CAPTAIN MATTHEWS. 249 



production of small tickets, specifying the quantity and de- 

 scription of the goods ; the business having been previously 

 arranged on shore, before the arrival of the smuggler, facili- 

 tated the dangerous trade. 



When I found myself in the cabin with the bold outlaw 

 for Matthews had been legally denounced for many daring 

 and successful contests with the Revenue I could not but 

 admire the thorough indifference to possible consequences 

 which this singular personage exhibited. He knew that 

 several men-of-war were at that moment cruising on the 

 station, and that they had been apprised he had sailed from 

 Flushing, and that this coast was the spot selected by the 

 owners to effect the landing yet he laughed and drank as 

 gaily as I should in a club-house, and despatched the messages 

 which were occasionally brought down with perfect noncha- 

 lance. He spoke principally of his own exploits ; and the 

 scene was admirably in keeping. Around the cabin, muskets, 

 pistols, and blunderbusses, were secured in arm-racks, and 

 cutlasses and tomahawks were suspended from the bulk-heads. 

 His had been a wild career ; and though not past the middle- 

 age, his life teemed with " perilous adventure." I was so 

 much amused with his varied narratives of brave attempts 

 and desperate successes, that the second hour slipped away 

 before I rose and took my departure. On regaining the deck, 

 the hurry of the business was over. The contraband cargo 

 had been replaced by stone ballast ; for by previous arrange- 

 ment, each boat brought a quantity of shingle from the beach, 

 and hence the smuggler was already in trim, and ready to 

 stand out to sea. 



This notorious vessel was considered in size and sailing 

 superior to any of a similar class, and her voyages had been 

 numerous and successful. Her armament was formidable ; 

 sixteen heavy carronades were extended along the deck, with 

 two long brass guns of smaller calibre, and every other ap- 

 purtenance of war was in perfect efficiency. But the most 

 striking object was her ferocious-looking, but magnificent 

 crew ; they seemed only formed for " the battle and the 

 breeze ;" and well justified their commander's boast, " that 

 he could thrash any cruiser of his own size, and land his cargo 

 in six hours afterwards." 



"We left the vessel and, to judge by the kegs and cases 

 stowed away in the gig, my cousin had not been forgotten 



