Star.
London, England, 1827-10-12 00:00:00

DUMFRIES, Ocr. 9.

We have much pleasure. in stating that the Members
of the Caledonian Hunt, with their usual generosity,
have transmitted to Provost M'Kie 501.-sterling, to be
applied to, and distsibuted among the following chari.
lies, viz. lil to the Dumfries and Galloway Royal In-
€rfasrf ; IW. to the Dispensary ; 101. 50 the Hospital;
101. to the Ladies Free School, and 51. to our towns-
men Deacon Johnston. This ancient, who is either
or 100, is by far the oldest man in the town of Dum-
fries. Till within the last fire years he supported him.
self exclusively by his own industry. but in consequence
of an accident, he is now unable to move about with
his Wonted activity. The Trades are very kind to bim, and
besides his stated allowance of Box-money, take various
other methods of eviacing their respect for the father
of the Seven Incorporations. George 111. lived so long
that at the time of his son's accession to the Throne
moss people had forgotten the ceremony of proclaieting
a new sing. But Deacon Johnston, who has lived in
several reigns, was quite au jail to the business; and
Imbue often heard that his traditional lore prolied of
tonsiierabte use to the constituted authoritied of the
South of Scotland. To have been 'remembered by the
Hunt will make the old man's heart leap for joy, and
the more so as the members of that honourable institu-
tion are Dot in the habit of singling out individual ob-
jects of chatity.—Dinufries.Courier.
The letter cattier, did not • leave the General Post
(Ace yesterday till much later than the usual time, in
consequence Of the arrival of three packets from the
West Indies, and many thousand ship letters from va-1
rinses ports.
Besides forged Bank of %gland one pound notes,
there is a great quantity of counterfeit coin now circu-
lating in this town, both sovereigns and shillings. We
understand that ti,e police officers of the town are talk-
ing every endeavour to discover the persons who sits-
seminate his base money.Coicketthatts Caromide.

coy AT of CONDION COUNCIL
• ' • • • CITY POLICL
14
•
tetchy
a otkrt, was held, principally for the
pose of disctissiug the merits of the Report on the*,
of the Police. ft was gieatlfctowded.
Alderman Verwast.ea rose to amnion his surprise at
the opposition which had been given to the Resolu ions
which had been proposed for the protection of prolierty,
and at the opposition which was, he unierstood, con•
templated—(Hear, hear). He differed altogether from
those who were of opinion that there would be a diffi-
culty in effecting Ate- change which had bees teonin-
mended. Since complaints had been made. in 1821,
of the numerous robberies.committed in the City of
London, the system of depredation had greatly in-
creased, and were the Corporation to allow it still to
increase, without onceffort at counteraction? He did
think, that, upon a subject upon which all were of the
sate opinion—that burglaries and robberies were be
coming more and more frequent—it would be considered
necessary to act with vigour and in concert. He did
suppose that tl:e Court would be ready to adopt a plan
which promised a greater degree of protection than
was at present known ;. but he had calculated too san-
guinely on unanimity. He had not, however, yet heard
one argument in support of the existing system, which,
indeed, the town considered most deplorable, although
he had looked at every side calmly and dispassionately.
The plan which he had submitted was simple in its
arrangement. It provided that the watch should go
on and come off at stated hours, leaving the different
Wards at all times under protection in their absence.
It provided for impartial protection, and tAr prevention
of connivance between the watchmen and diteress; it
provided. an active and responsible superintendance,-
and rendered ins, ection not at all difficult. Now whit,
were the objections? It was fist stated, that the plan
would trench upon the responsibility and interests of,
the local anihorities; (Here the worthy Alderman,
quoted the Act of Pailiament to shew that those who
started this objection were quite mistaken). Now, what=
ever objection there might be upon the part of the local
authorities, the proposed plan would be in operation for
one year; and if it were found not to answer at the
conclusion of that period.- it could be easily abandoned,
aid another substituted—(Hear). The only other ob-
jection which he had heard made was the expense. His
worthy friend (Mr. Figgins) had said, that the expense
would be considerable. Tnis he denied, and he adduced
the arguments advanced on the former discussion in
proof of the denial.

Mr. RAIIISHAR was of opinion that everything that
could be dime ought to be done for the protection of
property, but he questioned whether the exp nue incurred
by the l roposed system would not be greater than the
benefit derived from it. (Here Mr. Ramshaw adverted
to some points formerly discussed)—and
The LORD MAYOR requested that what had been
decided upon before would be avoided on the present
occasion, in mercy to the Court.
t. MILMBER stated, that when the Court went to'
cramp the watchman in his pay, much protection could'
not be expected. The City ought to have new and
efficient men to act. If the old.. feeble, asthmatic ob-
jects were dispensed with, the benefit would soon be'
telt by the public. If proper pay were given there
would be but little to be apprehended from thieves.
(Hear, heir} •
Aldernun VasAufs, in alluding to the proposed'
pay of Yid. an hour to the watchmessi said. that it he
had tirop.tsed more he was aware he,w.Oultilrauttftor
opposition. He left it to the Court 4 Mide n'poti that
point. If at the end of the year it were found that the
local authorities could mak, such a reduction as might
be thought necessary, an increase pietesponding Wight
take place—(Hear, bear). . .•

Mr. Rooms said; that he had at the outset suggested
to the Court the necessity of considering the expense.
He had stated that that expense would be very great,
and he had neither seen nor heard anything to induce
him to alter that opinion—(Hear, heat). He could
shew that the expense of the project would be tenor•
moos, but if it could be manifested to him that that
expense would produce a great benefit, he would no
longer consider it proper to offer the ,lightest opposi-
tion. In fact, he believed that the proposed plan would
be worse than the present—(A laugh). In his parish
no more than one burglary had taken place within a
year and a half. He was of opinion that in making
arrangements with regard to the watch, the circum-
stances of wholesale and retail neighbourhoods ought
to be considered.—(Hear, hear). If in a retail neigh-
bourhood the watch were set at eight o'clock, the time
when business was in the height of bustle, the greatest
annoyance would be given to the shopkeeptrs ; while, in
a wholesale neighbourhood, it would be necessary to
have their early attendance—(Hear, hear). Mr. Fig-
gins then stated, that in some Wards the watchmen
were paid SI an hour, and he argued that at all events
it would be cruel to diminish the profits of poor men in
the situation of watchmen. As to the reduction of
numbers, if in some neighbourhoods the watchmen were
oat numerous they would be killed—(A laugh, and
cries of bear). A particular line of police was, there-
'
fore, nr t applicable to certain Wards ; tor, in the quiet
Wards, there was no occasion for numbers or activity.
He then stated, that if the new plan were adopted, the
additional expense, in some of the Wards, mutt reach
nearly 100 per cent. He expatiated upon the absurdity
of diminishing the numbers of watchmen in such If'
parish as that of St. Brine's; and he referred to the
worthy Member (Mr. Tickner), as an authority for the
argument, that, without the present number, there would
be no a:.equate security for person or property in that
parish, where there sere so many outlets for thieves, and
such facilities for depredations. Atter some further
observations upon the Impropriety of adopting the sug-
gested change, he observed, that he had seen a report
in one of the principal Journals of the day—an article,
stating that the Common Council were in the hab:t of
eating up the produce of the Watch-rates—Laughter).
Now he believed that there never had been made such
use of the Money arising from that rate.

Mr. TAYLOR (of Cripplegate Ward,) in the coarse of

some ob,arvattons, state , that the article alluded to
contained an exaggerAtion of some importance, inas-
much as it introduced the sum of 3.5,000/. instead of
25,0001. He was of opinion that 3d. an hour ought at
All events to be paid to the watchmen.

Mr. 'helmet' said that he had been called upon to
give his opinion with respect to St. Bride's parish; and
he must say, that he believed that parish would be be-
nefited by a reduction of the nightly watch—(Hear,
hem )—if pioper men were substituted for the guardians.
He believed that he could speak with equal certainty,
or the practicability of a reduction in the parish of St.
Sepulchre—(Here it was proposed that three pence an
hour should be given to the watchmen, instead of two-
pence halfpenny).

Mr. DRINICALD called upon the Court to reflect be-
fore they determined upon incurring an additional ex-

pense of 6 0001. a yews addition arikkh the 0" half-
penny. would r. e_
Mr. OiIIEadIWAY *as in-favour of the li?solutions,i
and spoke strongly in lasoric t f s • "
Mt. Deputy SalerNDsits %mei ; that the dole aVir
reminded him of the mountain in I.hour. It certainly
did not. like the mnantain,' bring forth the poor little
animal, hut it produced mischief Ihealcrilable—(Hear
hear ! and laughter). The project was be very thing
to paralyse the whole energies or the authoritie,
It was the mere child of theory, and wag not reducible
to practice, so as to benefit those whom it *at intended
to effect—(Heir, hear). In bis opinion, it was merely
brought forward-to increa!e the power and patronage
of the Court of Aldermen. When a large measure,
which involved the property of the citinens of London,
was brought forward, the least that could be expected
would be Oat it would be useful. Now this plan. wit
neither useful nor ornamental—(lavghree)..-r—and be
called upon the Court to ignore it altogether.
Mr. BLACK CT thougbt that the pay of the watchmen
was already tro little, and care should be taken not to
reduce it.

It was ultimately re,olved that the pay should be
threepence an hour.—Upon the proposition for abo-
lishing all watch bole,.
Mr. Rooters said, that he had not seen that those
Wards were better watched which bhd no watch-b, ;es
than those were which had—(A laugh)—and he dt not
perceive why the hoses should be taken away H.
then moved an Amendment, that the arrangement
with respect to the watch-boxes be left to the local
authorities.

Mr. Dixon said, that he won)] call upon any man
of feeling to decide, whether it would have been
el .iritable to close up or rfie away the watch boles, on
such a night as the preceding—(laughter). It blew a
hurricane and rained all night. He seconded the
Amendment, which, was immediately negatived, and tf:e
original Resolution was carrried in the affirmative; so
that the City watchrhen must in fu ure sleep on the
steps of hall doors, or under gateways.
Alderman VINABLZ3 briefly replied to the argument,
that great expense would be incurred by the new plan.
Mr. Dixon hoped, that in the consideration of the
Bill, one subject would-be particularly considered—that
of changing the stations of the watchmen.
The Report was then agreed to, and after some busi-
ness of no public importance was transacted, the Court
adjourned.