I do not deny, Sir, that a smuggler must be caught, and when
caught, condemned, after which there must be a fair distribution among the
captors; but all that I mean to say is, that there are worse men in the
world than your British smuggler--such, for instance, as your Frenchman,
your Dutchman, or your Don."
"These are heretodox opinions for a Queen's servant;" said Ludlow, as much
inclined to smile as to frown.
"I hope I know my duty too well to preach them to the ship's company, but
a man may say that, in a philosophical way, before his captain, that he
would not let run into a midshipman's ear. Though no lawyer, I know what
is meant by swearing a witness to the truth and nothing but the truth. I
wish the Queen got the last, God bless her! several worn-out ships would
then be broken up, and better vessels sent to sea in their places. But,
Sir, speaking in a religious point of view, what is the difference between
passing in a trunk of finery, with a duchess's name on the brass plate, or
in passing in gin enough to fill a cutter's hold?"
"One would think a man of your years, Mr. Trysail, would see the
difference between robbing the revenue of a guinea, and robbing it of a
thousand pounds."
"Which is just the difference between retail and wholesale,--and that is
no trifle, I admit, Captain Ludlow, in a commercial country, especially in
genteel life. Still, Sir, revenue is the country's right and therefore I
allow a smuggler to be a bad man only not so bad as those I have just
named, particularly your Dutchman! The Queen is right to make those rogues
lower their flags to her in the narrow seas, which are her lawful
property; because England, being a wealthy island, and Holland no more
than a bit of bog turned up to dry, it is reasonable that we should have
the command afloat.
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