Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-08-08
From Chambers Edinburs Journal.
The SmssggIer Maigrc .Lui.

The Smssggler Maigrc Lai.
There is perhaps no more singular an
omaly in the history Of the human mind
than the very different light in which a
| fraud is viewed according TO the circum.
stances in which it is pracsiseJ The
i singular revelations made TO the Chaa-
ceIlnr of the Exchequer by a late depa-
tation will probably be fresh in the re-
membrance of most of our readers
Even the, learned gentleman himself
could hardly maintain his professional
gravity when informed of the ingenious
contriyances adopted for defrauding the
revenue. Advertisements floating thro'
the air attached to balloons. French
gloves making their way into the king
dom in separate detachments of right
and left hands, mutilated clocks travel.
ing without their wheels--such were
some of the divers modes by which the
law was declared to be eyaded, and the
custom-louse officers baflled We are
by no means disposed either TO think or
speak with lesity of this system, of
things. However much man may
succeed in reconciling any fraud TO his
own conscience. or however lenien,ly ii
may be viewed by his fellow,men, it
will yet assuredly help TO degrade his
moral nature, and its repetition will slow
Ely, bli surely, deaden The silent monitor
within tho breast. All we aiIirn is the
| well known fact, tina. laws are in most
cases ineffective, except in SO far as they
harmonize with the innate moral convic-
tons of mank ind; and thai many a man
| who would not for worlds cheat his next
door pcighbor Of penny. will own
withou, blush, and perhaps even with
smile of triumph, that he has cheated
the government Of thousands! Ii is no,
often, however, that SO daring and sue
cessiul stroke Of this nature is effect
ed as that which we lind related of a
celebrated Swiss jewelier, who actually
succeeded in making the French direc-
tor-general of the customs act the part
OF a smuggler!
Geneva, as must be well known 10 all
our readers, supplies half Europe with
her watches and jewelry. Three thous-
and workmen are kept in continual en-
ployment by her master goldsmilhs;
while seventy-five thousand ounces of
gold, and fifty thousand marks Of silver.
annually change their form and multiply
their value beneath their skillful hands.
The most fashionable jewelers. shop in
Geneva is unquestionably thai of
Ra, ,nl- th .x.ks
beyond all others excite the longing Of
the Partisan ladies'. A high, duty is
charged upon these in crossing The from
tier; but, in consideration of brokerage
Of per cent, M. Beauae undertakes to
forward them safely to their destination
through contraband channels; and the
bargain between The buyer and seller is
concluded with this condition as openly
appended and ayowed as if there were
no such peasons as custom house officers
in the world.
All this went on smoothly for some
years with NJ. Beaut,e; but a, length Il
SO happened that nj. lie Com,e de Saint
Greg, gentleman of much ability anc
vigilance. was appointed director gener-
al of the customs. He heard SO much
of the skill evinced by M, Beanste in
eluding the vigilance of his agents, that
he resolved personally to investigate the
llnaiter, and prove himself the truth of
Iihe reports. He consequently repaired to
Geneva, presented himself al M. Beaut-
les shop, and purchased 10000 francs
worth of jewelry, on the express condi-
ton that they should be transmitted 20
him free of duty on his return to Paris.
M. Beautie accepted the proposed con-
dilion with The air Of man who was
perfectly accustomed to arrangements of
this description. He, however, presen-
ted for signature to MI. de Saint Cricq q
private deed, by which the purchaser
pledged himself to pay the customary s
per cent. smuggling dues, in addition
10 the 10000 francs purchase money.
M. de Saint Cricq, smiled, and taking
the pen from ihe jewelers. hand, affixed
10 the deed she following signature--..L..
de Saint Cricq, Director General of the
Customs in France He then handed
lhe documen. back 10 M. Beantte, who
merely glanced al the signature, and re-
piled, with a corteous bow, "Nonsieur
te Direcfe,r des Do,tanee, ! shall take
care that the articles which you have
done me eshe honor Of purchasing shall
be handed TO you in Paris directly after
your arrival" M. de Saint. Cricq, piqs
uea by The mans cool daring and appa-
rent defiance of his authority and pro-
fessional skill, Immediately ordered
post horses, and without the delay of a
single hour set out with all speed on the
road TO Paris. -
On reaching the frontier. the Dire.or-
] General made himself known 10 the
empiosees who came forward to exam
inc his carriage-informed the chief Of
4 ficer of the incident which had just oc-
Cured, and begged Of him TO keep up
the strictes. surveillance along the whole
of the frontier line, as he felt il TO be q
matter Of the utmost importance TO place
some check upon the wholesale system
of fraud which had for some years past
been practised upon the revenue by the
Il fya scxaI a