A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis Part 17

To be paid without deduction or fee, within one month after such conviction, on tendering a certificate to the Sheriff.

It is also proposed that the Treasury shall have power to issue out of the Duties of Customs a sufficient sum of money for prosecuting offenders against the Mint laws.

Whatever might be the effect of these amendments in the Mint laws, and necessary as they appear to be, it is still to be feared that until a new coinage of Silver money and Copper halfpence and farthings shall take place, no legislative restrictions, regulations, or punishments, can produce an effectual cure to this enormous evil; although, from the many deficiencies which have been detailed, it is evident a great deal of good may be done immediately in this way.

A coinage of Silver money is a great State question, which may require a fuller consideration; but no doubt can be entertained of the indispensable necessity of such a measure, as soon as circ.u.mstances will admit.

If to a new coinage of _s.h.i.+llings_ and _sixpences_, should be added an extensive coinage of silver money of the value of _four pence_ and _three pence_, according to ancient usage, it would prove a great convenience to the public, and remedy much of the inconvenience which arises from the ponderous nature of Copper money; while a smaller quant.i.ty would be required for circulation.

No doubt can be entertained of the nation deriving considerable advantages from having increased the weight of copper coin, so as to bring it as near as possible to the _intrinsic_ value of the metal of which it is composed.

This arrangement will, it is hoped, ultimately prove the means of effectually preventing counterfeits; and the copper, being a native article produced in the country, may in time, through the medium of _coined money_, become a profitable branch of commerce with foreign nations; where even an extensive circulation may be insured, in consequence of the _intrinsic_ and _denominative_ value being the same, or nearly so.

This is exemplified in the policy of Sweden, where the copper dollar being so heavy as to answer to sixpence sterling, has long been exported; and forms a considerable, and even a profitable branch of commerce to that nation.

In Russia the _Three Copee Piece_ is very nearly of the weight of six English halfpence, yet its current value is only a small fraction above one penny sterling;--and thus by issuing no copper coin where the _denominative_ is not in proportion to the _intrinsic_ value, every cla.s.s of dealers who vend the necessaries of life are s.h.i.+elded against loss; and every unnatural rise in the price of provisions for the subsistence of the poor is of course prevented.

This principle seems to have been admitted by the Legislature; for when the subject of Copper Money was under the consideration of the House of Commons, at a period not very remote, the Journals shew that an opinion then prevailed, "_that the most effectual means to secure the Copper Coin from being counterfeited, was, that the denominative value of such Coin should bear as near a proportion as possible to the intrinsic_ value of the metal of which it was formed."[50]

[Footnote 50: Journal, House of Commons, Vol. xviii. p. 178.]

In fine, it is a question worthy of attention, whether in order to prevent clamour, and to shut out at once all pretence for circulating any of the old Copper money, _good or bad_, after the period when Mr.

Boulton shall be able to furnish a sufficient quant.i.ty of halfpence and farthings for circulation, it might not be proper to consider how far it would be practicable as a measure of State policy, to introduce a clause into the proposed Bill, empowering the Treasury, within a given time, to receive all the old Copper Coin, good and bad, at a certain price per ton, allowing a _bonus_ to the honest holders of it of 20 per cent. above the current price of Copper.--This would at once clear the country of counterfeit halfpence and farthings, and would reconcile the holders to the loss; while the pecuniary sacrifice to Government would be more than compensated an hundred-fold by a compleat and instant renovation of this species of coinage.--As the chief part of the bad halfpence are good copper, they could be recoined, or sold, as might appear most beneficial.

It is earnestly to be hoped that the further regulations proposed will be adopted; and followed up, by an extensive coinage of Silver money, so as to s.h.i.+eld the honest part of the Community against a system of fraud, rapid beyond all example in its growth, and unparalleled as to its extent.[51]

[Footnote 51: It was suggested in a former edition of this work, that a coinage of _seven s.h.i.+lling_ pieces of _gold_ would be of great utility.--The expedient was adopted by Government at the end of the year 1797.]

Certain it is, that base money contributes more to the support as well as to the _increase_ of the number of those mischievous and abandoned members of the community, who exist _wholly_ by different kinds of fraud, than any other device which they pursue to enable them to live in their present state of idleness and debauchery, and to indulge in luxury and extravagance.

The increase is certainly astonis.h.i.+ng, since it is known that in London and the Country, there were some time since fifty-four actual Coiners, and fifty-six large Dealers, besides, at least, ten Die sinkers, whose _names_, _characters_, and pursuits, were perfectly known; but these bear no proportion to the horde of smaller dealers and utterers of base money in the Metropolis, and in most of the commercial and manufacturing towns in the kingdom. Their numbers must amount to several thousands. From being at present nuisances to society, in the constant habit of defrauding the Public, they might be rendered (through the application of the remedies proposed) useful members of the State; by changing a life of idleness and crimes, for a course of useful labour and industry.

CHAP. VIII.

_The magnitude of the Plunder of Merchandize and Naval Stores on the River Thames.--The wonderful extent and value of the Floating Property, laden and unladen in the Port of London in the course of a year.--Reasons a.s.signed for the rise and progress of the excessive Pillage which had so long afflicted the Trade of the River Thames.--The modes pursued in committing Depredations as the result of a regular System, which had been established through the medium of various cla.s.ses of Criminal Delinquents, denominated--River Pirates--Night Plunderers--Light Hors.e.m.e.n--Heavy Hors.e.m.e.n--Game Watermen--Game Lightermen--Mudlarks--Game Officers of the Revenue--And Copemen, or Receivers of Stolen Property.--The devices practised by each Cla.s.s in carrying on their criminal designs.--General Observations on the extent of the Plunder and number of Individuals implicated in this Species of Criminality.--The effects of the Marine Police in checking these Depredations.--The advantages which have resulted to Trade and Revenue from the partial experiment which has been made.--The further benefits to be expected when, by apposite Legislative Regulations, the System of Protection is extended to the whole Trade of the River.--General Reflections arising from the Subject._

The immense depredations committed on every species of Commercial Property in the River Thames, but particularly on West India produce, had long been felt as a grievance of the greatest magnitude; exceedingly hurtful to the Commerce and Revenue of the port of London, and deeply affecting the interest of the Colonial Planters, as well as every description of Merchants and s.h.i.+p-Owners concerned in the Trade of the River Thames.

The subject of this Chapter will therefore be chiefly confined to a detail of the causes, which produced these extraordinary and extensive depredations, and the various means by which they were perpetrated; and also to the remedies which have been successfully applied since the publication of the preceding editions of this Work, for the purpose of reducing within bounds, and keeping in check, this enormous and growing evil; for certain it is, that previous to the establishment of the Marine Police System, in the Month of July 1798, the increase had been regular and progressive, while the easy manner in which this species of property was obtained, generated an accession of plunderers every year.

To those whose habits of life afford no opportunities of attending to subjects of this nature, the details which are now to be given will appear no less novel than extraordinary; and with respect to the extent of the mischief in some instances perhaps incredible. The West India Planters alone have estimated their losses by depredations upon the River and in the Warehouses at the enormous sum of .250,000 a year. It cannot be unreasonable then to suppose, that the extent of the plunder on the other branches of Commerce, which form nearly 5-6th parts of the whole value of Imports and Exports, could not be less than .250,000 more, making an aggregate upon the whole of Half a Million sterling![52]

[Footnote 52: For a specific Estimate of the plunder on all branches of trade carried on to and from the port of London, see "A Treatise on the Commerce and Police of the River Thames: with a summary View of the Laws of s.h.i.+pping and Navigation:" (now in the press) by the Author of this Work.]

Surprising as this may appear at first view, yet when, by a cool investigation of the subject, it comes to be measured by the scale of the astonis.h.i.+ng Commerce which centers in the port of London, (according to the annexed Abstract) and the vast extent of Floating Property moving constantly upon the River Thames, and the adjacent Wharfs and Quays subject to depredations; when by calculation it is also found, that the whole amount of the aggregate plunder, great and extensive as it appears to be, does not much exceed _three quarters per cent._ on the value of the whole property exposed to danger: the Reader will be reconciled to an estimate, which from the elucidations contained in this chapter, will ultimately appear by no means to be exaggerated.

ABSTRACT

OF THE _IMPORTS_ INTO, AND THE _EXPORTS_ FROM, THE _PORT OF LONDON_;

_Made up from the Public Accounts for one year, ending the 5th day of January, 1798; but differing with regard to the value, from those accounts; in which the price is estimated on data established many years ago, when the articles of commerce imported and exported were not rated at above half the sum they now fetch,_ exclusive _of duty._

_It is, therefore, to be understood that the following Estimate of Foreign Articles is made up according to the_ present value, _as nearly as it has been possible to ascertain it, by the payment of the Convoy-duties, under the Act 38 Geo. 3. cap. 76--It exhibits a very astonis.h.i.+ng picture of the immense opulence and extent of the commerce of the Metropolis; and accounts in a very satisfactory manner for the vast resources of the Country, which have been manifested in so eminent a degree in the course of the present and former wars._

From whence Number of Average Value of Goods Value of Goods Total Value of arrived. vessels Tonnage. Imported. Exported. Goods imported including and exported.

repeated voyages.

. s. d. . s. d. . s. d.

East Indies 53 41,456 6,544,402 10 2 3,957,905 5 1 10,502,307 15 3 West Indies 346 101,484 7,118,623 12 8 3,895,313 18 7 11,013,937 11 3 British Continental Colonies 68 13,986 290,894 4 10 1,347,250 1 7 1,638,144 6 5 Africa and Cape of Good Hope 17 4,336 82,370 15 0 449,077 19 3 531,446 15 1 Southern Fishery 29 7,461 250,689 3 2 54 16 4 250,743 19 6 Greenland Fishery 16 4,769 64,142 0 8 0 0 0 64,142 0 8 United States of America 140 32,213 1,517,386 2 8 3,898,864 12 9 5,416,250 15 5 Mediterranean and Turkey 72 14,757 390,794 19 10 118,914 3 7 509,709 3 5 Spain 121 16,509 776,686 12 2 171,073 4 6 947,759 17 8 Portugal 180 27,670 414,359 7 2 438,877 16 2 853,237 3 4 France 56 5,573 15,951 17 8 859,974 16 0 875,926 13 8 Austrian Flanders 66 5,104 21,027 3 2 118,064 2 2 139,091 5 4 Holland 329 19,166 673,241 17 4 1,538,120 3 6 2,211,362 0 10 Germany 235 37,647 2,658,011 8 2 8,014,260 3 0 10,672,271 11 2 Prussia 608 56,955 220,827 14 0 211,662 12 0 432,490 6 0 Poland 69 17,210 207,477 0 0 35,468 18 3 242,945 18 3 Sweden 109 14,252 152,707 6 10 169,293 18 4 322,001 5 2 Denmark and Norway 202 48,469 94,821 3 6 711,082 10 8 805,903 14 2 Russia 230 56,131 1,565,118 7 6 452,106 16 7 2,017,225 4 1

Foreign Coasting (Including repeated voyages.) Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney 46 5,344 218,916 12 8 83,281 12 1 302,198 4 9 Ireland 276 32,824 1,878,971 7 2 659,922 14 1 2,538,894 1 3

British Coasting[53]

(Including repeated voyages.) Coal Trade 3676 650,000 1,700,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 1,710,000 0 0 English Coasting incl. Wales 5816 500,000 3,900,000 0 0 2,200,000 0 0 6,100,000 0 0 Scotch Coasting 684 60,000 300,000 0 0 300,000 0 0 500,000 0 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 13,444 1,779,326 30,957,421 8 2 29,640,568 4 6 60,597,989 12 8

[Footnote 53: No rule being established, whereby the British Coasting trade can be valued, the Estimate here given is grounded on the supposition, that the value of each cargo must amount to a certain moderate sum.--The aggregate of the whole is believed to exceed the estimate considerably.]

RECAPITULATION.

s.h.i.+ps and Tonnage.

Vessels.

Foreign and Coasting Trade as stated in the foregoing Table 13,268 1,773,326

Value of Merchandize imported .30,957,421 8 2 Value of Merchandize exported 29,640,568 4 6 ------------------ Total imported and exported 60,597,989 12 8

To which add the Local Trade within the limits of the Port, in the Upper and Lower Thames, and the River Lea 235,000 0 0

_With a view to give the mind of the Reader a competent idea of the whole of the property upon the River Thames, which is exposed to hazard, the following estimate is added_, viz.--

1. Value of the Hull, Tackle, Apparel and Stores of 2144 British, and Coasting vessels, trading to the port of London, without including, as above, the repeated voyages 8,825,000 0 0

2. Value of the Hull, Tackle, and Stores of 3507 Lighters, Barges, Punts, Hoys, Sloops, &c. employed in the Trade of the Thames, River Lea, &c. 350,000 0 0

3. Value of 3349 Wherries, b.u.mboats, and Police Boats employed on the River, &c. 25,000 0 0 ---------------- 70,032,989 12 8

4. Value of Goods, including Coals, exposed in Craft and upon the Quays, to the risque of pillage on an average each day in the year; (Exclusive of the Public a.r.s.enals, s.h.i.+ps of War, Gunboats, Transports, and Hoys, for conveying Navy, Victualing, and Ordnance Stores, nearly equal to five Millions more) 235,000 0 0 ---------------- General Total 70,267,989 12 8 ----------------

Let the mind only contemplate this proud view of the Commerce of a Single River, unparalleled in point of extent and magnitude in the whole world; where 13,444 s.h.i.+ps and vessels discharge and receive in the course of a year above three _Millions of Packages_, many of which contain very valuable articles of merchandize, greatly exposed to depredations, not only from the criminal habits of many of the aquatic labourers and others who are employed, but from the temptations to plunder, arising from the confusion unavoidable in a crowded port, and the facilities afforded in the disposal of stolen property.--It will then be easily conceived, that the plunder must have been excessive, especially where from its a.n.a.logy to smuggling, at least in the conceptions of those who were implicated; and from its gradual increase, the culprits seldom were restrained by a sense of the moral turpitude of the offence; and where for want of a _Marine Police_ applicable to the object, no means existed whereby offenders could be detected on the River.[54]

[Footnote 54: While every thing connected with the present state of Europe, and the whole Commercial world, appears favourable for the accomplishment of the aggrandis.e.m.e.nt of the port of London, by the establishment of Docks (already in part adopted by the Legislature) and by a general Warehousing System, there is no opinion more erroneous and delusive than that which supposes that arrangements of this kind will supersede the necessity of a Police for the protection of the trade, and for the preservation of the public peace within these extensive repositories.

In what manner are from two to three thousand labourers, who must be frequently employed at the same time within these Docks, (and those too of a cla.s.s that have been accustomed to plunder, and are not restrained by any sense of the turpitude of the action) to be over-awed and controlled, if no Police shall be conceived necessary?