Samuel Mulford, Alongshore Whaler 13 



assisted by the prosecuting attorney, proceeded 

 against Mulford for the "high misdemeanor" of 

 uttering "a false and seditious libel," and that, 

 too, in spite of the fact that under the law the 

 speech was privileged. Still further to harass 

 the whaler, "an action of trover" was com- 

 menced against him and his sons "for converting 

 the Queen's goods to their own use." 



As the action for libel could not be lawfully 

 pressed, the charge was continued from term to 

 term during four terms of the court; and at each 

 term the old man was brought to town, a dis- 

 tance of one hundred and fifteen miles. He was 

 tried on the charge of trover by the Chief Justice, 

 although he appealed, as a matter of right, for a 

 jury trial. Of course he was convicted. In short, 

 every method known to an adroit politician in 

 power was used to annoy and overpower the de- 

 termined whaler, who, in spite of losses and per- 

 sonal persecutions, continued the fight. 



A remarkable figure is Samuel Mulford as he 

 is portrayed in the records of his day. Governor 

 Hunter frequently speaks of him in letters sent 

 to England as a "crazy old man." Gardiner's 



