he never received the value of a tea-spoon from Llod ’s, or any other commercial association:– thanks he certainly received in abundance, but always at the expense of postage. The wind-up of his services as a Commander now requires our notice.
In January, 1806, a vast number of smuggling vessels had collected at Flushing and the adjacent ports, waiting for a change of wind, which had been for some time blowing very hard from the N.W. Knowing that such was the case, Captain Hancock took measures for intercepting some of those illicit traders; and, at day-light on the 28th, the wind having come round to the S.E., he had the gratification to see at least 60 cutters and luggers coming out of the different harbours. Aware of the inutility of chasing them whilst they continued between him and the shore, he contrived, by disguising the Cruiser, and keeping an American flag flying, as if in want of a pilot, to decoy several of them outside of him. Having done this, and succeeded in capturing one large cutter, which was immediately manned as a tender, he bore up, and followed the course that he supposed the smugglers would steer all night, and the event fully answered his expectations. At day-break on the following morning, six or seven sail were discovered close to the Cruiser; and, although very unusual at that season of the year, the weather was then perfectly calm, in which state it continued until four large luggers and a cutter were secured by his boats, the smugglers having deserted their vessels, and rowed off with all possible expedition. In the mean time the tender, under the command of Lieutenant John Pearse, captured two other fine luggers, each having on board 1000 tubs of geneva, rum, &c. The whole of the cargoes taken consisted of more than 20,000 gallons of spirits, together with a large quantity of tobacco, and various other contraband goods, to a very considerable amount. This seizure, we believe, was the largest ever made at one time; and it certainly was by far the severest blow the smugglers had received during the war.
The protection thus afforded to the revenue would no doubt have secured Captain Hancock’s advancement to post rank;
