Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-17

ap the Forth. When off the Bass Rock.
a celebrated mass of rock which rises alb
ruptly from the ocean near the entrance to
the Firth of Forth-one of them noticed
some black objects rising and sinking to
leeward. They bore up to them, and found
they were four or five rundlets of French
brandy, evidently cast overheard by some
Here was temptation to the
poor fellows, dispirited as they were by the
il.success of their voyage! they knew
very well that the severe revenue laws
most strictly forbade them TO pick up any
cask of spirit at sea, if Of less capacity than
forty galons--the reason being that frauds
were frequently practsed by smuggler
bringing in small casks, and alleging they
found them floating on the sea. The duty
therefore, of the fishermen was, mot to touch
the casks, but to give notice to the officers
of the customs, that they might secure the
"waifs and strays" in question.
Larry felt the temptation with peculiar
force, owing to his position. He was re-
turning with an empty boat to claim his
bride, and although at any other time mis-
natural rectitude would have saved him,
he now weakly yielded and his opinion,
as skipper Of the boat, decided any doubts
or quams of conscience on the part OF his
crew. They therefore hauled the rundets
on board, and hiding them under the nets,
put towards land, and at nlghtfall attemp-
ted to run the booty or the coast. They
were seized in the act by some of the watch
full revenue officers, and Lillias soon heard
that her betrothed was lodged in gaol,
awaiting his examination on the charge OF
smuggling.
The unhappy GIRL and many of the fish
ermen, attended the next morning at the
hall where the magistrate sat in judgment.
The evidence was too clear for any defence
10 avail but Larry took all blame on him.
self, and strongly averred that his own in
Auence as skipper had alone induced his
crew to take part in the act, that the mag
strates mercifully discharged them, with a
strong admonitIon to beware for the future ;
but the boat vas forfeited, and Larry him
self was doomed. The presiding justice
read over in court the clause OF the act de-
tining the penalty incurred by the latter, as
follows -
Every parson so convicted as aforesaid,
shall immediately upon such conviction pay
into the hands of such justices, &C., for the
use of his Majesty, the penalty of one hum
dred pounds, without any mitigation what
ever, for any such offence of which he shall
be so convicted as aforesaid, or in default
thereof"
"a hundred pounds" I" calculated the mis-
cradle prisoner; "an' where, in Gods name,
dye think the like O. me is 10 get a hun
dred pounds?'
'Or in default thereof, the said justices,
or governor &C., shall and he and they is
and are hereby respectively y authorized and
required, by warrant under his and their
hand and seal, or hands and seals, to COM
nit such persons so convicted as aforesaid,
and making such default as aforesaid, to any
gaol or prison, there to remain until such
penalty shall be paid: Provided always,
that if the person convicted of any such Of
fence or offences shall be seaman, or a
sealaring man, aud fit and able to serve his
Majesty in his naval service, it shall and
may be lawful for any such justices, Sc,
aud he and they is and are hereby requi.
red, in lieu Of such penalty, by warrant un-
der his or their hand and seal, or hands and
seals, to order any officer &C., to carry and
convey, or cause 10 be carried and convey
ed, such person on board any of his Majes-
tvs ships in order to his serving his Maj
esty in his naval service for tue term of
five years.
Give years l' again interrupted poor
Larry Stirling; "then God hae mercy on
me I'll never see Newhaven again ~
The fine could not be raised, and brisk
demand for seamen was then required to fit
out a squadron for the West Indies. BY
the law, a months grace was allowed to the
"seafaring man, and if he could not raise
the penalty in that time, he would be de-
livered over to the officer commanding a
tender then lying in Leith Roads.
The month expired, and Larry Stirling
was conveyed and carried IN a state Of
desperation, leaving Lllias broken-hearted
behind him. She subsequently ascertained
that he had been drafted to the .Morhnm-
6erland, a ine-of- battle ship, which had
sailed for the West Indies.
Now comes the most extraordinary part
of this romance of reality in humble life
For several months Llllas was absorbed IN
grief, and appeared to have lost all relish
for existence. At length, however, change
ensued. She cried her "caller herrln'
with as much vigor as ever, and seemed
quite reconciled to,her cruel lot. But sud-
denly sherwas missed from Newhaven, and
Of her till a. sailor belonging
to Leith smack came tottell her friends
that she had made passage to London,
and had charged him 10 bid them have no
concern on her behalf. What her object
was m tfrus'secretly quitting her home, and
going to the great city, no one could con-
lecture. Time rolled on and nothing fur
.her was heard concerning her.
On her arrival IN London, she bought a
sailors suit of clothes, chest, and hammock,
and dressed herself as a tar. She was,
ike all the girls ofNewhaven, very robust
and by no meaLs unconversant with por-
ion Of seamens duties. Her idea was to
'olow her lover, and ship in the same man
of-war. She obtained berth before the
mast in merchant brig bound for Ha-
and during the whole voyage no.
hing occurred to create any suspicion of
Ter sex. She performed every sailors duty
lIow and aloft, and laid out on the yards to
eef topsails on stormy nights. All that
vas remarked by her meSsmaes concern
Ter was, her singular taciturnlty and re-
erve, which they set down to Scotch hab-
is Of feeling. On arriving at Havannah,
he managed to learn that the .Norihumber-
and was cruizng off Port Royal, Jamaica.
md forthwith shipped in small schooner
bout to sail for that port. When she