32* 071 re'uenue laws. -^^S- ^9' 



already,) for there ar;; at present lying hi Leith har- 

 bour, ten vefsels that have been condemned for smug- 

 gling spirits, many of whicli must, agreeably to the 

 law, be broken up and the materials sold. And there 

 is scarcely a week pafses without a prize of son:>e 

 denomination being brought up by the honourable 

 captain Cochran of the Hind, captain Ogilvy of the 

 Royal George, or captain Elder of the Royal Char- 

 lotte, the laudable exertions of whom I cannot re- 

 frain from taking notice of on this occasion. 



At the same time it must be observed, that the 

 duty cannot at present be greatly above the standard 

 at which smuggling, during the present establilhment, 

 would be thrust out ; as the observing reader will 

 remark, that a very small sum in the duty makes a 

 very great difference in the profits of the smuggler. 

 And, moreover, I know from my personal informa- 

 tion from smugglers themselves, that it is now what 

 is termed a bare trade, yielding little paj for much 

 labour, although the great allurement held forth by 

 the prospect of considerable gain does still keep it 

 Tip. 



In Ihort I am confident that if the duty were re- 

 duced to 4s.8d. j&er gallon, which is the present 

 duty on rum, all illicit trade in spirits worth no- 

 ticing would fall to the ground. 



This part of the subject will be continued in the 

 next paper of Trader tolitical. 



Lihh, 1791. 



