Some old merchant sailors had been seized the very day they landed from distant voyages; while the landsmen, of whom there were many, had been driven down from the country in herds, and so sent to sea.
At the time, I was quite amazed to hear of press-gangs in a day of comparative peace; but the anomaly is accounted for by the fact that, of late, the French have been building up a great military marine, to take the place of that which Nelson gave to the waves of the sea at Trafalgar.

But it is to be hoped that they are not building their ships for the people across the channel to take.

In case of a war, what a fluttering of French ensigns there would be! Though I say the French are no sailors, I am far from seeking to underrate them as a people.

They are an ingenious and right gallant nation.

And, as an American, I take pride in asserting it..