Merchantmen in their ports, and even at sea, were visited, and mariners were taken out of them, to be employed in the royal navy.

The profits of trade enabling neutral merchants to give high wages, British sailors were tempted, in great numbers, to enter their service; but the neutral ship furnished no protection.

Disregarding the bottom in which they sailed, the officers of the navy impressed them wherever found, often leaving scarcely hands enough to navigate the vessel into port.
The Americans were peculiarly exposed to the abuse to which such usages are liable.

Descended from the same ancestors and speaking the same language, the distinction between them and the English, though in general sufficiently marked, was not always so visible as to prevent unintentional error; nor were the captains of ships of war, at all times, very solicitous to avoid mistake.

Native Americans, therefore, were frequently impressed, and compelled to serve against the French republic.
The British cabinet disclaimed all pretensions to the impressment of real American citizens, and declared officially a willingness to discharge them, on the establishment of their citizenship.