The practice of robbing merchants on the high feas-a remnant of the antient piracy-though it may be accidentally beneficial to particular perfons, is far from being profitable to all engaged in it, or to the nation that authorifes it. In the beginning of a war fome rich fhips are furprized and taken. This encourages the firft adventurers to fit out more armed veffels; and many others to do the fame. But the enemy at the fame time become more careful; arm their merchant fhips better, and render them not fso easy to be taken: they go alfo more under the protection of convoys. Thus, while the privateers to take them are multiplied, the veffeis fubject to be taken, and the chances of profit, are diminished; so that many cruises are made wherein the expences overgo the gains; and, as is the cafe in other lotteries, though particulars have got prizes, the mafs of adventurers are lofers, the whole expence of fitting out all the privateers during a war being much greater than the whole amount of goods taken. Then there is the national lofs of all the labour of fo many men during the time they have been employed in robbing; who befides fpend what they get in riot, drunkenness, and debauchery; lofe their habits of industry; are rarely fit for any fober bufinefs after a peace, and ferve only to increase the number of highwaymen and houfebreak Even the undertakers who have been fortunate, are, by fudden wealth, led into expenfive living, the habit of which continues when the means of supporting it cease, and finally ruins. them: a juft punishment for their having wan-. tonly and unfeelingly ruined many honeft, innocent traders and their families, whofe fubftance was employed in ferving the common intereft of mankind.. ON THE IMPRESS OF SEAMEN. Notes copied from Dr. Franklin's writing in pencil in the margin of Fudge Fofter's celebrated argument in favour of the IMPRESSING OF SEAMEN (published in the folio edition of his works.)' JUDGE Fofter, p. 158. “Every Man.”— The conclufion here from the whole to a part, does not feem to be good logic. If the alphabet should fay, Let us all fight for the defence of the whole; that is equal, and may. therefore, be juft. But if they should fay, Let A B C and D go out and fight for us, while we ftay at home and fleep in whole fkins; that is not equal, and therefore cannot be juft. Ib. "Employ."-If you pleafe. The word fignifies engaging a man to work for me, by offering him fuch wages as are fufficient to induce him to prefer my fervice. This is very different from compelling him to work on fuch terms as I think proper. Ib. "This. fervice and employment, &c." These are falfe facts. His employments and fervice are not the fame.-Under the merchant he goes in an unarmed veffel, not obliged to fight, but to tranfport merchandize. In the king's fervice he is obliged to fight, and to hazard all the dangers of battle. Sickness on board of king's fhips. is alfo more common and more mortal. The merchant's fervice too he can quit at the end of the voyage; not the king's. Alfo, the merchant's wages are much higher. 16. I am very fenfible, &c"-Here are two things put in comparison that are not comparable: viz. injury to feamen, and inconvenience to trade. Inconvenience to the whole trade of a nation will not justify injustice to a fingle feaman. If the trade would fuffer without his fervice, it is able and ought to be willing to offer him fuch wages as may induce him to afford his fervice voluntarily. Page 159. "Private mifchief must be borne "with patience, for preventing a national cala"mity." Where is this maxim in law and good policy to be found? And how can that be a maxim which is not confiftent with common sense? If the maxim had been, that private mischiefs, which prevent a national calamity, ought to be generously compensated by the nation, one might understand it: but that fuch private mischiefs are only to be borne with patience, is abfurd! Ib. The expedient, &c. And, &c." (Paragraphs 2 and 3).-Twenty ineffectual or inconvenient schemes will not justify one that is unjuft. Ib. "Upon the foot of, &c."-Your reafoning, indeed, like a lie, ftands but upon one foot; truth .upon two. Page 160. "Full wages."-Probably the fame they had in the merchant's fervice. Page 174. “I hardly admit, &c." (Paragraph 5). When this author fpeaks of impreffing, page 158, he diminishes the horror of the practice as much as poffible, by prefenting to the mind one failor only fuffering a " hardship" (as he tenderly calls it) in fome" particular cafes" only; and he places against this private mischief the inconvenience to the trade of the kingdom.-But if, as he supposes is often the cafe, the failor who is preffed, and obliged to ferve for the defence of trade, at the rate of twenty-five fhillings a month, could get three pounds fifteen fhillings in the merchant's fervice, you take from him fifty fhillings a month; and if you have a 100,000 in your fervice, you rob this honeft induftrious part of fociety and their poor families of 250,000l. per month, or three millions a year, and at the same time oblige them to hazard their lives in fighting for the defence of your trade; to the defence of which all ought indeed to contribute (and failors among the reft) in proportion to their profits by it; but this three millions is more than their fhare, if they did not pay with their perfons; but when you force that, methinks you fhould excufe the other. But it may be faid, to give the king's feamen merchant's wages would coft the nation too much, and call for more taxes. The question then will amount to this: whether it be juft in a community, that the richer part fhould compel the poorer to fight in defence of them and their properties, for fuch wages as they think fit to allow, and punish them if they refuse? Our author tells us that it is "legal." I have not law enough to difpute his authorities, but I cannot perfuade myself that it is equitable. I will, however, own for the prefent, that it may be lawful when neceffary; but then I contend that it may be used fo as to produce the fame good effects the public fecurity, without doing fo much intolerable injuftice as attends the impreffing common feamen. In order to be better understood I would premife two things; First, that voluntary feamen may be had for the fervice, if they were fufficiently paid. The proof is, that to ferve in the fame fhip, and incur the fame dangers, you have no occafion to imprefs captains, lieutenants, fecond lieutenants, midfhipmen, purfers, nor many other officers. Why, but that the profits of their their places, or the emoluments expected, are fufficient inducements? The bufinefs then is, to find money, by impreffing, fufficient to make the failors all volunteers, as well as their officers; and this without any fresh burthen upon trade. -The fecond of my premises is, that twenty-five fhillings a month, with his fhare of the falt beef, pork, and peas-pudding, being found fufficient for the fubfiftence of a hard-working fea-. man, it will certainly be fo for a fedentary fcholar or gentleman. I would then propofe to form a treafury, out of which encouragements to feamen fhould be paid. To fill this treafury, I would imprefs a number of civil officers who at present have great falaries, oblige them to ferve in their refpective offices for twenty-five fhillings a month with their fhares of mefs provifions, and throw the reft of their falaries into the feamen's treafury. If fuch a prefs-warrant were given me to execute, the first I would prefs fhould be a Recorder of Briftol, or a Mr. Juftice Fofter, because I might have need of his edifying example, to show how much impreffing ought to be borne with; for he would certaily find, that though to be reduced to twenty-five fhillings a month might be a "private mifchief," yet that, agreeably to his maxim of law and good policy, it ought to be borne with patience," for preventing a national calamity. Then I would prefs the reft of the Judges; and, opening the red book, I would prefs every civil officer of government from 50l. a year falary, up to 50,000l. which would throw an immenfe fum into our treasury: and these gentlemen could not complain, fince they would receive twenty-five fhillings a month, and their rations: and this without being obliged to fight. Laftly, I think I would imprefs *** ON |