"1. To make the receiving stolen goods an original offence; punishable in the same manner, in all cases, as the principal felony is punishable by Law.
"2. The offence of receiving money, bank notes, horses, cattle, poultry, or any matter or thing whatsoever, to be the same as receiving goods and chattels.
"3. The persons committing any felony or larceny to be competent to give evidence against the Receiver, and vice versa; Provided that the testimony and evidence of such Principal Felon against the Receiver, or the evidence of the Receiver against the Principal Felon, shall not be of itself sufficient to convict, without other concurrent evidence: and that the offenders so giving evidence shall be entitled to his Majesty's pardon, and also to a reward of from 10l. to 50l. as hereafter mentioned; unless they shall be found guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury.—By this means the Thief will be set against the Receiver, and the Receiver against the Thief.
"4. That rewards be paid for the detection and apprehension of Receivers as well as Thieves, in all cases whatsoever, according to the discretion of the Judge; whether there shall be a conviction or not; which reward shall not be less than ten and may extend to fifty pounds.
"5. That the various classes of dealers to be licensed shall enter into recognizance for their good behaviour: and that no licences be granted to persons having been convicted of felony or perjury, nor to any but such as can obtain and produce a certificate of good character.
"6. That all such licensed dealers, as also Publicans, Pawnbrokers, &c. shall be subject to a penalty for concealing any stolen goods which may come into their possession, after the same are advertised;—or punished with transportation, if it can be made appear that such goods were purchased at an under value, being known to be stolen.
"7. That all drivers of Hackney-Coaches, employed to take fares after twelve o'clock at night, shall be licensed by the Magistrates of the division; and shall enter into recognizance for their good behaviour, themselves and one surety in 50l. at least; and that every such coachman shall be obliged, whenever he carries any goods or valuables, to make a report of the same, on the following morning, to the Magistrate of his district, if no suspicion arises as to any improper or felonious intention; but in all cases where a felonious intention shall appear, the coachman to be authorized and required to call the assistance of the watchmen and patroles, and to seize and apprehend the parties, and lodge them and the goods in the nearest watch-house; there to be kept until brought before a justice, at the Public-Office of the district, on the following morning: And although it may ultimately appear that the coachman was mistaken and the parties innocent, yet where it shall be manifest to the Justice that he hath acted bona fide, he shall not be liable to any prosecution:[80] and if it shall appear that the goods so conveyed were stolen property, then the coachman shall be entitled, whether a conviction shall follow or not, to a reward of two guineas; and in all cases where a prosecution shall follow, he shall be entitled to such further reward as the Court shall think proper.
"8. That all watchmen or patroles who shall appear upon proper proof to connive at the commission of felonies[81] in the night time, or while they are on duty; or shall knowingly conceal any felonious removal of stolen goods, or goods suspected to be stolen, and conveying to Receivers' houses, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and liable to be imprisoned, whipt, or put in the pillory.—And in all cases where such watchmen or patroles shall observe any goods or other articles conveyed in Hackney-coaches, or in any other manner, while they are upon duty, from one place to another, they shall report the same to the Justices at the nearest Public Office, in the morning: But if they shall have good grounds to suspect a felonious intention, and that the property is stolen, the goods and all the parties concerned shall be conveyed to the nearest watch-house, for the purpose of being brought before a Magistrate; and such watchmen (acting bona fide) shall not be liable to any prosecution in case of a mistake; and if a felony shall have been actually committed, they shall each be entitled to one guinea, besides their proportion of any future reward which may be ordered by the Court who shall try the offenders.[82]"
In the formation of such a System, it is absolutely necessary that care should be taken to secure a regular and perfect execution, by means of a proper superintendance and inspection:—without this, the best laws will remain a dead letter.—Such has, in fact, been the case in a great measure with respect to several of the very excellent Statutes, now in force, relative to Receivers of stolen Goods; and such also would be the case with regard to the laws relative to the Revenue, if a System had not been established to secure their execution.