The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-02-27 00:00:00

PROSBCUT?O OP PREANIA
Yesterday a respectable Meeting was-held at Me
Mansion House to consider of the propriety of erecting
a Society for the Prosecution of Felons and other
Criminals, and also for the relief of Prosecutors from
burthensome expense and delay attendant on such
rensmations.---4. J. LOCIIHART, Esq. M. P., was ens-
RllROltay called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN sated the purpose of the Meting,
reritich was to consider of the propriety of forming an
individual Association fot the purpose of peeuniary and
professional assistance, of rendering the obstections
which prosecutors were Rabbi to from the expense; de-
lay, sad trouble, which they were put to lees, conse-
quently facilitating the prosecution of criminals, and
by encreasing the certainty of prosecution in the event
of detection, and rendering the liidncement to commit
Aagrant offences mach less than at present. He al-
luded to the frequency and atrocity of street robberies,
to the encreasing number and strength of those orga-
nized gangs of robbers that infested our streets, and
not only endangered property, but menaced personal
security. If these gangs were allowed to continue,
the Police must certainly be armed with additional
strength, until they were brought to the state of mili-
tary police, an institution which would be an evil of
a different description, dangerous to public liberty,
and which be should not like to see established ; but
which was only to be avoided by the cit:sens coming
forward, not only to associate and assist the Police,
but to enforce more effectually the existing law of the
country.
J. Harlan, Esq. in proposing the Resolution upon
the propriety of an Association of the nature alluded
to, observed that, from- the frequency and enormity
of the depredations committed last winter, they were
almost at the mercy of the numerous gangs of rob-
bers whom the police were unable to repress.
After a few observations from Mr. Wells, Mr. Win-
surd, Mr. Rose, Mr. Oldham, and Mr. Fame, Resolu-
tions for the Constitution of the Society passed. It
is to he under the contronl of a Committee of Ma
nagement, and supported by annual subscriptions.

Nora.—lt appears by a return laid before Parlia-
ment, that the gross amount of the duty on Hops, of
the growth of the year 1820, is 240,574/. 141. 10d.
Of this sum 198,330/. 9s. 61d. were raised open the
old duty of Id. 12-20ths per lb. and 102,2441. :is. 31d.
upon the new duty of Id. 8-20ths per lb.
SmvuoLtoo.—Toto officers, belonging to the Rot
tingdean Preventive Guard, boarded a French lugger
with a cargo of contraband spirits, on Wednesday
eight. The crew, consisting of six Frenchmen and
one English sailor, refused to surrender, and stood
out to sea. When 20 miles from the coast. the smug-
glers compelled the officers to get into the Lime tub-
boat of the logger, and to return to the shore. At
three o'clock the f 'Bowing morning, about 120 tubs
(supposed to have been part of the cargo of the above
lugger) were landed opposite Regency-square, Brigh-
ton ; 46 of which were seised by the Brighton officers,
and deposited in the store, In Black Lion street.—The
tub-boat, in which the officers came ashore, with two
tubs It contained, has been seized.
bitgaisici. FIRS IN OIrIVIR-LANS.-..-Abold fire
o'clock yesterday evening, an alarming fire broke out
in the extensive premises of Messrs. J and C. Butler,
wholesale chymists and druggists, in ()utter-lane (for-
merly the New London Tavern,) Cheapside, which f.e
a considerable time threatened total destruction to the
surrounding warehouses. The progress of the de-
vouring element was greatly accelerated by the inflam-
mable nature of the stock, and the flames reached the
warehouses of Mr. Gardner, &trimming manufacturer,
on one side, and those of Messrs. Jackson and Co. en-
gravers, on the other. By this time the appearance
was dreadful, and fears were entertained for the
Church in Foster-lane, as the flames bad already com-
municated to Sadler's Hall, which we understood suf-
fered considerably ; but by the vigilant exertions of
the inhabitants, assisted by the Churchwardens, the
flames were prevented from penetrating the sacred
fabric. About six o'clock, a tremendous crash was
occasioned by the falling of the roofs of the premises of
Messrs Butler and Co. and it was rumoured that
two firemen were buried in the ruins, but we were not
able to ascertain whether the report was correct. The
various fire-engines speedily arrived, and notwithstand-
ing the alacrity of the firemen, the premises in which
the conflagration commenced, which extend from
Gutter-lane nearly into Foster-lane, were entirely con-
stuned ; and the houses of Mr. Gardner and Messri.
Jackson and Co. in (jotter-lane, and six houses in
Cheapside whose back premises extend as far as the
side of those of Messrs. Butler and Co. were greatly
damaged.
Ftna.—Sunday night an alarming fire broke out in
the house of Mr. Gibbons, carpenter, of Mary-le bone-
lane, which involved the whole neighbourhood in the
greatest confusion.—lt originated in the lower part
tette 'house, during the absence of the family, and
was not discovered .until it arrived at an alarming
',height, when the istwes beret from the windows with
considerable fury, threatened destruction to the
teeiglibourhood. Telinhabitants were • seen running
ll* every direction with their furniture to places of
safety. In a very short time, the Royal- Exchange
and several•other engines arrived on the spot. After
the lapse of several hours, the flames were got under,
the whole of the premises, with the property, being a
complete mass of ruins.
Next Thursday will prove a more' than usually
anxious day to Lottery adventurers, as it will be at-
tended with such conflicting* wishes; for however
much in all former instanoss Persons might hare been
taoxiouslhartheir Numbers should prove successful,
lyet ou Thartdar many will absolutely be in dread lest
theirs *mild be fortunate.—We allude to those persons
who bowght before irstlentlfte's Day, and after taking
their chance for that day, retartted their Numbers,
sad would now perhaps 0* ten tinsel( 'their cost to
yet them back ;- btit so few ire lefttor sale, that few
get theif owe Numbers. '
• Between Saturday 'tied and Mouthy slanting, the
strolllllMortvd: Thtteltin,'ilatBbah°,'"wanl'sfilitlliiireterarenidlibhyall*fajlseeltekleylers,
WI the of the valuable stock, value 2,990/,
44411- The Wren, It'airpeems. worn pirhet. adepts
witi net nettatrl Mr: Ste-
" 401ket Ira

vas discovered.

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