demic, that wasted my strength, and reduced me to childish weakness. Nor was I indebted to medical aid for my recovery; the privateer's man administered the few simple draughts I took. Had I died, my body would have been concealed; but happily nature relieved herself, and I recovered, though worn down to a mere skeleton, and with no more power than a tottering infant without its nurse. During my progress to convalescence, I learned that I was many feet under ground, the place being a deep subterranean cavern that had been excavated in the time of the Revolution to stow away property, to prevent its being confiscated or seized by the democratic agents. It was afterwards supposed to have been filled in, as a great quantity of rubbish had been thrown down for that purpose; but when purchased by Blackeman, he made other passages, and secretly cleared out the excavation; so that it served him as a private warehouse, in which to store much of his prize goods that the edicts ordained should be destroyed. It was known only to himself, his brother, and one or two of his confederates. A certain portion was beneath one end of his house, and this enabled him to have a fire-place below, and a chimney to carry off the smoke, in order to keep the goods well aired and dry; so that throughout the period of my confinement a warmth was constantly kept up, which was grateful in that terrible winter, wherein many perished with the cold. At length it was deemed advisable that, to restore me to health, I should be removed to a purer atmosphere, and the little room I had previously occupied was prepared to receive me. But I did not remain long there; Blackeman feared detection, and circumstances had come to his knowledge which made him apprehensive of a domiciliary visit; and as one of his vessels was going to sea, he proposed that I should accompany him on the cruise. When the question was first put to me, I called to remembrance the earnest desire he had formerly manifested, and the inducements he had held out to make me a traitor, and therefore I hesitated; but a few minutes of reflection banished suspicionhis behaviour had been so frank and generous, that I no longer doubted. Besides, had I been left behind, it must have been in the secret cavern, with every hazard against me; so I gave my consent, and that very night was conveyed on board a fine lugger in the harbour, and the next morning, at the rise of the tide, her sails were hoisted, her moorings let go, and off we went with a free sheet to run along the land in the daylight; but as soon as darkness began to descend, we stood over towards the English coast, and when about mid-channel, we fell in with a large smuggling boat, bound in for Deal; our lugs were down, and she was close to us before the Deal men discovered their proximity. On hailing the boat, they took no notice, but kept on: Blackeman ordered the sails to be run up, and as we had the heels of the chace, we were soon alongside. The hardy fellows, however, refused to lower their canvas, and it was not till assured that we were a French privateer, that they dowsed all, and one of them came on board. Here, then, was an opportunity for me to reach my native land, and I mentioned it to Blackeman, who would have dissuaded me from embarking in the boat; but my anxiety was so great to be restored to my home, that I cared nothing for the nature or character of the conveyance. The owner of the boat, too, old Daniel F-, did not seem to like the idea of receiving me; but he was well known to the Captain of the privateer, and at last, both, urged by my entreaties, gave their consent; and, with as much privacy as possible, I got over the side, Blackeman presenting me with a thick fearnought coat, and pressing several guineas into my hand, we shoved off and we parted. The boatmen complained bitterly of the delay their detention had caused, and in the heat of anger several threatened to heave me overboard; but the sails being set, and every one quietly seated on his thwart, contention ceased, and the eyes of all were eagerly sweeping the horizon. Whilst cowering beneath my covering, and yet shivering with the cold, I could not forbear contemplating the strange vicissitudes I had undergone, and now was returning to my own home shore in an illegal craft. It was only two months before that I was stout and vigorous, but now weak, and worn to a shadow that a stiff breeze might blow away. I was thus ruminating when a clean sea came dashing over the boat, so as nearly to fill her, and every soul instantly turned-to to bale. I was wet through to the skin, my dress thoroughly soaked, and my great coat hung clinging around me like a half-wrung swab. I was much pleased, however, to observe the coolness and order which was preserved amongst the boatmen, who made very light of the matter; and, indeed, well they might, for at the back of the Goodwin Sands the sea rolled over us in grand style-like skinning of eels, they were used to it. I well remember how my heart rejoiced when I saw the Foreland Lights; they reminded me of all that was dear and precious in life, and the chances there were of once more enjoying the fond endearing tenderness of a mother's watchful care. I was safe from the walls of a prison-I was secure from the treachery of national enemies-and as soon as I was well enough, I could return to the service of my country, though I resolved, if it was possible, never to set foot in a 10-gun brig again. The night was dark and misty, but the southern lights were distinctly visible above the haze that hovered on the surface of the troubled waters. At the south sand-head the sails were lowered, and, with the masts carefully stowed away, the oars were got out, and the men laid on them till their patience began to grow weary. "If it hadn't been for that d-d lugger," said one of the crew, "we might have been now all snug-worked the crop, and off again; but the lads have waited till the expectation of our coming has died away, and they are gone." "Not they," said old Daniel, "they know that nothing but the Philistines would keep me from beaching this night. Show a flash, and keep a sharp look-out for its being answered." The priming of a pistol was flashed off, and every eye was eagerly straining its sight upon the dark cliffs; but no light appeared in reply. "That Jonas there has sold us, and why not do with him as they did with the fellow of old?" exclaimed another of the crew. "I never likes to have a stranger among us, and he'll never be missed." I was aware the allusion was intended for me, but I thought it most advisable to remain quiet, though I certainly felt much irritated. "We shall get no good by that," responded old Daniel, "though I must say it's very provoking. Howsomever, try it again, and if they don't answer, we must bear a hand across the pond." A second flash was made, and almost instantly the sombre cliffs sent forth a stream of light, though it was only momentary. " I told you so," exclaimed Daniel, "now stretch out like brave lads; we have no time to lose the company will be all ready. Hurrah, boys, bend to your oars!" Another bidding was not necessary-the men immediately obeyed, and the boat danced over the waves, scattering the spray on either side of her bows, and tracking her wake with brilliant foam. Onward she went, and I confess I felt the excitement of the moment as we approached the frowning shore. "All right now," said the veteran Daniel*, one of the oldest smugglers on the coast, " but, halloo, what's that? Silence, lads, and stretch out-we'll brave the worst." A musket-ball had whistled past close to Dan's head, and the flash of fire-arms was seen broad away on the boat's quarter. This was followed by a volley; but it did no harm-the men bent sturdily to their purpose. "Hurrah, boys, never heed 'em," exclaimed the steersman, "they can't pull and fire too, and what they expend in powder we shall gain in distance; and they'll be brave fellows to follow us on shore." Another volley was discharged with the same want of effect, except that the men kept steady time in the measured stroke of their oars, and it was evident by the flashes that their opponent was dropping astern. Old Daniel laughed, but not a word was uttered; and after a short interval the boat was close to the surf that broke upon the beach. Without waiting for the usual mode of laying a boat upon the land, they dashed at once right through the breakers, that washed her well up, and without an instant's delay she was grappled hold of by nearly a hundred men at the sides and peinter, and run up high and dry; the tubs, already slung, were lifted or thrown out, and carried off; she was nearly cleared of her cargo when the pursuing people landed, ran up; and one of them sprang into the smuggler, to be knocked back again on to the shingle with no very gentle blow. The assailants fired, and their discharge was answered by straggling shot; a hand-to-hand encounter ensued, the revenue party were defeated by overpowering numbers, and hurried back to their boat, leaving three behind dangerously wounded, and several of the smugglers laid stretched upon the beach. The smuggling boat was literally carried up to a building above high-water mark, and in a short space of time the coast was clear-not an individual was to be seen, except the injured revenue men; for the smugglers carried off those of their own people who had fallen. I had quitted the craft at the earliest opportunity, and took no part * This man afterwards commanded a lugger, of 180 tons, out of Flushing; but having made several successful voyages, she was captured in the neighbourhood of Flamborough Head, sold to a party at Dovor, and, rigged as a schooner, was hired into the Service as a dispatch vessel to the Channel Fleet, under Admiral Lord Keith. in the affray; but I considered that it would not be wise to remain, and therefore ran with the rest. The place we had landed at was St. Margaret's Bay, and hurriedly we ascended the steep acclivity, on the summit of which were a number of horses and four or five country wagons; the goods were soon disposed of, and the mounted party, well-armed, galloped off across the country, and it seemed most probable that I should be left alone. But old Daniel came to my side. "Thou must be blind to this," said he, "we have served you, and you must keep a still tongue in return. But whither art thou going?" I assured him that at that period of the night I had no place to shelter me, and I was so exhausted, that it would be impossible for me to travel far. "Nor shall you, my boy," replied he, with warmth, "they wanted to throw you overboard; but never mind-you are thus far safe, and now bear a hand along wi' me I'll clap you under cover, all honour bright, if you'll trust to me." I had no alternative but to do so, and taking the smuggler's arm (which he did not seem to admire much), we hastened along the road to a small cottage in the village, where a one-horse gig was in waiting; and taking our seats, we journeyed rapidly towards Deal, and having reached the town, we found a man ready to receive us, who, on our alighting, took the gig and drove off. "You see we do these things quite methodically," said Daniel, as we walked onward. "Howsomever, I hope there's nobody killed; as for a broken head or a limb, they are easily mended, but we are not able to restore life. There there, my lad, I sees you're tired; but never mind, heave a-head, and you shall have a snug gull's nest to sleep in, and something to grub before you turn in. I dare say you think all this is very wicked work; but you should remember there was no smugglers till they built custom-houses." Talking in this way, we came to a comfortable-looking house in Beach Street, and on giving three taps at the door, it was promptly opened by a young female, and, without speaking, we entered. I was nearly fainting, but a cordial revived me; and after a slight supper I was shown into a pretty little room, that seemed to invite me to repose. But weariness and pain had overcome me; I tossed about restlessly upon my bed, and when I did doze, terrible dreams once more awoke me, till nature claimed her right, and as daylight broke I sank into a deep and refreshing sleep. DEFENSIVE FORCE OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILKIE. MILITIA-VOLUNTEERS, &c. "Les gens Anglais sont gens qui se defendent."-VOLTAIRE. "Come, ye lads, who wish to shine SONG BY A SON OF GEORGE III. THE increase of numerical strength in the Navy, and the Reports of the Commission appointed to fix on proper situations for the construction of harbours of refuge, show at least that the Government has become imbued with the conviction, already imprinted on the minds of its subjects, that the shores of England no longer hold the inviolable character they once were supposed to possess; and that invasion comes within the probabilities of future times. These preliminary measures are good as far as they go, but they should be followed up by others of a precautionary nature. If it is an acknowledged military maxim that an officer who allows himself to be surprised is disgraced, what should be said of a nation in similar circumstances? The evidence taken before the Commissioners relates chiefly to the south-east coast of England; but people seem to become aware, of what never struck them before, that the whole coasts of their island are nearly without such a thing as a safe port; those that deserve the name of harbours of refuge may be confined within a very small numberSpithead and Portsmouth; Falmouth and Milford Haven, formed by nature; and Plymouth, by art. When we speak of harbours of this description, it means, of course, those into which ships can run at all times of the tide, and be safe from every wind within. Ireland is much better endowed with harbours that come within this category, but they are also confined to a comparatively small space; from Cork, on the south-east, to Galway Bay, in the west; the east coast being as destitute of harbours of refuge as that of Great Britain in the same direction. In the report of the Commission of Inquiry, it is strongly recommended that all these works constructed in the sea, moles, piers, or breakwaters, should be fortified and armed a very proper and necessary precaution; but it may be asked who is to defend them-where are the men to come from? Without wishing to go again over the details of our regular force, it may be sufficient to say, that for the defence of Great Britain and Ireland the whole effective number of all arms would not exceed fifty thousand men, with a probable reserve of ten or twelve thousand pensioners. To watch our immense line of coast, to furnish garrisons, defend these new works, and to keep down U. S. MAG., No. 198, MAY, 1845. H |