But from an early date—at any rate as far back as 1694—the East India ships were notorious also for smuggling into the country a considerable amount of goods that ought to have paid duty. We shall bring forward instances presently of East Indiamen, homeward bound, being boarded as they come up Channel, or while waiting in the Downs and putting some of their cargo on board smuggling cutters and Deal boats, which was subsequently quietly and secretly brought into the country. Silks were especially popular among the smugglers in this connection. In those days, too, the more wealthy passengers coming home by these East Indiamen used to leave the ship at Spithead, where they came in for that purpose. These passengers would then be put ashore at Portsmouth, and, proceeding by coach to London, thus shortened their sea journey. But notwithstanding their ample means, many of these travellers were constantly found endeavouring to land dutiable articles. In short, rich and poor, high and low, there was no class that did not endeavour to engage in smuggling either directly or indirectly. Even if the party never ventured on the sea, he might be a very active aider and abettor in meeting the boat as it brought the casks ashore, or keeping a look out for the Preventive men, giving the latter false information, thus throwing them on the wrong scent. Or again, even if he did not act the part of signaller by showing warning lights from the cliff, he could loan his cellars, his horses, or his financial support. In fact there were many apparently respectable citizens who, by keeping in the background, were never suspected of having any interest in these nefarious practices, whereas they were in fact the instigators and the capitalists of many a successful run. And as such they were without doubt morally responsible for the deaths by murder which occurred in those incidents, when violence was used after the Revenue men had come on to the scene.
But as to morality, was there ever a period when the national character was so slack and corrupt as in the eighteenth century?
FOOTNOTES:
[1] "Smuggling in Sussex," by William Durrant Cooper, F.S.A., in vol. x. of the Sussex Archæological Collection, to which I am indebted.
[2] Fore and Aft: The Story of the Fore-and-Aft Rig. London, 1911.
[3] "Southampton Letters," November 6, 1730. But in 1719, the Customs Commissioners had, inter alia, agreed to provide Captain Mears with "a suit of colours" for the Calshot. This provision was, therefore, now cancelled in the year 1730.
[4] A half-anker held 3-1/4 gallons.