to give the smugglers a warm reception . Some were sent to collect fire-arms, others to cast bullets and make cartridges, and every means were taken for resistance and defence which time and opportunity afforded. True to their threat the smugglers made their appearance, headed by one Thomas Kingsmill, who subsequently headed the gang in their attack on the Custom-house at Poole, and after some horrid threats and imprecations commenced the attack by a general discharge of fire-arms, which was promptly and effectually replied to by the militia, by which. one of the smugglers was shot ; but it was not till two more of them had lost their lives and many of them had been wounded, that they quitted the field of battle ; they were pursued by the militia, and some of them taken and executed.
The murder of Galley and Chater as before related , together with other doings of the smugglers, and the names of the most desperate of the gang, particularly of those who broke open the Custom-house, having been made known to the king, His Majesty issued a proclamation, with lists of their several names, declaring, that unless they surrendered themselves on a day ap pointed, they should be outlawed and out of the protection of the laws of their country ; promising also a reward of £500 for the apprehension of any one of them who should be taken and convicted in pursuance thereof.
