cla-ses for sharing the produce of seizures, agreeably to your Royal Highness's order in council of the

14th October last.

We now have to submit to your Royal Highness, in order that the funds of the chest and hospital at Greenwich, and of the widows' charity, to which the de lactions, herein before proposed to be abolished, are applied, may not suffer by this arrangement, that your Royal Highness may be pleased to direct that the calculated amount of the said deductions, on the number of officers, and men respectively employed, shall be paid over by the Navy Board to the funds of the said institutions, under such regulations and checks as we may think necessary, for ensuring the fall and equitable arrangement of this matter between these different branches of the service; which, we have no doubt, can be attained with great convenience to all the oflices concerned, and without any increase of establishment, or any expense whatsoever to the public. And, finally, we have to submit that the whole of this arrangement shall be carried into execution from and after the 1st of January next, or as soon after as conveniently may be.

In proposing alterations in the present practice of the naval establishment, so important as those hereinbefore submitted to your Royal Highness, we have thought it right to enter into a detail of the motives and principles by which we have been guided. We have ourselves, in the investigation which has led to this Memorial, found considerable inconvenience from the want of explanation as to

the precise views on which former arrangements were made; and we therefore humbly hope that your Royal Highness will be graciously pleased to excuse the length of detail into which, on the present occasion, we have presumed to enter.

NEW POLICE REPORT.

[Ordered by the House of Commons to be

printed July 8, 1817.]

Second Report from the Committee on the Police of the Metropolis : with Extracts from the Minutes of Evidence annexed.

The Committee appointed to inquire into the state of the police of the metropolis, and to report the same, with their observations thereupon, from time to time, to the House, together with the minutes of the evidence taken before them; and who were instructed to report generally upon the execution of the laws relat

ing to the licensing of victuallers; and to whom the several petitions which have been presented to the House in this session of parliament, relating to licensed victuallers, and disorderly houses, were referred, have, pursuant to the order of the House, further inquired into the matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following Report:

Your committee have examined evidence upon a great variety of subjects as connected with the police of the metropolis, and propose to pursue the plan which has been adopted in the case of the licensing system, by bringing under the considerati n of parliament the various and important subjects

that

that have been submitted to their investigation, in distinct and separate heads. They have, therefore, thought fit to divide the general question of police, and to lay before the House the result of their inquiries upon two of the most important branches of their investigation.

First, The consideration of the system of parliamentary rewards. Secondly, That of the establishment of penitentiary prisons.

It appears, that early in the reign of William and Mary, an act was passed for encouraging the apprehension of highwaymen; in which it is enacted, "That all and every person and persons who shall apprehend and take one or more such thieves or robbers, and shall prosecute until he or they shall be convicted of the robbery, such person shall receive from the sheriff of the county where such robbery and conviction shall be made and done, without paying any fee for the same, for every such offender so convicted, the sum of 40l. within one month after such conviction and demand made, by tendering a certificate to the said sheriff, under the hand of the judge or justices before whom such felon or felons shall be convicted, certifying the conviction of the same; and also that such felon or felons were taken by the person or persons who claim the reward." This principle was further extended by various acts.

By the 6th and 7th William III. ch. 17, entituled, "An act to pre. vent counterfeiting and clipping the coin of this kingdom," 401. upon conviction of every person who have counterfeited the coin, or clipping, &c. the same; or shall

bring into the kingdom any clipt

or counterfeit coin.

By the 5th Anne, cap. 31, entituled, "An act for the encouraging the discovery and apprehension of housebreakers," 40l. upon the conviction of every burglar or housebreaker.

By the 14th Geɔ. II. cap. 6, intituled, "An act to render the laws more effectual for the preventing the stealing and destroying of sheep and other cattle," 107. upon the conviction of every sheep-. stealer, &c.

By the 15th Geo. II. cap. 28, entituled, "An act for the more effectual preventing the counterfeiting the current coin of this kingdom, and the uttering or paying false or counterfeit coin," 40l. upon the conviction of any person of treason or felony relating to the coin, upon this act; and 10l. upon conviction for counterfeiting copper money.

By the 16th Geo. II. cap. 15, entituled, "An act for the more easy and effectual conviction of offenders found at large within the kingdom of Great Britain, after they have been ordered for transportation, before the expiration of the term for which they were ordered to be transported."

These various acts form a part of the law of the land at the present moment; and the sums of money which are thus paid in the way of encouragement to the apprehension and conviction of offenders lias risen from 7,770l., which was the amount in 1798, to that of 18,000l. which was paid for the purpose in 1815. Your committee are of opinion that this system of parliamentary rewards for the conviction of offenders is

of

7

of most questionable policy. They have felt it their duty to examine, not only the magistrates of the various police offices in the metropolis, but the officers of the police themselves; and the testimony of many of these persons, as well as of those, with the exception of the Recorder of London, who have had most opportunities of witnessing the effects of this practice is, that the system is most dangerous in itself; that it has produced the the worst consequences; and that it cannot be too speedily abandoned. It has been stated to your committee, that it has the tendency, and in some instances has produced the practice of inducing persons to forswear themselves for the lucre of the reward; that, while sometimes the innocent have forfeited their lives, from the cupidity of those who swore them away, to obtain the money which was to be paid on the conviction of the accused; in other cases, substantial justice has not been had, from the suspicion which juries have entertained that the real truth was not spoken, and not spoken, and that the prosecutor or witness on the trial forswore himself for the value of the reward. The odious appellation of blood-money has been given to these rewards; and your committee have found in all quarters an abhorrence to exist against them, which constantly operates as impediments to public justice. Your committee have sought with great anxiety to learn from the various magistrates whom they have examined, if to their knowledge or belief the system was productive of carelessness and inattention on the part of the officers of the police to the conviction of

minor offenders. The answer has been from all, that they did not conceive any such consequence had followed; but, with due deference to the opinion of these persons, your committee cannot avoid remarking, that estimating the conduct of the police officers to be guided by the common interest and motives that govern the actions of mankind, it is impossible that they should not be stimulated into greater activity in cases where that activity was to be rewarded, than in those where it was not; besides, it has been allowed that the pecuniary rewards offered by individuals are great stimulants to the exertions of officers; and it seems reasonable to conclude, that the absence of these rewards would operate in a direct opposite ratio. There can also be no doubt that offenders have been suffered to be trained on in their career of crime from the first offence which made them amenable to the law, though not yet objects of profit, till, step by step, they have been led to the commission of offences for which, on their conviction, the parliamentary reward could be obtained.

Your committee have inquired into the mode in which parliamentary rewards are distributed. At the county assizes they are apportioned by the judge who tries the prisoners, the expenses of the prosecution being first deducted; and though, contrary to the express words of the various Acts of Parliament, considerable demands are made in the nature of fees. In the Midland Circuit, the practice is to deduct first 15s. 6d. for procuring the signature of the judge to the certificate of the conviction, besides a fee taken for the

under

under sheriff of two guineas, if the reward is paid within a month. Your committee have reason to believe that even larger demands than these are made in the nature of fees, and that for the prompt payment the under sheriff charges for the four weeks' advance of the money above sixty per cent. Your committee have inquired as to the practice which takes place in the metropolis and the county of Middlesex upon this subject. The Recorder, Sir John Sylvester, distributes the rewards, and apportions them according to the merits of their respective claimants. They examined Mr. Thomas Watson, the clerk to the Recorder, who has told them that prior to receiving that situation, he had learnt from the clerk to Mr. Sergeant Adair, that in his time, as well as in that of Sergeant Glynn's there was considerable emolument arising from the payment of the rewards; that he took that situation without having any thing mentioned by the Recorder concerning these rewards; but that making an application to another person, he received the information that there was eighteen-pence in the pound to be asked for, for the sheriff, and a compliment to himself for his trouble. In respect to that compliment, it is sometimes more and sometimes less; but the witness stated, he was perfectly satisfied with what was given to him, even under the supposition that he was to pay one shilling and sixpence in the pound over to the under sheriff; upon taking the money to the under sheriff, that officer took six-pence in the pound, and returned the witness one shilling. Your committee un

derstand, the propriety of taking this poundage money rests upon custom, and that this witness received no more than his predecessor. The witness delivered in a paper, which purports to be an account of the rewards which have been paid every sessions, from the month of February, 1813, to February, 1817, and which amount to 11,410l.; so that this witness has received the sum of 550l., out of which he has paid the stamps, which are due upon the receipts that are taken from the different persons who receive their share of the rewards. The committee feel it but just to the Recorder to declare, that the witness denies that he is at all privy to this irregularity, or that he ever had any conversation with him on the subject. The Recorder was shown the evidence which was given by his clerk, and denied being acquainted with any part of the transaction which is there detailed; he had however heard, that the under sheriff claimed a fee as well as his own clerk, yet he gives him a larger salary than his predecessors ever did, without having any consideration whatever to his obtaining gratuities or fees, or emoluments of any sort. Your committee wish generally to observe, that this practice of taking poundage money on these rewards, or deducting, under any pretence, any portion of them, in the nature of fees and gratuities, is highly irregular. The acts of Parliament are positive upon this subject ; and though it is but fit that the money for the stamps should be deducted from the portion of the reward which is paid, and that if prompt payment is demanded, the

person

person who advances the money may have a claim to the discount; yet they cannot but think the demand is exorbitant, and the whole practice liable to great abuse. With respect to the distribution itself, no fixed rule seems to exist; and from evidence which has been submitted to your committee, they have reason to believe, that while in some cases a much larger sum than the exertions of the claimants can warrant is proportioned to them, in others, great partiality is shown, and services, however important, are suffered to go unrewarded.

There is another species of reward which your committee would equally wish to do away with, namely, that which is technically called a Tyburn Ticket, which is an exemption from the service of parish offices in the parish where the felony was committed, and which by the 10th and 11th of William III. chap. 23, is to be given to the apprehender and taker of the felon on his or her conviction. This mode of remuneration has all the bad consequences of the parliamentary rewards by money, as the ticket is generally sold, varying in its price from 12 or 14 to 30 or 40l. according to the parish in which the exemption is to arise; and indeed it may be considered in some respects as worse, it having all the effect of a money reward without its name. Your committee think it fit that the officers of the police should have a sufficient salary, ample enough to keep them above the temptation of corruption; and if the rewards be abolished, some arrangement to that effect should take place. That portion of the

reward which it is now the custom to pay for the expenses of the trial to the prosecutor might be continued, and a reasonable allowance made for loss of time to the wit-nesses. But your committee consider the payments of reward for the discovery and apprehension of criminals to be perfectly unnecessary; and they think the evidence of Mr. Shelton, the clerk of the Arraigns, decisive upon this question, who, from long practice in courts of law, is so fully capable of estimating correctly the difficulties attending on criminal prosecution he says, speaking of highway robberies, "I should conceive there could be no more difficulty in discovering and apprehending a person charged with highway robbery, where a reward is given, than there would be in the discovery and apprehension of offenders guilty of crime, for which there is no reward."

Your committee remark, that there is no evidence to prove that any difficulties are found in the prosecution of larcenies, or that there is any unwillingness in the injured to seek legal redress. The only impediments that are to be met with upon the general subject of legal prosecutions are of two kinds-1st, The expenses of the prosecution; 2d, The severity of the laws, which often deter men from pursuing the offender to conviction; so that if the parties prosecuting were assisted in their expenses by an allowance, and the witnesses remunerated for loss of time, the public justice of the country would be no more interrupted than under the present practice.

As an illustration of this system of