No sooner had the Commerce of the River Thames arrived at that point of respectability, which rendered it necessary, from the peculiar situation of the Port, to remove Merchandise in large quantities from Ships and Vessels to Lighters, and from thence to the Landing-places, and vice versa, than it appears to have been afflicted by Criminal Depredation.

It is probable, however, (although the fact cannot be clearly ascertained) that this had not become a very serious evil, until after the commencement of the 18th Century.

The progress of evil propensities was slow, while a sense of Religion and Morality operated in a greater degree than at present, upon the minds of the lower orders of the people. In the moral, as in the physical World, the change of habit is gradual, and often imperceptible. In contemplating the magnitude of the abuses which are to be developed in this Work, the mind is naturally led to an inquiry into the causes which have produced a system of matured delinquency; which is perhaps, unparalleled in the criminal history of any other country.

It is not unlikely, that the disposition to pillage Commercial Property while afloat, derived its origin, in no inconsiderable degree, from the habit of Smuggling, which has prevailed ever since Revenues were collected.

The

The unpopularity which attached upon all Imposts levied on the Subject in the earlier periods of Society, when men's minds were less expanded and enlightened, rendered illicit transactions and frauds upon the State less an object of reproach than offences committed on the property of individuals : This indeed continues too much the case even at the present day, and hence the minds of the Offenders cease to be restrained by a sense of the moral turpitude of the action.

By degrees, probably (though the transition was easy) little distinction was made in illicit transactions between the Adventure of the Individual, and the Property of the Merchant or Consignee of the Cargo. The habit once acquired of removing the one in a clandestine manner, led by analogy to the removal of the other. The mind thus reconciled to the action, the offence screened by impunity, and apparently sanctioned by custom, the habits of pillage increased: others seduced by the force of example, and stimulated by motives of avarice, soon pursued the same course of Criminalty, while the want of apposite Laws, and the means of carrying into execution those that existed, gave an extensive range to Delinquency. New Converts to the System of Iniquity were rapidly made. The mass of Labourers on the River became gradually contaminated.-A similar class upon the Quays, and in the Warehouses, caught the infection, and the evil expanded as Commerce increased.

G

Certain

Certain it is, that Depredations on the Floating Property in the River Thames were felt as a very serious evil, so early as the middle of the Century: since it appears that various efforts were used about that period, to put the then existing Laws in execution, for the purpose of suppressing the Thefts committed on the Tackle, Apparel and Stores, and also on the Cargoes, of Ships and Vessels lading and discharging in the Port of London: These efforts proving ineffectual from the deficiency experienced in the Laws, recourse was had to the Legislature, which at length produced the Act of the 2d of his. present Majesty, cap. 28, " to prevent the com"mitting of Thefts and Frauds by persons navi"gating Bumboats and other Boats upon the "River Thames." - From the Preamble to this Act it is plain, that it originated from the evils then felt by Ship-Owners as well as Merchants. This Preamble recites "that many ill-disposed per" sons, using and navigating upon the River Thames, " certain boats, commonly called Bumboats, and other " Vessels, under pretence of selling Liquors of different

sorts, and also Slops, Tobacco, Besoms, Fruit, "Greens, Ginger-bread, and other such like wares, " and things, to and amongst the Seamen and La" bourers employed in and about Ships, Vessels and "other Craft there, do frequently take occasion to

cut, damage, and spoil the Cordage, Cables, Bugys " and Buoy-ropes, and the Head-fasts, and other "Fasts, belonging to such Ships, Vessels, and Craft, " and

" and fraudulently carry away the same, likewise encourage such Seamen and Labourers to dispose of "such Cordage, Cables, and Buoys, and such Goods, "Merchandise, Materials and Stores, secretly and " unlawfully, whereby great losses are sustained by " Merchants and Owners of such Ships and Vessels, " and other Craft trading in the said River."

The existence of the evil is here strongly depicted, and the object in view, seems to have been the protection of the Stores and Materials of Vessels trading to the Port of London, as well as their Cargoes.Considerable pains seem to have been bestowed in attempting to reach the evils that existed, and a certain expence was incurred in obtaining this Act: Yet, perhaps from the circumstance of its being a local Statute, fourteen years actually elapsed after its passing, before any one of its provisions was carried into effect.

It has indeed been the case with many very salutary and wholesome Laws, that they have remained a dead letter to the great injury of the Community.

These, among numerous other inconveniences, which are suffered by the innocent part of the Public, clearly demonstrate, that an active principle is wanting in the Body Politic, not only to give effect to the Laws now in being for the well-ordering of Society, but to suggest others, as circumstances change, whereby the rapid strides of Delinquency

may

may be impeded, and a greater portion of Security extended both to Life and Property.

By this Act it is provided "That the Owners of, or Persons using Bumboats between London Bridge and the Hope Point, for the purpose of bartering their Wares with Seamen and Labourers in the River, should not be permitted to exercise their Trade until Registered, Marked, Numbered, and Licensed by the Trinity Corporation; (u) who are also authorised under their Common Seal (and the same authority is given to any seven or more Owners or Masters of Ships then wholly or partly in the River) to appoint persons who shall have authority to search and detain any Boat having goods on board, suspected to be part of the Cargo or Materials of any Ship or Vessel in the River Thames, and to have been stolen or unlawfully procured; and also, to apprehend the persons belonging to such boat, and to convey them before a Justice, having local jurisdiction, and in default of a satisfactory account being given, or the production of the person from whom the goods were obtained, then the Offenders to be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and the Boat, Tackle, and Lading to be forfeited.

"Constables and Beadles, and Watchmen while on duty, are authorised to seize and apprehend per

(a) For a List of the persons at present licensed, with which the Corporation obligingly furnished the Author,-See APPENDIX,