Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-08-27

llUGGLlNl
10 our last number w0 ptosIsiaed .
give some anecdotes Of mug6ting, q Pc
mote which will be the tendency. " will
not say - the design, Of the sxhorbitdht
Tariff: which has passed the House
Most of these tricks are so we'll known
that it would b. tedious 10 repeat them.
Every body has laughed At the story
which went the rounds Of the papers late
Iy, Of the man who concealed spirits in
the cavity Of his wooden leg; and the in.
genuity Of the Paris washer women, who
saturate their linen with brandy, and
then squeeze it out when they get within
the barrier, is not less notorious. Sir
Robert Peel recently read in the House
Of Commons. circular letter from the
chief Of a baad Of smugglers, offering to
deliver various articles Of merchandise at
a moderate premium. The cunning ex.
pedient for evadifta the duty levied in
England upon French gloves, has been
often related. 1t turned out that they
were all odd ones, and they were there
fore knocked off Tor more song, the pnr
chasers being the agents for the SNUG
glers, who had introduced the gloves for
the other hand, at another port, whore
they were bought at public sale at an
equally low price.
The ingenuity OF those who seek 10
evade the revenue laws is inexhaustible.
1t would be impossible to recount the hum
dredth part Of their tricks. On the from.
tiers Of France and Belgium dogs are
trained for the purpose. Those who train
them clothe themselves in the uniform or
the French custom-house officers, and
beat them until they acquire an instinct.
i've dread for the costume. Portfolios arc
then fastened under thei bellies, contains
ing laces and other costly articles Of small
bulk. They then set out on their Jour
ney to cross the frontier, and ifthey spy
custom. house officer at q distance they
are frightened at his dress aud run as far
their lives. In this way many valuable
contraband articles are introduced into
France, and such is the reputation Of
these canine smugg!ers that the French
government pays a premium Of naty
francs for every one that is caugH ID
portfolio attached to him.
A good anecdote is reluted Of N. pES1(
CRlco, formerly Director General
customs i'll Paris, and subsequently
lister Of Commerce. Having heard
Of the skill Of the Swiss smugglers, H.
termined, when i1eGenevl, to investigaj
the subject for himself. He therefore
called at the shop OF celebrated jcweller
who had an agency in Paris, and select
ing watch Of the value Of three or sour
hundred francs. observed that he would
like to purchase it were it net for the ex-
pense Of introducing /. into France.
'.ti,ve me your address in Paris was the
reply Of tho jewelIer, land for fifteen
francs more (about three dollars) you
shall receive it the day after your arriv-
all" Charmed at an incident which he
thought presented him with valuable
clue to the devious winnings OF the contra
band trade, the Director General accepted
the proposal, and Immediately gave the
most particular and accurate information
to the officers on the frontier. Never
thelcss, the day after his arrival, he was
astonished al the appearance Of q man at
his hotel, who punctually delivered the
watch, according to the bargain which had
been concluded. Upon investigation, II
turned out that the matchmaker had brib-
ed, for ten francs, the valet Of NJ. DE ST
CRlco, who had thus been made to pay
the services Of his own lnotmen in bring
ing this valuable trIuket to Paris.
Another anecdote and we have done
We spoke OF tho ingenuity of the ladies
in conceaiing contraband articles abou,
their persons. This is particularly the
case with shawls, of which French wo
men are 50 passionatcly fond, that, il i
good humordly said, they vii! resist any
thing but cashmere, against which Tho
most rigid virtue is not proof. As III,
diligence was oacc approaching the from
tier Of France, a lady among the passei
gers, gave evident tokens Of uneasiness
A fellow traveller suspecting the causc
advised her to trust her secret to hin,
promising to give her every assistanc.
in his power She confessed, with tn,
con6diag frankness always inspired b,
coamon danger or guilt among fellow
travellers, that she had valuable Cash
mere concealed about her person. Whel
the critical moment arrived the gentle
man immediately went 20 the officers nns
J, denounced his fair companion, who Wa
Once tremendously rlded Of her hiddcl
treasure. Upon resumins their journe:
. the indignation Of the PASSENGERS to who,
tho fact had become known, was vente'
upon the ungallunt and treacherou
stranger in the most significant manner
He bore it all with great philosophy unit
they had passed tho frontier some twent
miles. Then addressing himself 10th
lady, he said, 81 believe madam. you hav
:, lost valuable Cashmere, aud blame m
for you misfortune?" sullen bow 9
acquiescence was the only reply. "Pel
init me, madam resumed he. s..to offe
you q much handsomer one, which IS fair
~ your due, since by denouncing you
lulled suspicion, and was able TO pass
: dozen Of them" We need not add, tina
he was at once restored to the good gre
ces Of the lady and ofthe rest 81 the com
, pany Spectator, Washington City.
I'll "Gentlemen Of the jury said West
i ern lawyer, ''would you set rat trap
Icafch a bnr2 Would Won make fools q