That the age of lawless mobs was by no means past, may be seen from the incident which now follows.  It had been thought that the Act which had been passed, forbidding any boat built to row with more than four oars, would have put a considerable check to activities of the smugglers.  But these boats not only continued to be built, but also to be navigated and used for the contraband purposes.  The Revenue officers of the district of Christchurch, Hants, had reason in April of 1821 to believe that a boat was being constructed in their neighbourhood of such dimensions and capable of being rowed with such a number of oars as made her liable to seizure.  Therefore, taking with them a couple of dragoons, two of these Revenue officers proceeded on their way to the district near Milton, which is, roughly speaking, the centre of that bay which is bounded on one side by Christchurch Head, and on the other by Hurst Point.  They had not arrived long at their destination before it was found that about thirty men had concealed themselves in an adjoining wood.  The officers had found the boat they were looking for in a meadow, and were about to seize it.

It was found to be covered over with sails, having been hidden in the meadow for safety’s sake, for since it was made to row seven aside it was clearly liable to forfeiture.  One of the two officers now went off to fetch assistance, and whilst he was away two of the smugglers came forth and fraternising with the two dragoons, offered them some brandy which they drank.  In a short while both soldiers had taken such a quantity of the spirits that they became utterly intoxicated and helpless.  One of the two smugglers then gave a whistle, and about thirty men issued forth from the wood, some of them in various forms of disguise.  One had a deer’s skin over his face, others had their faces and hands coloured with blue clay and other means.  These men angrily demanded from the solitary officer the sails which he had removed from the boat, but their requests were met by refusal.  The mob then seized hold of the sails, and a tussle followed, whereupon the officer threatened to shoot them.  He managed to retain hold of one sail, while the mob held the other and took it away.

About three o’clock in the afternoon the other officer returned with the Lymington Preventive officer, two Custom House men, and three dragoons.  They found the intoxicated soldiers, one of whom was lying prostrate on the field, while the other was ludicrously and vainly endeavouring to mount his horse.  The seven men now united, and got a rope by which they began to remove the boat from its hiding-place, when a great many more people came on to the scene in great indignation.  As many as fifty, at least, were now assembled, and threats and oaths were bandied about.  During this excitement some of the crowd cut the rope, while a man named Thomas Vye jumped into the boat, and rather than see her fall into the hands of the enemy, endeavoured to stave her in.