British Military to Quell Smuggling Along English and Scottish Coasts, 1717

ttruxes — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 05:00:19 +0000

[London, September 7, 1717] Upon a Complaint from the Officers of the Customs in several Parts of the Kingdom, that the Smugglers are now grown so very Numerous and Insolent, in Defiance of the Officers of the Customs, they do forcibly run great Quantities of Goods, to the great Prejudice of the Revenue and Fair Trader, his Majesty taking the same into Consideration, is pleased with the Advice of his Privy Council, to Order, and it is hereby Ordered, that his Majesty’s Secretary at War, do forthwith cause Directions to be given to the Military Officers quartered on, or near the Sea Coast, throughout England as well as Scotland, That they be assisting to the Civil Magistrates, when desired by them and the Officers of the Customs, for the executing Legal Process, and other Matters relating to his Majesty’s Service, in hindering the Exportation of Wool, and illegal Importation of French Silks, Brandy, and other Goods and preventing the evil Practices complained of in the said Presentment.

[London] Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, September 7, 1717.

Tragedy at a Scottish Public House, 1755

ttruxes — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:01:38 +0000

“London. The following melancholy Affair happened lately at Annan* in Scotland. A Party of Soldiers having gone to assist the Custom-house Officers in making a Seizure of some prohibited Goods that they had been informed were in that Neighbourhood, on their Return, halted at a Publick House, with one of the Smugglers whom they had taken Prisoner, in order to refresh themselves. The Woman of the House pitying the Prisoner, whom they had shut up in another Room, begged Leave to give him a Dram, which they consenting to, she cut the Cords he was tied with, and set him free. The Soldiers immediately pursued, and the Woman unfortunately stepping in the Way, one of them, in firing after the Prisoner, killed her dead on the Spot. This melancholy Accident put a Stop to the Pursuit, and the Man got clear off. What makes it still more lamentable, the Woman was Big with Child at the Time. The Soldier was immediately secured.”

The London Evening-Post, January 14, 1755.

*The town of Annan is situated on the River Annan, nearly 2 miles from its mouth, 15 miles from Dumfries, in the region of Dumfries and Galloway on the Solway Firth in the south of Scotland.

Thomas M. Truxes » Scotland

British Military to Quell Smuggling Along English and Scottish Coasts, 1717

Tragedy at a Scottish Public House, 1755