The Emperor was engaged in so many projects at once that they could not all succeed.  Thus, while he was triumphant in the Hereditary States his Continental system was experiencing severe checks.  The trade with England on the coast of Oldenburg was carped on as uninterruptedly as if in time of peace.  English letters and newspapers arrived on the Continent, and those of the Continent found their way into Great Britain, as if France and England had been united by ties of the firmest friendship.  In short, things were just in the same state as if the decree for the blockade of the British Isles had not existed.  When the custom-house officers succeeded in seizing contraband goods they were again taken from them by main force.  On the 2d of July a serious contest took place at Brinskham between the custom-house officers and a party of peasantry, in which the latter remained masters of eighteen wagons laden with English goods:  many were wounded on both sides.

If, however, trade with England was carried on freely along a vast extent of coast, it was different in the city of Hamburg, where English goods were introduced only by fraud; and I verily believe that the art of smuggling and the schemes of smugglers were never before carried to such perfection.  Above 6000 persons of the lower orders went backwards and forwards, about twenty times a day, from Altona to Hamburg, and they carried on their contraband, trade by many ingenious stratagems, two of which were so curious that they are worth mentioning here.

On the left of the road leading from Hamburg to Altona there was a piece of ground where pits were dug for the purpose of procuring sand used for building and for laying down in the streets.  At this time it was proposed to repair the great street of Hamburg leading to the gate of Altona.  The smugglers overnight filled the sandpit with brown sugar, and the little carts which usually conveyed the sand into Hamburg were filled with the sugar, care being taken to cover it with a layer of sand about an inch thick.  This trick was carried on for a length of time, but no progress was made in repairing the street.  I complained greatly of the delay, even before I was aware of its cause, for the street led to a country-house I had near Altona, whither I went daily.  The officers of the customs at length perceived that the work did not proceed, and one fine morning the sugar-carts were stopped and seized.  Another expedient was then to be devised.

Between Hamburg and Altona there was a little suburb situated on the right bank of the Elbe.  This suburb was inhabited, by sailors, labourers of the port, and landowners.  The inhabitants were interred in the cemetery of Hamburg.  It was observed that funeral processions passed this way more frequently than usual.  The customhouse officers, amazed at the sudden mortality of the worthy inhabitants of the little suburb, insisted on searching one of the vehicles, and on opening the hearse it was found to be filled with sugar, coffee, vanilla, indigo, etc.  It was necessary to abandon this expedient, but others were soon discovered.