the rear; whilst a strong party,
that had gradually collected in advance of the hearse, rapidly formed
and dressed in a line facing the revenue officers. At that instant the
young man whistled; and, in the twinkling of an eye, upwards of forty
cloaks were slipped off--discovering a stout body of sailors well armed
with pistols, dirks, and cutlasses; and some of them carrying carbines
slung at their backs. A general huzza followed: the two persons who had
gone to the rear, each with seven or eight followers, ran severally to
the right and left at right angles from the road strait up the steep
hills which rose on each side; then making a short circuit they
descended like a torrent in the rear of the revenue officers; swarmed
with the agility of cats over their waggons, and from these upon the
turnpike gate--whence they threw themselves with ease on the horses,
riding _en croupe_ behind the officers; who on their part, being hemmed
in by a party far out-numbering themselves in front and by the gate
behind, had no means of counteracting the man[oe]uvre. In this awkward
situation pinioned from behind and too ill mounted to have any hope of
charging through so dense a crowd of armed men whose rear rested upon a
triple line of post chaises, the officers saw that resistance would be
fruitless; and unwillingly they gave up their arms. Meantime a stronger
party of officers, who were on foot, had retired into a little garden
adjoining to the turnpike house, and were now drawn up behind; a
low hedge. To dislodge these, a select body of sailors was ordered
forward--which 'the chief mourner' headed in person. As they were
advancing, the officers discharged their pistols--of which however not
many were loaded with ball; so powerful, a resistance not having been
anticipated; and the result was, that nobody was wounded except the
commander of the party; and he only by a flesh wound in his left arm.
According to the directions previously given them, before the officers
had time to reload, the whole party of sailors rushed in upon them;
and, without unshipping their fire-arms or cutlasses, attacked them
with cudgels. Ten or eleven out of five-and-twenty were instantly
stretched on the ground and disarmed; of the remainder the major part
scaled the turnpike gate, and succeeded in throwing themselves into a
waggon which was drawn up with its broad-side across the road. Beyond
this were drawn up two other lines of carts; into the last of which