PAGE

Introductory

1

The “Owlers” of Romney Marsh, and the Ancient Export Smuggling of Wool

12

Growth of Tea and Tobacco Smuggling in the Eighteenth Century—Repressive Laws a Failure

24

Terrorising Bands of Smugglers—The Hawkhurst Gang—Organised Attack on Goudhurst—“The Smugglers’ Song”

39

The “Murders by Smugglers” in Hampshire

47

The “Murders by Smugglers” continued—Trial and Execution of the Murderers—Further Crimes by the Hawkhurst Gang

60

Outrage at Hastings by the Ruxley Gang—Battle on the Whitstable-Canterbury Road—Church-Towers as Smugglers’ Cellars—The Drummer of Herstmonceux—Epitaph at Tandridge—Deplorable Affair at Hastings—The Incident of “The Four Brothers”

78

Fatal Affrays and Daring Encounters at Rye, Dymchurch, Eastbourne, Bo-Peep, and Fairlight—The Smugglers’ Route from Shoreham and Worthing into Surrey—The Miller’s Tomb—Langston Harbour—Bedhampton Mill

94

East Coast Smuggling—Outrage at Beccles—a Colchester Raid—Canvey Island—Bradwell Quay—The East Anglian “Cart Gaps”—A Blakeney Story—Tragical Epitaph at Hustanton—The Peddar’s Way

111

The Dorset and Devon Coasts—Epitaphs at Kinson and Wyke—The “Wiltshire Moon-Rakers”—Epitaph at Branscombe—The Warren and “Mount Pleasant” Inn

119

Cornwall in Smuggling Story—Cruel Coppinger—Hawker’s Sketch—The Fowey Smugglers—Tom Potter, of Polperro—The Devils of Talland—Smugglers’ Epitaphs—Cave at Wendron—St. Ives

129

Testimony to the Qualities of the Seafaring Smugglers—Adam Smith on Smuggling—A Clerical Counterblast—Biographical Sketches of Smugglers—Robert Johnson, Harry Paulet—William Gibson, A Converted Smuggler

151

The Carter Family, of Prussia Cove

165

Jack Rattenbury

183

The Whisky Smugglers

201

Some Smugglers’ Tricks and Evasions—Modern Tobacco-Smuggling—Silks and Lace—A Dog Detective—Leghorn Hats—Foreign Watches

228

Coast Blockade—The Preventive Water-Guard and the Coastguard—Official Return of Seizures—Estimated Loss to the Revenue in 1831—The Sham Smuggler of the Seaside—The Modern Coastguard

239

Index

249