Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/311

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Messrs. Hunt and Co., assumed a very serious aspect. Lieutenant Woollnough offered his services to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in any way in which they could be rendered available; and had the honor of receiving Lord Sidmouth’s thanks for his zeal. In May 1819, he was appointed to the command of the Tartar revenue cruiser, and stationed in her from the Goodwin Sands to the coast of Essex, including the entrances to the Thames. On a service of this kind, an officer who turns his whole attention, as it is his duty, to the suppression of smuggling, cannot expect to be very fortunate in seizures, as the very activity which prevents the successful pursuits of the illicit trader drives him to try some other part of the coast, which he hopes to find less vigilantly guarded. Lieutenant Woollnough, however, captured about 1000 tubs of spirits while on this station, and was moreover successful in materially checking the contraband trade. In 1822, when the revenue cruisers were placed under the orders of the Comptroller-General of the Coast Guard, the Tartar was removed to the Weymouth station. While there. Lieutenant Woollnough superintended the building of a similar vessel, at Bridport, and the equipment and launch of another, at Hastings. He was not superseded in the command of the Tartar until Dec, 1822, seven months after the expiration of the usual period of service. Previous to this, his attachment to maritime surveying, which he was in the habit of having recourse to as an amusement, whenever opportunities of doing so occurred without interfering with his immediate duties, had procured him the friendship of the late Captain Hurd, many years hydrographer to the Admiralty, and with whom he kept up a correspondence until his death. Captain Hurd having requested that he would transmit to him such remarks as he had made while in the Tartar, he laid down the soundings, &c., and forwarded them with his observations, which produced a letter containing the following passage:–

“I understand, with the rest of the world, that a promotion will most