The Sun.
London, England, 1828-07-29 00:00:00

THE SELECT COMMITTEE. APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE

CAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER I~F COM-

MITMENTS AND CONVICTIONS IN LONDON AND MIRDLE-

SEX, AND INTO THE STATE •F THE POLICE OF TRE ME-

TROrOLIS, AND Or THE DISTRICTS ADJOINING THERETO;

RKPORT AS FOLLOW!! :---

Your Committee considering that the Order of
the House under which their investigation has been
prosecuted, was divisible into two distinct heads of
inquiry, applied themselves in the first instance, to
ascertain (if possible) whether the increase of com-
mitments was to be attributed to a proportionate in-
crease of crime, or whether much of it might not
reasonably be supposed to emanate from circum-
stances and changes in the state of society ; which,
whilst they serve to exhibit conspicuously offences
that have been committed, and to swell the cata-
logue of criminals that have been apprehended, by
no means warrant the inference that there has been a
proportionate perpetration of crime.
Your Committee having had laid before them, by
the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
" summary statements of the number of persons
charged with criminal offences, who were committed
to the several gaols in the cities of London and
Westminster, and county of Middlesex, since the
year 1810," have selected two series of years, for
the purpose of ascertaining what has been the pro-
gressive increase of committals, and for the purpose
of sheaving what proportion that increase bears to
the increase in the population—have commenced
each series with the period at which the previous
Population Return had been completed. But as in
an investigation into that which immediately affects
the security, as well of the person as of the property
of each individual member of the community, it may
he convenient further to show, by a classification of
the offences, how the one or the other are en-
dangered, your Committee have subjoined tables, in
which the cases contained in the same two series are
divided into classes, distinguishing those of ordinary
occurrence which are aimed at the person, from
those also of ordinary occurrence by which property
most immediately under the protection of the person
is invaded; and both of these form offences of rare
otTurremee; and those perpetrated on property ne-
cessarily left in a less protected state.

Thus the Ist class Will contain—murder, manslaughter,
shooting, stabbing, and poisoning.
The 2d class will contain—burglary, emberdement by
servants, frauds, housebreaking, larceny of all descriptions,
stealing from letters, highway robbery, receiving stolen
goods.
The 3d class will contain—cattle stealing, horse steal..
ing, sheep stealing.
The 4th class will contain—rape, assault, with intent
to commit rape, , assault with intent to commit

The sth class will contain—arson, bigamy, cattle
maiming, child stealing, game lawn (offences against), per-
jury, piracies and murder, sacrilege, sending threatening
letters, treason, traffic in slaves, transports at large, felonies
and misdemeanours not otherwise described.

The 6th class will contain—coining, coin putting off
and uttering, forgery, and uttering forged instruments,
forged bank notes having in possession.
To complete the Tables, from which to deduce the result,
it is necessary to add such as will show the amount of the
population of London and Middlesex, at the periods—of the
three last Returns.
In 1801, the population of London and Middle—

flex, WAS 845,400
In 1811, it was 985,100

Being an increase of 39,700
(which is about 17 per cent.)
In 1821, the population of London and Middle-.
_ _

sex, was 1,167,500
From which, if that of 1811 be deducted... 985,100

There will remain an increase of 182,400
(which is about 19 per cent.)

And as nothing has occurred to check the progres-
sive addition to the population, but on the contrary,
much to stimulate and advance it (as for instance,
the invitation held out by the new buildings to oc-
cupants, to conic from distant quarters; and the
introduction of multitudes of workmen and labourers
from various parts of the empire, to assist in the
erection of suet numerous and widely extended
structures,) there is satisfactory ground to suppose,
that between 1821 and 1828, the advance on the
then population, has not been less than it was be-
tween 1811 and 1621.

If so, the fair deduction is, that the population has
again increased 19 per cent.
And as the Population Returns show an increase
of 19 per cent. within the sante periods of time, 19
per cent. of the increase of commitments and con-
victions may be accounted for by a proportionate
surplusage of population, and that there remains at-
tributable to other causes, only per cent.
If the foregoing be a reasonable mode of account-
ing for of the average increase of convic-
tions being 19 per cent., there will remain to be ac.
counted for , for the existence of which
it would be most gratifying to your Committee,
could they suggest such a cause as would enable the
House to apply a direct and effectual remedy.
Several prevalent evils are indeed relied upon by
the Police Justices, and by various of the intelligent
witnesses called before your Committee, as being
sufficient to solve the difficulty; without doubt they
must injuriously influence the state of society, and
deteriorate public morals; your Committee, there-
fore, recapitulate them, more perhaps in the hope
that, by the attention of the House being attracted
to them, every opportunity will be taken for the ap-
plication of correctives ; than in the expectation that
thereby, or indeed by any means, can vicious habits,
in such a thickly inhabited distriet, be so far eradi-
cated as to restore to the Returns of Criminal Com-
mitments that appearance which they piesented
when the population was at least 36 per cent. less
dense.