404 



veffel was thronged with fpedators, an nnivef-' 

 fal impuife was excited, and feelings of anxiety 

 feemed to poffefs every mind. The failors ma- 

 noeuvred bed in the race. They gained head- 

 way at every pull of their oars, and made the 

 fhore at a point beyond the reach of the foldiers 

 and their mufquets. Several fhots were fired at 

 them in vain; and upon their landing^a loud and 

 general fhout inftantly fpread around ; which 

 feemed to be involuntary, but was ftrongly ex- 

 prefliveof the wifh of the multitude that the fail- 

 ors might efcape. Their only hope was in flight, 

 and fome of them had the good fortune to elude 

 the activity and vigilance of their purfuers ; but 

 the foldiers proved to be more fuccefsful 

 in the chafe, on fhore, than they had been 

 in the boats, for a party of the failors was 

 brought back a fhort time after, under a ftrong 

 guard, and compelled to fubmit to this law of 

 force. 



It has been our fortune on board the 

 Lord Sheffield to be difturbed by two different 

 parties of the prefs-gang in the courfe of the 

 fame night : one of which came alongfide at 

 midnight,~the other at two o'clock in the 

 morning. From ftealing upon us unexpefted- 



47 



