186 Notes and Sketches. 



the commonplace gauger in the ordinary run of 

 business was a feat to which the female, as well as the 

 male, smuggler was frequently found adequate. And 

 in the case of the masculine contraveners of the law, 

 the exciseman was deemed a fit subject for rough hand- 

 ling as occasion offered. To tie his legs together, 

 fasten his hands forcibly behind his back, and leave 

 him lying helpless on the lone hillside was not 

 deemed much out of place by any means. One of 

 the most tragic smuggling incidents locally recorded 

 is that of the death of Philip Kennedy, at Ward of 

 Cruden, in 1798, the circumstances connected with 

 which are powerfully reproduced in Guy Mannering. 

 A smuggling lugger had been in process of landing 

 her cargo, part of which was being conveyed inland 

 at night in carts. The gaugers had, however, got 

 notice, and three of them, fully armed, lay in wait 

 near the Kirk of Slains. The smugglers had taken 

 the precaution of sending several of their number on 

 in advance to see that the way was clear. One of 

 these who first encountered the excisemen was Ken- 

 nedy, and being a man of fearless courage, as well as 

 powerful physique, he seized and threw down two of 

 them, calling to his companions to secure the third. 

 But so far from doing their part, they fled, and taking 

 shelter amongst the bushes to watch events, left him 

 to his fate. Kennedy held on to his two prostrate 

 foes with grim determination, when the third, with 

 surely needless barbarity, drew his sword and cut him 

 repeatedly about the head. The smuggler, even then, 

 refused to relax his grasp, and was still able to keep 

 down the two excisemen. It was moonlight, and the 

 savage gauger who was still free, was then observed 

 by some of the cowards lying perdu in the adjacent 

 bushes, to hold his sword above his head as if to make 

 certain that he was using the edge, when next instant, 

 with a sweeping and relentless stroke, the smuggler's 

 skull was laid open with a frightful gash. With the 



