124

APPENDIX No. XXIV.

The two first heads comprise nearly ono-lialf of the ontiro number of offenders, and exhibitthe failings and offences into which the labouring classes aro most prone to fall. In a seasonof rejoicing and excitement, the first-named vice bus always prevailed, and it is the forerunnerof those in the second hood. It is seldom that drunkenness, or assaults, &c., aro premeditated,their growth into an offence is not tho result of art or design, which can be frustrated by apolice officer, and tho comparison of these charges becomes a strong proof of the morality orlicence of the people.

The next head includes all those offenders, whose habits of depredation might have beenexpected to draw them to tho Metropolis, and whoso numbers would swell the Police lteturns.They aro the very class of depredators whom the presence of a numerous police foroo wouldawe, and the return shows how far they were controlled during the summer.

Tlio fourth head is of persons charged with uttering Counterfeit Coin. The opportunitieswhich tho assemblage of so great a number of persons, and tho excitement attending it, offeredfor the perpetration of this offence, will at once account for tho large increase ; but the mereuttering a single piece of base coin, or having but one piece in possession, does not constitutean offence, and a professed uttorer is woll acquainted with the loop-holes by which ho canescape punislunont, so that the figures probably do not show tho lull oxtont to which thisoffence was committed.

Tho fifth head is of offences against tho Hackney and Metropolitan Carriages Act, andincludes not only charges preferred against drivers and conductors, but those preferred bythem for non-payment of fares, &c. Though there must have been numerous overcharges andfrauds, which probably escaped punishment, either from disinclination to appear at a policocourt, or from want of time, yet the figures may bo taken as some evidence that the policearrangements for protecting tho public from imposition, wore not without efl'oct.

The remaining head includes all other charges and offences, by none of which is the quostionof the conduct of tho visitors affected.

There aro so many circumstances which may influence not only the increase or decrease oftho number of persons charged at police courts, but tho nature of tho more prevalent charges,that it is necessary to refer back further than one year, to ascertain tho real condition of thoseclasses which constitute tho bulk of offenders. Since 1845, the Police lteturns show a greatvariation ; the following boing a comparative statement from that year to the present time.

In

1846,

the

increase

over

the preceding year,

was at the rato of (i'2 per cent.

In

1847,

tho

decrease

.13 ,,

In

1848,

the

increase

.3-7

In

1849,

.!>■« „

111

1850,

i )

> :

> 9 9 . . .

.0-2

and in the six months ended the 30th of September of tho present year, compared with thocorresponding period of 1850, the increase was 2'7 per cent.

With respect to tho naturo of tho charges, inasmuch as the difforont seasons of the year,and othor causes, may increase or diminish the temptations to drunkenness, &c., I haveascertained the numbers charged botwoentho 1st of April, and tho 30tli of September, of eachyear, from 1845 to tho present time.

In Drunkenness the comparison is as follows :—

In 184(5, tho increaso over tho preceding year, was at tho rate of 3'0 per cent.

In 1847, the decrease ,, ,, .8'4 ,,

In 1848, ,, ,, ,, 7-2 ,,

In 1840, tho increase ,, ,, .24'7 ,

In 1850, ,, ,, ,, 18-4 ,,

In 1851, ,, ,, ,, 2*(1 ,,

In Assaults, &c., the variations were somewhat similar:—

In 184(5, the decrease

over

tho preceding year,

was at tho rate of 3T

In 1847, ,,

In 1848, ,,

In 1849, tlio increase

9 9

9 9 *

9 9

9 9 *

In 1850, ,,

7 9

In 1851, ,,

9 9

9 9

per cent.> >

>)i >

> >

It is not important to continue this comparison with tho other offonces ; tho two first boingtho test of respeetablo and peaceful conduct, not of depredators, but of a large class of portionsinnocent of crime.

The preceding returns have been calculated for tho uniform period of six months, whichhas been adopted in all the other comparisons in this Report ; but when considering tho stateof tho Metropolis with reference to crime, good order and obedience to law, it will not perhapsbo irregular to deviate from that limitation. Tho influx of visitors was at tho greatest heightduring tho latter half of tho poriod, tho arrivals wore at an increasing rato from tho month ofJuno to the close of tho Exhibition, and the months of July, August, and September, werocertainly those whon it might have boon feared that the duties of tho Polico and of tho Magis-trates would liavo boon moro arduous than at tho commencement of tho Exhibition, The