A Large and Commodious Brick Dwelling-House, pleasently
scituated in Corn-Hill: For further particulars Enquire of
_Green & Russell_ Printers in Queen-street.
* * * * *
The "Virginia Gazette" gives an account of an early and bold attempt at
British impressment of seamen. This business caused us a great deal of
trouble in after years, and was one of the causes of "Madison's War," as
the old people were fond of calling it.
The press-gang was one of the peculiar institutions of Great Britain.
BOSTON, October 26, 1767.
By the Virginia Gazette, of the first Instant, it appears
that Captain Morgan, of the Hornet Sloop of War, concerted a
bloody riotous Plan, to impress Seamen, at Norfolk, for
which Purpose, his Tender was equipped with Guns and Men,
and under Cover of the Night said Morgan landed at a public
Wharff, having first made proper Dispositions either for an
Attack or Retreat, then went to a Tavern, and took a
chearful Glass, after which they went to work, and took
every Person they met with, and knocked all down that
resisted; and dragged them on board the Tender; but the Town
soon took the Alarm, and being headed by Paul Loyal, Esq; a
Magistrate, they endeavoured to convince Capt. Morgan of his
Error, and being deaf to all they said he ordered the People
in the Tender to fire on the Inhabitants, but they refused
to obey their Commanders Orders, and he was soon obliged to
fly, leaving some of the Hornets behind, who were sent to
Gaol, but were afterwards released.
Mr. John Ashton, in his recently published work on "Social Life in
England at the end of the Eighteenth Century," informs us that one
evening in the year 1790, 2,100 men were pressed in London alone,
besides many more at the seaport towns.
* * * * *
In the summer of 1762 there was a severe drought in Massachusetts, and
the Governor issued a proclamation recommending public prayers for rain;
but it will be noticed that he says if rain should come before the day
set apart for prayers, then, instead of humiliation, it would be the
duty of the people to make it a day of thanksgiving. The proclamation
referred to was published in the "Boston Post-Boy" of July 13, 1762.
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