I. RIVER PIRACY.

THIS species of Depredation was carried on by the most desperate and depraved class of the fraternity of nautical Vagabonds, aided by Receivers (equally noxious and hostile to the interest of Society) who kept Old Iron and Junk Shops, in places adjacent to the River, ever ready to deposit and to conceal the nocturnal Plunder of these hostile Marauders, who were generally armed and equiped with Boats, either kept or stolen for the particular object they had in view.

It was the practice of these Free-booters, to select dark nights for committing Depredations ; having previously reconnoitered the River during the day, for the purpose of marking the particular Ships, Vessels, and Craft, most likely to afford a prolific harvest, either from the nature of the Merchandise, Stores, or Materials, which were accessible, or from the circumstance of their being without the protection of a nightly Watch.

In a Port where, as we have seen, there are seldom less than 1000 Ships and Vessels, lading and discharging valuable Merchandise, and from 200 to 500 Craft, in which a part of this Merchandise is deposited in its transit to or from the Vessels lying in the Pool, it is easy to conceive how daring and audacious those Miscreants would become, unrestrained by any Police, or any hazard of apprehension; emboldened by the force of their Gangs, and the total want of a River Guard. Well authenticated instances have been adduced of their cutting bags of cotton, and other valuables, from the quarters of Ships on their first arrival; and even of their weighing anchors, and getting clear off with these heavy materials, together with the Cables and every portable article upon the deck of a Ship: One instance in particular occurred a few years ago, where an American and a Guernsey Ship were plundered in this manner, by the actual removal both of Anchors and Cables, ultimately in the view of the Masters of the Vessels, who were alarmed time enough to get upon deck, to learn the fact from the River Pirates themselves; who, as they rowed off, told them that they had got their Anchors and Cables, at the same time wishing them a good morning.

They are no less adroit with respect to Lighters having cargoes on board, wherever they are, either unprotected, or where they are able to bribe or overawe the watch. Their practice has been to cut Lighters with valuable cargoes a-drift, and to follow them until the tide carries them to convenient situations to be pillaged, and then to remove as much of the cargo as their strength, and the opportunities they possess of concealment, will adınit. By such means have the ponderous and bulky articles of Tallow and Hemp been plundered to a considerable extent; while the Tackle, Materials, and Stores, of Vessels,

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Vessels, of all dimensions, have suffered severely. Not seldom also have the portable Packages landed from Ships under discharge, as well as Bales, Boxes, and Trunks of merchandise, in their transit to outward-bound vessels, been the object of similar attacks.

Previous to the war, this class of audacious plunderers was very numerous. The impress-service diminished them considerably, but unless the vigour of the present River Police system is continued, and improved by apposite Legislative Powers, and its force considerably increased, they will become extremely formidable on the return of peace, when so many depraved characters will, of course, be discharged from the Navy and Army.

II. NIGHT PLUNDERERS.

This class is chiefly composed of gangs of the most dissolute of the Watermen, who prefer idleness to labour, and indulge in every kind of low extravagance. They are in general exceedingly depraved and audacious, and (like the River Pirates) are all in connection with different Receivers, some of whom are opulent. Being also in the practice of associating with the stationary watchmen upon the Lighters, and of seducing them over to their views, they have had abundant scope for carrying on their nefarious designs. Their depredations are chiefly confined to unprotected Lighters, which are generally pointed out to them by watchmen who are associates in the same criminal

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criminal pursuits, and share in the booty. On discovering by this means where plunder is to be obtained, their practice has been to provide themselves with a lug-boat, seized on for the purpose, to proceed to these unprotected Lighters at midnight; and to remove such parts of their cargoes as are accessible and portable: This they convey immediately to the place settled by the Receiver, or criminal purchaser, and there deposit the spoil. One instance of this kind occurred in January 1799; when a gang of these miscreants were detected in the act of lading a lug-boat with Hemp, from a Lighter near St. Catharine's. The Hemp was secured, and one of the culprits at the same time apprehended by the Marine Police Surveyors; this man, becoming afterwards an evidence for the Crown, developed a scene of iniquity which, from its nature and extent, attracted particular notice; especially as the measures which these adepts in this species of River plunder resorted to, appeared not to have been before enrolled in the catalogue of devices practised by such criminals. It turned out on a full investigation, that five boat loads of Hemp, averaging about 15 cwt. each, had been stolen in the course of a few weeks, and conveyed through London Bridge to Ranelagh Creek; two of which were sold to a twine spinner in that neighbourhood. Three of the five boat loads, were carted down in the day time openly to the warehouse of a Receiver in the City; while the other two, were conveyed up to a wharf near the premises of the same Receiver, and delivered by the thieves themselves, with every appearance of its being a fair transaction, and without any suspicion being excited to the contrary; although the goods were actually stolen the night before.

The mode, however, which is practised in conveying these articles, differs according to the nature of the Goods which are stolen. While in some cases delinquents are less liable to detection, from the great extent of the Metropolis, in removing their plunder to the repositories of the Receiver in open day; so in others, where articles are subject to seizure by Officers of the Revenue, a nocturnal expedition is planned. The fraudulent purchaser is apprised of the design. He remains up during the night, with open doors, ready to receive his associates in criminalty. The Watchmen in the tract through which they are to pass, being generally his neighbours, or perhaps under his immediate influence and controul, are seduced by a small gratuity to allow the smuggling transaction to pass unnoticed, and the plunder is, by this mean, secured in its transit, and is speedily out of the reach of danger.

In the month of October, 1798, a Lighter was robbed of five casks of American Ashes, of the value of £.50 and upwards, which were carried at midnight in bags to the house of an opulent Receiver, whs sat up two different nights to receive the booty. He remunerated the thieves, by paying them about a quarter of the value, besides regaling them