“Our will and pleasure is that the proceeds of all such Prizes as have been or shall be taken from the enemy in the course of the present war, by the cutters in the service of our Revenue of Customs, after deducting all expenses of the Letters of Marque granted to the cutters capturing such Prizes respectively, and the expenses of the proceedings in regard thereto, together with the head-money in all cases where head-money is or may be due by law, shall be distributed in the manner following; that is to say":—­

The Commander                   14/32 ds. 
Mate                             7/32 ds.

Deputed Mariner, or deputed }    3/32 ds., exclusive of their
mariners if more than one   }              shares as Mariners.

 Other Mariners 8/32 ds.

If there is no deputed Mariner,
The Commander                     1/2
The Mate                          1/4
Mariners                          1/4

It may be mentioned, in passing, that a “deputed” mariner was one who held a deputation from the Customs Board.  Another warrant, similar to the above, and to the same effect, was issued on July 4, of that memorable year 1805.  In July of 1797, the Customs Commissioners drew attention to the third article of the “Instructions for the Commanders and Mates of the Cruisers employed in the service of this Revenue,” reminding them that the commanders, mariners, and mates were in no case to be allowed to participate in the officers’ shares of seizures made by the crews of the cruisers unless the first-mentioned had been actually present at the time when the seizure was made, or could afford satisfactory proof that they were necessarily absent on some duty.  Therefore the Board now directed that, whenever the crews of the cruisers made a seizure, a list of the officers who were not actually on board or in the boats of the cruisers at that time was to be transmitted to the Board with the account of the seizure.  Then follows the other instruction which has already been alluded to.  In order that the station of the aforesaid cruisers may never be left unguarded by their coming into port for provisions, or to be cleaned and refitted, or for any other necessary purpose, the commanders were instructed to arrange with each other “that nothing but absolute necessity shall occasion their being in Port at one and the same time.”

It will be recognised that the object of this was, if possible, to keep the officers of the cruisers on board their vessels, and at sea, instead of ever running into port.  For it would seem that by more than one of these gentlemen the work of cruising on behalf of the Revenue Service was regarded too much in the light of a pleasant, extended yachting trip, with an occasional chase and seizure of a smuggling craft to break the monotony of their existence and to swell their purses.  But such a pleasant life was not that contemplated by the Customs authorities.