The smuggler continued to fire at the retreating cruiser, and chased the Eagle for a whole hour after.  The cutter turned out to be that which Mitchell had encountered on April 24, 1777, and her skipper was our friend “Smoker” again.  This smuggling craft was described as a stout cutter of 130 tons, and a crew of upwards of forty men.  She carried fourteen carriage guns, four three-pounders, as well as a great number of swivels.  “Smoker’s” real name was David Browning, and he was recognised by the Eagle’s crew from his voice, which was familiar to several of them.  During that affray the Revenue cruiser received about twenty shot in her sails, about a dozen in her boat, and half as many in her fore-and main-mast.  She also had her mizzen halyards shot away.  From these details it would seem that she was dandy-rigged, that is to say, she had a mizzen or jigger in addition to her cutter rig, and on this jigger would be set a small lugsail as was the old custom.

Following on Mitchell’s meeting with the Kent, we have a record belonging to July of that same year—­1777.  This time a different result was to come about.  For instead of acting single-handed, the sloops Prince of Wales and the Royal George—­both being employed by the Scottish Excise Board, aided by H.M.S. Pelican and Arethusa—­four of them—­at last managed to capture this schooner.  She was found to be armed with sixteen four-pounders and twenty swivel-guns, and also had a large stock of gunpowder, blunderbusses, and muskets.  “Stoney” was taken out of her, and he was said to be an outlaw whose real name was George Fagg.  The guns and ammunition were taken ashore and put in the King’s warehouse at Hull, and the crew of thirty-nine were placed on board the Arethusa.  Among these prisoners were those who had murdered a dragoon the previous year, while the latter was assisting a Custom officer at Whitby.  The arrest of these men was all the more interesting for a reward of L100 for their capture had been long outstanding.

The capture of the Kent had been effected as follows:  the two Excise cruisers were off St. Abb’s Head on July 8, and hearing that the Kent had been seen off Flamborough Head they sailed south, and off Filey fell in with her.  On being hailed, the smuggler beat to quarters, shouting to the cruisers.  “Fire, you ——­, and be ——­ to you.”  The battle at once commenced and continued smartly for an hour, when the Pelican came up to give assistance to the two cruisers.  The Kent, big as she was, now used sweeps—­it was reminiscent of the days of Elizabethan galleasses—­and drew away.  However the Pelican (a frigate) overhauled her, and the Arethusa which had also come up gave valuable aid as well.  The two naval captains allowed the cruisers to seize the Kent, and to take her into Hull, but the prisoners were put on board the Arethusa as stated.  The