"An heterogeneous mass, concocted too often on the spur of the occasion, and frequently without that degree of accuracy, which is the result of able and minute discussion, or a due attention to the revision of the existing Laws."
But voluminous as they certainly are, many omissions are apparent, partly arising from the causes assigned by the able Lawyer whose strictures have been just quoted, and more particularly from the rapid changes, which Commerce and Property have made in the state of Society.
Among these, the following have occurred to the Author as highly deserving attention.—
1st. The Act of the 30 Geo. II. cap. 24. makes it a transportable Misdemeanor, to obtain Goods or Chattels by false pretences.—But as Horses, Cattle, Poultry, Bank Notes, Bills of Exchange, or Notes of Hand, although equally objects of Fraud, are not deemed in Law to be Goods or Chattels, offences of equal, if not of greater magnitude, are not within the meaning of the Statute, and hence appears the necessity of an Amendment.
2d. The present Act relative to Pawnbrokers is extremely deficient, and not only in several important points ambiguous; but also inapplicable in a variety of instances to the general views of the Legislature, as they regard the security and interest of the Poor, while in others, perhaps unnecessary and useless restrictions are imposed on the Pawnbrokers themselves.
3d. As the Laws respecting Forgeries now stand—the act of forging the Firm of a Commercial House, and obtaining goods on the Credit of such Firm, is only punishable as a Misdemeanor; although in this case this offence is of a tendency the most dangerous that can be conceived, in a Commercial Country, where (from the unbounded confidence which prevails) it is so easy to obtain credit.
A case occurred and came under the cognizance of the Author in 1796, where a Swindler assuming the Firm of a respectable House in Bristol, ordered goods from Manchester to be sent to Portsmouth, where the person (committing the Forgery) stated, that one of the Partners meant to go to meet them.—Two parcels of goods were obtained by this device, and immediately sold at half the value by the Sharpers, which led to a discovery, and enabled the Author to guard the unsuspecting Manufacturers in York and Lancashire, against the injuries they were likely to sustain, by the operation of a very complicated and artful conspiracy to rob them of their property to a great amount.
4th. The Receiving of Cash or Specie, Bank Notes, Bills of Exchange, or Notes of Hand, knowing the same to be stolen, is not at present a Criminal Offence: In a Commercial Country where such offences may be productive of much evil to Society, Why should not the Law extend to every species of Property in the same manner as to Goods and Chattels?
5th. Although Arson is considered (and justly so) as a high Criminal Offence, yet the offence of a person setting fire to his own house, with a view to defraud the Insurers, is considered only a simple Misdemeanor, and punished as such; and where a house at a distance from others is set on fire so as to occasion no danger to the neighbourhood, it is not an Offence known in the Criminal Code, even although it may appear to have been done for the purpose of defrauding the Insurers.
With a view to the prevention of this very atrocious crime (of which there have been but too many instances of late years) it would seem right that it should be clearly defined; and that it would not be too severe to punish offenders by Transportation; since in all cases, where the fire extends to a neighbouring house the offence of Arson is committed, and the punishment is Death.
6th. Much inconvenience is at present experienced from the circuitous and expensive process of Law, which must be resorted to for the purpose of removing bad and profligate Lodgers.—In cases of small concern, where the rent does not exceed a few shillings a week, it would be an act of great humanity to empower Magistrates to decide in a summary way.—It would check that spirit of litigation, which is the destruction of the Labouring People.
7th. As a means of controlling many offences, which are generated by an assemblage of loose and immoral characters, who are constantly afloat in the Metropolis, a General Register of Lodging-Houses, would certainly be attended with very beneficial effects: and to use the language of the Select Committee of the House of Commons in their 28th Report, page 31,—would also "be a Regulation, which, if discreetly used, might probably afford the means of materially assisting both the Police and the Revenue."[207]
8th. The extensive Plunder committed on the Farmers round the Metropolis, under the pretence of Gleaning in Harvest is a very serious evil, and calls aloud for a remedy.—The practice is pernicious and ruinous to the Morals of the Families of the Labouring People in every part of the Country, since through this medium children learn pilfering habits, before they know that it is a crime.
A slight punishment on all who gleaned in any case previous to a complete removal of the corn or vegetables, and on every occasion, without first obtaining leave of the Proprietor, would prove a very salutary Regulation—for it appears that every Thief charged with stealing corn pretends it was obtained by Gleaning.
9th. The existing Laws being found ineffectual in controlling the habits, and in turning into a course of useful industry the labour of the herds of Gypsies, who surround the Metropolis, and commit depredations in every part of the Country, it would be exceedingly desirable,[208] both with respect to policy and humanity, to provide some effectual Legislative Remedy, since the idle, vagrant, and miserable life of this profligate community can be as little desirable to themselves as it is hurtful to the Public.—Compelling a residence which shall be stationary, and obliging them to bind out their children apprentices at a certain age, so as to incorporate them with the mass of the people, would certainly prove a very salutary Regulation.
10th. The frauds and adulterations in the article of Milk sold in the Metropolis, as detailed in the 3d Chapter of this Work, pages 89 to 92, seem to justify the interference of Parliament for the purpose of placing Milk Dealers under the inspection and controul of the Police: Here the injury is not merely confined to the frauds thus practised on the Public, but the healths of the Consumers are in some measure endangered from the infamous devices which are practised.
11th. For the purpose of saving much unnecessary expence, and also to remove the inconvenience arising from the length of time, which frequently elapses before persons charged with offences, in Southwark, Greenwich, and the villages surrounding the Metropolis, make it lawful to try offences committed in Surry, Kent, and Essex, within five miles of the three Bridges, at the Justice Hall of the Old Bailey, which may be done before a Jury of the Vicinage, with great advantages to Public Justice, and without touching on the rights of the Accused.[209]
12th. To establish certain Legislative Regulations, for the purpose of preserving the Morals of unfortunate unoffending families, by restoring to them such parents whose misfortunes and not their crimes, have doomed them to the horrors of perpetual Imprisonment.—And to establish arrangements for the improvement of what may be denominated Civil Police, by adopting inferior Tribunals for distributing Justice in all actions of Debt under 50l. for the purpose of reducing the present enormous expence, and extending relief to traders in general.[210]
Thus has the Author of this Work endeavoured to develope that infinite variety of crimes and misfortunes, which have been long felt and deplored as a pressure upon the innocent part of the Community.
In travelling over so extensive a field, where almost every step is stained with turpitude and depravity, no little consolation is derived from being able thus to place upon record practicable Remedies, applicable to the chief part of the evils, which have been brought under the review of the Reader.
Nor is it less a matter of gratification to the Writer of the preceding pages, than it must be satisfactory to the Public at large, to discover that the leading features of the whole improvements which he suggested in the preceding editions of this Work, have attracted the notice, and received the sanction of the Select Committee of the House of Commons.
The conclusion which may naturally be drawn is, that the laborious efforts of the Author in bringing a new and interesting subject under the review of the Public have not been in vain; and that a confident hope may now be entertained that his humble endeavours, for the good of his Country, will ultimately produce arrangements in the New Science of Police, calculated to secure and protect the peaceful subject against injury, and to ameliorate the state and condition of Civil Society, particularly in this great Metropolis, by the adoption of such measures as shall be conducive to the more effectual Prevention of Crimes:—by lessening the demand for Punishments:—by diminishing the expence and alleviating the burden of Prosecutions:—by turning the hearts and arresting the hands of evil doers: by forewarning the unwary, and preserving the untainted in purity; thus attaching to Police its genuine preventive character, unmixed with those judicial powers which lead to Punishment, and properly belong to Magistracy alone.
FINIS.
[Printed by H. Baldwin and Son, New Bridge-Street, London.]
Transcriber's Note: The original index resembles a table of contents, with page numbers at the right margin; and for sequential page numbers, only the last digit or two is given, e.g., 504, 5. For clarity in this e-book, the page numbers immediately follow the entries, separated by a comma, and for sequential page numbers the full number is given.
Abstract of the annual Imports into, and Exports from the Port of London (table), 215, 216
—— of Persons committed, and discharged from Prisons in one year, an extraordinary document (table), 430
Account of Pawnbrokers in the Metropolis, and the vast property in their houses belonging to the poor, 110
—— of various descriptions of Cheats, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127
—— of the number of Streets, Lanes, Houses and Families in the Metropolis, 568
—— of the previous Plans and Arrangements of Thieves when a Robbery or Burglary is contemplated, 291
—— of the usual Mode of proceeding to recover stolen property, 383
—— of the Number of Persons engaged in fraudulent Lotteries, 156
—— of the Trials at the Old Bailey in 1790 and 1791, 394, 395
—— of ditto in 1793 and 1795, 446-448
—— of the Officers of Justice in the Metropolis, 397
—— of the Watchmen and Patroles there, 414
—— of the Magistrates there, 398, 399
—— of the Criminal Courts there, 428
—— of the specific Criminals punishable by Law, 437-444
—— of the Convicts in the Hulks, 455
—— of the Names of the City and Police Magistrates, 504, 505
—— of the Churches and other places of Worship in the Metropolis, 568
—— of the Seminaries of Education in the Metropolis, 569, 570
—— of the Societies for promoting Religion and Morality, 570, 571
—— of the Societies for promoting the Arts, 571
—— of the Asylums for the Indigent and Helpless, 572
—— of the Hospitals for the Sick and for Pregnant Women in the Metropolis, 573
—— of the Institutions for Charitable and Humane Purposes, 574, 575
—— of the Charity annually distributed in the Metropolis estimated at £850,000 a year, 357, 358
—— of the Courts for Civil and Criminal Justice in the Metropolis, 577-582
—— of the Prisons in the Metropolis, ibid.
—— of the different Classes of Professional Men connected with the departments of the Law, about 7000 in all, 583
—— of the Number of Writs issued in Middlesex in 1793, with an extraordinary statement of the Expences on small Law-suits, 585, 586, 587
Acquittals, See Prisoners.
Actions at Law for small Debts, 584, 587
Expence enormous beyond all credibility, ibid.
Acts of Parliament referred to in this Work.
| 2 Geo. 3. c. 28. for preventing Frauds by Persons navigating Bum-boats on the River Thames, 237, n., 269 | |
| 31 Elizabeth, c. 4 22 Charles 2d. c. 5 9 & 10 William 3d. c. 41 1 George 1st. stat. 2. c. 25 9 George 1st. c. 8 17 Geo. 2d. c. 40 9 Geo. 3d. c. 35 12 Geo. 3d. c. 24 |
Relative to the Protection of his Majesty's Stores, 261-263 |
| 14 Geo. 3d. c. 90, for regulating the Westminster Watch, &c., 107 | |
| 25 Edward 3d. stat. 5. c. 2 1 Mary, stat. 2. c. 6 1 & 2 P. & M. c. 11 5 Eliz. c. 11 14 Eliz. c. 3 18 Eliz. c. 1 7 William 3d. c. 3 8 & 9 William 3d. c. 26 9 & 10 William 3d. c. 21 7 Anne, c. 24, 25 15 & 16 Geo. 2d. c. 28 11 Geo. 3d. c. 40 37 Geo. 3d. c. 126 38 Geo. 3d. c. 59-67 39 Geo. 3d. c. 75 |
Relative to the Coinage and disposal of Base Money, 192, 193, 194 |
| 33 Henry 8th. c. 1 30 Geo. 2d. c. 24 |
Relative to Cheats and Swindlers, 113, 114 |
| 9 Anne, c. 14 8 Geo. 1st. c. 2 12 Geo. 2d. c. 28 |
Relative to Gaming, 134, 135 |
| 9 Geo. 2d. c. 5. relative to Fortune-tellers being punished by standing four times in the Pillory, 130 | |
| 3 & 4 William 3d. c. 9 1 Anne, c. 9 5 Anne, c. 31 4 Geo. 1st. c. 11 29 Geo. 2d. c. 30 30 Geo. 2d. c. 24 2 Geo. 3d. c. 28 10 Geo. 3d. c. 48 21 Geo. 3d. c. 69 22 Geo. 3d. c. 58 |
Relative to Receivers of Stolen Goods, 298-300 |
| 5 Edw. 3d. c. 14 34 Edw. 3d. c. 1 |
Relative to the Office & power of Constables, 387 |
| 8 Geo. 2d. c. 16. relative to Hue and Cry, 389 | |
| 4 William & Mary, c. 8 6 & 7 William & Mary, c. 17 10 & 11 William 3d. c. 23 5 Anne, c. 31 6 Geo. 1st. c. 23 3 Geo. 2d. c. 16 14 Geo. 2d. c. 6 15 Geo. 2d. c. 34 15 & 16 Geo. 2d. c. 28 16 Geo. 2d. c. 15 3 Geo. 3d. c.15 |
Relative to Rewards for apprehending different classes of offenders, 390-392 |
| 25 Edward 3d. stat. 5. c. 2; 36 Geo. 3d. c. 7, relative to High Treason, 38, 39 | |
| 25 Henry 8th. c. 6. Sodomy made capital, 46 | |
| 18 Eliz. c. 7, Rape made capital, 46, 47 | |
| 3 Henry 7th. c. 2 39 Eliz. c. 9 |
Forcible marriage and Defilement made capital, 48 |
| 6 Henry 4th. c.5 22 & 23 Charles 2d. c.2 |
Mayhem or Maiming made capital, 49 |
| 35 George 3d. c. 67, Polygamy punished by Transportation, ibid. | |
| King Athelstan's Law (anno 956) punished Theft with Death, if above the value of One Shilling, 51 | |
| 9 Henry 1st. punished Theft with Death (anno 1108), 52 | |
|
23 Henry 8th. c. 1 1 Edw. 6th. c. 12 5 & 6 Edw. 6. c. 9 39 Eliz. c.15 3 & 4 William & Mary, c. 9 10 & 11 William 3d. c. 23 12 Anne, stat. 1 c. 7 |
As to Felonies in Dwelling-Houses, 54, 55 |
| 23 Henry 8th. c. 1 43 Eliz. c. 13 22 & 23 Charles 2d. c. 7, 11 1 Geo. 1st. c. 48 4 George 1st. c. 12 9 —— 1st. c. 22 10 —— 2d. c. 32 27 —— 2d. c. 25 9 —— 3d. c. 21 12 —— 3d. c. 24 |
Relative to Arson and Burning Houses, Barns, Corn, Underwood, Ships, &c., 56, 57 |
| 18 Eliz. c. 7 3 & 4 William & Mary, c. 9 12 Anne, stat. 1. c. 7 |
Relative to Burglary, 57 |
| 1 Edw. 6th. c. 12 21 Jac. 1st. c. 6 3 & 4. William & Mary, c. 9 4 & 5 William and Mary, c. 24 5 Anne, c. 6 |
Relative to the Benefit of Clergy, 439 |
| 4 Geo. 13. c. 11; 6 Geo. 1st. c. 23, legalizing Transportation to the Colonies, 436, 437 | |
| The same Statute appropriated the Services of Convicts, 454 | |
| 16 Geo. 3d. first legalized the system of the Hulks, 455 | |
| 16 Geo. 3d. c. 23, legalized Penitentiary Houses in Counties, ibid. | |
| 19 Geo. 3d. c. 74, legalized two National Penitentiary Houses, 456 | |
| 24 Geo. 3d. stat. 2. c. 56, relative to Transportation and the Hulks, 460 | |
| 27 Geo. 3d. c. 2; 30 Geo. 3d. c. 47, relative to New South Wales, 462 | |
| 28 Geo. 3d. c. 24, contracts for Convicts, ibid. | |
| 2 Will. & Mary, c. 8, relative to paving the Metropolis, 592 | |
| 10 Geo. 2d. c. 22 11 Geo. 3d. c. 29 14 Geo. 3d. c. 78 33 Geo. 3d. c. 75 34 Geo. 3d. c. 65—(Watermen), |
Relative to the Police of the City of London, 592-597 |
| 27 Elizabeth 16 Chars. 1st. |
divided the City into Wards | Relative to the Police of London and Westminster, 593, 594 |
| 29 George 2d. c. 25 31 —— 2d. c. 17 2 —— 3d. c. 21 3 —— 3d. c. 23 5 —— 3d. c. 13 & 50 11 —— 3d. c. 22 14 —— 3d. c. 90 |
||
| 28 —— 2d. c. 9 6 —— 3d. c. 24 |
Relative to the Police of Southwark, 594 |
| 6 Henry 6th. c. 5 6 —— 8th. c. 10 23 —— 8th. c. 5 25 —— 8th. c. 10 3 & 4 Edw. 6th. c. 8 1 Mary, stat. 3. c. 11 13 Eliz. c. 9 8 James, c. 14 7 Anne, c. 10 |
Relative to the System of the Sewers, 594, 595 |
| 9 Anne, c. 23 10 —— c. 19 12 —— stat. 1. c. 14 1 Geo. 1st. c. 57 12 —— 1st. c. 2 30 —— 2d. c. 22 4 —— 3d. c. 36 7 —— c. 44 10 —— c. 44 11 —— c. 24, 28 12 —— c. 49 24 —— stat. 2. c. 27 26 —— c. 72 32 —— c. 47 33 —— c. 75 |
Relative to Hackney Coaches and Chairs, 595 |
| 1 Geo. 1st. c. 57 18 —— 2d. c. 38 24 —— 2d. c. 43 30 —— 2d. c. 22 24 —— 3d. c. 27 |
Relative to Carts and other Carriages in the Metropolis, 596 |
| 21 Geo. 3d. c. 57, relative to Bullock-hunting, 597 | |
| 26 Geo. 3d. c. 71, as to Slaughtering Horses, 104, n. | |
Adultery, not in the Criminal Code, 35
Advertising Bill-discounters and Money lenders to be regulated, 118, 119
Alehouses, a great source of Crimes and Nuisances when ill-regulated, 85, 311, &c. 324, &c.
In 5000 Alehouses within the Bills of Mortality upwards of £3,300,000 a year spent in Beer, Spirits, &c., 327
Profligate Characters entrusted with Licences a source of much mischief, 325, 326
Alfred, His Laws relative to Murder, 44
Alton's Liquid Test to detect counterfeit Gold and Silver Coin, 180
Ancestors. Their Laws had an immediate reference to the prevention of Crimes, 3
Anecdotes—Of an American Vessel plundered in the Thames in an extraordinary manner, 219
—— of a Guinea Vessel plundered, ibid.
—— of the plunder and imposition on a Canada Merchant, 229
—— of an Officer of Justice, who discovered an instance of pillage in one of the dock-yards, 283
—— Respecting the Lottery, the astonishing number of persons supported by fraudulent Insurances, 156, n.
—— of the Jews in London, the extraordinary depravity of the lowest orders, 148-150
—— of the different Classes of Cheats, 130
—— of a Robbery in the Drawing-room at St. James's, 127
—— of a Female Money-lender to Barrow Women, ibid.
—— of a Fortune-teller, 129
—— of a Police Officer watching the house of a Receiver of Stolen Goods, 306, n.
—— of a Jew who had committed a Rape, 431, n.
—— of Sir Matthew Hale, 432, n.
—— of the Justices of Chester, a singular circumstance, 52, 53
—— of a respectable Magistrate of the City, 513, n.
—— of Monsieur De Sartine Minister of the Police of Paris, an extraordinary circumstance, 525-530
—— of the Emperor Joseph the Second, 527, 528, 529
Apprentices corrupted by Receivers of Stolen Goods, &c., 12
—— harboured in Public-houses, in Clubs for purposes of lewdness and debauchery, 315, n.
—— Their immoral education, one cause of the origin of Crimes, 314-317
—— Neglect of superior Tradesmen in boarding Apprentices out of their houses, 316, 317, n.
Arrests for Felony, four modes practised, 388
—— deficiency in the Law protecting Lottery vagrants and others from being arrested on Sundays, 390
Arson, punished capitally, 56
Asylums, an establishment recommended for discharged Convicts, 99, 100
—— for the Indigent in the Metropolis, 572
—— for Sick, Lame, and Diseased, 573
Athelstan's Laws relating to Death, 51
Athenian Laws relative to Murder, 43
Auctioneers called diurnal, with Puffers, 117
Bacon, Lord—Suggested a revision of the Criminal Code, 7
Ballad Singers—might, from an Evil, be made an advantage to Society, 348
Bank Notes and Bills received, knowing the same to be stolen—not an offence by any existing Law, 8, 114 n.
Barkers at Auctions, 117
Beadles ought to be rewarded for useful public Services, 415
—— The proper persons to apply to when nuisances are to be removed, 598
Beccaria, Marquis, his opinion of Punishments, 53, n.
—— his maxim relative to Pardons, 449, n.
Beggars, See Poor.
Benefit of Clergy extended to all ranks, 436
Bentham (Jeremy, Esq.) his proposal for a Penitentiary House for Convicts, and remarks thereon, 481-495
Bill Discounters, or Advertising Money-Lenders, 118, 119
Board of Police, See Police.
Bolton, Matthew, Esq. of Birmingham, number of Penny Pieces supplied by him, 186, n.
Botany Bay, See Convicts, New South Wales.
Brokers, in pawns, to be registered, 108, 304
Building Materials, dealers in, to be licenced, 549
Bullock-hunting, the Laws relative to it, 597
Burglary, not so frequent on the Continent as in England, 94
—— by what classes of men committed, 95, 96
—— systematically planned and executed, 101, 103
—— remedies proposed, 104
—— definition of Burglary and how punished, 57
—— called Hamsockne in the North of England, 58
Carts and other Carriages, the Laws relative to them, 595, 596
Casual Poor, See Poor.
Chance Medley, how punished, 45
Charities in the Metropolis:
Parish Schools for Education, 569
Societies for promoting Religion and Morality, 570
Asylums for the Helpless and Indigent, 572
Hospitals for the Sick and Pregnant Women, 573
Dispensaries for the Poor, 574
Institutions for Charitable Purposes (See Poor), ibid.
Cheapside, a general rendezvous for Thieves, and the reason, 106, 107
Cheats, the offence of cheating defined by Law, 113
The different classes of Cheats explained; who are more or less engaged in acts of Fraud, in the Metropolis, 109, 110, &c. 131
China, its Laws, and Punishment for High-Treason, 40
Parricide, 41
Murder, 44
Theft, 52
Chips, See Dock-yards.
Churches and Places of Worship in the Metropolis, 568
Coaches and Chairs in the Metropolis (and See Hackney Coaches; Night Coaches), 595, 596
Coasting Vessels, &c. purchase embezzled Stores, 255
Coin counterfeited, and Coiners:
Extensive Circulation of base Coin, 15, 16
The evils attending it, 117, 118
Foreign Coin fabricated in England, ibid.
Coiners, 120 discovered, 18
Vast amount of Coin counterfeited, 181
Different Coins fabricated, 173
The process used in making the different kinds of base Money, 174, 184
The period when the trade of dealing in base Money acquires its greatest vigour, 188
Deficiencies of the present Laws, 208
Remedies proposed, 191-208
Colleges, five in London, 569
Commons and waste Lands, the source of evil by encouraging the idle Poor, 83
Constables, in the Metropolis, 1040 in London, Westminster, Middlesex, the Tower Liberty and Southwark, 397, 398, 399
Their power by the Common Law extensive, explained, 390
Rewards necessary to excite attention, 392
Rewards to Constables, and persons apprehending various classes of Criminals, 390
Propositions for rendering them more useful and respectable, 405-410
Convicts discharged from the Hulks from 1792 to 1799, 98
Number sent to the Hulks from the commencement of the Establishment, to December 12, 1795, 7999, 463
Expence of the support of Convicts transported in the Hulks, 465, 466-480, n.
General Statements, shewing the periods of their discharge, and the number pardoned, escaped and discharged, 463-465
A statement of their Earnings at Woolwich and Langston Harbour, 467, 468
The inefficacy of this mode of Punishment, 469, 470
Transported to New South Wales—Accounts of the Number and Expence, 472-474
Opinion of the Finance Committee on the inefficacy of the whole System, 475, &c.
Proposals for employment of Convicts in Penitentiary Houses by Jeremy Bentham, Esq., 481-495
Further Regulations in the Penitentiary System suggested, 495, 500
Copper Money, See Coiners.
Corn, and Provender stolen in the Country, how disposed of in the Metropolis, 88
Courts of Justice in the Metropolis:
Courts for the trials of Crimes, Misdemeanors, Trespasses, &c. Two superior and Five inferior, 428
9 Supreme Courts in the Metropolis, 577
4 Ecclesiastical Courts, Doctors Commons, ib.
17 Courts of Justice in the City of London, 478, 479
8 Courts of Justice in Westminster, 579, 580
15 Courts of Justice in that part of Middlesex which joins the Metropolis, 580, 581
8 Courts of Justice in Southwark, 581, 582
Crimes, Specification of some not punishable by Law, 8, 35, 36
The cause of their increases, &c., 24, 25
should be prevented rather than punished, 32, 33
punishable with Death—a List of them, 437, 438, 439
punishable with Transportation, 440, 441
punishable with Fine and Imprisonment, 442
punishments on Rogues and Vagabonds, 443
the encouragements to Crimes held out by the present System, 449
increased by the imperfections of the Law, relative to small Debts, 585, 586
See Offenders: Thieves.
Criminal Code, a Revision of proposed, 7, 8
—— its imperfections, 24, 25
—— its great severity, 33, 53
See Emperor Joseph's Criminal Code.
Criminal People, Their boldness and many chances of escaping, 20, 21
—— many thousands in the Metropolis who subsist illegally, 21
—— likely to be increased, 24
—— although unfit for the Navy and Army from diseases, ruptures, &c. are yet capable of committing crimes, 99, 100
—— the measures used to effect their purposes, 100, 104
—— they make contracts with Receivers, 104
—— increase by means of base Money, 211
Custom-House Officers, called Glut-men, connive at pillage and plunder, 232
Dead Horses, and other Animals, Dealers in, to be regulated, 109
Dealers in old Metals and Stores, their great increase, 12
—— their mischievous tendency, 292, 293
—— Regulations proposed, 292, 293, 303, 548, 549
Death, The number of Crimes punishable with Death by the English Law, 5, 437
—— Abrogated in the Roman Empire, by the Portian Law, 6
—— Inadequate to the ends of Justice, 6
—— Impropriety of inflicting death, except for the highest offences, 30, 53, 58
—— Jewish Law relative to death, 43
—— Athenian Law, ib.
—— Roman ditto, ib.
—— Chinese ditto, 44
—— Persian ditto, 43
—— Saxon ditto, 44
—— Alfred's ditto, ib.
—— Athelstan's ditto, 51
—— Abolished in the Imperial Dominions of Joseph II. anno 1767, 60
—— Theft first punished by death by Henry I. nearly 700 years ago, 437
—— A specification of the several offences punishable with death by the Laws of England, 437, 438, 439
Debts, The difficulty and expence of recovering small sums, 584, 585, 586, 587
—— An astonishing Document, proving the vast extent of the injury, 587, n.
—— A Remedy proposed, 586, 588
Depredations on the Public, in the River and Dock-yards, Chap. viii. 214, &c. ix. 250, &c.
—— on Sugar and West India Produce, 240, 241
—— from Sugar Samples, upwards of 60,000l. a year, 235, n.
—— does not much exceed 15s. per cent. on the Moving Property, 215
Detection of Offenders:
—— The deficiency of the Law in this respect, 12, 13, 14, 15-20
—— further elucidated and explained, 381, 421, 422
Die Sinkers for base Money, the number employed, 184
Directions, and Cautions to avoid being cheated, 124, 125, 126, 127, &c.
—— As to the mode of proceeding in case of Fraud or Robbery, 383, n.
Dispensaries, in London, 574
Distresses of the Poor arising from the delusion of the Lottery (See Lottery), 154, 155
Docks in the River will not supersede the necessity of a River Police, 217, n.
Dock-yards, on the Plunder and Peculation therein, 249-287
—— Fees to Officers one source of the Evil, 251
—— Frauds in receiving, detaining, and selling Stores, 253-259
—— The Perquisite of Chips, 256, 257, n.
—— The amount of Public Property in Navy, Victualing and Ordnance Stores, estimated at 7,000,000l., 260
—— Laws now existing for protecting of this Property, 261-3
—— Their deficiency, and Remedies proposed
through the means of the Legislature, by A General Police System, 264
—— A Local Police for the Dock-yards, 265
—— Legislative Regulations in aid of these Systems, 269
—— Through the Admiralty, by regulating the sale of old Stores, 274-280
—— Abolishing the Perquisite of Chips, 281
—— —— of Fees, and increasing Salaries, 282
—— Improving the mode of keeping Accounts, 284
—— Making an annual Inventory of Stores, 286
Dollars, counterfeited, 173
—— (stamped) the iniquities practised in counterfeiting and exporting, detected by the Author of this Work, 172, 173, n.
Draco, his sanguinary boast, 33