Daily National Intelligencer

THE SMUGGLER DETECTED.

LONDON, NOV. 18.

The Brussels packets have, in almost every trip which they have recently made to this country, brought home some of those gallant heroes who were left at Brussels for the recovery of their wounds. Towards such passengers it has been remarked, that the custom-house officers, who usually search with scrutinizing eyes for contraband goods, conduct themselves with the most liberal forbearance, remarking, 'those gentlemen have already been handled enough, without undergoing the handling of a revenue officer'—an indulgence which we have reason to believe a British officer has too much honor to abuse. Not so with some of these adventurous gentlemen, who, in making a trip to the late scene of carnage, are desirous of converting a journey of pleasure to one of profit. Several of these travellers, it is suspected, have contrived to elude the vigilance of the revenue, and to have made pretty large importations of lace, gloves and stockings, into this country, without the ceremony of paying duty.

Among others who were desirous of following this happy example, was a young man, the son of a haberdasher in Oxford street, who observing the facility with which wounded officers were landed on this side the water, thought the best course he could take on his return home, with a view to the success of his trading speculation, would be to assume the disguise of 'a hero of Waterloo,' and thereby pass unheeded.

The thought was a good one, and accordingly on his reshipment he appeared with a pair of black crutches—his left leg and thigh thickly bandaged, and in all respects in the costume of one who had been severely handled in the action of the 18th. Matters went on very well until the arrival of the custom officers on board, when all the passengers were questioned as to their luggage; at length it came to the turn of our hero, who said, in a very cavalier tone, 'You see my friends I have been pretty well wounded.' This address not being precisely consistent with the character he meant to personate, some doubts were entertained of his claims to the respect with which others had been treated, and on further enquiry, those doubts were so far realized, that it was determined to be a little more strict in the investigation of his luggage; a determination which unhappily led to discoveries that at once exhibited the haberdasher in his true colours.

As the first search had been successful, it was determined to go still further, even to take a peep at his wounds. Against such inhumanity, the now terrified shopman protested in vehement terms. It was in vain to contend with his persecutors, however, and to the infinite amusement of the assembled multitude, the bandages were removed, when, to the surprize of those who had been the dupes of the fraud, immense swellegs of lace, and other valuable contraband articles were discovered: and, in a few minutes, a complete cure was effected of the fractured limb.—The search did not end here, and on pursuing the scrutiny further, the pads of the crutches were found to be formed of the same costly materials: the whole seizure being most productive to those concerned. The fate of the adventurer was concluded by his being put on shore, almost in a state of nudity, overwhelmed with shame and vexation.