Other considerations also suggest that the narrative may close most fitly in the year preceding the memorable pronouncement in Parliament, which ushered in the recent constitutional reforms. No one can foretell what changes may hereafter take place in the character and constitution of the City Police Force; but it is improbable that the Force can remain unaffected by the altered character of the general administration. Ere old conditions and old landmarks disappear, it seems to me worth while to compile a succinct history of the Force, as it existed before the era of “democratic” reform.
I am indebted to the present Acting Commissioner of Police for the photographs of the portraits hanging in the Head Police Office and of the types of constabulary; to the Record-Keeper at the India Office for giving me access to various police reports and official papers dating from 1859 to 1916; and to Mr. Sivaram K. Joshi, 1st clerk in the Commissioner’s office, who spent much of his leisure time in making inquiries and framing answers to various queries which the Bombay Government kindly forwarded at my request to the Head Police Office.
S. M. EDWARDES
London, 1923
CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| I | The Bhandari Militia, 1672-1800 | [1] |
| II | The Rise of the Magistracy, 1800-1855 | [20] |
| III | Mr. Charles Forjett, 1855-1863 | [39] |
| IV | Sir Frank Souter Kt., C. S. I., 1864-1888 | [54] |
| V | Lieut-Colonel W. H. Wilson, 1888-1893 | [79] |
| VI | Mr. R. H. Vincent, C. I. E., 1893-1898 | [90] |
| VII | Mr. Hartley Kennedy, C. S. I., 1899-1901 | [107] |
| VIII | Mr. H. G. Gell, M. V. O., 1902-1909 | [120] |
| IX | Mr. S. M. Edwardes, C. S. I., C. V. O., 1909-16 | [148] |