Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/347

 B. V.APRIL 14, INC.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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had been found on the north side of the back entrance to "The George" Inn, which was thought to be Roman work. It was under a small fold-yard, which was not then roofed over, though it probably had been covered at some period. The top of the cave had suddenly given way on account of a manure heap which had been raised over its weakest part. I descended into the cavern through this hole, and examined it carefully, but could find no trace of prehistoric or Roman work. There were no fragments of pottery, chipped flint, wall-scratches, or any other signs of times long past. The cavern was so irregular in shape that it is impossible for me to describe it without the aid of a plan, which I regret to say was never taken. I came to the conclusion that the entrance had been from the street which lies to the east, but it was impossible to demonstrate this, for that approach, if there was one, ran under another property on which a house stood.

Another part of this place was come upon very recently. It is a narrow passage run- ning towards the south. Though it was carefully examined, nothing was found to indicate its age. When the Town Hall was built here in 1897, a small court was enclosed to the north, adjoining on the west a cottage which was formerly a public-house bearing the sign of "The Crown." Here a small underground place of similar character was found, which seemed to have have had its entrance into the public-house. The roof had, however, collapsed at some former time, and the place was filled with surface-soil. I have been told of two or three other caverns of this kind not far from here, but, as I have not seen them, I am not able to speak to their character.

In the eighteenth century smuggling was so common in Lincolnshire that few people seem to have had any moral objection to profiting by it. Country squires as well as their tenants were accustomed to get their spirits from the " runners,'' and their wives and daughters by the same means got lace and other taxable finery from France. It vseems certain that justices of the peace, lawyers, and others whose duty it was to aid in the administration of the law had no hesitation in availing themselves of the services of the men engaged in this illicit trade. New Holland a railway station opposite Hull, where the Great Central Rail- way has a steam ferry over the Humber is commonly reported to have acquired its name from the Dutch smugglers who used it as a landing-place and depot for their wares.

Whether this be true, or, like so manj T guesses as to the origin of place-names, a result of the inventive fancy, it indicates how promi- nent a place the smuggler occupied in the- life of our forefathers.

The tales about smugglers that used to be current are now for the most part forgotten. Here is one which is certainly true. My grandfather knew the victim.

At the end of the eighteenth century a prosperous farmer lived at Kirton - in - Lindsey. Like most of the men of his time, he was fond of ardent spirits, and by no means given to practise self denial in regard to their consumption. He also possessed, and used freely, a curious assortment of oaths which would have delighted a modern philo- logist. He was, too, a hospitable man, with a mind well stored with racy anecdotes of "the good old times." He always purchased his spirits of a smuggler who made his rounds with the clockwork regularity of a commercial traveller of the present day. The " runner " and he were very good- friends ; the man of spirits was always sure of a warm welcome when he visited the farmer. At length, however, a difference arose between them. The farmer owed the "runner" money for his last purchase. The smuggler's trade was a ready-money busi- ness, and the vendor had great objection to be kept waiting, for he knew that there was no legal means of recovering debts such as his ; yet he had asked for payment again and again, but had received no response except sarcastic jests, intermixed with the fanciful oaths in which his customer was so proficient. Even the most amusing conversation becomes wearisome when it thwarts other instincts, , so the " runner " at last determined to put an end to relations so unsatisfactory. One day he called on the farmer at dinner-time, and spent a very pleasant afternoon with his host. The debt was alluded to in the course of conversation, but, contrary to his usual practice, the man did not urgently press his claim. Just before going away, however, he said, "I've gotten some kegs of real prime French brandy and first-rate Hollands gin hidden away among them thorn busks at Bell Hole." This place is a little valley about a mile distant, and was well known to the neighbours as a smugglers' haunt. "I should strange and like to have some on it," said the farmer ; " I 'm about clean 'd out as it is." " You can hev a keg of each sort if you 've a mind to come on wi' your cart as soon as it's dark; but mind, it's down on the nail this time. I 've larnt my lessin ; there 's no more trust for nobody." The