carried on at the period referred to . Captains of the East India Company's ships would not unfrequently have on board some tea, and probably some silks on their own account ; these they would dispose of in their passage up the Channel, where there would be smugglers of the better class waiting for the homeward bound ships, and who were always ready to purchase tea and silks of any captain having them to dispose of. Of course these goods having been bought considerably under their market value, not having been charged with any duty, could be sold on shore with a handsome profit to the " free trader."
Another part of English law was, that any vessel or boat found within British waters with small cord on board such as was used for slinging casks of spirits or bales of tea, was liable to seizure , and also, if having on board stones, such as were used for sinking smuggled goods. The limits defined as British waters were within four leagues of the coast between Dungeness and Beachy Head, and within eight leagues at all other parts.
The tobacco on board the Vier de Brudas was done up in bales of eighty pounds weight, and the spirits in half-ankers containing two-and-a-half or three gallons. The value of the cargo was from £8,000 to £10,000 .
The Badger Revenue cutter sighted the Vier de Brudas coming down Channel on a January morning, hugging the French coast. She immediately gave -
