of the Council of Mary land, 1777. 237

Nicholson in consequence of his having followed the example
of his Brother officer who have for sometime been Impressing
men into the Naval Service of the Continent in this Port.
The practice of Impressing Seamen cannot be supported on
any other principle then necessity and I am confident it is a
practice as pernicious to the Commercial Interests of a
Country as destructive of the Civil Liberty of those Indi-
viduals who become its Victims, under these opinions you will
readily see I cannot advocate the measure, nothing but the
prospect of great Public advantages to result from a well
manned navy wou'd have induced me to be silent whilst these
things were doing here, but it was properly the business of
the Executive power of the State to notice & stop the practice,
they have not interfered & that probably because they saw &
considered the force of necessity, perhaps as great disadvan-
tages might have resulted to the State of Maryl^d had you only
checked this business so far as it had come before you by
Complaint from Individuals whose particular situations or Cir-
cumstances might have called for exemption & protection,
remember I don't offer these as fixed Sentiments or as proper
considerations in a settled peaceable Government, because I
know they are inconsistant with it but in times of Invasion &
War especially such a War as ours, it seems to me that forc-
ing out Militia against their will which I believe to have been
much practiced is an equal infringement of Liberty with the
Impressing of them for a limited time per the Naval service
yet is to be observed that, it has hithejto been the practice at
the end of every Cruize or Voyage made by our Continental
Ships the men have had their liberty again, in the British Navy
they are generally impressed for Life. Thus much in Paliation
only, with respect to Cap^t Nicholson he certainly deserves
severe reprehension, the terms of his letter are quite unwar-
rantable & not a single member of Congress offered to support
him, you will see that the Resolves of Congress place him in
your power so far as he values his Commission & at present
he is at the head of the American Navy but I think the dis-
pute unfortunate because I have been taught to believe him an
excellent & Capable officer, the loss of such a one will be a
real misfortune to the Continent & yet I think he ought to be
dismissed unless by satisfactory submission he attones for the
offensive Stile of his letter which I suppose to have been
written in warmth inflamed by the Violence of that Species
of Whiggism that savours more of passion than true
Patriotism, I am told he is of a high Spirit and that it is
doubtful if he will make the Confessions he ought. I wish
not to be guilty of an improper interferance & shall only
repeat that if he was dismiss'd the service it will be a heavy

C. C.