The Admiral issued press-warrants at Marblehead on account of the detention of some wax-candles imported for his own use, and which were seized bythe Committee of Inspection. At first the people of Marblehead had determined on rescuing any pressed men; accordingly, after Mr. [William] Lechmere, Lieut. of the Lively, had pressed two hands from on board a vessel coming in, on his return he was surrounded by eight or ten whale-boats manned and armed; he called to them at their peril to keep off, which they did at a distance of two boats lengths; they then asked him if he had pressed any men out of the vessel he had boarded, which he answered in the affirmative; they bid him deliver them up without making any resistance; on his refusal, they pointed their pieces into his boat, and Mr. L---- ordered his men to do the same; one of the impressed men took this opportunity and leaped overboard; Mr. Lechmere snapped his piece at the man, which missed fire, and he was taken up by the whale-boats; the other man was immediately secured, and without further opposition carried on board the Lively. From this time they continued pressing without molestation, when the Select-men of Marblehead seeing their trade distressed, obliged the Committee of Inspection to write to Admiral [Samuel] Graves, in the most penitential manner, for having disobliged him, and laid the blame entirely on their Chairman, which the Admiral took not the least notice of. The Select-men were obliged to wait on him, and promised to return the candles, and pay all costs and damages, and there should never be in future any cause of complaint. Lo! their prayers were heard, and the press-warrants ordered to be withdrawn, as soon as they had satisfied the purser, whom one of the Committee waited upon, and paid him betwixt four and five pounds to defray the expence he had been at in going to demand them, and told him the candles were at Mr.---- house, and would be delivered on his sending for them; this the purser refused, and insisted on their being laid within the threshhold of his door, which was punctually complied with.
