§ Mr. W. Dundas, seeing a noble lord in his place who had asked some questions on a former evening respecting impressments, would take the opportunity of saying, with regard to the first question, that no distinction was made in the orders of the Admiralty as to the impress at different ports. As to the mates of ships, they were protected, by the order of the Admiralty, as long as they were doing their duty aboard their own ships, and they might also procure tickets of leave from the officer of the port to go on shore. On another question which he had put to him, parliament alone could determine. He denied that he had been actuated by any spirit of disrespect to the House, or its members; but he had been warmly assailed, and had warmly replied. As to the impress on the Thames, it was true that it continued still; and it was necessary so long as hostilities continued with America; but it was so reduced, that whereas it formerly used to produce from 70 to 100 men per month, in the last month only five men were pressed, three of whom the officer had been desired to impress as riotous persons. In the same month 51 persons had entered as volunteers.
§ Mr. Whitbreadthought it necessary immediately to notice some words which had fallen from the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Dundas). That right hon. gentleman had 1039 said, that three men had been impressed as riotous persons, at the desire of some other persons. Thus was this power of impress, illegal and oppressive as it was in itself, perverted from its legitimate object—thus were persons delivered, for purposes unknown, to the arbitrary power of the Admiralty. He thought it would be necessary that the names of these three persons should be laid before the House; and that the House should be acquainted with those who had desired the impressment of these persons, as well as with the reasons which induced the Admiralty to comply with their request.
§ Mr. Crokersaid, that the Admiralty was innocent of any designation of particular persons for the purpose of their being pressed. The execution of the impress warrants rested with the officers of the ports only. When the impress was slack, the officers did not visit the different ships with particular diligence; and then, if sailors were idle or riotous, the master might inform the impress officers that they would do him no harm by taking such or such persons. It was a favour to a master of a merchant-ship, when the impress officers were obliged to take some men from his vessel, to allow him to choose those whom he would wish to remain.
§ Mr. Whitbreadsaid, the words, as they had fallen from a lord of the Admiralty, were open to the remarks which he had made; and he still thought it would be proper to move for the production of the names of the three persons mentioned.
§ Mr. Barhammade some observations on the conduct of the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Dundas) on a former night. The practice of putting questions had been for a long period common in that House; and answers had always been given, unless it could be stated that the answer would be dangerous to the state. Without this most convenient practice, the time of the House would have been occupied with many unnecessary and almost endless debates.
§ Lord Miltonthought the answer of the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Dundas) was not satisfactory as to the impressment of mates of vessels; as, by law, those persons were protected, whether on board their vessels, or on shore.