The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-02-12 00:00:00

COMMON PROSTITUTES.

Petitions from the luhabitanla of the Wards of Airiest',
Bisienoseme Cheap, Curnbill, Farringdon Within sari
Without, and netsuke's, relative to the prevalence of the
vice of prostitution, and of the emessity of row measures
being adopted fur the suppression of boost.s of ill-fame,
were presented and read, praying Ike Court to adopt some
means of diminishing the number of unhappy creatures
who derived their support from such practices. They were
referred to the Committee on the subject.
Mr. Davits the. brought.op site Report of the Commit-
tee appuiuted to inquire layp the snored of the grievance,
and to suggest a remedy. The attention of the public had,
he rejoiced to say, been most anxiously directed to this ob-
ject ; but Ise regretted to my, it was the opinion of the Com-
mittee, that the Magistracy were so incrssantly engaged, as
nut to be able to render the assistance to the Committee
which might be effectual. The Court, therefore, must de-
vise some means of abstilig the evil, and of course the
misery of those, unhappy creatures who were the victims of
seducers and distress. It was well knows, that there were a
'somber of houses which afforded couveirient access, and pur-
sued profligate practices is defiance of the Magistrates, and
it struck the Committee that if means were adopted fur shut-
ting up those houses, the greatest part of the distress in the
streets would be done away. He knew that many difficul-
ties would present themselves, but the subject was one that
called upon humanity so strongly as to render any hesita-
tion iti attemptiug to afford relief to the miserable objects
nothing less than a crime. Common decency, which was
every mumeut subject to violation, also called fur the inter.
ference of the Court, which wanted nothing to accomplish
the object —(Applatue.)
The Report was then read. It embraced all the points
of the introductory speech.
Mr. Dune said, it was really a reproach to some of the
Wards to allow it to be of such long continuance. In Alder-
man Wood's Mayoralty the girls ailed to run tiff die moment
the Lord Mayor's name was meetiourd, and the streets were
comparatively clear of them, but now there was very little
restraint. That some exertion should made was evident,
bat care should be taken nut to make it to such au extent
as to endanger our wires and daughters, or to create a
precious increase of bastards.—(Some niurvertrfeg).—He
llspoke of the differeoce between the passions of men like
• true philosopher, sad said it wits the duty of the Court,
if they intended to petition Parhameret, to propose sums
means of removing the evil complained of.
Mr. FATELL said it would tie advisable to have such •
questiou introduced to the Honer, particularly as it was
now engaged in the consideration of the state of crime.
Mr. OLDHAM said the exertions of his Ward had thieve
all the unfortunate women out of it, and he was confident
that such evils as were apprehended by Mr. Dixon would
not arise from the plan of driving them (sum public into
private.
Aid Wsornatao declared that the Magistrates did all in
their power when the poor gills were brought before them for
their relief. He was of opinion that the Wards might them-
selves do a great deal, bet a permanent abatement of the evil
could not be expected until employment was roomd for those
who were compelled to fly to prostitution for support. fir
thought that no very important good would 'comb from an
application to Parliament, fur the evil had its source in the
general distress. lie knew it to be the fact, in many in-
stances, that if girls alio were at millinery work were not
assisted by their friends, they would he compelled from the
wretched pay to go spun the streets; mid he also knew, that
in the majority of cases women took up the trade not from
depravity but want. He should wish the Petition to undergo
• debate, and should be happy to obey the instructions of
the Court on the subject.
Mr. JACDS said, the object of the City was to check the
flagrant profligacy of manuera.
Mr. HURCO3II said, that Gentlemen would have no rea-
son to complain of the boldness or number of prostitutes. if
they would take the trouble to exert themselves, and not
mind making speeches.
Mr. GRIFFITHS said, the example of Alderman Wood
should be followed, who frightened away the
Laugh.)
Mr. 'Lathe complained that no attention was paid by
the Court of Aldermen to the presentment against a bad
boucle is his Ward (Farringdno Without), and that they had
said, if the Ward did out like such houses, they might pro-
secute them themselves.

Alderman WOOD said that Ward was certainly famous
for crowds of profligate women, who acre there as thick by
day as by night. He spoke of the expenses of prosecuting
hooves of bad repute, and accounted in that manlier for the
reluctance with which the Aldermen undertook to authorise
prosecutions. &illhi, it seldom happened that those who
made presentments were furnished with evidence sufficient
to convict the keepers of such bosses. He recommended
active exertions on the part of the inhabitants.
Mr. Dams, in his reply, said, the be answer to all ob.
jectioss was, that the law will found to be inadequate.
strong as it was, and therefore Parliament ought to be sp.
plied to.
The Report was then agreed to, and a Petition formed
upon It to Parliaineut.

A Petition from several owners of craft navigating the
River, in relation to the state of London Bridge, was pre-
sented and referred to the Bridgehoinw Committee.

A Killion was presented from Mr. Williams. one of the
Attorneys of the Mayor's Court, relative to his having' Le 1.11
deprived of his right of a 144 at at the Swoi d-beai t.. 16, at
the Mansions house by the Load Mayne, and prayive I. be
reinstated therein, a hich being read was tudered tu fie slings
the table.

The Special Committee to whom it had been referred to
coussisier whether the sibolis Sim of the Assize of Itteasi halt
been or usst, repot I lhal iu their opinion st had
been beneficial.

M►. Alderman Thorp was elected Governor, and Mr. Wm.
Cope was defied I)cruiy.6"verilor, sod twelve Crude men
appointed Assistant• of din Society tur inanalgoi; the City's
l'lsiitstions in Ireland.

The Genital Piiipose Committee presented a Report on
having considered the 31emorials fium the Commiboiuners
of the Court of ReflueAs for the Borough of suulhnuk, re.
lative to the conduct of the Bailiff.

- -
The Committee also loresi Med a Repot t oa having consi-
dered the coutlitet of the MaiShlllisseti, and a etommeisding
the suspension of one of them, which Lseiug read, Mjal agreed
to, oss a division.
Mr. Glover was appointed a Governor of Christ'', Hos-
pital, and Mr. Bumsted & Governor of Bridewell and !fellatio
Hospitals.
The Court, agreeably to their standing order for the An-
nual Election sit Officers, piocreded to such Election, when
the present Offices s were unanimously le-elected.
It was aCii, red to the Sword.beai v.'s Committee to runsi-
(ler of the abolition of the Table for the Sword-healer, and
the other Officrla of the Lord Mayor's Household.
Ou a Repos t from the Bridgehouse Committee, an annuity
was granted to the slaughter of Mr. Yeuward, latc one of the
Bridge Masters, deceased.

AS USUAL !! t—On Tuesday Nat, the gib inst.
the State Lottery was all ii raw u, when No. 5,191
was iliaun a Prite of Twenty Thousand Pounds, which was
sold in 11 Shares, by ISISIL at his old established and truly-
Poi Innate °fliers, 4, Cornhill, and 9, Charing cross, London,
out by his Agents in the Coubtiy, where No. 1,5350, ■ Prize
of Two Thou.and Pounds, drawn same day, was also sold
in biomes, snaking rat usual) a gleater amount of Capitals
shared by BISII than by any other Oilier-keeper; and in
the preeirling Lottery (drawn /art 111 SH shared
5,635, a Plize of 30,11001. and various other Capitals,
being likewise greater in number and amount than any
other Office-keeper. A New Lottery of 111,1)00 Tickets is
now un sale, containing 3 Maury Prizes of 20,9001. and
37 other Capitols; mid the Drawing will begin 23d neat
Mouth (.11urek

L4W INTELLIGENCE.

COtTRT OF eIIANCERT, Wrorriourrat,

TnuasuAt; Ftimausav H

The LORD Cnanced,Los set at half-past ten
o'clock.
lu the matter of the Will of the lute Duke of
a•r. A L6A NS.

The SOLICITOR-6104E8A1. mnveil that aeveinl
soma or motley. Which were in the A ecomitaiit-
Gestentrit Office. should be p aid out to 111% N1:1.
Bachequer. they being the iiiiiniont or leKitry
deity uccrued on the will of the late Duke of St.
Albano.
The LOAD CHANCELLOR—I" Be it 110."
Motion goantttl.

AUCTIONEERS.

LEONARD is the ntatier RS, a Betslrrupt.

The Loan CHANCELLOR obse►ved, he would
give judgment in this Petition to-morrow. He per-
ceived by the papers before him, that the nuctioneer
under the commission of bankruptcy had bought
several articles for himself sit the sale of the bank-
rupt's effects. lie mentioned this for the purpose
of its being known, that an auetioucer under a
commission is not warranted in purchasing the
bankrupt's effects, and it is tratoactioo that never
will be allowed by this Court.