ings to attend to the wounded man. When they arrived at the house they found it strictly guarded by a party of marines, who at that time were assisting the Coast-blockade. The officer in charge, of course, wanted to know their errand, and demurred to their being allowed to enter the house. On Mr. Ranking, however, saying that they were sent for to attend a woman in labour, that it was a very serious case, and that he should hold the officer responsible if anything went wrong, the guard was withdrawn, and they were both allowed to go on their errand of mercy. The young man partially recovered, and was afterwards smuggled into Hastings. I have been informed by one present at this affair, and who concealed himself in a ditch, that the Coast-blockade fired at anything they saw moving, while the marines fired into the air, their officer charging them not to hurt the smugglers . My informant got off scot-free, and saved the only pair of tubs that were got away. Robert Ranking, Esq. , subsequently served the office of Mayor of Hastings.
"In September, 1831 , a Custom-house officer, seeing a pleasure yacht going up the Thames, off Gravesend, and suspecting her character, gave chase. He chased her twenty miles up the river, and overtook and boarded her off Blackwall. Under the floor he found sixty-six tin cases, made to fit the vessel, and which were full of light goods, the estimated value of which was two thousand pounds. 66 In January, 1832 , the Coast-guard discovered a tunnel cut through the chalk cliff at Margate for a distance of two hundred yards from the sea-shore to a house in the town. The tunnel passed under several houses, and must have been made at a considerable cost of time and money.
" On the 22nd of February, 1832, between two hun-
