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Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
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British forces in English ports are impressing American seamen into the navy, dismissing their US citizenship proofs as forgeries. A New-York native sailor was mocked when presenting his certificate. These men prove useful in the British navy amid ongoing war.
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Some hundreds of American seamen have already been pressed through out the different ports of England. As these men speak the same language as we, they are taken without the least scruple under pretence of their being British subjects: And if any of them even show papers (which, indeed very few of them are provided with) testifying they are citizens of the United States, they are at best only laughed at and praised for their facility at forging. A sailor that was pressed last week at Wapping, presented to the lieutenant, at the Rendezvous, a certificate of his being a native of New-York: "well," answered the lieut. with a smile, "take good care of it Jack; it may be of use to you when you are discharged after the war." Most of these men are as good hands as any in the British navy; and thus are very useful among a number of Englishmen: the rope's end makes good men of war's men of them all.
[London Pap.]
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
England
Event Date
Last Week
Outcome
american seamen impressed into british navy and made useful through discipline
Event Details
Hundreds of American seamen pressed in English ports under pretense of being British subjects. Proofs of US citizenship dismissed as forgeries. Example: Sailor from New-York pressed at Wapping, certificate mocked by lieutenant who suggested keeping it for post-war discharge.