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IT cannot fail to prove an interesting inquiry, not only to the inhabitants of the Metropolis, but also to Strangers, by what means that department of its oeconomy and government, which may be denominated Municipal Police, is regulated; so as to convey the comforts, and procure the various accommodations and conveniences which, with some few exceptions, are felt to exist in every part of the Capital and its environs.

When it is known that this great City, (unparalleled, as will be hereafter shewn, in extent and opulence, through the whole habitable Globe,) comprehends, besides London, Westminster, and Southwark, no less than forty-five Villages, now exceedingly inlarged, independent of a vast accession of buildings upon the open fields in the vicinity; it becomes less a matter of surprize, to learn, that it extends to nearly eight miles in length,—is three miles at least in breadth, and not less than twenty-six in circumference; containing above eight thousand streets, lanes, alleys, and courts, and sixty-five different Squares; in which are more than one hundred and sixty thousand houses, warehouses, and other buildings; besides Churches and Chapels for religious worship, of which the following enumeration is imagined not to be very distant from truth:—

For Religious Instruction.

Of the Established Religion.	1	Cathedral, dedicated to St. Paul.
	1	Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster.
	120	Parish Churches.
	120	Chapels, and Chapels of Ease.
	242
Meeting-houses for Dissenters.	150	Consisting of Chapels for Methodist Nonconformists, Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists, Quakers, and English Roman Catholicks.
Chapels and Meeting-houses for Foreigners.	30	Consisting of Chapels for French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, and Helvetic Protestants, for Foreign Roman Catholics, and those of the Russian or Greek Church.
Synagogues	6	for the Jewish Religion.
Total about	428	Places of Public Worship.

The number of Inhabitants of this great Metropolis, occupying these various houses and buildings, may, under all circumstances, be rationally estimated at one million at least; for whose accommodation, convenience, and security, the following Institutions have been formed, namely,—1st. For Education;—2d. For promoting good Morals;—3d. For useful and fine Arts;—4th. For objects of Charity and Humanity;—5th. For distributing Justice;—and 6th. For punishing Offenders.

EDUCATION.

1st. For Education.

16	Inns of Court and Chancery, for educating Students to the profession of the Law, &c. &c.
5	Colleges—viz. One for the improvement of the Clergy, London Wall; one for Divinity and Astronomy, called Gresham College; one for Physicians, Warwick Lane; one for the study of Civil Law, Doctors-Commons; and the Heralds College.
62	Schools, or public Seminaries; the principal of which are Westminster School, Blue-coat School or Christ's Hospital, St. Paul's, Merchant Taylors, Charter-house, St. Martin's School, &c. &c. &c. where about 5000 young persons are educated.
237	Schools belonging to the different Parishes; where about 9000 male and female Children are educated in Reading, Writing, and Accompts.
3730	Private Schools, for all the various branches of male and female Education; including some for Deaf and Dumb.
4050	Seminaries of Education.

The following Schools seem to deserve particular Enumeration; though probably there are many others which might equally deserve notice:—

1	Asylum for poor friendless, deserted girls, under twelve years of age, Vauxhall Road	1758
2	Orphan Working-School, for Children of Dissenters, City Road.
3	Philanthropic Society, St. George's Fields, for children of criminal parents, and young delinquents.
4	Freemasons' School, for Female Orphans, St. George's Fields	1788
5	Marine Society, for educating poor destitute boys to the Sea, in Bishopsgate-street	1756
6	British or Welsh Charity School, Gray's Inn Lane	1718
7	French Charity School, Windmill-street, Tottenham Court-Road	1747
8	School for Soldiers' Girls, at Chelsea, supported by Ladies	1709
9	Neal's Mathematical School, for teaching Navigation, &c. to poor children, King's Head Court, Gough-Square, Fleet-street	1715
10	School for Children of the Clergy; the Boys at Thirsk, Yorkshire, the Girls at Lisson-Green, Paddington.—Secretary, J. Topham, Esq. No. 5, Gray's Inn Square	1749
11	Day-School of Industry, for Boys and Girls, Paradise-street, Mary-le-bone	1791
12	Another, No. 68, Edgware-Road, for Girls	1784
13	Ladies' Charity School, King-street, Snow Hill	1702
14	Walworth Female Charity School.
15	Saint Anne's Society, hitherto at Lavenham, Suffolk, about to be removed to Camberwell, for Boys and Girls, (extended in 1733 and 1791)	1709
16	Grey Coat Hospital, Artillery Ground, Westminster.
17	Green Coat Hospital, Ditto.

RELIGION AND MORALS.

2. For promoting Religion and good Morals.

1	The Society for giving effect to his Majesty's proclamation against Vice and Immorality	1787
2	The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn	1699
3	The Society for propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, Dean's Yard, Westminster	1701
4	The Society for promoting Religious Knowledge, by distributing books among the poor.—Secretary, Mr. Watts, Founder's Hall, Lothbury	1715
5	The Society for promoting Charity Schools in Ireland, Merchant Seaman's Office.
6	The Society for Religious Instruction to the Negroes in the West Indies	1793
7	The Society for preventing Crimes, by prosecuting Swindlers, Sharpers, and Cheats; Gough-Square, Fleet-street	1767
8	British Society for the Encouragement of Servants, No. 27, Hay-market	1792
9	Society for giving Bibles to Soldiers and Sailors, No. 427, Oxford-street	1780
10	Dr. Bray's Charity for providing parochial Libraries, No. 5, Ave-Maria Lane.
11	Society for Relief of poor pious Clergymen	1788
12	Queen Anne's Bounty for the Augmentation of small Livings of Clergymen.—Secretary, R. Burn, Esq. Duke-street, Westminster	1703
13	Sunday Schools, in various parishes.
14	Sunday School Society, for giving Bibles, &c. and otherwise furthering the purposes of Sunday Schools.—Sec. Mr. Prestill, No. 47, Cornhill	1785

THE ARTS.

3. For learning, and the useful and fine Arts.

1	Royal Society, incorporated for promoting useful Knowledge;—Instituted	1663
2	Antiquarian Society, Somerset Place	1751
3	Society or Trustees of the British Museum	1753
4	Society of Artists of Great Britain, Strand	1765
5	Royal Academy of Arts, Somerset Place	1773
6	Society for the encouragement of Learning, Crane-Court, Fleet-street.
7	Society for encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, Adelphi Buildings.
8	Medical Society of London, Bolt-court, Fleet-street	1773
9	Society for the improvement of Naval Architecture.
10	Veterinary College, near St. Pancras Church.
11	Royal Institution for applying the Arts to the common purposes of Life	1799

4. Asylum for the Indigent and Helpless.

107	Alms-houses endowed at different periods, where 1352 old men and women are supported; the principal of these houses are,—The Trinity Alms-houses, for 28 decayed Ship Masters, in Mile End; Bancroft's Alms-houses, Mile End, for 24 Poor Men; Fishmongers' Alms-houses, Newington Butts; Haberdashers' Alms-houses, in Hoxton; Jeffries' Alms-houses, Kingsland Road; Sir John Morden's College, for decayed Merchants, at Blackheath; Emanuel, or Lady Dacre's Hospital, Tothilfields, Westminster.
1	London Workhouse, Bishopsgate-street, for decayed old Men.[181]
1	Bridewell Hospital, an Asylum for Apprentices to different trades, Bridge-street, Blackfriars.
1	Charter-house Hospital, an Asylum for 80 indigent persons, in Charter-house Square, founded	1611
1	Scottish Hospital for decayed Natives of Scotland, in Crane-court, Fleet-street.
1	Welsh Hospital, for decayed Natives of Wales, in Gray's Inn Lane.
1	French Hospital, for decayed Frenchmen, in St. Luke's, Middlesex	1719
1	Foundling Hospital, for deserted Infants, Lamb's-Conduit-street	1739
1	Magdalen Hospital, for the admission of seduced Females, St. George's Fields	1769
1	Lock Asylum, for penitent Female Patients, cured in the Lock Hospital	1787
1	Chelsea Hospital, for worn-out and disabled Soldiers	1670
1	Greenwich Hospital, for worn-out and disabled Seamen	1694
118

ASYLUMS FOR SICK, LAME, DISEASED, AND FOR
POOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

Hospitals for Sick, Lame, and Diseased, and Pregnant Women.

1.	St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in West Smithfield, for the reception of afflicted and diseased Persons	1539
2.	St. Thomas's Hospital, Southwark, for the reception of sick and lame, especially sailors	1553
3.	Guy's Hospital, Southwark, for sick and impotent persons; and lunatics	1721
4.	London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, for the reception of all persons meeting with accidents	1740
5.	St. George's Hospital, Hyde Park Corner, for the reception of sick and lame	1735
6.	Westminster General Infirmary, James-street, Westminster, for sick and diseased persons	1719
7.	Middlesex Hospital, Charles street, near Oxford-street, for sick and lame, and pregnant women	1745
8.	Lock Hospital, Hyde Park Turnpike, for persons afflicted with the venereal disorder	1746
9.	Hospital Misericordia, Goodman's-fields, for the same purpose	1774
10.	Small-pox Hospital, St. Pancras, for inoculation of poor persons	1746
11.	London Lying-in Hospital, Aldersgate-street, for poor married women	1750
12.	City of London Lying-in Hospital, Old-street, City Road, Idem.	1751
13.	British Lying-in Hospital, Brownlow-street, Long-Acre, id.	1749
14.	Westminster Lying-in Hospital, Surry Road, Westminster Bridge, for poor pregnant women generally.
15.	Queen's Lying-in Hospital, Bayswater Hall, Oxford Road, id.
16.	Lying-in Hospital, Store-street, Tottenham Court Road, id.	1767
17.	Lying-in Charity, for delivering pregnant women at their own houses; W. Manning, Esq. Governor; Physician, Dr. Sims, Blackfriars	1757
18.	Society for delivering married women in their own habitations, by whom 32 midwives are employed, No. 18, Strand	1757
19.	Bethlem Hospital, for Lunatics, Moorfields	1558
20.	St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics, Old-street Road	1751
21.	Samaritan Society for relieving Persons discharged from Hospitals	1791
22.	Society for visiting and relieving the Sick in their own Houses.

Dispensaries for Sick, Lame, and Diseased.

1	Eastern Dispensary, Whitechapel
2	Western Dispensary, Charles-street, Westminster
3	Middlesex Dispensary, Great Ailiff-street
4	London Dispensary, Primrose-street, Bishopsgate-street
5	City Dispensary, Bevis Marks
6	New Finsbury Dispensary, St. John-street, Clerkenwell
7	Finsbury Dispensary, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell
8	General Dispensary, Aldersgate-street
9	Public Dispensary, Cary-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields
10	Infant Poor Dispensary, Soho-square
11	St. James's Dispensary, Berwick-street, Soho
12	Westminster Dispensary, Gerard-street, Soho
13	Mary-le-bone Dispensary, Well-street, Oxford-street
14	Ossulston Dispensary, Bow-street, Bloomsbury
15	Surry Dispensary, Union-street, Borough
16	Royal Universal Dispensary, Featherstone Buildings, Holborn

Institutions for Charitable and Humane Purposes.

Humane Society, for the recovery of drowned and suffocated Persons, Spital-square and London Coffee-house	1773
Society for the Relief of Clergymen's Widows, Paper Buildings, Temple
Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical Men, founded by Dr. Squires and Mr. Chamberlaine	1788
Laudable Society, for the benefit of Widows, Crane-Court, Fleet-street
Society for the support of Widows, Surry-street, Strand
Society for the support of poor Artists, and their Widows, Strand
Three Societies for the support of decayed Musicians, their Widows and Children
Society for the Relief of decayed Actors
Abc-darian Society, for the Relief of decayed School-masters
Society for the Relief of Authors in distress
Society for the Relief of Officers, their Widows, Children, Mothers, and Sisters
Society for Annuities to Widows, Old Fish-street, St. Paul's, No. 25
Society for the Relief of sick and maimed Seamen in the Merchant's Service	1747
Society for the Relief of poor Widows and Children of Clergymen, instituted by Charter	1768
Rayne's Hospital for 40 girls, who receive 100l. portion on their marriage	1736
Society called the Feast of the Sons of the Clergy, for apprenticing their indigent Children, No. 5, Gray's Inn Square
Freemason's Charity
Society for the relief of Persons confined for Small Debts, Craven-street, Strand
Society for bettering the condition, and increasing the comforts of the Poor
Society for improving the condition of Chimney-Sweepers
Five Soup Societies
Workhouses
Private Asylums for Lunatics
91 Public Companies in the City of London, who give in charity above £.75,000 a year
Stock's Blind Charity, distributed by the Painters-Stainers' Company	1786
Hetherington's Blind Charity, payable at Christ's Hospital	1787
Asylum for Deaf and Dumb Poor, Grange Road, Bermondsey	1792
Charitable Society for Industrious Poor, School House, Hatton Garden
Society for Charitable Purposes, Wardour-street, Soho	1773
1600 Friendly Societies in the Metropolis and its vicinity, of which about 800 have enrolled themselves under the Act of Parliament, 33 Geo. III. cap. 54. They are composed of mechanics and labouring people, who distribute to sick members, and for funerals, sums raised by monthly payments, amounting on an average to 1s. 8d. a month, or 20s. a year, and consisting of about 80,000 members, who thus raise annually 80,000l.

Reflecting on the foregoing list of various laudable Institutions, which it cannot be expected should be altogether perfect, but which may be said to be unparalleled in point of extent, as well as munificence, and conferring the highest honour on the National Character for Charity and Humanity; the mind is lost in astonishment, that greater and more extensive benefits have not arisen to the inhabitants of the Metropolis; not only in improving their morals, but in preventing the lowest orders of the People from suffering that extreme misery and wretchedness, which has already been stated to exist in so great a degree in London.

When it is also recollected, that large sums are annually expended by Societies instituted for promoting religion, virtue, and good morals, it must be evident, as human misery does not appear to be alleviated, and the morals of the People grow worse—that there must be some cause to produce effects so opposite to what might have been expected from such unparalleled philanthropy; the cause, indeed, may easily be traced to that evident deficiency in the general System of Police, which has so often been mentioned in the course of this Work.[182]

In the next place, it may be useful, and certainly cannot be improper, in a Treatise on the Police, to insert a brief detail of the different Courts of Law, and public Prisons, established in the Metropolis; for the distribution of Justice, and the punishment of delinquents, for civil as well as criminal offences; together with the number of professional men attached to these various Law establishments.

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COURTS OF JUSTICE
IN THE
METROPOLIS.

Supreme Courts.

The High Court of Parliament.

The House of Lords; being the Appeal in the last resort in all causes criminal and civil.

The Court of Exchequer Chamber, before which Writs of Error are brought on judgments in the Court of King's Bench and other Courts; it is composed, in certain cases, of all the Twelve Judges, and the Lord Chancellor; but sometimes of a smaller number.

The High Court of Chancery—at Westminster Hall—and Lincoln's Inn Hall.

The Court of King's Bench, held in Westminster Hall.

The Court of Common Pleas, held in Westminster Hall.

The Court of Exchequer—a Court of Law, Equity and Revenue; held at Westminster Hall and Serjeant's Inn.

The Court of Appeals in Colonial and Prize Causes; before the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council at Whitehall.

The High Court of Admiralty, for Prizes, &c. at Doctor's Commons; and in criminal Cases, twice a year, at the Old Bailey.

Four Ecclesiastical Courts.	Prerogative Court, for Wills and Administrations	Doctors' Commons.
	Court of Arches, for Appeals from inferior Ecclesiastical Courts in the Province of Canterbury; the Court of Peculiars is a branch of this Court.
	Faculty Court, to grant Dispensations to marry, &c.
	Court of Delegates for Ecclesiastical Affairs

The Court of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol-Delivery for trying Criminals at the Justice Hall, Old Bailey

Held by His Majesty's Commission to the Lord-Mayor, Judges, Recorder and Common Serjeant, &c.

Seventeen Courts in the City of London.

Court of Hustings	The Supreme Court of the City for Pleas of Land and Common Pleas
The Lord-Mayor's Court	For Actions of Debt and Trespass, and for Appeals from inferior Courts and for foreign attachments; giving decisions in all cases whatsoever, in 14 days, at an expence not exceeding thirty Shillings; held in the King's Bench, Guildhall, by the Lord-Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen.
Court of Requests	Held by two Aldermen and four Members of the Common Council, appointed by the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen; three of whom form a Court for the recovery of small debts under 40s. at the expence of 10d.
Chamberlain's Court	Held every day to determine differences between masters and apprentices; and to admit those qualified to the freedom of the City.
Sheriff's Court	Held every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, at Guildhall; where Actions of Debt and Trespass, &c. are tried by the Sheriff, and his Deputy, who are Judges of the Court.
Court of Orphans	Held before the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen, as Guardians of the Children of deceased Freemen under twenty-one years of age, &c.
Pie Poudre Court	Held by the Lord-Mayor and Stewards, for administering instantaneous Justice between Buyers and Sellers at Bartholomew Fair, to redress all such disorders as may arise there.
Court of Conservancy	Held by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen four times a year, in Middlesex, Essex, Kent, and Surry; who inquire by a Jury, into Abuses relative to the Fishing on the River Thames, and redress the same; from Staines West, to Yenfleet East.
Court of Lord-Mayor, and Aldermen.—Court of Common Council.—Court of Common Hall.—Court of Wardmotes	These relate to setting the Assize on Bread and Salt—to the municipal Officers of the City—to the Elections of Lord-Mayor, Sheriffs, and Officers of the City—and to the Management of the Public Property of the City, and removing Nuisances. The Wardmotes are held chiefly for the Election of Aldermen & Common Councilmen.
General and Quarter Sessions of the Peace, held by the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen, eight times a year.
Petty Sessions for small Offences, &c. held at the Mansion House by the Lord-Mayor and one Alderman: and at Guildhall by two Aldermen in rotation	Daily, in the forenoon
Coroners' Court	To inquire into the causes of sudden deaths, when they arise.
Court of the Tower of London	Held within the verge of the City by a Stewart appointed by the Constable of the Tower, before whom are tried Actions of Debt, Trespasses, and Covenants.

Courts of Justice within the City and Liberty of Westminster.

Court of the Duchy of Lancaster	A supreme Court of Record, held in Somerset Place, for deciding by the Chancellor of the said Duchy, all matters of Law or Equity belonging to the County Palatine of Lancaster
Quarter Sessions of the Peace	A Court of Record, held by the Justices of the City and Liberty of Westminster, four times a year, at the Guildhall, Westminster, for all Trespasses, Petty Larcenies, and other small Offences, committed within the City and Liberty
Westminster Court	Or Court Leet, held by the Dean of Westminster or his Steward, for choosing parochial Officers, preventing and removing Nuisances, &c.
Court of Requests, Castle-street, Leicester-square	Held by Commissioners (being respectable Housekeepers) for deciding without appeal, all Pleas for Debts under forty shillings. For the parishes of St. Margaret, St. John, St. Martin, St. Paul Covent Garden, St. Clement Danes, St. Mary le Strand, and that part of the Dutchy of Lancaster which joins Westminster
Court of Requests, Vinestreet, Piccadilly	Held in the same manner, and for the same purposes; for the parishes of St. Anne, St. George Hanover-square, and St. James, Westminster
Petty Sessions, or Police Court, held at Bow-street	A Court of Petty Sessions, held by two Magistrates every day, (Sunday excepted) morning and evening, for matters of Police, and various Offences, and Misdemeanors, &c.
Police Court or Petty Sessions, held at Queen-sq. Westminster	A Court of Petty Sessions established by Act of Parliament, held every day, morning & evening, (Sunday excepted) by two Magistrates, for matters of Police, and various Offences, Misdemeanors, &c.
Police Court, or petty Sessions, held at Great Marlborough-str.	The same.

Courts of Justice in that part of the Metropolis, which lies within the County of Middlesex.

St. Martins-le-Grand Court	A Court of Record, subject to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, held every Wednesday, for the trial of all personal Actions. The process is by a Capias against the body, or an Attachment against the goods in this particular Liberty
East Smithfield Court	A Court Leet and Court Baron, held for this Liberty, to inquire into Nuisances, &c.—In the Court Baron Pleas are held to the amount of forty shillings
Finsbury Court	A Court Leet held once a year, by a Steward of the Lord-Mayor, as Lord of the Manor of Finsbury, for inquiring into those Nuisances competent for Leet Juries, by ancient usage, and swearing in Constables for the Manor
St. Catherine's Court	Two Courts are competent to be held within this small Precinct, for Actions of Debt and Trespass, at St. Catherine's near the Tower
Whitechapel Court	A Court held by the Steward of the Manor of Stepney, by whom, and a Jury, are tried Actions of Debt for 5l. and under, &c. &c.
Sheriff's Court	For the County of Middlesex, for Actions of Debt, Trespasses, Assaults, &c.
Quarter and General sessions of the Peace, and Sessions of Oyer and Terminer	Held by the Justices of the County of Middlesex, eight times a year, at the New Sessions House, Clerkenwell Green, for all Trespasses, Petty Larcenies, Misdemeanors, and other offences, &c. and for Roads, Bridges, and other County Affairs
Petty Sessions or Police Court, established by Act of Parliament	A Court of Petty Sessions, held every morning and evening, (Sunday excepted) by two Magistrates, at the Public Office, in Hatton Garden, for matters of Police and various Offences, Misdemeanors, &c.
Petty Session, or Police Court	At the Public Office, Worship-street, near Finsbury-square, by two Justices, for objects of Police, &c.
Idem	At the Public Office, Lambeth-street, Whitechapel
Idem	At the Public Office, High-street, Shadwell
Two Coroner's Courts	For inquiring into causes of sudden death
Court of Requests	Small debts under 40s. without appeal, held in Fulwood's Rents, Holborn, for the Division of Finsbury
Court of Requests	For small debts under 40s. without appeal, held in Osborn-street, Whitechapel, by Commissioners, under the Act of Parliament, chosen annually by the several Parishes in the Tower Hamlets
General and Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the Liberty of the Tower of London.	Held by the Justices of that Liberty, 8 times a year for Petty Larcenies, Trespasses, Felonies, and Misdemeanors, &c. within that particular District

Courts of Justice in the Borough of Southwark, Surry.

Court of Record	Held at St. Margaret's Hill, Southwark, by the Lord-Mayor's Steward, for Actions of small Debts, Damages, Trespass, &c.
Court of Record	For the Clink Liberty, held near Bankside, in Southwark, by the Bishop of Winchester's Steward, for Actions of Debt, Trespass, &c. within that Liberty
Marshalsea Court	A Court of Record (or the Court of the Royal Palace) having jurisdiction 12 miles round Whitehall (exclusive of the City of London) for actions of Debts, Damages, Trespasses, &c. and subject to be removed to a higher Court of Law, when above 5l.
Court of Requests	For the recovery of small Debts under 40s. without appeal, held at St. Margaret's Hill, by Commissioners chosen under the Act of Parliament, by the different Parishes
Coroners' Court	To inquire into causes of sudden Death—in Southwark, &c.
Quarter Sessions of the Peace	Held by the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen, at St. Margaret's Hill, for the Borough of Southwark
Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County of Surry	Held at the New Sessions House in Southwark, by the Magistrates of the County of Surry
Petty Sessions, or Police Court, established by Act of Parliament	A Court held every morning and evening by two Justices, at the Public Office, Union Hall, Union-street, Southwark, for Objects of Police, &c.

1. King's Bench Prison, for Debtors on Process or Execution in the King's Bench, &c. St. George's Fields

2. Fleet Prison, for Debtors on Process, &c. in the Common Pleas, &c. Fleet Market

3. Ludgate Prison, Bishopsgate-street	For the City of London.
4. Poultry Compter, in the Poultry
5. Giltspur-street Compter, Giltspur-street

6. Newgate, or City and County Gaol, Old Bailey

7. New Prison, Clerkenwell—Gaol for the County of Middlesex

8. Prison for the Liberty of the Tower of London, Well-close-square

9. Whitechapel Prison for Debtors in the five pound court

10. Savoy Prison for Deserters and Military Delinquents

Houses of Correction.	11. City Bridewell—Bridewell, Bridge-street, Blackfriars
	12. Tothill Fields Bridewell—Tothill Fields
	13. Spa Fields Penitentiary House
	14. New Bridewell in the Borough of Southwark

15. County Gaol for Surry in the Borough of Southwark

16. Clink Gaol, in ditto

17. Marshalsea Gaol, in the Borough, for Pirates, &c.

18. New Gaol, in the Borough.

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Nothing, perhaps, can manifest, in a greater degree, the increased commerce and population of the Metropolis of the Empire, than the following summary detail of the different classes of professional men connected with the various departments of the Law.

It appears from the preceding Statements, that there are in the Metropolis

9	Supreme Courts; to which are attached	270	officers[183]
4	Ecclesiastical Courts	54	do.
18	Inferior Courts for small Debts	146	do.
1	Court of Oyer and Terminer, and Gaol Delivery	27	do.
4	Courts of General and Quarter Sessions of the Peace	46	do.
10	Courts and Petty Sessions for purposes of Police	190	do.
5	Coroners' Courts	20	do.
		753
King's Serjeants, Attorney and Solicitor General, and King's Advocate		8
Serjeants at Law		14
Doctors of Law		14
King's Counsel		25
Masters in Chancery		10
Barristers at Law		400
Special Pleaders		50
Proctors in Doctors' Commons		50
Conveyancers		40
Attorneys at Law in the different Courts		1,900
Clerks, Assistants, and others, estimated at		3,700
Notaries Public		36
Total about		7,000

It is impossible to contemplate this view of a very interesting subject, without being forcibly struck with the vast extent of the wealth and commercial intercourse of the Country, which furnish advantageous employment for such a multitude of individuals in one particular profession. Every good man, and every lover of his country, must anxiously wish that the advantages may be reciprocal; and that men of talents, integrity, and ability, in the profession of the Law, while they extend their aid to the removal of those evils which are a reproach to the criminal jurisprudence of the Country, would also assist in procuring the removal of the inconveniences at present felt in the recovery of small debts. This is peculiarly irksome to every well-disposed person, who, in the course of business, having transactions with the mass of mankind, cannot avoid frequently meeting with bad or litigious characters, by whom disputes are unavoidably generated.

According to the prevailing System, if the debt exceeds 40s. the action may be brought in a superior Court, where, if contested or defended, the expence, at the lowest computation, must be upwards of fifty pounds. Prudent men, under such circumstances, will forego a just claim upon another, or make up a false one upon themselves, as by far the least of two evils, in all cases where they come in contact with designing and bad people; and hence it is, that the worthless part of mankind, availing themselves in Civil as others do in Criminal Cases, of the imperfections of the Law, forge these defects into a rod of oppression, either to defraud the honest part of the Community of a just right, or to create fraudulent demands, where no right attaches; merely because those miscreants know that an action at Law, even for 20l. cannot either be prosecuted or defended, without sinking three times the amount in Law expences; besides the loss of time, which is still more valuable to men in business.

To convince the Reader that this observation is not hazarded on weak grounds, and that the evil is so great as to cry aloud for a remedy, it is only necessary to state, that in the County of Middlesex alone, in the year 1793, the number of bailable writs and executions, for debts from Ten to Twenty pounds, amounted to no less than 5,719, and the aggregate amount of the debts sued for was the sum of £.81,791.

It will scarcely be credited, although it is most unquestionably true, that the mere costs of these actions, although made up, and not defended at all, would amount to 68,728l.—And if defended, the aggregate expence to recover 81,791l. must be—(strange and incredible as it may appear), no less than 285,905l.! being considerably more than three times the amount of the debts sued for.

The mind is lost in astonishment at the contemplation of a circumstance, marking, in so strong a degree, the deficiency of this important branch of the jurisprudence of the Country.

Through this new medium we discover one of the many causes of the increase of crimes.—And hence that caution which men in business are compelled to exercise (especially in the Metropolis), to avoid transactions with those who are supposed to be devoid of principle.

Whenever the Laws cannot be promptly executed, at an expence, that will not restrain the worthy and useful part of the Community from the following up their just rights, bad men will multiply. The morals of the People will become more and more corrupted, and the best interests of the State will be endangered.

In a political as well as in a moral point of view, it is an evil that should not be suffered to exist; especially when it can be demonstrated, that a remedy may be applied, without affecting the pecuniary interest of the more reputable part of the Profession of the Law, while it would unquestionably produce a more general diffusion of Emolument.

If, instead of the various inferior Courts for the recovery of debts, (exclusive of the Courts of Conscience) which have been mentioned in this Chapter, and which are of very limited use on account of appeals lying in all actions above 5l.—the Justices, in General Sessions of the Peace, specially commissioned, were to be empowered to hear and determine finally, by a Jury, all actions of debt under 50l. and to tax the Costs in proportion to the amount of the Verdict, great benefits would result to the Public. At present, the rule is to allow the same cost for forty shillings as for ten thousand pounds![184]—It depends only on the length of the pleadings, and not on the value of the action.

Humanity, Justice, and Policy, plead for an improvement of the System; more particularly when it is recollected that, between Six and Seven Thousand unfortunate persons are arrested annually on mesne process in Middlesex alone, one half of whom are for debts under twenty pounds. In the kingdom at large, the number is not less than Forty Thousand for trifling debts in the course of a year!—The unavoidable expence, therefore, at the lowest computation, is a most grievous burden, which on many occasions, sends both the plaintiff and defendant to a gaol, for the Attorney's bills, to the total ruin of themselves, and often to the destruction of their families.

The Evil, in this view, is exceedingly prominent.—It involves in it consequences which trench upon the best interests of the Country. The Mischief increases, unperceived by the people at large, and Remedies are not applied; because few men will subject themselves to investigations of great labour, without which facts are not to be obtained; and without facts it is impossible to reason with accuracy, or to draw just conclusions upon any subject.

It will be found upon inquiry, that the miseries of a gaol, by which the inferior orders of the people are often punished, do not so frequently attach to the worthless and profligate part of the Community, as to those who have been useful members of the State—Like the adroit thief, encouraged to proceed by many escapes, Knaves are seldom victims to the severity of the Law.—The Innocent, and often the Industrious, unskilled in the tricks and artifices which bad men pursue to rid themselves of incumbrances, (for which there is abundant resource in the chicane of the Law;) are generally the sufferers.

To incarcerate one member of the body politic, whose misfortunes and losses may have arisen from giving credit to another, who is relieved by a Commission of Bankrupt,[185] because his debts amounted to more than 100l. seems not well to accord with Justice, Humanity, or State Policy. It debases the minds of thousands whose conduct never deserved such a fate—who were from the nature of their dealings, although small, entitled upon the principle adopted by the Legislature, to the same relief which is extended to the higher classes by whom they often suffer—and sometimes too by the most worthless and depraved.—While no good can arise from their confinement, it is thus rendered infinitely more severe than that, which is, in many instances, inflicted on criminal offenders.—Their labour is lost to the Community.—Their families are neglected—and perhaps reared up in vice and idleness to become Nuisances in that Society, of which they might have been virtuous and useful Members.

This, therefore, is a most important branch of what may be called Civil Police, highly deserving the attention of the Legislature; because it is not only contrary to Reason, but pregnant with evils which tend to the increase of crimes in a greater degree than is generally supposed.

The extensive and growing intercourse in commercial dealings, and the diffused state of property must, of course, progressively, increase the number of Appeals to Courts of Justice, even under the present System; till at length the duty of the Judges (infinitely more extensive than their predecessors experienced, and increasing every day,) will so multiply, as to render it an act of great cruelty and injustice, not to ease them of the unreasonable labour arising from small Law-suits.

The same reasoning applies to the Members of the Executive Government. As we advance in riches, population, and crimes, the management of the Country becomes more complicated. The labour attached to the higher departments of the State of all descriptions is infinitely greater than a century ago; and yet there is no increase in the number of the first executive responsible officers.—This, (although it has not heretofore attracted notice), when duly considered, will be found to be a very serious misfortune.

The mind, however active or enlightened, can only compass certain objects. It requires relaxation; it cannot always be upon the stretch.—There is a point beyond which human exertion cannot go—and hence the necessity of the division of labour, in proportion to the increase of responsible public duty. Wherever this does not take place, the Country suffers; an unreasonable burden attaches, by which means matters of great consequence to the Community must be overlooked, because it is impossible to compass every thing.

Having thus briefly explained that branch of the Police of the Capital which is connected with the department of the Law, together with some of the most prominent features of abuse, which have grown out of the present System; as well as the Remedies which have occurred, as apparently best calculated to remove these accumulating evils. It remains now to bring under the review of the Reader, the various Municipal Regulations, which have been established for the comfort, accommodation, and convenience of the inhabitants; and the means used in carrying them into execution.

The Metropolis of the Empire having been extended so far beyond its ancient limits;—every parish, hamlet, liberty, or precinct, now contiguous to the Cities of London and Westminster, may be considered as a separate Municipality, where the inhabitants regulate the Police of their respective districts, under the authority of a great variety of different Acts of Parliament; enabling them to raise money for paving the streets, and to assess the householders for the interest thereof, as well as for the annual expence of watching, cleansing, and removing nuisances and annoyances. These funds, as well as the execution of the powers of the different Acts, (excepting where the interference of Magistrates is necessary) are placed in the hands of Trustees, of whom in many instances, the Church Wardens, or Parish Officers for the time being, are Members ex officio; and by these different Bodies, all matters relative to the immediate safety, comfort and convenience of the inhabitants are managed and regulated.

These Regulations, however, are mostly founded upon Statutes made in the last and present Reign.

The Act of the 2d of William and Mary, cap. 8, for paving, cleansing, &c. within the City and Liberties of Westminster, and the Bills of Mortality, not having been found applicable to modern improvements, new regulations became necessary; and an incredible number of private Statutes applicable to the different Parishes, Hamlets, and Liberties, composing the Metropolis, have been passed within the last 50 years.

The Act of the 10th George II. cap. 22, established a System for paving and lighting, cleansing, and watching the City of London: but the Statute which removed signs and sign-posts, balconies, spouts, gutters, and those other encroachments and annoyances, which were felt as grievances, by the inhabitants, did not pass till the year 1771.—The 11th of Geo. III. cap. 29, contains a complete and masterly System of that branch of the Police which is connected with municipal regulations, and may be considered as a model for every large City in the Empire. This excellent Act extends to every obstruction by carts and carriages, and provides a remedy for all nuisances, which can prove, in any respect, offensive to the inhabitants; and special Commissioners, called Commissioners of Sewers, are appointed to ensure a regular execution. It is further improved by the 33d of his present Majesty, cap. 75, by which the power of the Commissioners is increased, and some nuisances arising from Butchers, Dustmen, &c. further provided against.

In the City and Liberty of Westminster also, many useful Municipal Regulations have been made within the present Century. The Acts of the 27th of Elizabeth, and the 16th of Charles I. (private Acts) divided the City and Liberties into 12 Wards, and appointed 12 Burgesses to regulate the Police of each Ward; who, with the Dean, or High Steward of Westminster, were authorised to govern this District of the Metropolis.

The Act of the 29th of George II. cap. 25, enabled the Dean, or his High Steward, to choose 80 Constables in a Court Leet: and the same act authorised the appointment of an Annoyance-Jury of 48 inhabitants, to examine weights and measures; and to make presentments of every public nuisance, either in the City or Liberty.—The Acts of the 31st of George II. cap. 17 and 25, improved the former Statute, and allowed a free market to be held in Westminster.—The Act of the 2d of George III. cap. 21, extended and improved the System for paving, cleansing, lighting and watching the City and Liberty, by including six other adjoining Parishes and Liberties in Middlesex: This Act was afterwards amended by the 3d of his present Majesty, cap. 23.—The Acts 5th Geo. III. caps. 13, 50; 11th Geo. III. cap. 22; and particularly 14th Geo. III. cap. 90, for regulating the nightly Watch and Constables, made further improvements in the General System by which those branches of Police in Westminster are at present regulated.

In the Borough of Southwark also the same System has been pursued; the Acts 28th Geo. II. cap. 9; and 6th Geo. III. cap. 24, having established a System of Municipal Regulations, applicable to this District of the Metropolis; relative to markets, hackney-coach stands, paving, cleansing, lighting, watching, marking streets, and numbering houses, and placing the whole under the management of Commissioners.

In Contemplating the great leading features of Municipal Regulation, nothing places England in a situation so superior to most other countries, with regard to cleanliness, as the System of the Sewers, under the management of special Commissioners, in different parts of the kingdom; introduced so early as by the Act 6th Henry VI. cap. 5, and regulated by the Acts 6th Henry VIII. cap. 10; 23d Henry VIII. cap. 5; and 25th Henry VIII. cap. 10.—afterwards improved by the 3d and 4th Edward VI. cap. 8; 1st Mary, stat. 3, cap. 11; 13th Elizabeth, cap. 9; 3d James I. cap. 14; and 7th Anne, cap. 10.

Sewers being so early introduced into the Metropolis, as well as into other Cities and Towns, in consequence of the general System, every offensive nuisance was removed through this medium, and the inhabitants early accustomed to the advantages and comforts of cleanliness.

Another feature, strongly marking the wisdom and attention of our ancestors, was the introduction of Water, for the supply of the Metropolis, in the reign of James I. in 1604. The improvements which have been since made for the convenience of the inhabitants, in extending the supplies by means of the New River, and also by the accession of the Thames water, through the medium of the London Bridge, Chelsea, York Buildings, Shadwell, and other water-works, it is not necessary to detail.

The Act 9th Anne, cap. 23, first established the regulations with regard to Hackney Coaches and Chairs, which have been improved and extended by several subsequent Statutes, viz. 10 Anne, cap. 19; 12 Anne, stat. 2, cap. 14; 1 Geo. I. cap. 57; 12 Geo. I. cap. 12; 30 Geo. II. cap. 22; 4 Geo. III. cap. 36; 7 Geo. III. cap. 44; 10 Geo. III. cap. 44; 11 Geo. III. caps. 24, 28; 12 Geo. III. cap. 49; 24 Geo. III. stat. 2. cap. 27; 26 Geo. III. cap. 72; 32 Geo. III. cap. 47; 33 Geo. III. cap. 75.

These Acts authorize one thousand coaches, and four hundred hackney chairs, to be licensed for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the Metropolis; and Magistrates, as well as the Commissioners, are empowered to decide, in a summary way, upon all complaints arising between Coachmen or Chairmen, and the inhabitants, who may have occasion to employ them.

Carts and other carriages have also been regulated by several different Acts, viz. 1 Geo. I. stat. 2. cap. 57; 18 Geo. II. cap. 33; 24 Geo. II. cap. 43; 30 Geo. II. cap. 22; 7 Geo. III. cap. 44; and 24 Geo. III. cap. 27. The Statutes contain a very complete System, relative to this branch of Police; by virtue of which all complaints arising from offences under these Acts, are also cognizable by the Magistrates, in a summary way.

The Act of the 34th of George III. cap. 65, established an improved System, with regard to Watermen plying on the River Thames.—The Lord Mayor and Aldermen are empowered to make Rules and Orders for their government;[186] and, with the Recorder and the Justices of the Peace of the respective Counties, and places next adjoining to the Thames, have equal jurisdiction in all situations between Gravesend and Windsor, to put in execution not only the Laws, but also the Rules and Orders relative to such Watermen, which shall be sent to the several Public Offices in the Metropolis, and to the Clerks of the Peace of the Counties joining the Thames, within 30 days after such Rules are made or altered. The Magistrates have power given them to fine Watermen for extortion and misbehaviour: and, persons refusing to pay the fares authorised by Law, may be compelled to do so, with all charges, or be imprisoned for one month; and whoever shall give a Waterman a fictitious name or place of abode, forfeits 5l.

Offences relative to the Driving of Cattle improperly, usually termed Bullock Hunting, are also determined by the Magistrates, in the same summary way, under the authority of an Act 21st Geo. III. cap. 67; by which every person is authorised to seize delinquents guilty of this very dangerous offence.

The last great feature of useful Municipal Police which the Author will mention, consists in the excellent regulations relative to Buildings, Projections, and Fires; first adopted after the Fire of London in 1666, and extended and improved by several Acts of Parliament passed, from that time, down to the 14th of his present Majesty.

The Act of the 14th of George III. cap. 78, which repeals the former Acts, besides regulating the mode of building houses in future, so as to render them ornamental, commodious, and secure against the accidents of fire, established other useful rules for the prevention of this dreadful calamity; by rendering it incumbent on Churchwardens to provide one or more engines in every parish, to be in readiness, on the shortest notice, to extinguish fires, and also ladders to favour escapes; And, that every facility might be afforded with regard to water, it is also incumbent on the Churchwardens to fix stop-blocks and fire-plugs at convenient distances, upon all the main pipes within the parish; and to place a mark in the street where they are to be found, and to have an instrument or key ready to open such fire-plugs, so that the water may be accessible on the shortest possible notice. That every thing also might be done to ensure dispatch, the person bringing the first parish engine to any fire is entitled to 30s. the second to 20s. and third to 10s. paid by the parish; excepting in cases where chimnies are on fire, and then the expence ultimately falls upon the person inhabiting the house or place where it originated.

This excellent Statute, so salutary in its effects with regard to many important Regulations of Police, also obliges all Beadles and Constables, on the breaking out of any fire, to repair immediately to the spot, with their long staves, and to protect the sufferers from the depredation of thieves; and to assist in removing effects, and in extinguishing the flames.

These outlines will explain, in some measure, by what means the System of the Police, in most of its great features, is conducted in the Metropolis—to which it may be necessary to add, that the Beadles of each Parish, are the proper persons to whom application may be made, in the first instance, in case of any inconvenience or nuisance. The City and Police Magistrates, in their respective Courts, if not immediately authorized to remedy the wrong that is suffered, will point out how it may be effected.

It is, however, earnestly to be wished, that (like the Building-Act just mentioned), one general Law, comprehending the whole of the excellent regulations made for the City of London, so far as they will apply, could be extended to every part of the Metropolis, and its suburbs; that a perfect uniformity might prevail, in the penalties and punishments to be inflicted for the several Offences against the comfort or convenience of the Inhabitants.—At present it often happens, that an Offence in one Parish, is no act of Delinquency in another.

The great object is to simplify every System as much as possible;—complicated Establishments are always more expensive than is necessary, and constantly liable to abuses.

The annual expence to the Inhabitants, in consequence of all those Municipal Regulations just detailed, is, perhaps, higher than in any other City in the world.—Including the Poor's-rate, it amounts, on an average, to full 25 per cent. on the gross rental of the Metropolis; and is supposed to exceed one million sterling a year!

A Superintending Police would, in many instances, correct the want of intelligence, which is apparent, and enlighten the local Managers in such a manner, as not only to promote objects of oeconomy, calculated to abridge and keep within bounds an enormous and growing expence, but also to suggest improvements by which it might be reduced, and many solid advantages be acquired by the Community.

It is impossible to examine, with the mind of a man of business, the various Establishments which have become necessary for promoting the comfort and convenience of great Societies, without lamenting, in many instances, the unnecessary waste that prevails, and the confusion and irregularity which often ensue, merely for want of system, judgment, and knowledge of the subject.

Various, indeed, are the evils and disorders which Time engenders, in every thing connected with the affairs of civil Society, requiring a constant and uniform attention, increasing, as the pressures increase, for the purpose of keeping them within bounds; that as much happiness and comfort may be extended to the People as can possibly arise from a well-regulated and energetic Police, conducted with purity, zeal, and intelligence.

We are arrived at an epoch full of difficulties and dangers, producing wonderful events, and still pregnant with consequences, in their nature, stretching beyond the usual course of human conjecture, where it is impossible to judge of the ultimate issue.

Under such circumstances, it becomes, more than ever, necessary to make prudent arrangements for the general safety, for amending the morals, and promoting the happiness of the People; by improved Laws, extending protection to all, and correcting those evils, which are felt as a burden upon the Community.

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