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The New York Packet
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
American ship Adventure, en route from St. Peters, Miquelon to Boston, puts into Halifax due to weather and lack of ballast. Encounters hostile British naval forces under Prince William Henry, who threatens seizure and orders impressment of two British-born sailors from the crew.
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New-York, December 4.
Lately the ship Adventure, bound from St. Peters, Miquelon, to Boston, put into Halifax, by distress of weather, and in want of ballast. Soon after coming to anchor, a boat came on board, with an officer and several men, from an armed brigantine, who searched the ship and made the necessary enquiries with the greatest politeness and returned. Then a boat came on board, with orders to take out the American Captain, and carry him on board a frigate, commanded by his Royal Highness Prince William Henry—As soon as they got on board, the Captain was called into His Royal Highness's cabin, who appeared enraged at the sight of an American, coming from a French port, and with singular roughness and austerity demanded, What business have you, an American vessel, in his Majesty's ports? Answer—Because the wind was unfavorable, and our ship too light to continue at sea. Prince—You have no more business in any of his Majesty's ports than you have in an Algerine port—If you do not depart immediately, I will seize your ship. Answer—I will go as soon as the wind will permit, and I get some ballast. Prince—Your coming in here is directly contrary to the late act of his present Majesty, as well as a former act of Charles the II.—I will Send you on board the Commodore—Officer, take him on board the Commodore—which was done. The Commodore (not on board) being informed of the situation of the American ship, sent word that he had nothing to do with her, and the Captain was dismissed and went on shore—A boat was immediately sent from his Royal Highness's ship on board the Adventure, with orders to press all the British born sailors, and to bring them, with the American Captain, on board the ship—two Irishmen who had shipped themselves at this port, were taken out. and forced into the service of the King of Great-Britain, because they had the honor to be born in his dominions. Application was made to the Commodore to restore the men, as the Adventure had but three well men on board—he replied that his Royal Highness had done right, as it was his (the Commodore's) instructions, to take British seamen wherever he could find them, at sea, in port, or on board of any vessel of any nation whatever—and if he found any who had left his Majesty's service since peace, he would hang them immediately.—He then ordered the Captain not to ship any but Americans, if he did he would take them away as fast as he shipped them—with much difficulty one sailor was procured from a Nantucket whaleman, and the ship put to sea.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Halifax
Event Date
Lately
Key Persons
Outcome
two irishmen pressed into british naval service; ship obtains one additional sailor and departs.
Event Details
The American ship Adventure puts into Halifax due to distress of weather and lack of ballast. British naval officers from an armed brigantine search the ship politely. The captain is taken aboard Prince William Henry's frigate, where the prince angrily questions the ship's presence in British ports, threatens seizure, and sends him to the commodore, who dismisses him. Orders are then given to press British-born sailors; two Irishmen are taken. The commodore refuses to return them, citing instructions to impress British seamen anywhere, and warns against shipping non-Americans.