Cargoes, so as to prevent the enormous pillage and plunder which took place, these cargoes, with some few exceptions, have continued to be discharged under contract, by a class of men called Master Lumpers, consisting of publicans and persons of very doubtful characters, who, with the exception of five or six, are known to have betrayed their trust in the most shameful manner, and to have connived at the most excessive plunder, leaving their gangs, who were generally composed of the most desperate and suspicious characters, in many instances, to reimburse them. selves from the plunder they obtained, while their employers, the Master Lumpers, pocketed, in many instances, the chief part of the Lumping dues received from the Ship-Owners, and hence it became their interest to connive at the most shameful breakage of casks, and a great and unnecessary expence in cooperage, which was created too often for the purpose of affording greater opportunities to the Lumpers, Coopers, Revenue Officers, and Watermen; and also in many instances to the Mates and Ships' Crews, to plunder the Cargo

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attach to the Institution a de partment for registering Lumpers, not only with a view to obtain, by degrees, a class of men that were more select, and to be able to exclude suspicious characters, but also that in working out the ships, these Labourers might be more immediately under the control of the Police Establishment. Accordingly, about eighty individuals, capable of acting as Foremen, and about eight hundred of that class of men who are accustomed to unload West-India Cargoes, were put upon the Registers of the Office, and gangs were as. signed to as many of the Ships as were applied for.

The Master or Foreman of each of these gangs was solemnly sworn to perform the peculiar duty assigned him, according to his instruction, and particularly to permit none of the Casks or Packages to be wilfully broken -to prevent Pillage and Plunder, and to promote dispatch to the utmost of his power.

Six old Ship Masters, who were appointed River or Boat Surveyors under the Marine Police Establishment, had each a division of ships assigned them,

Cargo to a very great extent, in proof of which the most incontestable evidence has been adduced, confirmed by a multitude of witnesses who have been examined at different times upon oath, and who developed a scene of systematic robbery and depredation to an extent almost beyond credibility; each Lumper carrying on shore two or three times a day, large quantities of Sugar, Coffee, Pimento, Ginger, and every other portable article, and this, independent of excessive plunder which took place in feveral ships during the night, in consequence of contracts made by the Mates and Revenue Officers, with certain Receivers, who sent a class of men, called Light-horsemen, who were per mitted, for a certain sum of money, to plunder the hold, and who have been known, by means of black bags, called black strap, and made for the purpose, (holding each about toolb. of Sugar) to have carried off to the extent of two or three tons of Sugar each night, for a length of time, during the discharge, besides large quantities of Rum in bladders, as well as Coffee and other articles. While, on such occasions,

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which they visited regularly while under discharge, twice in the day, and once during the night. They inspected the work going forward in the hold and upon deck, and gave such orders and directions for the purpose of promoting economy and dispatch, and of preventing plunder, as their professional and nautical knowledge suggested, and they reported their proceedings every day to the Magistrates, at the Marine Police Office.

The effect of this system has been wonderful, and the saving to the Planters, Merchants, Ship-Owners, and the Revenue, must have been immense.

No plunder whatsoever could possibly be obtained under the system of vigilance which took place. The men were not permitted to go on shore during the day, by which a great inroad to pillage was prevented. The Watermen's Boats which were accustomed to hang upon the bows and quarters of West-India Ships under discharge on all former occasions, for the purpose of conveying plunder under the Old System, and the grapplers and draggers for old ropes, called Mudlarks, who usually attended

in

In all instances where WestIndia ships were discharging in the River Thames, journeymen Coopers have shewed a considerable predilection to be employed. And as double, and sometimes triple, the number went on board that was actually necessary, in most instances where there was not a vigilant Captain, or an attentive Mate, the expence was greatly increased; since the chief object of this class being plunder alone, they created work for themselves, for the purpose, not only of affording abundant resources for Pillage, by the spillings of the casks, but also to keep as many of them as possible on board, that all might share in the booty. The men generally had a boat to themselves, which constantly hung upon the ship, and as they

were seldom searched, their de

predations,

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in the night to assist in convey. ing plunder, were no longer to be seen.-In short, an effectual check has been given by the Police, wherever it attached, to the shocking depredations which heretofore prevailed.

II. COOPERS.

Under the Police System, the journeymen Coopers, finding themselves unable to carry on the system of Pillage, which heretofore prevailed, not only demanded higher wages of their Masters, but it has been discovered that where three or four Coopers were formerly necessary, one is now, in most instances, sufficient, and frequently even this one Cooper has not had employment for half of the day. Because, wherever the Police System attaches, the casks are not permitted to be wilfully broken, as formerly, and there is now no inducement to multiply unnecessary hands, as there is no plunder to be obtained: hence a great saving in the wages of Coopers, as well as in nails, hoops, and staves, independent of the gain that arises from the effectual check to the

enormous

III. WATCHMEN.

Since the vast extent of the Pillage and Plunder in. West-India ships has been admitted to exist, and that many of the Mates and Revenue-Officers,* instead of being checks on this Plunder, have, in abundance of instances, been proved to promote it. It has been customary for ShipOwners to employ Watchmen (composed, no doubt, of the best men they could select) to guard the cargoes against the enormous depredations to which they were subject; and as they were under stood to be upon duty alternately day and night, they were generally allowed 4s. and 5s. per day: but it appears, although these men were employed, and although they were supposed to watch day and night, the plunder went on as before.

* This is by no means meant to convey a reflection upon all Mates and Revenue Officers, some of whom have certainly conducted themselves with great integrity and propriety, and have proved themselves worthy, in all respects, of the trust repos ed in them.

If

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enormous plunder which took place through the medium of this class of men.

III. WATCHMEN.

The Ship Constables, under the Police System, are composed of men who have not only had the best recommendations, but who were preferred, upon a full investigation as to character, ability, and fitness to execute the trust reposed in them.

Each of these Police Watchmen are solemnly sworn to exe. cute a certain duty, and to follow specific and clear instructions which are given them. They are moreover armed with the authority of the law; and duly qualified to seize and apprehend all delinquents, which is already proved to have had a wonderful effect in preventing depredations. They are regularly surveyed by superior officers, both by day and night, who inspect into their conduct, and report daily to the Magistrates how far they have conducted themselves properly, and in conformity to their instruc. tions. And as they derive their authority from the Magistrates, and are accountable to them only