The Virginia Gazette

From the Utrecht Gazette.

London, April 20, N. S. The Government received Advice a few Days ago, that near 200 Ship-Carpenters had gone over to Boulogne, with an Intent to take a Passage from thence to Ferrol, on Board a Ship freighted in the Port of London, or thereabouts, and that they had engaged in the Service of the Crown of Spain, in Consideration of high Wages. As those Men could not contract an Engagement of this Nature, without Breach of Loyalty to the Government, the Custom-House Vessels belonging to Dover, have been order'd to lye off of Boulogne, to intercept the Ship in Question, and bring her to England, as a Smuggler, to the End that such British Workmen as shall be found on Board may be secured, and prosecuted according to Law. -- Supposing this Account to be true, may it not be lawful to enquire, whether there are any Circumstances that can extenuate their Guilt? How many Quarters may be due to them? How often have they been forced, by long Delays of Payment, to take up Money at exorbitant Interest, or else sell their Wages for fifteen or ten Shillings in the Pound? In private Concerns, if a Master does not pay his Journeymen on the Terms agreed upon, he is liable to be sued; the Law is clear in the Case: But a poor Labourer in the publick Yards and Docks does not know how to come at his Wages; he must wait the Leisure of bad Oeconomists, who will never get out of Debt, whilst dirty Jobs make up a great Part of the System of Politicks. If then Oppression makes Men mad, can't an honest Jury, according as Circumstances may appear to them, bring in a Verdict of Lunacy for the Prisoner?