The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-22 00:00:00

A LETTER TO VISCOUNT MELBOURNE

ON POLICE.

BY MONTAGU GORE, ESQ.
LONDON. JAMES RIDGWAY. 1832. pp. 16.

The objects of the writer of this letter are to
recommend the formation of volunteer corps, and
extend the system of Metropolitan Police to
other parts of the kingdom. The first has been
already explained in a former pamphlet by the
same author, and he thus expresses himself on
the other :

" It would, of course, be necessary to appoint in every
town, where the system was to be established, two stipen-
diary Justices, under whose controul the Police would he;
and I would suggest, that not only should the immediate
suburbs of all such towns he included within the operation
of this force; but that in the same manner as the Justices
for the metropolitan district are Justices of the Peace for
all parts of the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Hertford,
Essex, and Kent ; so the jurisdiction of the Justices for
any of those provincial towns should extend, if required,
to any part of the county in which such towns were
situated ; and the Police force should be available to act in
any part of the said county, in case of emergency. For
which purpose it might be desirable, that a portion of the
Police of each place should he mounted.

" The same system that was adopted in the large towns,
might be followed in the coal districts, and in the iron dis-
tricts ; and wherever a large population is congregated, the
Police being in such districts, under the controul of two
stipendiary Justices, as in the towns.
" The great objection to this plan, would of course be
the increase of power given to the Crown. But this strikes
me as a difficulty, rather in terms, than in fact. _

" It is true the Crown would have the command of this
force, and that the stipendiary Justices would be appointed
by it. But the Ministers of the Crown would be re-
sponsible for the execution of this power. What Minister
would dare to abuse this power? What Minister could
abuse it with impunity !
" Again, nothing would be more easy than to give the
House of Commons the same controul over this force as it
has over the standing army. It might, for instance, be
determined, that the Police Act, like the Mutiny Act,
should extend no farther than one Session ; that its powers
should expire, unless continued by a renewed ♦ote of the
House ; and there seems no reason why the sums for its
support should not constitute a part of the annual ways
and means. By this regulation, the real power would be
in the bands of the House of Commons ; and can it be
supposed that an House of Commons would continue the
supplies to any Minister who entertained designs against
the independence of the nation ?
" Such a force, it seem to me, would be sufficient, not
only to preserve peace, but to give confidence ; the rich
would no longer dread to circulate their wealth, which,
flowing through its former channels, would enrich and
fertilize the country; public peace would be preserved by
the rightful power of the law ; and the power of the law
would be checked and controuled by the constitutional
authority of the House of Commons."

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A correspondent informs us that the cholera
morbus is prevalent in Paris, and has been so for the last two
months. We stated as much some days ago on the authority of
private letters from thence, which has not since been contra-
dicted.