The Sun. — 1845-03-26 (London, England)

WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY. Morning .. 24 minutes after 31 Evening .. 41 minutes after 3.  time of such exposures still were—members of the "New Police," to allow of our saying that we have no misgivings as to the laxity of the discipline which is enforced by their superior authorities. That the military style of equitation affected by the " Mounted Police," as they are called, is a failure sufficiently absurd, every one who looks upon their extraordinary figures will acknowledge. Their figures suggest the notion of perpendiculars in blue, raised on horisontal lines of chesnut, brown, or black, or grey. Their faces bear an expression of divided anguish at having to undergo, in their years of stiff and impracticable maturity, the rack-like extension of the riding-school manege ; and of a self. enamoured complacency with their equestrian graces, the bosses of their cavalry bits, bridles, and stirrups, that seems to soothe the personal distress and the sensation of insecure seat, which they evidently endure both from " riding long," and from long riding. They are too amusing to be quarrelled with, but still we find that they are the source of a very large item in the enormous annual charge for this constabulary. A Parliamentary paper which was ordered to be printed on the 11th inst., and has, within these few days, been issued, Irs at once enlightened and astonished us upon many matters touching the Metropolitan Police. Paper, No. 114 (11. C.), entitled " Accounts showing the sums received and expended for the purposes of the Metropolitan Police, Police Superannuation Fund, and Police-courts, in the year ended December, 1841," shows that the tutul expenditure for the year on account of " Office expenses," including salaries of two Commissioners and their allowances (2,5261.), and their four clerks (98.00 ; and salaries and allowances in the " Receiver's Department Office," for "rent, books, printing, and stationery" (3,2650 ; "Pay, clothing, and equipment of the police force—salaries of superintendents included," (271,5021.); "Horses, forage, &c.," (6,839/.) ; that this "total," in short, was 317,5001., exclusive of superannuation and police-courts. Now, however good an establishment may be, it may cost prodigiously too much. In determining this question —" whether the quantum of charge is excessive or  not," it is no unfair test to consider what is the quan turn of effective service rendered by such an establish  ment. Making allowance for the increase of population and pauperism, has there been such a decrease in thenumber and character of the graver crimes, of the  higher misdemeanours, and of lesser offences, within the circuit of the Metropolitan Police, and  through their exertions and vigilance since their establishment, as to afford the public a commensurate benefit for this immense expenditure of the public rn.)ney ? We are disposed—mournfully recurring to the accumulating horrors of our criminal returns, and police magistrate commitments—to answer in the negative. Between the annual amount of property plundered within the Metropolitan Police District prior to the establishment of this force, and that which has been annually plundered since, is there any such difference, in favour of the protection afforded to property, as to countervail the burden of such an immensely increased cost of establishment ? We answer, unhesitatingly, " No." But we rre bound to add that we perceive, in very recent cases, strong presumptions against the existence both of this vigilant and strict discipline, and against even this freedom of the reputation of the "force" from all impeachment of negligence and collusion. One of the frightfully numerous cases of metropolitan murders that have written the annals of the last six months in blood, at present, wears an aspect that connects the police with grave liability to the former of these impeachments. The strange affair of Mr. VULLIAMY'S stolen dog, a few weeks back—its recovery—its location with the police, in the super. intending custody of Mr. Inspector