Chapter II: Preface

Police in this Country may be considered as a _new Science_; the properties of which consist not in the Judicial Powers which lead to _Punishment_, and which belong to Magistrates alone; but in the PREVENTION and DETECTION OF CRIMES, and in those other Functions which relate to INTERNAL REGULATIONS for the well ordering and comfort of Civil Society.

THE POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS, in every point of view, is a subject of great importance to be known and understood; since every innocent and useful Member of the Community has a particular interest in the correct administration of whatever relates to the Morals of the People, and to the protection of the Public against Fraud and Depredation.

Under the present circumstances of insecurity, with respect to property and even life itself, this is a subject which cannot fail to force itself upon the attention of all:--All are equally concerned in the Information which this Work conveys; the chief part of the details in which are entirely novel, not to be found in books, and never laid before the Public through the medium of the Press, previous to the first Publication of this Treatise.

It may naturally be imagined, that such an accumulation of delinquency systematically detailed, and placed in so prominent a point of view, must excite a considerable degree of astonishment in the minds of those Readers who have not been familiar with subjects of this nature; and hence a desire may be excited to investigate how far the amazing extent of the Depredations upon the Public here related, can be reconciled to reason and possibility.

Four years have, however, elapsed, since these details have been before the Public, and they still stand on their original ground, without any attempt which has come to the Author's knowledge, to question the magnitude or the extent of the evil.--On the contrary, new sources of Fraud and Depredation have been brought forward, tending greatly to increase the general mass of Delinquency.[1]

[Footnote 1: See Mr. Middleton's interesting Report on the County of Middlesex, and the extracts from thence in Chapter III. of this Work.]

In revising the present Edition, the Author felt a strong impulse to reduce his estimates; but after an attentive review of the whole, excepting in the instances of the Depredations on Commercial Property, (which have been greatly diminished by the establishment of a _Marine Police_, applicable to that particular object,) he was unable to perceive any ground for materially altering his original calculations.--If some classes of Theft, Robbery, and Depredation, have been reduced, others have been augmented; still leaving the aggregate nearly as before.

The causes of these extensive and accumulated wrongs being fully explained, and accounted for, in various parts of the Work; a very short recapitulation of them is, therefore, all that is necessary in this Preface.

The enlarged state of Society, the vast extent of moving property, and the unexampled wealth of the Metropolis, joined to the depraved habits and loose conduct of a great proportion of the lower classes of the people; and above all, the want of an appropriate Police applicable to the object of prevention, will, after a careful perusal of this work, reconcile the attentive mind to a belief of the actual existence of evils which could not otherwise have been credited.--Let it be remembered also, that this Metropolis is unquestionably not only the greatest Manufacturing and Commercial City in the world, but also the general receptacle for the idle and depraved of almost every country; particularly from every quarter of the dominions of the Crown--Where the temptations and resources for criminal pleasures--Gambling, Fraud and Depredation almost exceed imagination; since besides being the seat of Government it is the centre of _fashion, amusements, dissipation and folly_.

Under such peculiar circumstances, while immorality, licentiousness and crimes are known to advance in proportion to the excessive accumulation of wealth, it cannot fail to be a matter of deep regret, that in the progressive increase of the latter the means of checking the rapid strides of the former have not been sooner discovered and effectually applied.

It is, however, earnestly to be hoped that it is not yet too late.--Patriots and Philanthropists who love their country, and glory in its prosperity, will rejoice with the Author in the prospect, that the great leading features of improvement suggested and matured in the present Edition of this Work will ultimately receive the sanction of the Legislature.

May the Author be allowed to express his conviction that the former Editions of this book tended in no small degree, to remove various misconceptions on the subject of Police: and at the same time evidently excited in the public mind a desire to see such remedies applied as should contribute to the improvement of the Morals of the People, and to the removal of the danger and insecurity which were universally felt to exist?

An impression it is to be hoped is generally felt from the example of the Roman Government, when enveloped in riches and luxury, that National prosperity must be of short duration when public Morals are too long neglected, and no effectual measures adopted for the purpose either of checking the alarming growth of depravity, or of guarding the rising generation against evil examples.

It is by the general influence of good Laws, aided by the regulations of an energetic Police, that the blessings of true Liberty, and the undisturbed enjoyment of Property are secured.

The sole object of the Author in pointing out the accumulated wrongs which have tended in so great a degree to abridge this Liberty, is to pave the way for the adoption of those practical remedies which he has suggested, in conformity with the spirit of the Laws, and the Constitution of the Country, for the purpose of bettering the state of Society, and improving the condition of human life.

If in the accomplishment of this object the Morals of the People shall undergo a favourable change, and that species of comfort and security be extended to the inhabitants of this great Metropolis, which has not heretofore been experienced, while many evils are prevented, which in their consequences threaten to be productive of the most serious mischief, the Author of this Work will feel himself amply rewarded in the benefits which the System he has proposed shall be found to confer upon the Capital of the British Dominions, and on the Nation at large.

_Preparing for the Press, by the Author of this Work._

A TREATISE

ON

_THE COMMERCE AND POLICE_

OF

THE RIVER THAMES:

CONTAINING

AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF

_THE TRADE OF THE PORT OF LONDON;_

THE DEPREDATIONS COMMITTED ON ALL PROPERTY IMPORTED AND EXPORTED THERE; THE REMEDIES HITHERTO APPLIED; AND THE MEANS OF FUTURE PREVENTION, BY A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF

_RIVER-POLICE;_

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF

_THE FUNCTIONS OF THE VARIOUS MAGISTRATES AND OTHERS_

EXERCISING OR CLAIMING JURISDICTION ON THE RIVER;

AND OF THE

_PENAL STATUTES AGAINST MARITIME OFFENCES_

OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.

[_The above will be published in the course of the Spring, by_ JOS. MAWMAN, _in the Poultry._]

_CONTENTS._

CHAP. I.

GENERAL VIEW OF EXISTING EVILS.

PAGE

_Ineffective System of Criminal Jurisprudence.--Facility
of eluding Justice.--Severity and inequality of
Punishments.--Necessity of revising our Penal
Code.--Certain dangerous Offences not punishable.--Receivers
of Stolen Property.--Extent of Plunder in the Metropolis,
&c.--Proposed Restrictions on Receivers.--Coiners and
Utterers of Base Money; the extent of their crimes.--Defects
in the mode of prosecuting Offenders.--Pardons.--Periodical
Discharges of Prisoners.--Summary of the causes of the
present inefficacy of the Police, under nine different heads._ 1

CHAP. II.

ON THE SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENTS: THEORETICALLY CONSIDERED.

_The mode of ascertaining the Degrees of Punishment.--The
object to be considered in inflicting Punishments--Amendment,
Example, and Retribution.--In order to render Criminal
Laws perfect, prevention ought to be the great object of
the Legislature.--General Rules suggested for attaining this
object.--Reflections on the Punishments authorised by the
English Laws, and their disproportion.--The necessity of
enforcing the observance of religious and moral Virtue.--The
leading Offences made Capital by the Laws of England
considered, with the Punishments allotted to each; compared
with, and illustrated by, the Custom of other Countries;
with Reflections.--The Code of the Emperor_ JOSEPH _the
Second, shortly detailed.--Reflections thereon._ 29
[Transcriber's Note: should be p. 28]

CHAP. III.

THE CAUSE AND PROGRESS OF SMALL THEFTS.

_The numerous Receivers of Stolen Goods, under the
denomination of Dealers in Rags, Old Iron, and other
Metals.--The great Increase of these Dealers of late
years.--Their evil tendency, and the absolute necessity
of restraining them by Law.--Petty Thefts in the Country
round the Metropolis.--Workhouses the causes of
Idleness.--Commons.--Cottagers.--Gypsies.--Labourers
and Servants.--Thefts in Fields and Gardens.--Frauds in
the Sale and Adulteration of Milk._ 74

CHAP. IV.

ON BURGLARIES AND HIGHWAY ROBBERIES.

_These Crimes more peculiar to England than to
Holland and Flanders, &c.--A General View
of the various classes of Criminals engaged in
these pursuits, and with those discharged from
Prisons and the Hulks, without the means of
support.--The necessity of some antidote previous
to the return of Peace.--Observations on
the stealing Cattle, Sheep, Corn, &c.--Receivers
of Stolen Goods, the nourishers of every
description of Thieves.--Remedies suggested, by
means of detection and prevention._ 93

CHAP. V.

ON CHEATS AND SWINDLERS.

_A considerable check already given to the higher
class of Forgeries, by shutting out all hopes of
Royal Mercy.--Petty Forgeries have, however,
encreased.--The qualifications of a Cheat,
Swindler and Gambler.--The Common and
Statute Law applicable to Offences of this
nature, explained.--Eighteen different classes
of Cheats and Swindlers, and the various tricks
and devices they pursue.--Remedies proposed._ 110

CHAP. VI.

ON GAMING AND THE LOTTERY.

_The great anxiety of the Legislature to suppress
these Evils, which are however encouraged by
high sounding names, whose houses are opened
for purposes odious and unlawful.--The civil
Magistrate called upon to suppress such mischiefs.--The
danger arising from such Seminaries.--The
evil tendency of such examples to
Servants and others.--A particular statement
of the proceedings of a confederacy of Persons
who have set up Gaming-Houses as regular
Partnership-Concerns, and of the Evils resulting
therefrom.--Of Lottery Insurers of the
higher class.--Of Lottery Offices opened for
Insurance.--Proposed Remedies.--Three Plans
for drawing the Lottery so as to prevent all
Insurance._ 133

CHAP. VII.

ON THE COINAGE OF COUNTERFEIT MONEY.

_The Causes of the enormous increase of this Evil
of late years.--The different kinds of false coin
detailed.--The process in fabricating each
Species.--The immense profits arising therefrom.--The
extensive Trade in sending base Coin to
the Country.--Its universal circulation in the
Metropolis.--The great grievance arising from
it to Brewers, Distillers, Grocers, and all Retail
Dealers, as well as to the Labouring Poor.--Counterfeit
Foreign Money extremely productive
to the Dealers.--A summary View of the Causes
of the Mischief.--The Defects in the present
Laws explained:--And a Detail of the Remedies
proposed to be provided by the Legislature._ 171

CHAP. VIII.

ON RIVER PLUNDER.

_The magnitude of the Plunder of Merchandize
and Naval Stores on the River Thames.--The
wonderful extent and value of the Floating Property,
laden and unladen, in the Port of London
in the course of a year.--The modes heretofore
pursued in committing depredations through
the medium of various classes of Criminals, denominated
River Pirates:--Night Plunderers:--Light
Horsemen:--Heavy Horsemen:--Game Watermen:--Game
Lightermen:--Mudlarks:--Game Officers of the
Revenue:--And Copemen, or Receivers of Stolen
Property.--The effects of the Marine Police
Institution in checking these Depredations.--The
advantages which have already resulted to Trade and
the Revenue from this system partially tried.--The
further benefits to be expected from Legislative
Regulations, extending the System to the whole
Trade of the River._ 213

CHAP. IX.

ON PLUNDER IN THE DOCK-YARDS, &C.

_Reflections on the causes of this Evil.--Summary
view of the means employed in its perpetration.--Estimate
of the Public Property exposed to Hazard.--A Statement of
the Laws at present in force for its protection:--Proofs
adduced of their deficiency.--Remedies proposed and
detailed, viz:--1st. A Central Board of Police.--2d.
A Local Police for the Dock-yards.--3d. Legislative
Regulations in aid thereof.--4th. Regulations respecting
the sale of Old Stores.--5th. The Abolition of the
Perquisite of Chips.--6th. The Abolition of Fees and
Perquisites, and liberal Salaries in lieu thereof.--7th.
An improved Mode of keeping Accounts.--8th. An annual
Inventory of Stores in hand.--Concluding Observations._ 249

CHAP. X.

ON THE RECEIVERS OF STOLEN GOODS.

_Receivers more mischievous than Thieves.--The
increase of their number to be attributed to the
imperfection of the Laws, and to the disjointed
state of the Police of the Metropolis.--Thieves
in many instances, settle with Receivers before
they commit Robberies--Receivers always benefit
more than Thieves:--Their profit immense:--They
are divided into two Classes:--The immediate
Receivers connected with Thieves, and those who
keep shops and purchase from Pilferers in the way
of Trade:--The latter are extremely numerous.--The
Laws are insufficient effectually to reach either
class.--The existing statutes against Receivers
examined and briefly detailed, with Observations
thereon.--Amendments and Improvements suggested
with means to ensure their due execution._ 288

CHAP. XI.

ON THE ORIGIN OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES.

_The increase of Crimes imputed to deficient
Laws and an ill-regulated Police:--To the
habits of the Lower Orders in feeding their
families in Alehouses:--To the bad Education
of Apprentices:--To the want of Industry:--To
idle and profligate menial Servants out of
Place:--To the Lower Orders of the Jews, of the
Dutch and German Synagogues; To the depraved
Morals of aquatic Labourers:--To the Dealers in
Old Metals, Furniture, Clothes, &c.--To
disreputable Pawnbrokers:--And finally, to
ill-regulated Public Houses.--Concluding
Reflections._ 310

CHAP. XII.

THE ORIGIN OF CRIMES CONTINUED: FEMALE PROSTITUTION.

_The pitiable condition of the unhappy Females, who
support themselves by Prostitution:--The progress
from Innocence to Profligacy.--The morals of Youth
corrupted by the multitude of Prostitutes in the
streets.--The impossibility of preventing the existence
of Prostitution in a great Metropolis.--The Propriety
of lessening the Evil, by stripping it of its Indecency
and much of its immoral tendency.--The advantages of
the measure in reducing the mass of Turpitude.--Reasons
offered why the interests of Morality and Religion
will thus be promoted.--The example of Holland, Italy,
and the East-Indies quoted.--Strictures on the offensive
manners of the Company who frequent Public Tea
Gardens:--These places under a proper Police might be
rendered beneficial to the State.--Ballad-Singers--Immoral
Books and Songs--Necessity of Responsibility for the
execution of the Laws attaching somewhere._ 334
[Transcriber's Note: should be p. 333]

CHAP. XIII.

THE ORIGIN OF CRIMES CONTINUED: STATE OF THE POOR.

_The System with respect to the Casual Poor
erroneous.--The effect of Indigence on the
Offspring of the Sufferers.--Estimate of the
private and public Benevolence amounting to
850,000l. a year.--The deplorable state of
the Lower Ranks, attributed to the present
System of the Poor Laws.--An Institution to
inquire into the cause of Mendicity in the
Metropolis explained.--A new System of Relief
proposed with respect to Casual Poor, and
Vagrants in the Metropolis.--The distinction
between Poverty and Indigence.--The Poor
divided into five classes, with suggestions applicable
to each.--The evil Examples in Work-Houses.--The
stat. of 43 Eliz. considered.--The defective system
of Execution exposed.--A Public Institution
recommended in the nature of a Pauper Police,
under the direction of three Commissioners:--Their
Functions.--A proposition for raising a fund of
5230l. from the Parishes for the support of the
Institution, and to relieve them from the Casual
Poor.--Reasons why the experiment should be
tried.--Assistance which might be obtained from
Gentlemen who have considered this subject fully._ 351

CHAP. XIV.

ON THE DETECTION OF OFFENDERS.

_The present state of the Police on this subject
explained.--The necessity of having recourse to
known Receivers.--The great utility of Officers
of Justice.--The advantages of rendering them
respectable in the opinion of the Public.--Their
powers by the common and statute Law.--Rewards
granted to Officers in certain cases of
Conviction.--The Statutes quoted, applicable to
such rewards.--The utility of parochial Constables,
under a well-organized Police.--A Fund for this
purpose might arise from the reduction of the
expences of the Police, by the diminution of
Crimes.--The necessity of a competent Fund.--A new
System for prevention and detection of Crimes
proposed.--The functions of the different classes
of Officers.--Salaries necessary to all.--Improvements
in the system of Rewards suggested.--1040 Peace-Officers
in the Metropolis and its vicinity, of whom only
90 are stipendiary Constables.--Defects and abuses
in the system of the Watch explained.--A general
Plan of Superintendance suggested.--A view of the
Magistracy of the Metropolis.--The inconvenience
of the present System._ 381

CHAP. XV.

ON THE PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS.

_The prevailing Practice when Offenders are brought
before Magistrates.--The duty of Magistrates in such
cases.--Professed Thieves seldom intimidated when put
upon their Trial, from the many chances they have of
escaping.--These Chances shortly detailed.--Reflections
on false Humanity towards Prisoners.--The delays and
expences of Prosecutions a great discouragement to
Prosecutors.--An account of the different Courts of
Justice, for the trial of Offences committed in the
Metropolis.--Five inferior and two superior Courts.--A
statement of Prisoners convicted and discharged in one
year.--Reflections thereon.--The advantage which would
arise from the appointment of a Public Prosecutor, in
remedying Abuses in the Trial of Offenders.--From 2500
to 3000 Persons committed for trial, by Magistrates,
in the course of a year.--The chief part afterwards
returned upon Society._ 422
[Transcriber's Note: should be p. 421]

CHAP. XVI.

ON THE SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENTS: CONSIDERED PRACTICALLY.

_The mode authorised by the Ancient Laws.--The period
when Transportation commenced.--The principal Crimes
enumerated which are punishable with Death.--Those
punishable by Transportation and Imprisonment.--Number
of Persons tried compared with those discharged.--The
system of Pardons examined; and Regulations suggested.--An
historical Account of the rise and progress of
Transportation.--The system of the Hulks; and the Laws
as to provincial and national Penitentiary Houses.--Number
of the Convicts confined in the Hulks for twenty-two
years.--The enormous expence of maintenance and inadequate
produce of their Labour.--The impolicy of the System.--The
system of Transportation to New South Wales examined, and
Improvements suggested.--Erection of National Penitentiary
Houses recommended.--The National Penitentiary House
(according to the Proposal of_ Jeremy Bentham, _Esq.)
considered:--Its peculiar advantages with respect to
Health, productive Labour, and Reformation of
Convicts.--General Reflections on the means of rendering
Imprisonment useful._ 435
[Transcriber's Note: should be p. 434]

CHAP. XVII.

CRIMINAL POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS.

_The Police of the Metropolis examined, and its
Organization explained.--The utility of the
system, established in 1792 examined and explained.--Its
great deficiency from the want of Funds to reward
Officers for the detection and punishment of
Offenders.--Suggestions relative to stipendiary
Justices, and the benefits likely to result from
their exertions in assisting the City Magistrates.--The
vast labour and weight of duty attached to the chief
Magistrate and Aldermen in London.--The benefits to
result from Established Police Magistrates exemplified
by the System already adopted under the Act of 1792.--The
advantages which would arise from the various remedies
proposed in the course of this Work, only of a partial
nature, for want of a centre-point and superintending
Establishment.--The ideas of Foreigners on the Police
of the Metropolis.--Observations on the Old Police of
Paris, elucidated by Anecdotes of the Emperor_ JOSEPH II.
_and Mons. de_ Sartine.--_A Central Board of Commissioners
for managing the Police, peculiarly necessary on the
return of Peace.--This measure recommended by the
Finance Committee._ 501

CHAP. XVIII.

PROPOSED SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL POLICE.

_A Proposition to consolidate the two Boards of
Hawkers and Pedlars, and Hackney Coaches,
into a Board of Police Revenue.--The whole
Revenue of Police from Fees, Penalties, and
Licence Duties, to make a common Fund.--Accounts
to be audited.--Magistrates to distribute
small Rewards.--A power to the Board
to make Bye Laws.--A concurrent Jurisdiction
recommended.--The Penitentiary House for
reforming Convicts.--Measures proposed after
the Board is established--namely, A Public
Prosecutor for the Crown:--A Register of
Lodging Houses--The Establishment of a
Police Gazette--Two leading Objects: the
prevention of Crimes; and raising a Revenue
for Police purposes.--The enumeration of the
Dealers, who are proposed to be licenced.--A
general View of the annual Expence of the
present and proposed Police System.--Suggestions
respecting a chain of connections with
Magistrates in the Country.--The Functions of
the proposed Central Board of Police.--Specification
of the Trades to be regulated and
licenced.--The advantages likely to result from
the adoption of the Plan._ 536
[Transcriber's Note: should be p. 535]

CHAP. XIX.

MUNICIPAL POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS.

_Extent and Opulence of the City of London, its
Streets, Lanes, Allies, Courts and Squares
estimated at 8000.--Churches, &c. 400.--Seminaries
for Education 4000.--The various Institutions and
Societies for Learning, for the fine Arts, and for
charitable and humane Purposes.--The Courts of
Law.--The Prisons--Suggestions as to improving the
System of Imprisonment for Debt, particularly as
relates to Small Debts: and as to dividing the
judicial and ministerial Labours among more
Officers.--The internal or municipal Regulations
established in the Metropolis by several Statutes;
respecting Paving--Watching--Sewers--Hackney
Coaches--Carts--Watermen--and Buildings.--Necessity
of rendering these Laws uniform and coextensive, so as
to consolidate the System of Municipal Police.--Expence
calculated at 1,000,000l. a year.--Suggestions for
reducing it.--The present Epoch calls for Improvements._ 567
[Transcriber's Note: should be p. 565]

CHAP. XX.