//=time() ?>
Privateer Boscawan flying English colours engaging French merchant fleet in 1745. Painting by Charles Brooking
HMS Antelope captures the French privateer Atlanta in 1793. Image courtesy National Maritime Museum. Smugglers often resorted to turning privateer during times of conflict.
Today is the winter solstice , longest night of the year, traditionally smuggler's favoured the long nights which made their operations easier
The English privateer Boscawen engaging a French merchant fleet . Image courtesy of the National Maritime Museum .