The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-12 00:00:00

PREVENTIVE SERVICE.

The Earl of DARNLEY said he rose for the purpose of brief-
ly stating to their Lordships the object of the motion, and much as
he deplored the lamentable occurrence which hrd deprived an in-
dividual of his life, It was not so much to that particular occur.
race as to the system eider which the Preventive Service was regu-
lated, that he wished to call their Lordships' cttention. He dirt not
believe that any order had been issued to the Preventive Service
that mild justify the circumstance that had pc.-erred; hut he be-
lieved that orders lied been issued to prevent the aseinblage of a
greater number than three persona, and it appeared also that the
revenue had orders to fire upon any person who did not return an
Blower when called to: arid his Lordship was informed that many
instances had occurred of fatal consequences nrisir.g out of three
orders. There was a tomb-stone in Hastings which recorded the
death of a poor fialienran who was shot by one of the revenue,
because he did not return an answer when called to. In that in-
Maece • Cerentell Inquest had brought in a verdict of wilful
murder against the party who had fired. leeduld be impossible to
prevent suchoccurrencesand fatal accidents a hen inns were entrust.
ed to such men as those who were employed in the Preventive
Service. The variant which occurred in that service were tilled
top by persons who were unfit to be entrusted with arms. His Lord-
ship wished to mention a circumstance which occurred to himself
near his own house at Sandwich. His Lordship had been in com-
pansy with some friends, when he was accosted by one of the coast
blockade, who insisted on stopping him and examining his person.
His Jrirdship wid.ed to be conducted to the commanding officer,
who, with that politeness which is not uncommon in his profeselon,
assured his Lordship of the regret he felt at what had occurred,
and *mild have pitnishtd the individnel, had his Lordship not in.
terfered. as lie considered the man less to blame tkan the system
under which hr hail acted. When such interruption.was experi-
enced by hie Lordship near his own house, where ha was so well
known., what vexations must not the poor fishermen be liable to,
when they had such frequent occasions to come in contact with the
revenue. And with all these regulations, smuggling was nulled
on to a greater extent in that quarter of the country thou in any
• part of his 31ajesty's dominions. In attempting to seal up the
coast from Sheerness to Portsmouth, no advantage would be gained.
There would be a great expense incurred, which might be avoided
by • reduction of the present duties. As he did not apprehend
that any opposition would be made to his motion, his Lordship
said he would not enter into any further detail. If any benefit was
derived from the present system of protecting the revenue, it was
dearly purchased by placing the lives of the people in jeopardy ;
but If it could he proved that no advantage arose out of it, there
collet be no doubt but that it should be abandoned. His Lordship
then moved that there be laid before their Lordships a return of
the number of officinal, petty officer, and men, employed in the
Preventive Service, distinguishing the number of seamen, and also
an account of the apnual expense of such service.
Lord AIELVILLE said that no Wrenn regretted more than he
did the unfortunate accident which had been alluded to by the
/debit: Earl, and which had deprived an individual of life; but the
Noble Earl was entirely mistaken if he thought that on this or
other occasion themes employed in the Preventive Service had any
orders to molest any number of persons, or of disturbing them in
Pier peaceful occupations. The fat was, not only that no such
orders ever bad been 'Rased, but that orders had been given never
to use any force until violence had been offered to those employed
on the entice, in which ease it could not be expected that any man
should I e prevented from protecting himaelf. These orders had
heal issued and acted upon: but on the night on which the unfortu-
nate accident alluded to had happened, armed bands of smugglers
ware seen on different pans of the coast, in the prosecution of their
usual avocations, and an intimation to that effect bad been given to
the different stations of the coast blockade, to whom directions had
been given to be prepared. It was natural on such an occasion that
the man who tired the shot might be under the feelings of alarm
or hurry ; at all events he had done that for which lie was now in
prison, and for which he would be tried. The act was at direct '1
variance with the orders which be had received. and by that un-
lock,
act he had deprived his men officer of life. The Noble Dallied
• said that he had reason to think such occurrences had frequently taken
place. Now he (Lord Melville) would say he had never known a
simitir circumstance to have occurred. lie would not deny that it
might have happened, and he believed the fact was so, that ships
had been fired upon when they had refused to wait for the revenue
officers ; but such a state of things was rendered necessary, in order
to protect die revenue. If the Noble Earl conceived that the re.
verve could be supported without some strong measures for check.
fug smugglers, he was entirely mistaken. Within a very few
days the Admiralty had such information as would convince the
I'soble Earl that, without some coercive measure, it would be
totally impossible to preserve the revenue, or the peace of that
pvt of the country which smugglers frequented. Under the revenue
laws, if any assembly of people were to resist the officers appointed
for the protection of the reverue in the execution of their
defy. they cummitted a capital offence; and if they were so
assembled, and did resist the officers, they naturally expected
consequences. As to the expense, be ( Lord Melville)
was sure the Noble Earl would at once perceive the necessity of
maintaining • naval force, and how was that force to be employed
Surely it could not be employed in any way better than in time pre-
vention of smuggling. If the Noble Earl conceived that smug-
ghee could be prevented by the ordinary officers of the Cestorns, lie
was entirely mistaken. Unless it naval force WWI empleycd, it would
be absolutely necessary to have a military torce, either cavalry or
tenantry, or both ; and considering the jealousy with which such a
/urea had been always loukei upon, he was sure their Lordships
would not concur in any such establishment fur such a purpose.
. The Noble Earl had observed that the persors employed were
not seamen; but that was a mistake: as in the navy, so
in this service, men were discharged after having served three
Lean. but such vacuums were seldom filled•np Lut by seamen.
The Noble Earl had recommended a reduction of duties; now one
of the principal articles which were smuggled was spirits, and if
the duty on foreign spirits was lowered, the duty must be lowered
on that which was manufactured at Minn. Ile (Lord Melville)
•thought the duty on all kinds of spirits low enough; if it were ;ti-
nned it would be highly detrimental to the interests and to the
morals of the people; lowering the duties would increase the quan.
City and consumption of spirits, and would, in fact, deluge the
count with poison. It was not the fact that smuggling had in.
000sed since the establishment of the Preventive Service, noe was
it the fat that there were more disturbances on the coast where
such system was established, than on any other; smuggling had de.
anted considerably of late ; and his Lordship thought the decrease
attributable, in • great degree, to the vigilance of the preventive
isentee. His Lordship did not wish to offer any opposition to the
motion of the Noble Earl, nor would lie trouble their Lordships
with any other remarks.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, It was not merely in his of.
Eclat capacity, but as a resident of that part of the country which
bad been so much alluded to, that he wished to make an obser-
vation or two to their Lordships. Ile could state that during
*twelve years no such accident as that which was the immediate
cause of the present motion had occurred; he could also state that
no order was ever issued from the Treasury to fire upon any per.
eon who might refuse to answer, when spoken to by those who were
employed for the prevention of smuggling ; on the contrary. as
had been stated by his Noble Friend at the head of the Admi-
ralty, their positive orders were, newer to use force but for the pus.
pose of repelling violence. It had been said that the duties ought
to be lowered, but it should be recollected that, if that course
was adopted, recourse must be had to direct taxation ; end, with
respect to the idea of employing a military force for the protec.
stun of the revenue, his Lordship considered that still more ob.
jectionable. The Preventive Service had been effectual beyond
calculation. If it had no better effect than driving smugglers
from the narrow pan of the Channel. it would be a great benefit,
and his Lordship could net refrain from bearing his testimony to
the high charatter of the officer who • had first introduced it. lie
never knew an individual of more mildness and hirbeerance, or one
more univervilly regretted ; with such a duty as he ha o to perform,
it was surprising to think how he had secured the esteem of all
who knew him. His Lordship would give no opposition to the
motion, but he knew of no other system, naval or military, which
could be aubstittited for the present, or which would be liable to
less inconvenience.

The Earl of DAUNLEY considered the system unnbjectionabk&
but he considered the abuses which were often practised under it of
■ nature which caked for correction.
The motion was then agreed to.
Adjourned at a quartet to Six o'clock.
HOUSAC:OF COBIMONs, TUESDAY, Aram 11.

. ;
The/SPEAKER entered the !louse at three o'clock, to proceed
to ballot for a Committee on the right of election few the borough of
Huntingdon ; when there not being a sufficient number of Mem.
berg present to. constitute a ballot, the Speaker adjourned tits House
at half-past Four o'clock.