want of the influence of the Preventive System has given rise to some severe examples, which otherwise might not have taken place.

The object of the Institution is to render Punishment unnecessary, by making Confederacies for the purpose of obtaining Plunder impracticable.

However certain it is, that Crimes cannot, by any human contrivance, be entirely prevented, it is clear to demonstration, from the successful experiment which has been made, that it is practicable by apposite Regulations, correctly executed, to diminish them in such a degree as to secure the Community, in a great measure, from their consequences.

Under all the embarrassments which have been detailed, and in spite of the hidden opposition and intrigues, which operated through the medium of those who had profited to a great extent by this species of Robbery and Plunder, the perseverance and firmness, which were from the first moment leading features of the System, overcame many difficulties. The injunctions of the two Boards of Customs and Excise, by degrees operated in silencing the clamour and rage of the lower order of Revenue Officers, which was so peculiarly conspicuous at the commencement of the Institution, as not only to excite notice, but to demonstrate, that the primary object with too many of them, was not a faithful discharge of their duty. Had this been their only consideration, there could exist no cause of dissatisfaction, since the severest Punishment that could be legally inflicted, was held

out in terrorem to all Police Constables, who should presume to interfere with them, or offer them any insult in the fair execution of their duty. On the contrary, they were strictly injoined to afford every assistance, and on all occasions to conduct themselves towards them with the utmost attention and civility, under pain of immediate dismission.

But above all, the Commercial Body trading to the River Thames, is eminently indebted to the uniform countenance and protection afforded to this Institution, by his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, (n) whose characteristic patriotism, stimulated by an ardent desire to do good, produced the most beneficial effects in the steady and uniform support, which he afforded as chief Magistrate of the Police; and the great attention he bestowed, (and still bestows,) in promoting whatever contributes to the efficacy, and general utility of this design.

Aided by the condescending influence of such high authority, and the consciousness of being engaged in a pursuit highly beneficial to the Community, those in the immediate direction felt encouraged to persevere under many accumulated difficulties, and the consequences were favourable in the highest degree to the cause of Public Morals, and the security of Commercial Property.

The eyes of many of the most respectable of the Ship-masters, were at length opened to the utility

(n) His Grace the Duke of Portland.

"

of the design; and after its effects were fully understood, they bore the most honourable testimony of the benefits they had derived from it. (q)

The

(9) CERTIFICATE.-Signed by fifty-one reputable Ship-masters, trading to the Port of London. October 1798.

We, the undersigned Owners and Masters of Ships in the WestIndia Trade, &c. having taken into our consideration the Plan of the Marine Police Institution, for protecting the Property of the Planters and Merchants on board of Ships and Vessels in the River Thames, and for discharging the said Vessels under the inspection of sworn Officers controled by the Institution, and also under the superintendance of Surveyors of reputable character, who have been Masters of Vessels; and having each of us experienced the good effects of this Institution in the discharge of Vessels under our respective commands, lately arrived from the West-Indies, not only in regard to Pillage and Plunder, which it was formerly next to an impossibility to prevent, but also the great care taken in regard to unstowing the Cargoes, which it is well known have been wilfully broken, notwithstanding our utmost exertions to prevent the same, both by Lumpers and even Coopers themselves:

We feel it a duty we owe to the Merchants, Planters, and others trading to the Port of London, and the Public at large, in expressing our approbation and satisfaction of the Marine Police Institution, as a system which appears to us from actual observation, to be of the greatest advantage to the Mercantile Interest as well as the Revenue, both of which have suffered beyond conception, by the excessive pillage and plunder which formerly prevailed in spite of every effort hitherto made use of to prevent the same ; and nothing, in our opinion, could have operated so strongly as a check to the evil that prevailed in every department of the Lumping line, where the advantages are obvious, in having the Property protected by Constables sent on board, armed with the authority of the Law, to seize and apprehend every Delinquent daring enough to attempt any pillage or plunder; the Surveyors over those see that they contantly perform their duty, and we find that if any neglect takes place, on a representation of their superior Officers to the Magistrates, they are immediately dismissed.

In testimony therefore of our full approbation of an Institution already

The Body of the Wharfingers, equally impressed with a sense of the advantages which they found to arise from the link, in the general chain of protection, which extended to the Quays, testified their highest approbation of the Establishment. (r)

Nor were the sentiments of the West-India Committee, who were more immediately interested in the benefits which arose from this Institution, less decided than those who preceded them. At a meeting held at the close of the season, when the Fleets had mostly arrived, and a clear estimate could be formed of the effect of the System, that respectable Body added their testimony, not only with respect

already proved to be useful, and from which greater advantages still may be expected, we have hereunto subscribed our names, and also the names of the Ships we respectively command, and likewise the date of our respective signatures.

(r) Extract of a Letter from Edward Ogle, Esq. Chairman of the Body of Wharfingers, at a General Meeting: to the Magistrates of the Marine Police Office. - City Chambers, December 18, 1798.

" In compliance with your request, I have had the honour of " laying your Letter of the 21st Ult. containing certain queries "as to the effect of the Marine Police Establishment, before a " numerous meeting of the Wharfingers of the Legal Quays, held "at Batson's Coffee-house, for that purpose: and I have the satis"faction to inform you, that it was the unanimous opinion of the " meeting, that the establishment merited every encomium that "could be bestowed upon it, for the various and extended advan. " tages derived from it to the trade of the Port; and they " requested me further to inform you, that they feel themselves " bound in honour, whenever called upon, to bear testimony

" thereto."

to

to the advantages derived by the Trade in which they were interested, but also, by the Port of London in general; and likewise by the Public at large, in the benefits which resulted to his Majesty's Revenue. (s)

These documents, evincing the favourable opinion of the Public Bodies, who, from their peculiar situations, were best qualified to make comparisons between the state of morals among the labouring Class, and also the extent of the delinquency, as it applied to West-India Property, before and after the operations of the Marine Police, have been since confirmed by the body of West-India Planters; who, after a full investigation of the nature and effect of the remedies which had been applied, for the purpose of removing an evil, which had very long been felt as a serious pressure, and in the suppression of which, they were most of all interested, added their testimony of

(s) At a Meeting of the Committee of West-India Merchants, relative to the Marine Police Institution, held at the Marine Society's Office, January 4, 1799.

RESOLVED,

That this Committee are deeply impressed with a high sense of the singular advantages, which appear to have resulted to the Commerce of the Port of London in general, but particularly to the West-India Planters and Merchants, in the protection afforded to their Property, by the exertions of the Marine Police Institution, as well as by the general system established for the prevention of Pillage and Plunder, arising out of the measures for detection, pursued by the Magistrates presiding at the Marine Police Office, by which in the opinion of this Committee, great and extensive benefits have also resulted to his Majesty's Revenue.

approbation,