Smuggling of any sort is of course illegal.  The Government puts duties on commodities for the good of the State, which duties must be paid, and the smuggler is cheating not only the Government but his countrymen; yet many people formerly did not see it in its true light, and even some gentlemen, blind to its dishonourable character, encouraged the smugglers by buying their goods.  Papa said that he remembered in his boyish days a person of excellent position, knowing that a cargo was to be run near his house, having invited the Revenue officers to dinner, made them all tipsy, and not letting them go until he was informed that the cargo was safe on shore.  He received a portion as a reward for the service he had rendered.  The greatest knaves, however, were the merchants whose capital bought the goods and whose warehouses were supplied by them.  At one time the greater portion of the population of the sea-board of Hampshire and Dorsetshire were engaged more or less in the trade.