WORKING CLASSES.
125
following He turn lias thoroforo been prepared in order to show the results of those threemonths ; and it is a most gratifying fact that, while not only the total number of charges, buteach soparato class of offences had increased during the months of April, May, and June of1851, as conn Hired with 1800, that increase disappears on comparing the two periods of thesucceeding three months, that drunkenness, &c., had decreased, and that the increase ofassaults, &c., had materially diminished. As might have boen expected known thieves, Ac.,and utterers of base coin appear in a larger proportion, but in every other instance thenumbers have decreased.
Number of Persons brought before the Thirteen Police Courts of the Metropolis, anil of thosetaken into Custody by the City Police, (except eases under Private Acts, Sic., in which theCourt has power only to make an Order,) (luring the months of July, August, and September of1850 and 1851.
From tho 1st of July,
Nature of Charge.
tho 80th of September.
Increase or] )ecrense per
Cent.
1850
1851
Drunkenness, or being Drunk and Disorderly ....
6,052
5,718
Decrease 5 ■ 5
Assaults, Assaulting, Resisting, or Obstructing Peace Ofli-\
cers, Breaches of the Peace, See . /
Picking Pockets, frequenting Public Places with intent to)
5,038
5,081
Increase O’7
commit Felony, known Thieves, suspicious Characters, >unlawfully possessing Goods, &c.)
1,826
1,670
,, 7-7
Uttering Counterfeit Coin.
132
232
,, 00-8
Offences under the llackney and Metropolitan Carriages Act
1,512
1,274
Decrease 15*7
All other Charges, not enumerated above.
8,723
8,203
,, 5-9
Total.
23,892
23,078
Decrease 3 • 4
The returns do not contain a single case of sedition, of seditious conspiracy, or of unlawfulriot, &c. Employment, regular wages, and abundant food, reduce to a shadow the duties ofa police force, in regard to political offences. It may bo said that the largo addition to thepolico force, (amounting to nearly one-fourth,) tended to awe discontent. Those who live byagitation must labour in their calling, but they cannot excite a people enjoying those threeconditions, which have moro influence in allaying agitation than the most imposing array ofrepressive force.
The number of offences committed within the Exhibition were 23, of these 12 wore of pick-ing pockets, and 11, of stealing goods exposed in the Exhibition ; and these latter are instancesrather of a morbid desire of possessing an article from the Exhibition, than of a premeditatedintention of theft.
ARRANGEMENTS MADE liY THE CLERGY, BY RELIGIOUS BODIES, &c.
It is an important featuro of the Exhibition, that while it diroctly addressed itself to theimprovement of habits and the diminution of wants, it was no less calculated to influencethe mind and the better feelings ; that whilst tho inspection of its works of industry shouldtend to elevate taste and instruct in economizing timo and labour, it should also impressenduring lessons of higher moment. Some timo before tho Exhibition opened, in orderthat such results might be more genoral and tho effect of tho Exhibition tho moro lasting,steps wore taken by tho Clergy of tho Metropolis, presided over by the Bishop of London ,by various Religious Societies of tho Metropolis, and by special Committees, for providingextra roligious services, both in places of worship of tho Church of England , and in chapels ofprivate denominations, for inviting foreign Protestant ministers to this country, and enablingthem to celebrate roligious servioes in their own language, and generally for diffusing themeans and increasing the opportunities of religious instruction.
Tho established Societies which undertook special duties in connexion with tho Exhibition,were—
Tho British and Foreign Biblo Society.
Tho Religious Tract Society.
Tho Evangelical Alliance.
Tho London City Mission.
The Christian Instruction Society.
'I'lio Committees formed specially wore—
The Extra Church Services Committoo.
The Committeo of tho Foreign Aid Society.
Tho Foreign Conference Committee.
The Extra Sabbath Services Committee.