Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-06-21
From the s. Literary Messenger.

he MISUNDERSTANDING the Snoftpe-
Rod that interviewed between the peace
of Amiens and the resumption of hos.
tillties, an officer Of the French army.
called to England by some family af.
fairs, tried 10 turn his journey to &C.
count, and thus diminish the expense TO
which it subjected him. He was ad.
vised, and he accepted the advice, to
carry over quantity of French gloves,
which were then, as at the present time,
much sought after on the other sideiof
the channel, ana sold al very high
price.
He purchased about 10000 francs
worth of gloves, had them carefully
packed, and set off on his journey.
On arriving at Dover, the officers of
the customs asked him if he had any
thing to declare he acknowledged that
he had among his baggage a supply of
gloves, and offered TO pay the duties.
When questioned as to the value of his
merchandise, wishing to make the best
bargain possible, he replied 6, 900 francs
and signed his declaration.
The officers examined the baggage.
and perceived that the real value of The
gloves was at least double that which
he had declared, took advantage ofthe
privilege given them by law, and seized
the goods, paying the proprietor 5000
francs, and 10 per cent. premium for
the privilege.
The poor officer thus found himself
almost ruined he was in despair how.
ever, after mature reflection and a pro.
found study of the English custom.
house laws and usages, he fattered him.
self that he had discovered the means
of revenging his wrongs on the English
custom house officers, and Of securing
his money with interest.
Doferring his business to su bsequent
period, he Immediately repassed the
channel and returned to Calais. With.
out losing moment, he wrote to Gre
noble, to lady with whom he had for.
merly been on very affectonate terms,
confiding to her his newly conceived
project. This lady, who was the head
OF large glove mandatory, finding
the project which he submitted very
practicable, FASTENED 10 despatch to
Isn quantity of well assorted gloves,
to the amount of 900 francs.
Our traveller knew that the custom.
house regulations caused all goods
seized in the differant ports of Great
Britain, to be sold at auction on the
same day, and on the same hour
throughout the kingdom; this was the
important point IN his speculation.
Dividing his gloves into two parcels,
perfectly equal in size, he confded one
to friend who was TO enter them at
Brighton, and kept the other himself,
which he proposed to introduce through
Dover.
The two friends embarked. Each ar.
rived at the custom house, aud declared
himself the bearer Of gloves their val
ue was asked I; they replied 10000
francs. AS on the fist occasion, after
examining them, they seized the two
parcels, paying 10000 francs and 10
per cent. premium.
The day arrived when the merchan.
die which had been seized was to be
sold at auction. Our two friends re.
paired TO the bureaux OF the customs,
the one to that at Dover, tho other to
the bureaux at Brighton. Presenting
themselves, they examined with an air
of Indifference, the objects exposed for
sale the gloves appeared handsome and
in good condition. Suddenly, they mani
tested great surprze at Dover, all the
gloves were for the RICH: hand a.
Brighton, all belonged to the left.
The two custom house officers acted
separately at thirty leagues from each
other not having examined the pack.
ages before hand with sufficient atten-
ton, they were taken by surprise
The auction is begun II the gloves must
be sold, and sold Immediately. At an
extremely low price, and in the midst of
the jokes Of the assistants, our two
Frenchmen are declared the highest
bidders.
Meeting the next morning, they re.
sort their gloves into pairs, and hasten
to publish The adventure in the news
papers ofthe day. Forty. eight hours
after, they disposed Of all their mer-
II.