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. Published, 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, RIVER-POLICE. WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE VARIOUS MAGISTRATES AND OTHERS EXERCISING OR CLAIMING JURISCTION ON THE RIVER; AND OF THE PENAL STATUTES AGAINST MARITIME OFFENCES Printed for J. MAWMAN, in the Poultry. CONTENTS. CHAP. I. GENERAL VIEW OF EXISTING EVILS. PAGE Ineffective System of Criminal Jurisprudence.- Facility of eluding Justice.-Severity and in- equality 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 prosecu- ting Offenders.--Pardons.--Periodical Dis- charges of Prisoners-Summary of the causes CHA P. II. ON THE SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENTS: THEORETICALLY CONSIDERED. The mode of ascertaining the Degrees of Punish- PAGE Laws perfect, prevention ought to be the great object of the Legislature.-General Rules sug- gested for obtaining 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; com- pared with, and illustrated by, the Custom of other Countries; with Reflections.-The Code CHA P. 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 ten- dency, 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 |