The Late Mayoralty.
The Times, 1824-11-11T00:00:00

Xne tollowing iteturns exhtiut trhe extent of the magisterial busi. ness of the late ilayoralty, and the general comparative state of the cltY police during that period:- - I'rhe number of persons charged with felony was 463 Of those were committed for trial . 18i Discharged for want of safficient evidence, or in consequence of the failure of charges 282 Mlisdemeanors and disorderlies charged . 542 Of those were discharged .386 Committed or held to bail .156 Found begging or wandering in the streets . 418 Of those, committed as rogues and vagabondi, 51 Discharged or relieved iU various ways . 237 There were other cases not exactly comprehended in this class, amounting to . . 113 Forming a total of persons talen before the Lord - Alayor in custody, during the last year, of 1. 1536 _During the same time there were taken beforo the Alagistrates at fuidha11, chiefly on charges of misdemeanour, vagrancy, and others of a less important nature2 persons to the number of 2,815- forming a total of cases in the city, during the last mayeralty, of The gross amount of magisterial business is remarkably close to that of Alderman Heygate tn his mayoralty but then that worthy gentleman had the almost daily assistance o? Iii brethren. Indeed, on some occasions, we have known Alderman Hcygate to sit for one hour, Alderman Cox sit for another hour, and Alderman Ainsley sit for a third hoar in one day,of that memorable mayoralty. The num. bers in that year, taken not exactly before the Lord Mlayor, bet to the Mlanson6.bouse, were, 1,327; taken before the sitting AMagistrate at Gulldhall, 3,008-total,4,335.- Thepolice'establisbmentinsomerespacts is much more effectivc than iuring the precedinig -yeab but in othersit is much less elfective 'the platn adopted by the police conmmittee, of appointing six sta- tions with officers to each station, ordered to patrol a certain district it, uniform, to return every hour to their station, and sign a book kept by an inspector for the purposae of showing that they were upon duty, hasoperated very hadly. The thieves and others who live upon the public in thestrects, have been able to ascertain at whattimean efficer rigtit be ehpacted tn particular directions, anct havd been enablerl toi evoid hi:, and to work at tlicur profession in its different branches, whilst he is engaged in making his wvay to the Mansion- house to aig,n the book. 'Ihey have also made it a practice to watch the officers on their several stations, and the police uniform gives them facilities, wilich bef6re those regulations were not k-nown. An officer is also constrained to give up a scent after a thief, the moment the time for signing arrives, nowever important the occasion on which he is professionally engage /. The plan has in fact been found in- operative, anEd no instance (if a resulting good has been observed. The plan of making the officers wear unifonn is considered by themselves as serviceable on days of procession, and on other pub- hc occasions, when it is necessary for the public accommodation that they should be known, but it is absurd to dress them out for the thieves, who will of course avoid such scarecrows. The late L,ord Mayor considered it msatter ot the highest import- ance to the retail dealers and ghop.keepers, as well as to trade in ge- neral in the cityv,that all the public thoroughifares shouldI be kept clear from every kind ofobstraction. With this view, he exerted hinsself to have new and efricient street-keepers appointed in all the wards ; for that office had in many instances been conferred upon old and I inhnn men, to prevent thecm from becominv burdensome to their pa- rishes. rn some cascs extra officers were appointed, and great vi- gilance was exercised. Since the 7th of Mtay, 187 persons were fised for obstructions in the streets, and agreat nuniber inore were brought up and dischorged on their pi amise of positive amendment. It is well known to the retail dealers that a very' considerable effect is pro. duced bv obstructions or inconveniences of an apparentlv trivial na- turee. Eor some tirne past it iag been experienced that trade has beei dhiverted from particular parts by causes of this naturc. I is be- lieved that a great portion of the city business has been insinuated away by the attractions of the newf, spacious, and clegint streets at tihe west end of the town. The late Lord Mlayor stated the other dav, that he was not aware when he entered the office of the extent and ftatiguing nature of its daties. Certainly the public in general have no conception of them, and the man who wishies for a second miayoralty deserves to undergo its fatigues; for ifthe first year be not a lesson, lie must be incorri- gible. Of course those who get others to performi the duties are not comprehended in this ju(ldcment. Themayoraity can be made a sine. cure as well as another office. Besides the cases above enumerated, there wis last year, it is calculated, upwards of' 1,000 cases heard on summonses, whilch were many of them imnor:ant-the tithe and parochial, for insmtnce. If a Lord Mayor happen :o have a reputation for acuteness, maRy additional cases are brought bzefore himn for decision, al'housch. tlley forns no part of the regular duty of the office. Independently of the duties of the Justiceroom, the Lord M1ayor lIas to sign permits for all the corn an(i fruit vessels whiCe enter tie river. Tte number of these documents signed last year amcountec to 17,000. There are, besides,many thousands of affiaavits and other papers to be signed in thle coursc of the mayoralty, the total number of which was last year upwards of 40,000. The Secretary or Chaplain of the Chief .Magls- trate had of late years taken the trouble offtthe shoulders of the Lord Mayor-an illegal practice, and calculated to occasion great inconve- nience, should any litigation avise. The late Lord Ma l'or wvent back to the old conrse, and signed every document, and answered every letter himselft The Lord Alayor, besides these labours, has to hold Courts of Aldermen, Coutrts of Common Council, Common galls, Courts of Conservancy, C'ourts of Ifustings, the Old Bailey, the London and the Soathwarl; Sessions.-to preside over the entertain- ments at the Mlansion-house, and over meetings of public charites. The business at Guildiall consists chicflY of larcenies, assault cases, and decisions upon squabbles between the low people of that district, the cases of importance being constantly taken to the MNlan. sion-hoase, wvhere the Lord M ayor is aided by very considerable lc- gal sltill and exiierience.and has the attendance of the Marshals, and thle most experienced officers unaler them. light, however, as is the business of the Guildhall comparatively. Aldermen cannot invariably be fbund to despatch it, ane it liaR often becn sent over to the Mansilon-house in addition to the appointed business of the ILord iMeyor. The following is an acmunt of the nttmber of persons brought be- fore the City Magistrates during the several Mayoralties, frolni the hrst of Aldermran Wood. in 1816, 4X40; second of Wood, 6,080 ; Alderman C. Smith, 4,800; Alderman Atkins, 4,404; Alderman Bridges, 4,612; Aldicrman Thorp, 4,328 Alderman Magnay, 4.428; Alderman Heygate, 4,33-; Alderman Waithiman, 4,351. There has been, tndoubtedly, a dlecreage in the mnore serious busi. ness in the city: the number of street-robberies hats itiucli dinti- nished_a fact attributable to the improved state of the police up to the late regulations. The nightly watch is, however, in an extremelv defective state. Notwitihstanding the strictures madle upon the sys- tem, it has undergone no improvement whatever. It is the opinion of experienced persons, that one-third of the present number would, if they were active melt, under proper regulations. more efficiently preserve the puIblic peace. The pay given now seldom exceeels lOs. a-reek per man. The consequence is, they are obliged to resort to ex- ped-ents to make tip acompeEence,and endless extortions arise,and pass 99 times out of' 100 with impitnity. In some instances, it has been foundl necessary to entploy private watchlmen, as well to watch the other watchinmen as to guard against protested thieves. By far the greatest portion of the baisiness above enumerated is done by the city officers, Cite whole body of whom doe not exceed 40 effective men, and Cthey aflbrd an instance of the advantage of employing proper men, who cannot be induced to contnue in such an occupation with. out adequate rernuneration. Great numbers of unfortunate persons have been, in the mayoralty of Alderman IVaitliman, clothed and sent home to the country, or to the hospital, and many have been saved from ruin by the timelv application of such relief, ofteni at the lmtivate expense of the magis- trate, whose zeal, talent, and humianity are equally conspicuous. TSIE L,ATE Afi4ORALTy.