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Letter to Editor
April 29, 1813
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
An American sailor writes from New London on March 28, recounting a 1809 British impressment incident in Bombay to argue that the war is divinely justified as retribution for such injustices.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Virginia Argus.
COMMUNICATION.
New London, March 28.
SIR, I take the liberty to address a few lines to you, which you can make use of as you think proper. Much has been said by those who would fain render the war unpopular, about the finger of Heaven pointing against it. It will now relate an instance, in which methinks the finger of Heaven points most clearly. In 1809, I was out to Bombay, where I found Capt Lambert in the frigate Iphigenia—being about to sail on a cruize, he came personally on board of our ship and took out two real Americans, one of which had a wife and two children in the state of New York, alleging as an excuse, that he wanted men and must have them. Little did he then think what was to be his fate, but it appears evident to me, that the finger of Heaven pointed him out to fall a victim to the just vengeance of an injured people, and in a war, for which this single act of injustice was a sufficient cause.
An American Sailor.
COMMUNICATION.
New London, March 28.
SIR, I take the liberty to address a few lines to you, which you can make use of as you think proper. Much has been said by those who would fain render the war unpopular, about the finger of Heaven pointing against it. It will now relate an instance, in which methinks the finger of Heaven points most clearly. In 1809, I was out to Bombay, where I found Capt Lambert in the frigate Iphigenia—being about to sail on a cruize, he came personally on board of our ship and took out two real Americans, one of which had a wife and two children in the state of New York, alleging as an excuse, that he wanted men and must have them. Little did he then think what was to be his fate, but it appears evident to me, that the finger of Heaven pointed him out to fall a victim to the just vengeance of an injured people, and in a war, for which this single act of injustice was a sufficient cause.
An American Sailor.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Historical
What themes does it cover?
Military War
What keywords are associated?
British Impressment
American Sailors
War Justification
Divine Vengeance
Bombay 1809
What entities or persons were involved?
An American Sailor
Sir
Letter to Editor Details
Author
An American Sailor
Recipient
Sir
Main Argument
the writer counters arguments against the war's popularity by recounting a 1809 british impressment of american sailors in bombay, suggesting it as divine justification for the war as vengeance against injustice.
Notable Details
Capt Lambert Of The Frigate Iphigenia Impressed Two Americans, One With A Family In New York
Incident Occurred In Bombay In 1809