Foreign and Domestic Intelligence. that fact could be afcertained; accordingly an affidavit was brought from France from Brown previous to the next Wednesday, averring, that he did actually indorse his own name on the note, and that it was not wrote by Alexander; which circumftance, and judge Afton and the recorder, who tried the cause, being on the circuit, whom the c-----1 wanted to confult on the matter, occafioned the second refpite; but the circuit holding longer than usual, and the judges, who were hourly expected, not arriving on Tuesday night, application was made for a still further refpite. Saturday, August 12. By the couriers that are continually paffing and repaffing from Fonthill, the feat of our illuftrious alderman Beckford, to lord Shelburn's in Wiltshire, and to lord Temple's in Buckinghamshire, we begin to entertain great hopes, that not only new men will be appointed to the ministry, but alfo measures entirely new will be foon adopted: for it is impoffible, either for the fafety of the k---, or of the people, to have the old tyr---1 measures any longer continued. Though the subject has all the reason in the world to be diffatisfied with the fanguinary and defpotic adminiftration of the B-----d execrated faction, yet it is not fo much the men as the meafures, that now give a general alarm to every part of the British empire. Tuesday, August 15. Between fix and feven, a gentleman in a chaife was robbed by a fingle highwayman on the road from Barnet, but fome gentlemen immediately coming, they purfued, and took him; he was brought to town, and yesterday being carried before juftice Girdler he was committed to prifon. A brace of pistols and a large knife were found on him. Wednesday, August 16. At Devizes, was a numerous meeting of the freeholders of the county of Wilts ; about twelve o'clock William Talk, Efq; fheriff for the county, took the chair, and acquainted the gentlemen, that the prefent meeting was in confequence of an advertisement published at the unanimous requeft of the grand jury at Salisbury, and if any gentleman prefent had any thing to offer, they were at liberty fo to do; in confequence of which Mr. Talbot informed the gentlemen, that he had drawn up the heads of a petition, and if they would give him leave he would read the fame for their approbation, which he did, the purport of which was, That they concurred in the grievances fet forth in other petitions already presented to the throne, and in which they hoped to be redreffed, particularly in the two following, 79 and or viz. "the right of elections, in impofing Friday, August 17. Travelling abroad is become very fashionable among crowned heads of late. Whether that be an adviseable thing for every one, depends on circumftances. But it furely appears proper, if not neceffary, that a king should make a tour through his own country, in order to obtain a knowledge of it, as well as the cuftoms and manners of his fubject, which is much better learnt from self-obfervation than from the accounts of others. If by travelling then, even through ones own country, knowledge is to be acquired, what muft we fay to him, who, though he has it in his power, confines himself within the limits of twenty miles westward of his own habitation, where it is impoffible to fee any thing but the fame faces; or hear any thing but the fame fulfome adulation, day after day. Monday, August 21. A highwayman robbed two coaches on Barnes Common, near Roehampton-lane; but Mr. Frere, master of the thatched-house tavern, St. James's-ftreet, and Mr. Walsh of Pickering-court, coming up immediately after, purfued him, and he was taken on Clapham common, where he quitted his horfe. He was carried before Sir Jofeph Mawbey at Vauxhall, who committed him to the New goal. Thursday, August 24. The following gentlemen waited on his majesty at St. James's with the petition from the freeholders of the county of Surry: The hon. Peter King, Jofeph Martin, Efq; SirFrancis Vincent, bt. An. Chapman, Efq; Sir Jof.Mawbey, bart. Jofeph Clarke, Efq; Sir Anthony Abdy, met the above gentlemen previous to their going to court, at the thatched houfe tavern; but being greatly indifpofed with the gout, could not attend them to the palace. On the king's return from the drawingroom, Sir Francis Vincent, bart. the worthy reprefentative of the county, prefented the petition to his majefty, which was most graciously received, and is as follows: To the KING's moft excellent Majefty. The humble Petition of the Freeholders of the County of Surry. Moft gracious fovereign, "We, your majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the freeholders of the county of Surry, from a grateful fenfe of theineftimable bleffings which this nation has enjoyed under the mild and equal government of your majesty, and your illuftrious predeceflors of the house of Brunswick, and from a steady attachment, zeal, and affection to your royal perfon, and family, think it our duty to join with our injured fellow-fubfubjects, in humbly offering to your majefty our complaints of the meafures adopted by pernicious counsellors, who, we apprehend, have countenanced and advised a violation of the first principle of the conftitu tion. "The right of election in the people, which is the fecurity of all their rights, is alfo the foundation of your majesty's; we cannot therefore forbear being alarmed when we see that firft principle violated in the late inftance of the Middlefex election. "We have feen, royal fire, with great concern, an application of the fre holders of the county of Middlesex, made by their humble petition to the house of Commons, complaining of that measure, defeated; and it is with the utmoft reluctance we now find ourselves conftrained to appeal to your facred perfon, from whose juftice and goodness we can only hope for redrefs. "We therefore most humbly implore your majefty, that you would be graciously pleafed to give us fuch relief as to your royal wisdom shall seem meet, by an exertion of that prerogative which the conftitution has fo properly placed in your majefty's hands. "And your majefty's petitioners hall ever pray, &c. The petition was figned by 1494 freeholders, which number was deemed fufficient, as feveral gentlemen, who were appointed to prefent it, were obligea next week to go into diftant parts of the kingdom, and as they are a great majority of the freeholders refident in the county. In feveral parts of the county the petition was never once offered, owing to the want of time for that purpose. The following is a lift of the members of parliament, freeholders of the county of Surry, who with many other opulent gentlemen of that county, figned the petition; Sir Francis Vincent, bart. the worthy member for the county. The hon. Peter King. Sir George Colebrooke, bart. Sir Robert Clayton, bart. Sir Jofep Mawbey, bart. Jofeph Martin, Efq; Barlow Trecothick, Efq; Brafs Crosby, Eiq; Henry Crabb Bolton, Efq; Saturday, August 26. Two poor women were taken into cuftody by virtue of a warrant from a juftice of the peace at the eastend of the town, under a fuppofition that they had been aiding and affifting in the efcape of another poor woman, lately in cuftody for a supposed aflault. A gentleman feeing thofe unhappy women dragged through the streets, out of pity, paid their fees to the officer, and they were accordingly difcharged. The juftice foon hearing of this, ordered the fame conftable to charge them again, which was accordingly done, and the women were brought before the juftice, and not having fufficient money to pay the fees, fent a perfon to pledge their apparel, and the juftice received three hillngs for their fecond deliverance. Monday, Anguft 28. A man and his wife were brought before the right hon. the lord mayor, for affaulting a butcher in Gravel-iane. The husband being jealous of his wife and the butcher, perfuaded his wife to affift him in the affault: however, the woman declared before his lordship, fhe did not know which of the two fhe liked beft: but after the warrant was discharged, they all shree went to the fign of the city arms, and drank a pot of beer together, where the butcher purchased the woman for one guinea, during pleasure, and all three went off well pleafed. Tuesday, August 29. A gentlewoman, much refpected in Suffex, loft her life, and her family all the comforts dependent upon it (notwithstanding early remedies were applied) by a maid fervant in an apothecary's hop fending her laudanum inftead of tincture of rhubarb; which furnishes a fresh reafon for not fuffering fuch deftructive medicines to be within the reach of ignorant people, enabling them to difpenfe death at any time. Wednesday, August 30. A pardon was fent to the New Gaol, Southwark, for the immediate discharge of John Percival, who was fentenced at the general quarter feffions holden at Guildford, in July 1768, to suffer two years imprifonment, and to find fu reties for his good behaviour for feven, for chalking 45 on the back of the great coat of Richard Capel, Efq; one of the juftices of peace of that county, and he was accordingly fet at liberty. Bankrupts, deaths, and marriages, for want of room, are obliged to be deferred to our next. M [Continued from p. 7.] of clay; yet to fuch only can we juftly compare all the boasted aflistance that has been given by the premier to the admired plan of Palice established in Bow-Street. Th POLICE. No. II. Y laft paper was addreffed in a more particular manner to Sir John Fielding, in compliment to his prefidentfhiy over the magiftracy of Middlefex; and, I own, I flattered myfelf that the fubject matter therein con- In the course of my correspondence tained would have merited his imme- with you, I hope to convince the Pubdiate attention, though it did not pro- lic,, through the channel of your Maceed from the able pen of his Grace of gazine, that if the treasury has granted Grafton, who, if his worfhip is to be any money to affift the Police, the only believed, and we cannot well doubt the way in which that right honourable word of a Middlefex juftice, has put board could be ferviceable, unless by the faithing hand to his admirable the influence of the facred character and feful plan of police; and has that now fo ably prefides there-and fhewn proper attention to the checking letteth his light fo fhine before men that the vices and reforming the licentiouf- they fee his good works, and glorify his nefs of the common people, thereby earthly mafter-there cannot be a greater 'dignifying the exalted ftation he has myftery in "civil policy," than that a the honour to hold in the ftate.'. I do proper. application of this neceffary not exactly copy Sir John's words, as fupport, fhould not have effectuaily rethe hurry of his employment has led moved thofe enormities, which are the him into fome inaccuracies which ren- fource of moft of the robberies that der his fulfome dedication of his new are committed in and about this metroedition of Extracts from the penal Laws, polis, as well as the greatelt moleftation in many parts, obfcure and alinoft un- and annoyance to the fober, modeft, intelligible but I think I have not and prudent part of the inhabitants. mistaken the meaning of his compli- Yet fo it is, that notwithstanding the ment, and a compliment indeed it is, pious example of the Duke of Grafton, as far distant from truth, as the comet and the vigilance and activity of Sir from our earth, to affert, that any re- John Fielding-Covent Garden, the apgular plan of Police has ever been dif- plauded feat of juftice, where his wortinctly laid down, much lefs carried hip is fo hurried with informations, into execution with fidelity, diligence, purfaits, commitments, compromifes, and impartiality in this great metro- and difcharges, that they fcarce afford polis; or that vice and licentioufnefs, him leifure for the common refrethwhich, with an impetuous rapidity, ments of life, is the moft abominable, have broken down the dams of decency the moft deteftable fink of iniquity, and public decorum, should receive a that ever difgraced any reputable city. Check from banks of mud, or ramparts I aver, that it is the nursery of pro VOL. III. L phane phane fwearing and curfing, of idleness By Covent-Garden I would be understood to mean, what the waiters of taverns, the bucks, and the ladies of pleafure, term The Garden, including purlieus and environs of about half a mile in circumference, which the officers of the Police might infpect twice every night, without hurrying them fo much as not to allow them time for common refreshments. And if this practice was continued but for two months, and the diforderly perfons therein apprehended, were properly difpofed of, I will venture to prophecy that Sir John Fielding would have his little army of horfe and foot, commonly called his people, almoft conftantly at home; for if the diftreffed and debauched did not want money to fupply lewd women, or that the most profligate of thefe were not to be found, an opening would be made for reflection, a paufe from inebriety and wanton intoxication might bring on pentance, and a return to industry and virtue, instead of an elopement to the highway. re I cannot fhock the delicacy of your readers, among which I doubt not there are many ladies, by a farther elucidation of the fubject; Sir John Fielding I am fure will not think it neceffary to urge me to glaring proofs of what I advance; this is the fecond hint I have given him, and I can now only add, that if the licences are not taken away from two nocturnal loufes in his neighbourhood, not far rom Drury-Lane Playhouse, before the publication of the next number of this paper, which is intended to work fone real reformations and amendments in the Police, I fhall throw out an alvertisement in his own paper, The Public Advertiser, without any warrant fron the Treasury, or giving any further information to the Bow-Street Office, which, in a few days after its appearance, will fweep the whole Garden fo car, that his worship's people will not be able to pick up a fingle guinea in all ts territories and dependencies, for patching the peace, which, by-the-bye, is a very profitable employment both at home and abroad. I am aware that the neceflity will be urged of tolerating fome prostitutes in all great cities; but this granted, is no realon that they fhould furiound the proclaimed feat of the Police, that they fhould inhabit the avenues to the public theatres in order to increase their vile bufinefs, or that they fhould be allowed to appear at their windows and in the streets half naked; frequently offending the eyes and wounding the ears of modeft paffengers. Far diferent were the regulations under which these unhappy women were formerly kept, when they were under the wing of the church, and had a Bishop of Winchester for their Juftice of Peace; and when a bd was fo infamous a character, that no English woman could be found to keep the tolerated brothels, which loathfome charge was therefore configned to Flemings. Nor were thefe houfes made fubfervient to the furnishing an inexhaustible fund for trading juftices, pimps, bailiffs, vintners, and furgeons. No public rooms were then allowed for the fhamelefs rendezvous of the abandoned of both fexes; the humiliating fcenes of intemperance were at least represented in private, and removed to a proper diftance. In fome future paper, I fhall give an accurate hiftory of the regulations established in thofe tolerated receptacles of incontinency, fo far as it can be done with decency, and a view to public utility. And And I doubt not but ven fuch young fellows of the town, who are not loft to all regard for reputation and health, will approve of the eformation I shall then propofe, and vill join with the more ferious and ober part of mankind to fupport my fyftem of Police, in preference to the very lame and imperfect plan carried on in Bow-Street. Before I take my leave of Sir John Fielding's dedication to the Duke of Grafton, it may not be improper to obferve, that his worship, after paying himfelf a compliment on his difinterested discharge of his duty, gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the Duke for his friendly reprefentation to his Majefty of his memorial in behalf of Lady Fielding, which procured the royal attention to it, and the conferring in honour (emolument, I fancy, he means) which no future induftry to the Public can repay to his Sovereign, or gratitude equal the obligation to his Grace. For my part, I cannot think the treafury of this kingdom, or the civil lift in such a situation, as to afford extraordinary appointments to families, merely because the heads of them have done their duty in a station affording proper recompences from the fees of office; folely on the ftrength of their having made more noise and buftle than the rest of their brethren in the fame department. 83 Public, than all the informations, notifications, difcoveries, and commitments, that iffue from that quarter. To the Author of the POLICE. MY thanks are due to you for having opened a channel through which Ĭ may with propriety convey my just complaint to the Public against the licentioufnefs of the times, which is got to fuch a height, as to threaten the invafion of all property, the interruption of all domeftic peace and tranquillity; and if the contagion fpreads beyond this great town, will finally depopulate the country. Innumerable are the offences against the established laws and cuftoms of this country, as well as against the first principles of civil society, which either efcape the notice, elude the vigilance, or are connived at by the partiality of the civil magiftrate; though they are of fuch a nature that one would think it impoffible the public in general fhould fit down quiet under the toleration of them. I am a fteady friend to liberty, and above all to the liberty of the prefs; but really such a fhameful abuse of it has now crept in upon us, that it calls for a speedy and effectual remedy. I mean thofe intolerable, indecent and infamous advertifements, which appear daily in our news-papers-advertisements which are a reproach to humanity, a scandal to fociety, an offence against all rules of public decency and decorum, and a proof not only of the most degenerate profligacy of manners, but, what is worfe, that this country is reduced to fuch an unhappy fituation by the weight of the national debt, that every thing dear and facred must give place to the fole purpose of raifing a revenue. The Extracts from the penal Laws are judicious and well arranged; but as they are a ftanding proof of the maxim advanced in my firft paper, that there is no true Police in this metropolis, nor indeed in the whole country, it will be neceffary for me to make my obfervations on them at large, to which the Public are candidly invited by the Author in his preface. But these and all further animadverfions on the ftate of Covent-Garden muft give place to the infertion of an interesting letter just fent me by the publisher. And I cannot but congratulate myself and the public, that my firft paper has produced me fuch a correfpondent. If his example is duly followed, we shall foon be able to confirm our opinion to the difgrace of Bow-Street, and to make our paper Police of more real use to the You have found me, Sir, the clue, and a moft fatal one it is, to all the indecent and hurtful advertisements which furnish me with the subject of this letter. You acknowledge," that the civil magiftrate will find fome obftructions in the execution of his office, arifing from the neceffities of the ftare;" and, if I understand you right, this leads to an explanation of the evil I am complaining of. The increase of the ftamp duties, within these few years, L 2 งา I am |