_blameless_ and useful part of the community; and while the injuries
arising from the pursuits of the former are checked and restrained,
the privileges of the latter are extended and enlarged. This, when
properly contemplated, will be found to be the _true essence of good
Police_--and this explains in the shortest compass that is possible,
the _ultimate object of the design_.
The Bill comprehends five divisions:--The _first_ authorizes _the
imposition of Licence Duties on certain classes of Dealers already
enumerated_:--The _second_ establishes a _Board of Police Revenue, and
explains its powers and functions_:--The _third_ explains _the powers
and regulations which apply to the Licensing System_:--The _fourth_
relates to _penalties_ and _procedure_: and the _fifth_ transfers the
functions of _the Commissioners of Hackney Coaches and Chairs, and
Hawkers and Pedlars, to the new Establishment, and makes provision for
such Officers as may cease to be employed_.--While the proposed
duties, although light upon the individuals, promise to be productive
to a certain extent; the Licensing System is likely "to purge the
occupations placed under control from the imputations which are now
but too deservedly cast upon them; and to make them by gradual steps
the instruments of detection, instead of the means of concealment, of
every species of fraud and violence."[180]
[Footnote 180: See the 28th Report of the Select Committee, page 4.]
The functions of the Board, by comprehending whatever relates to the
delinquency of the country, will establish a general responsibility
which does not now exist, and which never has existed, with respect to
the evils arising from the multiplication of crimes, while their
diminution will depend on the zeal, ability, and discretion to be
manifested by those to whom this important duty may be assigned.
By this establishment of a general Police System, will it become the
duty of one class of men to watch over the general delinquency of the
Metropolis, and the country;--to check its progress by lessening the
resources of the evil disposed to do injuries, and to commit acts of
violence on the peaceful subject; and gradually to lead the
_criminal_, _the idle_, and _the dissolute_ members of the community
into the paths of innocence and industry.
The collateral aids to be derived from this System of Control over
Dealers and others of loose conduct, in pursuit of evil courses, will
give considerable strength to the Legislative measures which are in
contemplation, with respect to the _Police of the River Thames_: _The
frauds and plunder in the Naval and other public departments_:--_The
Coinage of base Money_, and the _fabrication of counterfeit Bank
Notes_.--Whatever has been contemplated for the purpose of checking
and preventing these evils cannot be complete or effectual, until the
proposed Board is established, and the Licensing System in full
action. The control of this Board is absolutely necessary to
contribute to the success of the measures proposed, and to the
security of public and private property against the present extensive
depredations. In fact the whole System is linked together, and its
energy and success will depend on the passing of the respective Laws
applicable to each object of which the Police Board may not
improperly be denominated _the key-stone_.
It is this responsible superintendance which is to give _life_,
_vigour_, and _effect_, not only to the Laws which are in
contemplation, but to many other excellent Statutes which remain at
present as _a dead letter_.--Let it once become the duty of one body
of men to charge themselves with the execution of the Laws for the
prevention of crimes, and the detection of offences--let them be armed
with proper and apposite powers for that purpose, and the state of
Society will speedily become ameliorated and improved; a greater
degree of security will be extended to the peaceful subject, and the
blessings of civil liberty will be enlarged.
A new aera in the world seems to have commenced, which imperiously
calls for the adoption of such measures; not only in this country, but
all over Europe. The evil propensities incident to human nature appear
no longer restrained by the force of religion, or the influence of the
moral principle.--On these barriers powerful attacks have been made,
which have hitherto operated as curbs to the unruly passions peculiar
to vulgar life: they must therefore be strengthened by supports more
immediately applicable to the object of preserving peace and good
order.
The period is approaching when to the phalanx of delinquents who at
present prey upon Society, will be added multitudes of idle and
depraved characters discharged from the Army and Navy on the return
of Peace.--Policy and humanity require that an adequate remedy should
be provided for such a contingency.--_Qui non vetat peccare cum
possit, jubet._ Where the powers of a State are not employed to avert
apparent and threatened evils, a tacit assent is given to the
commission of crimes. On the contrary, where means are used to check
the progress of turpitude and vice, and to compel obedience to the
Laws, the comfort of Society is promoted, and the privileges of
innocence are secured.
If in the accomplishment of the design which has been recommended by
the highest authority, these objects shall be gradually attained--If
it shall operate in preventing acts of violence and fraud from being
committed upon the peaceful subject; while means are discovered
through the medium of a well-regulated Police, whereby the
unfortunate, and even the idle and the dissolute, may possess a
resource for subsistence by honest industry, without having any
pretended plea of necessity for resorting to Crimes; great, indeed,
would be the benefits which would result to the Public. This would be
at once the triumph both of reason and humanity.
The first step is, to attend to the Morals and the Habits of the
rising Generation; to adapt the Laws more particularly to the manners
of the People, by minutely examining the state of Society, so as to
lead the inferior orders, as it were, insensibly into better Habits,
by gentle restraints upon those propensities which terminate in
Idleness and Debauchery;--to remove temptations, in their nature
productive of evil, and to establish incitements to good and useful
pursuits.
Among a variety of other Functions which would devolve on the proposed
Commissioners, perhaps one might be to offer suggestions to the
Executive Government, with respect to such useful Regulations as might
arise from the extensive knowledge which they must necessarily acquire
as to the condition and pursuits of the labouring People; and hence
would result one of the greatest means of preventing Crimes, and
improving the Condition of human Life.
But while it is acknowledged to be a vain hope to reduce the
tumultuous passions of Men to absolute regularity, so as to render the
Commission of offences impracticable; it is equally clear (and it is
even proved by the State of Society, where Public Morals have been
more effectually guarded,) that it is possible to diminish the Evil
very considerably.
By the establishment of a well-conducted Board of Police, a confident
hope is entertained that this purpose is attainable; and in this view
(although it is to take nothing from the present Resources of the
State), it is a blessing to the Nation, which could scarce be too
dearly purchased at any price.
CHAP. XIX.
_The unparalleled Extent and Opulence of the Metropolis,
manifested in the number of streets, lanes, alleys, courts,
and squares, estimated at above 8000;--containing above 4000
Churches and Places for religious Worship,--more than 400
Seminaries of Education;--several Institutions for promoting
Religion and Morality;--11 Societies for promoting Learning,
and the useful and the fine Arts;--a great number of
charitable Asylums for the indigent and forlorn;--Hospitals
and Dispensaries for the lame, sick, and diseased;--and
above 1700 Institutions of various other kinds for
Charitable and Humane Purposes.--A detail of the Courts of
Law, and other Establishments connected with the
distribution of Justice.--The public Prisons in the
Metropolis.--A View of the number of Persons employed in the
different departments of the Law, estimated in all at about
7000.--Suggestions for improving the civil Jurisprudence in
the Metropolis, so far as relates to the recovery of small
Debts.--The Evils arising from the present System,
exemplified in the multiplicity of actions for trivial sums
in the course of a year; the enormous expence, and the ill
effects of the severity of the punishment in such cases;
debasing the mind, and proving the destruction of many
families, in their morals; and injuring the State.--The
necessity of an Alteration of the System, farther enforced
by the propriety of relieving the supreme Judges from a
weight of labour unreasonable in the vast increase of
business, which the extensive and growing intercourse of
Commerce occasions.--The same Observations extended to the
great Officers of State; and the necessity and utility of a
division of labour, in proportion to the increase of public
duty, explained; as a means of preventing inconveniences.--A
view of the Municipal Regulations which have been
established in the Metropolis for the accommodation and
convenience of the inhabitants; grounded on various acts of
the Legislature, passed at different periods, during the
last and the present century.--Each district of the
Metropolis a separate Municipality; where the power of
assessing the inhabitants for the purposes of paving,
watching, lighting, cleansing, and removing nuisances, is
placed in the hands of Trustees, under a great number of
local acts of Parliament.--These regulations mostly founded
on Laws made in the last and in the present Reign.--The
principal public acts detailed, viz:--The General Act of the
2d William and Mary, cap. 8, for paving the Metropolis;--the
10th Geo. II. cap. 22, for watching the City of London; 11th
Geo. III. cap. 29, for removing signs, and establishing a
complete System of Municipal Police.--The Acts relative to
Westminster and Southwark for similar purposes.--The
Statutes relative to Common Sewers detailed; their origin,
and the great advantages resulting from them.--The Laws
relative to Hackney Coaches and Chairs--also to Carts and
other Carriages.--The Acts relative to Watermen on the
Thames.--The Law for restraining bullock-hunting. And
finally, the Regulations by the 14th Geo. III. cap. 78,
relative to the Mode of building Houses, and the Rules laid
down for extinguishing Fires. Concluding Observations, on
the advantages which would result to the Metropolis at large
from these numerous Acts of Parliament being rendered
uniform, and conformable to the excellent Regulations
established for the City of London.--The advantages of
simplifying the System.--The burden upon the Inhabitants
equal to one million a year for the expence of Municipal
Police.--Suggestions for improving the System and reducing
this expence.--Concluding Reflections.--The present epoch,
more than any other, presses for arrangements calculated to
amend the Morals of the People, by improving the Laws of the
Country._
It cannot fail to prove an interesting inquiry, not only to the
inhabitants of the Metropolis, but also to Strangers, by what means
that department of its oeconomy and government, which may be
denominated _Municipal Police_, is regulated; so as to convey the
comforts, and procure the various accommodations and conveniences
which, with some few exceptions, are felt to exist in every part of
the Capital and its environs.
When it is known that this great City, (unparalleled, as will be
hereafter shewn, in extent and opulence, through the whole habitable
Globe,) comprehends, besides _London_, _Westminster_, and _Southwark_,
no less than forty-five Villages, now exceedingly inlarged,
independent of a vast accession of buildings upon the open fields in
the vicinity; it becomes less a matter of surprize, to learn, that it
extends to nearly eight miles in length,--is three miles at least in
breadth, and not less than twenty-six in circumference; containing
above eight thousand streets, lanes, alleys, and courts, and
sixty-five different Squares; in which are more than one hundred and
sixty thousand houses, warehouses, and other buildings; besides
_Churches_ and _Chapels_ for religious worship, of which the following
enumeration is imagined not to be very distant from truth:--
For Religious Instruction.
Of the Established 1 Cathedral, dedicated to St. Paul.
Religion. 1 Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster.
120 Parish Churches.
120 Chapels, and Chapels of Ease.
---
242
Meeting-houses for { Consisting of Chapels for Methodist
Dissenters. { Nonconformists, Presbyterians,
150 { Independents, Anabaptists,
{ Quakers, and English Roman
{ Catholicks.
{ Consisting of Chapels for French,
{ German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish,
Chapels and { and Helvetic Protestants,
Meeting-houses for 30 { for Foreign Roman Catholics,
Foreigners. { and those of the Russian or
{ Greek Church.
Synagogues 6 for the Jewish Religion.
---
_Total about_ 428 _Places of Public Worship._
The number of Inhabitants of this great Metropolis, occupying these
various houses and buildings, may, under all circumstances, be
rationally estimated at one million at least; for whose accommodation,
convenience, and security, the following Institutions have been
formed, _namely_,--1st. _For Education_;--2d. _For promoting good
Morals_;--3d. _For useful and fine Arts_;--4th. _For objects of
Charity and Humanity_;--5th. _For distributing Justice_;--and 6th.
_For punishing Offenders_.
EDUCATION.
1st. For Education.
16 Inns of Court and Chancery, for educating Students to
the profession of the Law, &c. &c.
5 Colleges--viz. One for the improvement of the Clergy,
London Wall; one for Divinity and Astronomy,
called Gresham College; one for Physicians, Warwick
Lane; one for the study of Civil Law, Doctors-Commons;
and the Heralds College.
62 Schools, or public Seminaries; the principal of which
are Westminster School, Blue-coat School or Christ's
Hospital, St. Paul's, Merchant Taylors, Charter-house,
St. Martin's School, &c. &c. &c. where
about 5000 young persons are educated.
237 Schools belonging to the different Parishes; where
about 9000 male and female Children are educated
in Reading, Writing, and Accompts.
3730 Private Schools, for all the various branches of male and
female Education; including some for Deaf and
Dumb.
----
4050 Seminaries of Education.
_The following Schools seem to deserve particular Enumeration; though
probably there are many others which might equally deserve notice:--_
For Education.
1 Asylum for poor friendless, deserted girls, under
twelve years of age, Vauxhall Road 1758
2 Orphan Working-School, for Children of Dissenters,
City Road.
3 Philanthropic Society, St. George's Fields, for
children of criminal parents, and young delinquents.
4 Freemasons' School, for Female Orphans, St.
George's Fields 1788
5 Marine Society, for educating poor destitute boys
to the Sea, in Bishopsgate-street 1756
6 British or Welsh Charity School, Gray's Inn
Lane 1718
7 French Charity School, Windmill-street, Tottenham
Court-Road 1747
8 School for Soldiers' Girls, at Chelsea, supported
by Ladies 1709
9 Neal's Mathematical School, for teaching Navigation,
&c. to poor children, King's Head
Court, Gough-Square, Fleet-street 1715
10 School for Children of the Clergy; the Boys at
_Thirsk_, Yorkshire, the Girls at _Lisson-Green_,
Paddington.--Secretary, J. Topham, Esq.
No. 5, Gray's Inn Square 1749
11 Day-School of Industry, for Boys and Girls,
Paradise-street, Mary-le-bone 1791
12 Another, No. 68, Edgware-Road, for Girls 1784
13 Ladies' Charity School, King-street, Snow Hill 1702
14 Walworth Female Charity School.
15 Saint Anne's Society, hitherto at Lavenham,
Suffolk, about to be removed to Camberwell,
for Boys and Girls, (extended in 1733 and
1791) 1709
16 Grey Coat Hospital, Artillery Ground, Westminster.
17 Green Coat Hospital, Ditto.
RELIGION AND MORALS.
2. For promoting Religion and good Morals.
1 The Society for giving effect to his Majesty's
proclamation against Vice and Immorality 1787
2 The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge,
Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn 1699
3 The Society for propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts, Dean's Yard, Westminster 1701
4 The Society for promoting Religious Knowledge,
by distributing books among the poor.--Secretary,
Mr. Watts, Founder's Hall, Lothbury 1715
5 The Society for promoting Charity Schools in
Ireland, Merchant Seaman's Office.
6 The Society for Religious Instruction to the Negroes
in the West Indies 1793
7 The Society for preventing Crimes, by prosecuting
Swindlers, Sharpers, and Cheats; Gough-Square,
Fleet-street 1767
8 British Society for the Encouragement of Servants,
No. 27, Hay-market 1792
9 Society for giving Bibles to Soldiers and Sailors,
No. 427, Oxford-street 1780
10 Dr. Bray's Charity for providing parochial Libraries,
No. 5, Ave-Maria Lane.
11 Society for Relief of poor pious Clergymen 1788
12 Queen Anne's Bounty for the Augmentation of
small Livings of Clergymen.--Secretary, R.
Burn, Esq. Duke-street, Westminster 1703
13 Sunday Schools, in various parishes.
14 Sunday School Society, for giving Bibles, &c.
and otherwise furthering the purposes of Sunday
Schools.--Sec. Mr. Prestill, No. 47,
Cornhill 1785
THE ARTS.
3. For learning, and the useful and fine Arts.
1 Royal Society, incorporated for promoting useful
Knowledge;--_Instituted_ 1663
2 Antiquarian Society, Somerset Place 1751
3 Society or Trustees of the British Museum 1753
4 Society of Artists of Great Britain, Strand 1765
5 Royal Academy of Arts, Somerset Place 1773
6 Society for the encouragement of Learning,
Crane-Court, Fleet-street.
7 Society for encouragement of Arts, Manufactures,
and Commerce, Adelphi Buildings.
8 Medical Society of London, Bolt-court, Fleet-street 1773
9 Society for the improvement of Naval Architecture.
10 Veterinary College, near St. Pancras Church.
11 Royal Institution for applying the Arts to the
common purposes of Life 1799
4. Asylum for the Indigent and Helpless.
107 Alms-houses endowed at different periods, where 1352
old men and women are supported; the principal of these
houses are,--_The Trinity Alms-houses_, for 28 decayed
Ship Masters, in Mile End; _Bancroft's Alms-houses_,
Mile End, for 24 Poor Men; _Fishmongers' Alms-houses_,
Newington Butts; _Haberdashers' Alms-houses_, in Hoxton;
_Jeffries' Alms-houses_, Kingsland Road; _Sir John
Morden's College_, for decayed Merchants, at Blackheath;
_Emanuel_, or _Lady Dacre's Hospital_, Tothilfields,
Westminster.
1 London Workhouse, Bishopsgate-street, for decayed old
Men.[181]
1 Bridewell Hospital, an Asylum for Apprentices to different
trades, Bridge-street, Blackfriars.
1 Charter-house Hospital, an Asylum for 80 indigent
persons, in Charter-house Square, _founded_ 1611
1 Scottish Hospital for decayed Natives of Scotland,
in Crane-court, Fleet-street.
1 Welsh Hospital, for decayed Natives of Wales,
in Gray's Inn Lane.
1 French Hospital, for decayed Frenchmen, in St.
Luke's, Middlesex 1719
1 Foundling Hospital, for deserted Infants,
Lamb's-Conduit-street 1739
1 Magdalen Hospital, for the admission of seduced
Females, St. George's Fields 1769
1 Lock Asylum, for penitent Female Patients, cured
in the Lock Hospital 1787
1 Chelsea Hospital, for worn-out and disabled Soldiers 1670
1 Greenwich Hospital, for worn-out and disabled
Seamen 1694
---
118
---
[Footnote 181: London Workhouse is a large building, which might, with
great advantage, be turned into a house of industry, or Penitentiary
House for Petty offenders, for which purpose it was used in ancient
times. Although it is said to be sufficient to lodge about 500 people,
it is now used only as an asylum for a few old persons; and is a
sinecure for the Keepers and Officers, who live comfortably as the
servants of the Community without doing any good. This house is amply
endowed by a power of levying contributions on all the parishes for
its support.]
ASYLUMS FOR SICK, LAME, DISEASED, AND FOR POOR PREGNANT WOMEN.
Hospitals for Sick, Lame, and Diseased, and Pregnant Women.
1. St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in West Smithfield, for
the reception of afflicted and diseased Persons 1539
2. St. Thomas's Hospital, Southwark, for the reception
of sick and lame, especially sailors 1553
3. Guy's Hospital, Southwark, for sick and impotent
persons; and lunatics 1721
4. London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, for the reception
of all persons meeting with accidents 1740
5. St. George's Hospital, Hyde Park Corner, for the
reception of sick and lame 1735
6. Westminster General Infirmary, James-street, Westminster,
for sick and diseased persons 1719
7. Middlesex Hospital, Charles street, near Oxford-street,
for sick and lame, and pregnant women 1745
8. Lock Hospital, Hyde Park Turnpike, for persons
afflicted with the venereal disorder 1746
9. Hospital Misericordia, Goodman's-fields, for the
same purpose 1774
10. Small-pox Hospital, St. Pancras, for inoculation
of poor persons 1746
11. London Lying-in Hospital, Aldersgate-street, for
poor _married_ women 1750
12. City of London Lying-in Hospital, Old-street, City
Road, _Idem._ 1751
13. British Lying-in Hospital, Brownlow-street, Long-Acre,
_id._ 1749
14. Westminster Lying-in Hospital, Surry Road,
Westminster Bridge, for poor pregnant women
_generally_.
15. Queen's Lying-in Hospital, Bayswater Hall, Oxford
Road, _id._
16. Lying-in Hospital, Store-street, Tottenham Court
Road, _id._ 1767
17. Lying-in Charity, for delivering pregnant women
at their own houses; _W. Manning_, Esq. Governor;
Physician, Dr. _Sims_, Blackfriars 1757
18. Society for delivering married women in their own
habitations, by whom 32 midwives are employed,
No. 18, Strand 1757
19. Bethlem Hospital, for Lunatics, Moorfields 1558
20. St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics, Old-street Road 1751
21. Samaritan Society for relieving Persons discharged
from Hospitals 1791
22. Society for visiting and relieving the Sick in their
own Houses.
Dispensaries for Sick, Lame, and Diseased.
1 Eastern Dispensary, Whitechapel
2 Western Dispensary, Charles-street, Westminster
3 Middlesex Dispensary, Great Ailiff-street
4 London Dispensary, Primrose-street, Bishopsgate-street
5 City Dispensary, Bevis Marks
6 New Finsbury Dispensary, St. John-street, Clerkenwell
7 Finsbury Dispensary, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell
8 General Dispensary, Aldersgate-street
9 Public Dispensary, Cary-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields
10 Infant Poor Dispensary, Soho-square
11 St. James's Dispensary, Berwick-street, Soho
12 Westminster Dispensary, Gerard-street, Soho
13 Mary-le-bone Dispensary, Well-street, Oxford-street
14 Ossulston Dispensary, Bow-street, Bloomsbury
15 Surry Dispensary, Union-street, Borough
16 Royal Universal Dispensary, Featherstone Buildings,
Holborn
Institutions for Charitable and Humane Purposes.
Humane Society, for the recovery of drowned and suffocated
Persons, Spital-square and London Coffee-house 1773
Society for the Relief of Clergymen's Widows, Paper
Buildings, Temple
Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical
Men, founded by Dr. Squires and Mr. Chamberlaine 1788
Laudable Society, for the benefit of Widows, Crane-Court,
Fleet-street
Society for the support of Widows, Surry-street, Strand
Society for the support of poor Artists, and their Widows,
Strand
Three Societies for the support of decayed Musicians,
their Widows and Children
Society for the Relief of decayed Actors
ABC-darian Society, for the Relief of decayed
School-masters
Society for the Relief of Authors in distress
Society for the Relief of Officers, their Widows, Children,
Mothers, and Sisters
Society for Annuities to Widows, Old Fish-street,
St. Paul's, No. 25