Money is also received from disorderly persons in the night, to permit them to escape from the just punishment of the Laws; while on the other hand, unfortunate females are often cruelly oppressed and laid under contribution, for permission to infringe the very laws, which it is the duty of these nocturnal guardians of the Police to put in execution.

Excepting in the city of London, under the jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, (where there are, in the 25 wards, 765 watchmen, and 38 patroles) and the parishes and liberties combined by the act of the 14th Geo. III. cap. 90, it will not be easy to ascertain the exact number of watchmen, &c. employed by the great variety of different Trusts, in every part of the Metropolis; more especially, as in several instances they vary in their numbers according to the season of the year, and other circumstances; but the following statement is believed to be very near truth:—

Beadles, Watchmen, and Patroles.
25Wards in the City of London803
11Parishes, &c. in the City and Liberty of Westminster302
13Parishes, &c. in the Division of Holborn377
5Parishes, &c. in that part of the Division of Finsbury which joins the Metropolis135
7Parishes, &c. in the Division of the Tower Hamlets268
1Liberty of the Tower of London14
5Parishes and Hamlets, being part of the Division of Kensington, near the Metropolis66
9Parishes in the Borough of Southwark79
Total Beadles, Watchmen, and Patroles[119]2044

Nothing can certainly be better calculated for complete protection against acts of violence in the streets, than the System of a well-regulated Stationary Watch; composed of fit and able-bodied men, properly controlled and superintended: and from the number of persons already employed, independent of private Watchmen, it would seem only to be necessary to lay down apposite legislative rules, with respect to age or ability, character, wages, rewards for useful services, and general superintendance, in order to establish that species of additional security, which would operate as a more effectual means of preventing crimes within the Metropolis.

Let the same system of moderate rewards also be extended to beadles,[120] for useful Public service actually performed, as is proposed with regard to officers of justice, watchmen, and patroles; and much good will arise to the community, without any great additional expence.

It is in vain to expect that the Public can be well served, unless the emolument becomes an object to good and able men; but these extraordinary rewards (as has already been observed) should always depend upon the vigilance and exertion of the parties themselves, in detecting offenders of every description: and should be paid, on its appearing to the Magistrate, that no impropriety or indiscretion has marked their conduct. If, on the contrary, they should be proved to have acted oppressively or improperly, a power of immediate dismission and punishment should, in all instances, be lodged in Justices of the Peace, to be exercised according to the nature of the offence.

Having thus stated the civil force of the Metropolis, in peace-officers, watchmen and patroles, making an aggregate of 3084 men—it may be necessary and useful to give such information relative to the Magistracy, as may tend to shew the present state of the Police, and to illustrate what remains to be further suggested on the subject of its improvement; for the preservation of the Public peace, and the detection and apprehension of every class of offenders.

There exist at present no less than five separate jurisdictions within the limits of the Metropolis—namely,—

Magistrates.
1. The City of London, where there are, including the Lord Mayor, 26 Aldermen, who have an exclusive jurisdiction within the ancient limits26
2. The City and Liberty of Westminster—where there are upwards of 100 Justices of the Peace, who have jurisdiction only in that particular District; but where the Magistrates of the County of Middlesex have an equal jurisdiction.—The number resident, of those who are not Magistrates of Middlesex, is supposed to be about50
3. That part of the Metropolis, which is situated in the county of Middlesex, where there are about 800 Justices, including the Princes of the Royal Family—many of the Nobility—Great Officers of State—Members of Parliament—and other Gentlemen of respectability;—of those in the commission about 200 have qualified; and of these who have taken out their Dedimus Potestatum, only about 150 reside in or near the Metropolis150
4. That district of the Metropolis lying near, or particularly belonging anciently to the Tower of London, comprehending about 750 houses—where the Magistrates (52 in number) have an exclusive jurisdiction, and hold separate Sessions of the Peace.—The number who are not Magistrates in Middlesex, is31
5. The Borough of Southwark, and that part of the Metropolis adjoining thereto, within the Bills of Mortality—where the City Magistrates have jurisdiction, besides the whole of the Magistrates of the County of Surry—namely—132, but of whom not more than 28 reside in Southwark, and 15 in London, &c. (in all)43
Total about300