The year 1849 was interesting, as it witnessed the seizing of one of the earliest steamcraft on a charge of smuggling.  Very late in the day of May 15 the steam-tug Royal Charter, employed in towing vessels in and out of Portsmouth harbour, had been taken to Spithead without the permission of her owner, and information was given to the coastguard.  About midnight she was first discovered steaming towards the port with a small boat attached to her stern, being then about half a mile from the harbour.  Chase was then made and the vessel hailed and ordered to heave-to.  She replied that she would round-to directly, but in fact she held on and steamed at full speed, notwithstanding that several shots were fired at her.  As she entered Portsmouth harbour she was pursued by the Customs boat, who asked them to shut off steam and be examined.  Of course full speed in those days meant nothing very wonderful, and it was not long before she was boarded.  She had a crew of three, and there were ten men in the boat towing astern, most of whom were found to have been previously convicted of smuggling.  It seems strange to find a steamboat pursuing the old tactics of the sailing smacks, but in her wake there were found 150 half-ankers within about 300 yards of her and where she had passed.  The vessel and boat were seized, and the men taken before the magistrates and convicted.

But the following is an instance of steam being employed against smugglers.  One Sunday towards the end of October 1849, about nine o’clock in the morning, the local receiver of duties informed the tide surveyor at St. Heliers, Jersey, that there was a cutter which (from information received) he was convinced was loaded with brandy.  This cutter was in one of the bays to the N.W. of the island.  But as the wind was then blowing from the W.N.W. and a very heavy surf was rolling in, the consent of the harbour-master was obtained to use the steam-tug Polka to go round in search of her, the understanding being that she was to be paid for if a seizure were made.  The wind and sea were so boisterous that the Revenue boat could not have been used.

Steamer and officers therefore proceeded round the coast till they reached Plemont Bay, about twenty miles from St. Helier, and there they found a small cutter lying at anchor close under the cliff, but with no one on board.  The steamer lowered a boat and found the cutter to be the Lion of Jersey, five tons, with four hogsheads and seven quarter casks of brandy.  The officers then weighed anchor, and by sailing and towing got her round to St. Helier harbour, where she was dismantled, and the brandy and her materials lodged at the Custom House.  This little craft had come from Dielette in France, and as Plemont Bay was a very secluded locality, she would have run her goods there with perfect success, had she not been discovered while her crew were on shore, whither they had probably gone for the purpose of making arrangements for getting the cargo landed.