The habit of export smuggling, then, has been, for some hundreds of years at least, part of the system under which the middle and lower classes in Sussex have been trained. Large fortunes were made by it in East Sussex, and it came to an end only during the last war with France. IMPORT SMUGGLING. The wars with France, in the time of King William and Queen Anne, revived and increased greatly the custom of _import_ smuggling, for which the existing _export_ system, already well organised, gave every convenience. It was in Romney Marsh that Hunt, in the year 1696, ran cargoes of Lyons silk and Valenciennes lace sufficient to load thirty pack-horses; and, under cover of these proceedings, kept a house of resort for men of high consideration among the Jacobites--of “earls and barons, knights and doctors of divinity”--and established a clandestine post to London, and frequent communications, by means of privateers, with the Court of St. Germains.[57] The vigilance necessarily used during the next war, to prevent these clandestine communications with the enemy, will be best seen by the following account of some persons, as well English as French,[58] seized by the riding officers appointed for the guard of the coast of Kent and Sussex, coming out of France; and of some other particulars relating to correspondence, &c., on those coasts, since her Majesty’s declaration of war in May, 1702, to December 20, 1703:-- JULY 25, 1702.--Some French letters sent from a privateer, and others found in the beach near Seaford, all delivered to the Secretary Hedge’s office. OCT. 8.--Near Seaford, two persons seized and sent to the Secretary. Mr. Pelham and J. Goldham. JAN. 4, 1703.--At Newhaven, five Frenchmen and a boy taken. Hawkins. MAR. 5.--At Felpham, two French prisoners. Parratt. MAY 3.--A Frenchman, from Calais, with letters and papers, under Beachy Head in the night, sent for. Messenger Fowler. MAY 6.--Three French prisoners at Pagham. MAY 27.--Five or six French prisoners more, near Shoreham. Clark. Captain Toosloe sett on shore, by Cleavell, from Dieppe. Clark. Shoreham: Three French prisoners more. Mose. Three came on shore in long-boat, and made their escape through the country. Ogilvie. OCT. 2.--Mr. Herne seized: brought up per messenger. Seaford. DEC. 12.--Major Boucher, Captain Ogiliby and five more out of France, seized at Beachy Head, by express; brought up by messengers. Out of a small hoy, near Selsea, seized five Frenchmen; committed to Chichester gaol, broke prison, and retaken by J. Field. SEIZURES OF SILKS AND OTHER FRENCH GOODS, &C.--Convictions and compositions made and obtained by the said officers, within the time first above-menconed, amounting to about six thousand five hundred pounds--as per records in her Majesty’s Court of Exchequer may appeare. 6,500_l._