IN taking a summary view of the various evils and remedies, which have been detailed in this Work, it may be right, previously to apprize the Reader, that in contemplating the extent and magnitude of the aggregate depredations, which are presumed to be committed in the course of a year, it is necessary to measure them by a scale proportioned to the unparalleled amount of moving property exposed in transit in this great Metropolis, as well as the vast and unexampled increase of this property, within the last half century; during which period there has certainly been an accumulation of not less than two-thirds, in commerce as well as in manufactures.
It has not, perhaps, generally attracted notice, that, besides being the Seat of the Government—of the Law,—Learning, and the Fine Arts,—the resort of the Nobility and the Opulent from every part of the British Empire, however distant; London, from being a great depôt for all the manufactures of the country, and also the goods of foreign nations as well as East India and colonial produce, is not only the first Commercial City at present existing, but is also one of the greatest and most extensive Manufacturing Towns, perhaps in the World; combining in one spot every attribute that can occasion an assemblage of moving property, unparalleled in point of extent, magnitude, and value in the whole Globe.—From the abstract of Imports and Exports in [page 215] of this Work, it appears that above 13,000 vessels,[187] including their repeated voyages, arrive at, and depart from, the Port of London, with merchandize, in the course of a year; besides a vast number of river craft, employed in the trade of the interior country, bringing and carrying away property, estimated at above Seventy Millions Sterling.[188]
In addition to this, it is calculated, that above 40,000 waggons and other carriages, including their repeated journies, arrive and depart laden, in both instances, with articles of domestic, colonial, East India and foreign merchandize; occasioning a transit of perhaps (when cattle, grain, and provisions sent for the consumption of the inhabitants, are included) Fifty Millions more. If we take into the account the vast quantity of merchandize and moveable property of every species deposited in the various maritime magazines, timber-yards, piece-goods' warehouses, shops, manufactories, store-houses, public markets, dwelling-houses, inns, new buildings, and other repositories, and which pass from one place to another, it will establish a foundation for supposing that, in this way, property to the amount of Fifty Millions more at least, is annually exposed to depredation; making a Sum of One Hundred and Seventy Millions; independent of the moving articles in ships of war and transports, and in the different Arsenals, Dock-yards, and Repositories in the Tower of London, and at Deptford, Woolwich, Sheerness, and various smaller magazines, in the daily course of being received and sent away, supposed to amount to Thirty Millions more; making in the whole an aggregate sum of Two Hundred Millions. Thus an immense property becomes exceedingly exposed, in all the various ways already explained in the course of this Work; and the estimated amount of the annual depredations hereafter enumerated under these respective heads will cease to be a matter of surprise, if measured by the enormous scale of property above particularized. Although it is supposed to amount to about Two Millions sterling, it sinks to a trifle, in contemplating the magnitude of the capital, scarcely reaching one per cent. on the value of property passing in transit in the course of a year.
It is not, therefore, so much the actual loss that is sustained (great as it certainly is) which is to be deplored as the mischief which arises from the destruction of the morals of so numerous a body of people; who must be directly or collaterally engaged in perpetrating smaller offences, and in fraudulent and criminal pursuits.
This, in a political point of view, is a consideration of a very serious and alarming nature, infinitely worse in its consequences than even those depredations which arise from acts of violence committed by more atrocious offenders; the numbers of which latter have been shewn to be small, in comparison with other delinquents, and not to have increased in any material degree for the last 50 years; while inferior thefts, river-plunder, pillage, embezzlement, and frauds, in respect to public property, coining base money, forgeries under various ramifications, cheating by means of swindling and other criminal practices, and purchasing and dealing in stolen goods, have advanced in a degree, commensurate to the great and rapid influx of wealth, which has arisen from the vast increase of the commerce and manufactures of the Country, and the general accumulation of property by British subjects in the East and West Indies, and in foreign Countries.
The evils, therefore, are the more prominent, as they have become so exceedingly diffused; and implicate in criminality numerous individuals, of whom a very large proportion were formerly untainted with any of that species of Delinquency, which now renders them, (for their own sakes—for the benefit of their families—and for the interest of public morals,) objects of peculiar attention on the part of the Legislature, as well as the Police of the Country.
The habits they have acquired are, doubtless, very alarming, as in the destruction of their own morals, they also destroy those of the rising generation; and still more so, as the existing Laws, and the present System of Police, have been found so totally inadequate to the Object of Prevention.
Indeed it is but too evident, that nothing useful can be effected without a variety of Regulations, such as have been suggested in different parts of this Work. It is not, however, by the adoption of any one remedy singly applied, or applied by piece-meal, but by a combination of the whole Legislative Powers, Regulations, Establishments, and superintending Agencies already suggested, (and particularly by those recommended by the Select Committee of the House of Commons which may be considered as the Ground Work) that Crimes are, in any degree, to be prevented, or kept in check. And it is not to be expected, that such Remedies can be either complete or effectual, unless there be a sufficient Fund appropriated for the purpose of giving vigour and energy to the General System.
The object is of such astonishing magnitude, and the abuses which are meant to be corrected, are of so much consequence to the State, as well as to the Individual, and the danger of a progressive increase is so evidently well established by experience, that it is impossible to look at that subject with indifference, when once it is developed and understood.
It opens a wide field for doing good, to men of virtue, talents, and abilities, who love their Country, and glory in its prosperity. Such men will speedily perceive, that this prosperity can only be of short duration,—if public morals are neglected,—if no check is given to the growing depravity which prevails, and if measures are not adopted to guard the rising generation against the evil examples to which they are exposed.