Litchfield enquirer., 1868-03-26
Mlisfellaup.
A REMINISCENCE OF THE CUSTOM
 HOUSE.

|
 This IS the subject of the following sAe.,u in the number of Once Week for the week ending Nov. IS:
 "No, my good sir" said my father en- phatically, as he Sat after dinner with his glass of port between his finger and thumb
 "No! you'll never catch me answering the contents of anybody's boxes to the Custom House officers again" ..- "Indeedr' exclaimed Mir. Harbord, the rector of the parish, my fathers friend and guest. "Bitten once, eh?" '.' =. You remember Solomon's words," re piled my father. who had the proverbs at his fingers ends. "He that is surety for a stranger, shall smart for it."
 l "But," observed the rector, "the GUS tom house officers make merely nominal search through your boxes I've often seen them quite content with just raising the lid of one of them.'
 "They're lax enough now in this place, '' rejoined my father, "because duties on
 imports are so much smaller than they used to be that it isn't worth ones while at l time when they were far stricter.'
 "Was that when your adventure hap pened then9' remarked the inquisitive parson. -
 My father slowly slipped his wine for Q minute or two, then answered: "Well, 1 see you're curious; so don't mind telling you the story"
 "The circumstances I am going to tell you of happened some ive-and-twenty years ago, and the Isle of Man was then 8 ! refuge for all the fugitive debtors and pro- miscuous scoundrels in Great Britain. You can't form any conception of the im~ mense changes which quarter of oentu- " has effected here in this respect and ma. ny others; one change, however, could very we'll dispense with-and this is the change in prices. Why, when came here first, you could get the best meat for three pence and four pence a pound all the year round, and butter at five pence; but now the prices are more than double. It was just the same with tobacco and spirits-no duty worth speaking of was paid on them and so they were sold dirt cheap. Why, you could get brandy then for less than g third of the price you pay fer 1t in Eng land, now. Of course, therefore, the cus- tom house officers had to keep sharp look out to see that passengers to England didn' t load their boxes with these articles and carry 'em off without paying duty, though I've no doubt that, with all their keenness, hundreds of pounds of tobacco, and scores of gallons of ofspirits, found their way across the channel toll-free. -....s.... 0...,,. .ro- "I was pretty we'll known at the time, as am now, among the revenue officers, and my luggage was in consequence al- most always permitted to pass without search, as they relied upon my position neighbor of mine had a lady staying with h uta oh krox, al ling, especially by sea. I had met her once or twice, and had liked her very well from the little had seen of her; so that when my friend asked me, as particular favor, if I would be kind enough to see her off by the steamer on certain day, as he himself was unable to do so, I willingly consented to oblige him. 27"a '.. s.i T.
 "The port from which the steamer sailed was about ten miles from my friends resi- denee, and as the vessel started punctually at nine A: M., we had to leave home pretty early in the morning. I found my com panion rather down in the mouth, and in great dread of the voyage; but as it was 8 l fine day, I partially re-assured her by des- | canting on the pleasures of sea voyage in good weather. At last we arrived at the port. As soon, as We stopped, asked the lady for her keys, saying, with smile, ,.,, "'Of course, you have nothing contra band?" 4ga sd1 .rsl'0@t lF3 s'l5'"Li, .'Oh dear, no!'' was her answer. s. "'Then, added, I can easily save you the inconvenience of having your boxes searched. 'a"F 9az .-1A-a .D4.-l , :ia st-" "'Oh, Aank yoai'' she exclaimed some what, what eagerly; should be 80 glad if you
 'sIwas delayed for a moment in assist ing her from the carriage, and7inthe mean
 time the luggage had been taken to the customs office in, charge of my own man servant, to whom I had handed the keys,
 hastened after him,I saw an officer in the
 act of unlocking one of the lady's boxesJ
 knew the man well, so s..id; aYes.sE1 eI r s''Oh, Anderson, you needn't. disturb the contents of these boxes; I can answer for there being nothing contraband among tthem.' a,eosealt gd4 la edo aC .eiltEon
 07a Just nominal, sir, said Anderson, in { How voice, pointing over his shoulder tt \ several bystanders. Mustn't let 'ena set II that you're favored more than the others. lsif.' +.t. !. ss4x.it e.., u ,i IaL
 aa I took the hint, knowing the man wa only doing his duty. He opened the lid O one trunk. and passed his hand hurriedl. lover some dresses at the top. Suddenly, saw a curious Impression come over hl lface, while at thesame moment his hant fceased it's rapid mSyement., He seemed [! + have touched some Ching suspicious, for !.