"The Press in the River Thames, for the three last days, has been very severe. Five or six hundred seamen have been laid hold of."—(Times, February 18th, 1793.)
"On Wednesday night the press was very hot on the river Thames; all the ships, both homeward, and outward, bound, were stripped of their hands; not excepting two outward bound East Indiamen, which were to have sailed yesterday."—(Times, March 9, 1793.)
"The press has been so hot, for seamen, since the order of Friday last, that three Tenders, full of men, have been dispatched from the Tower to the 'Sandwich' guardship at the Nore."—(Times, March 27, 1793.)
"A hot press has, for the last two nights, been carried on from London bridge to the Nore; protections are disregarded, and almost all the vessels in the River have been stripped of their hands."—(Times, April 26, 1793.)
"The sailors are so scarce, that upwards of 60 sail of merchants ships, bound to the West Indies, and other places, are detained in the River, with their ladings on board; seven outward bound East Indiamen are likewise detained at Gravesend, for want of sailors to man them."—(Times, Jan. 7, 1794.)
"The number of seamen to be voted for the service of the present year, including 12,000 marines, will be 85,000 men."—(Times, Jan. 29, 1794.)
"There was a smart press on Monday, on the river, for seamen, and, in many of the avenues to the town, several hundreds were picked up, and put on board the receiving ship at the Tower."—(Times, April 2, 1794.)
"Poole, Nov. 30.
"This morning arrived in Steedland Bay, the 'Maria,' from Newfoundland, having some passengers on board, besides the crew; the officers of the impress service expecting to meet some resistance, had called for military assistance, and 20 soldiers, armed, went on board the tender, which went down the harbour, to meet the vessel; when coming alongside, and finding the people obstinate, orders were given to the soldiers to fire, which they did; the pilot (then at the helm), and two other men, were killed on the spot, and seven others dangerously wounded, one of whom is since dead. Lieutenants Phillips and Glover, with all who were on board the tender, are taken into custody, and the whole town is in the greatest commotion."—(Times, Dec. 3, 1794.)
"That part of Mr. Pitt's plan for manning the navy, which recommends to the Magistrates to take cognizance of all idle, and disorderly people, who have no visible means of livelihood, may, certainly, procure a great number of able bodied men who are lurking about the metropolis, if properly enforced. But experience teaches, that, unless the Magistrates see that their Runners do justice to the public, this salutary measure may be in a great measure defeated, from the interest which the Runners are known to have, in nursing those vagabonds, which the law enacts should be laid hold of."—(Times, Feb. 11, 1795.)