The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-19 00:00:00

lIIS MA.IFSTY'S HOUSEIIOLD._

Mr. ;,usitiNGTON brought up the Report of the Committce upon
his Maj..sty'i houst hold.
Mr. Li ohjected to Several observations made yesterday b.! the
Cl Aocellor of the e.xchequer with respect to the fund from which the
dci;,-te..cy in the Civil List \VAS to be supplied.
Mr. BRAND also made some remarks upon the plan of his Ma-
totv's Household, parts. of which he conceived to be objectionaLle.
After some further tleimte, the Report was brought up and agreed to

CONINII-I"iT-E OF SUPPLY.
In the Committee of Supply, the Navy and Ordnance Estittrates
were voted, and the Report was ordtred to be received to-morrow.
NIGHTLY WATCH.
- _

Mr. RYDER said; that he did not rise to propose any plan by which
the Mainly Watch of the Metropulis should be regulated, but for the
vurpcee of moving for the appointment of a select Committee, to en-
gene into its present state, by which means it could be best ascertained
waat measures would be most effectual in securing the safety and tren-
genlity o: the Metropolis. He then made many observations upon the
01: eadful crimes which had been daily committed ; and he particularly
alle.lcd to the recent murders w hich had taken place. Upon examining
the subject, and comparing the state of Eng;end to that of the nations on
the Coetineet with respect to crimes, he could not attribute the increas:
which had teken place iu ilegitieus acts, to any negligence of the Police.
In many cities on the Continent horrible crimes were committed with
more tie qte:ncy, notwithstanding the vigilance and activity of the police
under the cote rem! of military despotism. It would be ascertained by
the Committee, whether it was expedient to refarm the Police Acts
altogether, or to alter and amend them. It appeared to him thatithe
present Acts could be so amended, as to answer ail the purposes of a
total change. Those which had been framed in the year 1774, were
only extended to seventeen parishes, and Trustees and Directors were
empowered to act upon them. They had also the appointment of the
Patrole Watch and Beadles, and were, moreover, authorised to as,ess
rates ie eaeh parish. That the provedons of those Acts had not been
attended to was undeniable. He would merely give one instance, which
%awl in effect a violation .of a very impertant provision. This provision
directed that the Trustees shouid appoint none but able-bodied men to
wetch,but he had been informed that it was the custom of Trustees to
give to infirm parifhoners, who were incapable of tieing dny thing, the
eaarge of watching each parish.- After a few more remarks, he stated,
that it wes his intention to move, that all the Members of London,
Westminster, Middlesex, and Surrey, should be of the Committee.
He concluded by moving for the appointment of a Select Commuter, to
inquire into time state of the Nightly Watch in the Metropolis, and the
adjacent parts.
Sir SAMUEL RoMILLY expressed his surprise that the bounds of the
enquiry proposed by his Right I ion. Friend, were so very limited, espe-
cially a:; crimes were progressively increasing. It was evident that
there was a very great increase in enormities since the year 1806. In
that year there were 899 convicted. to 1607 the number increased to
1017; in 1803 to 1110; in 1809 to 1214. and in. 1810 to 1424. He depre-
eau:A the practise of offering rewards to the Police, and concluded by
• ureete, the necessity of lot ming a system by which the entire Police of
the Metropolis should undergo a radical alteration. •
Mr. WyJ.LIAM. Smrra and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUYII
Made some observations upon the motion, and
Mr. Altrecßoeillie filuvtd an Amendment, that the Committee
tined(' also teke into consideration the state of the Police.
To this amendment Mr. Ry Dill said he had no objection.