time, considering that these sea-rovers were so firmly
persuaded that their profession was as lawful as any other, and that
they were persecuted and hounded to death by a set of whippersnappers
who made insufferable laws! The system became so gigantic in the early
part of last century that the Government had to appeal to the Navy,
and a large number of officers and men were landed on the coast of
Kent and Sussex, where a strict blockade was enforced. Later, a
semi-civilian force under the control of the Customs was formed. This
was called the "Preventive Water Guard," and subsequently it went
under the new title of "Preventive Coastguard." The duties were
arduous and risky. The men never went forth unless armed with a big
dagger-stick and a flint-lock pistol, both of which were not
infrequently used with effect. Owing to the dangerous character of the
occupation, a high wage and pension was offered as an inducement to
join the service; at least, the wage and pension were considered very
good at the time. The men, however, rarely had decent houses to live
in. Their uniform was rather like that of a naval officer. They would
have disdained wearing the garb of the present-day coastguard. Their
training in most cases consisted in service aboard a Revenue cutter
for a few months before being appointed to a station. Many of these
men were tradesmen who had never been to sea at all, and often were
men of education and sterling character. For the most part these
educated men were Wesleyans--or "Ranters," as they were called--and
not a few were local preachers, and some of them were well versed in
theology. They were stationed usually eight miles apart, right along
the coast, and their ordinary duty was to meet each other half-way and
exchange despatches. This gave the religious section opportunities of
comparing experiences and discussing the faith that was in them. I
knew one who spoke and taught French and Latin, another who could make
an accurate abstract of Bishop Butler's _Analogy_ from cover to cover,
and another who became possessed of a small schooner, which made him a
fortune while he was still in the service. The wives of these three
coastguardsmen were quite as well informed and as ardent religionists
as themselves, and took a common interest in books, educational
matters, and in each other's home affairs. Their homes were always
neat and clean, and the children were disciplined into a rigid,
methodical life. It is a