ers had used every
exertion to suppress smuggling, or had been negligent and slack in
their duties. For this purpose the twenty-four hours were divided into
three parts thus:--Midnight to 8 A.M., 8 A.M. to 4 P.M., and 4 P.M. to
midnight. In each of these three divisions the commander was to fix
his position by cross-bearings and soundings if in less than 30
fathoms. This was to be done a little before sunrise, at noon, and a
little before sunset, provided that if the land were not seen or the
cruiser be chasing a vessel, this fact was to be noted in the journal,
and the bearings and soundings were to be taken whenever the land
should be seen. An exact copy of this journal was to be sent after the
end of each month to the admiral under whose command the cruiser
happened to be placed.

The table on p. 228 is an example of the journal of one of these
craft, and will show instantly the kind of record which was kept.

On the 1st of January, 1817, the Preventive boats were put under the
control of Captain Hanchett, R.N., who was known as the
Controller-General of the Preventive Boat Service. There was an effort
made also in this department to obtain increased efficiency. And the
following articles were ordered to be supplied to each Preventive
boat:--one small flat cask to hold two gallons of fresh water, one
small water-tight harness cask to hold provisions, one chest of arms
and ammunition, one Custom House Jack, two "spying-glasses" (one for
the watch-house, the other for the boat), one small bucket for baling,
one "wall piece," forty rounds of cartridges, thirty muskets or
carbines, preference being given to carbines with musket-ball bore
where new ones are to be purchased, twenty light pistols, balls in
proportion to the above, bayonets, cutlasses, pouches, tucks, small
hand hatchets for cutting away rigging, musket flints, pistol flints,
a set of implements for cleaning arms, a set of rummaging tools, and
a dark "lanthorn." With this full inventory these open, oared boats
could go about their work for long spells in bays, up creeks and
estuaries, on the prowl for the smugglers by night.

JOURNAL OF HIS MAJESTY'S REVENUE CRUISER THE "VIGILANT," JOHN
SMITH, COMMANDER, FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 18--

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