The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-21

The fOneC 2n0 NEASo0 - Now AVA.s 1
We have before us two documents, relating to
the police force of the city, both Of which merit
particular attention. The first is the seminar
nual report of the Chief of Police to the Mayor.
We hardly know whether to consider it gratify-
ing or dispiriting. Mr.. Matsell tells us that
during the six months ending 3lst December,
1852. there have been l9, 90l persons arrested,
for various offences giving yearly figure OF
nearly 40 900 arrests. From this Mr.. Matseli
congratulates us on the increased efficiency OF
the police, and fatters himself that both the
persons and the property of the citizens OF this
city enjoy at this time greater protection the n
those of almost any other city on this COZ lti-
nentr This will he news to most of us. our
teen hundred additional arrests in the hal wear
may argue increased vigilance on the part of
the police but it may argue equally we'll an
increase of crime Some people may think it
possible THAI in highly moral comm nifty such
SIS this the notoriety Of deeds of vi slence may
be due to their very unfrequency. and the hor-
ror which Individual crimes excite. But others
and we imagine, the bulk of our readers-will
incline to accept the popular pinion as more
correctly mirroring the state of the case When
respectable citizens dare not 60 out at night
without arms-when we hee Il of men being
knocked down and plundere with impunity in
Broadway the very lame of Police is a
by-word for mockers-it is asking too much of
us to request for the gua' :dians Of the public
peace an acknowledgment of ne plus ultra ex-
cellence. Where the bio me lies it may not be
an easy matter to point out at once; but that
blame must attach som where no one can doubt
for an instant We 81 lall return to the subject
presently.
| Meanwhile, let us see what is the condition
of the public moral 5, as tested by the pulse of
the police calendar. The number of arrests be-
ing 10000, or the feabouts, in population Of
say 100000 gives per centage of &C on the
whole number of Inhabitants. Wehave no data
to estimate the state of crime in Paris under
the imperial regime; but in London the re-
turns of the metropolitan police. for 1850, show
0S27 arrests. out Of population of some two
millions and half giving per centage of less
than three on the whole number of inhabitants
Thus crimes are in New York rather more than
twice as frequent as in London. Indeed. if we
make proper allowance for the superior vigil
lance and organization of the metropolitan
police of London, and for the notorious ineHl-
cheney Of our own police force, we shall
probably find that, in proportion to the popu-
laton. there is in New York twice as much
crime as in London This is an appalling
fact-a disgraceful disclosure. London, con-
tanning the dregs Of the people Of Britain with
st. Giles. Saffron Hill, and the Seven Dials,
ever teeming with swarms of thieves, tramps,
and reprobates of the worst species-with all
the infamy clinging to it which ages of aristo-
cratic debauchery and squalid pauperism could
beget-London, the haunt for five hundred
years, of all the vice and viflany of the civil
lied world. whose very monuments are a re-
cord of crime, whose very streets bear living
testimony to the deeds of horror done on their
face-this London only furnishes three crimi-
nails out Of every hundred Of its inhabitants !;
while New York, in the heart of country
where religion. morality. and law are known
to flourish. and where the blacker kinds Of depra-
witty have not been suffered to take root-where
virtue is neither purchased by lordly prof.
gaeo.y 4. Lls~I c---- SO -a..s;.n-.n;, ~ .L~
imperious cry of want-where we have every
reason to be moral. and none to tread the paths
of crime-New York, with it's hundreds of
priests and scores of benevolent societies, aetu
ally contains nearly seven criminals out
every hundred inhabitants.
Out of the nine hundred and three policemen
comprising the whole of the police force Of the
city Mr.. Matsell informs us that one hundred
and seventy eight are detailed" to do special
duty at the courts, &c. he complains of this
arrangement on the ground that it imposes
heavier duties on some OF the men than on
others, and diminishes the number of available
officers for night watches; and informs
us-the announcement is. unfortunately, no
matter of surprse-that the evil is due to the
system Of favoritism or corruption now estab-
lished. A policeman, says he. who has infuen-
tial friends can obtain an appointment to an
easy birth, while duties heavier than they can
discharge are imposed upon his less fortunate
comrades. To clamor about favoritism ia this
department, while the whole municipal organi-
cation Of the city is believed to be corrupt,
rotten and worthless from rind to core. would
be waste Of tme-we pass it over. But ii may
be well to notice the fruits of the system. New
York is watched by night by some three
hundred ana sixty men. being eighteen to
each district. Each man has thus nine to
fifteen blocks to guard How preposterous to
expect that one man can prevent crime. or de-
tect offenders. on such an extensive beat as
this London. covering of course vastly
larger area, is guarded by 300 men at night
In the populous quarters of the city majority
Of the beats can be traversed in from seven to
ten minutes, AMI none require longer period
than twenty-five minutes. In the neighborhood
Of st. Paul's no inconsiderable ingenuity is
needed to get out of sight Of a policeman.
We have already alluded to the bills now be-
fore the Legislature for the reform of the nolice