At present the System of the nightly watch is without energy, disjointed and governed by almost as many different Acts of Parliament, as there are Parishes, Hamlets, Liberties, and Precincts within the Bills of Mortality; and where the payment is as yarious, running from 84d. up to 28. a night, The Act of the 14th of George IIId. (cap. 90.) entituled, An Act for the better regulation of the Nightly Watch within the City and Liberty of Westminster, and carrying goods; or at the doors of warehouses, at dusk and at the time they are locked, to be ready to seize loose parcels when unperceived; by all which means, aided by a number of other tricks and fraudulent pretences, they are but too succesful in obtaining considerable booty. In short, there is no device or artifice to which these vigilant plunderers do not resort: of which an example appeared in an instance, where almost in the twinkling of an eye, while the servants of an eminent silk-dyer had crossed a Barrow street, his horse and cart, containing raw silk to the value of twelve hundred pounds, were driven clear off. Many of these atrocious villains, are also constantly in waiting at the inns, disguised in different ways, personating travellers, coach-office clerks, porters, and coachmen, for the purpose of plundering every thing that is portable; which, with the assistance of two or three associates if necessary, is carried to a coach called for the purpose, and immediately conveyed to the receiver. The most adroit thieves in this line are generally convicts from the laulks or returned transports, who under pretence of having some ostensible business, (while they carry on the trade of thieving) generally open a chandler's shop, set up a green-stall, or get into a public-house; some of these old offenders are known also to keep livery-stables for thieves, and horses for the use of highwaymen: thereby forming a connected chain by which these criminal people extend and facilitate their trade; nourishing, accommodating, and supporting one another. parts parts adjacent, contains many excellent Regulations, but they do not extend to the eastern part of the Metropolis; and for want of an active and superintending agency, superior to beadles, it is believed and felt that they are not, (even within the district included in the Act,) correctly carried into execution: and that no small portion of those very men who are paid for protecting the public, are not only instruments of oppression in many instances, by extorting money most unwarrantably; but are frequently accessaries in aiding, abetting or concealing the commission of crimes, which it is their duty to detect and suppress. If as an improvement to the preventive System, and as a check upon the improper conduct of parochial watchmen, a body of honest, able, and active Officers, in the character of Police Patroles, were attached to each Public Office, or to a General Police System with a sufficient fund to defray the expences, to follow up informations for the detection of negligent servants of the Public, and liberally to reward those who are active and useful in apprehending delinquents, and in making discoveries, tending either to the recovery of property stolen, or to the detection of the offenders, little doubt need be entertained, under the guidance of a Central Board and vigilant Police, aided by zealous and active Magistrates, that such a System would soon be established, as would go very far towards the prevention of many atrocious crimes. Among Among the various advantages which may thus be expected to result to the Community from the arrangements recommended in this work, would be the suppression of Highway Robberies. A desideratum impracticable in the present state of the Police, although easy and certain under a Police Board; having a general superintendance competent to look at every point of danger, and with pecuniary resources equal to an object so interesting to the inhabitants of this Metropolis*. Upon the adoption of this important measure, therefore, (a measure so strongly recommended by the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Finance †) depends in a great degree, that security to travellers on the highways in the vicinity of the Metropolis; the want of which, and of many other valuable regulations, for the prevention of crimes, has long been a reproach to the Criminal Jurisprudence, as well as the Police, of the Country. • Hints have been submitted to the Author for establishing a plan of Travelling Police, to extend 20 miles round the Metropolis; by means of Patroles well armed and mounted, who should be on the road at all hours; the expence to be defrayed by the produce of a toll to be raised for the purpose. The scheme might in all probability be much improved under the sauction. of a General Police Board, without the additional expence of the proposed toll. + See the 28th Report of that Committee. CHAP. CHAP. V. Reasons assigned why forgeries and frauds must precail in a certain degree, wherever the interchange of property is extensive. A considerable check already given to the higher class of Forgeries, by shutting out all hopes of Royal Mercy.-Petty Forgeries have however increased:-The Reason assigned.-The qualifications of a Cheat, Swindler, and Gambler explained.—This mischievous class of men extremely numerous in the Metropolis.-The Common and Statute Law applicable to offences of this nature explained. The different classes of Cheats and Swindlers, and the various tricks and devices they pursue, to enable them to live in idleness, by their wits.Sharpers, Cheats, and Swindlers, divided into eighteen different Classes-1st. Sharpers who become Pawnbrokers.-2d. Sharpers who obtain Licence as Hawkers and Pedlars.—3d. Swindlers who open shops as Auctioneers.-4th. Swindlers who pretend to discount Bills.-5th. Itinerant Jews.-6th. Cheats who sell by false Weights and Measures.— 7th. Swindlers who defraud Tradesmen of Goods.-8th. Cheats who take Genteel Lodgings with false Names, &c.-9th. Cheats, who personate former Masters to defraud their Tradesmen.-10th. Cheats who personate Footmen, and order Goods from Tradesmen.-11th. Cheats and Sharpers who deceive Persons from the Country.-12th. Cheats and Sharp er's ers who trick Shopmen and Boys out of Parcels.13th. Sharpers who attend Inns to pick up Parcels by various tricks and devices.-14th. Cheats who go from door to door, begging on false pretences.—15th. Sharpers selling smuggled Goods; known by the name of Duffers.-16th. Female Sharpers, who attend Court and Public Places.-17th. Female Bankers who lend money to Barrow-IVomen at 6d. a day for Five Shillings.-18th. Cheats who pretend to tell Fortunes.Various Remedies suggested. In a great Metropolis, like London, where trade and commerce have arrived at such an astonishing height, and where from the extensive transactions in the Funds, and the opulence of the People, the interchange of property is so expanded, it ceases to be a matter of wonder that Forgeries and Frauds should prevail, in a certain degree:-the question of difficulty is, why the Laws and the means of prevention, have not kept pace with the progressive advancement of the Country: so as to check and keep within bounds these nefarious practices? Forgeries of the higher class, so dangerous in a commercial country, have by the wise policy of the Executive Government, in shutting out all hopes of the extension of the Royal Mercy to the guilty, received a most severe check: beneficial in the highest degree to the country, and clearly manifested by the records |