The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-02-13 00:00:00

I

OPXERVATIONS 01# 1116 PRMRNT srArs
Or 1118 POUCH OP 7718 if RTKUPOLIS.
ST 11. 11. liatawitatoa, UQ. . ''. •
retinas TUE easteuaivats. no. 38, VIM 18124 .
The principle of our present polies estsblishment is.
perhaps, as little objectionable as say that can be de.
a :erel for the regulation of the metropolis. The diel-
%ion of the town into districts. over which distinct
offices, with their establishments, =iambs their seve-
ral joriedletions, seems to present the moat likely
means, of affording to each its adequate protection.
• .11agietrates and officers might, with efficient means,
have thereby the opportunity of becoming acquainted
with the ehatacter of the inhabitancy seder their pro-
wetion. and of ascertaining and disceeeritur the per.
soos and the pursuits of those whiled it is their pee*.
• liar premiere to watch and control. In this respect,
(so far as authoritierdifferently Circumstanced could
be assimilated.) the capital might have much of the
advantage of our provincial magistracy. if facilities
proportioned to its etigenciss were afforded to the ma-
' rietrates acting in London, so as to give them a coastline
• and pervading views( the districts oesnositted to their.
. charge. if, therefore. the °pennies of polls, has
hitherto.disappoisted public expectation, the failure's
neither attributable to the Government, nor to those
• who bore its admiaistration or execution le their
• heads, This failure has arisen in addiloa to the
. clews before mentioned, from the insufficiency of
power and of mesas in every department. and from
else disproportionate strength between these who tide
• minister, and those who violate the laws.
It is hopeless then to expect an effielest police, tan-
' less the Legielatare will' impart to it that influence
• and those large means which will give the necessary
`impulse. direction, and force, to all its executive
branches. With these means, I think that no one
who has rightly conaidered the subject, and witnessed
the praetical illustration of effective police in its
most arduous struggle with a criminal population. can
dm& the issues of • contest between the law and its
• violaties.
' Experimeat is the only test by which we can try a
question of this -sort, and answer the scepticism of
. those who imagine because difficulties have not given
way to the memo hitherto adopted against them, that
all farther auempts out necessarily be visionary and
'abortive.
Bat such, unfortusately, is the coarictioo
of many who thew. Wier that preventive polies is
.imprecticahle.
NottOthstandlog such opposers, I maintain, that if
'police can be made effective in one part of the town, it
• may •be soda another ; and that if it has been tried
saccessfelly is a place where the obstacles were most
.foratiJable. Its semen may a fortiori, be .reasonably
expected, with leas means, and greater ease. when
arch difficulties do not exist; and farther, that if it
.be se le oat or more districts. it may be neivenally
obtained !keening* the whole metropolis. by the ap-
.plicatipar n ettlession .Of Ott !suss which have in
those olsen. proved snecessiel.
. . Mug szemplifieatioi-ifilde principle bas fall-
.* a armed obseriatials sad practice. In the
'varlets of Spitallields there bid existed for a long time
the ,Lost open and daring' defiance of ell law and its
authorities that ever was exhibited hi the metropolis;
it Was not the hidden retreat of catalpa's, wheace
shop. emerged by night, to, copeissit enseen doped'.
Pose or. _opt rages
_free 1,110111,1? maim*
Iberia escape; bit there wii7,114. pariah aelitilly
a commualiy of thieves, and of Gm most profligate.
. •iharatiers, of aliages and deecriptiins, who, in the
....• rape's( day. dared with impunity the approaches of
)..; any force that the police could collect against tam
There wail also in the parish a point of nightly con-
cestratioq, whither these persons resorted, and where.
under the potence of a bear-bait, they poseerted their
manifold eperations, and frOm which .they. departed in
pursuit of them ; whioh spot too, fro. tbe exhibition
of a ferocious sport, attracted numbers of Idle and
thoughtless spectators, matey of whom, doubtless.
soon became the victims of curiosity and of subsequent
corruption. This place was under ground. peculiarly
suited to resist all hostile approaches from the police ;
*ad the Numbers assembled were ;emend!). so
.great.
as to maks it iseposaibie to invade them with the ordi-
nisey police force, bat at the risk of probable destrac-
lion. These nuisances and crying esopemities bad ex-
isted for plan : representation after representation
Lad been 'made to the magistrates ; they had the will,
tut not the poWer, to remove them. At laet, the evil
idle to such a height, and made the residence in, and
Reuses through, the district so alarming. that the in-
habitants themselves determined to try tbs effect of
sep internal police, to enlist themselves is tbs public
service. and to add their strength to the limited force
of tbe.tegular establishment. Throarls the activity,
seal and spirit of 'moo of the principal inhalaitints of
the parish, one hundred and eight special constables
i •
were swore in, and set to work is earoest, taking 'all
tie duty of regularly established patroles. When
this. force was duly orgathed, and effectually set in
elation, it was resolved to attack the main holds of
ti,esit faissidable gangs; this celebrated. bear-bait was
accordiegly visited under a privy search.warrapt, by
the salted strength of the regular and parochial toile;
a scene took place something like the memorable
Gatmetreet: attack. The senior-officer at Worship.
street, with a few others, effected their entrance, triiii.
bur-bait
the with all its clamour wee going on;
aged and, valuable officer (without arms) told thy*
sesiblage his errand; symptoms of resistance ensued,
bat he informed them it was in vain; thpt phi's° a
hundred ceastahles surrounded the premises, and AO.
they could not escape; an attempt was then t0a40,..e0
extinguish the lights, but the same officer. taking a
dark lantern from his pocket. turned the light apes
them, and told them that there was light enough' in
their pockets to see them all; this, with an unsure's".
fed effort of some to escape through a little outlet,
rinsed the scene. The officer then very quietly ap-
prised -them, that his object sass only to apprehend
she characters described in his warrant, and that the
fret might ice nobly depart. fie then desired them
at to• file. eft rand gradually, and -the officers;
reketeal tire 'ooterross. who *en carried to the
office; tins lieat•-.card was committed to the House of
I orrection, as a me* and vagabond ; the common
t:.ll•ves were holden to bail ; the bear bait ceased, the
place was shut up, aud the reodervosa destroyed..
Another public annoyance, of mach leagee media',
was in a short tin's, by means of this sew police. IT-
moved. There was a particular part of the parish'