on duty, may apprehend and detain all and every person or persons who
may be reasonably suspected of having and carrying, or any ways
conveying for the purpose of selling or trafficking in the same, any
counterfeited or forged Gold, Silver, or Copper Money, whether the
same shall resemble or be intended to resemble, or shall pass or be
intended to pass as and for the coin of the said kingdoms, or of any
foreign Country or State; or having in their possession, without
lawful excuse, any round blanks of base metal or mixed metal, &c. or
any pieces of Gold, Silver, Brass, Copper, or Lead, of a fit size and
figure to be coined, coloured, or converted into Counterfeit Money;
with power also to seize and detain the said Counterfeit Money,
blanks, &c. and convey the same, with the person or persons
apprehended, before one or more Justices; and if the party shall not
give a satisfactory account how the same came into their possession,
or shall not produce the party from whom it was received, he shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and imprisonment
in a summary manner."
13. The statute 37 Geo. III. cap. 126. (see p. 194) has
restrained the evil pointed out in former editions of this
Treatise, respecting the counterfeiting of Foreign Gold and
Silver Coin. It is to be wished, however, that the penalties
imposed on the _exportation_ of such counterfeit Coin by 38
Geo. III. cap. 67, could be further extended and enforced.
14. It must here be repeated, that the great cause of the
defect in the execution of the Laws against Coiners, is the
want of a proper fund for Prosecutions and Rewards, and
other expences for detecting Offenders.--The acts 7 Anne,
cap. 24, and 15 Geo. II. cap. 28, allow only L.600 for the
expence of prosecutions, which has never been increased for
above half a century; although the offences, as well as the
expence of detection and prosecutions, have increased, at
least, six fold.
15. The reward of L.40, given under the Acts 6 and 7 William
III. cap. 17; 15 Geo. II. cap. 28, is construed to be
limited only to the Conviction of actual Coiners and
Clippers of Gold and Silver; and is not allowed to extend to
colouring and finishing, as well as a number of other
offences connected with _making_, _counterfeiting_, and
_uttering base_ Money:--the reward for Copper Coin is by the
said Act of 15 Geo. II. cap. 28, limited to L.10, and is by
no means a sufficient encouragement to Officers to do their
duty. _It would be a great improvement if a liberal sum were
allowed by Parliament for detections, prosecutions, and
rewards; to be paid on the report of the Judges who try the
offenders, according to the merit and trouble of the
apprehenders, prosecutors, and witnesses; whether there is a
conviction or not._
The following rewards have been suggested as proper to make part of a
Bill now in a state of preparation, for the general Regulation of the
Coinage: and which is meant to include all the remedies before hinted
at and pointed out: a Legislative measure which must do honour to the
Minister who will carry it into execution.
To persons contributing to the conviction
of _Coiners of British or Foreign Coin, or
persons plating with Gold or Silver_, or
_persons colouring with wash_ or _materials
to produce the colour of Gold or Silver_, any
blanks or flats of metal, base or mixed, L. _s._ _d._
to resemble the said current Coin 40 0 0
Convicting, &c. persons guilty of counterfeiting
Copper money of these Kingdoms
or of Foreign States, or colouring such
Copper money to resemble the same 20 0 0
Convicting, &c. persons guilty of uttering
counterfeit Gold and Silver Coin, and
selling it at a lower rate than it imports 10 0 0
Convicting, &c. persons guilty of buying
or selling Counterfeit Copper money of
Foreign States at a lower rate than it
imports 10 0 0
To be paid without deduction or fee, within one month after such
conviction, on tendering a certificate to the Sheriff.
It is also proposed that the Treasury shall have power to issue out of
the Duties of Customs a sufficient sum of money for prosecuting
offenders against the Mint laws.
Whatever might be the effect of these amendments in the Mint laws, and
necessary as they appear to be, it is still to be feared that until a
new coinage of Silver money and Copper halfpence and farthings shall
take place, no legislative restrictions, regulations, or punishments,
can produce an effectual cure to this enormous evil; although, from
the many deficiencies which have been detailed, it is evident a great
deal of good may be done immediately in this way.
A coinage of Silver money is a great State question, which may require
a fuller consideration; but no doubt can be entertained of the
indispensable necessity of such a measure, as soon as circumstances
will admit.
If to a new coinage of _shillings_ and _sixpences_, should be added an
extensive coinage of silver money of the value of _four pence_ and
_three pence_, according to ancient usage, it would prove a great
convenience to the public, and remedy much of the inconvenience which
arises from the ponderous nature of Copper money; while a smaller
quantity would be required for circulation.
No doubt can be entertained of the nation deriving considerable
advantages from having increased the weight of copper coin, so as to
bring it as near as possible to the _intrinsic_ value of the metal of
which it is composed.
This arrangement will, it is hoped, ultimately prove the means of
effectually preventing counterfeits; and the copper, being a native
article produced in the country, may in time, through the medium of
_coined money_, become a profitable branch of commerce with foreign
nations; where even an extensive circulation may be insured, in
consequence of the _intrinsic_ and _denominative_ value being the
same, or nearly so.
This is exemplified in the policy of Sweden, where the copper dollar
being so heavy as to answer to sixpence sterling, has long been
exported; and forms a considerable, and even a profitable branch of
commerce to that nation.
In Russia the _Three Copee Piece_ is very nearly of the weight of six
English halfpence, yet its current value is only a small fraction
above one penny sterling;--and thus by issuing no copper coin where
the _denominative_ is not in proportion to the _intrinsic_ value,
every class of dealers who vend the necessaries of life are shielded
against loss; and every unnatural rise in the price of provisions for
the subsistence of the poor is of course prevented.
This principle seems to have been admitted by the Legislature; for
when the subject of Copper Money was under the consideration of the
House of Commons, at a period not very remote, the Journals shew that
an opinion then prevailed, "_that the most effectual means to secure
the Copper Coin from being counterfeited, was, that the denominative
value of such Coin should bear as near a proportion as possible to the
intrinsic_ value of the metal of which it was formed."[50]
[Footnote 50: Journal, House of Commons, Vol. xviii. p. 178.]
In fine, it is a question worthy of attention, whether in order to
prevent clamour, and to shut out at once all pretence for circulating
any of the old Copper money, _good or bad_, after the period when Mr.
Boulton shall be able to furnish a sufficient quantity of halfpence
and farthings for circulation, it might not be proper to consider how
far it would be practicable as a measure of State policy, to introduce
a clause into the proposed Bill, empowering the Treasury, within a
given time, to receive all the old Copper Coin, good and bad, at a
certain price per ton, allowing a _bonus_ to the honest holders of it
of 20 per cent. above the current price of Copper.--This would at once
clear the country of counterfeit halfpence and farthings, and would
reconcile the holders to the loss; while the pecuniary sacrifice to
Government would be more than compensated an hundred-fold by a
compleat and instant renovation of this species of coinage.--As the
chief part of the bad halfpence are good copper, they could be
recoined, or sold, as might appear most beneficial.
It is earnestly to be hoped that the further regulations proposed will
be adopted; and followed up, by an extensive coinage of Silver money,
so as to shield the honest part of the Community against a system of
fraud, rapid beyond all example in its growth, and unparalleled as to
its extent.[51]
[Footnote 51: It was suggested in a former edition of this work, that
a coinage of _seven shilling_ pieces of _gold_ would be of great
utility.--The expedient was adopted by Government at the end of the
year 1797.]
Certain it is, that base money contributes more to the support as well
as to the _increase_ of the number of those mischievous and abandoned
members of the community, who exist _wholly_ by different kinds of
fraud, than any other device which they pursue to enable them to live
in their present state of idleness and debauchery, and to indulge in
luxury and extravagance.
The increase is certainly astonishing, since it is known that in
London and the Country, there were some time since fifty-four actual
Coiners, and fifty-six large Dealers, besides, at least, ten Die
sinkers, whose _names_, _characters_, and pursuits, were perfectly
known; but these bear no proportion to the horde of smaller dealers
and utterers of base money in the Metropolis, and in most of the
commercial and manufacturing towns in the kingdom. Their numbers must
amount to several thousands. From being at present nuisances to
society, in the constant habit of defrauding the Public, they might be
rendered (through the application of the remedies proposed) useful
members of the State; by changing a life of idleness and crimes, for a
course of useful labour and industry.
CHAP. VIII.
_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.--Reasons assigned for the
rise and progress of the excessive Pillage which had so long
afflicted the Trade of the River Thames.--The modes pursued
in committing Depredations as the result of a regular
System, which had been established through the medium of
various classes of Criminal Delinquents, 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 devices practised by each Class in carrying
on their criminal designs.--General Observations on the
extent of the Plunder and number of Individuals implicated
in this Species of Criminality.--The effects of the Marine
Police in checking these Depredations.--The advantages which
have resulted to Trade and Revenue from the partial
experiment which has been made.--The further benefits to be
expected when, by apposite Legislative Regulations, the
System of Protection is extended to the whole Trade of the
River.--General Reflections arising from the Subject._
The immense depredations committed on every species of Commercial
Property in the River Thames, but particularly on West India produce,
had long been felt as a grievance of the greatest magnitude;
exceedingly hurtful to the Commerce and Revenue of the port of London,
and deeply affecting the interest of the Colonial Planters, as well as
every description of Merchants and Ship-Owners concerned in the Trade
of the River Thames.
The subject of this Chapter will therefore be chiefly confined to a
detail of the causes, which produced these extraordinary and extensive
depredations, and the various means by which they were perpetrated;
and also to the remedies which have been successfully applied since
the publication of the preceding editions of this Work, for the
purpose of reducing within bounds, and keeping in check, this enormous
and growing evil; for certain it is, that previous to the
establishment of the Marine Police System, in the Month of July 1798,
the increase had been regular and progressive, while the easy manner
in which this species of property was obtained, generated an accession
of plunderers every year.
To those whose habits of life afford no opportunities of attending to
subjects of this nature, the details which are now to be given will
appear no less novel than extraordinary; and with respect to the
extent of the mischief in some instances perhaps incredible. The
West India Planters alone have estimated their losses by depredations
upon the River and in the Warehouses at the enormous sum of L.250,000
a year. It cannot be unreasonable then to suppose, that the extent of
the plunder on the other branches of Commerce, which form nearly 5-6th
parts of the whole value of Imports and Exports, could not be less
than L.250,000 more, making an aggregate upon the whole of Half a
Million sterling![52]
[Footnote 52: For a specific Estimate of the plunder on all branches
of trade carried on to and from the port of London, see "A Treatise on
the Commerce and Police of the River Thames: with a summary View of
the Laws of Shipping and Navigation:" (now in the press) by the Author
of this Work.]
Surprising as this may appear at first view, yet when, by a cool
investigation of the subject, it comes to be measured by the scale of
the astonishing Commerce which centers in the port of London,
(according to the annexed Abstract) and the vast extent of Floating
Property moving constantly upon the River Thames, and the adjacent
Wharfs and Quays subject to depredations; when by calculation it is
also found, that the whole amount of the aggregate plunder, great and
extensive as it appears to be, does not much exceed _three quarters
per cent._ on the value of the whole property exposed to danger: the
Reader will be reconciled to an estimate, which from the elucidations
contained in this chapter, will ultimately appear by no means to be
exaggerated.
ABSTRACT
OF THE _IMPORTS_ INTO, AND THE _EXPORTS_ FROM, THE _PORT OF LONDON_;
_Made up from the Public Accounts for one year, ending the 5th day of
January, 1798; but differing with regard to the value, from those
accounts; in which the price is estimated on data established many
years ago, when the articles of commerce imported and exported were
not rated at above half the sum they now fetch,_ exclusive _of duty._
_It is, therefore, to be understood that the following Estimate of
Foreign Articles is made up according to the_ present value, _as
nearly as it has been possible to ascertain it, by the payment of the
Convoy-duties, under the Act 38 Geo. 3. cap. 76--It exhibits a very
astonishing picture of the immense opulence and extent of the commerce
of the Metropolis; and accounts in a very satisfactory manner for the
vast resources of the Country, which have been manifested in so
eminent a degree in the course of the present and former wars._
From whence Number of Average Value of Goods Value of Goods Total Value of
arrived. vessels Tonnage. Imported. Exported. Goods imported
including and exported.
repeated
voyages.
L. s. d. L. s. d. L. s. d.
East Indies 53 41,456 6,544,402 10 2 3,957,905 5 1 10,502,307 15 3
West Indies 346 101,484 7,118,623 12 8 3,895,313 18 7 11,013,937 11 3
British
Continental
Colonies 68 13,986 290,894 4 10 1,347,250 1 7 1,638,144 6 5
Africa and
Cape of
Good Hope 17 4,336 82,370 15 0 449,077 19 3 531,446 15 1
Southern
Fishery 29 7,461 250,689 3 2 54 16 4 250,743 19 6
Greenland
Fishery 16 4,769 64,142 0 8 0 0 0 64,142 0 8
United States
of America 140 32,213 1,517,386 2 8 3,898,864 12 9 5,416,250 15 5
Mediterranean
and Turkey 72 14,757 390,794 19 10 118,914 3 7 509,709 3 5
Spain 121 16,509 776,686 12 2 171,073 4 6 947,759 17 8
Portugal 180 27,670 414,359 7 2 438,877 16 2 853,237 3 4
France 56 5,573 15,951 17 8 859,974 16 0 875,926 13 8
Austrian
Flanders 66 5,104 21,027 3 2 118,064 2 2 139,091 5 4
Holland 329 19,166 673,241 17 4 1,538,120 3 6 2,211,362 0 10
Germany 235 37,647 2,658,011 8 2 8,014,260 3 0 10,672,271 11 2
Prussia 608 56,955 220,827 14 0 211,662 12 0 432,490 6 0
Poland 69 17,210 207,477 0 0 35,468 18 3 242,945 18 3
Sweden 109 14,252 152,707 6 10 169,293 18 4 322,001 5 2
Denmark and
Norway 202 48,469 94,821 3 6 711,082 10 8 805,903 14 2
Russia 230 56,131 1,565,118 7 6 452,106 16 7 2,017,225 4 1
Foreign
Coasting
(Including
repeated
voyages.)
Guernsey,
Jersey and
Alderney 46 5,344 218,916 12 8 83,281 12 1 302,198 4 9
Ireland 276 32,824 1,878,971 7 2 659,922 14 1 2,538,894 1 3
British
Coasting[53]
(Including
repeated
voyages.)
Coal Trade 3676 650,000 1,700,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 1,710,000 0 0
English
Coasting
incl. Wales 5816 500,000 3,900,000 0 0 2,200,000 0 0 6,100,000 0 0
Scotch
Coasting 684 60,000 300,000 0 0 300,000 0 0 500,000 0 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------
13,444 1,779,326 30,957,421 8 2 29,640,568 4 6 60,597,989 12 8
[Footnote 53: No rule being established, whereby the British Coasting
trade can be valued, the Estimate here given is grounded on the
supposition, that the value of each cargo must amount to a certain
moderate sum.--The aggregate of the whole is believed to exceed the
estimate considerably.]
RECAPITULATION.
Ships and Tonnage.
Vessels.
Foreign and Coasting Trade as
stated in the foregoing Table 13,268 1,773,326
Value of Merchandize imported L.30,957,421 8 2
Value of Merchandize exported 29,640,568 4 6
------------------
Total imported and exported 60,597,989 12 8
To which add the Local Trade within
the limits of the Port, in the Upper
and Lower Thames, and the River Lea 235,000 0 0
_With a view to give the mind of
the Reader a competent idea of the
whole of the property upon the River
Thames, which is exposed to hazard,
the following estimate is added_,
viz.--
1. Value of the Hull, Tackle, Apparel
and Stores of 2144 British, and Coasting
vessels, trading to the port of
London, without including, as above,
the repeated voyages 8,825,000 0 0
2. Value of the Hull, Tackle, and Stores
of 3507 Lighters, Barges, Punts, Hoys,
Sloops, &c. employed in the Trade of
the Thames, River Lea, &c. 350,000 0 0
3. Value of 3349 Wherries, Bumboats,
and Police Boats employed on the
River, &c. 25,000 0 0
----------------
70,032,989 12 8
4. Value of Goods, including Coals,
exposed in Craft and upon the Quays,
to the risque of pillage on an average
each day in the year; (Exclusive of the
Public Arsenals, Ships of War, Gunboats,
Transports, and Hoys, for conveying
Navy, Victualing, and Ordnance Stores,
nearly equal to five Millions more) 235,000 0 0
----------------
General Total 70,267,989 12 8
----------------
Let the mind only contemplate this proud view of the Commerce of a
Single River, unparalleled in point of extent and magnitude in the
whole world; where 13,444 ships and vessels discharge and receive in
the course of a year above three _Millions of Packages_, many of which
contain very valuable articles of merchandize, greatly exposed to
depredations, not only from the criminal habits of many of the aquatic
labourers and others who are employed, but from the temptations to
plunder, arising from the confusion unavoidable in a crowded port, and
the facilities afforded in the disposal of stolen property.--It will
then be easily conceived, that the plunder must have been excessive,
especially where from its analogy to smuggling, at least in the
conceptions of those who were implicated; and from its gradual
increase, the culprits seldom were restrained by a sense of the moral
turpitude of the offence; and where for want of a _Marine Police_
applicable to the object, no means existed whereby offenders could be
detected on the River.[54]
[Footnote 54: While every thing connected with the present state of
Europe, and the whole Commercial world, appears favourable for the
accomplishment of the aggrandisement of the port of London, by the
establishment of Docks (already in part adopted by the Legislature)
and by a general Warehousing System, there is no opinion more
erroneous and delusive than that which supposes that arrangements of
this kind will supersede the necessity of a Police for the protection
of the trade, and for the preservation of the public peace within
these extensive repositories.
In what manner are from two to three thousand labourers, who must be
frequently employed at the same time within these Docks, (and those
too of a class that have been accustomed to plunder, and are not
restrained by any sense of the turpitude of the action) to be
over-awed and controlled, if no Police shall be conceived necessary?
The risk would be immense to commercial property; and pillage, in
spite of the gates, and every precaution which could be taken, would
probably be as extensive as it has been from the Warehouses, or from
his Majesty's Dock Yards, where the want of an appropriate Police has
been the cause of many abuses.
Police as recently exemplified, is quite a new science in political
oeconomy, not yet perfectly understood; it operates as a restraint
of the most powerful kind upon all delinquents who would be restrained
by nothing else. To the system of vigilance which pervades the
criminal actions of labourers upon the River, joined to the imminent
danger of detection, is to be attributed the general success of the
Marine Police, in preventing depredations.
Wherever a proper Police attaches, good order and security will
prevail; where it does not, confusion, irregularity, outrages, and
crimes must be expected; wherever great bodies of aquatic labourers
are collected together, risk of danger from turbulent behaviour, will
be greater in proportion to the number of depraved characters, who,
from being collected in one spot, may hatch mischief, and carry it
into effect much easier in Docks than on the River. A Police only can
counteract this; and to the same preventive system will the commerce
of the Port be indebted for securing both the Docks and the Pool
against Conflagration. In fine, under every circumstance where
Property is exposed, a preventive Police must be resorted to, in order
to be secure.]
The fact is, that the system of River depredations grew, and ramified
as the Commerce of the Port of London advanced, until at length it
assumed the different forms, and was conducted by the various classes
of delinquents, whose nefarious practices are now to be explained
under their respective heads.
1st. _River Pirates._--This class was generally composed of the most
desperate and depraved characters, who followed aquatic pursuits.
Their attention was principally directed to ships, vessels, and craft
in the night, which appeared to be unprotected; and well authenticated
instances of their audacity are recounted, which strongly prove the
necessity of a vigorous and energetic Police. Among many other
nefarious exploits performed by these miscreants, the following may
suffice to shew to what extent their daring and impudent conduct
carried them.
An American vessel lying at East-lane Tier, was boarded in the night,
while the Captain and crew were asleep, by a gang of River Pirates,
who actually weighed the ship's anchor, and hoisted it into their boat
with a complete new cable, with which they got clear off.--The Captain
hearing a noise, came upon deck at the moment the villains had secured
their booty, with which they actually rowed away in his presence,
impudently telling him, they had taken away his anchor and cable, and
bidding him good morning. Their resources afforded them means of
immediate concealment. No Police then existed upon the River, and his
property was never recovered.
A similar instance of atrocity occurred about the same time, where the
bower anchor of a vessel from Guernsey was weighed, and, with the
cable, plundered and carried off in the same manner.
Although only these two instances of extraordinary audacity are
specified, others equally bold and daring could be adduced if the
limits of this Work would admit of it. When vessels first arrive in
the river, particularly those from the West Indies, they are
generally very much lumbered. Ships in this situation were considered
as the harvest of the River Pirates, with whom it was a general
practice to cut away bags of _Cotton_, _Cordage_, _Spars_, _Oars_, and
other articles from the quarter of the vessels, and to get clear off,
even in the day time as well as in the night. Before a Police existed
upon the River all classes of aquatic labourers having been themselves
more or less implicated in the same species of criminality, generally
connived at the delinquency of each other, and hence it followed, that
few or none were detected while afloat and the evil became so
extensive.
It was frequently the practice of these River Pirates to go armed, and
in sufficient force to resist, and even to act offensively if they met
with opposition.--Their depredations were extensive among craft
wherever valuable goods were to be found; but they diminished in
number after the commencement of the war; and now since the
establishment of the Marine Police they have almost totally
disappeared.