
"There was a very hot press in the river, on Friday night last,
when several hundred able seamen were procured. One of the gangs,
in attempting to board a Liverpool trader, were resisted by the
crew, when a desperate affray took place, in which many of the
former were thrown overboard, and the Lieutenant who boarded
them, killed by a shot from the vessel."--(_Times, June 9,
1795._)
* * * * *
"A very general search for seamen has taken place in the river,
for several nights past; such is the greatest want of hands to
mix on board the men-of-war now ready at the Nore, Chatham,
Sheerness," &c.--(_Times, June 18, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Press gallies are out in the river, night and day, in order
to pick up men; the demand for seamen being still very great from
the vast quantities of shipping now employed in Government
service."--(_Times, Aug. 29, 1795._)
* * * * *
"One of the Juries that was impannelled on the Coroner's Inquest,
to examine the body of one of the unfortunate men that was
killed in the affray that took place between the pressgang, and
the sailors, belonging to the 'Maria' of Poole, have returned
their verdict of _Wilful Murder_ against the two Lieutenants of
the Navy."--(_Times, Dec. 5, 1794._)
The following instructive little story will shew how mutinies were
made:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account