Tbe spectator, 1BecenV:er 10th , 1553 Six seamen of the Russian
frigate Aurora, recently at Portsmouth, deserted. It is said they were seduced by Polish refugees, but there is no proof of anything of the kind. They had reached Guildford, when a Russian officer and a policeman overtook them, conveyed them back to Portsmouth, and placed them on board the Victorious hulk. The hulk had been assigned to the Russian crew while the Aurora was under repair; and in it the Russian captain caused the deserters to be flogged. Hearing the story, some persons in London obtained a writ of habeas corpus from Mr. Justice Wightman; and it was served first upon Admiral Martin, who referred the servers to the Admiralty, on the advice of the Judge-Advocate-General and Sir Thomas Cochrane. They also stated that the deserters had been transferred to the Aurora; so that there were no Russian deserters on board any ship or vessel under the command of the Port Admiral. Whereupon the writ was tendered to the Russian captain; but he refused it, saying, that if it were really a writ from the Queen, it would no doubt come through the Russian Ambassador. The document was then thrust in at a port- hole, and thrust out again by a lieutenant. On Tuesday a writ was issued by the Lord Chief Justice, ordering the production of the six men and the Russian captain himself: but it Was too late—the Aurora had sailed a few hours before.
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