Bill "for the regulation of Private Mad-houses in this Kingdom." THE POLICE. The report of a Committee of the House of Commons, appointed in 1770, will illustrate this subject from undoubted facts. "Sir John Field ing, being asked what number of houses have been broken open in and about the cities of London and Westminster, and whether it is a growing evil, said, that all robberies, with the circumstances attending them, and particulars of goods stolen, are registered at his office; and from that register informations are grounded, and offenders are detected several years after the offences are committed; and he delivered in lists of houses broken into, with computation of the goods stolen. From Michaelmas 1766 to 14 March 1770, in half-yearly periods, by which it appeared that from Michaelmas 1766 to Lady-day 1767, 13 houses had been broken open, and goods stolen to the value of 2891. From Lady-day 1767 to Michaelmas 1767, 36 houses, value 6271. From Michaelmas 1767 to Lady-day 1768, 52 houses, value 5691. From Lady-day 1768 to Michaelmas 1768, 48 houses, value 1332l. From Michaelmas 1768 to Lady-day 1769, 35 houses, value 14487. 15s. From From Lady-day 1769 to Michaelmas 1769, 63 houses, value 16167. From Michaelmas 1769 to 14 March 1770, 104 houses, value 4241/. He farther informed the Committee, that it is supposed the last 104 houses were broken open by a number of house-breakers not exceeding 20, and few of them more than 20 years of age, 16 or 17 of whom are in custody with little probability of their being convicted: that the evil increases amazingly, and never was at so great a height as since last Michaelmas. Being asked, what is the cause of this increase of housebreaking; he said, that felons formerly carried their goods to pawnbrokers; but by the present method of quick notice to pawnbrokers, silversmiths, and others, that plan is defeated, and the housebreakers now go to Jews, who melt the plate immediately, and destroy other things that might be evidence, which in burglary can be nothing but the goods, though in other cases the person may be sworn to; that they disguise jewels by knocking them out of the sockets, so that they cannot be sworn to; that the present gang of house-breakers are sons of unfortunate people, and of no trade; that they began when boys as pick-pockets, but turned housebreakers when they grew up, in order to procure a greater income to supply their increased expences. And he informed the Committee, that for 20 years a footpad has not escaped; that highwaymen cannot escape, upon account of the early information information given to the aforesaid office, and the great number of prosecutors who always appear against them, which he thinks must in time put an end to that evil *. He then said, he had detected several persons in Duke's-place with plate, and has offered a reward of five guineas for apprehending one person in the same place. Being asked what he thought of the present method of watching the town; he said, the watch is insufficient, their duty too hard, and their pay too small; that he has known serjeants in the guards employed as watchmen; that the watchmen are paid eightpence halfpenny in St. Margaret's parish, and a gratuity of two guineas a year, out of which they find their own candle; that as they are paid monthly, they borrow their money of an usurer once a week; that in other parishes the watch are paid from tenpence to one-shilling per night; that the watch in Westminster is in every parish under the direction of a separate commission, composed of persons who have served the offices of Churchwarden and Overseer; that Commissioners of the respective parishes appoint the beats of their watchmen without conferring together, which leaves the frontiers of each parish in a confused state; for that, where one side of a street lies in one parish, and the other side in * The worthy Magistrate was right in his conjecture, for highway robbery is very uncommon at present in the neighbourhood of London. another another parish, the watchmen of one side cannot lend any assistance to persons on the other side, other than as a private person, except in cases of felony. James Sayer, Esq. Deputy High-steward of Westminster, confirmed the above evidence; and added, that St. Margaret's parish has a select vestry, the majority of which is composed of tradesmen; that they will pay no more than eightpence halfpenny a night to their watchmen, and have no way of punishing them for neglect of duty than by dismissing them, which in fact is not a punishment, for they find it difficult to get men to serve in that office; and he further said, that their number is not sufficient. Being asked the reason for changing the constables from being parochial to be constables for the whole City and Liberty, he said, that before 29 George II. constables were parochial; that he apprehended the reason for the change was, that a constable could not execute any official act out of his parish without being specially authorised so to do. He mentioned an instance of a constable's being killed when he was serving a warrant out of his parish; that the person who killed him was tried and found guilty of manslaughter only, though he would have been guilty of murder, if it had happened in the parish to which the constable belonged. Sir John Fielding being asked what remedies he could suggest to prevent the above evils; he produced produced two papers relating to constables, watchmen, and other officers, which were read to and confirmed by him, and are as follows: "Watchmen too old-should be from 25 to 50; their beats too extensive-should not exceed 20 houses on each side of the way. Watchmen too few, the sum raised for the watch too little, being only fourpence in the pound-should be sixpence. "Ward-officers to be chosen out of those inhabitants that have served the office of constable, and to have a good salary. One half of the constables to be discharged within the year, so that one half remaining two years will be able to instruct the new officers, and the whole duty will be well done. If the new provisions for the watch can be established by the Commissioners remaining where they are, it will save trouble; for then the money may be raised by them as it now is, and every parish may pay and clothe their own watchmen; so that the appointment, distribution, direction, wages, number, and punishment of the watch, may be in the Magistrates by a new commission, and the paying and clothing be in the present Commissioners. ' "The words 'A Constable of the City and Liberties of Westminster,' to be placed over the Constable's doors; the words Ward-officer,' over the Ward-officers' doors. Beadles by name to be discharged; and the necessary part of their duty VOL. I. |