Introduction

CONTENTS.

1

CHAP. Ι.

Rise and progress of the Commerce of the River

Thames. A short account of the various

Chartered Companies for Foreign Trade.-

The progress and increase of the Navigation,

and of the Shipping and Tonnage, in the

Foreign and Coasting Trade, at different

periods in the course of the Century.-A Gene-

ral View of the present state of the Shipping,

Vessels and Boats, in number 22,500, and

the manner in which they are employed.-Reca-

pitulation of the whole Commerce and Shipping

of the River Thames in 1798, and of the

Property remaining stationary therein. The

annual amount of the whole calculated at above

seventy-five Millions Sterling of Property ex-

posed to Depredation.-General Observations

on the present Harbour of the Port of London.

-Arrangements with respect to Shipping and

Craft in the various Trades. The extent and

magnitude of the Coal Trade. The average

number of Ships and Vessels of all kinds, in-

cluding stationary Craft and Boats at all times
in the River, Laden and Unladen, estimated

at nearly 8000.- An account of the Quays,

Landing-Places and Warehouses in the Port of

London. Rise and progress of the Revenue

of the Port of London, from the year 1613.-

The wise arrangements of Government in

giving free scope to Trade, one of the causes

of its increase during the present war.-Con-

cluding Observations on the necessity of a well-

regulated River Police

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1

CHAP. II.

Reflections on the origin and progress of Depre-

dation on the River Thames-Causes assigned,

viz. Smuggling Pursuits-Impunity-the want

of apposite Laws, and the means of carrying

them into execution. -The Bumboat Act of

2 Geo. III. cap. 28:-Its inefficacy through

Culprits supporting one another, by raising a

General Fund for Penalties:-The Injury to

the Crown and Subject from this source in the

Century, estimated at 10,000,000l. Sterling.-

An inquiry instituted in 1797, with a view to

the establishing a Police. A detail of the

evils which the adoption of the System de-

veloped :-1st. With respect to the Depreda-

tions of River Pirates. 2d. Night Plunder-

ers.-3d. Light Horsemen. - Ath. Heavy

Horsemen.

Horsemen.-5th. Journeymen · Coopers.—6th.

Watermen.-7th. Mudlarks. - 8th. Rat-Catch-

ers.-gth. Game Lightermen.-10th. Scuffle-

Hunters.-Pillage on the Quays:-Ware-

houses. The immense loss under the pretence

of drawing Samples. Concluding Observa-

tions

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PAGE

39

CHAP. III.

A detailed account of the different branches of

Trade, which suffer by Depredations on the

River Thames :- Ship Owners; Proprietors of

Craft and Boats: -The East-India Com-

pany:-The West-India Merchants :-The

Trade to and from the British Colonies in

North-America-Africa, and the Cape of

Good Hope: The Northern and Southern

Fisheries: The Trade to and from the

United States of America: The Mediterra-

nean and Turkey :-Spain and the Canaries :

-France, and the Austrian Netherlands :-

Portugal and Madeira:-Holland, Germany,

Prussia, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, and

Norway and Russia :-Guernsey, Jersey, &c.

-Ireland: The Coasting and Coal Trade :-

Prize Ships :-The Public Stores in the River

Thames and Medway. A general recapitu-

lated View of the estimated Depredations on

Commercial Property. - Concluding Reflections. 82

CHAP.

-

CHAP. IV.

PAGE

The causes which produced the institution of THE

MARINE POLICE. - An estimate of the number

of Offenders previous to its adoption :-1st.

Mates of Ships.-2d. Petty Officers and Crews.

-3d. Inferior Revenue Officers, and Custom-

House Watermen.-Ath. Lumpers.-5th. Coal

Heavers. 6th. Journeymen Coopers. - 7th.

Watermen plying between London Bridge and

Greenwich.-8th. Journeymen Lightermen.-

9th. Mudlarks and Rat-Catchers.-10th. Wa-

termen in Ships and Lighters, and on the

Quays.-11th. Labourers on the Quays, denomi-

nated Scuffle Hunters.-12th. Labourers in the

Warehouses.- 13th. River Pirates.-14th.

Night Plunderers.-15th. Light Horsemen.-

16th. Receivers of Public and Commercial

Property in twelve Classes, estimated at 550.

-Recapitulation of the numbers of the differ-

ent Classes of Delinquents.-Explanatory Ob-

servations. The New System of Marine Police

explained. The Judicial Department. The

Marine Police Preventive Department. The

Department for employing Lumpers. - The

General Department of Accounts.-Recapitu-

lation and Statement of the Annual Expence.-

General Observations respecting the advantages

of the Design

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157

CHAP,
CHAP. V.

The immediate effects of the River Police Insti-

tution, in the protection afforded to West-India

Property :-Exemplified by a comparison of the

Old and New System, in delivering the Car-

goes of Vessels. The unaccountable conduct

of a certain portion of the Ship Owners.-

The propriety of the Design evinced, by its sur-

mounting all difficulties :-Its utility proved by

the testimony of fifty-one reputable Ship Masters

in the West-India Trade-By the public appro-

bation of Wharfingers-By the Resolution of

the West-India Committee-And the public

testimony of the Body of Planters :-Additional

benefits of the Institution, in overawing and

restraining Delinquents and Receivers ; and by

the general vigilance of the System, by which,

in the course of the first Season, the saving to

the Individuals and the Revenue, is estimated

at 150,000/...

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PAGE

209

CHAP. VI.

The effects produced by the collateral influence of

the Police System in guarding other branches of

Trade from Depredation, particularly the Tac-

kle, Apparel, and Stores of all Ships :-In

the utility of the design, to the East-India

Company