The Rhode Island Republican

THE PRESS-GANG. Or HIS MAJESTY'S LEGION OF HONOUR:

The following article is from a London paper, June 30.

"RIOT.-On Sunday night a very serious riot took place at Liverpool. A man belonging to an American vessel in the harbour having been impressed on the ground of his being an Englishman under an American protection, a body of American seamen. taking the opportunity, afforded by the people about the docks being absent at dinner. proceeded to the rendezvous house, and being refused admittance by the only one of the gang then in the place, broke open the door and dragged him on board an American vessel in the dock ; they proceeded to tarring and feathering, and accordingly stripped him naked, and rolled him on the deck of the vessel, on which a quantity of tar had been previously poured. Feathers however, not being at hand, they shook a cotton bag over him, turned him loose into the town, driving him along the docks, and through Hanover-street.-The poor fellow in a most piteous plight, at length found shelter in some neighbouring streets. One of the ringleaders has been apprehended and committed for trial."

[We have a more particular account of the transactions at Liverpool alluded to in the above article, from an American gentleman who was on the spot--Several American seamen had previous to this affair been forcibly taken by His Majesty's Legion of Honour, commonly called press-gang, by his own plain spoken subjects. In justice, however, to the best of Kings and to the best of governments, it must be acknowledged that these candidates for bondage and slaughter, were very magnanimously and civilly released by H. M's. servants, on its being ascertained.(waving all the question of the prisoner's right to themselves that they were native Americans, and that their captains and owners had a right to their services. Repeated defeats did not however
discourage His Majesty's Legion of Honour

An American seaman who happened to be on board an American vessel lying at Liverpool, along side the mast anchored Isle of Great-Britain, was impressed as above related, upon the ground of being an Englishman (&c.) or upon some other strange ground of which there is always enough at hand in that land of liberty and law- the world's last hope. At the time when the people about the dock were said to be absent the ship bells were rung as a signal for the American seamen; they assembled in a body and were joined by great numbers of the people about the dock, ready on this occasion to have their dinner, and declare themselves Americans. They proceeded to the rendezvous house, and struck the Colours in presence of a large concourse of the people of Liverpool who joined in their cheers, and did not see fit to impede the progress of His Majesty's gang-leader, who was shuffled on to their apparent satisfaction to the initiating ceremonies of the new and merited honours, of that kind of uniform which the yankees in days of yore conferred on His Majesty's devoted servants in this country. Finding no other substitute for feather but cotton, an American captain offered his bed to supply the appropriate plumage. Parties were formed by volunteers from the Americans in the harbour, joined by British tars, mechanicks, &c. From the similarity of language, &c. as observed by Col. P. it was impossible to distinguish from Americans, on this occasion. They proceeded to the several receiving houses demanded admittance, and released all impressed prisoners who declared themselves to be Americans.

This is according to our information; the English Editors and their undertoned echoes in this country, think proper for very obvious reasons of state, to pass over the affair as silent as possible.

(Patriot.)