On the 7th inst, as George Taylor, of Wilmington, in his own shallop, was on his passage from thence to this city, he was boarded by a party of ruffians from the King's armed schooner the Diana, commanded by Captain [Thomas] Greaves (Nephew to Admiral [Samuel] Greaves now at Boston) who brought Taylor too, and on boarding him demanded what he had on board, to which he answered only rum and limes, but civilly told them they might go down and look; they then demanded his papers, which were produced authentic, but this not satisfying them, they entered the cabbin, wherein were several hundred pounds cash, which Taylor, no doubt, justly thinking proper to have his eye toward, went after them to the cabbin, door without going down; whereupon he was immediately menaced and insulted, as suspecting the honour of the king's men, and although he made no other than a moderate civil reply, as several passengers on board can testify, he was immediately furiously attacked and knocked down, where he was beaten in a most inhuman manner till the deck was besmeared with blood, and at the same time shamefully insulted with the infernal language common to such crews, (and which but for offending the civilized ear might be repeated) they then threatened to throw him overboard and drown him, took the command of his boat, and after gratifying their malice by towing her about in the river, took her along side the schooner, where the illustrious Captain detained her a considerable time, insulting and abusing the skipper, and justifying and applauding the conduct of his heroic men, who'had thus brought him a common shallop with two or three men on board, without the least appearance of clandestine conduct; after the gallant Captain with his crew had somewhat glutted their rancour, they dismissed the shallop, but Taylor was so wounded and abused that he was not able to conduct her, yet, bythe assistance of those on board she was got up to this city, and he afterwards conveyed home to Wilmington, where he lay dangerously ill.
Query ー Whether such conduct as this, does not merit the attention of the public, and an exertion of the power of those in authority?