But apart from all the manifold difficulties and anxieties, both general and detailed, which arose in connection with these cruisers so long as they were at sea or in the shipwrights’ hands, in commission or out of commission, there were others which applied more strictly to their crews.  Such an incident as occurred in the year 1785 needed very close attention.  In that year the English Ambassador at the Court of France had been informed by Monsieur de Vergennes that parties of sailors belonging to our Revenue cruisers had recently landed near Boulogne in pursuit of some smugglers who had taken to the shore.  Monsieur de Vergennes added that if any British sailors or other armed men should be taken in such acts of violence the French Government would unhesitatingly sentence them immediately to be hanged.

Of course the French Government were well within their rights in making such representations, for natural enough as no doubt it was to chase the smugglers when they escaped ashore, yet the trespass was indefensible.  The Board of Customs therefore instructed their cruisers, as well as those of the Admiralty “whose commanders are furnished with commissions from this Board,” to make a note of the matter, in order that neither they nor their men might inadvertently expose themselves to the severity denounced against them by the French laws upon acts of the like nature.

In 1812 one of the mariners belonging to a cruiser happened to go ashore, and whilst there was seized by the press-gang for his Majesty’s Navy.  Such an occurrence as this was highly inconvenient not only to the man but to the Board of Customs, who resolved that henceforth the commanders of cruisers were not to allow any of their mariners shore leave unless in case of absolute necessity “until the protections which may be applied for shall have been received and in possession of such mariners.”

Another matter that required rectification was the practice of taking on board some of their friends and relatives who had no right to be there.  Whether this was done for pleasure or profit the carrying of these passengers was deemed to be to the great detriment of the service, and the Board put a stop to it.  It was not merely confined to the cruisers, but the boats and galleys of the Waterguard were just as badly abused.  The one exception allowed was, that when officers of the Waterguard were removing from one station to another, they might use such a boat to convey their families with them provided it did not interfere with the duties of these officers.  So also some of the commanders of the cruisers had even taken on board apprentices and been dishonest enough to have them borne on the books as able seamen, and drawn their pay as such.  The Board not unnaturally deemed this practice highly improper, and immediately to be discontinued.  No apprentices were to be borne on the books except the boy allowed to all cruisers.