§ Mr. Warrewished to receive some information as to the intentions of his majesty's government with respect to the mode generally pursued throughout the country, for the Prevention of Smuggling. He understood that the chancellor of the
*For the Debate on Mr. Adam's Motion respecting the Trials of Mr. Muir and Mr. Palmer, See New Parl. Hist. v. 30 p. 1480.682 exchequer was not dissatisfied with it, but he (Mr. W.) had many objections to it. A peculiar and new system prevailed on one part of the coast. From Beechy-head to the mouth of the Thames, he believed there were armed patroles stationed all along the coast. These patroles were under the command of naval officers, principally midshipmen. This system might have the effect of suppressing smuggling; but he thought it injurious to our naval officers. He wished to ask any of the lords of the Admiralty opposite, whether of all services this was not the worst to employ a midshipman in? He had no society, and was subjected to every species of temptation. There were some provisions in the act for the prevention of smuggling, of which the House was perhaps not aware:—for instance, a person found in the act of landing one pint of foreign spirits, was liable to a penalty of 100l. An instance of the impropriety of this clause had come within his knowledge: a mariner who had been absent on the sea for two days, on landing on his return to his wife and family, was detected by one of these lieutenants with a single pint of spirits in his pocket. He was immediately conveyed before a magistrate, who was called upon to inflict the fine. The magistrate, who under this act, had not the power to mitigate the fine, knowing the man to be perfectly honest, and knowing that he must go to jail if he complied with the provisions of this act, absolutely refused to do so. He hoped this act would be revised.
§ Sir G. Cockburnstated, in reply to the representation of the hon. gentleman with respect to the midshipmen in the Preventive Service, that one of the lords of the Admiralty had lately been sent to inspect and report on the state of these officers and the service in general, and the report made with respect to them was of the most gratifying nature. The midshipmen were found to conduct themselves in the most respectable manner; they messed together as the officers in the army did, and were in every respect in a state of the most perfect discipline. These midshipmen had passed their examination for lieutenants, and had therefore already learned their business. They now conducted this service in a manner that could not be excelled, and it was satisfactory to the Admiralty to be able to give them this employment in time of peace, at the same time that they became valuable to 683 their country by protecting its revenue. They had also achieved man; gallant actions. The smugglers now-a-days came down upon them in armies, and they had had regular battles, in which some of these midshipmen had been killed and wounded. From every information they had been able to obtain, it was impossible that they could conduct themselves better, or the duty be better performed.