ABSTRACT
The immense depredations committed on every species of Commercial Property in the River Thames, but particularly on West India produce, had long been felt as a grievance of the greatest magnitude. The West India Planters alone have estimated their losses by depredations upon the River and in the Warehouses at the enormous sum of 250,000l a year. The watchmen in the streets leading to this warehouse were bribed to connive at the villainy, often under pretence that it was a smuggling transaction, and thus the object was effected. In many instances where goods could not be plundered through the connivance of watchmen, it was not uncommon thing to cut lighters adrift, and to follow them to a situation calculated to elude discovery where the pillage commenced. Many well-authenticated cases have recently been developed, which prove that Hamburgh vessels outward bound, have been plundered to a considerable amount, particularly those which were laden with sugar, coffee, and other West India produce.
