The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-23 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THE LONDON JOURNALS.

We have received many letters on the subject of
Mr. Peel's Police Bill, but they are so voluminous,
and some of them so intemperate, that insertion
cannot be given to them. A case is reported from
Lambeth-street, as having happened yesterday,
which proves—if any proof had been necessary—
the absolute want of a central and controlling power
in the metropolitan police. Here were a gang of
robbers pursued by one set of watchmen, and actu-
ally suffered to escape by another set, who would
not stir a foot beyond their own boundary line, to
cross and turn the flying villains. It is impossible,
without a spirited and cordial co-operation thsrough-
out the police in all its departments, to afford pro-
tection to property, or to punish crime. There is
another report, and from a different office,—namely,
Bow-street,—which will tell its own story, and
place in a proper point of liew the lamentations of
those wiseacres who are so extremely apprehensive
touching the military principles of Mr. Peel's new
bill. The ruffian Beazeley—the keeper of a brothel
—the tyrannical persecutor of unhappy women who
failed, or were unable to bribe him—and the brutal
assailant of a peaceful passenger whom he " sus-
pected of ringing" a door bell in St. Martin's-
court,—this vagabond, who had on a former oc-
eision been suspended by Mr. Halls for general bad
character, or specific transgression, was restored, it
seems, by the precious parish authorities to his forfeit-
ed post of watchman,and again commissioned to insult
and knock down all such of the liege subjects of his
Majesty as might be deemed fit matter for experi-
ment on their purses to the profit of this worshipful
peace-officer. The advocates for parish patronage
in the nomination of watchmen, can scarcely be i3no-
rant of the peculiar talents for which these ancient,
reverend, and most " constitutional" guardians of
life and property had been celebrated. From
Shakspeare down to Fielding and Sheridan, your
watchman was the standing jest. Night-constable
Dogberry might be famed for his wisdom, but of
Fielding's watchmen, drowsiness seems to have
been the characteristic. In his description of the
hour which precedes the dawn, he describes it as
the period when highwaymen are awake, and
" honest watchmen fast asleep." So when pie.
is asked whether certain of his dramatis persona'
were supposed "to be asleep all this time ?" the
answer supplied by Sheridan is " fast as watchmen !"
So ipuch for the protectors fdrnished to us by the
" ancient Constitution of England !"—more ancient,
confessedly, than that of eight3neight. Alas ! that the
Duke of Wellington's Ministry should make such
deadly war on Constitutions ! - One of our letters,
signed" A Constant Reader," suggests some con-
siderations worthy of notice towards the security of
the subject, under the ceming Bill, from partial or
incapable Magistrates. It certainly has often ap-,
peered to us, that from the Country Magistracj
being composed of gentlemen who are not obliged to
adduce any testimony of their fitness for the office
previously to their assuming it, the greater and more
anxious are the indirect precautions which ought to
be taken for the sake of public justice, against the
consequences of their unlearned education, and
against the risks of their being really unqualified,
since they cannot be proved so a priori. if Justices of
the Peace were all professional men, there might be
little reason to guard against unskilfulness in the dis-
charge of their duty: but being, as they are, no more
than country gentlemen, some strong measures might
be fairly had recourse to for the purpose of com-
pelling them to acquire the requisite know-
ledge. We do not, therefore, quite disagree with
our correspondent, who complains of the un-
bounded levity with which the ignorance and in-
capacity of magistrates, however ruinous to the
parties seeking justice at their hands, are treated by
the usage, at least, of the Courts of Westminster,
if not by the letter of the law ; nor should we be
sorry to find in the new Bill some provision upon
this interesting subject. Another correspondent,
under the signature of " Civis," animadverts most
justly upon the slack attendance which is given by
the paid magistrates of police at the different offices
of this great city. It is beyond endurance that five
hours out of four-and-twenty should be the whole
amount of their attendance, while such multitudes
of cases arise which press for magisterial interfe-
rence from morning to night amongst more than a
million of people. Here, then, is another topic
which we trust wilibe glanced at by the forth-
coming Bill of the Home Secretary. We must
add, that if all the provisions of that measure be
not equally well cornidered, the Committee of the
House of Commons will afford an opportunity for
amending them, but that to the principle of a cen-
tral, superintending, and responsible power, every
man who reflects at all must yield his hearty con-
currence.—Times.

The recent Elections of Parochial Authorities in
the Metropolis afford abundant proof, if proof were
wanting, that the only security against malversa-
tion
in office is popular suffrage. Wherever pa-
rishes have been placed at the mercy of a body of
the inhabitants, acting as Select Vestrymen, they
have uniformly been plundered, and that often in
almost every possible way—it sounds so well to
have the management of a parish placed in the hands
of a number of individuals of rank and respectability,
generally above all suspicion of jobbing A mo•
ment's resection, however, would enable any man to
see that these respectable personages are merely
named for effect, and to give a more ample scope to
the jobbers who really manage the parish business.
Lord Tenterden, Lord Chief Justice Best, Mr. Jus-
tice Bayley, and Mr. Justice Parke are, for instance,
members of the Select Vestry of St. Giles-in.the-
Fields. These distinguished individuals are, no
doubt, more usefully employed for their country,
than in ascertaining whether this or that functionary
has been cheating the parish,by one of the innumerable
tricks, in which the tradesmen and middle classes in
general of this most moral and religious country are
such proficients. In some of the recent purifications
innumerable swindling§ have already come to light.
A tradesman, for instance, supplies the parish with
certain articles ; his paymaster is also a tradesman ;
and he knows that, to have the parish custom, it is
necessary he should take payment in goods from the
tradesman in question. Having to dispose of these
goods at a loss of 40 or .50 per cent., perhaps, he
charges the parish accordingly on what he furnishes.
So long as the parish authorities appear firmly
seated, he will not be such a fool as to give any in-
timation of this collusion, because he would there-
by deprive himself, in time to come, of the privi-
lege of supplying the parish. But when there is
what is called a sweeping out, there is no use in
any longer being discreet ; or rather, perhaps, the
best way of recommending himself to the new autho-
rities is to reveal the tricks of the old. A. tho-
rough sweeping out of the functionaries of a parish
is advisable occasionally, even when nothing positive
in the way of malversation is known, as a means of
bringing to light confederacies against the public,
not to be otherwise discovered. The author of the
article on the " State and Prospects of the Coun-
try," in the Quarterly Review, to which we yester-
day alluded, observes truly, that the strides we made
during the last thirty years, have greatly corrupted
us ; that " not only certain classes, but the whole
of our community in their several stations and de-
grees, departed from the simplicity, foresight, and
frugality of their forefathers; and indulged in notions
with respect to dress, houses, furniture, living, edu-
cation, and establishments, which no wealth could
support ;" and further, that- people must " bring
down their ideas to the level of their fortune," in
order to be able, " in Paley's sarcastic, but signifi-
cant phrase, to keep a conscience.' " The truth
is, the people of this country have slid imperceptibly
into a degree of laxity of principle unexampled, we
believe, at present in the world. The speculations
of 1825 tore aside the veil which concealed the de-
formity ; for they exhibited the first names in the
metropolis, including numerous members of both
Houses of Parliament, as parties to obvious frauds
for robbing the unwary. These speculations origi-
nated in an unwillingness to abandon the expensive
modes of living which were no longer compatible

with the existing state of profits. So far have the 1
disreputable modes of conducting business been
carried in this metropolis, by commercial men of
the first name, that an English merchant, we are
sorry to say, has by no means the credit abroad
which he used to have. Many of the disreput-
able modes have been so blown upon, that they
can hardly be longer practised. A house, for in-
stance, in Canada, the United States, or Jamaica,
give an order to their correspondent in London—the
London correspondent executes the order, and is
furnished by the houses whence the parts of the or-
der which he cannot supply himself is obtained,
with double invoices, one for the correspondent's
own private use, and the other for the use of the
house abroad, charged ten per cent. higher. Ibis
practice has not been confined to one or two houses,
but (and we speak on the best authority) has been
resorted to by the first houses. The recent im-
proved communications by steam, &c., have taught
foreigners a useful lesson. A merchant from one of
our Colonies or the United States takei a trip to
London, and purchases for himself; he returns with
his cargo, which he can afford to sell so much
cheaper than the merchant who relied on the ho-
nesty of his correspondent. The latter becomes
distrustful, and visits in turn this country, and dis-
covers the fraud, for we cannot call it by any other
name. Thus a large and most important branch of
trade has been • cut up by the inordinate avarice of
the London merchants. The same want of good
faith prevails in the disposal of consignments; and
bills of charges are made up on an extravagant plan,
which cannot, however, be legally excepted against.
Thus, for instance, it is a well-known device to
charge the whole, or the greatest part of the car-
riage, of a number of packages of goods on each
separate package. The clerks and shopmen, in
their turn, are not behind their employers ;
and hence a man who employs others under him,
who would not be ruined, must have recourse
to a system of espionage of the most disagreeable
description. The Bankers, for instance, knowing
that the information respecting coach parcels, which
enables the thieves to obtain them, is generally de-
rived from clerks in their establishment, with whom
the head of the thieves is in an ❑nderstanding, are
obliged to examine into the private habits of the
clerks. The thief again—we mean the capitalist of
60 or 100,0001., who plans the attacks on property,
keeping himself always safe—has also his spies on
an establishment. He inquires whether any of these
dress remarkably well—are seen with fine women,
keep expensive establishments, horses, &c.—fre-
quent gaming-houses ?—and according to his infer-
ences as to the resources of the individuals, as com-
pared with their expenditure, he makes his approach.
Occasionally a banker lays a trap for these knowing
gentry, and a sham negociation with a leading capi-
talist, of a very amusing nature, was communicated
to us by a banker some years ago. There are, no
doubt, still many worthy people among us; but the
bad habits to which we allude have become much
too general. They must bring about their own
cure; for the idea of a nation, of which each
individual lives beyond his income for any length
of time, is out of the question. We pique
ourselves on being a moral and religious na-
tion, but we have never been able to discover the
process by which people in this country are made
moral and religious. Morality and religion can
only be inculcated under the parental roof by pa-
rental care. But the English are too intent on bu-
siness to trouble themselves with the superintendance
of their children, and the mothers do not like to have
the neatness and order of their houses discomposed
by boys. Hence they are driven from home as
sown as possible to boarding-schools, where they
may acquire education strictly so called ; but where
they never can acquire what is of far more conse-
quence—the improvement of the disposition, and
habits of prudential restraint. " One of the singulari-
ties of the time (says the Quarterly Reviewer alluded
to) is an unwillingness to tell the truth, even where
there is no ground for suppressing or perverting it."
Hence, amidst our notorious laxity of principle, the
cant about our morality and religion. The people of this
country have, generally speaking, not even an idea:of
what morality is. When an Englishman hears of
immorality he always associates with it something
respecting the relations between the sexes. When-
ever any man happens, at any parish election, to be
accused by Mr. Hunt of fraud or malversation, he
answers—Do not I live with my wife, while you do
not live with yours? Obviously imagining that dis-
honesty is quite venial, compared with family dis-
agreements; and that, without knowing anything
of such disagreements, or being authorised to inter-
fere in them, any man is at full liberty to sit in
judgment on them: It would be well if Englishmen
would take it into their heads to enlarge their notions
of morality so far, at all events, as to include fair
dealing among them, and to look with mere seve-
rity on the various modes of fraudulently acquiring
the property of others, by contracting debts without
ability to pay, or without the intention to pay.—
Morning Chronicle.

One of the most obvious features of a true Colo•
nial policyrshould be the peopling of its foreign pos-
sessions from the surplus population of the mother
country ; and when we are told, on the one hand,
that a large mass of the population of England, Scot-

land, and Ireland, are starting for want of employ-
ment, and, on the other, that in one of the most
promising colonies in the world (that of New South
Wales) " all that is wanted is a sufficiency of indus-
trious inhabitants to cultivate its soil," it seems ex-
traordinary that so little encouragement is held out
to persons who are inclined to better their condition
in a new hemisphere. A forced emigration is %?hat
we would on no account advocate. It would savour,

far too much to our taste, of that journey which cri-
minals take under another designation. At the same
time it cannot, we believe, be denied, that much of
the species of forced emigration to which such
persons are condemned, would be avoided, if
the means of voluntary emigration existed be-
fore want had driven them to commit the of-
fences which subject them to the former. But
not only is any thing like encouragement to emigra-
tion withheld from forming part of our Colonial
system, but an actual prohibition of it exists to a
great extent. Though masters of the great Conti-
nent of India, its whole surface is sealed from so
much as a visit from a British traveller, unless he
possesses a passport under the hands and seals of the
Lords of Leadenhall•street. Now India, like Ca-
nada and New South Wales, is virtually a posses-
sion of the British Crown; and to tell a British sub-

ject that he may not set foot on any territory the

sovereignty of which belongs to his country, is alike
impolitic and unjust. We mention this but inci-
dentally, as it was not to the case of British India that
we meant our present remarks to be directed, but
rather to the impolicy of allowing our unpeopled
colonies to be made the source of mere personal gain
to a few favoured individuals, instead of being ren-
dered, as they ought to be, subservient to the inte-
rests of the Empire generally. At any rate, the two
objects, we should think, might be combined ; and
if grants of land are to be made to such persons,
they should, at least, he under a condition, that a
certain number of free settlers, of both sexes, should
be located upon them in proportion to their value
and extent.—Morning Herald.
Mr. Peel has taken so much the start, not only of
all his contemporaries, but of all his predecessors in
' office, in the very laudable task of improving the
civil and criminal law of the country,—in devising
the best modes of apportioning punishment, as well
as of preventing crime, that we cannot but express
our surprise that in the extensive range of his in-
quiries, it should never have occurred to him to put
down, by the strong arm of the law, those pests of
society, the common informers. There is not a greater
blot oil our statute-book than the existence of such
creatures, nor a greater disgrace on the country
than their encouragement. Were things called by
their right names, those Acts of Parliament which
authorise informations to be received from those,
who are w illing to make a trade of doing as much
injury to their neighbours as they can, ought to
commence in somewhat the following style and man-

ner :—" Whereas it is deemed expedient for the
more effectual harassing and annoyance of his Ma-
jesty's subjects, and more especially for the encou-
ragement of perjury, the gratification of malice,
and the growth of cunning, &c., that a species
of animal, known in the human genus as a common
informer, should not be deprived of the means of
living, but on the contrary duly fed, clothed and
lodged at the public expence, be it therefore enacted,
Szc." Such a preamble would be in perfect keep-
ing both with the existing laws, and with the exist-
ing practices of common informers ; and what, per-
haps, would furnish an additional recommendation,
the law would be duly kept, at least by the in-
formers. Scarcely a day passes, which does not
furnish some gross instance either of perjury or
subornation of perjury; and yet the parties are not
brought to ju,tice—and yet every one is alarmed at
the increase of crime—and wonders from what cause
the increase can possibly proceed! We say look at
the law which sanctions such practices, and part at
least of the cause will be apparent—amend the lair,
and much, though not all of it, will disappear; for
it is not to be denied, that however wicked men
may be, the inventions of men have made their kind
much worse.—Morning Advertiser.

I took him into custody, and with the assistance of ano-
ther watchman conveyed him to St. Martin's,Watch-house.
Mr. HALLS asked Beazley if he were quite certain that
he saw the young man ring the bell ? " I ask the question,"
observed Mr. Halls, " because I do not see any such
charge entered in the watch-book."
Beazley replied, that he certainly did not see the de-
fendant ring the bell; but finding him near the bell he
suspected that he had been ringing it.
Mr. HALLS—And pray, Mr. Watchman, is it your
habit to to take persons into custody, and lodge them in
the watch-house, on mere suspicion ?
Mundy, the constable of the night, said, that scarcely a
night passed that Beazley did not take some person into cus-
tody upon the most frivolous charges, for which, no doubt,
he had his own views.
Mr. HALLS-If I do not very much mistake, I have
had this fellow before me on another occasion for mis-
conduct.
Mundy said that the conduct of Beazley on the pre-
vious night was of the most brutal and savage description.
After he had made his charge against the young man, and
when it was entered in the book, he refused to suffer any one
to lock up the prisoner, and in taking that office upon him-
self be struck the defendant a terrible blow on the back of
the head, which precipitated him from the top to the bottom
of the steps;leading to the place where prisoners were
usually confined. The young man was so severely injured
by the blow, that be lay for more than half an hour in a
state of insensibility, bleeding profusely from the wound he
had received. When he revived, which was not for some
time, the young man appeared to be bewildered, and neither
knew where he was, nor what had happened. He raved
in the most frightful manner, and required the attention of
the watch-house-keeper and those who were present, to
prevent him from injuring himself and others. In the
course of an hour, however, he became tranquil.
Mr. HALLS—This is really most.seandalous conduct on
the part of a watchman.
Ford, the gaoler, observed, that Beazley was long ago
unfit for the situation which he held; but what could be
expected from a fellow who was the keeper of a common
brothel? Beazley—lt is false to say so ; I keep no such
house.

Ford—Don't tell me that, Mr. Beasley ; I know better ;

you keep a house in Eagle-court, White Horse-yard.
Mr. HALLS—I now perfectly recollect, that on a former
occasion I suspended this same fellow, upon the statement
of an unfortunate woman, whom he charged before me
with disorderly conduct. I also remember it was stated
at the time that he kept a house of reception for men and
women, and that he was in the habit of taking to the
watch-house those unfortunate females who refused or ne-
glected to pay him the usual contribution. Although no
charge could then be brought home to him, I deemed it my
duty to suspend him, leaving the watch committee to exa-
mine into the charges preferred against him. I stated to
the committee what any impression was, and expressed an
opinion that if the charges made by the female could be

borne out by facts, that a watchman keeping an improper
house was an unfit person to be trusted. I understood
(continued the Magistrate) that Beasley was not to be re-
stored unless the charges preferred against him were proved
to be unfounded.
Ford—l knew then that Beasley kept a house of ill
fame, and so I stated to your Worship, and I repeat the
same thing now.
Mr. HALLS—AII that I can say is, that the fault os
his being continued a watchman after such a charge doet
does not rest with a Magistrate of this office, as we wen
as far as our power extended. I shill now act as I did
before, namely, suspend the watchman, and recommend
his discharge. - " Now, young man," turning to the de-
fendant, " the bread of this watchman may depend upon
your answer. Speak truly, did you, or did you not, ring
the bell ?"
Leonard—l declare Sir, I did not. In fact, a female
stood between me and the bell, when this man came up
and ordered me to move on. Before I threatened to take
his number and have him reported, he seized me by the
collar, and dragged me to the watch-house.
Mr. HALLS asked if the watchman were present who
assisted in taking the defendant to the watch-house. The
other watchman then stood' forward, and said, that on
hearing the rattle sprung, he hastened to the spot, and
found Beasley holding the young man by the collar with
one hand, while the other was thrust into his fare.
Mr. HALLS-Did you hear Beasley say any thing ?
Watchman—l heard him -say he would knock the de-
fendant's head off.
Mr. HALLS then ordered the evidence of all the wit-
nesses to be reduced to writing for the purpose of having it
transmitted to the Watch Committee, which was done ac- ,
cordingly. The Magistrate thee called upon 'Beasley to
find bail for his appearance at the Sessions to answer to
the charge of assault; adding th:.t he Would take care that
an indictment should' be preferred.
Soon after Sir. R. Nutria entered the office, and having
heard of the facts of the case, cordially concurred in the
view taken of it by Mr. Halls, and without hesitation
joined in the_suspension of Beasley.
[We are requested by Sir R. BIRNIE to acknowledge
the receipt of 21. to be appropriated to the office poor-box,.
being the seventh contribution to the same amount of a
benevolent individual signing herself (for the handwriting
appears to be that of a lady) "A friend to the unfortunate." 3
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Yesterday John Willis, a labourer, residing in Queen-
street, Seven Dials, appeared before the sitting Magistrate,
Mr. DYER, and stated the folloWing circumstances :
About four o'clock that morning, he was passing through
Long-acre, and close to Newport-market picked up a
paper resembling a bank-note. Whether it really was
such or not, he was unable to say, having never learned to
read, but anxious to satisfy his mind, (and, perhaps, his
appetite too,) lie went into a ham and beef shop, kept by
a person of the name of Allen, in Vigo-street, Regent-
street, and showing Allen the paper, requested him to tell
him what it was. Allen having looked at the paper, asked
him how he came by it, and being informed, he at first
offered him 51. for it, which he refused; but enlarging his
offers till he came to 201., when he (Willis) rejected all
composition, Allen kept the paper, and turned him out of
his shop.
Mr. DYER thought the matter required explanation,
and ordered an officer to bring Allen before him.
In a short time Allen was in attendance, and producing
a 51. country note of the Newmarket Bank said, that that
was the psper which the complainant put into his hands,
and of which he requested the change. He denied having
offered him any sum whatever for it; but being a country
note, he refused to change it; and as the Complainant was
insolent on the occasion, and he (Allen) suspecting that
there was something not strictly honest in the matter, he
detained the note, and put him out.
Willis having looked-at the note, insisted that that was
not the paper he gave to Allen. The one now produced
was whole, but the other (that which he picked up) was
nearly rent in two. He persisted in saying that Allen
had offered him the several sums above stated, and added
that he never asked far the change of the note.
Mr. DYER observed, that if this were true, the note
which was found must be to_ a much larger amount than
Si., and asked Allen why he had not himself come for Ward
before and given information of the matter at this office.
Allen hoped that no blame or suspicion would attach to
him. He had been a great number of years in business
in the neighbourhood, and always bore a respeetable
character.
Mr. DYER said, that all he required was an explanation,
and, handing the note over to the chief clerk, desired that
the circumstance might get all the publicity that was
possible.
The parties then retired, poor Willis evidently much
chagrined at the disappointment.
LAMBETH-STREET.
Yesterday, Mr. Newton, a gentleman residing in Mile-
end Old Town, waited On the sitting Magistrates, Messrs.
WYATT and J. HARDWICK, to inform them of an occur-
rence that took place on that morning.
Mr. Newton stated, that on that morning his house had
been broken into, by the removal of a panel with centre-
bits, from the door leading into his back-premises. The
thieves having killed the watch-dog, traversed the house
from top to bottom, and among other articles which they
stole took from the bed's head of his daughter's apartment,
without' disturbing her, a watch and its appendages. Hear-
ing unusual noises in the house, he gave the alarm ; and
three of the watchmen of the hamlet immediately ran to his
assistance, but their exertions to apprehend the burglars
were defeated by the conduct of those of the Commercial-
road trust ; who; though they 'could hive easily intercepted
them (they.; in their escape, passing near their beat),refused
to remove a step from their boundary-line, or render the
slightest aid. Mr. Newton concluded by saying that he
troubled their Worships with this statement in order to the

correction of an abuse of a very enormous character ; and
could assure them that, were it not for the jealousy that
existed between the watchmen of adjoining districts, not
only would the burglars of his premises have been appre-
hended, but offenders generally would not so frequently
evade justice. _ .