ness, a Coast Blockade officer, swearing that he had known Roper for years as a smuggler, that he had chased him at sea and had smelt brandy which he had sunk at a depth of six fathoms, which caused the counsel for the prosecution to remark that he must. have had an uncommonly keen sense of smell.
The jury were a long time agreeing to a verdict ; in fact the judge, Lord Wynford, sat in court till nine. o'clock, when, finding that they were not then agreed, he retired to rest, and was called at one o'clock the following morning to receive, sitting up in bed, and in his night-cap, a verdict of " Acquittal."
I have been informed that the counsel for the defence had the King's pardon in his pocket, in case Isum had been brought in " guilty." Roper lived in Hastings some years after this affair, following his occupation as captain of a large pleasure boat, and died universally respected in 1851.
MEETING PLACES, ETC.
Among the many alterations and improvements that have taken place in Hastings during the last fifty or sixty years, may be mentioned the removal of lime-kilns that once were actually within the present limits of the town. There was one at or near the lower part of Wellington Square, of this I am fortunate enough to have a view ; another was close to the present Coast-Guard -
