After a smuggling vessel’s cargo had been seized and it was decided to send the goods to London, this was done by placing the tobacco, spirits, &c., in a suitable coaster and despatching her to the Thames.  But in order to prevent her being attacked on the sea by would-be rescuers she was ordered to be convoyed by the Revenue cutters.  The commander of whatever cruiser was in the neighbourhood was ordered “to accompany and guard” her to the Nore or Sea Reach as the case might be.  Every quarter the cruisers were also to send a list of the seizures made, giving particulars of the cruiser—­her name, burthen, number of guns, number of men, commander’s name, number of days at sea during that quarter, how many days spent in port and why, the quantity of goods and nature of each seizure, the number and names of all smuggling vessels captured, both when and where.  There was also to be sent the number of men who had been detained, how they had been disposed of, and if the men had not been detained how it was they had escaped.

“Their Lordships are induced to call for these returns,” ran the instruction, “in order to have before them, quarterly, a comparative view of the exertions of the several commanders of the Revenue cruisers....  They have determined, as a further inducement to diligence and activity in the said officers, to grant a reward of L500 to the commander of the Revenue cruiser who, in the course of the year ending 1st October 1808, shall have so secured and delivered over to his Majesty’s Naval Service the greatest number of smugglers; a reward of L300 to the commander who shall have secured and delivered over the next greatest number, and a reward of L200 to the commander who shall be third on the list in those respects.”  That was in September of 1887.

During the year ending October 1, 1810, Captain Gunthorpe, commander of the Excise cutter Viper, succeeded in handing over to his Majesty’s Navy thirteen smugglers whom he had seized.  As this was the highest number for that year he thus became entitled to the premium of L500.  Captains Curling and Dobbin, two Revenue officers, were together concerned in transferring six men to the Navy, but inasmuch as Captain Patmour had been able to transfer five men during this same year it was he to whom the L300 were awarded.  Captain Morgan of the Excise cutter and Captain Haddock of the Custom House cutter Stag each transferred four men during that year.

“But my Lords,” states a Treasury minute of December 13, 1811, “understanding that the nature of the service at Deal frequently requires the Revenue vessels to co-operate with each other, do not think it equitable that such a circumstance should deprive Messrs. Curling and Dobbin of a fair remuneration for their diligence, and are therefore pleased to direct warrants likewise to be prepared granting to each of those gentlemen the sum of L100.”  In spite of the above numbers, however, the Treasury