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LITERARY PANORAMA,

AND

National Register:

For NOVEMBER, 1816.

NATIONAL AND PARLIAMENTARY NOTICES;

(British and Foreign,)

prospective and retrospECTIVE.

POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS.

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sume shapes conformable to opportunity, to temptation, to habits induced by cir cumstances beyond controul, and beyond the ordinary conception of those not deeply involved in them.

To some, human life is like the arid desert, little other than a boundless waste to others, it is a boggy Syrtis, and affords no firm footing, either to the right hand, or to the left. It is here, a congeries of barren rocks; and there delude the expectations of confidence, a mass of faithless quicksands, which and betray the hopes, and exertions, of simple integrity. A few, find their and pellucid streams; these they enjoy progress enlivened by verdant groves they fail of enjoyment, these very beau or if, from indisposition in themselves, ties of nature produce satiety; and satiety is closely followed by disgust. The verdant grove, too, may lead to the entanglements of the forest; and the pellucid stream may become pestiferous, in its progress, from the miasmata of the marshes, beside which it passes.

WHOEVER affects to profess the Science of Politics, yet overlooks the importance of morals to the happiness and prosperity of a people, has yet to learn the very first rudiments on which his profession should be founded. He may indulge his reveries in forming schemes worthy of Utopia: he may dream of felicities beyond compare; but his lucubrations have no practical utility in the general conduct of life, and manners. The study of Politics includes the art of governing men as they are; neither placing them on too low a degree of the scale of intellect or rectitude,—for that were to treat them as tion of life is exposed to deterioration; In plain English, every state and stabrutes; nor elevating them too highly and the chief origin of this is laxity of either as to talent or virtue;-for then morals. No where is that laxity so conthey would cease to be men, and would spicuous as in a great city for, here approximate to angels. The ways of association of every kind leads to imlife are innumerable; and the classes which follow those ways, partake of their quently obtained in crime, from criminal provement; and improvement is as frenumbers and variety. They afford means infinitely diversified, for the ac-emulation, instruction, and practice.companions, as in excellencies from tivity of the human passions and propensities. Not that the human passions themselves are so numerous; but, that they are moulded by events; they asVOL. V. No. 26. Lit. Pan. N. S. Nov. 1.

A great city is a prodigious conflux of contradictions: nothing superior to what a great city assembles can embellish human nature; nothing more paius H

fully degrading can be imagined, than what may be found in some part or other of a great city.

nation of public morals. A time of war is unfavourable to such enquiries: the passions are then let loose, and policy is pleaded for much that nothing but poThe Legislature,

too, can act with that supremacy which the object demands: inferior magistrates may do much; but they often complain of want of power: no such restraint enfeebles the enquiries of the legislature. Magistrates being appointed to particular districts cannot obtain an enlarged and general view of the subject: the Legislature by bringing conflicting evidence under repeated explanation, by comparing the parts, surveys the whole. Magistrates may do their duty, accord

done before them; the Legislature can judge how far the rule demands variation, or needs invigorating: it can both vary and invigorate.

This is no new discovery: every metropolis has borne witness to the fact.licy could endure. It is not peculiar to the present age; all antiquity confirms the proposition. It afflicts not the metropolis of the British empire, alone; every Capital on the Continent, might be brought into comparison with London, and most of them would be found, so far as public morals are concerned, liable to censure still more severe, and to charges still more heinous. The stiletto, the dagger, and the poisoned drug, do not lurk in our city, wreaking private vengeance; nor does any consecrated edifice by the pri-ing to rule or precedent, as others have vilege of sanctuary, skreen a murderer from the authority of Justice. The carriage of the Holy Office, less religious than political, rolls not in thunder, making night hideous, in search of its victims; neither does the vigilance of lowest rank of those appointed to guard The Legislature calls before it the the Police, watch every family, intrude the public peace, and to watch for the into every company, listen to every conversation, betray every gaiety, and tor- from the experience of these practical public security it derives information ture into crime against the state, the thoughtless sally of humour; or the they, or others, may be caught tripping. men; and notes in what point of duty equivocal expressions of dissatisfaction, It expects from the higher ranks, that whether with self, or with society. openness and candour, that abhorrence But, in proportion as morals dete-of subterfuge and chicane, which marks riorate, the danger of these calamities increases they have been elsewhere established under pretence of securing public morals; they have been adopted as remedies for morals too dangerous to the Body Politic to be suffered; too deeply seated in the vitals of the community to be eradicated by means less severe, we had almost said, less destruc-hension. tive.

integrity and rectitude. If it detects equivocation and subtlety, the Legislature can press for explanation, fearless of the truth, when obtained; if it suspects collusion, it can obtain evidence on the point in doubt, from other quarters, and render vain every palliation, or excuse, every pretence, or misappre

In short, neither abuse of power, nor partiality in the exercise of It is wise, therefore, to anticipate the power, nor perversion of principle, nor, worst, when public evils are under con- connivance at guilt, nor insufficiency of templation. The progress of the gang- exertion, nor indifference to duty, can esrene may not be visible from day to cape the penetration of the Legislature; day; but, as the full operation of its and happy is the man who, after close destructive powers strengthens, the con-examination, has nothing with which to sequences cease to be doubtful. That which, if taken in time, might have been checked, eventually defies cure; and negligence becomes a secondary cause, too powerful to be repelled; it spreads around a mass of deformity, or accelerates premature dissolution.

We are glad, to see the first leisure of the Legislature, devoted to an exami

reproach himself, and nothing with which the Legislature may reproach him! The object of the Legislature is truth an officer may persuade himself, but he cannot persuade his examinants: he may think his conduct exemplary; but unless his sentiment be echoed by his superiors, and in the present case, by the public, his own good opinion will be

liable to many a rude rebuff; and to whatever else the voice of the public may sentence him.

A leading principle of morals is selfcontroul but this is the very reverse of innate among mankind.

The selfish passions display themselves in the earliest infancy, and unless repressed by the kindly hand of affectionate goodwill, they increase in vigour as their subject increases in strength, until at length they bear down all before them.—

work of a cut-throat gang, associated for the purpose; as the Black-Boy Alley gang, the Chick-laue gang, and others, formerly. We have heard old inhabitants of Holborn allude to times, when it was not safe to walk that street, even in day light; and, we believe, that, at last, the nest of these villains was destroyed, by surrounding every avenue to their abode with a military force, and arresting at once every individual found on the premises. The mail has not been robbed, for years; stage coach passengers, are not stopped

Now,

But man is a rational agent: he actsor should act on principle: his mind on the road, as heretofore; even footshould regulate his conduct, as conviction regulates his mind. But convic-pad robberies are less frequent. tion implies the exercise of understand these criminal enormities are not ing, together with the influence of in-practised, to the same extent, as they struction. Unhappily, the evidence auonce were, to what is this owing?nexed to this Report, discloses a most laare they suppressed, by official vigimentable want of instruction, the prevalance? are they prevented by a more lence of ignorance incredibly gross, in general effect of instruction, pervading in a country calling itself Christian; and some degree these unlettered culprits, this supported, angmented, directed to through the medium of public decorum auswer the most nefarious purposes,—on and opinion? SYSTEM! The youthful offender acts under instruction, he forms a part of the performing whole: the more advanced transgressor at once gives lessons and receives the hardened villain does his duty, with unequalled dexterity, in the superior branches of his calling, boasts of his hair-breadth 'scapes, and recounts the number of times he has outfaced stern Justice at her own bar; or eluded the perquisitions of her fleetest and most indefatigable blood-hounds.

The next stage of life, when youth approaches to manhood, which is perhaps the most hazardous of any, is not so closely examined on this occasion, as we presume it will be. Much remaius to be done, to detect the causes of ruin to the young men; to the young women, also; the annual consump tion of whom, in this metropolis is tremendous. The difficulties attending attempts to enforce the laws on this subject, are stated in strong terms; and no doubt, will receive a full consideration hereafter. The houses of rendezvous for the profligate of both sexes, and, indeed, the conduct of public houses ge

Among the most painful particulars of public morals at this moment, is the great number of young miscreants employed in pillage and plauder. This has struck the most unreflecting; and se-nerally, has been strictly enquired into ; veral of the witnesses examined by the Committee attempt to assign reasons for it. The quantity of crime has increased. On the other hand, the atrocity of crime, generally speaking, has decreased.

We have few robberies, planned to include murder; few (or, no) highwaymen, putting the traveller in fear; A Turpin, (the flying highwayman) | has not been heard of for many years. The town was certainly convulsed with agony by the murders at Ratcliffe, a few years ago; but there was no reason to conclude that they were the

the deficiencies of the laws, or rather of the practice, are pointed out; the methods used to defeat the law are described; and, certainly, will be remedied. Late events have given importance to the conduct of officers attached to the Police Ulices: this is partly explained; and the system is in some respects elucidated. The conduct of the Magistrates in licensing public houses, comes under very close review; their attendance to their duties, their clerks, their patroles, &c. are examined into; and a foundation is laid for future proceedings. H 2

Our readers must be aware, that the come despicable in these days: They multifarious nature of these enquiries, are, not merely impotent, inappli-the vast mass of management to be in-cable, but, worse: they contribute to vestigated, the controvertible points to bring into contempt that feeble effort at be cleared up, before any judgment can doing something, which every hardened be formed, the embarassing nature of villain knows ends in doing nothing. the whole, with the impossibility of preserving any order in the course of examination, all these particulars, with many more, render the present Report imperfect: as such, the Committee present it to the House, and "trust, that in the ensuing Session they will be permitted to resume their labours: having no doubt they shall be able to submit to the consideration of the House, measures resulting from their inquiry, the adoption of which they would consider as highly advantageous to the public."

The City itself may be allowed to form contains some honourable exceptions, a distinct article; and the report on this which are stated by Mr. PHILIP HOLDSWORTH, lately City Marshall, who informs us, that, the officers receive no fees, nor gratuities, nor rewards from those who may employ their services, without informing the Lord Mayor: to whom they also make a daily report of every thing relating to the city's quiet.

The City is divided into four divisions: and there are three day patroles to each division; their duty is to patrole the street to prevent thieving of every description, particularly to watch the pickpockets, to remove nuisances, prevent begging; and they have warrants also to apprehend felons: that is their duty, and a very active body of men they are. Then there are eight night patroles, two to each division; they o'clock, and in the winter time they come come upon duty at this time of year at nine on duty at six, and their business is, twice during the night at least, but as much oftener as they possibly can, to visit each watch-house, to see that the constable of the night is in the watch-house attending his duty; they sign their names each time they come, in a book that is there for the purpose. When the Marshals go round to book, and if the patroles' names are not see the state of the ward, they see that signed, they must give a reason for it; then they come to the Marshal's office the next morning, and the clerk receives in a book any report they have to make, which is laid before the Lord Mayor daily.

As the newspapers of the metropolis have detailed much of this evidence, at large, we shall not consider it so fully, as we otherwise might. The Report, unquestionably, concerns the metropolis most deeply, in the first place; yet there are parts of it, which, we are sorry to say, concern most, or all, of our great towns, whose manners too closely copy those which degrade the capital. A passing traveller may not always observe signs of those vices, which are but too well known to residents; a few days discloses some; a twelvemonth discloses many more. We must, however, in justice, distinguish between the City of London, and the Metropolis. The times are past, when the space within the walls contained plots of vacant ground, and afforded green walks for the recreation of the citizens. No running at the quintaine, or at the ring, is now practicable in Leadenhall Street; and honest Stow, who informs us how many quarts of milk he had bought for a penny, from the fields in the Minories, or in Houndsditch, would now be forced to trudge with his jug many a weary step in either direction, before he arrived at a rural milking-place. Even Smith-field, itself, has long ceased to be a field; to-ed what immense property is daily in gether with Moor-fields, Farringdonfields, &c. &c.

What do we infer from this?-that the same institutions of Police which might be fully effectual in those days; are by change of circumstances, be

This book the Lord Mayor signs daily so that the evidence of this diligence is officially confirmed. Beside these officers, the Ward Constables, who attend on summons, are upwards of three hundred; but most of these are hired substitutes. Now, when it is consider

movement in the vicinity of the Bank, the Royal Exchange, the Stock Exchange, the Bankers' Clearing House, and the numerous Bankers' houses in the centre of the city, it must be acknowledged, that, the temptations to

knavery are great; perhaps, they are unexampled in any other city in the world:-yet, we seldom hear of acts of violence or sharping, by which extensive mischief is occasioned. Domestic robberies cannot be prevented; but street robberies, are certainly rare. The Marshall lays the blame on the servant girls: he thinks them "infamous." As to apprentices, he says,

Is the practice common in the City, to have out-door apprentices ?—No, it is not.

Wherever it is, you consider it as a leading cause of the corruption of young people?-Always, invariably so. I have heard the Chamberlain of London observe, that seven apprentices out of ten who are unruly and bad, are out-door apprentices; but it is not so common in the City as out of it; it is not civic at all, or very little so.

The Committee proceed to enquire, Are there many houses in the district of the city of London, that are known by the name of flash houses?-Not one; whenever there is, it is stopped immediately, and upon a very different opinion from what prevails in the county: In the county, they conceive them to be very useful to the officers; that they meet there whoever they want: In the city, as soon as a house of that sort is attemped to be established, the man has notice; and if he persists, he loses his licence.

We beg leave here to call earnest attention to the difference between the ma

nagement of the Magistrates in the county and in the city in the county such a house is called in question on the next annual licensing day: in the city, it is stopped "IMMEDIATELY: WE DO NOT LET IT GO ON"; says the Marshall. The public will sensibly feel this difference: nothing corrects crime so effectually as immediate punishment. The Marshall says, the city officers go out of the city, to look for thieves; and thieves come through Temple bar, to take a peep in the city; but walk about in constant fear. This, no doubt, depends on the vigilance of the officers; and the vigilance of the officers depends on the Lord Mayor; which affords an opportunity of paying a very high and distinguished compliment to the gentle man whom the citizens have elected a second time to fill the Civic chair.

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What have been the leading improvements in the Police, that the present Lord Mayor has put in execution since he has been in that office? The leading improvement, I think, was mustering all the watchstarted as early as four in the morning in men; I attended him four mornings; we December last, and during those four mornings he visited each watch-house, and desired I would inform the ward-beadle,

that the watchmen were to be summoned at this watch house and that watch-house

at different hours, and he examined every man as to his health and his age, and he had all those discharged that were unfit, notwithstanding any length of service; if they were to be remunerated, he said, the ward mus. do it, and he would have more efficient men. I consider that to be one of the best things ever done; and I consider that the internal quiet of the City, and thesecurity of the City, is mainly owing to that ideac? the Lord Mayor's..

the old decrepid men discharged, and havI consider that the Lord Mayor having ing their places filled up by proper men, I consider to have been of great utility.Men discharged from the army, who are wounded, make very good watchmen: they are employed; and the watchmen of the City are now able men, and have strength and activity.

great utility of that, all through the We have experienced the City; there have not been more than eight or nine burglaries, the whole winter, in the City. Then again the Lord Mayor himself continues, when he is not expected, to take so many wards of a night, and look in at shalman or two with him, and catches the watch-house himself, and takes a marthem, they not expecting him; which has made the constabies on the alert; and he is so punctual in business and so active, that every body is on the alert, and every body is expecting him. I think he has put a spirit of activity into the Police, which I do not remember in so eminent a degree

before.

Let this stand to his lasting honour: report affirms of his Lordship, that he nor shall we be backward to add, that has several plans, derived from experience, for the purpose of placing the whole of the City Police on a still more efficient establishment.

Nor is this the only instance of benefit derived from Official vigilance: John Harriott, Esq. of the Thames Police Office, speaks highly of the security

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