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Updated: June 18, 2025
They worked a while in silence, only looking up occasionally and smiling at each other, or Jean might throw in a hint as to a frill or tucker which must be dealt with in a particular way. Suddenly Jeanie Garland came nearer, a pile of folded linen over her arm. "Have you heard anything of the press-gang at your house, Patsy?"
"You here, Tom?" he said to the sailor, who was standing in the shadow of the boat haven, close up to the dark rocks. "Me it is, sir." "What is it any news?" "Me, sir? No; on'y what I got when I come across to see what was going on about the press-gang coming here. Say, Master Aleck, I told yer so." "Yes, Tom, you told me so," replied the lad, warmly.
I could fill a book, and perhaps some day I will do so, with Leaker's reflections on men and things, and her epigrammatic sayings, and still more with her wonderful old sea-stories, especially of the press-gang, which she could almost remember in operation. Her father was, as she always put it, "in the King's Navy," and he had been "bosun" to a ship's "cap'n."
Thus he appeared as a benefactor, and Ellen's gratitude soon ripened into love; but her brother was in the way. He went to Erith to make some purchases for his mother and sister, and was kidnapped by a press-gang. Lambert had been there a few days before. 'Ah, I understand, said the seaman 'too plain. Fire them what right have they to seize a free man as if he were a negro slave?
King's letters were issued whenever the usual ordinances failed, and even the press-gang was resorted to, to raise the required number of mariners. Minstrels of all kinds crowded to the camp, enlivening it by their strains, and enriching themselves the while.
It is said that there was a secret passage between the inn and the church, and, according to the Court Leet Records, some of the clergy used to go to the "Seven Stars" in sermon-time in their surplices to refresh themselves. O tempora! O mores! A horseshoe at the foot of the stairs has a story to tell. During the war with France in 1805 the press-gang was billeted at the "Seven Stars."
"What's the matter?" "Beg pardon, Master Aleck; couldn't say it no better. Mouth was full o' hard crust." "How long before we start?" "Good hour, sir. There's a lot o' shallow yonder." "Oh!" cried Aleck, impatiently. "Let's get some of the fishermen to come and launch us." "I don't think you'd find anyone as would come, sir. They're all lying low somewhere for fear o' the press-gang." "Nonsense!
'Why? said Bob, leisurely knocking the ashes from the pipe he had been smoking. 'The press-gang! 'They have come? By God! who can have blown upon me? All right, dearest. I'm game. Anne, scarcely knowing what she did, descended the ladder and ran to the back-door, hastily unbolting it to save Bob's time, and gently opening it in readiness for him.
"Well, it looks very bad," growled the man, gazing at the lad, searchingly. "If you think a press-gang is likely to come ashore to get hold of you and your mates, why don't you slip off into the hills for a bit?" The man stared, and his features relaxed a little and a little more, and he caught Aleck by the sleeve.
The old mate who had commanded the press-gang, and was now attending to his duties on the lower deck, was sent for, and at once corroborated what Dick had said, explaining at the same time the circumstances of Ralph's capture. "I believe you, and you may return to your duty," said the captain, looking at Ralph.
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