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Generative AI with LangChain

Build large language model (LLM) apps with

Python, ChatGPT, and other LLMs

Ben Auffarth

BIRMINGHAM—MUMBAI
Generative AI with LangChain

Copyright © 2023 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the
case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure
the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information
contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or
implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing or its dealers and
distributors, will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to
have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.
Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information
about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by
the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot
guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Senior Publishing Product Manager: Tushar Gupta

Acquisition Editor – Peer Reviews: Tejas Mhasvekar

Project Editor: Namrata Katare

Content Development Editors: Tanya D’cruz and Elliot Dallow

Copy Editor: Safis Editing

Technical Editor: Kushal Sharma

Proofreader: Safis Editing

Indexer: Manju Arasan

Presentation Designer: Ajay Patule

Developer Relations Marketing Executive: Monika Sangwan

First published: December 2023

Production reference: 1141223

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

Grosvenor House

11 St Paul’s Square

Birmingham

B3 1RB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-83508-346-8

www.packt.com
To Diane and Nico

– Ben Auffarth
 Contributors

About the author

Ben Auffarth is a seasoned data science leader with a background
and Ph.D. in computational neuroscience. Ben has analyzed
terabytes of data, simulated brain activity on supercomputers with
up to 64k cores, designed and conducted wet lab experiments, built
production systems processing underwriting applications, and
trained neural networks on millions of documents. He’s the author
of the books Machine Learning for Time Series and Artificial Intelligence
with Python Cookbook. He now works in insurance at Hastings Direct.

Creating this book has been a long and sometimes arduous journey,
but also an exciting one. It has been enriched immeasurably by the
contributions of several key individuals to whom I owe great thanks.
Foremost, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Leo, whose insightful
feedback significantly refined this book. I am equally delighted with
my astute editors — Tanya, Elliot, and Kushal. Their efforts went
above and beyond expectations. Tanya, in particular, was
instrumental in guiding me through the writing process, continually
challenging me to clarify my thoughts and significantly shaping the
final product.
About the reviewers
Leonid Ganeline is a machine learning engineer with extensive
experience in natural language processing. He has worked in several
start-ups, creating models and production systems. He is an active
contributor to LangChain and several other open-source projects.
His interest lies in model evaluation, especially in LLM evaluation

I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, for teaching me

how to think rationally, and to my wife, for supporting me in this
endeavor.

Ruchi Bhatia is a computer engineer with a Master’s degree in

information systems management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Currently, she is leveraging her skills as a product marketing
manager in the rapidly evolving field of data science and AI at HP.
She takes pride in being the youngest triple Kaggle Grandmaster
across the Notebooks, Datasets, and Discussion categories. Her
previous role as the Leader of Data Science at OpenMined allowed
her to steer a team of data scientists to create innovative and
impactful solutions.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to my

parents. Their unwavering support and encouragement throughout
my journey have been invaluable. Without their belief in my abilities
and their constant guidance, I wouldn’t have achieved the milestones
I have today. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for always being there for
me.
Join our community on Discord
Join our community's Discord space for discussions with the authors
and other readers:

https://packt.link/lang
Contents
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
Get in touch
1. What Is Generative AI?
Introducing generative AI
What are generative models?
Why now?
Understanding LLMs
What is a GPT?
Other LLMs
Major players
How do GPT models work?
Pre-training
Tokenization
Scaling
Conditioning
How to try out these models
What are text-to-image models?
What can AI do in other domains?
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
2. LangChain for LLM Apps
Going beyond stochastic parrots
What are the limitations of LLMs?
How can we mitigate LLM limitations?
What is an LLM app?
What is LangChain?
Exploring key components of LangChain
What are chains?
 What are agents?
What is memory?
What are tools?
How does LangChain work?
Comparing LangChain with other frameworks
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
3. Getting Started with LangChain
How to set up the dependencies for this book
pip
Poetry
Conda
Docker
Exploring API model integrations
Fake LLM
OpenAI
Hugging Face
Google Cloud Platform
Jina AI
Replicate
Others
Azure
Anthropic
Exploring local models
Hugging Face Transformers
llama.cpp
GPT4All
Building an application for customer service
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
4. Building Capable Assistants
Mitigating hallucinations through fact-checking
Summarizing information
Basic prompting
 Prompt templates
Chain of density
Map-Reduce pipelines
Monitoring token usage
Extracting information from documents
Answering questions with tools
Information retrieval with tools
Building a visual interface
Exploring reasoning strategies
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
5. Building a Chatbot like ChatGPT
What is a chatbot?
Understanding retrieval and vectors
Embeddings
Vector storage
Vector indexing
Vector libraries
Vector databases
Loading and retrieving in LangChain
Document loaders
Retrievers in LangChain
kNN retriever
PubMed retriever
Custom retrievers
Implementing a chatbot
Document loader
Vector storage
Memory
Conversation buffers
Remembering conversation summaries
Storing knowledge graphs
Combining several memory mechanisms
Long-term persistence
Moderating responses
 Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
6. Developing Software with Generative AI
Software development and AI
Code LLMs
Writing code with LLMs
StarCoder
StarChat
Llama 2
Small local model
Automating software development
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
7. LLMs for Data Science
The impact of generative models on data science
Automated data science
Data collection
Visualization and EDA
Preprocessing and feature extraction
AutoML
Using agents to answer data science questions
Data exploration with LLMs
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
8. Customizing LLMs and Their Output
Conditioning LLMs
Methods for conditioning
Reinforcement learning with human feedback
Low-rank adaptation
Inference-time conditioning
Fine-tuning
Setup for fine-tuning
Open-source models
 Commercial models
Prompt engineering
Prompt techniques
Zero-shot prompting
Few-shot learning
Chain-of-thought prompting
Self-consistency
Tree-of-thought
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
9. Generative AI in Production
How to get LLM apps ready for production
Terminology
How to evaluate LLM apps
Comparing two outputs
Comparing against criteria
String and semantic comparisons
Running evaluations against datasets
How to deploy LLM apps
FastAPI web server
Ray
How to observe LLM apps
Tracking responses
Observability tools
LangSmith
PromptWatch
Summary
Questions
Join our community on Discord
10. The Future of Generative Models
The current state of generative AI
Challenges
Trends in model development
Big Tech vs. small enterprises
Artificial General Intelligence
 Economic consequences
Creative industries and advertising
Education
Law
Manufacturing
Medicine
Military
Societal implications
Misinformation and cybersecurity
Regulations and implementation challenges
The road ahead
Join our community on Discord
Why subscribe?
Other Books You May Enjoy
Index
 Preface

In the dynamic and rapidly advancing field of AI, generative AI

stands out as a disruptive force poised to transform how we interact
with technology. This book is an expedition into the intricate world
of large language models (LLMs) – the powerful engines driving
this transformation – designed to equip developers, researchers, and
AI aficionados with the knowledge needed to harness these tools.
Venture into the depths of deep learning, where unstructured data
comes alive, and discover how LLMs like GPT-4 and others are
carving a path for AI’s impact on businesses, societies, and
individuals. With the tech industry and media abuzz with the
capabilities and potential of these models, it’s an opportune moment
to explore how they function, thrive, and propel us toward future
horizons.
This book serves as your compass, pointing you toward
understanding the technical scaffolds that uphold LLMs. We provide
a prelude to their vast applications, the elegance of their underlying
architecture, and the powerful implications of their existence.
Written for a diverse audience, from those taking their first steps in
AI to seasoned developers, the text melds theoretical concepts with
practical, code-rich examples, preparing you to not only grasp LLMs
intellectually but to also apply them inventively and responsibly.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 "Why, it does come pretty nearly to that, I am afraid. It comes to
the fact that duties clash in a case like this; so that, one's conscience
being at fault, an appeal to the law must settle the matter. I see no
crime in Elizabeth's taste, apart from the means she may take to
gratify it; but the law pronounces her wrong, so we must conclude
she is wrong."
"Duties do, indeed, clash," replied Matilda; "and if so painfully in
one case, what must be the extent of the evil if we consider all who
are concerned? Even in this little neighbourhood, here is Mr. Pim
unable to teach honour, as he says, without giving the notion that it
is a merit to conceal fraud, and pointing out a whole class as objects
of contempt and hatred. The dwellers near, almost to a man, look
upon the government as a tyrant, its servants as oppressors, its laws
as made to be evaded, and its powers defied. Oaths are regarded as
mere humbug; and the kindliest of social feelings are nourished in
direct relation to fraud, and pleaded as its sanction. There is not a
man near us who does not feel it necessary, nor a woman who does
not praise it as virtuous, nor a child who is not trained up in the love
and practice of it. This is the morality which one institution teaches
from village to village all along our shores,--mocking the clergyman,
setting at nought the schoolmaster, and raising up a host of enemies
to the government by which it is maintained; and all for what?"
"To help us in our national money matters, in which, in truth, it
does not very well succeed," observed the Lieutenant.
"And to protect the interests of certain classes of its subjects,"
replied Matilda, "in which, if most people say true, they succeed as
little."
"Spitalfields is in a worse state than ever," observed the
Lieutenant; "and there are terrible complaints from our glovers and
our lace-makers."
"And if not," continued Matilda--"if protection availed to these
people, the case would be very little better than it is now. Money
prosperity is desirable only as it is necessary to some higher good,--
to good morals and happiness; and if it were, in fact, secured to our
glovers, and silkmen, and lace-makers, it would be purchased far too
dear at the expense of the morals of such a multitude as are
corrupted by our restrictive laws. There can be nothing in the nature
of things to make the vexation and demoralization of some
thousands necessary to the prosperity of other thousands.
Providence cannot have appointed to governments such a choice of
evils as this; and----"
"And you, my dear, for your share, will therefore withhold your
allegiance from a government which attempts to institute such an
opposition."
"It is rather too late an age of the world for me to turn rebel on
that ground," replied Matilda, smiling. "Such governments as we
were speaking of are dead and gone, long ago. Our government is
not granting any new protections or prohibitions, surely!"
"But I thought you would quarrel with it for not taking away those
which exist. I thought you would give it your best blessing if they
sent an order to all us Preventive people to vacate our station-
houses and march off."
"I certainly felt more disaffected to-day than ever in my life
before," observed Matilda. "To think that, in a country like this,
anybody may be stopped and searched upon mere suspicion!"
"With the privilege of demanding the decision of a magistrate,
remember."
"Which magistrate may order the search, if he finds sufficient
ground of suspicion. And this outrage is to take place as a very small
part of the machinery for protecting the interests of certain classes,
to the great injury of all the rest; and especially, as many of
themselves say, to their own. It makes one indignant to think of it."
"It is the law, my love; and while it exists, it must be obeyed. I
must order my men to stop you, if you should chance to sympathize
in Elizabeth's tastes. Hey, Matilda?"
"Do, by all means, when you find me smuggling; but perhaps my
share of the temptation may soon be at an end. I trust all this
distress that you speak of will end in bringing into an active
competition with foreigners those of our people who are now sitting
with their hands before them, perceiving how the gentry of England
are apparelled in smuggled goods. No fear for our occupation, you
know. There will still be brandy and tobacco, on which, as we do not
grow them ourselves, government will call for so high a duty as will
encourage smuggling. No prospect of your being useless yet a
while."
"Nor of our neighbours being as loyal as you would have them."
"Nor of their living at peace, and in frank honesty."
"Nor of Pim's making his scholars moral."
"Nor of our manufacturers having fair play."
"Nor of the same justice being done to the revenue. Alas! how far
we are from perfection!"
"Yet ever tending towards it. Unless we believe this, what do we
mean by believing in a Providence? since all evidence goes to prove
that its rule is infinite progression. Yes, we are tending upwards,
though slowly; and we shall find, when we arrive in sight of
comparative perfection, that a system of restriction which debases
and otherwise injures all parties concerned, is perfectly inconsistent
with good government."
"Then shall I have earned my dinner in some other, and, I trust, a
pleasanter, way than to-day," observed the Lieutenant. "I shall never
get reconciled to my office, Matilda, especially while I hear of
brother officers abroad----"
"Oh! you are dreading your patrol to-night, because it is beginning
to snow," said Matilda, smiling. "You shall go in, and fortify yourself
with some duty-paid brandy and untaxed water; and then, if you will
let me go with you again, we will defy the smugglers as manfully as
if they were to be the enemies of good order for evermore."
"You shall not go out in the dark again, my love. It took all my
manfulness from me to see you so near the edge of the cliff in a
wind which might drive you out as if you were a sea-gull. The place
looks scarcely fit for you on the brightest of days; you have no
chance out of doors on a gusty night."
 Chapter VI.

A NIGHT WATCH.

The night of the gipsy late-wake was one of the clearest and
coldest moonlight. Such a night,--when the smallest skiff showed
black on the glistening sea, and every sailing bird cast its shadow on
the chalky cliff, and each stationary figure on the heights exhibited a
hard outline against the sky,--was little fit for smuggling adventure;
yet the officers of the Coast Guard had a strong impression that a
landing of contraband goods was to be attempted, in defiance of the
lady moon, and of the watchers who "blessed her useful light." A
gipsy festival afforded an excellent pretence for collecting the
country people in sufficient force to brave the guard; and it was
suspected that the people themselves thought so, as tidings of the
festival were most industriously spread through all the country, and
certainly very eagerly received. Lieutenant Storey held consultations
with his brother officers at all the stations near; and every
precaution was taken to enable a great force to assemble with speed
at the points where it seemed pretty certain that a landing would be
attempted. One or two trusty men were sent to overlook the wake
from a height, that they might report the numbers and apparent
disposition of the people; and Lieutenant Storey visited these men
on their posts soon after the beginning of the ceremony.
"Well! what news?" said Matilda, anxiously, as the Lieutenant
entered the room where his wife, mother, and sister were waiting
supper for him.
"Why, it is a fine freezing night," he replied, rubbing his hands,
and accepting the seat which was offered him close by the blazing
fire. "So you have Elizabeth to keep you company, as I advised you.
That is very well, as I rather think you will not be persuaded to go to
bed till late. And you, too, mother! Who would have thought of your
climbing up to us so late in the day?"
"But the gipsies!" cried the ladies. "Did you see the wake?"
"I heard more than I saw of it; for the banks are so high that one
could only catch a glimpse of a few heads now and then. But there
was a strong glare from their torches, there being little moonlight, I
suppose, in the hollow way: and their noise is really inconceivable.
Such yelling and howling, and what I suppose they call singing! They
will wake up all the sheep in the pens for a mile round."
"I am afraid there are a great many collected," observed Matilda.
"I should think there must be, for I never heard any gabble or din
to compare with it, except when the wind and the sails are
wrangling in a storm at sea. But come, let us have supper. I must be
gone again presently; and this is not an air to take away one's
appetite."
His mother inquired whether they could learn anything of the
progress of events by looking out of the windows, or whether they
must wait for news till his return. He replied,
"You will see nothing by going to the window but as fine a
moonlight sea as ever you saw; and the light-house, and perhaps
poor Nicholas staring about him, as he is bound to do. If there is any
affray, it will be far out of your sight. We keep our eyes upon Birling
and Crowlink Gap. Either of them is an easy place of rendezvous
from the wake. You will be as still as death here, and I advise you all
to go to sleep till I knock you up to let me in."
The mother and sister wondered what he thought they could be
made of to go to bed at such a time. Matilda piled fresh logs on the
fire, and looked to see that the lamp was trimmed.
"I'll tell you what,--I'll desire Nicholas to come, from time to time,
to tell you whether he hears or sees anything or nothing," said the
Lieutenant. "I have put him on the nearest beat, where I am pretty
sure of his having nothing to do; and he can just step to the gate, if
you like to be at the trouble of hearing that he has nothing to tell."
"Do be less presumptuous, my dear son," said Mrs. Storey. "How
dare you make sure of nothing happening?"
 "It was only a hasty word, mother. I have not been presumptuous
in reality, as you would say if you saw how completely we are
prepared. More ale, if you please, Elizabeth. And now, I must not
stay any longer. I shall be sure to tell Nicholas: but you will not
detain him from his post."
Matilda ran out before him to have his parting kiss at the gate,
and to watch him out of sight. The full light from the beacon turned
at the moment upon her face, stronger than the moonlight, and
showed that tears were upon her cheek.
"I cannot scold you, love," said her husband, as he wiped them
away. "I do pity you women that have to sit waiting at home when
anything is to happen. I could fancy myself crying like a baby if I
were obliged to do so. But go in now, there's a good girl."
"The moment you are out of sight. I suppose you really cannot
tell,--you cannot even tell me,--when you are likely to be home
again."
"Impossible. It may be two hours, or it may be twelve."
Matilda had only to pray that it might be two, while she watched
her husband on his way to Nicholas's beat, where he stopped to
speak with the figure perched upon the brow of the cliff. Presently
the figure might be seen to touch its hat; the Lieutenant waved his
hand towards the station-house, and speedily disappeared, leaving
Matilda to re-enter the parlour, whose clear fire, double windows,
and listed doors she would willingly have exchanged for the biting air
on Hotcombe Flat, by her husband's side.
During the hour which elapsed before Nicholas lifted the latch of
the gate, whose welcome slick brought all the ladies to the door,
Matilda had wished twenty times that she was alone. Elizabeth was
full of groundless fears of her own devising, while she ridiculed those
of other people; and Mrs. Storey gave a lecture on patience every
time Matilda moved on her chair, looking up in her face with all
possible anxiety, however, at each return from an excursion to the
upper windows. The methodical Nicholas was more tiresome still. He
began with an explanation of what his orders were about giving
intelligence to the ladies, and of his purpose in now appearing
before them. He proceeded with an account of where he had stood,
and how he had looked round and listened, and what he had been
thinking about; and it was only at the last that it came out that he
had seen and heard nothing particular.
"And do you think you could hear a pistol-shot from Birling Gap, or
from so far as Crowlink Gap?"
Nicholas could not answer for it, having never heard a pistol fired
from either place while on duty on his present beat; but he soon
recollected that his officer had told him that it was a very calm night,
and that he could certainly be able to hear the sound in question
from the farthest of the Seven Sisters; and therefore Nicholas fully
believed that he should hear a pistol as soon as fired.
"Very well," said Matilda, venturing upon such a breach of
discipline as handing him a glass of ale. "Now we will not detain you:
we were desired not; but come again in an hour, and sooner, if
anything happens."
Nicholas's heart, which was always warm towards the lady, was
rarefied by the honours and benefits of this night. To be appointed,
in some sort, her special servant,--to be treated with kind words
from her lips, and with ale from her own hands,--was enough, in
combination with the ale itself, to raise his spirits to the highest pitch
of which, as a sober man, he was capable. He could scarcely refrain
from whistling as he went back to his beat, and was actually guilty
of humming "Rules Britannia," as he flung himself down in a sort of
niche on the very brow of the dizzy cliff, whence he was wont to
gaze abroad over the expanse.
"'Rule, Britannia!'--Ay, that lady is worth a thousand of the bigger
and smarter one, and the old one too, if a poor man may think so.--
'Britannia rule the waves.'--Hoy, hoy! where did this sloop come
from, that I did not see her before? She's waiting for an early cargo
of chalk, I'll be bound; but it is odd I did not see her before, only
that she lies so close under, one could not see without looking over.
'And come again in an hour,' says she, 'or sooner, if anything
happens.' I wonder how the hour goes.--'Britons never shall be
slaves!'--If I had my mother's old watch, now! Bless her! she's now
asleep, I suppose, in the bed with the green checked curtains. She
says she thinks of me in her prayers, and has all the sea before her
as she goes to sleep, and me marching above it, helping to guard
the nation.--'Britannia rule the waves!'--It is only a fair turn for me to
think of her when she is asleep, as I hope she is now. Lord! how she
used to beat me! and all, as she says now, for tenderness, to make
a great man of me. To be sure, I never guessed it at the time.--
'Britons never shall be slaves! Never! never!' I don't know that I had
not best walk; it is so different sitting here from what it is when the
sun is out, platting straw for my hat. It is time I had a new hat; I
thought I saw the lady glancing at it. Think of her taking notice of
such little things! Kind heart! 'Come again within the hour,' says she,
'and sooner, if anything happens.' That's she looking out, I warrant,
where there is a little bit of light from the window. There! 'tis gone.
'Tis the will of Providence that she should notice me so. I wish she
knew how my mother thinks of me: but that is no doing of mine,
either; it is the will of Providence too; and I doubt whether anybody
is so happy as, by the will of Providence, I am, with my mother, and
the people here all so harmless to me, and the lady! And it is
something to see such a bright sea as this, so like what I saw in the
show-box at Weyhill fair, when my mother treated me, then a young
boy. I am sure everybody is wonderfully kind to me. I wonder how
the hour goes. It is bitter cold, to be sure; and I think yon bit of
shelter is best, after all.--'Britons never, ne--ver----'"
And Nicholas once more crouched in his recess, where he rocked
himself to the music of the waves, and looked in vain over the wide
expanse for the smallest dark speck, in watching which he might
find occupation. He soon found that his observation would have
been better bestowed nearer home. While walking, he had disdained
the well-worn path along the chalk line, strewed within a few feet of
the verge for the guidance of the watchers on dark nights. As it was
light enough for safety, he availed himself of the opportunity of
varying his beat, and trod the less bare path from the chalk line to
the very edge of the cliff. He had looked straight before him,
whether his back was turned north or south, giving no attention to
the right hand or the left. He had also been too hasty in his
conclusion that the vessel which lay below, in the deep, broad
shadow of the cliffs, was a chalk sloop, waiting for the tide.
 By leaning forwards a little, any one in Nicholas's present seat
could command a view of a winding and perilous, almost
perpendicular, track, which ascended from the spot where the
gipsies had assisted at the last unloading of a smuggling vessel.
Something like rude steps occurred at small intervals in this track;
but they were so imperfect, and it was so steep, that the assistance
of either ropes or mutual support was necessary to those who would
mount, with or without a load on their shoulders. As the tide had till
now been too high to permit access to this spot by the beach, it was
one of the last in which Nicholas could have expected to see foes.
For want of something to do, he picked two or three flints out of a
layer which was bedded in the chalk within reach, and amused
himself with sending them down the steep, in order to watch what
course they would take. Leaning over, to follow with his eye the
vagaries of one of these, his ear was struck by a bumping, dead
sound, which could not be caused by his flint. Looking a little to the
right, without drawing back, he perceived something moving in the
shadowy track. But for the sound which had excited his suspicions,
he would have concluded that some cliff-raven or sea-bird had been
disturbed in its hole, and he watched intently for a few seconds to
discover whether this was not the case; but it soon became evident
to his sharpened sight that there was a line of men laboriously
climbing the track, each with his two small tubs braced upon his
shoulders. Whether they had a strong rope by which each might
help himself, or whether each supported the one above him, could
not be discovered from the distance at which Nicholas sat; nor could
he guess whether they were aware of his being so near.
He started up, and stood in the broad moonlight, fumbling for his
pistol, which was not quite so ready to his hand as it ought to have
been. A subdued cry spread up and down, from mouth to mouth,
among his foes, a large body of whom appeared instantly on the
ridge, from the hollow where they had collected unobserved. One of
them cried,--
"Hand over your pistol, lad, and sit down quietly where you were,
and we will do you no harm."
 To do anything but what his officer had desired was, however, too
confusing to Nicholas's faculties to be borne. The order to fire as
soon as smugglers were perceived came upon his mind, as if spoken
at the moment in the Lieutenant's own voice, and saved him the
trouble of all internal conflict. He fired, and was instantly fired upon
in turn, and wounded. As he staggered far enough back from the
verge to fall on safe ground, he had the consolation of hearing (after
the cloud of flapping sea-birds had taken themselves far out to sea)
a repetition of shots along the cliffs on either hand, fainter and
shorter in the increasing distance. The ominous roll of the drum,--
the most warlike signal of the smugglers,--was next heard from the
hollow to the right, and more sea-birds fluttered and screamed.
Silence was gone; the alarm was given; and poor Nicholas need not
resist the welcome faintness that stretched him on the grass.
The smugglers, annoyed by former repeated failures in their
attempts to intimidate or gain over the Preventive watch, were now
exasperated by Nicholas's unflinching discharge of his duty; and they
determined to make an example of him, even in the midst of their
preparations to resist the force which they knew to be on the way to
attack them. The first necessary precaution was to range the
batmen who had been collected by the sound of the drum, in two
rows, from the vessel to the foot of the cliff, and again from the
verge of the cliffs to where the carts were stationed, surrounded
with guards. This being done, their pieces loaded, and their
bludgeons shouldered, a small party was detached to take
possession of the wounded man. On raising him, it was found that
he was not dead, and that it was by no means certain that his
wounds were mortal. When he recovered his senses, he felt himself
lifted from the ground by a rope tied round his middle, and
immediately after was being lowered over the edge of the precipice,
carefully protected from being dashed against the face of the cliff by
the men who stood at regular distances down the track, and who
handed him from one to the other till he reached the bottom, where
two stout men received him, and supported him on either side to a
little distance along the shingle.
 "What are you going to do with me?" he faintly asked; but they
made no answer.
"For God's sake spare my life!"
"Too late for that, lad," replied one.
"No, not too late," said Nicholas, with renewed hope. "I don't think
you have killed me. I shall get well, if you will let me go."
"Too late, lad. You should not have fired."
"You are going to murder me then," groaned the victim, sinking
down upon a large stone where he had often leaned before, it being
the one from which he was wont to look out to sea. "I did not
expect it of you, for your people have always behaved very well to
me. Everybody has been kind to me," he continued, his dying
thoughts getting into the train which the spot suggested. "But, if you
will do me one more kindness, do, some of you, tell the lady at the
station why I could not come as she bade me. 'Come within the
hour,' says she----"
He stopped short on hearing two pistols cocked successively. No
duty to be done under orders being immediately present to his mind,
a paroxysm of terror seized him. He implored mercy for his mother's
sake, and, with the words upon his lips, sank dead before the balls
were lodged in his body as in a mark.
The proceeding was witnessed by some of his comrades, and by
his officer, from the top of the cliff; and fierce were the cries and
numerous were the shots which followed the murderous party, as
they quickly took up the body, and fell back among the crowd of
smugglers within the deep shadow where they could no longer be
distinguished.
The party being three hundred strong, any resistance which the
Preventive Force could offer was of little avail to check their
proceedings, as long as they were disposed to carry them on. They
persevered for some time in landing, hoisting up, and carting away
their tubs, the batmen keeping line, and frequently firing, while the
carriers passed between with their burdens. At length, a shot from
one of the guard, which took more effect than was expected,
seemed to occasion some change in their plans. They drew in their
apparatus, ascended the track in order, bearing with them the bodies
of their slain or wounded companions, and formed round the carts,
in order to proceed up the country, deserting a portion of the cargo
which was left upon the shore. The vessel, meanwhile, hoisted sail,
and wore round to stand out to sea.
"Can you see how many are killed or disabled?" inquired the
Lieutenant of one of his men. "What is this they are hauling along?"
"Two bodies, sir; whether dead or not, I can't say."
"Not poor Nicholas's for one, I suppose."
"No, sir; they have both their faces blacked, I see."
"We must get Christian burial for Nicholas, if it be too late to save
him," said the Lieutenant to his men, who were boiling with rage at
the fate of their comrade.
"They have pitched him into the sea, no doubt, sir, unless they
have happened to leave him on the beach as a mockery."
The procession passed with their load, like a funeral train; and to
stop them would only have occasioned the loss of more lives. There
were no stragglers to be cut off, for they kept their corps as compact
as if they had been drilled into the service, and practised in an
enemy's country. It was, in fact, so. They had been trained to
regular defiance of laws which they had never heard spoken of but
in terms of hatred; and whenever the agents of government were
around their steps, they felt themselves in the midst of enemies.
When the smugglers had proceeded so far inland as to be out of
danger, they made a halt, and gave three cheers,--an exasperating
sound to the baffled guard.
"Let them cheer!" cried the Lieutenant, "our turn will come next.
Down to the beach, my lads, before the tide carries off what belongs
to you there. If any of you can find tracks of blood, it may not be
too late for poor Nicholas, after all. Down to the beach, and seize
whatever you can find."
He remained for a few moments on the steep, ranging the horizon
with his glass, internally cursing the rapid progress that the lugger
(which few but Nicholas would have taken for a sloop, however deep
the shadow) was making in her escape.
"The cutter always contrives to be just in the wrong place,"
thought he, "or to arrive too late when called. She will come, as she
did before, full sail, as soon as the smuggler has got out of sight,
and changed her course."
On joining his men, he found they had partly recovered their
spirits, amidst the booty which lay before their eyes. Some few had
given their first attention to searching for the body of their comrade,
but the greater number were insisting on the necessity of removing
the seizure to the Custom-house, before the tide should have risen
any higher. It was already washing up so as to efface any marks of
blood which might have remained on the shingle; and it seemed
most probable, in the absence of any clue, that the body of Nicholas
was being dashed in the surf which sent its spray among those who
defied its advances to the last, before they mounted once more
upon the down. They were obliged to leave a few tubs floating, after
they had secured the goods which it was most important to keep
dry. If these kegs could hold together amidst the dashing of the
waves, they would be recoverable in the morning from the sea, as
the law forbade all floating tubs to be picked up by anybody but the
Coast Guard, and the watch on the shore could keep an eye on the
observance of the law, for the short time that would be necessary.
"Brady, post off to the station-house, and let the ladies know we
are all safe but one. Stay! You will not thank me for sending you
away from your booty; and, besides, they will not believe you. I
must go myself. Halt a minute, my lads."
The officer directed his steps to the gleam which shone out
through the curtain of Matilda's window. Though he found her
voiceless, and his mother and sister in a state of restless terror, he
could not stay to revive them. The firing had seemed to them so
fearful that they would scarcely credit the testimony of their own
eyes that the Lieutenant was safe, or his assurance that only one life
had been lost on the side of the Preventive Force. He did not say
whose life that was, for he knew that there was not a man under his
command whom his wife would miss more than poor Nicholas. This
painful communication he left to the morning. With an assurance
that the enemy had all marched off, and that no dangerous duty
remained, the officer entreated his family to go to rest. It was very
probable that he might not come home till daylight, and it would
now be folly to waste any more anxiety upon him.
Elizabeth thought it really would be very foolish, though she
declared she did not expect to sleep a wink for a month to come.
She began her preparations, however, by putting up her work with
alacrity, and lighting her mother to her bedroom. Matilda went also
to hers, but not to remain. As soon as all was quiet, she stole down
to the fire-side, laid wood upon the embers, put out her light, and
sat down, preferring a further watch to broken dreams. The cracking
of the fuel and the ticking of the time-piece composed her agitated
thoughts; but, instead of cheerfulness, a deep melancholy
succeeded to the internal tumult of so many hours--a melancholy
which grew with that it fed on.
Matilda had not hitherto been given to deep thought, or strong
feeling, for any one but her husband; but the new influences of
circumstance, of late suspense and fear, of the hour, and of her
present social position,--all combined to stimulate her to higher
reflection than, as a light-hearted girl, she had been wont to
encourage. She would fain have known which of the men had
fallen,--what home was to be made desolate by the tidings that
must soon be on their way. Were they to stun the young wife who,
like herself, had----O, no! It was too dreadful to think of! Were they
to smite the matron, who, ill her Irish cabin, daily told the little ones
around her knee tales of the brave and tender father who was to
come back and caress them one day? Were they to wither the aged
parent, who prayed for his roving son, and looked for the return of
the prodigal before he died; or the band of young kindred who
watched with longing the glory of their elder brother, and would be
struck dumb at this ignoble close of his envied service? Whoever it
was, a life was gone! And how? Men of the same country, members
of the same social state, had been made enemies by arbitrary laws.
They had been trained to deceive and to defy one another when
they should have wrought, side by side, to nourish life instead of to
destroy it,--to strengthen peace instead of inflicting woe. He who
made the human heart to yearn at the voice of kindliness, and to
leap up at the tone of joy, thereby rebukes the system which gives
birth to mutual curses, and flings sorrows into many homes;--He
who gradually discloses to the roused human ear the music of His
name, does it for other purposes than to have it taken upon human
lips in mockery as a pass-word to the meanest frauds;--He who
made yon glittering sea a broad path by which his children might
pass to and fro, so that the full may bear bread to the hungry, and
the skilful send clothing to the naked, must pity the perverseness by
which such mutual aid is declined, or yielded only at the expense of
crime--artificial crime, which brings on natural, as its sure
consequence;--He who scatters his bounties over the earth with
impartial hand, his snow and sunshine, his fruits and gems;--He who
lets loose his herds on the plains of the tropics, and calls the fishy
tribes into the depths of Polar seas;--He who breathes upon the
cornfields, and they wave; who whispers among the pine-forests of
the North, and they bow before him,--thus works that men may
impart and enjoy; and yet man will not impart, and forbids his
fellow-man to enjoy;--He who in still small voice says to the Hindoo
beneath the palm-tree, "Get thee a home;" who visits the broken
sleep of the toil-worn artizan to bid him get food and rest; who
comes in the chill wind to the shivering boor to warn him to provide
apparel; who scares the crouching Arab with thunders among the
caverned rocks, and the Greenlander with tempests on the icy sea,
and the African with wild beasts in the sultry night, that out of their
terror may arise mutual protection and social ease,--is daringly
gainsaid by intermeddlers, who declare that one nation shall have
scanty food, and another miserable clothing; and that a third must
still find holes in the rocks, or a refuge in the trees, because neither
wood nor iron shall be given for habitations. Shall there not come a
day when the toil-worn Briton shall complain, "I was hungry, and ye
gave me no food;" and the Pole, "I was naked, and ye clothed me
not;" and the Syrian wanderer, "I was houseless, and ye sheltered
me not;" and the gem-decked hungering savage, "I was poor and
miserable, and ye visited me not, nor let me enrich you in return?"
When will men learn that the plan of Divine Providence indicates the
scheme of human providence; that man should distribute his
possessions as God scatters his gifts; that, as man is created for
kindliness and for social ease, he should be governed so as to secure
them; that, as all interests naturally harmonize under a law of
impartial love, it is an impiety to institute a law of partiality, by which
interests are arbitrarily opposed? When will men learn that it should
be with their wrought as with their natural wealth,--that, as the air
of heaven penetrates into all hidden places, and nourishes the life of
every breathing thing, all the elements of human comfort should
expand till they have reached and refreshed each partaker of human
life; that as the seeds of vegetation are borne here and there by
gales, and dropped by birds upon ridges and into hollows, the
means of enjoyment should be conveyed to places lofty or lowly in
the social scale, whence the winged messengers may return over the
deep with an equal recompense? When will governments learn that
they are responsible for every life which is sacrificed through a
legislation of partiality; whether it be of a servant of its own,
murdered by rebellious hands, or of a half-nourished babe dying on
its sickly mother's knee, or of a spirit-broken merchant, or of a worn-
out artizan? When will the people learn that, instead of acquiescing
in the imposition of oaths which they mean to break, of a watch
which they permit to be insulted and slaughtered, of a law which
they bring up their children to despise and to defy, they should
demand with one voice that freedom in the disposal of the fruits of
their toil, upon which mutual interest is a sufficient check, while it
proves a more unfailing stimulus than any arbitrary encouragement
given to one application of industry at the expense of all others?
When shall we leave the natural laws which guide human efforts as
they guide the stars in their courses to work, without attempting to
mend them by our bungling art? When shall man cease to charge
upon Providence evils of his own devising, and pray for deliverance
from the crimes he himself has invented, and from the miseries
which follow in their train? We implore that there may be no murder,
and put firelocks into the hands of our smugglers. We profess our
piety, and hold the Bible to unhallowed lips in our custom-houses.
We say "Avaunt!" to all that is infernal when we bring our children to
the font, and straightway educate them to devilish subtilty and
hatred. We weekly celebrate our love for our whole race, and yet
daily keep back a portion of the universal inheritance of man. O,
when will man come in singleness of heart before his Maker, and
look abroad upon His works in the light of His countenance!
Matilda's eyes were shining tearful in the firelight when her
husband entered.
"Hey! tears, my love? I saw no tears when there was more cause,-
-two hours ago."
"I had no time for them then," said Matilda, brushing them away.
"And why now? Do you dread more such nights, or are you worn
out, or----"
"No, no; it was not for myself. It was shame.--O, I am so
ashamed!"
"Of me, love? Do not you like my duty? or, do I not perform it
well?"
"O, no, no. I am so ashamed at the whole world, and especially at
our own nation, which thinks itself so Christian. Here we send one
another out man-hunting. We make a crime, tempt a man into it,
and punish him for it. Is this Christian?"
"It would be a disgrace to paganism."
"We are proud of being made in God's image, and we take pains
to make human governments the reverse of the Divine. How dare
we ask a blessing upon them?"
"Come, come, my good girl, you must think of something more
cheerful. The hearing of a life being lost has been too much for you.
You never were so near the scene of a murder before, I dare say."
"Never," replied Matilda, with quivering lips.
"It will not affect you so much again. You will become more used
to the circumstances of such a situation as ours. You will feel this
sort of adventure less painfully henceforward."
"But I do not wish that," was all that Matilda chose to say, lest her
sorrow should be charged upon discontent with her individual lot.
She looked out once more upon the sea, darkening as the moon
went down, and satisfied herself that the time would come for which
she had been inquiring,--when man would look above and around
him, and learn of Providence.
 Chapter VII.

HEAR THE NEWS!

All was bustle about the nearest Custom-house when the seized
vessel and goods were expected to arrive the next morning. The
magistracy in the neighbourhood were also busy, for there seemed
to be no end to the offences against the law which had arisen out of
the adventure of the preceding night.
The first steps taken were towards the discovery of the murderer
of Nicholas; and, for this purpose, application was made to
government for aid, in the shape both of police-officers and of an
offer of reward for the disclosure of the murderers. Little was hoped
from the latter proceeding, as the smugglers were known to yield
powerful protection to each other, and to be united by a bond of
honour as strongly in each other's defence as against the law. If
Nicholas's murderers were known to every dweller along the coast,
from Portsmouth to the North Foreland, there was little probability
that any one would step forward to name or lay hands on them. But,
the little that government could do,--pry about and offer bribes, was
done; and, whether or not the guilty persons might tremble or flee,
every body else laughed.
One of the gipsy band was brought up before two justices of the
peace on violent suspicion of having, after eight in the evening, and
before six in the morning, made, aided, or assisted in making, or
been present at making, a signal, by means of light, fire, flash,
blaze, signal by smoke, and so forth, through all the offences
described in the appropriate clause of that most singular statute
ordained for the prevention of smuggling. No proof could be
brought, though the truth of the charge was generally believed, and
the gipsies thereby became more popular than ever. They were
dismissed, and every body laughed.
A boy was brought up, on a charge of trespass, by a farmer, who
complained that his fenced land had been entered and trampled,
and his well and bucket made use of without leave. The boy pleaded
that he had entered for the purpose of putting out a fire which he
suspected to be intended for a signal to smugglers. The justices
referred to the statute, found that "it shall be lawful," &c., to commit
this kind of trespass, and that the boy had only done his duty. And
now, every body frowned.
A woman who had been caught standing near a tub of the spirits
which had been seized, which tub was staved, was brought up on
the charge of having staved the same. The penalty was so heavy as
to tempt to a vast deal of false swearing on her behalf, by dint of
which she escaped; and her friends and neighbours laughed again.
She was not the less glad of this issue that, being a poor person, she
would have been supported while in prison by a daily allowance
drawn from the pockets of the nation.
A crew of fishermen were summoned to show cause why they
should not, according to law, pay the treble value of a floating keg of
gin, which, having bumped against their boat at sea, they had
stretched out their hands to appropriate. There was no use in
denying the act, as it had been witnessed by two keen eyes through
unimpeachable glasses, from a headland. All that the fishermen
could do was to swear that they only meant to deliver over the
spirits to the Custom-house officers, and were prevented from doing
so by being arrested immediately on landing. The magistrates
considered this a very doubtful case; and, having before their eyes
the fear of the collective power of their smuggling neighbours, gave
their decision in favour of the fishermen; whereat the informers
were indignant, and the folks in waiting exulted.
All parties had by this time had enough of this ceremony; but the
justices agreed in assuring the Lieutenant, that if they chose to look
strictly into the proceedings of their neighbours, and to inflict all the
punishments ordained in the statute for all the modes of offence
specified therein, they might be constantly occupied from morning
till night; the gaols would be filled; there would be a distraint for
penalties in almost every cottage, and offenders would be nearly as
common as persons who stood above five feet in their shoes. They
entertained him with a sight of the entire statute, as he was not
acquainted with the whole; and all thought it perfectly consistent
with their exemplary loyalty to decide that it was truly an
extraordinary specimen of legislation. The justices could no more
boast of the achievements of their authority in putting down
smuggling than the officer of his efficiency in preventing it. All shook
their heads, complimented each other's exertions, and desponded
about the availableness of their own.
"What is to be done?" was the commonplace query which ensued.
"Why, you see," said one of the justices, "the prohibiting a
commodity does not take away the taste for it; and if you impose a
high duty, you only excite people to evade it, and to calculate the
average rate of the risk of detection. That being done, there will
always be abundance of speculators found to make the venture, and
no lack of customers to bid them God speed."
"Then there are two ways of demolishing the practice,--lowering
the duties, so as to remove the temptation to smuggling; and
increasing the difficulty of carrying on a contraband trade."
"I should say there is but one," replied the first speaker.
"Difficulties have been multiplied till we who have to administer the
law groan under them, and smuggling is still on the increase."
"What is government about all the time?" asked the Lieutenant.
"They must know this, and yet they let their own power be mocked,
and the interests of our manufacturers and commercial men be
sacrificed."
"Of our manufacturers, but not necessarily of all our commercial
men. Contraband trade is a fine thing for certain shopkeepers; and
you might hear some curious stories below there," (nodding towards
the Custom-house,) "about certain methods of obtaining drawbacks,
and then re-landing the goods by the help of our night-working
neighbours. However, government is getting a glimpse of the true
state of the case, as we shall soon see."
 "Because," observed the other magistrate, "government is
beginning to look to the right quarter for information. It is nonsense
to consult collectors of the revenue, and persons in their interest and
of their way of thinking, about the best method of rendering taxes
effectual. The only way is to contemplate the interests of the tax
payers. This done, it is easily seen that there is not much wisdom in
a system, the enforcement alone of which costs the country many
hundred thousand pounds a year."
"And which is not enforced, after all, and never can be. No, no;
the government sees now that the only way is to lower the duties
down to the point which makes contraband trading a speculation not
worth attempting."
"What makes you suppose that government views the matter in
this light?"
"It is said, and confidently believed in London, that government
has taken into consideration this petition from the principal silk-
manufacturers in and about London."
The Lieutenant read the petition in the newspaper, of recent date,
now handed to him.
"Hum. 'This important manufacture, though recently considerably
extended,'--aye, so it ought to be, from the increasing number of
wearers of silk,--'is still depressed below its natural level'--they are
tired of Spitalfields subscriptions, I suppose, and of living among
starving weavers, who throw the blame of their starvation on their
masters;--'by laws which prevent it from attaining that degree of
prosperity which, under more favourable circumstances, it would
acquire.'--Well! what thinks the House of this petition?"
"That will be seen when government speaks upon it. It is thought
that the prohibition of foreign silks will be removed, and a moderate
duty substituted. If so, it will be an important experiment."
"I rather think," observed the other magistrate, "that the fault will
soon be found to be neither in the undue mildness of the law, nor in
our way of administering it,--of both which the customs and excise
officers are for ever complaining. I believe my friend here and I shall
have little less reason to bless the change than these petitioning
manufacturers."
 "There will be enough left for me to do," observed the Lieutenant,
"if, as I suppose, they will leave as they are the duties on articles not
produced at home. Many a cargo of gin and tobacco will yet be
landed in my day. Meanwhile, I must go and see the unpacking at
the Custom-house. I hope I shall not be tempted to smuggle within
those very walls, on my wife's account."
When the officer arrived at the Custom-house, he found the
Collector and Comptroller invested with all the dignity of active
office, and the members of the Coast Guard who were there to claim
their share of booty, watching with eagerness for the unpacking of a
large store of that beloved weed which was wont to "cheer but not
inebriate" them on their watch. A few inquisitive neighbours were
peeping in from window and door, and Mr. Pim, admitted through
favour, from his son being the Collector's clerk, paced up and down,
his countenance exhibiting a strange alternation of mirth and
vexation. He could not help enjoying the fun of people eluding, and
baffling, and thwarting one another; such fun being one chief
inducement to him to connect himself as he had done with
contraband traders; but it was a serious vexation to see some of his
property,--goods on whose safe arrival he had staked the earnings of
his irksome school-hours,--thus about to fall into the hands of those
who had paid no such dolorous price for them.
Somebody wondered that, as the smugglers had taken time to
carry away so considerable a portion of their cargo, a large package
of tobacco should have been left behind; tobacco being an
exceedingly valuable article of contraband trade, from the difference
between its original cost and its price when charged with the duty. If
smugglers paid threepence a pound for their article, and sold it at
half-a-crown, it must repay their risks better than most articles which
they could import. One of the guard believed he had seen numerous
packages of tobacco on the people's shoulders, as they passed to
the carts, and supposed that the quantity before them formed a very
small portion of what had been landed.
"Most likely," observed the Collector. "There is more tobacco
landed than there is of any thing else, except brandy and geneva. It
is high time government was bestirring itself to put down the
smuggling of tobacco. Do you know, sir," (to the Lieutenant,) "these
fellows supply a fourth part of the tobacco that is consumed in
England?"
"That is nothing to what they do in Ireland," observed Brady.
"There were seventy vessels in one year landing tobacco between
Waterford and Londonderry."
"Yes; the Irish are incorrigible," replied the Collector; "they
smuggle three-fourths of the tobacco they use."
The Lieutenant doubted whether they were incorrigible. Neither
the Irish, nor any body else, would think of smuggling unless they
were tempted to it. If the duty, now three shillings per pound, were
reduced to one shilling, smuggling tobacco would not answer; the
sinning three-fourths would get their tobacco honestly, and
government would be the gainer. The same advantage would arise in
England from the reduction of the duty; as, in addition to the
practice of smuggling being superseded, the consumption of the
article would materially increase, as is always the case on the
reduction of a tax. With every augmentation of the duty from eight-
pence per pound to three shillings, there had been a failure of
consumption at the same time with an increase of contraband trade;
so that the revenue had suffered doubly, and to an extent far
beyond its gains from the heightening of the duty.
"What have we got here?" cried Pim, as a gay-coloured article was
drawn out from among the packages.
"Flags! Aye; these were clever fellows, and knew their business,
you see. Here are pretty imitations of navy flags, and a fine variety.
British, Dutch, French! They knew what they were about,--those
fellows."
"So do you, it seems, Mr. Pim," observed the Collector. "You are as
wonderfully learned in flags as if you had taken a few trips to sea
yourself."
"I have lived on this coast for many a year, and seen most of the
flags that wave on these seas," replied Pim. "But since these flags
are but poor booty, it is a pity your men cannot catch those that
hoisted them, and so get a share of the fine."
 "Suppose you put them on the right scent, Mr. Pim. I fancy you
could, if you chose."
Mr. Pim disclaimed, with all the gravity which his son's presence
could impose. A parcel of bandanas next appeared, and as the
familiar red spotted with white appeared, a smile went round the
circle of those who anticipated a share of the seizure.
"Ho, ho! I suspect I know who these belong to," observed the
Collector. "There is a gentleman now not far off on this coast who
could tell us all about them, I rather think. He has been sent for
from London, under suspicion of certain tricks about the drawback
on the exportation of silks. His shop is supplied very prettily by our
smugglers, and his connexion with them is supposed to be the
inducement to him to make large purchases at the India sales. I
have no doubt he is one of those who buy bandanas at four shillings
a piece, and sell them at eight shillings, when they have had a trip
to Ostend or Guernsey. I have a good mind to send for him."
"This is the last sort of commodities I should think it can be
pleasant to you Custom-house folks to declare forfeited," observed
Pim. "Your consciences must twinge you a little here, I should think.
I don't doubt your tobacco and your brandy being duty-paid, and all
proper; but when paying duty will not do, you will offend, just like
those who are not government servants, rather than go without
what you have a mind to. I'll lay any wager now----"
"Hold your impertinent tongue, sir," cried the Collector.
Mr. Pim obeyed, taking leave to use his hands instead. He stepped
behind the Collector, and quietly picked his pocket of a bandana: he
did the same to the Comptroller; and afterwards to all the rest,
though the land-waiter whisked away his coat-tail, and the tide-
waiter got into a corner. The only one who escaped was the clerk
(Pim’s own son), and he only because his having one round his neck
made the process unnecessary. A goodly display of bandanas,--real
Indian,--now graced the counter, and everybody joined in Pim's
hearty laugh.
"Now," said he, "if you summon Breme on the suspicion of this
property being his----"
 "So you know who the gentleman was that I was speaking of,"
cried the Collector. "Very well. Perhaps you can tell us a little news of
this next package."
And forthwith was opened to view a beautiful assortment of
figured silks, of various colours, but all of one pattern. Mr. Pim
gravely shook his head over them.
"If you know nothing of those, I do," said Brady, taking out his
tobacco-box, and producing therefrom the snip of silk which had
been extracted from Elizabeth's glove. "'Tis the same article, you
see; and the Lieutenant here declares 'tis English."
"And so it is, and so are these," declared the Collector. "The
French would be ashamed of such a fabric as this, at the price
marked, though they might own the figure; which must be imitated
from theirs, I fancy. We had better send for Mr. Breme, and let the
other Custom-house know of this seizure. I suspect it will throw
some more light on the tricks about the drawback."
Mr. Breme was found to be nearer at hand than had been
supposed. Having failed in his speculation, through two unfortunate
seizures of contraband cargoes, he had cut but a poor figure at the
larger Custom-house, where he had just been examined, and found
it necessary to consult with his Brighton brother as to the means of
getting the threatened fine mitigated, or of paying it, if no mercy
could be obtained. He was proceeding along the coast to Brighton,
when Pim, who was aware of his movements, met him, and told him
of the adventures which had taken place at Beachy Head.
What was to be done? Should he slip past to Brighton quietly, at
the risk of being brought back in a rather disagreeable way, or
should he make his appearance at once, and brave the
circumstances, before more evidence should be gathered against
him from distant quarters? The latter measure was decided upon;
and Breme, after changing his directions to the post-boy, leaned
back in his chaise to ruminate, in anything but a merry mood, on the
losses which he had sustained, was sustaining, and must expect still
further to sustain.
Breme had lately become a merchant in a small way, as well as a
shopkeeper. He had followed the example of many of his brethren in
trade, in venturing upon a proceeding of some risk, in hopes that
large profits would cover the loss of the occasional failures which he
had to expect. He had employed his Spitalfields neighbour to
manufacture a fabric in imitation of French silk, and had exported
the produce as English, receiving at the Custom-house the drawback
granted to such exportation. This drawback was the remission, or
paying back, of the duties on the article to be exported; such
remission being necessary to enable the exporter to sell his
commodity in the foreign market on equal terms with the foreign
manufacturers, who were less burdened with taxes. Breme claimed
and received this drawback, he and his agents swearing, in due
form, according to the statute, that the goods were really for sale
abroad, and should not be relanded. The oath was considered
merely as a necessary form; and Breme had no notion of selling his
goods in a foreign market at a lower price than would be given for
them in England, under the supposition that they were French. Back
they came, therefore; and the government, which had paid the
drawback, besides having thereby made a very pretty present to Mr.
Breme, saw an addition made to the stock of the already
overstocked market at home, while the weavers of silk were
starving, and it was charitably contributing to frequent subscriptions
for their relief. Mr. Breme was now, however, a loser in his turn, his
beautiful goods being clutched by the strong hand of the law. In
addition to this trouble, he was suffering under the prospect of a
speedy end being put to this kind of speculation.
He could not decide what line of defence to take till he reached
the Custom-house, and heard the nature and amount of the
evidence that there might be against him. When he was told that the
case was to be followed up very diligently, and exposed as a
warning; that the silks were known to be of the same kind as those
for which he had had to answer in another place; and that the
manufacturer and weavers would be produced to swear to the origin
of the whole,--he offered to make oath that he had sold the goods
abroad, and that their being afterwards smuggled back again was
the act of his customers, and not his own. The Collector
congratulated him that, this being the case, he was not subjected to
the loss which some of his friends had regretted on his account. It
was, indeed, a much pleasanter thing to have sold the goods and
pocketed the money than to see such a beautiful lot of goods,
prepared at so much cost, and with so much labour and ingenuity,
now lying a forfeit to the offended British law. With a bitter sweet
smile, Mr. Breme bowed in answer to this congratulation, and
changed the subject. He observed that days of comparative leisure
were apparently at hand for all the gentlemen he saw around him. If
government should carry into other departments the changes it was
about to make in the silk trade, there would be an end of many of
the little affairs with which the time of the Custom-house officers
was now so fully and disagreeably occupied.
What did he mean? Did he bring any new information?
Merely that government was about to remove the prohibition on
the importation of foreign silks, and to substitute an ad valorem duty
of 30 per cent.
"Bless my soul, sir! what an extraordinary thing!" cried the
Collector. "You do not mean that you are sure of the fact, sir?"
Mr. Breme had it from the best authority.
"Why 'extraordinary?'" asked the Lieutenant. "The nature of our
business this morning is proof enough that some change is
necessary, is it not?"
"To be sure," replied Breme; "but the change should be all the
other way. Do you know, sir, the market is deluged already with silk
goods from the late slight mourning, and from a change of fashion
since? What are we to do, sir, when the French pour in a flood of
their manufactures upon us?"
"Our market is glutted because we can find no vent for our
produce; and I do not see how the matter could be mended by
increasing the inducements of smugglers to supply us, while our
weavers are starving in the next street. If the French silks are, on
the average, 25 per cent. cheaper than ours, a duty of 30 per cent.
will leave our manufacturers a fair chance in the competition with
foreigners, and will throw the trade of the smugglers into their
hands. My only doubt is, whether the duty is not too high,--whether
there is not still some scope left to smuggling enterprize."
 "Your countrymen are much obliged to you, I am sure, sir," said
Breme, tartly. "I think government should know that some of its
servants are ill-disposed to their duty."
The Lieutenant dared the shopkeeper to say this again, in the
midst of the witnesses of what his conduct had been on the
preceding night. Breme meant only,----and so forth.
Anxious and perplexed were all the faces now, except the
Lieutenant's own. His men had only a vague idea that something
was to happen to take away their occupation, and to do a great
mischief. Their officer bade them cheer up, and told them that it was
only to the article of silk that the reported regulations would relate.
"There is no knowing that," sagely observed the Collector. "When
they begin with such innovations, there is no telling where they will
leave off. With such a fancy once in their heads, Ministers (though
God forbid I should say any evil of them!) will not stop till they have
ruined the revenue, and laid waste the country under the curse of an
entirely free trade."
"I dare say they will be wise enough to retain duties which all
classes allow to be just; and the levying of them will afford you quite
sufficient occupation, Mr. Collector, if our trade increases, as it is
likely to do under such a system," replied the Lieutenant. "This little
custom-house may no longer be wanted as a store-place for
contraband goods; but there will be all the more to do in the large
ports; and there, sir, you may find an honourable and appropriate
place."
Neither the Collector nor any of his coadjutors, however, could be
consoled under the dire prospect of the total ruin of the revenue,
which was the result they chose to anticipate from the measures
understood to be now in contemplation. Their only ground of hope
was, that the British manufacturers would rise in a body to
remonstrate against the sacrifice of their interests. This, however,
considering that the most eminent of the body had already
petitioned for the opening of the trade, offered a very slender
promise of consolation.
Pim had early slipped away to spread the news of the
contemplated "ruin of the coast." The tidings spread from mouth to