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Source: Bell's Weekly Messenger, No.1828, Sunday, April 10, 1831

The Coast Blockade Service.

On Friday and for some days past various bodies of the New Coast Blockade Guard have left London for Kent, Sussex, and Hants, which upon its arrival, will supersede the preventive service. The uniform of the men is blue; but instead of silver-plated buttons they have gilt ones, in the centre is an anchor, and round it the words "Coast Guard;" a round glazed hat; and their great coats are similar to the coats worn by the new police. The horses are rather small, of a dark bay colour. The body, we understand, is to be under the command of a Captain Boyes, who was present at the Custom-house, at which place those who volunteer into the service go to be examined. The discipline will be strictly military, and the men are to lodged in barracks. The weekly pay of the privates is to be 28s., and the serjeants 35s.; out of this they are to pay a portion towards the forage for their horses, and a deduction will also be made towards their clothes. Their accoutrements consist of a sword, suspended from a white leather belt similar to the dragoons, and a pair of large horse pistols. Each of the men are taught their sword exercise previous to leaving London. Independent of this force, which will be very effective when completed, the present preventive service is to a certain extent to be kept up, but whose duties will be exclusively confined to the sea. In other respects the uniform of the Coast Guard is precisely the same as the new police.