The Smugglers: Picturesque Chapters in the Story of an Ancient CraftHarper, Charles G. (Charles George)
History
The Smugglers: Picturesque Chapters in the Story of an Ancient Craft
Harper, Charles G. (Charles George)
Smuggling -- Great Britain
The difficulty before Captain Harry’s friends was how to hide him away,
for they were convinced that a reward would be offered for his
apprehension. He was, in the first instance, taken to the house of his
brother Charles, and stayed there six or seven days, until an
advertisement appeared in the newspapers, offering a reward of three
hundred pounds for him, within three months. He was then taken to the
house of a gentleman at Marazion, and there remained close upon three
weeks, removing thence to the mansion called Acton Castle, near Cuddan
Point, then quite newly built by one Mr. John Stackhouse. He was moved
to and fro, between Acton Castle and Marazion, and so great did his
brothers think the need of precaution that the doctor who attended to his
hurts was blindfolded on the way. And so matters progressed until
October, when he was shipped from Mount’s Bay to Leghorn, and thence, in
1789, sailed for New York. It was in New York that the Lord strove
mightily with him, and he was converted and became a member of the
Wesleyan Methodist communion. After some considerable trials, he sailed
for England, and finally reached home again in October 1790, to his
brother Charles’s house at Kenneggey. His reception was enthusiastic,
and he became in great request as a preacher in all that countryside.
But in April 1791 he tells us he was sent for “by a great man of this
neighbourhood” (probably one of those whom we have already suspected of
being sleeping-partners in the Carters’ business), and warned that three
gentlemen had been in his company one day at Helston, when one said,
looking out of window, “There goes a Methodist preacher”; whereupon
another answered, “I wonder how Harry Carter goes about so publicly,
preaching, and the law against him. I wonder he is not apprehended.”
The great man warned him that it might be a wise course to return to
America. “And,” continues Captain Harry, “as the gent was well
acquainted with our family, I dined with him, and he brought me about a
mile in my way home; so I parted with him, fully determining in my own
mind to soon see my dear friends in New York again. So I told my
brothers what the news was, and that I was meaning to take the gent’s
advice. They answered, ‘If you go to America, we never shall see you no
more. We are meaning to car on a little trade in Roscoff, in the brandy
and gin way, and if you go there you’ll be as safe there as in America;
likewayse we shal pay you for your comision, and you car on a little
business for yourself, if you please.’ So,” continues this simple soul,
“with prayer and supplication I made my request known unto God.” And as
there appeared no divine interdict upon smuggling, he accepted the agency
and went to reside at Roscoff, sending over many a consignment of ardent
liquors that were never intended to—and never did—pay tribute to the
Revenue. All went well until, in the troubles that attended the French
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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