CHAPTER LI.

Police-Dr. Colquhoun's book-The old Watchmen -Their inadequacy admitted -Description of them-Constables-" First new mode of robbing in 1800 "— Robbery in the House of Lords-Whipping-Severe sentence--The StocksThe Pillory-Severe punishment-Another instance.

T

HE police authorities very seldom attempted to

interfere with these duels; indeed, practically there

was no police. There were some men attached to

Indeed,

the different police courts, and there were the parochial constables with their watchmen; but, according to our ideas, they were the merest apology for a police. our grandfathers thought so themselves, and Dr. Colquhoun wrote a book upon the inefficiency of the police, which made a great stir. It was felt that some better protection was needed, as may be seen from two contemporary accounts: "Two things in London that fill the mind of the intelligent observer with the most delight, are the slight restraints of the police, and the general good order. A few old men armed with a staff, a rattle, and a lantern, called watchmen, are

the only guard throughout the night against depredation; and a few magistrates and police officers the only persons whose employment it is to detect and punish depredators; yet we venture to assert that no city, in proportion to its trade, luxury, and population, is so free from danger, or from depredations, open or concealed, on property."

"The streets of London are better paved, and better lighted than those of any metropolis in Europe; we have fewer street robberies, and scarcely ever a midnight assassination. Yet it is singular, where the police is so ably regulated, that the watchmen, our guardians of the night, are, generally, old decrepit men, who have scarcely strength

to use the alarum which is their signal of distress in cases

of emergency."

Thus we see that even contemporaries were not enthusiastic over their protectors; and a glance at the two accompanying illustrations fully justify their opinion. "The Microcosm of London," from which they are taken,

says: "The watch is a parochial establishment supported by a parochial rate, and subject to the jurisdiction of the magistrates it is necessary to the peace and security of the Metropolis, and is of considerable utility: but that it might be rendered much more useful, cannot be denied. That the watch should consist of able-bodied men, is, we presume, essential to the complete design of its institution,

as it forms a part of its legal description: but that the watchmen are persons of this character, experience will not vouch; and why they are so frequently chosen from among the aged, and incapable, must be answered by those who make the choice. In the early part of the last century, an halbert was their weapon; it was then changed into a long staff; but the great coat and the lantern are now accompanied with more advantageous implements of duty-a bludgeon, and a rattle. It is almost superfluous to add, that the watch-house is a place where the appointed watchmen assemble to be accoutred for their nocturnal rounds, under the direction of a Constable, whose duty, being taken by rotation, enjoys the title of Constable of the night. It is also the receptacle for such unfortunate persons as are apprehended by the watch, and where they remain in custody till they can be conducted to the tribunal of a police office, for the necessary examination of the magistrate."

The following little anecdote further illustrates the inefficiency of these guardians of the peace-Morning Herald, October 30, 1802: "It is said that a man who presented himself for the office of watchman to a parish at the West-end of the town, very much infested by depredators, was lately turned away from the vestry with this reprimand: 'I am astonished at the impudence of such a great, sturdy, strong fellow as you, being so idle as to apply for a

Watchman's situation, when you are capable of labour!''

Part of their duty was to go their rounds once every hour, calling out the time, and the state of the weather, and this was done to insure their watchfulness, but it must also have given warning to thieves. This duty done, they retired to a somewhat roomy sentry box, where, should they fall asleep, it was a favourite trick of the mad wags of the town to overturn them face downwards. Being old and infirm, they naturally

became the butts and prey of the bucks, and bloods, in their nocturnal rambles; but such injuries as they received, either to their dignity, or persons, were generally compounded for by a pecuniary recompense.

The Constable, was a supe-. rior being, he was the Dogberry, and was armed with a long staff.

Crime then was very much

what it is now; there is very little new under the sun in wickedness-still, the Morning Post of February 3, 1800, has the

"FIRST NEW MODE OF ROBBING

in 1800.

"A few days past, a man entered a little public-house, near Kingston, called for a pint of ale, drank it, and, whilst his