The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-10 00:00:00

S)WGGIJNG EXTRAORDINARY.

The officers of the Customs at Fowcy have made an
extraordinary seizure. On Saturday evening, the cutter
L'Union, of Brest, arrived in the harbour, and was visited by
the officers, who, on at arching her,found concealed a quantity
of French silks, brandy, and wine. They immediately seized
the vessel. The Captain, it appears, has long been in the
habit of coming to Fowey, once a month, in ballast, for the
purpose of taking over English,goods to France, as a smug-
gler ; but there being cause to apprehend that he some-
times brought over more valuable commodities than gravel,
the search on Saturday took place in consequence. On
Monday, the Captain attended at the Custom-house, ac-
companied by his friend Mr. Bennet, Mayor of Fowey,
and in the course of conversation, it being hinted that
puobably his Worship knew as well as any individual at
Fowcy' how the Frenchman disposed of his ballast, he im-
mediately left, the Custom-house, and was speedily followed
by some officers, who repaired to his house, where they de 1,
mantled admittance, in order to search for contraband goods.
This was refusal, and a m.ssenger being in consequence
uhspatchgfor the Collector, he repaired to the spot. On
his appearance the Mayor thought proper to open the door,
when an active search commenced. and in various parts of
the house they found quantities of French wines of various
kinds, 110 several casks of brandy. Whilst in one of the
rooms, they heard a cracking as if made by the breaking of
;Ruffles, overhead ; they instantly proceeded up stairs, and
on forcint' open the door of a room against which a large
chest was placed, they found an aspirant to Aldermanic
honours lousily employed in breaking bottles filled with
brandy and Win(' ; on the floor of the room in some places
those precious liquors were nearly three inches deep ; we
also learn that between the time the Mayor got a hint of
what was intended, until the dour of his house was opened
to the Collector, a great quantity of wine and brandy was
spilled into the river. What has been removed is estimated
at SOOL This discovery has caused a great bustle in Fowey
and its neighbourhood. The parties concerned have always
been distinguished as Ultra Loyal •—in the application
made a ft w years since, for a new Charter for Fowey, the
real object d which sets to facilitate certain electioneering
projects, it was stated as a reason for granting it, that un-
less there was • local Magistrate in that place, it would
be impossible to prevent smug ling ! ! We shall see how
the Commissioners of Customs will deal with these loyal
defraud,rs of the revenue.—Derronshire Freeholder.

The naval command at Leith was done away with on 1
Saturday ; the vessels employed on the station are, for the
future, to be under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief
at Chatham.—Culedoniun Mercury.
Tits limeys:sr.—From all parts of the country we have
the most flattering accounts of the state of the crops.
Wheat harvest has begun in many counties, and the corn
is stated to be free from any species of injurious visitation.
Beans and Peas arc laid at a full average, and even above,
on the best soils. Barley and Oats arc improving, and the
apprehensions which at an earlier Oriod were entertained
respecting them, arc said to he groundless. Between
Reading and Maidenhead, oats have been extensively cut
down. The late showers, thigigh they may somewhat re-
tard the corn harvest, arc likely to secure a much better
Ilattermath than was previmmly expected. It is generally
allowed, that for the last fifty years there has not been a
: more abundant harvest than that now commencing in Ire-
-1
land. The wheat harvest in France is nearly completed;
' th the quality and quantity arc very good.
• On Ilredneralay sennight a match for too guineas aside
was run over the Newcastle course, by Lieutenants Master-
son and Davis. Each gentleman rode his own horse, and
Lieut. Davi, beat his adversary with great ease.
,lao
We understand a stop was put last week on all the pro-
duce in the West India Ikeks imported by a West India
house of some considerable eminence in the City.