Preventive Waterguard Office, Cork,
20th June 1820.
Sir,
Representations having been made by the collector of His Majesty's Customs, Youghal, to his board, stating the very great increase of smuggling on that part of the coast situate between Youghal and Waterford; and having received information in which I could place implicit reliance, that, in anticipation the preventive waterguard would be extended to that part of the coast, the smugglers were determined, previous thereto, to land large cargoes during the summer, at which they have hitherto been most successful :—
I have the honour to inform you, that as I considered of the disposable force, placed by the Treasury minute of the 23d November last, under my immediate orders, might be made available to its protection, I proceeded on Monday last, in company with the collectors of customs at Youghal and Waterford, and made a carefal and minute survey of the districts; und have the honour to submit, in the enclosed report, the measures taken by me and also those that should, in my opinion, be immediately adopted, to suppress a system of smuggling carried on to an unparalleled extent.
To ensure the success of the arrangements which I bave found it necessary to adopt, 1 bave directed Lieutenant Sherwin to proceed forthwith to Dungarvon, and take upon himself the inspection of the coast from Youghal to Dunmore; I have furnished bim with every instruction and information relative to that part of the coast; during his absence on this service, I have directed Mr. Williams, the inspecting commander at Clonakilty, to take upon himself the inspection of the station at Milk Cove; and Lieutenant Meggison, the inspecting commander at Scull, also to take upon himself the inspection of the station at Castle Townsead, until further orders; and would recommend this to your consideration, with a view to its being adopted as a permanent measure. The force removed to thus line of coast, you will perceive, Sir, is what I considered in my Report of the 5th June, No. 134, to be unnecessury at the stations they are now removed from. Should you be pleased to approve of the arrangements I have found indispensable, I request you will cause directions to be given to transfer the officers and men, removed from the stations enumerated in the enclosed list, to the ports they are now removed to; and also, that directions may be given to pay the extra men, to complete the establishment in the usual manner.
I cannot conclude this Report, without repeating the statement contained in my letter of the 11th February, No. 42, that after a short period, the numerical force at all these stations will bear considerable reductions.
I have the honour, &c.
(signed) J. Dombrain.
The Comptroller General,
P.W. Guard, London.
(Copy.)
THE eastern part of the port of Youghal, and the western part of the port of Waterford, extend from Youghal harbour to Dunmore Head, a space of coast of at least fifty miles in extent unprotected. Smuggling has for a considerable time been carried on with great success on this entire line of coast, but more particularly about Helwick-head near Dungarvon, and Ballymacaw near Waterford; seizures having been made at the former place since the month of January last, amounting to at least 10,000l. in duties, by the port surveyor of Dungarvon.
Ardmore Head is about five miles by land from Youghal; a coast officer is placed here, and it is the first place that will, I am of opinion, require being taken up as a preventive station; between that place and Youghal are several landing places, that have, as well as Ardmore, I am informed, been recently used for landing smuggled goods. At the village of Ardmore there is a house that was formerly used as a barrack that the proprietor will let for 21l. per annum, with a right of way for a look-out at the head ; it will require repair, but is, even in its present state, habitable ; I would therefore suggest, that a preventive crew, consisting in all of about ten persons, should be mmediately appointed to this place ; but in order to counteract the arrangements that are in progress for carrying on smuggling at that place during the summer, I have ventured to direct that part of the disposable force, consisting of six men, should be sent there, with directions to complete the complement to ten persons without delay, and to take upon them the guard of the coast from Youghal to Mine-head. From Mine-head to Dungarvon, a distance by the sea coast of full ten miles in extent, there is not at present an officer of any description; there are several landing places between Mine-head and Helwick-head, which are now most used, and at which places regular agencies are established. Some idea may be formed as to the extent of smuggling at this place, when the officers at Dungarvon, although so far distant, have, since the month of January last, seized 687 bales of tobacco, 117 casks and 20 packages of tea, and about 30 casks of brandy; vessels are now daily expected. From a conviction of the urgent necessity there existed for an immediate stop being put thereto, I have sent off orders from Dungarvon to the chief officer at Glandore, and directed him, with seven of his men, to proceed there forthwith; I have procured accommodation for them at the rate of ten guineas per annum, and ordered two extra wen, who are well acquainted with the different passes over the mountains, to be hired, making the complement ten, which number I would recommend, should be established, and that it should be made a permanent station, their guard to extend from Mine-head to Stradbally.
Helwick-head to Dungarvon, the distance by water is not more than three miles, although eight by land, and from Dungarvon to Stradbally the distance is not greater, whilst the space across Dungarvon-bay, viz. from Helwick-bead to Stradbally, is not more than four miles; I therefore am of opinion, the crew at the former place would be enabled, with the Bunmahon crew, to prevent any landing being affected at a place situated so far in a deep and dangerous bay.
Bunmahon, where the Youghal district ceases, is distant about three miles by water, and five by land, from Stradbally. At this place there is a coast surveyor stationed, and a large house belonging to His Majesty's government, occupied by him, to which there is also attached an out-house, that may be converted into a good watch-house at a small expense. At this place I would suggest a station of ten persoas also, ther guard should extend west as far as Strabally, and east to Ann's Town.
The Islanss of Kane are situated one mile and a half to the eastward of Ann's Town. These, and the numerous coves near them, called Island-a-Kean, have always been the resort of smugglers, and smuggling to a considerable extent was carried on there during the last winter. One of the coves near the islands, I am of opinion, should be occupied as a permanent station, the crew to consist at present of ten persons; a watch and boat-house will be necessary, when land can be procured; but in order to keep up the line of communication, and as no accommodation can be had at that place, I would submit, that the crew might be advantageously employed, if stationed for the present at Ann's Town to Tramore, in Tramore-bay; there being several places about the head land, called Newtown-head, forming the western boundary of the bay, that will require being most narrowly watched.
Ballymacaw, near the bay of Tramore, which is formed by the head lands called Newton-head and Brownstown-head ; near the latter, to the eastward of the bay, is a small place called Somerville, situate at the entrance of the Rhineshark, a backwater of considerable extent at the back of the beach of Tramore-bay; the houses and land about Somerville, are all held by a Mr. Hearn, a tobacconist at Waterford, who is most extensively engaged in the smuggling transactions on this coast. From Somerville the distance by lavd to a cove called Ballymacaw to the eastward of Brownstown-head, is about one mile; at this place also the quantity of contraband goods landed within these few months, almost exceed belief; every house at Ballymacaw is also beld by Mr. Hearn, and are let by him during the summer as lodging hooses. Viewing this place in the most important light, as it afforded every facility for smuggling, being only six miles from Waterford, I left no means untried to obtain possession of one of the houses, in which I so far sacceeded, as to consent to pay 52l. for one year certain, and to ensure it, I paid a deposit of one pound, for which I obtained a receipt from the brother of Mr. Hearn; but on sending a private person from Waterford to obtain possession, it was positively refused by Mr. Hearn, he having in the meantime learned the duty on which I was employed; in order however to frustrate his further attempts at landing, I have deemed it advisable to remove men in the Crookhaven barge to Rhineshark, where there is good shelter for the vessel, with strict injunctions to keep a most vigilant look-out on Ballymacaw; I have also ordered two extra men to be hired and attached to the station.
(signed) J. Dombrain.