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Editorial
May 20, 1757
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
An editorial urging London merchants and citizens to petition King George II for the execution of Admiral Byng, convicted by court martial for neglecting to fight, emphasizing its importance for naval discipline and national security.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
To the worthy merchants and citizens of London.
Gentlemen,
Mr. Byng has in the most solemn manner been tried, convicted and condemned, by the proper legal court martial. All the unprecedented measures which have been taken to raise doubts about the sentence, have only confirmed it. The twelve judges have unanimously declared it to be a legal sentence.
When the law has so positively determined this neglect of fighting to be a capital crime, and we have now so fatally many sentences of it, who can pretend to
the discipline of our navy? It matters not to us whether this man or that is minister. If our admirals and colonels are to refuse to fight where their duty calls them, this nation is ruined: and it will be too late to call them to an account when the next shall run away from Plymouth, under pretence of covering Portsmouth.
His majesty has been graciously pleased to promise us, that he will not spare the guilty, and it is he only that can redress our grievances. Though the throne were beset by advocates for the criminal, yet his majesty's ears are always open to the cry of his people: To him therefore let us petition for justice, and the execution of a sentence, upon which our very being, as a nation, may hereafter very possibly depend.
Gentlemen,
Mr. Byng has in the most solemn manner been tried, convicted and condemned, by the proper legal court martial. All the unprecedented measures which have been taken to raise doubts about the sentence, have only confirmed it. The twelve judges have unanimously declared it to be a legal sentence.
When the law has so positively determined this neglect of fighting to be a capital crime, and we have now so fatally many sentences of it, who can pretend to
the discipline of our navy? It matters not to us whether this man or that is minister. If our admirals and colonels are to refuse to fight where their duty calls them, this nation is ruined: and it will be too late to call them to an account when the next shall run away from Plymouth, under pretence of covering Portsmouth.
His majesty has been graciously pleased to promise us, that he will not spare the guilty, and it is he only that can redress our grievances. Though the throne were beset by advocates for the criminal, yet his majesty's ears are always open to the cry of his people: To him therefore let us petition for justice, and the execution of a sentence, upon which our very being, as a nation, may hereafter very possibly depend.
What sub-type of article is it?
Military Affairs
Crime Or Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Byng Trial
Court Martial
Naval Discipline
Capital Crime
Petition King
Execution Sentence
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Byng
His Majesty
Twelve Judges
Admirals And Colonels
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Execution Of Admiral Byng For Naval Neglect
Stance / Tone
Strongly Supportive Of Executing The Court Martial Sentence
Key Figures
Mr. Byng
His Majesty
Twelve Judges
Admirals And Colonels
Key Arguments
Byng Tried, Convicted, And Condemned By Court Martial
Unprecedented Measures To Doubt Sentence Only Confirmed It
Twelve Judges Unanimously Declared Sentence Legal
Neglect Of Fighting Is A Capital Crime Under Law
Many Fatal Sentences Highlight Need For Naval Discipline
Refusal To Fight By Leaders Ruins The Nation
Petition The King For Justice And Execution Of Sentence
King Promises Not To Spare The Guilty And Hears People's Cry