and Pedlars, the functions of the Commissioners will become very
extensive and laborious, since in addition to the inspection and
control of the different suspicious trades proposed to be licenced, it
will be useful to the Public, and, indeed, the System will be
incomplete, unless they not only keep constantly in their view the
general Calendar of delinquency; but also carry into effect such plans
as, on mature deliberation, and (many will unquestionably be
found practicable), shall, in a great measure, prevent the
terror--dangers--losses and inconveniences which arise from foot-pad
and highway robberies, burglaries, and other atrocious offences,
which are so prevalent in and near the Metropolis at present.--This
duty will naturally attach to the Central Board, and which the
Commissioners, (from the accurate information their situation will
enable them to procure, and the Civil Force they may have at their
disposal,) will be well qualified to execute with advantage to the
Community; and while competent pecuniary resources will arise from the
Licence Duties imposed, aided by legislative regulations, applicable
to this, and other objects tending to the general prevention of
Crimes, blame may fairly be imputed wherever a considerable degree of
success is not manifest, by the gradual diminution of the more
atrocious, as well as the minor offences.
The Select Committee of the House of Commons having stated it as their
opinion, that the principle upon which the plan which has been brought
under their review is founded, "_if liable to no error; and that
supposing it faithfully executed it gives the fairest prospect of
success_:" the Public will naturally become anxious for an enjoyment
of the benefits which may be expected to result from its adoption.
As its leading feature is the security of the _rights of the
innocent_, with respect to their Life, Property, and Convenience, the
measures of this board must, in a peculiar degree, be directed with
prudence and discretion to this particular object. This will be
effected not only by increasing the difficulty of perpetrating
offences, through a control over those Trades by which they are
facilitated and promoted, but also by adding to the risk of detection,
by a more prompt and certain mode of discovery wherever crimes are
committed. Thus must the idle and profligate be compelled to assist
the State, by resorting to habits of industry, while the more
incorrigible delinquents will be intimidated and deterred from
pursuing a course of turpitude and criminality, which the energy of
the Police will render too hazardous and unprofitable to be followed
up as a trade; and the regular accession of numbers to recruit and
strengthen the hordes of criminal delinquents, who at present afflict
Society, will be in a great measure prevented.
These objects (in the opinion of the Select Committee) are to be
attained by the establishment of a _Central Board of Police Revenue_;
the views of the Members of which should be directed to the means of
adding "Security to the Person and Property of the peaceful Subject;
the Morals of the People, and the general Finances of the Country; by
those powers of action which are likely to operate most beneficially
towards the prevention of Crimes."
To accomplish these purposes it would seem, (after mature
deliberation), to be necessary not only to extend the Licensing System
over the whole Kingdom; but also to form _a chain of connection_
between the Central Board, and every district of the Country, with a
view as well to a more effectual Control ever those suspicious
Traders, who are to become immediate objects of attention on the part
of the Police, as to establish a more correct and certain mode of
collecting the proposed Revenue.
This chain of connection would appear to be only attainable through
the medium of Select local Magistrates,[172] to whom a certain degree
of responsibility would attach, and who by means of Stationary
Surveyors, (being Constables), appointed by themselves, and under
their immediate Control, would be enabled to superintend the
collection of the Licence Duties, and in a particular manner to
inspect into, and regulate the general Police of the District, while
in conjunction with other Justices in the division, they granted the
Annual Licences to the different Dealers upon the same plan which is
at present pursued with respect to Alehouses.
[Footnote 172: It is presumed, that the distinction of _Select
Magistrates_, joined to the patronage arising from the appointment of
inferior Officers of Police in the respective Districts of the
Country, (as Surveyors and Collectors of Licence Duties), would be
considered as a sufficient inducement to men of Property, talents, and
respectability, to undertake this very honourable Trust: to which it
may reasonably be hoped, that many would be stimulated, in a
particular degree, by the impulses of patriotism, and a desire to
introduce a correct and improved System of Police in their respective
Districts.]
From this general rule, however, on account of the peculiar situation
of the Metropolis, a deviation might be necessary and useful to the
Public. It would, therefore, seem that the Dealers resident within a
certain distance round the Metropolis, should receive their Licences
from the Central Board, and be immediately under its control.--The
advantages resulting from this arrangement are obvious.--The chief
part of the Receivers, and Criminal Dealers, who contribute in so
great a degree to the increase and concealment of the numerous
offences, which are committed in and near the Metropolis, require that
the superintendance should not be divided, but that it should be
confined entirely to the Board, where all intelligence is supposed to
center; and whose peculiar duty it will be to watch the progress of
Crimes in all their ramifications, and to adopt measures for
preventing the growing corruption of Morals, by which every species of
delinquency is generated.
For the purpose therefore of compassing this and every other object in
the view of the Select Committee, it is suggested that the proposed
Board should be authorized to exercise the following
FUNCTIONS:
I. To manage that branch of the Police which relates to
Hackney Coaches and Chairs.--To enforce strictly the laws
now in being for the better ordering this system so
necessary to the comfort and convenience of the
Metropolis.--To obtain new powers (where wanting) to compel
a greater degree of cleanliness and security, with respect
to these vehicles.--To banish, if possible, from the
fraternity those criminal characters denominated _Flash
Coachmen_, and to secure civility, and prevent
imposition.--For this last purpose a department should be
continued, as at present, (a part of the Institution,)
having a concurrent jurisdiction with other Magistrates, for
the purpose of hearing and determining disputes between
Coachmen and the Public.
II. To execute the laws relative to Hawkers and Pedlars.--To
regulate and improve the System respecting this suspicious
class of Dealers, and more effectually to extend the control
over them by means of the Select Magistrates in each
District of the Country where they travel, for the purpose
of more narrowly watching their conduct.
III. To grant Licenses in the Town District (_i.e._ within
the limits of the Penny-Post, while the Select and other
Justices grant similar Licences in the Country;) under the
authority of the proposed general Police Bill, to the
following Traders, and others,[173] viz.
[Footnote 173: Nothing can exceed the pains and labour which
have been bestowed in settling the description of the
persons, proposed to be licenced, with a view to an accurate
system of Legislation. A regard to this accuracy made it
necessary to abandon [Transcriber's Note: blank in original;
probably 'two'] classes recommended by the proposer to the
Select Committee; because on attempting to frame a Bill, it
was found impracticable in one case, and impolitic in
another, to apply Legislative rules that would not either be
defeated or invade the privileges of innocence.[J]]
[Footnote J: Persons keeping Crucibles, and Auctioneers.]
1st. Purchasers of second-hand, and other Household goods,
for Sale.
2d. Wholesale purchasers of Rags, and unserviceable Cordage,
for Sale to Paper-makers.
3d. Retail Purchasers of Rags, and unserviceable Cordage,
for Sale to Paper-makers.
4th. Purchasers of second-hand Apparel, made-up Piece-Goods,
and Remnants for Sale.
5th. Walking or Itinerant Purchasers of second-hand Apparel,
made-up Piece-goods, and Remnants for Sale.
6th. Purchasers of second-hand Naval Stores, for Sale.
7th. Wholesale Purchasers of second-hand Metals, for Sale.
8th. Retail Purchasers of second-hand Metals, of persons in
general, for working up.
9th. Every Worker of second-hand Metals purchasing the same,
from persons in general, and not from Licensed Dealers.
10th. Purchasers of second-hand Building Materials for Sale.
11th. Persons keeping Draught-Carts for second-hand goods,
purchased for Sale.
12th. Persons keeping Hand or Truck Carts for second-hand
goods, purchased for Sale.
13th. Sellers of Unredeemed Pledges, otherwise than by
Auction: and also to control and inspect the conduct of
these dealers, so as if possible to confine them to the
innocent part of their Trades; and to collect and receive
the respective Licence Duties.[174]
[Footnote 174: If Twine Spinners and Rope Spinners of a
certain class could be brought under similar regulations, it
would prove extremely beneficial, inasmuch as the small
Manufacturers in this line are known to give considerable
facilities to the Stealers of Hemp on the River Thames.--A
number of small Rope and Twine Manufacturers have undersold
the fair trader, by working up Stolen Hemp, purchased at
half price; and it is but too evident from discoveries which
have recently been made, that this evil has gone to a very
great extent, and that considerable benefits would be
derived to the Public, by placing _Twine and White Rope
Spinners_ under the control of the Police, at least within
the proposed District of the Metropolis.]
IV. To grant Licences also in like manner to other Traders,
which are already under some degree of Legislative
regulations; (but which require a more efficient Control),
provided it shall be thought expedient by the Legislature to
transfer these branches to the proposed Board, as requiring
in a particular degree the superintendance of the Policy
System, viz.
1st. Pawnbrokers in Town and Country.
2d. Persons keeping Slaughtering-houses for Horses, and
other Animals, not for the food of Man.
3d. Dealers in Horses, and persons hiring, keeping at
Livery, and transferring Horses from hand to hand, with a
view to establish a check against Highway Robberies, and to
defeat those subtle tricks which prevail in the Sale of
Horses.
And also to collect the Licence and other Duties, (which
might, in respect to the transfer of Horses, be rendered
extremely productive without being felt as a burden), and to
inspect the conduct of these classes with a view to the
prevention of Frauds, and other offences.
V. To grant Licences in like manner to all persons (except
those employed in his Majesty's Mints), who shall erect or
set up any cutting Engine for cutting round Blanks by the
force of a Screw; or any Stamping Press, Fly, Rolling Mill,
or other instrument for Stamping, flatting, or marking
Metals, or Bank Notes; or which, with the assistance of any
Matrix, Stamp, Die, or Plate, will stamp Coins or Notes--so
as to prevent the enormous evils constantly experienced by
the Coinage of Base Money, and the counterfeiting of Bank
Notes:--A System whereby the criminal part of ingenious
Artists could be kept under the immediate view of the
Police, is so obvious in a Commercial Country, as to require
no elucidation. And the measure is the more desirable, as
the reputable part of the Artists and Manufacturers who have
occasion to keep Presses for innocent and useful purposes,
have no objection to such regulations.[175]
[Footnote 175: See the Chapter on the subject of Base Coin,
in this _Treatise_; and the remedies ultimately proposed for
suppressing this enormous evil.--The Author has great
satisfaction in stating that a Bill is now nearly prepared,
grounded chiefly on his suggestions, for improving the
Coinage Laws; and that sanguine hopes are entertained of its
passing during the present Session of Parliament.--The
proposition now made of bringing this feature of Police, so
far as relates to _Presses_, and other _Machinery_, under
the inspection of the proposed _Central Board_, will
certainly have a powerful effect in deterring evil-minded
persons from following the Trade of Coiners of Base Money,
or Engravers and Stampers of forged Bank Notes.--In this
kind of Control, the Police Revenue Board would have an
advantage arising from the nature of the System, which may
be considered as _invaluable in a national point of view_,
since no part of the Country, however remote, could be said
to be out of their reach, as Officers, under their immediate
direction, would be found every where.]
VI. These Commissioners, after deducting the necessary
expences, should pay into the Exchequer weekly, through the
medium of a Receiver, the whole Revenues collected by them
for Police purposes; and it is to be hoped, notwithstanding
the very low Rates of the Licence Duties proposed, that,
_including the Horse Police_, the aggregate Collection would
go very far towards easing the resources of the Country of
the expence of what the Select Committee of the House of
Commons denominate, _a very inefficient System of
Police_.[176]
[Footnote 176: From an estimate which has been made, the
three Classes mentioned in division IV. might be made to
produce above 100,000_l._ for Police purposes, in addition
to what is received at present from Pawnbrokers, and Horse
Dealers.--The chief part would arise from the transfer of
Horses.]
VII. It would be the duty of the Commissioners to
superintend, with great strictness, the conduct of their
Subordinate Officers, both in the Town and Country
Districts, and to be careful that those who were entrusted
with the collection of the Licence Duties gave proper
Security;[177] and that in their conduct, in Surveying and
Watching the Movements of the different Dealers, they
manifested the greatest degree of vigilance, prudence, and
discretion.--Above all, that they were regular in their
Payments, and remittances, so as not to incur the penalties
inflicted by the proposed Act on defaulters.
[Footnote 177: The most oeconomical mode would,
apparently, be to consolidate in one person the office of
_Constable_ and _Collector of the Licence Duties_ in the
respective Districts; having it understood that the poundage
received on the money paid to the Board, should not only be
considered as a remuneration for the Collection, but also as
a reward for occasional Services in the general Police
Department.--By such an arrangement, a chain of Select and
reputable Officers may be established all over the Country,
without being felt as a burden of any kind on the Community;
while those Services under the general arrangements of the
Board, could not fail to be productive of infinite benefits
in the well-ordering of Society.]
VIII. To correspond with the Select Magistrates in every
District in the Kingdom, and not only to receive from them
useful information, relative to offences which have been
committed, and all other matters within the scope of the
Functions of these Select Magistrates; but also to give them
their advice and assistance in every case where it is found
necessary, for the purpose of the preservation of peace and
good order, and the due administration of the Laws; and
particularly as it may apply to those Select Magistrates
who reside near the Sea-Coasts of the Kingdom, that in all
cases of Shipwreck, measures may be pursued, and the laws
enforced, to prevent those horrid barbarities, pillage and
spoliation, which have, to the disgrace of civilized
Society, prevailed on such melancholy occasions.[178]
[Footnote 178: The Registers of our Courts of Record, and
other well-attested accounts, have developed scenes of
unfeeling Cruelty and Rapacity, in cases of Shipwrecks,
which would have disgraced the rudest and most ferocious
Savages, and would lead a Stranger to suppose that we have
no Laws for the prevention of such outrages.]
IX. To make arrangements with the Select Magistrates in the
Country, relative to the due execution of the proposed
General Police Act, with respect to the Control over the
persons Licenced, and all other Duties which may be required
under such a Legislative System.
X. To obtain accurate Information, by means of regular
returns from Clerks of Assize, Clerks of the Peace, Keepers
of Prisons, Houses of Correction, Penitentiary Houses, and
other places of Confinement; and to have constantly in view
the state of delinquency in the Metropolis, and in every
part of the country; preserving such accounts in registers
for the purpose of reference, as occasions might arise to
render them useful to public Justice.--To assist the acting
Magistrates in Town and Country by conveying all useful
information applicable to their local situations,
respecting the commission of crimes, and the detection of
offenders, and which might tend to the prevention of
disorders, or offences meditated against the Laws.
XI. To watch the proceedings of the herds of criminal
delinquents who generally leave Town every year in the month
of March, after the drawing of the English Lottery, for the
purpose of attending _fairs_, _races_, and other places of
amusement and dissipation in the country, carrying with them
quantities of _base Money, and EO Tables_, with a view to
commit frauds on the unwary--And to give notice to the
Select local Magistrates, that they and their officers may
be upon their guard in defeating the nefarious designs of
these miscreants, who are often disguised as farmers and
labourers, the better to enable them to effect their
purposes, by cheating and stealing, particularly _horses_,
to the great loss and injury of the country.
XII. It is recommended by the Select Committee of the House
of Commons, that the Commissioners of this Central Board
should have it in their power to distribute rewards to
Constables or others for meritorious services, through the
medium of the Magistrates of Police, and to use such other
means as should best promote the ends of Justice, and the
general utility of the Institution to the community.
XIII. Under the direction of the principal Secretary of
State for the Home Department, these Commissioners should
avail themselves of the knowledge their situation would
afford them of the degree of depravity and danger attached
to the character of the different convicts; to select such
as they thought proper objects for transportation to New
South Wales; and to follow any other instructions they may
receive for oeconomizing this branch of the criminal
Police of the nation, so as, if possible, to reduce the
annual expence.
XIV. These Commissioners being authorized by the Lords of
the Treasury, might take under their management all matters
relative to the Lottery; not only with a view to a more
oeconomical mode of drawing the same, but also for the
purpose of rendering the Revenue productive to the State,
without the evil consequences which at present arise from it
to the morals of the lower orders of the people, and the
distresses and miseries to which its fascinating delusions
subject them.
XV. It would be the duty of the Board, availing itself of
the practical knowledge which may be obtained by means of a
System of general superintendence in the Police Department,
to attend closely to the operation of the whole of the
present code of penal Laws, with respect to its efficacy and
utility; and where imperfections are discovered, to suggest
from time to time such improvements as may appear useful and
beneficial to the Police, and to the Revenue.
XVI. The Select Committee in their Report recommend, that
the proposed Board should have power "to make Bye-Laws for
the regulation of such minor objects of Police as relate to
the objects of their superintendence, and to the control of
all Coaches, Chairs, Carts, Barrows, and the conduct of all
Coachmen and Chairmen, Carters, &c. and the removal and
prevention of all annoyances, and the correction of all
offences against the cleanliness and quiet, and the free
passage of the streets of the Metropolis, in like manner as
is now possessed, by the Commissioners of Hackney Coaches,
and subject to the approbation of the Superior Judges."
XVII. To superintend the general receipts and disbursements
of the Establishment, and to report the same quarterly to
the Treasury, and to the principal Secretary of State for
the Home Department.
XVIII. To receive and execute the instructions of the
Treasury in all matters respecting Finance and Revenue; and
the instructions and directions of His Majesty's Secretary
of State for the Home Department in all matters of Police.
XIX. To establish a more correct System through the medium
of the Select Magistrates, whereby the Laws for the
prevention and punishment of offences may be more
effectually and universally carried into execution, and not
in many instances remain a dead letter, as at present, to
the great injury of the community; or be partially carried
into effect in particular parts of the country, against a
few individuals, or for mere temporary purposes.
XX. Finally, it will be the duty of the Board to report to
his Majesty in Council, and to Parliament (if required) the
State of the Metropolis and the Country, with respect to
criminal _Police_ in all its branches, so as to bring under
the review of the Executive Government _the whole
criminality of the Country_, at a given period each year,
where it will be accurately discovered whether it increases
or diminishes.
Such are the functions apparently necessary to be assigned to the
proposed Board of Commissioners, for the purpose of accomplishing the
objects of improvement in the Police System, which have been
recommended to Parliament by the Select Committee.
These objects are of too much importance to the Public, to the
Security of the State, and to the peace and good order of Society, to
be lost sight of, even for one moment.
While the morals and habits of the lower ranks in Society are growing
progressively worse and worse--while the innocent and useful part of
the Community are daily suffering evils and inconveniences originating
from this source--while crimes multiply in all instances under the
existing systems, (the Thames Police only excepted[179]) it becomes of
importance to apply a remedy. In legislating with this view, the same
disadvantages and difficulties do not present themselves as in many
other cases, since much previous labour and investigation has been
bestowed in forming a ground-work for the proposed General Police
System.
[Footnote 179: Nothing can be offered as a more irrefragable proof of
the utility of a Police Institution, such as has been recommended by
the Select Committee on Finance, than the effect of the Marine Police
Establishment upon the River Thames; where, in spite of a crippled
System, and deficient Laws, the energy of the superintendence, and the
strength of the Civil force, has, at a very trifling expence, applied
with strict oeconomy, worked such a change in the Port of London,
both with respect to the security of commercial property, and the
Revenue, as would scarcely have been conceived possible. For an
Account of this System, see the 8th Chapter of this Work: but for a
more enlarged and comprehensive view of the nature and effect of the
design, recourse must be had to the Author's _Treatise on the Commerce
and Police of the River Thames, &c._ now in the press; in which the
whole plan is developed, together with the Legislative System
necessary to give permanent effect to the design.]
Under the Sanction of his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for
the Home Department, a Bill has been prepared, in which, while every
attention has been paid to the means of accomplishing the views of the
Select Committee, nothing can exceed the pains which have been
bestowed _in preserving the rights of innocence, and in divesting
power of the faculty of abuse_.