Not unfrequent sights at this spot were severed capacious boats of slight build, which had been captured from smugglers, who had had the temerity to try a cargo there; as forty years since, and even more recently, contraband ventures were of very common occurrence. The last successful “run” in broad daylight took place about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, July 19th, 1821, at the bottom of Ship Street, while the Custom House Officers were attracted to the Level to witness the Coronation sports. The working party had assembled in the Old Ship Yard, and at a signal given, by way of the Gap 300 kegs of Hollands were slung and off before the few persons present, who remained in the town, could comprehend the scene. Most of the cargo was, as usual, conveyed inland, where the readiest means were offered for its concealment and disposal. Captured smugglers were, at that period, put on board the Hound revenue cutter, Captain Butler commander, which was stationed off Brighton, and a smuggler chase by her was frequently a very exciting scene from the shore. Men who embarked in the hazardous enterprise were frequently missing; but whether their lives were sacrificed or they had been captured and shipped off in the Royal Navy, upon foreign service, a considerable lapse of time and a combination of circumstances only determined. One of the most desperate of a noted gang in the neighbourhood of Brighton was David Scales, who, on the night of November 7th, 1796, while going, with many more, over the hill to Patcham, heavily laden, was overtaken by excise officers and soldiers. The smugglers fled in all directions; a riding officer, as such persons were called, gave chase to Scales, who was likewise on horseback, and called upon him to surrender his booty, which he refused to do. The officer knew that Scales was too good a man for him, they having tried it before; so he shot Daniel through the head. A monument to his memory was erected in Patcham churchyard, with the following inscription, now obliterated by time:— Sacred to the Memory of DANIEL SCALES, Who was unfortunately shot, on Tuesday evening, Nov. 7, 1796. Alas! swift flew the fatal lead, Which pierced through the young man’s head He instant fell, resigned his breath, And closed his languid eyes in death. All you who to this stone draw near, Oh! pray let fall the pitying tear: From this sad instance may we all Prepare to meet Jehovah’s call. {313} On the 24th of April, 1806, an encounter took place off Brighton, between the revenue cutter, Leopard, and a smuggler, when Aldridge, the commander of the contraband vessel, was killed in the action, and one of his crew, named Morris, was so desperately wounded in the chest that he died a few days afterwards.