Star.
London, England, 1821-04-28 00:00:00

PREVENTIVE SERVICE.

We mentioned yesterday that another affray had
taken place between a party of Smugglers and the
Preventive Service, off Herne Bay. The following
are further particulars :—lt took place about three
o'clock on Tuesday morning, immediately in front
of the Ship public-house, at Herne Bay. A large
party of smugglers, in number reported from 100. to
150, came down from the interior of the country,
and forming themselves into three divisions, one pro-
ceeded to unload a boat, which came on shore on the
beach, while the others posted themselves to the right
and left, and kept up continued collies from fire
arms, so as to prevent the approach of the parties of
the Coast Blockade, stationed in that vicinity, till the
cargo of the boat, consisting, it is conjectured, of
contraband articles, packed in half ankers, was con-
veyed away in carts, which had been brought in readi-
ness for the purpose, and guarded by those who had
accompanied them. At this moment, while the boat
remained on the beach with her crew, consisting of
five or six men, Mr. SNOW, a Midshipman of the
ISeyzarr, and belonging to the Coast Blockade, rushed
forward and alone attempted to seize it, when, being
resisted, he pointed his pistol, which missed fire, and
he was fired at in consequence by the persons in the
boat, and fell on the beach dangerously wounded,
one ball having passed through his thigh, and
another through his shoulder, and lodged under the
blade-bone. Ile was conveyed, after lying some time
on the beach, to the Ship public-house, with but little
expectation of recovery; but subsequently the ball in
the shoulder having been found, there are hopes of a
more favourable issue. The above account has
reached us from report only, and as in this, as in all
similar transactions it is difficult to ascertain little
but the result, we do not pledge ourselves for its ex-
act accuracy.

Another spirited affair between about 200 Smug-
glers, the majority of whom were armed, and a small
party of the Officers and Seamen employed on the
Coast Blockade Service, took place on the same
morning, near Hythe. The smugglers, it is conjec-
tured, bad landed some parcels of contraband goods
from two rallies, when, on the alarm being given,
they were attacked by about A dozen of the Blockade
people: a running fight was maintained with great
intrepidity by the seamen, supported every instant by
increased numbers; but the smugglers get their goods
clear off, pursued however nearly three milts by their
gallant assailants. We are sorry to learn that Lieut.
TURNER received several wounds in the affair, from
buck shot ; but it is believed they are not dangerous.
One seaman was dangerously wounded. It is thought
that many of the smugglers are severely wounded.

Tuesday last, the BADOZR cutter sent a galley into
Dover harbour, with 120 tubs of contraband spirits
on board ; and on Wednesday, the LIVILY cutter sent
another galley into the same harbour with 125 tubs ;
having captured them off that coast. These are sup-
posed to be the boats which attempted to land their
cargoes near Hythe.

A floating Chapel is about to be built at Hull, for
the religious instruction of the numerous seamen, who,
in the course of their business, visit that port.

Last week she body of a man of the name of Ste-
venson, whose employ was that of carrying shrimps
from Gravesend to London, was picked up off Graves-
end. His boat was upset in a squall on the Ist inst.

Extract of a letter from a young Gentleman, a
Midshipman In his Majesty's ship Tess, to his father
at Berrowstonness, in Scotland, dated Port Louis,
Isle of France. November 5, 1820:—" I was re-
cently ordered into an open *tat belonging to the
Henrietta, tender to the Tau, which was entizing
round the island to prevent the traffic in slaves with
Madagascar. The boat was commanded by the
master, Mr. GORDON ; and we bad been'three weeks
in her, when, on the 28th of October, an unfortunate
end was put to our cruise. The Henrietta heaving
in sight, Mr. Goanom wished to see the Officer com-
manding her, when it coming to blow hard, and
quite dark, our boat shipped a sea, and down she
went. I could swim a little, and with great diffi-
culty reached the reef. I immediately went to the
barracks, and sent off a boat to save, if possible, my
unfortunate companions; but the night being dark,
nothing could be seen of them. Next morning I'
Went of myself, and rowed about to see if I could get
the bodies of our master and the men, when at a little
distance I perceived a number of large sharks with
something they had got ; on nearing them, I per,
ceived they were eating poor Mr. GORDON ; I fired
at the one who had him, which let go its hold, and
I assisted one of the men in getting the remains into
the boat, when an immense large shark came from
under the boat and seised the remains from us. It
sprung so high out of the water, that we saw almost
its whole body. Mr. GORDON is most deeply la-
mented by all in the Tass, and has left a wife and
three children to bewail their irreparable loss."