se which stood behind Mr Thomas Foggo's shop, through which there was a
passage or entry to it; and from its concealed and backlying situation, it
would seem to have been a very likely place for smugglers to resort to with
their contraband goods. And here it may be remarked, that less than 100
years ago, smuggling was very prevalent in the east of Fife; almost every
merchant and trader in the east coast burghs, and farmers from St Andrews
all along the southeast coast, were less or more concerned in the
importation of brandy, gin, teas, silks, and tobacco, &c. The penalties at
one time were only the forfeiture of the goods seized, and if one vessel's
cargo escaped out of two or three, it was a profitable trade. The measures
of Government were then thought to be so stringent and despotic, that men
of principle, of probity, and integrity in all other respects, manifested
great obliquity of vision in viewing the traffic in smuggled goods, and
felt no compunctious visitings in embarking in that trade. In the better
class of houses in the district, hiding holes and places of concealment
were always to be found, and some of these places are only now being
discovered. It is not many years since, that an honest man in Pittenweem,
while employed in his cellar, fell down into a large concealment capable of
holding a great many ankers of spirits and boxes of tea, of which he
previously knew nothing.

[D] The window referred to is still pointed out. It is that at the back of
the house on the second storey, and is near the north-east corner of the
tenement.

[E] Anstruther House, which stood a little west, on the opposite side of
the road, to Mr Russell's printing office, was demolished in 1811.
According to Miss Strickland, Queen Mary passed a night in it; and it is a
well established fact that King Charles II. lodged a night there in 1651.

[F] Bailie Johnston's house was that now occupied by Mr William Russell,
with the brewery behind the same. It was formerly a house of one storey,
and was rebuilt and heightened on the walls by the late Mr James Rodger, or
Mr David Rodger his son.

[G] This was Queen Caroline, who was regent of the kingdom during the
absence of her husband, George the First, at Hanover.

[H] The person who did this was a man of the name of Bruce, belonging to
Anstruther, who returned some time after to the town, and was well known to
the late Mrs Black, the mother of the late Admiral Black.

THE STORY OF