Star.
London, England, 1826-08-18 00:00:00

SMUGGLING.

Between one and two o'clock in the morning of Sun-
day last, the officer commanding the blockade party at
Fore Moncrief,..near Hythe, being out on duty, heard
the report of fire arms, as a signal for a smuggler being
on the coast, and proceeding to the spot, accompanied
by three of his men, they discovered a very long galley,
attended by a large party of smugglers, working her
c ergo of contraband goods; a brisk firing instantly
commenced, during which two of the smugglers fell,
one of whom was seized by the officer, Lieutenant
Jrnstone, but he was overpowered by numbers, until
r eased by his party; and on renewing the contest, the
muggier: retreated into the marsh; with their'soods,
leaving behind them fourteen tubs of spirits, and a nian
named Bushell, severely wounded; two of the blockade
men were also wounded, one of them so seriously, as to
leave little hope of his recovery. Jost after the smug-
glers retreated, Lieutenant Westbrook came up with Isis
party, and pursued them into the marshes, where he
found three muskets they had abandoned, and a half
anker, through which a ball had passed, in such a di-
rection, that if the person carrying it escaped the shot,
it must have been by a miracle. The prisoner's wound
being in the knee, has rendered amputation necessary
above that joint.
Tuesday about noon, a man stripped himself upon the
beach, opposite the bathing-rooms at Dover, and went
into the water to bathe, in sight of several people who
were near the place; and after enjoying himself for
some time, plunging about in the water, he gave an
alarm, and struggled as if he was conscious that his life
was in danger. The sentinels of the Coast Blockade
procured the boat stationed at the post, and put off to
his assistance; but while they were thus engaged, a
number of men crowded towards the shore, and with a
rope drew out a few tubs of spirits, and taking one each
upon their shoulders, walked Noway with their loads,and
got clear off by the Marine Parade, when the prome-
nade was literally thronged. The drowning man im-
mediately recovered his strength,his object being merely
to divert the sentinels from their post, until his coin.
1 rades had worked the goods which were sunk. The•
water has since been dragged, and forty tubs found in 1
the same place.

Sir Hatay Haman arrived in town on Wednes-
day evening from the Ktne's Pavilion at &lemon. where ilir
Henan had been staying since Ilboday, en a visit to the Duke
of Yeas.

The HonourableCorps of a:sidemen Pensioners dined
together on Wednesday, at the Freemasons' Tavern, to celebrate
the Birth day of the Duke .f TOIL

Tat Moons.—As yet it is- rather too early to speak
of the feats performed by our sportsmen. One or two of our
friends had very slender auceen on Saturday; but much depends on
the nature of the ground over which a fowler has liberty to ramble ;
and more than this, the young birds are this year so strong and shy,
that it is very difficult to get within shot of them. Still, under
every disadvantage, one Gentleman bagged on the 12th nine brace
of grouse, and a thumping bare, although be was only out from 11
ant. to 4 ras.—Dunsfries angrier.

About the middle of January last, ii happened that
the wife of a travellingackman, at Neumunster, in
Holstein, was drawing near the time of her confine
ment, just as he was upon the point of setting out on
one of his circuits. He called the midwife, and desired
her,during his absence, to pass the night with his wife
till her approaching delivery. The midwife, however,
assured him that the event need not be expected for
some time, and that her preserce was therefore unne-
cessary. in the faith of this the man set forth on his
journeys On the ensuing night there suddenly appeared
to the pregnant wonvan,who had neglected, in a country
'so secure, to bolt the door, a fignife in a mask, and armed
with a long sword, which figure demanded he: stock of
money, with threats. Trembling with terror, the
mistress elf the house delivered it up. The person in
disguise next demanded some silver articles, a watch,
&c. which the woman denied she posse►sed ; but this
well-informed apparition told her that they lay in a
cupboard in the other apartment, and commanded her
to fetch them forth. The poor woman tottered away
to the place, which was the sleeping•roont ; there her
eye happened to catch her husband's loaded pint 11
hanging upon the wall. Taking courage all at once,
she made a bold resolution, stretched out her hand for
it, and returning, without the silver things, gently into
the sitting apartment, she took aim at the person in
disguise. pulled the trigger, struck the intruder up n
the thigh, and brought it to the mound. Alarmed by
the report, the neighbours hastened in, and, nnmasking
the terrible robber, it was fotutd to be—the midwife 1.