WAR OF 1812 BROADSIDE - IMPRESSMENT OF SAILORS Rare broadside predating the War of 1812 but outlining one of the prime causes of that conflict: the impressment of merchant seamen, headed "British Barbarity and Piracy!!", 18" x 25", Boston, March 25, 1808. It also attacks Federalists Timothy Pickering and Christopher Gore, and reads, in part: "...The Federalists say that Mr. Christopher Gore ought to be supported as Governor- for his attachment to Britain ... let them read the following melancholy and outrageous conduct of a British Piracy, and judge for themselves...The Leopard Outspotted or Chesapeak Outrage outdone...". It continues with an account of an American merchant vessel being boarded in Canton by British sailors, in part: "...The account of the outrageous proceeding of the British on American vessels and property at Canton must have been known here by the arrival of the brig Caravan, Capt. Gilchrist but the owners are the relations of TIMOTHY PICKERING whose attachment to Britain prevented his attacking British troops after they had killed his countrymen...The brig Caravan, captain Gilchrist, arrived at Macao, and was boarded by an officer from his majesty's brig Diana...The officers had orders to take out a Frenchman...Captain Gilchrist refused to deliver him, alleging his engagements to perform the voyage, and reminding the officer of his former impressments. The next morning the Caravan was again boarded, and the demand for the Frenchman renewed, when the officer was informed that he had left the brig, and was allowed to search. As his search was unsuccessful, he took a Dutchman...thirty or forty men armed with cutlasses and pistols, boarded and demanded the Frenchman...as he [Gilchrist] was rescuing one of his seaman, cut him across the hand, disarmed and threw him upon deck, where they tied him and his first officer. They next tied a rope round his second officer, threw him overboard, and dragged him on board the Diana...". The narrative continues, describing further depredations, closing with the commentary: "...[the British] will continue the exercise of their assumed rights, till the American government shall interfere for its prevention....". Weak folds, a few light stains and light toning, else very good. Professionally backed. Auction records show no sales of this broadside in the past thirty years, with one copy at the Library of Congress.