[59] See the "Treatise on the Commerce and Police of the River Thames," for a particular account of these classes.

[60] For the purpose of defraying the expence of prosecutions for criminal offences upon the River Thames, and to raise a fund for suborning evidence, and employing counsel for higher crimes, and of paying the penalties under the Act of the 2d Geo. III. cap. 28. commonly called the Bumboat Act; there existed a club composed of River Plunderers, and Lumpers, Coopers, Watermen, and Receivers, (denominated Light-Horsemen, Heavy-Horsemen, and Copes,) from the funds of which the Law expences and the penalties incurred by members of the fraternity were paid. By these iniquitous means not a few notorious offenders escaped justice, while those who were convicted of penalties for misdemeanors escaped the punishment of imprisonment, and being thus screened from justice the culprits (previous to the establishment of the Marine Police System) returned to their evil practices without the least apprehension of any other inconvenience than the payment of a fine of 40s. defrayed by the Club. The New System, however, affording means of detection in the ships where the offences were committed: what were formerly misdemeanors are now treated as larcenies, which has operated most powerfully in breaking up this atrocious confederacy, and in defeating all the nefarious designs of the criminal delinquents of which it was formed, some of whom, although apparently common labourers, resided in handsome houses furnished in a very superior style for the rank in life of the occupiers.

As a proof, among many others, of the enormous extent of the River Plunder, the convictions for misdemeanors under the Act of the 2d Geo. III. cap. 28. from August 1792 to August 1799, exceeded two thousand two hundred; of which number about 2000 culprits paid the penalty; partly from their own resources, but chiefly, it is believed, from the funds of the club, amounting in all to about 4000l. in the course of seven years.

[61] A Shipmaster in the trade a few months since was compelled to pay 40l. for deficient sugars plundered by Lumpers and others, who assisted in lading his vessel, notwithstanding his utmost personal vigilance and attention while the sugars were taking on board. A single Marine Police Officer would have prevented this. The effect of their power in overawing delinquents, from the nature of the system and the discipline peculiar to the institution, is not to be conceived.

[62] For a particular account of this Institution, see the "Treatise on the Commerce and Police of the River Thames," already alluded to.

[63] With respect to the advantages which have resulted in the aggregate, to the West India Planters and Merchants, from this New Institution, it is impossible to form any decided opinion; but estimating the savings, on an average, at 28lbs. of sugar per hhd. (which is only one half of what the Committee of West India Merchants, in their Report to a General Meeting in 1798, supposed the plunderage might have been formerly) it appears, upon this data, that the gain to the Planters, Merchants, and the Revenue, on a very reduced estimate as to the actual importation may be thus stated.—

If credit is to be given to the general and specific proofs of the depredations which took place before the establishment of the Marine Police, and to the numerous documents which demonstrate the saving of property, which has been the effect of this system of prevention, the above estimate will not appear to be over-rated. In an importation amounting to above £.8,000,000 sterling a year, it is not too much to say that 1½ per cent. on this sum may have been saved under a system of such extreme vigilance, where every class of depredators were defeated in their iniquitous designs, and deprived in a great measure of the powers they formerly possessed, of doing mischief. The probability is, that it has amounted to more, though the fact never can be accurately ascertained.

[64] At a meeting of the Committee of the West India Merchants appointed to manage the general concerns of the Trade, held on the 4th of January 1799, It was

[65] For the specific provisions of the Marine Police Bill, see the "Treatise on the Commerce Navigation Police of the River Thames."—The object of this Bill is rather to prevent Crimes than to punish; and where punishments on conviction are to be inflicted, they are of a nature which, it is to be hoped, will operate sufficiently as an example to diminish the evil, without the exercise of any great degree of severity.

[66] John Harriott, Esq. the Resident Magistrate.

[67] So powerful was the effect of the preventive System, wherever it was permitted to be applied, that no instance has occurred in the course of more than fifteen months, since the Marine Police was established, of sufficient grounds for a criminal prosecution having taken place by the commission of any Larceny or Felony in ships or craft under the immediate protection of the Institution.

[68] As a proof of the approbation of the whole body of the West India Planters at the General Meeting, not only of the System of the Marine Police, but also of the Bill which has been prepared to extend its influence to the general Trade of the River Thames, the following extracts are inserted:

[69] Since the publication of the last edition of this work, the Select Committee on Finance in the House of Commons, who have derived immortal honour from their various and useful Reports, have recommended the abolition of fees; and the Lords of the Admiralty, and the Commissioners of the subordinate Boards, are entitled to the thanks of their country, from the exertions they are using to carry this measure into effect.

[70] It is by no means to be inferred from what is here stated, that there are not, both among the furnishers and contractors for Public Stores, as well as the Officers and Clerks employed in the departments here alluded to, many individuals of great honour and integrity.—It is to be hoped, the fraudulent are the smallest in point of number, or that they will soon be so.

[71] See a plan for disposing of old stores with a view to remedy the evil, in a subsequent part of this chapter.

[72] It seems evident, that the abolition of the perquisite of Chips would be a great improvement, and prove the means of correcting many gross abuses which at present prevail. In this suggestion the Author is supported by the very able and decided evidence of Brigadier-General Bentham, before the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Finance, in 1798. [See the 31st Report of that Committee.] On a supposition that 3000 shipwrights are employed in the several Dock-yards at the wages of 2s. 1d. with the privilege of one bundle of chips each day, which, though not worth more than 6d. to each shipwright, actually costs Government 1s. 6d. because good and valuable timber is often cut down to make these chips.—The following estimate will elucidate what has been stated: and shew the benefits which Government would probably derive from the abolition of this perquisite, even if the wages should be raised, which are perhaps too low at present.

[73] When it is recollected, that 9176 coasting vessels, and also 4268 traders to foreign parts, enter and clear in the Custom-house of London, in the course of a year, independent of small craft in the River; an inexhaustible resource for the sale of cheap cordage, sail-cloth, and every other material, must be obvious at first view.

[74] Much to the honour of the present Commissioners, both of the Navy and Victualing, a most laudable zeal has been manifested to suppress the frauds, embezzlements and pillage, which have so long afflicted these departments of the public service. The following copy of a letter from the Solicitor to the Navy Board to the Author of this Work, is a strong proof, not only of the sense they entertain of the evils which are felt to exist, but of the necessity of a speedy and effectual remedy being applied.—

[75] An instance of this kind occurred about two years ago in one of the principal yards, where a large quantity of new and valuable Cordage was found concealed within the coils of a large unserviceable Cable; which composed one of the lots in the Catalogue of the Sale.—And thus a connection was discovered between the Criminal Purchaser and the Labourers employed in making up the Lots.

[76] Vide Page 9.

[77] It was held in the trial of Moses Pike, at the Old Bailey, in May, 1784, that to steal from a Barge aground in Limehouse-Dock, was not within the meaning of the Act of 24th of George the Second, cap. 45, which makes it felony to steal from any vessel or craft upon a Navigable River, &c.

[78] Mr. Serjeant Adair, then Recorder of London.

[79] The general rule of the ancient Law is this;—that Accessaries shall suffer the same punishment as Principals. If one be liable to death, the other is also liable. Blackstone.

In France, (before the Revolution) the offence of receiving stolen goods was punished with death.

[80] Vide Act 30 Geo. II. cap. 24.

[81] An Officer of Police who was watching the house of a noted Receiver, in St. James's parish, being taken for a Thief by the watchmen, the latter entered into conversation with him, and naming the Receiver, he told the Officer that he being very liberal and kind to them, they did not disturb any person going to his house; and if he had any thing to carry there, he would step out of sight, so as to be able to say he had seen nothing.

[82] Vide Act 30 Geo. II. cap. 24.

[83] It is even a practice with not a few of the labouring families in the Eastern part of the Town, to take lodgings in Ale-houses.

[84] Such is the thoughtless improvidence of this class of the labouring people, that they are generally the first who indulge themselves by eating Oysters, Lobsters, and Pickled Salmon, &c. when first in Season, and long before these luxuries are considered as accessible to the middle ranks of the Community; whose manners are generally as virtuous as the others are depraved.

[85] It is not to be inferred from this statement, that there are not to be found even among the lower classes of the labouring People in the Metropolis, many instances of honest and virtuous Poor, whose distresses are to be attributed to the calamity of a failure of employment, bad health, death of Parents or Children, and other causes which human prudence cannot prevent; and particularly where the want of opulent Inhabitants in several of the Eastern Parishes, renders it necessary to assess Indigence for the support of Poverty.—To these Parishes and Hamlets the Poor resort, both from the nature of their employments, and the impossibility of finding habitations any where else.—They have perhaps no legal settlement where they reside, or the funds of the Parish can afford but a very scanty and inadequate relief. Depressed with sickness, and broke down and dispirited by extreme poverty, the little furniture and apparel of Man, Woman, and Child, is carried to the Pawn-broker's to obtain a scanty pittance for the immediate support of life, until at length there does not remain what is sufficient to cover nakedness.—In these miserable mansions the Author has himself frequently witnessed scenes of distress, which would rend the heart of the most unfeeling of the human species.—A temporary and partial expedient has through the benevolence of the Publick, been administered in the excellent institutions of Soup-houses: but until the funds of the different Parishes can be made one Common Purse, and an intelligent management substituted in the place of an ignorant and incompetent superintendance, the evil will not diminish.—To the opulent part of the Community the burden would never be felt.—At present, where the most indigent are assessed, the rates are double and treble those in the rich Parishes.—It is principally to this cause, that Poverty is no where to be found in so great a degree, cloathed in the garb of the extremest misery and wretchedness, as in the Metropolis.—And it is to this cause also, joined to various others explained in this Chapter, that above Twenty Thousand miserable Individuals of various classes, rise up every morning without knowing how, or by what means they are to be supported, during the passing day; or where, in many instances, they are to lodge on the succeeding night.

[86] The Author has often had occasion to witness the extreme ignorance of the younger part of this class, when called upon to give evidence in judicial proceedings.—Of the nature of an oath they had not the least conception,—nor even of the existence of a Supreme Being.

[87] In the course of the Author's investigations, in his official situation as a Magistrate, he actually discovered that clubs of apprentice-boys were harboured in Public-houses, for the purpose of supporting their fellow-apprentices who ran away from their masters. The means of thus indulging themselves in lewdness and debauchery was obtained by pilfering from their Masters, and disposing of the property at Old Iron Shops.

[88] It is to be feared that much evil arises from the want of attention on the part of Masters among the superior classes of Tradesmen with respect to their apprentices, who too seldom consider the morals of their apprentices as a matter in which they have any concern.—It is even the practice to allow apprentices a certain sum of money weekly, for the purpose of enabling them to provide themselves out of doors, and to prevent the trouble of boarding them in the house. If it were possible for a Master, after exerting all his ingenuity, to invent one mode more likely than another to ruin his apprentices, it is by adopting this plan. If he means to subject himself to great risques with respect to the security of his property, he will permit his apprentice, at the age of puberty when open to seduction, to be at large in this great Town, where he is liable to be assailed by swindlers, cheats, and sharpers, who, availing themselves of the inexperience of youth, may corrupt the mind, and give it a wrong bias. The dangers arising from allowing apprentices to victual out of doors, extend much farther than masters are generally aware of: and they who suffer it do great injury to themselves, and even great injustice to their apprentices, whose morals they are virtually, at least, bound to preserve pure. This is not to be expected where apprentices are not under the eye of the master at Meal-times. Their Sundays, in such cases, are their own, which they waste in idleness, not seldom in water-parties on the River, where they are introduced into low and bad company, which gives frequently a taint to their manners of the most injurious nature. The result is, that their master, without reflecting that he himself was the cause of their idleness, withdraws his confidence, and turns them adrift after their time expires, if not before; and in the end ruin, as might well be expected, inevitably ensues.

[89] Another class of Jews which belong to the Portuguese Synagogue are generally opulent and respectable, and hold no community with the others; they use a different Liturgy and their language is even different; their number does not exceed three thousand; they never intermarry with the Jews of the Dutch Synagogue.—They generally pride themselves on their Ancestry, and give their Children the best education which can be obtained in the countries where they reside.—While the Dutch Jews (or rather the German Dutch Jews) get no education at all. Even the most affluent of them are said to be generally unable either to read or write the language of the country which gave them birth.—They confine themselves to a Bastard or vulgar Hebrew which has little analogy to the original. The Portuguese Synagogue has been established in England ever since the Usurpation.—Their place of worship is in Bevis Marks.—The Members of it being mostly wealthy are extremely attentive to their poor, among whom there is said not to be a single beggar or itinerant.—The Brokers upon the Exchange of the Jewish Persuasion, are all or chiefly of the Portuguese Synagogue. Their number is limited to Twelve by a particular Act of Parliament.—Originally this privilege was given gratis by the Lord Mayor, but afterwards 100l. was required, which has gradually increased to One Thousand Guineas for each Broker.

The schism between the two classes of Jews prevail all over the world, though the rational Jews treat the distinction as absurd.

The German Dutch Jews, who may amount to from twelve to fifteen thousand have Six Synagogues, the principal of which are in Duke's Place, Leadenhall Street, and Church Row, Fenchurch Street. They observe the particular ritual of the German Synagogue, and also include the Polish, Russian, and Turkish Jews, established in London.—With the exception of three or four wealthy Individuals, and as many Families who are in trade on the Royal Exchange, they are in general a very indigent class of people, through whose medium crimes are generated to a considerable extent.—Their Community is too poor to afford them adequate relief, whence they have resorted to the expedient of lending them small sums of money at interest to trade upon, which is required to be repaid monthly or weekly, as the case may be. Otherwise they forfeit all claim to this aid.—The reproach arising from their evil practices and idleness, is said to have engaged the attention of the respectable part of both Synagogues with a view to a remedy, but all their attempts have been heretofore unsuccessful.

[90] In a Tract entitled 'Observations and Facts relative to Public-Houses,' by the Author of this Work, the mode of conducting Ale-houses in the Metropolis, and the evils arising from this source of iniquity and idleness is very fully explained. By this publication it is discovered, after much investigation, that there is consumed and sold in the 5000 Public-houses in and round the Metropolis:

[91] It is a curious and important fact, that during the period when Distilleries were stopped in 1796 and 1797, although Bread, and every necessary of life was considerably higher than during the preceding year, the Poor in that quarter of the Town where the chief part reside were apparently more comfortable, paid their rents more regularly, and were better fed than at any period for some years before;—even although they had not the benefit of the extensive charities which were distributed in 1795. This can only be accounted for by their being denied the indulgence of Gin, which had become in a great measure inaccessible from its very high price. It may fairly be concluded, that the money formerly spent in this imprudent manner had been applied in the purchase of provisions and other necessaries to the amount of some hundred thousand pounds.—The effects of their being deprived of this baneful Liquor was also evident in their more orderly conduct.—Quarrels and assaults were less frequent, and they resorted seldomer to the Pawnbrokers' shops: and yet during the chief part of this period Bread was 15d. the Quartern Loaf, and Meat higher than the preceding year, particularly Pork, which arose in part from the stoppage of the Distilleries; but chiefly from the scarcity of Grain.

[92] It is in the first stage of Seduction, before the female mind becomes vitiated and depraved, that Asylums are most useful. If persons in this unhappy situation had it in their power to resort to a medium, whereby they might be reconciled to their relations, while uncontaminated by the vices attached to General Prostitution, numbers, who are now lost, might be saved to Society.

[93] See page 81 and 82 for an account of this Charity.

[94] For a specific account of these Institutions, see the Chapter on Municipal Police.

[95] An office has for some time past been instituted under the direction of Mathew Martin, Esq. assisted by one or two philanthropic individuals, for inquiring into cases and causes of distress.—The generality of the poor persons have been invited to the office by the distribution of tickets, directing them when and where they are to apply. On such occasions a small relief has been afforded, arising from a fund constituted by private benevolence;—but the chief advantage which these poor people have derived has been from the consolatory advice given them, and still more from the assistance afforded by the indefatigable industry, and laudable zeal of Mr. Martin, in getting those into workhouses who have parochial settlements in the Metropolis, or assisting in procuring the means of passing them to their parishes, where such settlements are in the country. Seasonable pecuniary relief has been also extended in certain cases, and small loans of money, made to enable those who are able to work to redeem their apparel, and tools to rescue them from despondence, and to help themselves by their own labour, in such employments as they could either themselves obtain, or as could be procured for them.

From the beginning of the year 1796 to the end of the year 1797, Mr. Martin investigated the cases of 120 poor persons, who attended him in consequence of the tickets which were distributed.—Of these 21 were men; the greater part maimed or disabled by age or sickness, only two of whom had any legal settlement in London.—Of the women, 99 in number, 48 were widows, about one-third were aged—some crippled, and others distressed for want of work, while many were embarrassed by ignorance of the mode of obtaining parochial relief, or by the fear of applying for it—of the wives, in most cases, the difficulty arose from want of work or incapacity of doing it, on account of a child in arms. There were cases of very great distress. Above half had two or more children. Some of them infants, and the chief part too young to work. Of the women 24 claimed settlements in London and Westminster—33 in different parts of England—22 belonged to Scotland and Ireland, and the remaining 20 said they could give no account of their place of settlement. In most instances by an application to their parishes, and in some to their friends, Mr. Martin was enabled to obtain effectual relief to all of them; the gift of a little food, and hearing their melancholy story, afforded some comfort; and had a small fund been appropriated to this object, it might have been possible to have enabled those who were in health to have earned a livelihood. See 12th Report of the Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor.

[96] In the Preamble of the Statute on 3 & 4 William and Mary cap. 11. and particularly § 11 of that Act, in which the sense entertained by Parliament, of the shocking abuses of the Statute of Elizabeth, "through the unlimited power of Parish Officers," is very forcibly expressed—the truths there stated are found to have full force, even at the distance of more than a Century.

[97] It is a well-known fact, that many persons who suffer by means of small Robberies, afraid of the trouble and expence of a prosecution, submit to the loss without inquiry; while others from being strangers to the laws, and to the proper mode of application, fall into the same mistake; this, by proving a great encouragement to thieves of every class, is of course an injury to the Public.—In all cases where robberies are committed, the parties sustaining the loss have only to inquire for the nearest Public Office, and apply there, and state the case to the sitting Magistrates, who will point out the proper mode of detection; every assistance through the medium of constables, will then be given for the purpose of recovering the property and apprehending the offenders.—The same assistance will be afforded by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, sitting at the Mansion-house and Guildhall, whenever the offence is committed within the limits of the City of London.

[98] It had been usual for many years previous to 1752, when robberies were committed, to make a composition of the felony, by advertising a reward to any person who would bring the property stolen, to be paid without asking any questions; but the pernicious consequences of recovering goods in this way from the encouragement such advertisements held out to thieves and robbers of every description, became so glaring and obvious, that an Act passed the 25th year of George II. cap. 36. inflicting a penalty of 50l. on any person (including the printer and publisher) who shall publicly advertise a reward for the return of stolen goods with "no questions asked," without seizing the person producing the goods stolen:—or who shall offer to return to any pawnbroker, or other person, the money lent thereon, or any other reward for the return of the articles stolen.

[99] Fineux.

[100] Winton, chap. 4.

[101] Hale.

[102] Pult. 10, a.

[103] Hale.

[104] Dalton.

[105] Blackstone.

[106] Blackstone.

[107] Blackstone.

[108] Blackstone.

[109] Hale.

[110] Hale.

[111] It may not be improper in this place to hint, that there is a deficiency in the present state of the Law, which calls aloud for a remedy. None can be arrested on a Sunday, but for felony or breach of the peace (except in certain cases, where their guilt has been previously decided on, as in Escape, &c.) By this means Lottery-Vagrants, Gamblers, Sharpers, and Swindlers, bid defiance to the Civil Power on that day; while a person guilty of pushing or striking another in an accidental squabble, may be arrested and confined.

[112] In consequence of some doubts which have been started relative to washed money, the reward in this case is not paid; it is confined entirely to the conviction of Coiners.

[113] This is a Certificate which may be assigned once, exempting the person who receives it, or his immediate assignee, from all offices within the parish or ward where the felony was committed. In some parishes it will sell from 25l. to 30l. In others it is not worth above 15l. to 18l. according to local situation.

[114] The expence to the Public for rewards paid by the Sheriffs of the different Counties for 12 years, from 1786 to 1797 inclusive, appears from the Appendix of the 28th Report of the Select Committee on Finance, page 104, to stand thus:

[115] Grand Larceny is defined to be a felonious and fraudulent taking away by any person, of the mere personal goods of another, above the value of twelve pence.—1 Hawk. P.C. c. 33. § 1.

[116] The Thames Police Establishment fluctuates according to the Season of the year, and the number of West India ships on the River.—

[117] There is, in some respect, an exception to this rule, with regard to the City and Liberty of Westminster, and the parishes of St. Clement Danes,—St. Mary le Strand,—The Savoy, The united parishes of St. Giles and St. George, Bloomsbury,—The united parishes of St. Andrew, Holborn above the Bars, and St. George the Martyr, and the liberty of Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden, and Ely Rents.—The Act of the 14th George III. cap. 90, contains regulations applicable to the whole of these Parishes and Liberties, fixing the minimum of watchmen at 523, and patroles at 56 men, for the whole; but leaving the management still to the inhabitants of each respective Parish or Liberty. The same act fixes the minimum of wages at 1s. a night, and patroles 15d. In the City of London, the salaries given to watchmen vary in each Ward, from 13l. to 18l. 19l. 20l. 21l. 7s. 23l. 8s. up to 26l. and patroles are allowed from 13l. to 35l. and 40l. a year.

[118] This proves how highly meritorious the conduct of the Managers and Trustees of this branch of the Police of the Metropolis must, in many instances, be. There can indeed be no manner of doubt, but that great advantages arise from dividing the labour, where all the benefits of local knowledge enter into the system.—So far as this goes, it ought not to be disturbed. But it is also necessary to consider the Metropolis as a great Whole, and to combine the organs of Police which at present exist, in such a manner, by a general superintendance, as to give equal encouragement, and to instil one principle of universal energy into all its parts.