| Description | [June or July 1779], trusts we shall yet be enabled to overcome the machinations of enemies at home and abroad, desirability of having an honest man at the head of this post, recommends Mr William Billing as collector, Mr Phillips having died the previous day, if Billing is appointed "I shall soon see the nest of smugglers at Newhey demolished and the pirates that have so long infested our coast and in the last week taken 27 vessels no longer harboured there", embarkation of Frenchmen on board an Irish wherry, Thorn, master, next day another party came, but too late, apprehends they are lurking and secreted by the smugglers, received last week a letter from Lord Shuldham at Plymouth, who has sent round the "Swallow" ship-of-war, has despatched Bellamy to pilot her where she may find the wherries, has secured a Spanish vessel, a prize to the "Black Prince", put the Lieutenant of the pirate and three of her men in irons, and sent them to Falmouth, the lieutenant says he is an American and produces a commission signed by Franklin, but it is a common thing for these cutters to hold three commissions, one from Franklin, one from France, and one from England, the villains thus escape with impunity |