"War itself is a great evil, but it is chosen to avoid a greater. The practice of pressing is one of the mischiefs war bringeth with it. But it is a maxim in law, and good policy too, that all private mischiefs must be borne with patience for preventing a national calamity. And as no greater calamity can befall us than to be weak and defenceless at sea in a time of war, so I do not know that the wisdom of the nation hath hitherto found out any method of manning our navy, less inconvenient than pressing; and at the same time, equally sure and effectual."
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Original Language: English
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Sources
Foster, J., Case of Pressing Mariners (1743), 18 How. St. Tr. 1330.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Navy
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Navy
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