The Sun.
London, England, 1827-11-02 00:00:00

THE NIGHTLY WATCH.

Sir PETER LAURIE presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Aldersgate Ward, praying that the
proposed alteration in the Nightly Watch might not
take place.—Petition ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. SAUNDERS presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Dowgate Ward, against the proposed
alterations.

A MEMBER presented a petition from one Henry
Knight, stating that he had invented a machine to
check the watchmen, so as to do away with the ne-
cessity of the proposed superintendants of the watch.
The petition was read as follows :

TO THE MGHT HON. THE LORI) MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND

COMMONS OF THE CITY OF LONDON, IN COMMON COUN-

CIL ASSEMBLED.
" The humble Petition of Henry Knight,
of Birmingham, •
" Showeth--That your petitioner !lath invented a ma-
chine for the purpose of ascertaining the attendance of
watchmen to their duty ; that his machines show the pre-
cise time of watchmen being in given situations ; furnish-
ing correct registries of their progress from place to place,
during the time they are on duty, and ascertaining in what
part of their district they were at any period of the night.
He feels assured that the use of these machines (fur which
be has obtained his Majesty's Royal Letters patent) would
insure punctuality on the part of watchmen, and diminish
the annual expense of superintendents.
" Your petitioner, therefore, humbly prays, that he may
be permitted to submit his invention to this Honourable
Court, and that if it be considered worthy of it, they will
give their sanction to its being used in this metropolis.
46 And your petitioner will ever pray."

The petition having been read, the Member who
presented it said that the machine alluded to had
been approved of by a number of scientific persons;
the petitioner was, however compelled to leave town,
but was willing to leave one of h►s machines in the
care of the Hall-keeper, for the general inspection of
the members of the Court.

Mr. GALLOWAY suggested that the petition and
machine should both be referred to the Committee
for General Purposes, and after some few observa-
tions, that proposition was adopted.
Mr. Alderman VENABLES rose to bring in the Bill,
founded on the resolutions of a preceding Court, for
the better regulation of the Nightly 'Watch. He
regretted that on this occasion he should be com-
pelled to take up any of the time of the Court, as
he had no new matter to bring forward ; but in con-
sequence of the misconceptions which he conceived
had obtained possession of the minds of the inha-
bitants of Aldersgate and Dowgate Wards, he was
compelled to say a few words. He denied the ac-
cusation that the plan would prove burdensome, and
therefore could not consent to the exception of any
particular districts ; in fact, it was the grand object
of the plan itself, that it should be general, and not
partial. He declared that the only difficulty that
arose, was that of altering the rate of payment fixed
by the Committee for the watchmen, from 2kd. to
3d. per hour. All manner of difficulties were pointed
out, but the truth was, that those gentlemen who
were hostile to the measure, would net make any
arrangements to facilitate it. He moved that the
Bill be brought up.
Mr. FIGGINS opposed the motion; and as an
amendment, moved that the system of watching at
present in force should be the system adopted for
the next year.
Sir PETER LAURIE seconded the amendment:—
He ridiculed the idea of changing the men every
Right to prevent them from leaguing with prosti-
tutes,. for theyiwotald every night, if changed, meet
with fresh faces, and variety in that way was more
likely to seduce a man than old worn-out faces.—
(A laugh.)
A MEMBER observed that he highly approved of
this plan, as a number of men would always• be kept
in the watch-house ready to assist in any sudden
emergency, instead of having to beat the ward tip
for assistance. _ _

Mr. TAYLOR supported the plan.
Alderman WAITHMAN said the plan fell far short
from what he expected, for so much thunder had
been made about it that it ought to have produced
something. lie thought the conduct of the poor
watchmen, now in existence, had been grossly li-
belled; for although he certainly had seen some
acts of misconduct on their parts, yet generally
speaking, he considered them praiseworthy men.—
As to the charge of watchmen sleeping in their
boxes, he could say that during the last Session of
Parliament he had walked every night from the
House home at all hours, from seven to three and
tour in the morning, and he never met with one
watchman asleep ; but upon the subject of robbing,
he could point out one set of thieves in high life
that had robbed to a greater amount in one year
than all the thieves that had been tried at the Old
Bailey.—(A laugh.)—After sundry other observa-
tions, the worthy Alderman concluded by support-
ing the amendment.
Mr. Deputy ROUTH supported the original propo-
sition at some length.
Mr. S. DIXON ridiculed the whole bill, and sup-
ported the amendment.
Mr. Alderman GARRATT, in a low tone, supported
the bill as a whole, although there were some parts
of it with which he did not altogether agree.
Mr. STEVENS supported the bill.
Mr. Deputy OLDHAM supported the bill.
A MEMBER claimed an exemption for the precinct
of Whitefriars, on account of a privilege that liberty
had been enjoyed for 2.50 years.
Mr. HARMER defended the general good conduct
of the watchmen, whom he thought a set of men
" much more sinned against than sinning."
After some few observations from various Mem-
bers, particularly from the Deputy of Aldersgate
Ward, who strongly opposed' the bill, the cries of
" Question !" and" Spoke !" became so general that
nothing could be heard.
The question was then put, and the CHAIRMAN
declared the amendment to be carried.
A division was called for, and strangers ordered.
to withdraw. The numbers then were asiollow
Aldermen; Commons. Tellers. Total.
For the original motion 3 68 2 73
For the amendment 2 52 2 56
Majority —l7

Upon our re-admission a series of discussions took
place upon the different clauses of the Bill, and much
angry feeling was excited amongst the Members.
A motion of adjournment was twice put, and nega-
tived. At length, upon the motion that the pay of
the watchmen should be three-pence per hour, an
amendment was moved that twopence-halfpenny
should be substituted. Several Members loudly
complained of pressing the Bill forward at that late
hour, a number of the Members having left. However ri
division ultimately took place on this clause, and the
numbers were—

Aldermen. Commons. Tellers. Total.
For the three-peace 2 45 9 49
For twopence-halfpenny 1 35 2 38
Majority -..11.
Most of the original supporters of the Bill voted
for the twopence-halfpenny.
The Court then adjourned, leaving the remaining
clauses of the Bill undisposed of.

The inhabitants of Fletching and the neigh-
bourhood were gratified on Thursday morning last, by the
pleasing intelligence that the Countess of SHEET=Ln h 4
presented her Lora with a son and heir. The guns in the
Park were fired, and the bells rang a merry peal on the oct
casion. The tenantry heard the announcement with unl
feigned joy, a sure sign of the respect which they feel
towards the noble family, but which can only be manifested
on particular occasions..—Brighton Gazcttc.