of coast-line between the Isle of Sheppey and Emsworth—­practically the whole of the Kentish and Sussex shore—­fifty officers were being employed at a salary of L60 per annum, with an allowance to each of another L30 annually for a servant and horse to assist them during the night.  And there was authority also for the employment of dragoons to aid the riding officers, especially in the neighbourhood of Romney Marsh; but there was a number of “weak and superannuated” men among the latter, who did not make for the efficiency of the service.

We need not say much more about the wool-exportation.  In spite of all the efforts of the Custom House smacks and the assistance of his Majesty’s ships of war, in spite, too, of further legislation, it still continued.  It went on merrily at any rate till the end of the eighteenth century, by which time the smuggling by imports had long since eclipsed its importance.  It was the wars with France during the time of William and Mary which increased and rendered more easy the smuggling into England of silk and lace.  And by means of the craft which imported these goods there used to be smuggled also a good deal of Jacobite correspondence.  As Kent and Sussex had been famous for their export smuggling, so these counties were again to distinguish themselves by illicit importation.  From now on till the middle of this eighteenth century this newer form of smuggling rose gradually to wondrous heights.  And yet it was by no means new.  In the time of Edward III. steps had to be taken to prevent the importation of base coin into the realm, and in succeeding reigns the king had been cheated many a time of that which ought to have come to him through the duties of goods entering the country.

It was impossible instantly to put down a practice which had been pursued by so many families for so many hundreds of years.  But the existing force was not equal to coping with the increase.  As a consequence the daring of the smugglers knew no bounds—­the more they succeeded the more they ventured.  A small gang of ten would blossom forth into several hundreds of men, there would be no lack of arms nor clubs, and adequate arrangements would be made for cellar-storage of the goods when safely brought into the country.  Consequently violence became more frequent than ever—­bloodshed and all sorts of crimes occurred.

In the year 1723 several commissions or deputations were issued by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to captains of his Majesty’s sloops to make seizures, and the following year the Treasury authorised the construction of seven sloops for service off the coast of Scotland.  The smugglers had in fact become so desperate, the English Channel was so thoroughly infested with them, and the Revenue service was so incapable of dealing with them in the manner that was obviously essential for effectiveness, that the Admiralty ordered the captains and commanders of His Majesty’s ships to assist the Revenue officers all they could in order to prevent the smuggling trade, and to look out and seize all vessels employed in illegally exporting wool; for the Admiralty had been informed by the Commissioners of Customs that the Revenue officers frequently met with insults from French smuggling luggers manned by armed crews, who carried on a brisk smuggling trade by force and even dared the Revenue men to come aboard them.