THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 

 
 
 
 
 
 SIR JOHN FIELDING. THE BLIND MAGISTRATE. 1
 
 CHEONICLES 
 
 BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 WITH AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE MAGISTRATES, "RUNNERS," AND 
 
 POLICE; 
 
 AND 
 
 A SELECTION OF THE MOST INTERESTING CASES. 
 
 PERCY FITZGERALD, F.S.A. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 LONDON CHAPMAN AND HALL, 
 
 LIMITED. 
 
 1888.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 KECENTLY, in the course of the " improvements " 
 round Co vent Garden Market, the old Bow Street 
 Police Office for almost a century the scene of many 
 exciting and eccentric incidents was levelled to the 
 ground, to be replaced by a spacious and commodious 
 building. With it has gone a large portion of Inigo 
 Jones' Piazza, notable for its elegant proportions and 
 Italian air. Here were bound up many traditions and 
 old associations which usually disappear, or are for- 
 gotten, when the old stones have been carted away. 
 For nigh a century the old Court was the scene of 
 many dramatic and eccentric incidents engendered 
 for the most part by the old school of manners and 
 morals, long since happily reformed. Such are 
 full of interest as illustrating a phase of forgotten 
 London manners : and in the following pages I have 
 attempted to furnish an account of what took place 
 within those narrow precincts. 
 
 During the past twenty or thirty years, there have
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 been many criminal cases of extraordinary dramatic 
 interest, the incidents of which are but faintly re- 
 membered. It maybe urged, indeed, that the serving-up 
 these afresh is but pandering to an unwholesome taste. 
 Such is indeed abundantly catered for in works like 
 the Newgate Calendar ; but it has always seemed to 
 me that, quite apart from their tragic interest, 
 such cases generally furnish extraordinary and even 
 grotesque exhibitions of character : or odd and per- 
 plexing combinations of circumstances and evidence. 
 These in themselves have extraordinary, even bizarro 
 interest, such, for instance, as the curious and 
 invariable tendency of criminals when making a 
 confession to confess what is untrue. It is for this 
 reason that I have dwelt at length on the remarkable 
 case of Thurtell, which has always seemed to offer a 
 sort of fascination from the weird, almost romantic 
 incidents which attended it. Familiar as it is, and 
 an oft-told tale, there will be here found much that is 
 novel. 
 
 The "humours" of the Police Court, with the 
 eccentricities of the magistrates and of their officers, 
 are all duly recorded in these pages, in which, it is 
 hoped, the "benevolent reader" will find entertain- 
 ment.
 
 / 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Bow STREET 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 HENRY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING . . . .16 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN ....... 54 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 THE Bow STREET FORCES ....... 88 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM 121 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES 183 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 MORNINGS AT Bow STREET 214 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 ECCENTRICITY 245 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS 290 
 
 APPENDIX ' . 327
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Portrait of Sir John Fielding .... To face title 
 
 Advertisement of " The Garrick's Head" . ,, page 8 
 Justice Henry Fielding . ..... 20 
 
 Sir John Fielding in his Court . . . . 32 
 
 Townsend, " the Runner " . . . . . 97 
 
 " The Brown Bear " 160 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie ...... 186 
 
 Interior of Bow Street Court , . . ,, 244
 
 CHRONICLES 
 
 BOW STREET POLICE-OFEICE 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BOW STREET. 
 
 AT the top of Wellington Street, and close to the 
 more crowded portion of the busy Strand, is to be 
 found one of the most interesting spots in London, 
 where exciting dramas of real life and passion, as well 
 as their mimic reproduction, are daily played. This 
 characteristic quarter has been always the centre of 
 criminal as well as of theatrical life. The eyes of the 
 actor, as well as those of the rogue, often turn to it 
 with an almost painful interest ; and there is hardly 
 an hour of the day during which members of both 
 communities may not be seen lounging opposite the 
 buildings where their respective interests are concerned 
 in some critical issue. Here, within a small area, are 
 clustered the great theatres of Drury Lane and Covent 
 VOL. i. B
 
 2 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Garden, with the Lyceum, and the costumiers, as also 
 the newspaper in which players put forward their 
 wants, and often their merits. Close by are the 
 greater journals in which the merits and defects of the 
 players are dealt with, and the favourite houses of 
 resort and refreshment the taverns and wine-shops, 
 which are never without the cluster of professionals, 
 busy discussing their hopes and grievances. In short, 
 the quarter offers as distinctly marked and interesting 
 characteristics of its own, as do others which the me- 
 tropolis offers in plenty such as the French quarter 
 in Soho, the Banking district in the City, the Jew 
 quarter, and others. Here, we come upon the entrance 
 to the great Flower Market, lately the luckless Floral 
 Hall, which was tried as a concert-room with equal 
 lack of success. It has just reverted to its original 
 purpose, and, at midnight, when the theatres have 
 discharged their audiences, throws open its gates and 
 begins its performance. Then the wains and carts 
 draw up and begin unloading their fragrant burdens 
 all through the night the heavily laden vehicles 
 are heard rumbling by, and by dawn every adjoining 
 street is blocked an extraordinary spectacle of 
 business and industry, literally unknown to, and per- 
 haps unthought of, by the lazy Londoner who rises 
 late. 
 
 But there is a large section of the community for 
 which none of these things offer so much interest as
 
 BO W STREET. 3 
 
 does an important building which has lately been 
 reared opposite Covent Garden Theatre. For such a 
 class the "Bow Street" office suggests strange and 
 painful associations an interest that is extended often 
 to the respectable working-man's family. In such is 
 commonly found some misguided youth, whom bad 
 company or bad connections has brought to sad 
 acquaintance with the initial processes of the law as 
 established at Bow STREET. 
 
 A few years ago there used to be a painful and not 
 undramatic scene witnessed every afternoon in the 
 street, which furnished a sort of excitement for the 
 motley and uncleanly crowd which never failed to 
 attend. This was the arrival of the funereal-looking 
 prison- van in front of the straitened little office 
 door. Clustered round it, could be seen patiently 
 waiting as strange a miscellany as could be conceived. 
 It was then that the curious observer could study the 
 habitual criminal " type," and note how mysteriously 
 habits of crime seemed to impress revealing marks 
 and tokens on face, expression, bearing, manner, dress. 
 In older followers this evidence was not so conspicuous ; 
 but there was in the juvenile section, in the youths and 
 girls a strange and revolting air of precocity a 
 hardened air that would strike even the most careless. 
 When at length the moment arrived, the circle narrowed, 
 and the draggled procession began to emerge, each item 
 having a separate display of his own. Then -passed 
 
 B 2
 
 4 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 by, with an assumed bearing that was almost dramatic, 
 the reckless prisoners, each being saluted with en- 
 couraging cries from the friends who had, with a 
 touching loyalty, come to see him " off." Some ' ' danced 
 out," and tripped into the van with a familiar air ; 
 others, who had not recovered from the surprise of 
 their sentence, passed on with a sturdy scowl. More 
 painful was the shame of the decently-dressed first 
 offender victim, it might be, of circumstances, who 
 shrank from the unclean, but really indifferent, gaze of 
 the throng. For them even the shelter of the van was 
 a relief. Almost as 'characteristic was the stolid in- 
 souciant bearing of the police in charge, who attended 
 each prisoner forth with a carelessness that came of 
 strength and security. The last guardian the neces- 
 sary blue papers in his hand closed the strange defile, 
 and locked himself in with the rest. Then came the 
 strange cries of comfort and farewell from their " pals," 
 those of experience uttering their words under the 
 very floor of the van, and receiving some sort of 
 response. And thus " Black Maria," heavily laden, 
 and drawn by powerful steeds, reels off and sways as 
 she moves, to discharge her load at one of the great 
 prisons. 
 
 This strange and indecent scene had, until a few 
 years ago, been repeated daily from the beginning of 
 the century. It seems to have been an agreeable 
 break in the day. Yet it was doing its part in the
 
 BOW STREET. 5 
 
 wholesale education in crime. It made familiar and 
 recognized what ought to have been mysterious and 
 unknown. Instead of being a vulgar, show to be 
 lightened by the encouragement of friends and " pals," 
 it would have been far more wholesome that the 
 criminal on sentence should have sunk out of view and 
 have been at once lost to society. Happily, with the 
 opening of new Bow Street offices in 1881, this salutary 
 principle was recognized, and the degrading scene is 
 no longer witnessed. 
 
 We may contrast with this picture what the old Bow 
 Street and its neighbourhood was some fifty years ago. 
 It shows how completely life and manners have 
 changed in the interval, and how the so-called Bohe- 
 mian elements have been eliminated. Where now is 
 "Kelsey's" or "Harris's;" or the boys shouting 
 "Bills of the play!" or the "Coal-Hole;" or the 
 " ham-sandwiches a penny " ? 
 
 " It is just half-past five, and the grey dawn is strug- 
 gling in the east to diffuse a few faint rays over the 
 western portion of the horizon. There are but few 
 wanderers in the street at this early hour. St. Paul's, 
 Covent Garden, chimes the hour of six, and the 
 rumbling of market-carts laden with flowers and 
 vegetables, now begins to disturb the tranquillity of 
 the street. Seven, and blinds begin to be drawn up. 
 The baker's shop has already opened, and -at the 
 oilman's, on the Broad Court corner, the shutters are
 
 6 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 being likewise taken down. Eight, and hot rolls, com- 
 fortably enveloped in green baize, emanate from the 
 baker's. Now a youth suddenly rushes from Harris's 
 towards the newspaper offices, and returns home laden 
 with a copious supply of morning papers. The head 
 waiter of the * Garrick's Head ' now makes a lingering 
 appearance at the street door. Nine, and the shops 
 are all opened, and people go to work in earnest. 
 Peripatetic fruit-women begin to arrange their little 
 stores and stalls for the day, and a crowd begins to 
 assemble at the police-office, anxious to await the 
 result of the morning's investigations. Those addicted 
 to matinal moistenings now imbibe a drain of max at 
 * Kelsey's,' whilst the more prudent few indulge in 
 the luxury of three-halfpennyworth of coffee for their 
 morning draught. Ten, and the magistrates have 
 taken their places at the bench ; seedy individuals, 
 with dilapidated castors and eleemosynary kicksies, 
 wend their way slowly into the office, and the hair- 
 dresser's shop begins to be adorned with the bust of a 
 particularly fascinating wax figure with corkscrew 
 ringlets and lavishly-vermilioned countenance. Eleven, 
 and actors, who had a call for a ten o'clock rehearsal, 
 begin to bustle into the theatre witli evident symptoms 
 of perturbation and anxiety ; managers look glum, 
 and machinists nervous, whilst the prompter glances 
 hatchets and tomahawks at those unlucky supers who 
 have been three minutes behind time. Now do ladies,
 
 BOW STREET. 7 
 
 with pink parasols and sky-blue bonnets, hasten to 
 Kenneth's, the dramatic agency office, for an engage- 
 ment ; the theatrical generally leading to a matri- 
 monial one. Twelve, and Harris's shop gets thronged 
 with votaries of the sock and buskin. Papers are 
 read, notes are written, and criticisms spoken of. 
 During that dreary interval invariably occurring at 
 rehearsals, this is the spot where actors ' most do 
 congregate,' and this is the tribunal where disputes, 
 appertaining to the mimic art, are referred for decision. 
 One, and the steaming vapour that exhales from the 
 cuisine of the Globe begins to assail the nostrils of the 
 peckish passenger. Collarless coves, with long frock 
 coats, buttoned tight up to the throat to conceal the 
 want of a waistcoat, now supply the cravings of 
 nature by eagerly inhaling the savoury steam that 
 indicates the kind of preparation going on below, 
 thus making one sense relieve the privations of the 
 other. And now the. business of Bow Street labours 
 under an interregnum of several hours' duration ; a 
 dread hiatus occurs in its proceeding, and, with 
 the exception of Saturday, when the treasury delays 
 their departure, scarcely an actor can at this time 
 be observed in this previously Thespian-thronged 
 thoroughfare. The first signs of returning animation 
 are seen in the arrival of crowds and carriages at the 
 Covent Garden portico, waiting for the opening of the 
 doors. On every side rings the well-known cry of
 
 8 CHRONICLES OF BOIV STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 * Bill of the play, gentlemen ; ' the last syllable re- 
 ceiving, from a habit, a double allowance of emphasis. 
 Now comes the withdrawal of bolts ; the rush of 
 many feet and the crowd disappears, a few stragglers 
 alone remaining undecided in the avenue. Crossing 
 over the way to the tobacconists, we find a group of 
 mingled amateurs and professionals chatting together 
 at the door, or else seated upon diminutive casks, in 
 the most theatrical and picturesque manner, imbibing 
 the fumes of the choice cigar. Attentively perusing 
 the play-bills that decorate one side of the wall, is a 
 tall, thin young man, with a pale countenance and 
 dark brown hair, falling in savage profusion over his 
 coat collar. That is the Hamlet of the preceding 
 night, a would-be aspirant to dramatic fame, and who, 
 having once smelt the lamps at a minor theatre, 
 will rest not until he has succeeded in getting an 
 engagement at one of the theatres royal. Next to 
 him stands one who played Laertes on the same night, 
 and this very day week they play Richard and 
 Richmond together, with the combat most awfully 
 protracted, for that night only. But the perform- 
 ances have concluded, and the rumbling of carriages, 
 hackney-coaches, and cabs is heard once more. The 
 cry of * Ham-sandwiches, only a penny,' blends most 
 harmoniously with * Coach unhired.' Some of the 
 company wend their way to the Coal-hole, others to 
 the Wrekin, whilst many, with visions of rump-steaks
 
 GARRfCK'S HEAD 
 
 BO"W STREET. 
 
 Kxavlly Oppoil tticranl t:ntran<-<> tu tti 
 
 ITAL.1AIH1 
 
 J>is r ei!.\c Nt)::ru!iiai \Vande f ei> in posu ; of ;uyu> !uiirs alter the 
 loils of industrious daylight ! '"'iincOv Sui, a: t.'i" Carricli* 
 
 **- HAS COME JBACK, A\ SO 
 
 THE CH.IDIHO1V 
 
 JtJOGr.4- JUUY SOCIETY 
 
 o'clock, after whicli tlie l^ord Chief Baron departs frc.ru judicial 
 di^uity to became the Chainiian of thr lively l>ar<l. Give iiiui a look iu ! 
 Such Singing by Old and \ew Favourite* ! 
 
 Will you go, Bobr Ye>. So will I."~ 
 And the old Baron's Gridiron try. 
 A Chop or Kidney at this hour. 
 With Pratee like ii ball of Hour : 
 I Or Steak upon his Lordship's pun, 
 
 tx & Will renovate the inward man ; 
 
 ' 4 SftttUee, Tripe, or Toasted Cheese, 
 
 ^V" Stout, Ale, or Water, which you plea** ; 
 ^ And after that up stairs repair 
 
 " N. To see the Baron in the chair. 
 
 To hear the lively song and joke, 
 
 A glass of Grog, and have a Smoke. 
 
 Come from Casino's mazy thread, 
 
 To Supper at the GAK RICK'S HEAD! 
 
 Mr. 
 
 
 
 Mr. NICHOLSON begs to solicit attention to the fact that the Frost Coffee-room oi 
 Establishment is a Pu bile Slipper Room, for Ladies and.QeDtlemcn 
 mo*t Elegant Private Dininjf ;ut<l Auppi^r Apartmenta 
 
 Up Stairs, for Large and Small Parties visitint: Tiie Theatres. 
 
 Tbe Loni Chief Baron NICHOLSON politely reminds his Friends nd Patrons of the 
 ~ tart aoccm mentation offered in this splendid Establishment. Excelleat Bed CbMB 
 
 bers, Is. t>d. ; Breakfast, with Esrg^- or a Easher of Bacon, Is. 3d. 
 QLers and Nic Nawksirom 1 o'Clock. A Hot Joint alirayi a: <,, the LORD CHIEF 
 BARON presidmg, charge 1*. d! 
 
 J. W. PEEL's Steun Machine. 74. Sew Cut.
 
 BOW STREET. 9 
 
 and stout before their eyes, cross over to the Garrick. 
 At the head of the table is Mr. Fly, the chairman, an 
 eminent hand at the bass, often going down so low- 
 that it takes him half-an-hour to get up again. To 
 the right is the tenor, Mr. Gorgon ; at his elbow sits 
 Mr. Tart, a very staid individual, who always seems 
 as if he were going to laugh and couldn't. Listen to 
 what .Emanates from the chair. 'Now, gentlemen, 
 wit^/your kind permission, we will attempt a glee.' 
 Loud cries of ' Hear, hear,' and ' Bravo ' resound 
 throughout the room, and , the glee is forthwith 
 attempted. A capital glee it is, too, with plenty of 
 ha ! ha's ! and clipping of monosyllables." 
 
 Bow Street, according to an old writer, took the 
 name from its shape " running in the shape of a bent 
 bow," as may be seen to this hour, on one side. The 
 other side seems to have been somewhat straightened 
 when the Opera House was built. It was once an 
 exceedingly fashionable district, and, at its northern 
 portion, was quite close to the country fields. About 
 one hundred and twenty years ago it was almost as 
 recherche as St. James's Street and the quarter about 
 it now. Interesting, too, are the many historical 
 associations which make the whole area " sacred 
 ground." What a history would be that of Covent 
 Garden Theatre alone, with its traditions of manager 
 Rich, Peg Woffington, Garrick, Kemble, and the 
 terrible " OP." Riots, down to the fatal March 5,
 
 io CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 1856, when it was burnt to the ground, under the 
 vulgar patronage of a " Wizard of the North." Some 
 amateur had a souvenir made out of the charred 
 remains, some four inches long by two and a half 
 broad, its massive sides of highly-polished oak giving 
 it an imposing look Its edges are of the orthodox 
 dull red, its back of morocco. The title is " Theatri- 
 cal Ashes," and its wooden walls were cut from a 
 partially burnt log of oak taken from the ruins of 
 Covent G-arden Theatre, after an orgie snobbishly 
 called a bal masque. There are many amateurs at this 
 moment busy collecting all the facts and cuttings that 
 bear on the history of Bow Street and the adjoin- 
 ing Covent Garden on " the Hummums," lately re- 
 built and rejuvenated, the Bedford Head, Inigo Jones's 
 Church, Tom Davies' shop, and the curious and eccen- 
 tric beings that " hung loose " upon the society of the 
 district. The old antiquarian associations hive been 
 retailed at length in the innumerable topographical 
 works on London, and scarcely concern us here. 
 Wycherly, the dramatist, after his marriage with the 
 Countess of Drogheda, was, according to an oft-told 
 tale, so harassed at his fireside, that he often retired, 
 for peace' sake, to the tavern opposite, but he was 
 ordered to keep the windows open so that his lady 
 might see with what company he was engaged. The 
 old police-office, it is believed, stood upon the site of 
 Waller the poet's house. It is curious to think that
 
 BOW STREET. n 
 
 the well-known " ham -and -beef " shop at the corner, 
 which still displays its old tiled roof, was once "Will's 
 Coffee House," to which the most famous wits used 
 to resort. And in Eussell Street the house still 
 stands where Boswell was introduced to Dr. Johnson. 
 The vivacious O'Keeffe, when he first came to town, 
 was deeply impressed by these recollections, and used 
 to recall the speech in the " Constant Couple " where 
 Beau -Clincher talks of his going to the jubilee at 
 Rome : " Supposing the corner of a street suppose 
 it Russell Street here," &c. " Well, thought I," he 
 adds in his natural way, " here am I at last, standing 
 at the corner of Russell Street ! " William Lewis, the 
 comedian, lived in the very house in Bow Street that 
 belonged to Wilkes, the original Sir Harry Wildair in 
 the " Constant Couple ;" and used the same private 
 passage from it into Covent Garden Theatre. This 
 Wilkes was an Irishman. Lewis also lived in another 
 celebrated house : it was in Great Queen Street, on 
 the right hand going to Lincoln's Inn Fields. In 
 Queen Anne's reign it belonged to Dr. Radcliffe. Sir 
 James Thornhill, the painter, lived in the next house, 
 and I saw the very door the subject of Dr. Radcliffe's 
 severe sarcasm against Thornhill. " / don't care what 
 he does with the door, so he does not paint it" 
 
 The older Bow Street office, a " squeezed " build- 
 ing, which had witnessed so many dramatic scenes, 
 having lost its purpose, was allowed to linger on
 
 i2 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 for some half a dozen years. It fell into the occupa- 
 tion of Stinchcombe, a well-known theatrical costumier 
 and wig provider, who here carried on his duties till 
 the middle of -the year 1887. About September the 
 Duke of Bedford was busy restoring the Floral Hall 
 close by to its original function of a flower-market. 
 The old-fashioned Bedford Hotel, which had once 
 flourished under Inigo Jones' cheerful Piazzas having 
 been abandoned and reduced to being a warehouse for 
 the sale of potatoes and other vegetables, was clearly 
 on its way to demolition. There was a tract of valu- 
 able space between the hotel and the police office, for 
 both were dos-a-dos. In October, as was to be 
 expected, the costumier Stinchcombe had gone, hoard- 
 ings had been put up, and in a few weeks not a 
 vestige of old Bow Street office was left. Lately 
 passing by, as three " housebreakers " the profes- 
 sional name were at their work, the old railings 
 even attracted the eye, which were of a symbolical 
 and impressive character; the supporting standards 
 representing lictors' fasces with a double axe. The 
 building was not a hundred years old. When Sir John 
 Fielding, " the blind magistrate," succeeded his half- 
 brother, the novelist, he came to live here in one or 
 other of the two houses marked " 4 " and " 4A." 
 Here, under his extraordinary disability, he dispensed 
 justice for forty years until the disastrous June of 1790, 
 when the " No Popery " riots broke out, when, as was
 
 BOW STREET. 13 
 
 to be expected, so vigorous a chastiser of evil-doers was 
 marked out for vengeance. His home was burnt to 
 the ground, and the unfortunate magistrate himself 
 died in the September following, at Brompton. On 
 the ruins the late squalid and inconvenient buildings 
 were erected, which served, in spite of all pressure 
 and inconvenience, till a few years back. The history 
 of a place such as Bow Street office would naturally 
 be one of extraordinary interest owing to its curious 
 not to say eccentric associations. 
 
 It has been stated that Mr. Burnaby, formerly chief 
 clerk of Bow Street police-office, who retired from 
 office several years ago, had kept a diary of his ex- 
 periences in Bow Street. " Unfortunately, however, in 
 the depth of his sorrow for the death of his son, he 
 destroyed this record." l 
 
 April 4, 1881, was a day of mark in the Bow 
 Street annals, for a boy named McCarthy was charged 
 at the old office with having stolen some logs of wood, 
 with a view to cutting them up into firewood. This 
 was on a Saturday, and after his case was heard, the 
 old office was closed for ever, and on the Monday, April 
 4, the business was removed to the new and rather 
 ambitious offices over the way. 
 
 1 However, this sense of irreparable loss is purely spec ulative, 
 and always recalls the story of the letter which Johnson lost, and 
 which the owner said was of enormous value when lost ; hut when 
 it was after great exertion recovered and restored to him, he carelessly 
 said " that it was of no consequence."
 
 14 CHRONICLES OP BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 "Antiquarians," says Mr. Sala, "of the type of White- 
 locke and Howell, of Strype and Aubrey, of Pepys 
 and Stow, and, above all, of old Peter Cunningham, 
 will hereafter take note of a naughty little boy, named 
 MacCarthy, who has stolen some logs. His offence is 
 petty ; and yet Master MacCarthy is the last prisoner 
 who has been put at the bar of the old Bow Street 
 police-court. To-day, we may remind our readers, the 
 old Bow Street offices are closed finally, and henceforth 
 their business will be transacted in the new block of 
 buildings on the opposite side of the street. Indeed 
 the condition of the old police-court had long been a 
 public scandal. It had changed little, if at all, since 
 Dickens described it in ' Oliver Twist,' and dwelt 
 upon the general air of greasiness and of dirt which 
 hung about it, and which seemed more or less to 
 choke and to stifle the faculties and perceptions of all 
 who were engaged in its business, from the Chief 
 Magistrate himself down to the door-keeper. It was, 
 in truth, an evil old place, and it is therefore, perhaps, 
 pleasant to know that it will soon be swept away. In 
 the earlier editions of the * Newgate Calendar,' a 
 work of immense research and of some value among 
 bibliophiles, is a ' correckt viewe ' of the Court-house 
 at Bow Street. It is a ' commodious ' room with a 
 * bar ' across its midst. Behind the bar, at a table, 
 sits the Magistrate, attired in a Court suit of the days 
 of Goldsmith, and girt with a sword. By his side
 
 BOW STREET. 15 
 
 sits his ' clerke,' occupied in the 'reduction' of the 
 depositions, and clad in a gorgeous periwig. The 
 prisoner is guarded by a couple of Bow-street 
 ' runners,' and the general public is represented by 
 some dozen or so of fashionably-attired ladies and 
 gentlemen, who are strolling about and exchanging 
 snuff and pomander boxes, and watching the pro- 
 ceedings with a languid interest. Such was Bow 
 Street in the days of the earlier editions of the 
 ' Calendar,' when Jonathan Wild was still a hero. 
 The Court was small, inconvenient, ill-ventilated, and 
 approached by narrow and ill-arranged corridors. It 
 would be, perhaps, too much to say that it was as 
 badly laid out and badly managed as the Bail Court 
 at Westminster, where the Court of Queen's Bench 
 still sits."
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HENEY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 
 
 THE Bow Street Magistrates have always presented a 
 special type, quite distinct from the functionaries who 
 preside at the other offices. They were of a more 
 interesting and dramatic kind, and exhibited a distinct 
 personality, and marked points of character. Their 
 names being brought prominently before the public 
 are familiar, whereas the others are forgotten. This 
 peculiarity, it will be seen, is owing to the nature of 
 their functions. They were the heads and directors of 
 such police as existed at the time ; and like the French 
 " Chiefs of Police," they not only arrested, but 
 examined, the prisoner who was brought to them by 
 their officers; hence the common phrase, so familiar 
 by repetition, " of being brought up at Bow Street." 
 The list is not a long one. Though the Bow Street 
 office was not formally constituted by Act of Parliament 
 until the year 1792, these magistrates administered 
 justice there for many years before. We find Henry 
 Fielding, the novelist, there in 1753 ; to be succeeded 
 by his half-brother, Sir John Fielding, in 1761. The
 
 HENRY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 17 
 
 next was Sir W. Addington, in 1780, who was thus 
 the first regular Bow Street magistrate. Next fol- 
 lowed Sir R. Ford in 1800 ; Mr. Read in 1806 ; 
 Sir Nathaniel Conant in 1813 ; Sir R. Baker in 
 1820; Sir R. Birnie in 1821; Sir F. Roe in 1823; 
 Mr. J. Hall in 1837; Sir T. Henry in 1864; and 
 Sir J. Ingham in 1876. Nearly all these function- 
 aries were remarkable persons in their way ; notably 
 the two Fieldings, Sir R. Birnie, and in our time, Sir 
 Thomas Henry. They were distinguished for energy, 
 sagacity, a good common sense and quick decision; 
 qualities which came of long practice and experience, 
 and contact with the singular miscellany which daily 
 passed before them. As will be seen further on, the 
 Bow Street police-office was a sort of theatre, where 
 performances of the most original and bizarre kind 
 were given, and the " seamy " twists and turns of 
 human character were displayed in endless variety. 
 
 In the last century there stood in St. John's Street, 
 Clerkenwell, facing Smithfield, a court-house, described 
 as " a very plain brick edifice, with a portico at the 
 entrance." This was known as Hicks' Hall, and it was 
 used by the Middlesex justices for holding their sessions. 
 It was called Hicks' Hall, from being built by Sir 
 Baptist Hicks, afterwards Lord Campden, who had 
 been a merchant in Cheapside, and who had died in 
 1629. This building has long since been swept away. 
 
 This seat of justice is, however, most familiar to the 
 VOL. i. c
 
 1 8 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 world of letters, from its association with the much- 
 ridiculed Sir John Hawkins, Knt., who presided 
 there for many years, and who, mainly owing to 
 Boswell's jealousy and dislike, has been considered a 
 pompous, empty-headed, and even malignant being. 
 The well-known distich- 
 Here lies Sir John Hawkins, 
 In his shoes and stalking, 
 
 was supposed to express his solemn and pedantic style 
 of thought and utterance. Yet Sir John was a man of 
 letters and a musician was a friend and executor of 
 Johnson, and wrote his life ; a respectable and interest- 
 ing performance, full of much curious information. 
 Boswell, who was sensitive to a degree, and so tortured 
 by his prejudices that he could not, even when he tried, 
 hide them, seems to writhe as he thinks on the injury 
 he suffered by being thus forestalled in his great work. 
 Sir John also wrote a History of Music, which exhibits 
 at least research ; and finally, he was chairman of the 
 magistrates at Hicks' Hall, to the duties of which he 
 devoted himself with extraordinary enthusiasm. He 
 was really a painstaking and successful magistrate, 
 and intrepid when the occasion required. No doubt 
 he was an old Tory and narrow-minded qualities he 
 often displayed to a ludicrous degree; but his merits 
 seem considerable when contrasted with the qualifica- 
 tions of his brethren. These formed a singular
 
 HENRY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING 19 
 
 miscellany." It used to be said of one of them" (says 
 his daughter, Miss Letitia Hawkins), " whose name was 
 David, and who had been a bricklayer at the east end 
 of the town, where, by prescription, these justices were 
 of the lowest order, that he never wrote more of his 
 baptismal name than the first two letters, having a 
 doubt in his mind as to one of the subsequent ones. 
 I myself heard this personage say, that he had ' break- 
 fasted on such a day with government, and that his 
 daughter was going to send to government's daughter 
 a present of a pair of turtle-doves.' He was soft in 
 his manners ; and if my father was at all less informed 
 than was requisite to understanding him, he would 
 patiently explain. For instance : talking one day of 
 'the generals,' he saw that he was not perfectly clear ; 
 he therefore spoke more diffusely, and said, ' There 
 are two generals, the soliciting general and the return- 
 ing general.' Sir. J. H. thanked him for the trouble 
 he had taken ; they were now on equal terms, and 
 could get on. 
 
 " So carelessly made were the appointments, and so 
 easily were they obtained, that on one day a magis- 
 trate might be seen sitting at Hicks' Hall, and some 
 weeks later would be brought up to receive sentence, 
 in the Court of King's Bench, for corruption in his 
 office. Nor was this corruption confined to those in an 
 inferior station. The difficulties of administering pure 
 justice often came from those who were high in office. 
 
 c 2
 
 20 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 A culprit with good connections could set potent forces 
 in motion to work on the magistrate. He had tried a 
 man for assaulting a sheriff's officer. I do not know 
 whether the offence would not now be deemed capital, 
 as it consisted in stabbing the man near the stomach. 
 The man was found guilty, and sentenced to two years' 
 imprisonment in Newgate. He petitioned the Crown, 
 and my father had the usual letter from the Secretary 
 of State, commanding him to report upon the case : he 
 did so, but was very much surprised to find that, 
 contrary to all usage, it was wished that he would 
 reconsider his opinion ; and above all, when he had 
 done so, and only strengthened his report by argument, 
 to hear that the remission of the sentence was to be 
 looked for. 
 
 " While the matter was agitating over his head, solici- 
 tation to himself was not spared. The man set every 
 engine to work, and somehow interested in his behalf 
 a person of the name of Hutton, then at the head of 
 the society of Moravians. I had the perusal of a most 
 curious epistle, in pathetic bombast, which this advo- 
 cate addressed to the lady of Sir Charles Whitworth, 
 to obtain his mediation with my father. It began 
 thus : " Will Lady Whitworth, in some easy moment," 
 &c., &c. Her ladyship forwarded the supplication ; 
 and I remember Sir Charles bringing it to my 
 father : but I fancy he saw the propriety of leaving 
 the law to take its course.
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIX JOHN FIELDING. 21 
 
 "An intimation that, if thus unreasonably counter- 
 acted, he should immediately quit the situation he 
 held, was the last resource, and this succeeded ; but 
 while the offender was wearing out his sentence, 
 carriages that told too much, were, by eight in the 
 morning, seen at the door of Newgate ; and, on 
 inquiry, my father learnt that the Moravian trafficked 
 in that favourite commodity, ' small diamonds.' ' 
 
 Such was this frightful abuse of the " Trading 
 Justices " persons appointed to the Bench without 
 any fit qualifications, and from the meanest class, and 
 who indemnified themselves for their gratuitous services 
 by taking bribes. This name, " Trading Justice," now 
 happily without meaning, became a bye-word and a 
 popular term of reproach. 
 
 It must not be supposed that all the members of the 
 Magistrates' Bench were of the same pattern as this 
 corrupt class. A striking contrast was Mr. Saunders 
 Welch, an upright, accomplished man, who did his duty 
 fearlessly; and Sir John Hawkins himself, who, for all his 
 " stalkins," was an admirable official. Sir John had 
 often the privilege of delivering charges to the grand 
 jury of Middlesex, and these were, in general, marked 
 by practical sense. Thus, on the rebuilding of New- 
 gate, when it was proposed to throw the burden on 
 the country at large, he disposed of the matter in a 
 way that shows him to have been a man of sound 
 judgment. The charge is, moreover, interesting, as
 
 22 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 showing the incredible neglect and abuses that pre- 
 vailed in dealing with prisoners. 
 
 But we must turn back to two most conspicuous 
 magistrates of Bow Street, who were really the 
 founders of the police of London. These were Henry 
 Fielding, the novelist, and his half-brother, John, 
 afterwards Sir John. The services of these two nien 
 were of an extraordinary kind, when we consider that 
 the first was altogether worn out, and not far from his 
 death, when he took up the duties of his office ; and 
 that the second was blind ! Yet these brothers 
 carried on a battle a outrance with the criminal classes 
 for nearly forty years, and which ended in complete 
 victory. 
 
 Henry Fielding, as all his countrymen know, was 
 dramatist, satirist, journalist, a Bohemian also, as it is 
 called. Late in life he had become a novelist, then a 
 barrister, when he vainly sought for practice, and 
 finally obtained a magistracy. He, however, gave but 
 the fragment of a dissipated, almost riotous life, and a 
 constitution shattered by gout and various maladies, 
 to his magisterial duties. He had turned to the Bar 
 too late to make it profitable ; and, through the 
 interest, it was said, of Lord Lyttelton, was appointed 
 a magistrate at Bow Street; adopted, it would seem, 
 as a sort of pis-aller, a sort of promotion not 
 unknown to our own generation. In what spirit he, 
 at first, applied himself to the duties of his office, will
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 23 
 
 be seen from a strange disorderly sketch, given by 
 Walpole, and furnished on good authority. " Rigby," 
 he says, about a year or two after Fielding's appoint- 
 ment, " gave me a strong picture of nature : he 
 and Peter Bathurst t'other night carried a servant 
 of the latter' s, who had attempted to shoot him, before 
 Fielding ; who, to all his other avocations has, by 
 the grace of Mr. Lyttelton, added that of Middlesex 
 Justice. He sent them word he was at supper ; that 
 they must come the next morning. They did not 
 understand that freedom, and ran up, where they found 
 
 him banqueting with a blind man, a , and three 
 
 Irishmen on some cold mutton and a bone of ham, 
 both on one dish and the dirtiest cloth. He never 
 stirred or asked them to sit. Rigby, who had seen 
 him so often come to beg a guinea of Sir C. Williams, 
 and Bathurst, at whose father's he had lived, for 
 victuals, understood that dignity as little, and pulled 
 themselves chairs ; on which he civilized." 
 
 The " blind man " who shared in this squalid revel 
 was, of course, his brother and assistant. But the 
 manly spirit of the novelist soon rose to the responsibility 
 of his situation. He took up his duties with ardour : 
 planned reforms ; strove hard to check the disorders 
 of the streets ; captured thieves and highwaymen, 
 and was indefatigable in examining malefactors at his 
 house in Bow Street. He suggested ideas for passing 
 1 " Letters," vol. ii. 162.
 
 24 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 wholesome Acts of Parliament ; and discussed in pam- 
 phlets various notable cases which had excited public 
 sympathy. One of these was the curious one of Pen 
 Lez, which excited much public interest and dis- 
 cussion. 
 
 An extraordinary riot took place in 1749. The 
 sailors were discontented at the time, and one night 
 one of them rushed into the street complaining that 
 he had been robbed in a house of doubtful character, 
 which, strange to say, was in the Strand. As occa- 
 sionally happens, a phrenzy of virtuous indignation 
 seized on the mob : there were clamours for the 
 destruction of the house, and of all such places where 
 " honest mariners " were so ill-treated. The street 
 was filled with infuriated crowds. They attacked a 
 tavern called " The Star," where enormities were 
 supposed to be practised, and set it on fire. An 
 obnoxious draper's house was also attacked ; his goods 
 were carried out, and heaped up in front, to be set on 
 fire. But the police were active, and prevented further 
 destruction. A young man who was seen running 
 away was seized, and some of the plundered linen was 
 found upon him. It was attempted to bring him 
 away to prison, but the crowd was so violent that the 
 soldiers had to be sent for. Fielding ordered him to 
 be taken to Newgate, but he was eventually brought 
 to his house in Bow Street, to be examined. An 
 enormous crowd collected in front of the house while
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 25 
 
 the examination was going on ; and the magistrate, 
 always intrepid, appeared at the window and addressed 
 the people, charging them to disperse. 
 
 The prisoner was named Bosaven Pen Lez, or Penley, 
 and was a respectable young man, the son of a Welsh 
 clergyman. His story, on being arrested, was that his 
 wife, or some woman, had made away with his domestic 
 linen a not very intelligible justification. He was 
 tried, and sentenced to death. Immense efforts wefe 
 made to save him, but he was eventually executed. 
 Fielding published a pamphlet on the subject, vindi- 
 cating the authorities and his own conduct in the 
 transaction. To this task he brought all his knowledge 
 of law, proving by Acts of Parliament, and comments 
 thereon, the justice of the sentence. He furnishes the 
 depositions of the witnesses, and, it must be said, makes 
 out his case. 
 
 Another more celebrated case was that of Eliza Pen- 
 ning, which still more excited the public, and was hotly 
 debated in the/Jlewspapers and in pamphlets. One of 
 the latter ys contributed by Fielding, who once more 
 vindicated the action of the authorities. The general 
 opinion, however, was that the supposed criminal, 
 o maintained her innocence on the scaffold, was 
 innocent. 
 
 There is something touching in the circumstances 
 which signalized the close of his labours. Always 
 manly, straightforward, and thorough, his resolution
 
 26 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 was never more displayed than when, utterly broken in 
 health and fortune, he unflinchingly applied the last 
 few months of his life to the serious question of 
 grappling with the crime which, of a sudden, had in- 
 fested the streets of the metropolis. He had been 
 appointed a magistrate in 1749, and was destined to 
 hold the post but five years only ; but they were years 
 of activity and exertion. His name must be always 
 associated with reform at Bow Street. Borne down 
 with disease and suffering, he was on the eve of setting 
 out for Lisbon in the vain hope of finding cure, or at 
 least alleviation. The state of London, its utter in- 
 security and disorder, had long engaged his most anxious 
 thoughts. His experience as a magistrate furnished 
 him with daily proofs of these disorders, many of which 
 are found in his striking novel of " Jonathan Wild." 
 He injured his impaired health by his exertions. He 
 often sat sixteen hours out of the twenty-four, for it 
 long continued the custom for the magistrate to return 
 about seven o'clock and sit on till midnight, so as to 
 be on the spot to deal with- offenders. Many of the 
 magistrates contrived to largely increase their incomes 
 by taking bribes or by a system of perquisites ; Trading 
 Justices as these were called. Fielding, however, dis- 
 dained these courses. 
 
 " I had vanity enough," he tells us, " to rank myself 
 with those heroes of old times, who became voluntary 
 sacrifices to the good of the public. But lest the reader
 
 HENRY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 27 
 
 should be too eager to catch at the word vanity, I will 
 frankly own, that I had a stronger motive than the 
 love of the public to push me on : I will therefore con- 
 fess to him, that my private affairs at the beginning of 
 the winter, my compromising the quarrels of porters 
 and beggars which, I blush to say, has not been 
 universally practised and my refusing to take a 
 shilling from a man who most undoubtedly would not 
 have another left, I reduced an income of about 500/. 
 a year of the dirtiest money on earth to little more than 
 three hundred, an inconsiderable portion of which 
 remained with my clerk. A predecessor of mine 
 used to boast that he made 1000Z. a year in his office ; 
 but how he did it, is to me a secret. His clerk, now 
 mine, told me I had more business than he had ever 
 known there : I am sure I had as much as any man 
 could do. The truth is, the fees are so very low, and 
 so much is done for nothing, that if a single justice 
 of the peace had business enough to employ twenty 
 clerks, neither he nor they would get much by their 
 labour. The public will, therefore, I hope, think I 
 betray no secret, when I inform them that I received 
 from Government a yearly pension out of the public 
 service-money, which I believe indeed would have been 
 larger had my great patron been convinced of an 
 error " and here he supplies a happy ironical touch 
 " that mine was a lucrative office" 
 
 "About the latter end of the year 1753," says the
 
 28 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 blind magistrate, " a most notorious gang of street 
 robbers, in number about fourteen, dividing them- 
 selves in parties, committed such daring robberies, and 
 at the same time such barbarities, by cutting and 
 wounding those they robbed, as spread a general 
 alarm through the town." He then describes how the 
 King issued his proclamation offering 100Z. reward for 
 the apprehension of any one of the gang. But this 
 step "though humanely intended as a remedy for the 
 evil," was actually to increase it, for the hope of the 
 reward made some villains decoy many " unwary and 
 ignorant wretches " into committing robberies, then 
 giving them up and claiming the money. It was this 
 state of things that led to the Duke of Newcastle's 
 sending for Henry Fielding. 
 
 In short, the town seemed to be in complete posses- 
 sion of the thieves and housebreakers. These flourished 
 in regular gangs. The community was helpless. There 
 was no police, to speak of; and Fielding, almost in 
 despair, was driven to devise plans for the extirpation of 
 the evil. In August he was sent for in a pressing way 
 by the Duke of Newcastle, and at once repaired to his 
 house, where, after being kept waiting, he was sent away. 
 He was, however, invited to submit a plan for dealing 
 with the evil. He simply asked to have a sum of 
 600Z. placed at his disposal, and engaged to clear the 
 town of marauders. He tells the result in his own 
 graphic way :
 
 HENRY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 29 
 
 "After some weeks the money was paid at the 
 Treasury, and within a few days after 200L of it had 
 come into my hands the whole gang of cut-throats was 
 entirely dispersed, seven of them were in actual 
 custody, and the rest driven, some out of the town, 
 and others out of the kingdom. Though my health 
 was now reduced to the last extremity, I continued to 
 act with the utmost vigour against these villains, on 
 examining whom, and in taking the depositions against 
 them, I have often spent whole days, nay sometimes 
 whole nights. . . . Meanwhile, amidst all my fatigues 
 and distresses, I had the satisfaction to find my 
 endeavours had been attended with such success, that 
 this hellish society was almost utterly extirpated, that, 
 instead of reading of murders and street robberies in 
 the newspapers, almost every morning, there was in 
 the remaining part of November and in all December 
 not only no such a thing as a murder, but not even a 
 street robbery was committed. In the entire freedom 
 from street robberies during the dark months, no man 
 will, I believe, scruple to acknowledge that the winter 
 of 1753 stands unrivalled." 
 
 Yet this intrepid magistrate was at the moment a 
 dying man ; dying, as he said, " in a deplorable con- 
 dition, with no fewer or less diseases than a jaundice, 
 a dropsy, and an asthma, all together uniting there for 
 the destruction of his body." 
 
 Never surely was there such a spectacle of a duty so
 
 3 o CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 calmly undertaken, without flourish. " I was now," 
 he said, "in the opinion of all men, dying of a 
 complication of disorders." But he could not resist 
 mentioning three simple facts ; one that the " pro- 
 clamation offering 1.001. for the apprehending felons for 
 certain felonies, which I prevented from being revived, 
 had formerly cost the Government several thousand 
 pounds within a single year ; secondly, that all such 
 proclamations, instead of curing the evil, had certainly 
 increased it, and multiplied the number of robberies ; 
 thirdly, that my plan had not put the Government to 
 more than 300Z. expense, and had actually suppressed 
 the evil for a time. I had plainly pointed out the 
 means of suppressing it for ever this I myself would 
 have undertaken had my health permitted at the 
 annual expense of the above-mentioned sura." 
 
 Having performed this signal service to the State, 
 he resigned his office, and in very touching fashion 
 speaks of the little provision he was enabled to make 
 for his family ; then set off on his " Voyage to 
 Lisbon," of which he has left so graphic and interesting 
 an account. His cheerfulness and spirit never abated, 
 though his sufferings for wan-t of surgical attendance 
 were great. He died shortly after his arrival, and his 
 grave is one of the spots of interest for all Englishmen 
 who visit that capital. 
 
 And here it may be said that one of the special 
 products of the nation, exemplified in his person, is
 
 HENRY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 31 
 
 the modest, hardworking, sensible magistrate, who 
 receives, and indeed does not seek, little approbation 
 for his service, and who day after day, from year's end 
 to year's end, works on at his monotonous duties, in a 
 crowded, unhealthy court painstaking, and never 
 flagging in his exertions. It is only when we compare 
 him with his showy brother in France, who is ever 
 " playing to the gallery," and takes but little heed of 
 the prisoner's interests provided he himself can make 
 a display, that we see his genuine merit. 
 
 It will be seen that Mr. Fielding does not tell us what 
 his notable plan was for the destruction of the robbers, 
 though we look for the details with considerable 
 curiosity. The truth was, he was rather too sanguine 
 about it, and, as his brother tells us, it was only a 
 temporary relief, for presently " a fresh gang, as 
 desperate though not so numerous as the former, 
 made its appearance," which had to be taken in hand 
 by the blind brother, who now comes on the scene with 
 a bandage on his eyes, thus literally reproducing the 
 familiar image of Justice. It was always a strange 
 spectacle for the numerous thieves and forgers who 
 were " brought up " at Bow Street to find themselves 
 in presence of a blind magistrate, who we may be sure 
 furnished a stale topic of illustration to the reporters, 
 and other scribes, in the fact that "justice ought to 
 be blind." Not many years ago there flourished in 
 Ireland a certain ancient Baron of the Exchequer who
 
 32 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 went circuit, heard " motions," " charged " juries, and 
 went through all his judicial duties with fair credit and 
 success, though "stone blind." The recent instance 
 of the lamented Mr. Fawcett, as postmaster-general, 
 whose duty is the care of letters, is a more curious 
 instance still. Mr. John Fielding's remaining senses 
 and faculties seem, however, to have been quickened in 
 an extraordinary degree by his loss, and he acquired 
 a reputation as a singularly prompt, vigorous, and 
 successful magistrate. 
 
 Dr. Somerville gives a sketch of him which supplies 
 yet one more instance of the skill with which blind 
 persons contrive to make up for the infirmity which 
 itself seems to stimulate and develop other gifts. The 
 doctor describes the arrest of a fellow-passenger in the 
 coach, a forger, and how the blind magistrate only a 
 few hours later, setting his emissaries to work, had 
 discovered the lodgings of all the other passengers. 
 
 U I was so much amused and interested," he says, 
 " with the appearance of Sir John Fielding, and the 
 singular adroitness with which he conducted the busi- 
 ness of his office, that J continued there for an hour after 
 the removal of Mathewson, while Sir John was engaged 
 in the investigation of other cases. Sir John had a 
 bandage over his eyes, and held a little switch or rod 
 in his hand, waving it before him as he descended 
 from the bench. The sagacity he discovered in the 
 questions he put to the witnesses, and a marked and
 
 SIR JOHN FIELDING IN HIS COURT.
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 33 
 
 successful attention as I conceived, not only to the 
 words, but to the accents and tones of the speaker, 
 supplied the advantage which is usually rendered by 
 the eye ; and his arrangement of the questions leading 
 to the detection of concealed facts, impressed me with 
 the highest respect for his singular ability as a police 
 magistrate." 
 
 Almost at once he put his brother's plan into opera- 
 tion against the revived gangs. The idea appears to 
 have been the philosophical and radical one of cutting 
 off the source of supply, and destroying the haunts or 
 " nests " where these criminal pests were engendered. 
 He would thus begin by putting down "low music 
 meetings and dances," where thieves met each other ; 
 by abolishing " begging and street-walking ;" and by 
 harrying and harassing the whole community until it 
 found its occupation intolerable. 2 " These reigning 
 gangs of desperate street robbers were attacked, and 
 in the space of three months no less than nine capital 
 offenders were brought to justice, though not without 
 bloodshed, for one of Mr. Fielding's people was killed 
 and one of the robbers cut to pieces, among whom 
 were the famous Birk, Gill Armstrong, and Courteney. 
 Nor has any considerable gang appeared since, till 
 lately. The next set of villains," viz. the highway- 
 
 2 See his tract, " An Account of the Origin and Effects of a 
 Police set on foot by his Grace the Duke of Newcastle in 1753, upon 
 a plan presented to him by the late Henry Fielding, Esq. 1758." 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 34 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 men that robbed near town, "were by this new 
 method brought to justice ; so that scarce one has 
 escaped from that time to this." The worthy Sir 
 John quite gloats over his performances in this line. 
 The lead-stealers a distinct profession and house- 
 breakers were next pursued and harried, until they 
 were totally dispersed and sent to Tyburn. These 
 " more considerable objects being removed," the vast 
 shoal of pickpockets, shoplifters, &c., were left at his 
 mercy, and were every day taken up in numbers. He 
 mentions a curious instance of four infant thieves, the 
 eldest five years old, who were brought before him, 
 and who were proved to be all children of different 
 persons collected by one woman to " beg and steal, to 
 furnish that beast with gin." 
 
 One of his methods for protecting the suburbs, then 
 almost at the mercy of the highwaymen, was the 
 inviting of small subscriptions to defray the expense 
 which he could not obtain from the City or Crown. 
 This part of his scheme is thus described : 
 
 " Substance of Mr. Fielding' 's Plan for preventing Rob- 
 beries, within twenty miles of London. 
 
 '* He proposes that any number of gentlemen, for 
 instance twenty, whose country houses are situate at 
 different distances from five to twenty miles from Lon- 
 don, subscribe two guineas each, to be lodged in the 
 hands of one of the subscribers. That this money be
 
 HENRY FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 35 
 
 subject to the draughts of all the subscribers, and if any 
 highway robbery be committed in the neighbourhood of 
 any of the subscribers, let the first that hears of it 
 obtain an exact description of the robber, his horse (if 
 he had one), and whatever is taken from the person 
 robbed. This let him put in writing, always adding, 
 if possible, the name and place of abode of the party 
 robbed ; for it sometimes happens when a highwayman 
 is apprehended, that the prosecutor not being to be 
 found, the former escapes justice and is let loose again 
 upon the public. Next let a man and horse be im- 
 mediately hired and despatched to Mr. Fielding, in 
 Bow Street, Covent Garden, with full authority to that 
 gentleman to advertise it in what manner he thinks 
 proper, and to receive of the treasurer of the subscrip- 
 tion the expense of the advertisements. Meantime 
 let the messenger communicate to all the bye-ale- 
 houses, public-inns, and turnpikes, in his way to and 
 from London, the robbery, with a verbal description of 
 the man and horse. On the messenger's returning to 
 the subscriber who sent him, and producing a testi- 
 mony from the justice of his having delivered to him 
 the said description, and setting forth the hour of his 
 arrival in town, the subscriber shall give the mes- 
 senger a draught upon the treasurer for such a sum of 
 money as he shall think he deserves. Now as the 
 acting magistrate, besides having the whole civil 
 power within his jurisdiction at command, can every 
 
 D 2
 
 36 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 day, upon notice given of any robbery, call together a 
 number of men, always ready to pursue and attack the 
 most daring villain, it must be impossible for villains 
 ever to escape justice. 
 
 " The alehouse-keepers, stable-keepers who let horses 
 to hire, and pawnbrokers should constantly read the 
 advertisements inserted by Mr. Fielding in the Public 
 Advertiser. The first would then never harbour a 
 rogue ; the second would never furnish a highwayman 
 with a horse, without knowing it time enough to 
 detect him and save the horse ; and as to the latter 
 they have already found so many advantages from 
 what is here recommended that nothing farther need 
 be said." 
 
 Sir John, like his brother, had a keen sense of 
 humour, and utilizing his experience, published some 
 advice to the public in reference to thieves and 
 sharpers, the very form of which has a droll turn. It 
 was printed on a sheet. This was a " Description of 
 London and Westminster," published in 1776; and to 
 this he added, "Proper Cautions to the Merchants, 
 Tradesmen, and Shopkeepers ; Journeymen, Appren- 
 tices, Porters, Errand Boys, Book-keepers, and Inn- 
 keepers ; also very necessary for every person going to 
 London either on business or pleasure." They are to 
 be wary of what he calls " Sky Farmers" one of whom 
 dresses himself extremely genteel, and takes upon 
 himself either the character of a private gentleman or
 
 HENR Y MELDING AND SIR JOHN YIELDING. 37 
 
 respectable tradesman. He is attended by two men in 
 the character of country farmers, with clumsy boots, 
 horsemen's coats, &c. The objects pitched upon for 
 imposition are good charitable old ladies, to whom the 
 sky farmer tells a dreadful story of losses by fire, 
 inundation, &c., to the utter ruin of these two poor 
 farmers and all their families; their wives are with 
 child, their children down with the small-pox, &c. A 
 book is then produced by the sky farmer, who under- 
 takes this disagreeable office purely out of good 
 nature, knowing the story to be true. In this book 
 are the names of the nobility and gentry set down by 
 himself, who have contributed to this charity ; and by 
 setting out with false names, they at length get real 
 ones, which are of great service to them in carrying on 
 their fraud ; and these wretches often obtain relief for 
 their false distresses, whilst the really miserable suffer, 
 from their modesty, the asserted afflictions. A woman 
 stuffed so large as if she was ready to lie in, with two 
 or three borrowed children, and a letter giving an 
 account of her husband's falling off a scaffold, and 
 breaking his limbs, or being drowned at sea, &c., is an 
 irresistible object. 
 
 " But the highest rank of cheats," he continues, 
 ".who attack the understanding have made use of the 
 following stratagems : One of the gang, who is hap- 
 piest in his person, and has the best address, is 
 pitched upon to take a house, which, by means of the
 
 38 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 extreme good character given of him by his comrade 
 to the landlord, is soon accomplished. The next con- 
 sideration is to furnish it, when Mr. , a young 
 
 | ironmonger, just set up, is pitched upon to provide the 
 
 squire's grates, who, glad of so fine an order, soon 
 ornaments his chimneys with those of the newest 
 
 fashion. This being done, Mr. , the upholsterer, 
 
 is immediately applied to for other furniture, and is 
 brought to the house, in order that he may see the 
 ,, grates, which he no sooner beholds than he tells his 
 honour that he could have furnished him likewise with 
 grates of the best kind at the most reasonable rates, to 
 which Squire Gambler replies that he intends taking 
 
 some little villa in the country, where Mr. shall 
 
 furnish everything he can. 
 
 " The house being now completely furnished, the 
 squire dresses himself in his morning gown, velvet 
 cap, and red morocco slippers, puts one or more of his 
 comrades into livery, then sends for the tailor, linen- 
 draper, silversmith, jeweller, &c., takes upon him the 
 character of a merchant, and by getting credit of one, 
 by pawning the goods the moment he has got them he 
 is enabled to pay ready money to others ; by which 
 means he extends his credit and increases his orders till 
 he is detected ; which sometimes does not happen till he 
 has defrauded tradesmen to a very considerable value. 
 * There is a set of sharpers who have lately pur- 
 chased several estates without money in the following
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 39 
 
 manner : They make a bargain with the seller, or his 
 agent, and promise to pay the purchase-money at such 
 a time ; they then go to the tenant and show him the 
 articles of agreement, and tell him that he will soon 
 have a new landlord, upon which the former begins to 
 complain of the old one, and hopes his honour will 
 repair this, rebuild that, and alter something else, 
 which the landlord promises to do. Credit being thus 
 gained with the tenant, the new landlord falls in love, 
 perhaps, with the farmer's daughter, or with a fine 
 horse, or else borrows money of him and gives him a 
 draught upon his banker in town, who seldom has any 
 cash in hand, and often is not to be found. 
 
 " The old trick of ring -dropping is practised by fel- 
 lows who find a paper full of ' gold rings,' which they 
 take care to pick up in the sight of a proper object, 
 whose opinion they ask, saying that he had rather 
 have found a good piece of bread and cheese, for he 
 had not broken his fast for a whole day ; then wishes 
 the gentleman would give him something for the 
 rings, that he might buy himself a pair of shoes, a 
 coat, &c. He will immediately bite, and thinking to 
 make a cheap purchase of an ignorant fellow, gives 
 him 20s. for four or five brass rings washed over. Or, 
 what is more frequent, and yet more successful, is the 
 picking up of a shilling or a half-crown before the face 
 of a countryman, whose opinion of it is immediately 
 asked, whether it be silver or not, and he is invited to
 
 40 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE . 
 
 share the finder's good luck in a glass of wine or a pot 
 of ale. The harmless countryman, pleased at such an 
 invitation in a strange place, is carried to an ale-house 
 where the sharper's friends are waiting for him, and 
 where cutting or playing at cards is soon proposed, 
 and the countryman most certainly tricked out of all 
 his money, watch, and everything valuable he has 
 about him." All which shows how well skilled was the 
 blind magistrate in the tricks and devices of the fra- 
 ternity. The style is pleasant enough, and has the 
 ironical flavour of that of his more gifted brother. 
 
 This excellent man was knighted by the king in 
 1760, one of the first acts of his reign. 
 
 So vigorous was he in the prosecution of his duties, 
 and such a terror to the evil-doer, that he incurred 
 much odium, and received a threatening letter inform- 
 ing him that " the die was cast, and the knight's fate 
 was determined." This was because he had refused 
 bail in the case of a woman named Chandler, accused 
 of stealing lace. 
 
 In 1771 we find Mrs. Cornelys giving her cele- 
 brated masquerades in Soho Square, a portion of her 
 ball-room being now the Roman Catholic Chapel. 
 She however added the attraction of a dramatic per- 
 formance, which brought down the ire of the sturdy 
 blind magistrate upon her. She was summoned to 
 Bow Street, and convicted in a penalty of 501. for this 
 illegal performance. It was said that " the noblemen
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 41 
 
 and gentlemen who patronize her puppet opera are so 
 exasperated at a certain justice, that they have entered 
 into very large subscriptions to answer all the penalties 
 that may be levied on her." The speech of the magis- 
 trate was admirable, if a little eccentric, and after his 
 own special manner. " Rank," he began by saying, 
 " when it shall be opposed to law will never convey 
 any idea of fear to this bench, but on the contrary, it 
 ought and will animate the magistrates to greater 
 exactitude and attention." After dwelling on the 
 number of places of amusement in the metropolis, all 
 under proper regulations, he proceeded in this rather 
 sarcastic vein : " In the first place there are two 
 Theatres Royal under the management of two of the 
 greatest geniuses that ever were in the same situation. 
 Then at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket you have 
 everything elegant that music can produce, and over 
 the way you have the great Mr. Foote, who makes us 
 shake our sides with laughter. Then have you Rane- 
 lagh, the politest place of amusement in Europe, under 
 the direction of the great Sir Thomas Robinson. At 
 Sadler's Wells you have everything to entertain that 
 tumbling and feats of activity can afford. At Maryle- 
 bone you have music, wine, and plum cake. Then you 
 have the White Conduit House and other tea-drinking 
 houses all round the town, and what honest English- 
 man can say he wants amusement ? Surely it is evident 
 that luxury has been taking such gigantic strides as
 
 42 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREE T POL ICE- OFFICE. 
 
 ought to make magistrates jealous of dire dangerous 
 progress. And before 1 conclude I cannot help ob- 
 serving that what the magistrates, the counsel, and the 
 witnesses said on Feb. 20th, as well as what none of them 
 said, has been published in a newspaper, and though I 
 again repeat that I wish all my actions, not as a magis- 
 trate only, but as a man, might be known through the 
 whole world, and though I am content that every one 
 who heard me be a short-hand writer, yet do I desire 
 that nothing may be published but the truth, for I fear 
 not truth, but misrepresentation." 
 
 Like many persons afflicted with so serious an in- 
 firmity, Sir John seems to have grown into a morbid 
 state of sensitiveness. This was particularly shown in 
 his relations with that most amiable of actors, Garrick, 
 to whom, like Charles Surface in the case of Sir Peter, 
 it is to be feared " he had given considerable un- 
 easiness." A play of his brother's, the novelist, bearing 
 the same title as one of Goldsmith's, viz. " The Good- 
 Natured Man," had been found, and it was suggested 
 that it should be brought out. Garrick took up the 
 project with much ardour and warmth, but he found 
 difficulties and delays, as the piece in its existing state 
 was not suited to the stage. The touchy magistrate 
 thought he saw a desire to withdraw from the engage- 
 ment, and hence arose an angry feeling which 
 embittered their future intercourse in a very grotesque 
 way.
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 43 
 
 " The beginning of my correspondence with Sir 
 John Fielding," wrote Garrick in a MS. letter, now 
 before me, and dated 1772, " was thus : His brother, 
 the late Mr. Fielding, and my particular friend, had 
 written a comedy, which being lent to his different 
 friends, was lost for twenty years. It luckily fell to 
 my lot to discover it. Had I found a mine of gold 
 upon my own land, it would not have given me more 
 pleasure. I immediately went to his brother and told 
 him the story of my discovery, and immediately, with 
 all the warmth imaginable, offered my services to pre- 
 pare it for the stage. He thanked me cordially, and 
 we parted with mutual expressions of kindness." 
 
 But during the course of these proceedings, Sir 
 John grew fretful and impatient of delay, and showed 
 his irritation in a curious way. A French pyrotechnist 
 had come to London with strong recommendations to 
 Garrick, who had assisted him to obtain leave to give 
 his exhibition. This manager was astonished to receive 
 a letter from the magistrate reproaching him with 
 doing what was contrary to law. 
 
 " Dear Sir," wrote the good-humoured actor, "if I 
 were sure you would not laugh, I should be very angry 
 with you. What can you possibly mean by telling my 
 brother that you are surprised at my countenancing 
 Torre in an illegal act ? Are you really serious, or, 
 what I like much better, joking with me ? You cannot 
 sure be misled by newspaper intelligence. The affair
 
 44 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREE T POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 between me and Torrfc stands thus," and he proceeded 
 to give an account of his share in the business. " This 
 is the plain fact; and how they can accuse me of 
 countenancing Torre in an illegal act, by being merety 
 civil and friendly to an ingenious, worthy stranger, 
 recommended to me by one who had been particularly 
 civil and friendly to me, I shall leave to your own 
 judgment. I have consulted no lawyer for him, nor 
 applied to any magistrate, nor have I conversed with 
 any upon the subject but yourself; so, my good friend, 
 pray explain yourself to me. I wish Torre well, for 
 he has great worth, spirit, and genius, in his way. 
 But I would not countenance my brother in an illegal 
 act. I honour the laws of my country, and no man, 
 I trust, less offends them than, dear sir, your most 
 obedient servant." 
 
 Not being able to quarrel on this topic (and it was 
 exceedingly difficult to quarrel with Garrick), Sir John 
 next took objection to the business of the play. He 
 " takes the liberty of communicating his opinion of his 
 brother's play, which he found too long, and wanting 
 in business. There is certainly a very daub of carica- 
 ture in young Kennel. I wish it were possible to 
 encourage his economy of oaths. Further, the two 
 expressions 'spindle-shanked beau' and 'rampant 
 woman's immorality ' are most abominable." 
 
 This was amusing enough. But a more serious 
 business presently occurred, arising out of a quarrel
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 45 
 
 behind the scenes between the manager's brother and 
 Mr. Addington, another Bow Street magistrate, who 
 had turned dramatist and had been roiighly or un- 
 ceremoniously treated. This gentleman having written 
 to assure Garrick that Sir John had said nothing 
 against him and had no share in the quarrel, Sir John 
 himself wrote with acerbity to the same effect. He 
 had no intention of giving offence, and " he took the 
 opportunity of cautioninghim against misrepresentation." 
 Garrick replied, and it is curious how their language 
 became gradually inflamed, that " with a proper regard 
 for Sir John, he shall not now mention in its proper 
 colours, the false accusation and unjustifiable behaviour 
 of one of his friends to his brother, whose warmth was 
 too natural to merit the severe censure it met with. 
 Mr. Garrick imagined that the great compliment he 
 paid the police by giving up his interest to their 
 opinion, deserved justice, at least, from any magistrate 
 in Westminster." 
 
 This thrust angered the blind magistrate exceedingly. 
 He wrote in reply : 
 
 " Sir John Fielding has too great a value for his own 
 character, to give himself the least trouble in settling 
 the etiquette between Mr. Garrick as manager, and Mr. 
 Addington as an author. Nor shall he interfere other- 
 wise than to show him what ungenerous treatment he 
 has met with on his account, but if Mr. Garrick 
 would be manly enough to say in what instance through
 
 46 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 life Sir John ever gave him offence he is persuaded 
 he can undeceive him ; for, although he hates defend- 
 ing and proving, he should always think it his duty to 
 give a satisfactory answer to the lowest and meanest of 
 his Majesty's subjects, for to save and serve, and oblige, 
 has always been his principle. And it is rather ex- 
 traordinary that because Sir John Fielding, being 
 ashamed at some very severe conversations that 
 threatened the welfare of his reputation, should com- 
 municate his apprehensions in the most delicate manner, 
 and because on the same day he used his utmost en- 
 deavours to prevent his brother George from exposing 
 himself, and that from an act of friendship to David 
 Garrick, and an act of humanity to his poor infirm 
 brother, he should not only be treated with disrespect 
 himself, but oceans of anathema to be denounced 
 against the innocent family of his brother to whom, 
 if fame be of any value, Mr. Garrick has the highest 
 obligations. . . . 
 
 " As we are not likely to meet again, permit me to say 
 that I hope I am mistaken in declaring that you are 
 egregiously so ; I therefore most sincerely forgive you 
 all your unkindness. I hope you will recover your health. 
 You will be pleased to take notice that in the course of 
 my life I have ever stood forth, and once with great 
 danger to shelter David Garrick from the resentment 
 of the public, and that I have twice interfered to pre- 
 vent disputes between his brother and Mr. Addington
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 47 
 
 being carried to improper lengths. That I have twice 
 been insulted for these kind offices, that I have never 
 received favour from Mr. Garrick in the course of my 
 life." 
 
 This was becoming a serious and painful quarrel. 
 
 " Your worship grows out of humour," G-arrick 
 replied, " and I have not, I hope, been uncivil or out of 
 temper." Then saying that he was just out of an 
 illness, " We will, if you please, not be the trumpets of 
 our own virtues, but take care the innocent do not 
 suffer by our own mistakes. Now that it is past you 
 are sorry you used such language. . . . ' Barbarity ' 
 is as much a stranger to my nature as falsehood is to 
 yours. If you have obliged and honoured me, I thank 
 you; that you never were in the way to be obliged by 
 me is certain, or I should have done it. Some reciprocal 
 acts of kindness passed between your brother and me, 
 too trifling to be remembered." After promising to 
 do all he could about the play, and for the family, he 
 concluded, " What you have said kindly I will remember, 
 what unkindly I will forget" We think this a charming 
 and a model letter, clever as it is admirable. 
 
 In September 1773, Garrick had announced the 
 Beggar's Opera for performance when Sir John came 
 to the Bench of Justices and announced to them 
 that this piece was dangerous to morals, and increased 
 crime. He had written, in the last year, to Mr. 
 Garrick begging of him not to perform it. He now
 
 48 CHRONICLES OP BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 begged therefore the magistrates to join with him in 
 remonstrating with the manager, who had announced 
 it for the following Saturday. Sir John declared that 
 it was never performed on the stage without creating 
 an additional number of real thieves. The Bench 
 immediately agreed, and " a polite card was despatched 
 to Mr. Gar-rick " for that purpose. To which Mr. 
 Garrick returned for answer that his company was so 
 imperfect and divided (many of the performers being 
 yet in the country) that it would be exceedingly incon- 
 venient, if not impossible, to open with any other 
 piece than that which he had advertised, but added 
 that he would in future do everything in his power to 
 oblige them. 
 
 But four years later, when Garrick was about to 
 retire from the stage, and all the world was offering 
 their valedictions, the worthy old magistrate felt 
 compunction, and sent his tribute with the rest. 
 
 " Sir John Fielding presents his compliments to Mr. 
 Garrick, and does most sincerely congratulate him on 
 his retirement from the theatre whilst in full possession 
 of his extraordinary talents, and whilst riches and 
 fame, with united charms, invited his longer stay on 
 the stage. From this manly resolution there is every 
 reason to hope that this retirement will be adorned by 
 elegance, hospitality, and cheerfulness, to the great 
 benefit of his select friends. And though it has fallen 
 to his lot to be the object of a very premature resent-
 
 I1ENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 49 
 
 ment, who ought to be that of his esteem and respect > 
 he shall always take delight to say (as he can do it 
 with justice) that the chastity of Mr. Garrick, as a 
 manager of a public theatre, and his exemplary life as 
 a man, have been of great service to the morals of a 
 dissipated age ; and whilst posterity shall behold him 
 as an inimitable actor, they will no less admire him as 
 a good man. These, sir, are the sentiments of your 
 sincere friend and obedient humble servant, J. 
 Fielding. 
 
 " P.S. This, sir, is a tribute which I have already 
 paid to the distinguished merit of many whose retire- 
 ment like yours has been the effect of wisdom and 
 prudence." 
 
 There is here a quaint old-fashioned term of phraseo- 
 logy, that is very refreshing, notably, in the passages 
 that are underlined. As a matter of course the retiring 
 manager met him in the same cordial spirit : 
 
 " Mr. Garrick presents his best compliments to Sir 
 John Fielding, and is very happy in receiving so 
 flattering a mark of the approbation of one whom he 
 always esteemed and respected. No one is more 
 sensible of Sir John Fielding's merit, nor has more 
 
 O ' 
 
 publicly declared it." He was only jealous that an 
 " old family connection of love and regard was given 
 up to a late acquaintance. He will be more cheerful 
 if Sir John will come and dine occasionally." 
 
 During certain riots that took place in 1765 the 
 VOL. i.
 
 50 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 mob had attacked the Duke of Bedford's house, and 
 his Grace was much irritated at Sir John's irresolute 
 conduct, as he considered it, in the business. This led 
 to a quarrel or coolness between them. A few years 
 later the Duke gracefully made the amende by extending 
 the lease of Sir John's house, which drew forth this 
 grateful acknowledgment : 
 
 " March, 1770. 
 
 " Sir John Fielding presents his compliments to his 
 Grace the Duke of Bedford, and takes the earliest 
 opportunity to acquaint his Grace that he was this 
 day honoured with his ge'nerous gift of the additional 
 ten years to the lease of his house in Bow Street, and 
 for which he returns his warmest acknowledgment, and 
 assures him that the satisfaction he receives on this 
 occasion is infinitely superior to the value of the 
 present, for he has long had the mortification to know 
 that he has been represented in a false light to his 
 Grace ; and a very terrible mortification it was, as he 
 is conscious that it was impossible for any man to be 
 more sensible of a favour conferred on his family than 
 he was of that princely instance of generosity which 
 his Grace showed to his late brother, Henry Fielding, 
 or to be more attached from principles of gratitude 
 and respect to your Grace's honour, welfare, and 
 interest than I ever have been, notwithstanding it has 
 been my misfortune to be misrepresented, until my 
 behaviour was subjected to the observations of my im-
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 51 
 
 partial friend Mr. Palmer, to whom I shall ever esteem 
 myself highly indebted, should he be the happy means 
 of convincing your Grace, from his experience of my 
 conduct, how respectfully, gratefully, and effectively I 
 have, on all occasions, endeavoured to acquit myself 
 towards his Grace, to whom I have a real pleasure in 
 being obliged, and am, with unfeigned truth,*&c." 
 
 This worthy magistrate was "worthy" in a better 
 sense than the one in which the hackneyed newspaper 
 term is usually applied. He took on himself the care 
 of his brother's children and brought them up. One 
 of them, Mr. William Fielding, was trained in his 
 office, and later became a magistrate himself. It 
 must have been curious, so recently as 1822, to have 
 heard him give evidence before a committee of the 
 House of Commons, and speak of his father the 
 author of " Tom Jones." In his evidence there is a cer- 
 tain prosiness, with an occasional touch of the family 
 style. It is curious to think of three of the family 
 thus holding the same office. 
 
 " I remember," he said, " the ' Apollo Gardens,' the 
 ' Dog and Duck,' and the ' Temple of Flora,' and a 
 dreadful society of vagabonds were certainly collected 
 together in those places. In that time of day the 
 character of highwaymen on horseback was a more 
 frequent character than it has been of late years. I 
 think the horse-patrole of the Office at Bow Street has 
 been of a very considerable degree of service in putting 
 
 E 2
 
 52 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 down that class of depredators ; the character of the 
 highwaymen is certainly less heard of since the putting 
 down of those two infernal places of meeting, the * Dog 
 and Duck,' and the ' Temple of Flora,' which were 
 certainly the most dreadful places in or about the 
 metropolis ; they were the resorts of women, not only 
 of the lowest species, but even of the middle classes ; 
 they were the resorts, as well of apprentices as of every 
 sort of dissolute, profligate, and abandoned young 
 men." 
 
 As we have said, during the long period Sir John held 
 office, nothing is so conspicuous as the evidences of 
 his activity. He is one of the figures of his time. Is 
 there a highway robbery, or murder, or riot, we in- 
 variably hear of the indefatigable Sir John Fielding 
 being personally on the scene, despatching his 
 emissaries to arrest or search. Is there an arrest, 
 he is promptly " brought before Sir John Fielding" 
 and examined. There was a daring robbery at Lord 
 Harrington's, when jewellery, snuff-boxes, watches, 
 money, to the amount of nearly 3000Z. were carried 
 off. " Sir John Fielding," we are told, " is all day in 
 the house and a good part of the night. The servants 
 have all been examined over and over again." Some- 
 times he showed himself in an amiable, patient light. 
 
 In 1769 a young shoemaker named Griffiths had 
 become attached to a girl in service ; they were called in 
 church, but the girl, who had lost her place, and had
 
 HENR Y FIELDING AND SIR JOHN FIELDING. 53 
 
 pawned all her clothes, positively refused to be married 
 in her rags. In despair the shoemaker purchased a 
 pistol, and, accusing himself of having committed a 
 crime, gave himself up. Brought before Sir John, the 
 deception was soon discovered: But the magistrate, 
 finding that he bore a good character, interested him- 
 self in the case. The girl, hearing of her lover's 
 trouble, fell into fits. The goodnatured magistrate 
 appointed a day for both to come before him, when he 
 would see what could be done towards getting them 
 married, which he arranged, and a young nobleman 
 who was present gave five guineas to buy clothes. 
 
 Sir John figures largely in the calendar of Home 
 Office papers. Thus we find Lord Halifax directing 
 the Postmaster-General to send all letters of one 
 Trench and one Swift to Sir John " for his perusal." 
 In 1765 he received a letter from Mr. Conway, the 
 secretary, to wear a badge and ribbon, which we 
 accordingly find displayed conspicuously in all his 
 portraits. In these records he is shown, as usual, on 
 the qui-vive for everything, indicating his suspicions to 
 the court, warning, &c. It is strange to find that he 
 was one of the Poor Knights of Windsor in 1772.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CASES BKFORE SIR JOHN. 
 
 THE episodes of serious and dramatic interest which 
 ^ir J. Fielding took part in unravelling, comprised 
 some of an exciting kind, and indeed were some of the 
 most important in the last half of the century. A few 
 of these, of which certain graphic descriptions have 
 been left, one might be almost certain were described 
 by his own pen. There is one account which has much 
 of the style and pathos of his brother, and indeed is 
 given in so competent and effective a style as to be 
 worthy of the great writer. It is thus lifted above 
 the ordinary " reporter's " vernacular, which so often 
 vulgarizes some natural and touching episode. This 
 particular one reads like some paper in the Taller. 
 There can be little doubt that the narrative is Sir 
 John's own. 
 
 The Story of Sarah Metyard and her apprentice Ann 
 
 Naylor. 
 
 " In the year 1758," he tells us, " Sarah Metyard, 
 the mother, kept a little haberdasher's shop in Bruton
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 55 
 
 Street, Hanover Square, and her daughter, then about 
 nineteen years old, lived with her. Their chief 
 business was the making of silk nets, purses, and 
 mittens, and they took parish children apprentices. 
 They had then five : Philadelphia Dowley, about ten 
 years old; Sarah Henderson, about twelve ; Ann Naylor, 
 about thirteen; Mary her sister, about eight, and 
 some others." They were kept at work in a stifling 
 room from morning until night, and allowed out but 
 once a fortnight, while the dreadful Metyard, who 
 hated them all as parish children are hated, seemed 
 to grind the very life out of them. Ann Baylor had 
 a whitlow upon her finger so bad it was obliged to be 
 cut off, and being besides a weak, sickly child, became 
 particularly obnoxious to the inhumanity and avarice 
 of the petty tyrant of whom she was condemned to 
 be the slave. 
 
 " The unfortunate child, not able to endure this 
 tyranny, attempted to run away, but was brought 
 back. The street-door was then kept locked, and she 
 was kept ' short of food.' Her strength beginning 
 to fail, she made another attempt to escape. She took 
 advantage of the milkman coming to slip out and run 
 away ; but the daughter missing her while she was 
 yet in sight, called out to have her stopped, and the 
 milkman, as she was running with what strength she 
 possessed, caught her in his arms. The poor child 
 expostulated with the man, and pressed him with a
 
 56 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFPICE. 
 
 moving earnestness to let her go : * Pray, milkman,' 
 says she, * let me go, for I have had no victuals a long 
 time, and if I stay here I shall be starved to death.' 
 
 " The daughter dragged her into the house by the 
 neck, slapped to the door, and forced her upstairs into 
 the room where the old woman was still in bed, though 
 she had started up and joined in the cry upon the first 
 alarm. Here she was thrown upon the bed, and the 
 old woman held her down by the head while her 
 daughter beat her with the handle of a hearth-broom ; 
 after this she was forced into a two-pair- of -stairs back 
 room, and a string tied round her waist, she was made 
 fast to the door, with her hands bound behind her so 
 that she could neither lie nor sit down. In this manner 
 was she kept standing without food or drink for three 
 days, being untied only at night that she might go to 
 bed, and the last night she was so feeble that she was 
 obliged to crawl up to bed upon her hands and knees. 
 
 " The first day she said little, her strength failing her 
 apace ; the next day she said nothing, but the pains of 
 death coming on she groaned piteously ; on the third 
 day, soon after she was tied up, her strength wholly 
 failed her and she sank down, hanging double in the 
 string which bound her by the waist. The children 
 being frightened ran to the top of the stairs and called 
 out, ' Miss Sally I Miss Sally ! Nancy does not move.' 
 But she was so far from being touched with pity that 
 she cried out, ' If she does not move t I warrant I'll
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 57 
 
 make her move ; and immediately the daughter came 
 upstairs and found her without any appearance of 
 sense or motion, hanging by the string, her head and 
 feet together." 
 
 How simple, natural, and pathetic is this description ! 
 
 Finding, however, notwithstanding her blows, 
 which were very hard, that the poor wretch showed 
 no signs of sensibility, fear took to alarm, and she 
 hastily called up her mother. When the old woman 
 came up she sat upon the garret stairs at the door 
 where the child was still hanging, and the string being 
 at length cut, she laid her across her lap and sent Sally 
 Henderson downstairs for some drops. This vile pair 
 then hid the body upstairs, locking the door, and pre- 
 tended that the child had a fit, from which she had re- 
 covered, giving out that she had made another attempt 
 and had escaped from the garret. To support this the hall- 
 door was left open and a sort of craftily acted scene was 
 arranged of affected astonishment at the child's escape. 
 
 The old woman and her daughter, however, did not 
 know how to dispose of her body, and they actually 
 kept it in the garret for two months, until the atmo- 
 sphere became intolerable. The pair then cut it up into 
 pieces, andburnt one of the hands, "cursing the unhappy 
 creature because her bones were so long consuming." 
 They then carried out two bundles of the remains " to 
 the great gullyhole in Chick Lane, where is the common 
 sewer which flows into the Thames." They tried to
 
 5 8 CHRONICLES OP BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 throw these pieces over the wall where the sewer is 
 " open," but failing, " threw them down in the mud and 
 water before the grate and returned home." There 
 they were found by a constable and were buried, it 
 being assumed that they were remains from a dissecting- 
 room. 
 
 " The mother and daughter," the narrative goes on, 
 "tad always lived upon very bad terms, and though 
 the daughter was between nineteen and twenty, her 
 mother used frequently to beat her. The daughter, 
 hoping to terrify her into better behaviour, would, 
 when thus provoked, threaten to accuse her of the 
 murder, and make herself an evidence to prove it. 
 This rendered their animosities more bitter. . Some- 
 times she urged her mother to let her go to service, 
 and sometimes declared she would drown herself. 
 Thus they continued to hate, to reproach, and to 
 torment each other until two years after the child had 
 been dead," when one Mr. Hooker, who had been a 
 dealer in tea, took a lodging in the house. 
 
 Mr. Rooker pitied the condition of the girl, and 
 when he removed to another residence, took her into 
 his service, to the fury of the demon mother, who, 
 with a strange infatuation, pursued her from place to 
 place, causing disturbances before the door. " When 
 orders were given to refuse her admittance she cursed 
 in front of the house. Once she got in and attacked 
 her daughter, when it is probable that she would have
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 59 
 
 been killed if assistance had not been at liand, for she 
 was once found forced up into a corner by the mother, 
 who, having torn off her cap and handkerchief, and 
 greatly bruised and scratched her face, had laid hold 
 of a pointed knife, which she was aiming at her breast. 
 This continued until the 9th of June last, and it had 
 been observed that in the height of their quarrels 
 many doubtful and mysterious expressions were used 
 that intimated that some secret of importance was 
 between them." The mother used to call Hooker " the 
 old Perfumer Teadog," and the daughter would reply, 
 " Mother, remember you are the Perfumer" alluding to 
 her having kept the child's body in a box till it could 
 not be endured. At other times the daughter, when 
 provoked, would say, " You are the Chick Lane ghost. 
 Remember the gully in Chick Lane /" Suspicion being 
 thus roused, the matter was put into Sir John's hands. 
 He made diligent inquiry into the case, which led to 
 the arrest of the two women, and their trial. The 
 daughter accused the mother of the murder, though 
 the mother did not accuse the daughter. They were 
 found guilty and sentenced to death. " But even after 
 this there continued so bitter an animosity between 
 them that it was necessary to confine them apart." 
 
 " They were both overwhelmed with a sense of their 
 condition, and about six o'clock in the evening before 
 the execution, the mother, who had neither eaten nor 
 drunk for some time, fell into convulsions, and con-
 
 60 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 tinued speechless and insensible till death. The 
 daughter, though she was present when this happened, 
 took no notice of it, but continued her conversation 
 with a friend who was come to take leave of her." 
 
 All the touches in this striking narrative show an 
 artistic sense both of reserve and selection. There is 
 a power in the phraseology and a dramatic instinct 
 that is remarkable, and recalls the style of Henry 
 Fielding himself. For this was after all but a " police 
 case," where an old woman had ill-used her apprentice 
 to death, but the incidents of horror are so adjusted 
 and deepened that it rises to the dignity of tragedy. 
 
 The Fate of Miss Ray, the Singer. 
 
 One morning in April, 1779, towards five o'clock, 
 Sir John Fielding came over to the " Shakespeare 
 Tavern " to examine the condition of a man who had 
 been carried there about midnight the night before, in 
 a desperate condition, as it was thought. He had 
 discharged a pistol at a lady as she was coming out of 
 Co vent Garden Theatre, and had unhappily killed 
 her. He had then attempted to blow his brains out 
 with another pistol, but not so successfully as in the 
 case of his victim. He had been carried over to the 
 " Shakespeare," and had been allowed to remain there 
 OD account of his state. The magistrate, finding the 
 wounds not dangerous, sent him to Tothill Fields 
 prison. This is the well-known extraordinary, if not
 
 CASES 21EFORE SIR JOHN. 6r 
 
 romantic, case of Hackman, who had murdered Miss 
 Ray, of whom he was jealous. The unfortunate lady 
 was a public singer, and her relations with Lord Sand- 
 wich were but too notorious. She had been to the 
 theatre with her friend, Madame Galli, wife of her 
 singing-master, and was walking under the Piazza to 
 her carriage, attended by a Mr. Macnamara, when a 
 man touched her on the shoulder. She turned round, 
 when he fired a pistol at her head, and she sank down a 
 corpse. He then fired another pistol at his own head, 
 but the ball grazed the part, inflicting only a slight 
 wound. He was seen frantically beating his skull 
 with the butt-end of the weapon. When he had some- 
 what recovered he inquired about his victim, and being 
 told that she was dead, desired that " her poor 
 remains should not be exposed to the gaze of the 
 curious." This absurd solicitude in a murderer is 
 truly singular. 
 
 Lord Sandwich was a great musical amateur, and 
 used to give performances at his house, generally of a 
 sacred cast, in which the lady took the leading part. 
 She particularly excelled in rendering the ballad of 
 ** Auld Robin Grey," which she gave with much 
 feeling. His lordship contented himself with a modest 
 share in the orchestra performing on the kettle- 
 drums. We are told by invited visitors of the scru- 
 pulousness with which the host watched that his 
 cantatrice should not in any way shock the delicate
 
 62 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 instincts of the company. She kept herself retired and 
 spoke to no one. Once, indeed, a lady indiscreetly 
 went up to her to compliment her on her singing of a 
 sacred melody, but Lord Sandwich called a friend of 
 hers, Mr. Cradock, aside, begging of him to speak to 
 the lady and warn her against such behaviour; 
 for, as he sagaciously observed, " once this sort of 
 thing got in, we should have to give up our plea- 
 sant musical meetings." The kettle-drum would be 
 silent. This went on for many years. 
 
 Miss Eay's portrait has been engraved, and presents 
 rather an ordinary " common " face. Mr. Cradock, 
 who has written some entertaining recollections, was 
 on friendly terms with her, and she was encouraged, 
 shortly before the unfortunate casualty, to open herself 
 to him on a delicate matter her "precarious" position 
 in reference to his lordship hinting that he might sug- 
 gest what was called " a settlement." The gentleman, 
 however, for obvious reasons, declined to interfere. 
 
 An officer in the 68th Regiment, named Hackman, 
 had come to the neighbourhood of Huntingdon to 
 recruit. While there he was invited out to Hitchin- 
 brook and entertained by Lord Sandwich. He con- 
 ceived a sort of insane passion for Miss Ray, who was 
 about double his age. He was the son of a respect- 
 able tradesman in Cheapside, while the lady had been 
 apprenticed to a Mrs. Fores, then a fashionable 
 milliner. He was a young man of good address, " of
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 63 
 
 a very pleasing figure and most engaging behaviour." 
 He soon proposed marriage, but the lady told him 
 plainly " she did not wish to carry a knapsack." In 
 despair at being thus dismissed, he left the army, and, 
 obtaining a living in Norfolk, took orders, hoping, no 
 doubt, thus to secure a better provision. As he was 
 still rejected, he determined on this act of violence. 
 The morning, which was April 7th, he spent reading 
 " Blair's Sermons," and dined with his sisters. He 
 then wrote letters of the usual farewell kind, and 
 lingered in one of the coffee-houses in Covent Garden 
 till the play was over. 
 
 That old reprobate, Lord Sandwich, was deeply 
 shocked at the event, and, it was said, did not recover 
 it for years. He was once induced to go to a musical 
 party, when a lady of good voice was asked to sing, 
 which, it was reckoned, would have a soothing effect. 
 The singer selected a song that was then popular, 
 and, with admirable tact and apropos, " struck up," 
 " Shepherds, I have lost my love, Have you seen my 
 body ? " Not unnaturally, the nobleman was seen to 
 grow uncomfortable, and presently rising took leave 
 of his hostess. 
 
 This catastrophe made a sensation, and moreover be- 
 came oddly associated with other persons and incidents. 
 Thus it engendered a violent altercation between 
 Johnson and one of his friends, " which, having made 
 much noise at the time, I think it proper, in order to
 
 64 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 prevent any future misrepresentation, to give a minute 
 account of it." Thus Mr. Boswell tells us : 
 
 " In talking of Hackman, Johnson argued, as Judge 
 Blackstone had done, that his being furnished with 
 two pistols was a proof that he meant to shoot two 
 persons. Mr. Beauclerk said, ' No ; for that every 
 wise man who intended to shoot himself, took two 
 pistols, that he might be sure of doing it at once. 
 
 Lord 's cook shot himself with one pistol, and 
 
 lived ten days in great agony. Mr. , who loved 
 
 buttered muffins, but durst not eat them, because they 
 disagreed with his stomach, resolved to shoot himself ; 
 and then he eat three buttered muffins for breakfast, 
 before shooting himself, knowing that he should not 
 be troubled with indigestion ; he had two charged 
 pistols ; one was found lying charged upon the table 
 by him, after he had shot himself with the other.' 
 ' Well (said Johnson, with an air of triumph), you see 
 here one pistol was sufficient.' Beauclerk replied 
 smartly, " Because it happened to kill him." And 
 either then, or a very little afterwards, being piqued 
 at Johnson's triumphant remark, added, ' This is 
 what you don't know, and I do.' There was then a 
 cessation of the dispute ; and some minutes intervened, 
 during which dinner and the glass went on cheerfully ; 
 when Johnson suddenly and abruptly exclaimed, ' Mr. 
 Beauclerk, how came you to talk so petulantly to me, 
 as, " This is what you don't know, but what I know ? "
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 65 
 
 One thing I know, which you don't seem to know, 
 that you are very uncivil.' Beauclerk : ' Because you 
 began by being uncivil (which you always are).' The 
 words in parentheses were, I believe, not heard by Dr. 
 Johnson. Here again there was a cessation of arms. 
 A little while after this the conversation turned on 
 the violence of Hackman's temper. Johnson then 
 said, * It was his business to command his temper, as 
 my friend, Mr. Beauclerk, should have done some time 
 ago.' Beauclerk : ' I should learn of you, sir.' 
 Johnson : * Sir, you have given me opportunities 
 enough of learning when I have been in your com- 
 pany. No man loves to be treated with contempt.' 
 Beauclerk (with a polite inclination towards Johnson) : 
 ' Sir, you have known me twenty years, and however 
 I may have treated others, you may be sure I could 
 never treat you with contempt.' Johnson : ' Sir, 
 you have said more than was necessary.' Thus it 
 ended." 
 
 More curious, however, was what happened to a 
 friend of the eccentric artist Barry, who used often to 
 relate the story. On the ill-omened night in question, 
 he was crossing from Islington, to call upon a brother 
 artist in Spa Fields towards the dusk, when he saw a 
 young woman throw herself into the New River, near 
 Sadler's Wells. He immediately ran to the spot, and 
 plunged in, when she seized him in the struggle of 
 death ; and it was not only with difficulty that he 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 66 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 saved her, but himself, from drowning. Indeed, he 
 was so exhausted, that he was pulled out by some 
 persons brought to his assistance by his shouting for 
 help. 
 
 From thence he went to his friend in Paradise Row, 
 borrowed a change of dress, and procuring a hackney 
 coach, desired to be driven home, when, proceeding 
 up Gray's Inn Lane, the vehicle was stopped by a 
 gang of footpads, who robbed him of his watch and 
 money. 
 
 " Arriving at his house about ten o'clock, he took off 
 his borrowed attire, and re- dressing, sent for another 
 hack, and desired to be driven to the " Shakespeare," in 
 the Piazza, Covent Garden, where he had engaged to 
 sup with a party who were to meet there after the 
 play. As his coach was drawing up at the corner 
 of Russell Street, a gentleman's carriage whipped 
 furiously in for the play was just over and upset 
 him, when he cut his hands and face with the glass. 
 " The devil ! what next ? " he exclaimed, as he paid 
 the driver, who " hoped his honour was not seriously 
 hurt." "No," said he, " I am only scratched ; " and 
 making his way, his face streaming with blood, at a 
 quick pace, towards the coffee-house, to procure 
 surgical aid, he had only advanced a few yards, when 
 a pistol was exploded close to his ear, and a lady fell 
 at his feet. He stood aghast, when instantly another 
 was fired by a young man at his own devoted head.
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 67 
 
 Scared out of his wits at such a succession of strange 
 disasters, he flew to the house of a friend in King 
 Street, and for some minutes was so overcome with 
 amazement that he could not collect himself sufficiently 
 to relate to the astonished family the tragic accidents 
 which had driven him thither." 
 
 A strange book appeared, called " Love and Mad- 
 ness," written or compiled by Sir Herbert Croft, and 
 which had a large sale. In this it is difficult to dis- 
 tinguish the genuine from the imaginary portion, and 
 it was said that the author had come into possession 
 of some of the unfortunate man's letters and papers. 
 
 A well-known figure in the last generation was Mr. 
 Basil Montagu, who was the son of the murdered 
 singer, and whose daughter is the accomplished and 
 lamented poetess, Adelaide Proctor. 
 
 Hackman was tried at the next Old Bailey Sessions, 
 and of course was found guilty. He made a studied 
 speech, ad misericordiam, declaring himself to be " the 
 most wretched of human beings ;" but that he had 
 conceived his murderous plan " only in a moment of 
 phrenzy." At the execution the intrusive Boswell 
 was present, actually obtaining a seat in the mourning 
 coach, beside the prisoner, and a good place on the 
 scaffold ! 
 
 A second Jonathan Wild. 
 
 The line of villainy taken by Wild had at least 
 the merit of originality, and was celebrated with 
 
 F 2
 
 6S CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 happy sarcasm, and an analysis of the roguish mind 
 and motives that is even happier. It is strange to 
 find that not many years after Mr. Wild's public 
 death, a successful copyist of his method arose, who 
 pursued his career unchecked for some years. This 
 gentleman was one James Bolland, and his system 
 was exactly modelled on that of Wild's, viz., 
 to employ the law as an aid to his own particular 
 villainies. He was the son of a Whitechapel butcher, 
 and had opened an establishment on his own account. 
 But being much thrown with bailiffs, thief- takers, &c., 
 their trade seemed to have a greater fascination for 
 him than his own, and he speedily determined to adopt 
 it. An awkward discovery of his practice in business 
 probably contributed to his change of profession. He 
 supplied the old St. Thomas's Hospital with meat, and 
 to increase his profits adopted a 56 Ib. weight, which, 
 though in appearance like its iron fellows, was made 
 of wood, and weighed but 71bs. This happy and 
 original idea would have done credit to Mr. Wild. 
 " His journeyman," we are told, and again I fancy by 
 Sir John, from the Fielding-like touches; " observing 
 this and similar deceptions, thought he might re- 
 taliate on his master by defrauding him of his cash.'* 
 So, by a happy compensation, the profits brought 
 in by the wooden 7 Ibs. weight were subtracted in 
 another shape. At this stage of our hero's career, 
 it is remarked incidentally that, " owing to his ill-
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 69 
 
 usage, his wife fell a victim to grief and despair." 
 Mi*. Bolland next succeeded in becoming a sheriff's 
 officer, and set up "a spunging house " near St. 
 George's, Southwark. Here he found large and varied 
 opportunities for his ingenuity. He had a peculiar art, 
 or gift, of griping and entangling the miserable 
 class of debtors who fell under his control. He 
 squeezed them dry, as it were, and yet contrived that 
 it should be more or less their own act. " He had 
 at his nod a number of watchmen, who, being his 
 prisoners and out upon parole, were compelled to do 
 all his dirty work in negotiating bills and bailing 
 at command. This practice," it was quaintly added, 
 " soon brought many of them to a prison, where 
 they are now lodged, probably for life." Others 
 were despatched into various parts of the country, to 
 execute orders upon the credit of those in town. 
 Young fellows of a comely aspect, who fell into his 
 clutches, obtained a temporary liberty in order to 
 defraud tradesmen, and, by increasing his stock of 
 furniture and plate, they increased their debts to such 
 a pitch that they became incapable ever after to 
 extricate themselves. 
 
 When no more was to be got, they were instantly 
 despatched to the prison. With this trade he united 
 that of a horse-dealer, bill-discounter, and indeed any 
 nominal calling that would help him to plunder. At 
 a fair at Oxford he wished to purchase a horse from
 
 70 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 a farmer, but would not agree as to the price. Going 
 to the inn where the horse was stabled, he told the 
 landlord he had bought it, and rode it up to London. 
 The farmer followed, and applied at the police-office, 
 on which Sir John issued his warrant, and sent the 
 thief to Tothill Fields Prison. The crafty fellow, how- 
 ever, speedily invited the farmer to see him, and " over 
 a cheerful glass " speedily came to an arrangement, 
 and obtained his release. 
 
 A pleasant instance of his villainy was furnished 
 by his treatment of a young Irish gentleman, who, 
 having " run through " his property in town, 
 found himself under Mr. Bolland's care. The latter, 
 assuming an air of good-natured bonhomie, de- 
 clared it was a pity and a shame to see a fine young 
 fellow deprived of his liberty for a trifle, and sug- 
 gested that if he had any friend on whom he could 
 draw for a sum of money he would take it, and 
 let him go. The young man accordingly " drew " on 
 some of his friends in Ireland for 30Z. about double 
 the debt and Mr. Bolland gave his note for the dif- 
 ference. He then set the prisoner free, but a few 
 days later invited him and his friend to supper, when 
 he told him that his note had come back unpaid. 
 
 However, the glass went round cheerfully, and when 
 the guests proposed going Mr. Bolland very amicably 
 acquainted them that he had writs against them both, 
 and they were compelled to remain his involuntary guests
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN: 71 
 
 for the night. Next day the pair, seeing it was useless 
 to contend with him, procured the money ; but they 
 reminded him that he had a note of theirs for 13/. 
 " What note, sir ? I never gave you one." " There it 
 is, sir, in your own writing." " Aye ! aye ! let us see 
 it." They eagerly presented it ; he tore it in pieces, 
 still persisting it was all a mistake. 
 
 More cruel was his treatment of a sea-captain's wife, 
 whose furniture, in her absence, he seized on. She was 
 so affected that in her agitation she set the house on fire. 
 The captain had paid the debt. She was tried, con- 
 victed, and respited, " upon the face of the affair appear- 
 ing so uncommonly aggravating." Soon after the 
 husband came home from sea, and in order to distress 
 him and prevent his commencing an action Mr. 
 Bolland contrived to have him arrested for a consider- 
 able sum. " We need not be surprised," runs the 
 chronicle, " at Mr. Bolland's perseverance in these 
 knavish pursuits, as he did not even lay claim to any 
 probity, for whenever his integrity was called in ques- 
 tion by any of his employers, he would reply with great 
 coolness, ' Look you, sir ! You know I do not pretend 
 to be honest, but try. I'll never tell you a lie ! ' Another 
 sentiment of this extraordinary man should not be 
 omitted, as it carries with it an appearance of being 
 prophetic. Whenever he was asked for a toast in 
 company, the first he gave always was, ' May hemp 
 bind those whom honour won't/ which is quite in Mr.
 
 72 CHRONICLES Of BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Wild's own manner, and uncommonly like the Fielding 
 style. 
 
 When the office of City Marshal was vacant, this 
 worthy man offered himself as a candidate. After a 
 spirited bidding for it was purchaseable he was 
 declared the highest bidder, and gleefully deposited his 
 deposit a sum of 2400Z. scraped together by a most 
 hideous course of villainies. But this was found rather 
 tropfort, and he was told that it was impossible to appoint 
 a person of his description. He threatened an action, 
 but wisely forebore proceedings against the Corporation 
 of London, and proceeded reluctantly to withdraw his 
 deposit. But here a happy stroke of retribution over- 
 took him. Certain creditors whom he had defrauded 
 had got wind of the matter, and obtained an order im- 
 pounding the deposit. At the same time he was over- 
 taken by justice, and for a very trifling peccadillo 
 at least compared with his previous enormities lost 
 his life. Raising money on a bill, he put a fictitious 
 endorsement on it at the request of the discounter, " J. 
 Banks ;" was tried, found guilty, and hung, to the great 
 satisfaction of the community and of his many victims. 
 
 The Perreaus. 
 
 On a Saturday evening on the llth March, 1775, 
 Mr. Addington, the Bow Street magistrate, was asked 
 by a respectable man to hear his complaint against a
 
 CASES BEFORE SIX JOHN. 73 
 
 woman, who, lie said, had given him a forged bond for 
 7500Z. The woman denied this ; and the pair recrimi- 
 nated and upbraided one another. From which the 
 shrewd magistrate argued that both had a share in the 
 offence, if offence there was, and sent them both off to 
 prison to wait further inquiries. The man wasan eminent 
 apothecary or medical practitioner living in Golden 
 Square, Robert Perreau by name ; the woman a noto- 
 rious Mrs. B/udd. Robert's brother Daniel came to see 
 him in his trouble, but found himself detained in the 
 prison, under suspicion of being engaged in the business. 
 It came out that in the January previous Eobert Perreau 
 had gone to Drummonds, the bankers, where he was 
 known, to borrow 1500Z.for ten days, which he obtained 
 on the security of the lease of a house in Harley Street. 
 The ten days, however, stretched out to two months, 
 when he again appeared with a proposal to borrow no 
 less a sum than 7500Z. on a bond of a well-known gentle- 
 man, Mr. William Adair, and out of which the Drum- 
 monds were to be repaid the original loan. When the 
 bond was examined, Mr. Drummond expressed some 
 doubts as to the signature. One of the partners coming 
 in, also doubted. He was directed to call next day, and 
 in the interval consulted friends of Adair, who assured 
 him that it was not his writing. An intimate friend 
 named Dr. Brooke had been victimized to the amount of 
 1500Z., lent on a forged bond for 3100Z. The trial of the
 
 74 CHRONICLES Of BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 two brothers which followed excited extraordinary 
 interest. It was firmly believed they were the inno- 
 cent victims of this scheming, artful demirep, Mrs. 
 Margaret Rudd, who had contrived to make them 
 believe that these deeds were genuine. This theory 
 was ridiculous. Such credulousness does not affect 
 persons in sore straits and difficulties, who from expe- 
 rience find how difficult it is to procure money ; 
 especially as they knew the character of their female 
 associate. 
 
 This woman, who was good-looking, clever, and in- 
 teresting, became a heroine. When Perreau came 
 again, the banker told him he was afraid he had been 
 imposed upon, and suggested that they should go to 
 Mr. Adair himself and ask him, was it his signature ? 
 That gentleman at once declared it to be a forgery, on 
 which Mr. Perreau smiled incredulously. The bond 
 was detained, and Perreau was followed, when he was 
 observed to join his brother and Mrs. Rudd. When 
 it was seen that the trio were gathering all their 
 valuables and had got into a coach, evidently to make 
 their escape, suspicion became certainty. The party 
 were arrested, brought before Sir John at Bow Street, 
 where the examination took place. Other charges 
 were then made, it being found that sums of 4000/. 
 and 5000L had been raised on similar forged deeds. 
 What was more heartless, and not the least skilful 
 of Mrs. Rudd's proceedings was the adroit fashion
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 75 
 
 in which she contrived to extricate herself by taking 
 advantage of the critical situation of the brothers. 
 She lived with Daniel Perreau, and had three children. 
 She now came forward and offered herself as evidence 
 for the crown. Strange to say, by this disagreeable 
 spectacle of treachery there was no disgust aroused : 
 everybody crowded to see the interesting " King's 
 evidence," who declared that " she was the daughter of 
 a nobleman in Scotland, had married an officer, that 
 she had a reserve of jewels and 13,000?., all of which she 
 gave to Perreau, whom she had always loved tenderly, 
 though latterly he had grown peevish, uneasy, and 
 much altered to her. He had cruelly constrained her 
 to sign the bond in question by holding a knife to her 
 throat, swearing he would murder her if she did not 
 comply ; that, being struck with remorse, she had in- 
 formed Mr. Adair of the whole." Mr. Drummond, how- 
 ever, described an interview with her in which she took 
 the whole forgery on herself, and, on his doubting that 
 she could be skilful enough, she took up a paper 
 and wrote Mr. Adair' s signature, exactly like the one 
 which appeared on the bond. The defence was in- 
 genious ; that the woman had always acted as inter- 
 mediary and carried on her operations without allowing 
 Perreau to see Adair. It should be mentioned that the 
 business was further complicated by the fact of the two 
 brothers being twins, so like as to be scarcely dis- 
 tinguishable. Another incident of the case was the
 
 76 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFP1CE. 
 
 number of persons of rank who deposed to the character 
 of Daniel Perreau Sir John Moore, General Rebow, 
 Lady Lumsden, who declared " she would as soon have 
 thought of committing a forgery herself as of supposing 
 that Mr. Perreau was capable of such a thing." Both 
 brothers were found guilty and sentenced to be hung. 
 Immense exertions were made to save them. No less 
 than seventy-eight leading bankers and merchants 
 petitioned the king. Paragraphs filled the newspapers, 
 all to the one tune that the brothers " were the dupes of 
 a designing woman." Their extraordinary fraternal 
 affection often found in the case of twins excited 
 universal sympathy. Yet it is impossible to read the 
 evidence without feeling convinced that as men of 
 business they must have at least known that such 
 sums could not have passed lawfully or without con- 
 nivance and co-operation on their part. 
 
 While their fate was in suspense, it was determined 
 to put Mrs. Rudd herself on trial, for it seems that at 
 the time, the law was not settled as to the immunity 
 granted to " approvers." Here was another entertain- 
 ment for the public, who were immensely excited by 
 the charms and demeanour of this lady. The interest 
 was developed to a tragic degree when it was known 
 that the unfortunate wife, Mrs. Robert Perreau was to 
 appear and be examined, so as to do something to 
 neutralize the woman's evidence and try and save one 
 so dear. The responsibility of such a situation was
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 77 
 
 almost awful. Mr. Angelo was present and thus 
 reports the dramatic scene : 
 
 " Mrs. Rudd's counsellors," he says, " were said to 
 have managed her defence with uncommon exertion 
 and skill. On the day of her trial, the court was 
 crowded to excess. Being there early by favour of 
 Mr. Reynolds, the clerk of the arraigns, I -obtained a 
 station near her, at the bar. She was in person of the 
 middle size, with small but beautiful features, and very 
 fair. She looked pale, and appeared much affected. 
 Such was her address, that no one could have discovered 
 in her manner the least consciousness of that deep- 
 designing wickedness, which had wrought the ruin of 
 these unhappy brothers, and destroyed the peace of a 
 once happy and virtuous family. 
 
 " During her trial, Mrs. Perreau was placed in the 
 evidence box, to endeavour by circumstances which she 
 knew, to exculpate her husband, and to inculpate the 
 wicked woman at the bar, the seductress of her husband, 
 and his brother, then tried and convicted prisoners in 
 Newgate ; but, being cross-examined by Counsellor 
 Davy, and, as it was thought, with too little delicacy 
 towards the feelings of a lady in her pitiable condition, 
 she was so entirely overwhelmed that she burst into 
 an agony of tears, and was carried out of court in a 
 state of insensibility. As the jury returned, the 
 prisoner fixed her fascinating eyes upon the jury-box, 
 when the conduct of the foreman, a well-known gay
 
 78 CHRONICLES OP BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 auctioneer, did not escape observation ; for by a smile, 
 which he significantly glanced towards her, many antici- 
 pated the verdict. She was acquitted." 1 
 
 1 A grotesque farcical incident is associated with these tragic 
 events. 
 
 "Among others," Angelo tells us, "who exerted themselves for the 
 doctor, was the late Thomas Tomkins, of Sermon Lane, the most 
 celebrated penman that this or any other country had produced. 
 Richard Wilson, the landscape painter, Henderson, the comedian, 
 with some others, constant evening cronies at the " Shakspeare," were 
 discussing the question of the King's prerogative some weeks before 
 Dr. Dodd's execution, in the coffee-room there. Tomkins was at the 
 moment exhibiting a large sheet of vellum, on which the head to Dr. 
 Dodd's petition was written, in Eoman capitals, round-hand, italics, 
 German-text, and all the varieties of which his pen was so prolific ; 
 and so wrapt was the good man, with the importance of his handy- 
 work, that he insisted, with the addition of a tasteful allegorical 
 design of Cipriani's or Mortimer's, of Mercy and Justice, with their 
 respective attributes, placed around this superlative specimen of his 
 art, it could not fail to move the Sovereign. Wilson, though at this 
 time as gloomy, from his own misfortunes, as man could well be, was so 
 involuntarily and suddenly wrought upon by this extravagant self-com- 
 plaisance of the penman, that he roared with laughter. ' To think 
 of moving the King and his council by a pen and a picture ! Ha ! 
 ha ! ha ! ' In this cynical mood, he appealed to every one who 
 entered the tavern, all of whom caught his fit of risibility, so as to 
 render the scene truly of the tragic-comic character. Tomkins, how- 
 ever, highly offended at' this insult to his self-importance, hastily 
 rolled up the parchment and took himself off. Tomkins, who had 
 never seen Dr. Dodd, on hearing of the vast exertions that were 
 making to obtain subscribers' names to the petition, went to Newgate 
 and introducing himself to the prisoner, offered to write the prologue 
 to the lists to be laid at the feet of the King, which lists were written 
 on several score yards of parchment, and joined together. This offer 
 was gratefully accepted by the doctor, and the penman, as is said,
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 79 
 
 Mrs. Rudd had a particular admirer in the person 
 of Mr. James Boswell, who got introduced to her, 
 attracted, he told his friend Johnson, by her 
 address and irresistible powers of fascination. The 
 Sage himself went so far as to declare that he envied 
 his friend this privilege, and added that he also would 
 have sought her acquaintance only for the fear of 
 its getting into the newspapers. The sly Boswell 
 altogether concealed from his friend the extent to 
 which he followed up his introduction. 
 
 The first victims to the law, making forgery a capital 
 offence, were these unhappy brothers. " Had the 
 crime of the Perreaus been anything less than 
 forgery, they might have escaped ; but the stern and 
 inflexible counsels of Lord Chancellor Thurlow stopped 
 the current of compassion in the breasts of the Privy 
 Council ; and the Sovereign, notwithstanding the 
 mildness of his nature, was prevailed upon to let the 
 law take its course." 
 
 The assumed necessity for this severity was opposed 
 to the extraordinary exertions made for the sparing of 
 Dr. Dodd. Hence, the execution of the Perreaus was 
 held to be so irrevocable a precedent, that there was 
 no possibility of departing from it, Lord Thurlow 
 having said, with his accustomed force, " If Dr. Dodd 
 
 inspired by the importance of the subject, produced, on a large sheet 
 of vellum, the most elegant specimen of caligraphy that ever was 
 seen."
 
 8o CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 be saved, the Perreaus have been murdered." There 
 was also another forgery case, that of William Wynne 
 Ryland, the celebrated engraver ; and it cannot escape 
 observation that these memorable forgeries succeeded 
 each other so nearly. The Perreaus suffered in 1776; 
 Dr. Dodd, in 1777; and William Wynne Ryland in 
 1783. 
 
 In spite of all efforts, the brothers were ordered for 
 execution. Angelo, before quoted, who took interest in 
 all existing events in the town, has given a curious and 
 interesting account of the unwholesome excitement 
 that attended such " hanging days," and which con- 
 trasts with the complete exclusion, in our own times, 
 of the public from such horrors. 
 
 " Generally, an execution day at Tyburn was con- 
 sidered by various classes as a public holiday. The 
 malefactors, being exposed thus publicly through the 
 main street for three miles, it was supposed, would 
 tend to morality by deterring many who were wit- 
 nesses of the agony of the miserable culprits, from the 
 perpetration of those vices which had brought them to 
 their pitiable fate. This, however, was at length dis- 
 covered to be a mistaken policy, for these cruel spec- 
 tacles drew thousands from their lawful occupations, 
 and emptied the manufactories and workshops." 
 
 The amusing though garrulous fencing-master, 
 goes on : "At an early hour on the morning of an 
 execution, thousands of mechanics and others who had
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 81 
 
 on the previous night agreed upon the making a ' day 
 of it,' met at their proposed stations. It was common 
 throughout the whole metropolis for master coach- 
 makers, framemakers, tailors, shoemakers, and others 
 who had engaged to complete orders within a given 
 time, to bear in mind to observe to their customers, 
 * that will be a hanging-day, and my men will not be 
 at work.' There were also various grades of amateurs 
 of these sights, both high and low, whose ardour in 
 the pursuit excited them to know and to see the 
 whole appertaining to the scene from the first exami- 
 nation of the prisoner at Sir John Fielding's office 
 in Bow Street, to his exit at * fatal Tyburn tree.' 
 Foote, speaking of some prominent characters of 
 this class, designated them, ' The Hanging Com- 
 mittee.' Mr. George Selwyn and another wit, the 
 famed Duke of Montague, were two distinguished 
 members of this coterie ; and a much respected noble- 
 man, who frequented my father's manege, to gratify 
 this penchant was said to have attended at the Tower 
 in the capacity of a barber to perform the operation 
 of shaving one of the Scottish rebel lords during their 
 confinement, a few days previous to their being 
 beheaded on Tower Hill. 
 
 V Another nobleman, a great patron of the arts, was 
 present, by favour, at most of the private examinations 
 in Bow Street, in the memorable days of old Sir John 
 Fielding, and frequently went to Newgate in disguise 
 
 VOL. i. G
 
 82 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 to see extraordinary characters whilst under sentence 
 of death. Thomas Warton, the poet, was one of the 
 most ardent amateurs of these spectacles. When he 
 was absent from Trinity, and inquiries were made as 
 for what part of the world he had suddenly departed, 
 those who knew his propensity would refer the inquirer 
 to the public accounts of the progress of the judges. 
 An execution took place after the Oxford assizes, of a 
 man for sheep-stealing, whilst the poet was absent. 
 On his return to College, one of the Fellows told him 
 of the event with exultation, and reminded him of the 
 loss of so interesting a sight. * I knew of it,' replied 
 Warton, ' but I have been into a neighbouring county 
 where a man was hanged for murder ! ' 
 
 " Those of the lower grade who were most eager for 
 these sights, early in the morning surrounded the 
 felons' gate at Newgate to see the malefactors brought 
 forth, and who received nosegays at St. Sepulchre's. 
 Others appeared at various stations and fell into the 
 ranks according to convenience; hence, the crowd 
 accumulating on the cavalcade reaching St. Giles, the 
 throng was occasionally so great as to entirely fill 
 Oxford Street from house to house on both sides of 
 the way when the pressure became tremendous within 
 half a mile of Tyburn. The Old Bailey, Newgate 
 Street, from St. Sepulchre's Church, Snow Hill, and Hoi- 
 born, as high as Furnival's Inn, on some of these occa- 
 sions, were filled with one dense mass of spectators.
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 83 
 
 " Nothing can be conceived more impressing than the 
 solemn manner in which the unhappy criminals were 
 received by the multitude. At the execution of Dr. 
 Dodd, my station, with a late distinguished member of 
 Parliament, and a celebrated author, was at a window 
 of the late Mr. Langdale's, the distiller. The unfor- 
 tunate malefactor was permitted to go in a mourning 
 coach. His corpse-like appearance produced an awful 
 picture of human woe. Tens of thousands of hats, 
 which formed a black mass, as the coach advanced, 
 were taken off simultaneously, and so many tragic 
 faces, exhibited a spectacle, the effect of which is be- 
 yond the power of words to describe. Thus the pro- 
 cession travelled onwards, through the multitude, 
 whose silence added to the awfulness of the scene. 
 The two Perreaus, Dr. Dodd, and Ryland, in conse- 
 quence of their previous respectability, were indulged 
 with mourning coaches, in which they proceeded from 
 Newgate to Tyburn. A hearse, containing the coffin, 
 to receive the body of the malefactor, also formed part 
 of the procession. The Eeverend Mr. Hackman was 
 also permitted to go to the same place of execution 
 in a mourning coach. 
 
 " Ryland I knew from my boyhood ; he and Gwynn, 
 the painter, were frequently at Carlisle House. My 
 father, who went to offer his condolence to Mrs. 
 Ryland, used to declare, that the scene presented by 
 her and her children on this occasion was so pathetic 
 
 G 2
 
 84 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 that he could not sleep for several nights ; until his 
 imagination became so entirely possessed with the 
 wretched group, that he feared to retire to his bed. 
 
 " Poor By land ! After his condemnation he petitioned 
 for a respite, which was not only granted for the time 
 required, but renewed. The circumstance which urged 
 him to this, excited universal sympathy. He made this 
 request to enable him to finish a very fine engraving 
 which he had begun, the last of a series, from the 
 paintings of Angelica Kauffman, and I believe the sub- 
 ject was Queen Eleanor sucking the poison from the 
 arm of her royal consort, King Edward the First. 
 However that may be, he was indulged with the per- 
 mission, as he alleged that his object was not to prolong 
 his wretched existence, but to enable his wife, after his 
 decease, by this addition to his stock of plates, to add 
 to her support, and that of his fatherless children. It 
 is said that he laboured incessantly at this his last work, 
 and that when he received from his printer, Haddril, 
 who was the first in his line, the finished proof impres- 
 sion, he calmly said, ' Mr. Haddril, I thank you, my 
 task is now accomplished ;' and resigning himself to 
 his fate was executed within a week from that day. 
 
 " B/yland was a man of extraordinary self-command. 
 I recollect, immediately after the discovery of the 
 forgery, large placards being posted all over the town, 
 offering a sum of five hundred pounds for his apprehen- 
 sion. He first secreted himself, as was believed, in the
 
 CASES BEFORE SfR JOHN. 85 
 
 Minories, and though he was cautioned by his friends 
 to remain in his hiding-place, yet, after a few days' 
 confinement, he could not resist his desire to take a 
 walk, after dusk, though he knew of the placards and 
 the reward offered. Thus determined, he put on a sea- 
 man's dreadnought, and otherwise disguised, set off, 
 and wandered about, for a considerable time, when, 
 returning across Little Tower Hill, a man eyed him 
 attentively, passed, and repassed him, and turning short 
 round, exclaimed, ' So, you are the very man I am seek- 
 ing.' Ryland, betraying not the least emotion, stopped 
 short, faced him, and returned, ' Perhaps you are mis- 
 taken in your man, sir ; I do not know you.' The 
 stranger immediately apologised, owned his mistake, 
 wished the refugee good-night, and then they parted. 
 
 "Another instance of this self-command and presence 
 of mind occurred at the India House, when he pre- 
 sented his forged bond for payment, for the sum of 
 three or four thousand pounds, on a large sheet of 
 paper, one face of which was nearly covered with sig- 
 natures. The cashier, on receiving the document, 
 examined it carefully, and referred to the ledger ; then, 
 comparing the date, observed, ' Here is a mistake, sir; 
 the bond as entered, does not become due until to- 
 morrow.' 
 
 " Ryland begging permission to look at the book, on 
 its being handed to him, observed, ' So I perceive- 
 there must be an error in your entry of one day ; ' and
 
 86 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 offered to leave the bond, not betraying the least dis- 
 appointment or surprise. The mistake appearing to 
 the cashier to be obviously an error in his office, the 
 bond was paid to Ryland, who departed with the 
 money. The next day the true bond was presented, 
 when the forgery was discovered, of course; and, 
 within a few hours after, the fraud was made public, 
 and steps were taken for the discovery of the per- 
 petrator. 
 
 " This document, lately in the possession of a gentle- 
 man, now deceased, I have often seen. It is, perhaps, 
 the most extraordinary piece of deceptive art, in the 
 shape of imitation, that was ever produced. There are, 
 speaking from recollection, thirty or more signatures, 
 in hands of various styles, and in letters of as various 
 dimensions; some being in a large and flourishing 
 letter, others in a cramped, and some in a small hand, 
 as well as inks of different degrees of blackness ; the 
 whole so wonderfully imitated, that it appeared, as well 
 on the trial as subsequently, that not one, whose name 
 was inserted in the bond, could have ventured to swear 
 that it was not his own veritable signature. 
 
 " Mrs. Ryland, the widow of this unhappy artist, for 
 some years after his decease, kept a print-shop in 
 Oxford Street. Ryland was the first who engraved 
 successfully in the dotted style. Those plates which 
 he executed from the designs of Angelica Kauffman, 
 were of a circular form, and printed in a red colour.
 
 CASES BEFORE SIR JOHN. 87 
 
 They were greatly admired, and are still considered 
 among the most beautiful productions of the kind." 
 
 Thus far for the principal experiences of this magis- 
 trate. We shall now turn to his exertions, and to the 
 fruits of those exertions which were to be displayed in 
 quite another direction.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 
 
 The Patroles. 
 
 To Sir John Fielding the public was indebted for the 
 introduction of a useful cheek on highway robbery, so 
 simple and obvious in character that it is astonishing 
 it was not suggested before his time. Knowing the 
 unprotected state of the roads in the environs of the 
 city, the notorious Hounslow, Blackheath, and the un- 
 guarded commons, his energetic mind conceived the 
 idea of an organized force, which, however small, would 
 still furnish protection. A few men, well armed, 
 patrolling the lonely roads, and meeting each other 
 at fixed points, was the idea that presented itself. 
 It took its rise in what was rather ambitiously 
 styled THE PATROLE, which, beginning as a very small 
 force, later developed into an important and efficient 
 body of men. At its origin it consisted of thirteen 
 "parties," each with a "conductor;" that is, eight
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 89 
 
 f< country parties " and five " town parties." The blind 
 magistrate took a particular interest in this force of 
 his own invention, and was always eager for its exten- 
 sion. This plan was found to be of extraordinary 
 benefit ; but he received support for it in so grudging 
 a fashion, that we find him pleading, as if for a 
 personal favour to himself, for a continuation of 
 assistance, even for the useful horse-patrole : 
 
 " Sir J. Fielding presents his most respectful compli- 
 ments to Mr. Jenkinson, and in consequence of what 
 has passed with him this morning, begs he will do him 
 the honour to acquaint Mr. Grenville that his applica- 
 tion for the continuance of the horse-patrole for a short 
 time longer, as a temporary, but necessary, step, in 
 order to complete that which had been so happily 
 begun. . . . He flatters himself that from the amazing 
 good effects this patrole has already had by bringing so 
 many old offenders to justice, that a little further 
 assistance of this kind may be sufficient to prevent 
 these outrages from arising to a great height for a 
 considerable time." 
 
 So successful was this plan of " a patrole" found that 
 it was extended, in different shapes, under other 
 magistrates. It is a popular delusion that until the 
 advent of the New Police the safety of London was 
 entrusted to the incapable " Charlies," or watchmen, 
 who were supposed to perform their duties by con- 
 stantly sleeping in their watch-boxes. But, in truth,
 
 9 o CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 there was an efficient body of patroles, mounted and on 
 foot, who kept careful watch upon the roads while 
 others looked after the streets. A more particular 
 account of this force will be found interesting. 
 
 The " Bow Street Horse-Patrole " was not esta- 
 blished until the year 1805, by Sir Richard Ford, who 
 was then chief magistrate. He himself undertook the 
 direction of it. In that year highway robberies in the 
 various country roads leading to London became very 
 frequent, and this practical mode of checking the 
 abuse was adopted. Their uniform was an odd one, 
 consisting of a leathern hat, blue coat with yellow 
 metal buttons, blue trousers and boots, with the 
 invariable scarlet waistcoat, while they were " armed 
 to the teeth " with cutlass, pistols, and a truncheon. 
 They were all splendidly mounted, and were indeed 
 awkward customers to encounter on the high and 
 cross roads. They were retired cavalry soldiers, 
 received 28s. a week as pay, and in the year 1828 
 amounted to no more than fifty-four men, with six 
 inspectors. It is astonishing to think that this modest 
 force should have been able to watch over the innu- 
 merable high roads that converge on London ; but it 
 is agreed they did their duty with wonderful efficiency. 
 The whole cost did not exceed 16,000?. a year. 
 
 The duties of this force were carried out in this 
 fashion. They came on their " beat " at five or seven 
 in the evening, according to the season, beginning at
 
 THE BO W STREET FORCES. 9 r 
 
 a distance of about five miles from London, and pro- 
 ceeding from five to ten miles, until after midnight, 
 when they went home. The officer was directed to 
 make himself known to all persons he met in car- 
 riages or on horseback by calling out in a loud and 
 clear tone, " Bow STREET PATROLE ! " The highway- 
 men were much disturbed by their operations, and we 
 constantly hear of captures and encounters. The 
 force was under the personal direction of one of the 
 Bow Street magistrates, to whom it reported, and 
 from whom it received instructions. 
 
 So efficient was this found that it was soon deter- 
 mined to add to it another, which was oddly named 
 " The Police Dismounted Horse-Patrole," whose duty 
 it was to protect the road lying between the beat of 
 the horse-patrole and the city. This body was 
 organized on a different system. They were divided 
 into parties, each with a conductor, which patrolled a 
 regular district of its own. Their uniform was the 
 same as that of the horse-patrole, and they were armed 
 with pistol, truncheon, and cutlass, and, of course, 
 displayed the invariable scarlet waistcoat. 
 
 To these motley and heterogeneous bands Mr. Peel, 
 in 1822, added yet another, which was called the 
 "Day Patrole," and which seems to have been a mere 
 roving body that could only hope by some rare chance 
 to be of any service, for the whole body consisted of 
 but twenty-four men and three inspectors. In 1821
 
 92 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 it was ordered by Lord Sidmouth that, in consequence 
 of the numerous robberies that had taken place in the 
 public streets and squares, the services of the night 
 patrole should be confined altogether to the city, which 
 was accordingly divided into sixteen districts, each 
 with a conductor. But the whole force did not exceed 
 some eighty men. But these were merely the pre- 
 ventive element. The Bow Street authorities relied 
 more directly on another kind of assistance, and which 
 was concerned entirely in the work of detection. 
 
 The Bow Street Runners. 
 
 In fiction as well as in reality the dramatic element 
 nearly always was supplied by the " Bow Street 
 Runner," popularly supposed to be a miracle of detec- 
 tive skill; though indeed, at the beginning of the 
 century, the establishment at Bow Street for the detec- 
 tion of crime, was of a character that would have made 
 a modern policeman smile. The business of inquiry, 
 pursuit, and arrest of criminals, was conducted by a 
 few " officers," not more than eight in number. Each 
 of these, however, had, from practice and training, 
 acquired skill, and was so trained in the peculiar 
 school or system of Jonathan Wild, that he was equi- 
 valent to a host of constables. The " Bow Street 
 runner," as he was called, was a name of terror to the 
 burglar and thief, and their red waistcoats were 
 familiar everywhere. " Their ensign of office," says
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 93 
 
 one writer, " was a tiny baton with a gilt crown on the 
 top ; but malefactors knew perfectly well that their 
 pockets held pistols as well as handcuffs, and that a 
 1 Robin Redbreast ' of Bow Street was as bold as his 
 volatile namesake. In the time of Sir Richard Birnie 
 the ' Robin Redbreasts ' numbered a dozen : to wit, 
 old Townsend and Sayer, and ten officers under these, 
 among whom the most prominent were Ruthven, 
 Taunton, Salmon, Leadbitter, and Gawner." 
 
 The most celebrated of these men was the well- 
 known Townsend, who was besides a *' character " in 
 his way. He and his companions were employed in 
 all sorts of duties, and told off for any emergency, for 
 there appears to have been no rule or system. They 
 attended at court, at races, and on all special occa- 
 sions. They also enjoyed various perquisites and 
 presents from those whose property they recovered. 
 Mr. Charles Dickens, though he was an enthusiastic 
 admirer of the modern police, has presented a rather 
 unflattering portrait, in his " Oliver Twist," of the 
 Bow Street runners. When Mrs. Maylie's house was 
 broken into by Sikes, two officers were sent down. 
 
 " ' Open the door,' cried a man, ' it's the officers 
 from Bow Street.' Brittles opened the door to 
 its full width, and confronted a portly man in 
 a great coat, who walked in without saying anything 
 more, and wiped his shoes on the mat as coolly as if 
 he lived there.
 
 94 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 " The man who had knocked at the door was a stout 
 personage of middle height, aged about fifty, with 
 shiny black hair cropped pretty close, half whiskers, a 
 round face, and sharp eyes. The other was a red- 
 headed, bony man, in top-boots, with a rather ill- 
 favoured countenance and a turned-up, sinister-looking 
 nose. 
 
 " ' Tell your governor Blathers and Duff is here, will 
 
 These visitors proved themselves, according to 
 " Boz," a very incapable, weak-kneed pair, for they 
 accepted the story prepared by the family as to Oliver, 
 whose presence on the premises, shot as he had been, 
 required accounting for. They were given to long 
 stories, and readers will recall their account of " Conky 
 Chickweed." 1 
 
 1 The same delightful writer has left us a sketch of the office 
 and the magistrate. The " Mr. Fang," of whom so odious a 
 picture is given, did not belong to Bow Street. His real name 
 was Lang, and Dickens went specially to draw him, and it is 
 said thns caused him to resign. When the " Dodger's " career 
 was cnt short, and he was brought up at Bow Street, one of his 
 friends and admirers attended to see how he behaved. Here 
 was the scene. " He found himself jostled among a crowd of 
 people, chiefly women, who were huddled together in a dirty, 
 frowsy room, at the upper end of which was a raised platform, 
 railed off from the rest, with a dock for the prisoners on the 
 left hand against the wall, a box for his witnesses in the middle, 
 a desk for the magistrates on the right, the awful locality last 
 named being screened off by a partition which concealed tho
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 95 
 
 Much petted as was Townsend, and profound as was 
 the belief in his sagacity, one is inclined to suspect 
 that he was something of an impostor. He seems 
 to have impressed every one thieves included with 
 an idea of his infinite experience, a belief he was 
 enabled to encourage by a good memory and a useful 
 knack of remembering faces. He cultivated an 
 acquaintance with thieves and their places of resort, 
 and by some lucky coups added to his prestige. The 
 pleasant Angelo, before quoted, who knew " all sorts 
 and conditions of men," shall introduce him : 
 
 " The last time I went to a masquerade was at the 
 Pantheon, which must have been nearly thirty years 
 ago. I went in a domino, keeping my mask on, and 
 after near an hour wandering about, at length I met 
 with one whom I had known many years, dressed in 
 a domino, with his mask on, and his portly figure 
 soon discovered him to me. This was my old and 
 very pleasant slang friend, Townsend, of Bow Street 
 memory. Well met, arm-in-arm, we paraded together 
 until the supper-rooms opened. ' N^ow,' said he, 
 ' I'll show you some fun, only stop, when we soon 
 
 bench, from the common gaze. The room smelt close and un- 
 wholesome, the walls were dirt-discoloured, and the ceiling 
 blackened. There was an old smoky bust over the mantelshelf, 
 and a dirty clock above the dock, the only thing that seemed 
 to go on as it ought." Every one will recall the Dodger's pleasant 
 familiarities.
 
 96 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 shall see the coves and motts fall to grub ; they'll then 
 doff their sham phizzes. You'll see I shall soon un- 
 kennel them.' Having such a protege, I kept close 
 to him ; though I have enjoyed many a masquerade 
 adventure, this was a superior treat to me. He kept 
 his word ; for the very first room we entered he had 
 something to say of the parties. At supper, between 
 two ladies, was an elegant-looking young man, in 
 regimentals and black domino; he had a handsome 
 cut-steel button and loop to his hat, which was sur- 
 mounted by a lofty plumage. He was just touching 
 his glass to his two fair companions, when my intelli- 
 gent conducteur went behind him, and tapped him on 
 the shoulder. 
 
 " ' Come, be off.' ' Mr. Townsend,' said the would- 
 be captain, 'don't take me from my bub and grub.' 
 Townsend, however, with great good-nature, suffered 
 him to remain, but as he was a notorious character 
 the myrmidons of the police kept an eye upon him. 
 In the course of the evening, to my surprise, I had 
 many individuals, gentlemen of the ' conveying frater- 
 nity,' pointed out to me, whom, from their genteel 
 appearance, I considered to be men of fashion; in- 
 deed, some of them I had spoken to, as coffee-house 
 acquaintance. Many years ago, at the Opera House, 
 when it was the fashion, between the acts, to go 
 behind the scenes, Townsend was always to be seen 
 there, and many of the sprigs of fashion used to
 
 Th e TO WNS-END . 

 
 THE BO W STREET FORCES. 97 
 
 ^ crowd round (for he was a general favourite), with 
 'How are you, Townsend? what's the go?' when 
 with good-humour he would indulge their fancy, 
 answering them in such a manner (knowing their 
 drift to get him into conversation) that the greater 
 part he said was quite unintelligible to them. 
 
 " Once, however, my witty acquaintance, Townsend, 
 met with his match behind the scenes in the Hay- 
 market, as an individual was present who seemed to 
 know the whole slang vocabulary by heart, and the 
 conversation highly delighted a number of persons 
 who stood round to listen. The gentleman to whom I 
 allude, was an officer of the Guards, on duty there that 
 night. Though Townsend was up to it, the officer 
 certainly was down upon him, to the great amusement 
 of the listeners, and the former was scarcely able to 
 keep pace with him." 
 
 Townsend, from his long experience, and the 
 select duties in which he was employed, became a 
 "privileged" person, and, as it is called, "quite a 
 character." A chronicler, who had seen a great deal 
 of " life," named Eichardson, has left us a not very 
 favourable account of him. " This man," he tells us, 
 " who was said to have commenced life as a coster- 
 monger, became by effrontery and impudence, en- 
 hanced by a certain share of low cunning and low 
 wit, the head of his profession. He derived a large 
 income from the Christmas boxes of the nobility and 
 
 VOL. i. H
 
 98 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 of other parties at whose routs he was employed to 
 detect, or keep away, improper characters, who, he 
 persuaded his patrons would be present if Tie were 
 not in attendance. As to his personal appearance, 
 he was a very smart little man, clean as paint, to use 
 his own phrase, and I think peculiar in his costume. 
 He was generally encased in a light and loud suit, 
 knee-breeches, and short gaiters, and a white hat of 
 great breadth of brim. Once, when he was bathing 
 near Millbank, some thieves maliciously stole his 
 clothes, and it was said he was compelled to run home 
 in the state he emerged from the water. At his death 
 it was reported that he had made accumulations from 
 the guinea a day at the bank, the nobility, the money 
 from prosecutions, &c., to the amount of 20,OOOZ. 
 He was often seen in familiar conversation with 
 George III., whose good-humoured face was convulsed 
 with laughter at his stories." 
 
 Captain Gronow tells us that " He was a sort of 
 privileged person, and could say what he liked." On 
 one occasion the Duke of Clarence recommended 
 Townsend to publish his memoirs, " which he thought 
 would be very interesting." Townsend, who had be- 
 come somewhat deaf, seemed rather surprised, but said 
 he would obey H.R.H.'s commands. A few weeks after- 
 wards Townsend was on duty at Carlton House, when 
 the Duke asked him if he had fulfilled his promise. 
 His answer was
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 99 
 
 " Oh, sir, you've got me into a devil of a scrape ! 
 I had begun to write my amours, as you desired, 
 when Mrs. Townsend caught me in the act of writing 
 them, and swore she'd be revenged ; for you know, 
 your Royal Highness, I was obliged to divulge many 
 secrets about women, for which she'll never forgive 
 me." 
 
 When the Duke became king, on a memorable 
 occasion, in a fit of anger, he swore he would order a 
 hackney-coach to go to the House. Upon which 
 Townsend, to the amazement of every one, cried out 
 from behind a screen, 
 
 "Well said, sir; I think your Majesty is d d 
 
 right." 
 
 The King, much surprised and amused, called out, 
 
 " Is that you, Townsend ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir; I am here to see that your Majesty has 
 fair play ! " 
 
 At an installation of the Knights of the Garter, 
 the then Duchess of Northumberland was fain to 
 put herself under his protection, and accept his arm, 
 "as he conducted her through a mob of nobles and 
 others, to her place in the chapel." 
 
 From an account of him, given in a ' Trip to 
 Ascot,' we learn how he was led to the profession. 
 " Originally he was fond of hearing the trials at the 
 Old Bailey, and also of noting down in a book persons 
 who were acquitted, and likewise those found guilty, 
 
 H 2
 
 ioo CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 with their sentences, &c., by which means he became 
 a sort of oracle at ' the Start,' and obtained the title 
 of ' Counsellor Double Head.' His superiority of 
 information respecting the thieves and other bad 
 characters in the metropolis, thus obtained by his 
 assiduity and attention, gave him a certain notoriety, 
 which soon made its way to the listeners of the beaks, 
 and our hero accordingly was appointed to the situa- 
 tion of a police officer. The slouched castor, the open 
 breeches at the knees, the short jacket, the fogle 
 loosely twisted round his squeeze, the large wedge 
 broach, the long-quartered shoe and silver buckles, 
 the bit of myrtle in his gig, and the cut altogether 
 of a ' rolling kiddy ' was banished for the more 
 reputable appearance of a smart Trap. 
 
 " Townsend soon proved himself a most active 
 officer ; and his name alone became a terror to the 
 wicked and abandoned part of the community. It 
 became a fashion with great personages to say, ' How 
 do you do, Townsend ? ' It was not uncommon to an- 
 nounce some crowded rout with the advertisement 
 * Mr. Townsend will attend.' This was pursued to a 
 ridiculous extent, and the artful fellow, to increase 
 his imposture, would, in particular crowds, caution 
 noble ladies to be on their guard, and they would 
 hand over their watches and jewellery on the spot 
 to Mr. Townsend's kind and safe keeping. In the 
 restoration of the articles it was equally the fashion
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 101 
 
 to remunerate Mr. Townsend for his tlioughtfulness 
 and trouble. At Christmas time he grew into the habit 
 of ' making ' friendly calls upon ' the nobility and 
 gentlemen ' to offer them his compliments of the 
 season, while congratulations were returned in a 
 suitable way." (The italicised words belong to the 
 " flash" style of the times.) 
 
 Amongst other anecdotes circulated respecting 
 Townsend, the following shows his aptness : Mr. 
 Bond, a most active, intelligent police officer, was 
 made a magistrate at Bow Street for his services. In 
 a dispute some time afterwards Mr. Bond rather 
 warmly told him that " he took too much upon himself ; 
 but he supposed Townsend thought himself a magis- 
 trate." " No, indeed I do not, your worship," 
 replied Townsend, in a sarcastic manner, " the King 
 said he had committed an error in making one police 
 officer a magistrate ; but he would not repeat the mis- 
 take by elevating another." 
 
 " Two young noblemen meeting him one day near 
 the palace, one of the above sprigs of nobility said to 
 the other, ' I will introduce you to old Townsend, I 
 know him well. Come here, Townsend ! ' said he 
 with considerable hauteur, at the same time taking a 
 pinch of snuff, and surveying the veteran officer from 
 head to foot; 'I wish to ascertain a fact; but 'pon 
 my honour, I do not intend to distress your feelings ; in 
 the early part of your life were you not a coal-heaver ? '
 
 102 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 , my lord,' answered Townsend, making a bow 
 with the most profound respect, ' it is very true ; but 
 let me tell your lordship, if you had been reared as a 
 coal-heaver you would have remained a coal-heaver up 
 to the present hour.' ' 
 
 Townsend, a few years after he had obtained great 
 notoriety as a police officer, underwent a severe cross- 
 examination, at the Old Bailey, by Counsellor Garrow 
 (now the present venerable Judge Garrow). 
 
 Question. How do you get your living, sir ? 
 
 Answer. You know me very well, Mr. Garrow. 
 
 Q. I insist upon knowing how you get your liveli- 
 hood ? Recollect, sir, you are upon your oath. 
 
 A. Yes, sir, I have taken a great many oaths in 
 my time ; but I ought to have said, professionally ! 
 
 Q. To the question, and no equivocation ? 
 
 A. Why then, sir, I get my livelihood in the same 
 way you do ! 
 
 Q. How is that, fellow ? 
 
 A. I am paid for taking up thieves ; and you are 
 paid for " getting them of! " that is much about the 
 same sort of thing. 
 
 Q. You consider yourself a sharp shot, don't you, 
 Townsend ? 
 
 A. No, sir, but I like to hit the MARK. 
 
 Q. You may stand down, fellow ? 
 
 A. I am glad, sir, you found me up ! 
 
 This seems poor wit enough, but it shows us that
 
 THE BOW STREET FOR CES. 1 03 
 
 the pert, self-satisfied, and "spoiled" official, Grum- 
 met*, in " Pickwick," was of the same type, and, it is 
 not unlikely, was intended for Townsend. This 
 acquired position almost seemed to entitle him to 
 equal rights with the magistrates, who did not venture 
 to check, or interfere with him. As when a well- 
 dressed thief was brought up for robbing a gentleman 
 in the park, we find the old officer, when giving 
 evidence, offering his own opinions and professional 
 instincts, instead of legal evidence. 
 
 He told his story in his usual peculiar quaint way. 
 " I was going," he said, " that morning down the pas- 
 sage leading from Spring Gardens into St. James's 
 Park, as a party of the Foot Guards had passed before 
 in that direction. I found there was an obstruction, 
 and a gentleman said to me, ' Townsend, what is the 
 cause of this ; the road is choked up ? ' I said to him, 
 'You may depend upon it some old acquaintances of mine 
 have caused the obstruction to create a confusion and 
 to pick pockets.' I then went to the iron pillars, and 
 saw the prisoner and two other fellows talking in their 
 usual slang language ; they had surrounded an elderly 
 gentleman, and were ogling his pockets, when he 
 appeared to be aware of their intentions, and prevented 
 them from carrying them into effect. One of the 
 robbers said to the prisoner, who was acting in concert 
 with them, ' I had nearly drawn that old flat's skin, 
 but he baulked me.' I (continued Townsend) looked
 
 104 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFPICE. 
 
 the prigs full in the face, and said, ' If you had drawn 
 his skin, I would have grabbed you (laughter) and 
 they ran off as fast as they could." Mr. Hall : " What 
 is the meaning of ' skin ' and ' grab,' Mr. Townsend ? " 
 Townsend, " ' Skin ' means purse, and * grab ' means to 
 apprehend. When they ran off, I cut round into 
 the park in another direction, and fell in with the 
 prisoner, and gave him into the charge of a policeman." 
 This was all amusing enough, and gratifying to the 
 " runner." But the magistrate naturally asked, " Are 
 you certain he was committing a robbery ? " Townsend, 
 answered, " I never saw the prisoner before, but when 
 I saw him ogling the gentleman's pocket, and being a 
 cover to the other thieves, I said to myself ' Townsend, 
 as sure as thou art in existence, that's as arrant a thief 
 as ever drew a wipe from the tail of a coat.' On inquiry 
 I found he was one of the most active robbers, &c." 
 
 The peculiarities, vanity, and garrulousness of the 
 old officer, were yet more effectively displayed in a 
 scene which took place in the Bow Street Office, in 
 October, 1827, when Sir Richard Birnie humoured him 
 to the top of his bent. An eccentric Mr. Summerfield 
 had applied for a warrant against a baker, residing at 
 Islington, who had sent him a challenge to fight a duel. 
 Having shown to Sir R. Birnie the letter containing 
 the challenge, a warrant was ordered to be issued 
 immediately. During the investigation of this case, 
 Townsend, the police-officer, " who has the honour of
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 105 
 
 being police attendant on His Majesty," entered the 
 office. Sir Richard Birnie said to him, " John Towns- 
 end, you are come very opportunely to execute a 
 warrant, and prevent a duel from taking place; here is 
 a challenge sent by a baker to the clerk of a lead-mill 
 proprietor." John Townsend raised himself upon his 
 toes, and looked at Sir R. Birnie, with his usual know- 
 ing expression of physog., hardly conceiving whether 
 the magistrate was in jest or in earnest, and replied, 
 " Why, Sir Richard Birnie, I beg leave to tell you, 
 that I think it would lessen me a great deal if I were 
 to execute a warrant upon a barber (he had mistaken 
 the word baker for barber), after forty-six years' ser- 
 vice, during which period I have had the honour of 
 taking Earls, Marquises, and Dukes. No, no, Sir 
 Richard, let the barber fight if he likes it; but don't 
 let me be degraded by executing the warrant." Sir 
 Richard Birnie intimated to the veteran officer, that he 
 meant nothing more than a jest in asking him to serve 
 the warrant. Townsend said he thought so ; and 
 having adjusted his flaxen wig, he said, " Why, Sir 
 Richard, I was employed to apprehend the late Duke 
 of Norfolk and Sir John Honeywood, when they went 
 out to fight a duel ; and I also apprehended Colonel 
 Macnamara and Colonel Harvey Aston, the latter of 
 whom was afterwards shot in a duel in the East 
 Indies. I also apprehended the late Marquis 
 Tovvnshend and Mr. Ponsonby, on a like occasion ;
 
 io6 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OPFICE. 
 
 and I remember that I received the warrant to 
 apprehend Colonel Lennox (afterwards Duke of Rich- 
 mond) and the Duke of York, and prevent their 
 fighting a duel ; but they had met, and settled 
 their dispute before I got to the spot. God knows 
 how many great men I have taken why I appre- 
 hended Mr. King and Lord Paget (now Marquis of 
 Anglesea), when they were going out to fight a duel ; 
 and I remember Lord Paget's father (the Earl of 
 Uxbridge) told me not to prevent their meeting, for 
 his son was good for nothing if he did not go out and 
 fight. Besides, now it occurs to me, that I was applied 
 to at my own house, by Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas, late 
 one night, to go in quest of Earl St. Vincent and Sir 
 John Orde. The fact was, that Earl St. Vincent, who had 
 nothing but his country's glory in view, broke through 
 the rules of Royal etiquette; and, instead of sending 
 the second in command, Sir J. Orde, on an expedition 
 to the Nile, he despatched the immortal Nelson ; and 
 after the victory was over, and the naval armament 
 returned to England, Sir John Orde sent a challenge 
 to Earl St. Vincent, and I took the parties and pre- 
 vented their meeting." 
 
 Sir R. Birnie complimented Townsend upon his 
 public services, and another officer was sent to serve 
 the warrant upon the baker, at Islington. The officer 
 who was entrusted with the warrant, stated that he had 
 been unable to apprehend Mr. Sumraerfield, and he had
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 107 
 
 discovered that a hoax had been played off upon Mr. 
 M'Diarmid. 
 
 This specimen of Mr. Townsend's style in a public 
 office shows that the old officer must have become 
 something of a standing nuisance, with his perpetual 
 reminiscences of the Royal family and of noblemen 
 and gentlemen. 
 
 But with age and an increasing reputation his 
 many peculiarities increased. He gave his opinions 
 freely to king and princes, and there was certainly a 
 free and easy self-sufficiency in his remarks that was 
 highly amusing. What caused his employment about 
 the Court was the attack by Margaret Nicholson upon 
 the King. The palaces were afterwards frequently 
 infested with mad people, one of whom actually got 
 into the Queen's Palace, and found his way into the 
 private apartments of the Princess of Homburg. 
 Three of the porters were in consequence discharged ; 
 and Townsend and "the late Macmanus" were 
 appointed to attend the Court. 
 
 Soon after he commenced his attendance at the 
 levees, a nobleman had the insignia of the Order of the 
 Garter cut from his side. The loss was instantly dis- 
 covered, and notice of the fact was given through the 
 rooms, and down-stairs, to detect the thief, as the 
 company passed him. At length a person passed 
 who, he had a strong suspicion, ought not to be at 
 Court, but the difference of Court dress changes the
 
 io8 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 appearance of a person so much, that he was not cer- 
 tain as to the character. He therefore followed the 
 man a few paces, looking him full in the face, and then 
 discovered him to be an old thief, and took him into 
 custody ; and on searching him, the stolen property 
 was found. 
 
 When the Catholic Question was under discussion in 
 the House of Lords, Townsend met in Parliament 
 Street, two members of the peerage, one an opponent 
 of the Catholic claims, and the other, a much younger 
 man, an advocate of them. In answer to some obser- 
 vation by Townsend on this subject, the elder peer 
 made a strong remark, which appeared to please the 
 veteran police-officer. The young peer then offered an 
 opinion on the other side, but was interrupted by 
 Townsend, who said, " Young man, young man, mind 
 what his lordship says treasure up every word of it." 
 " But, Mr. Townsend," said the peer, " allow me to 
 explain." '"'Explain explain! I want no explanation, 
 I know all about it, and his lordship understands it as 
 well young man, young man it is a question of life 
 and death, Go home and consider it." 
 
 Speaking of George the Fourth, he would say, " God 
 rest him, he was a king, only two or three people could 
 get at him ; but this new king (William the Fourth) 
 why, bless you, sir, he isn't half a king ; he makes him- 
 self too cheap. Anybody may get at him." Whilst 
 speaking of the opera, alluding to the upstarts, as he
 
 THE BO W STREET FORCES. 109 
 
 called them, he said, " Bless you, sir, I knew the opera 
 fifty years ago, and then it was worthy of being called 
 a King's Theatre, for only the nobility had boxes ; but 
 now you may see a duchess on one side and a whole- 
 sale cheesemonger's wife on the other. I remember 
 the time when there were masquerades, too, and the 
 king God bless him ! (he was only Prince of Wales 
 then) used to have nice freaks on such occasions. Many 
 a time have I taken him by the skirt of the coat when 
 he was going in, and said to him, I would advise your 
 Royal Highness, if you have got any money about you, to 
 leave it with me for safety ; and then he would pull out 
 a purse with fifty or sixty guineas in it, and say, ' Well, 
 but Townsend, you must allow me something to spend, 
 you know ;' and upon that I used to hand him over 
 about five guineas, keeping the rest and his watch in 
 my own pocket, where few people would have thought 
 of looking for them." 
 
 Once in St. James's Park, he met the Duke of 
 Clarence. " Holloa, Townsend, where do you come 
 from ? " "I am just come from your royal brother of 
 York, and he gave me one of the best glasses of wine 
 I ever tasted." " Well, Townsend," said the Duke, 
 " come and see me, and I promise to give you as good 
 a glass of wine as my brother York can give." " Ah ! " 
 says Townsend, " that's not all, for when I admired 
 the wine, your royal brother of York calls for his 
 butler, and desires him to bring two bottles for Mrs.
 
 no CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Townsend; and here," added Townsend, "here they 
 are," pulling one out of each pocket, and showing 
 them to the duke. 
 
 This singular functionary continued in the service 
 till his death, which occurred in the year 1832. It 
 was remembered that he was much depressed during 
 the passage of the Reform Bill ; and he used to say, 
 shrugging up his shoulders, " It's all up now ! " 
 
 About five days before his death allusion being 
 made to the peculiar cut of his hat, the old officer said, 
 " That hat, sir, was given to me by George IV., God 
 rest his soul." " Well, but Townsend," said the 
 gentleman, " I thought it had been your own cut." 
 " God bless your soul, and so it was ; the King took his 
 cut from mine, and many times used to say, that till 
 that time he had never looked like a gentleman." 
 
 " On the Wednesday previous to his decease, when 
 attending the King's levee, he enjoyed his usual health, 
 and was full of joke and conversation in his way, 
 particularly with the Marquis $$ Wellesley and the 
 Marquis of Salisbury, who congratulated him on his 
 good looks, and how well he carried his age, &c., &c. 
 The Sunday following, he went to St. Peter's Church, 
 Pimlico, where he had a pew, and regularly attended 
 divine service. He enjoyed the company of a friend 
 the latter part of the day. On the Monday morning 
 he rose early and proceeded to the bank, where his 
 indisposition increased to an alarming degree. He
 
 THE BO W STREET FORCES, 1 1 1 
 
 returned home to Pimlico in a coach, when he was 
 taken ill and died shortly after." Such was Townsend. 
 
 Vickery, another well-known runner, had been a 
 harness-maker, and came from the neighbourhood of 
 Basingstoke. Becoming an officer at Worship Street, 
 his activity and intelligence made him a great favourite 
 with Mr. Nares, the magistrate ; and when that gentle- 
 man was promoted to the chief office, Bow Street, he 
 obtained his appointment there also. Vickery was 
 conductor of the east-end party of the patrole. The 
 responsible duty of escorting the dollars to be stamped 
 at Birmingham was entrusted to him, in conjunction 
 with the late Stephen Lavender. It was to Vickery 
 that instructions were given to apprehend the French 
 prisoners of war who had escaped upon their parole of 
 honour, and in this business he was wonderfully 
 successful. 
 
 A very ingenious plan was laid to rob the Post 
 Office. Vickery received information of the fact, and 
 communicated it to the authorities. They doubted 
 the truth of this story, and a special meeting was 
 called, at which were present the Postmasters-General, 
 for at that time there were two, Sir Francis Freeling, 
 and Mr. Anthony Parkin, the then solicitor to the 
 establishment. Vickery attended, and to the astonish- 
 ment of every one present, actually produced the keys 
 that had been made for the purpose of effecting the 
 robbery, and opened every door in succession, until he
 
 1 1 2 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE, 
 
 arrived at the treasure which was intended to be the 
 prize of the thieves. It appeared from the information 
 he had collected, that the robbers had twice or thrice 
 visited the premises, but would not take away the 
 booty, thinking that if they waited a little longer, it 
 would be much increased. This was one of the happy 
 coups de theatre by which the runners knew how to 
 impress the public. 
 
 His activity and energy were conspicuously displayed 
 inreferenceto the great robbery at Rundell and Bridge's. 
 Two Jews called at their shop on Ludgate Hill, and 
 selected articles of jewellery to the amount of 35,000/. 
 Having done so, they requested to be allowed to seal 
 them up that no mistake might occur, and they would 
 call on the following day and pay for them. No 
 suspicion being entertained, they were allowed to pack 
 up the goods, and seal them. Being provided with 
 small parcels resembling the others, they adroitly 
 possessed themselves of the valuable ones, leaving in 
 exchange some rubbish, packed and sealed in the same 
 way. Vickery was consulted, and he was not long in 
 ascertaining that a portion of the property had gone to 
 the Continent. He started in company with one of 
 the firm, and traced the delinquents through France, 
 Holland, Frankfort, and eventually succeeded in 
 recovering 20,OOOL worth of the stolen property. The 
 firm made him a very liberal present. 
 
 Another of these functionaries, Donaldson, had
 
 THE BOW STREE T FOR CES. 1 1 3 
 
 special care of the saloons at the theatres Covent 
 Garden and Drury Lane. It seems astonishing now 
 that under the direction of the austere John Kemble, 
 these disorderly places should have been tolerated. 
 Even now as we enter the one theatre in London 
 which represents the old dispensation, viz. Drury 
 Lane, we wonder at the spaciousness and magnificence 
 of the deserted saloon, with its pillars and arches, and 
 can scarcely realize the time when it was crammed to 
 overflowing with a strangely mixed crowd of the so- 
 called." fast " of both sexes, as, indeed, we may see in 
 the adventures of " Tom and Jerry," and their friend 
 Bob Logic. 
 
 " This man," says Mr. Richardson, " never bore a 
 very high reputation for virtue of any sort. He was, 
 however, perfectly acquainted with the haunts, proceed- 
 ings, practices, and plans of thieves, pickpockets, and 
 rogues ; and in the state of London at the time his 
 services were found useful. There was plenty of 
 carrion in the saloons of the theatres, and plenty of 
 pickpockets were there also. Donaldson -was accus- 
 tomed from time to time to exclaim with a loud 
 voice, 
 
 " ' Take care of your pocket* ! ' 
 
 " Most persons considered this exclamation as a 
 warning to the unwary. Others, less charitably in- 
 clined, affirmed that it was a notice given to the pick- 
 pockets to be on the look-out, and take heed who the 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 ii4 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 gentlemen were who, immediately put their hands in 
 their pockets to ascertain that the contents were safe, 
 and thus furnished the thieves with a clue to where 
 they could go to work with the greatest chance of 
 success." 
 
 This officer's death was as strange as his life. He 
 was sitting amongst the company at the Brown Bear, 
 Bow Street, indulging in the things in which he and 
 his associates delighted, and in that kind of discourse 
 which expands distinctions of opinions into a mode of 
 argumentation that neglects all distinctions whatever. 
 After the re-establishment of order, the company re- 
 sumed their seats, and everything went on well for 
 some time. One of the party, looking round, asked, 
 
 " What's become of Donaldson ? " 
 
 " Oh," replied another, " he's * cut.' " 
 
 The conversation was renewed, and some regret 
 expressed at the absence of him, by whose contribu- 
 tions it was generally enlivened. After some time, a 
 gentleman present observed, 
 
 " Here's a dog fast asleep under the table; I have 
 kicked him several times, but he won't move, and now 
 he has rolled round against my legs." 
 
 " Turn him out," said the landlord ; "I'll have no 
 dogs here," and stooping down, he laid hold of what 
 he thought was the dog, when, to his alarm and surprise, 
 he perceived the body of Donaldson, who had passed 
 from " life into death," with a suddenness, and under
 
 THE BOW STREET FORCES. 1 1 5 
 
 circumstances which startled the apathy of those 
 assembled, though accustomed to scenes of horror. 
 
 One of the boldest and most resolute of the Bow- 
 Street officers was Macmanus. It was on his death, as 
 we have seen, that Townsend and Sayer were appointed 
 to fill his situation of attending the King. His suc- 
 cessor Sayer, was often heard to express the highest 
 admiration of the courage displayed by Macmanus 
 upon all occasions. 
 
 "A service of danger," said he, "had no terrors 
 upon his mind ; he went in pursuit of the most despe- 
 rate characters with the utmost cheerfulness, ease, and 
 indifference : and he performed his arduous duty like 
 a brave but humane officer. With the mild, he was 
 mild ; yet terrible amongst the terrible ; but when he 
 was resisted in his situation as an officer of Justice, 
 and compelled to fight in his own defence against 
 those abandoned persons whose lives had become 
 forfeited by their crimes, his existence appeared no 
 object to him ; and," observed Sayer, " I have known 
 Macmanus lose rivers of blood ! " 
 
 After the establishment of the " New Police " a few 
 of the " runners " lingered on, pensioned, or following 
 other callings. One of the most celebrated died so 
 lately as 1844. This was George Euthven, one of the 
 most intrepid of men, who was concerned in some 
 desperate arrests and conflicts. " He was the oldest 
 and most celebrated of the few remaining Bow Street 
 
 i 2
 
 n6 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 runners, among whom death has lately made snch 
 ravages, and was considered as the most efficient 
 police-officer that existed during his long career of 
 usefulness. He was for thirty years attached to the 
 police force, having entered it at the age of seventeen ; 
 but in 1839 he retired with a pension of 220L from 
 the British Government, and pensions likewise from 
 the Russian and Prussian Governments, for his ser- 
 vices in discovering forgeries to an immense extent 
 connected with those countries. Since 1839 he has 
 been landlord of the " One Tun Tavern," Chandos 
 Street, Covent Garden, and has visited most frequently 
 the spot of his former associations. Among his many 
 notorious captures may be reckoned those of Thistle- 
 wood, for the Cato Street conspiracy, in which daring 
 enterprise Smithers was killed : the taking of Thurtell, 
 the murderer of Mr. Weare, and the discovery of bank 
 robberies and forgeries on Government to an enormous 
 amount. He was a most eccentric character, and had 
 written a history of his life, but would on no account 
 allow it to meet the public eye. During the last three 
 months no less than three of the old Bow Street 
 officers, namely, Goodson, Salmon, and Ruthven, have 
 paid the debt of nature." This was written in 1844. 
 
 But indeed the intrepidity of the officers was always 
 remarkable, and the desperation and violence of the 
 lawless characters they were sent to arrest often ren- 
 dered their service one of extreme danger. Armstrong,
 
 THE BO W STREET FORCES. 1 1 7 
 
 who died in 1828, had a long record of hand-to-hand 
 encounters with burglars and such characters. On 
 one occasion he and a noted highwayman fought along 
 the roofs of three houses in Chatham. The robber 
 fired a pistol without effect, and Armstrong closing 
 with him, the fellow endeavoured to precipitate both 
 into the street ; but the officer succeeded in bringing 
 him down, and he was afterwards executed. The 
 noted Jeremiah Abershaw and Armstrong had a 
 similar rencontre in Bridgwater Gardens, but not with 
 the same success, for " Jerry/' after snapping his 
 pistol, dashed himself through a lath and plaster par- 
 tition, and escaped by the roof of the house. About 
 seven years ago, Armstrong, on going through Rose 
 Lane, Spitalfields, alone and without arms, was sud- 
 denly rushed upon by a noted highway-robber, named 
 Barry, and four others, who beat him in an unmerciful 
 manner. Armstrong, four years ago, petitioned to 
 retire, and, as his salary was only 25s. per week, he 
 naturally expected full pay ; but he was allowed to 
 retire, after fifty years' public service, upon a pension 
 of 18s. per week." 
 
 It was Ruthven who, at the peril of his life, appre- 
 hended Thistlewood. Thurtell, a desperado of the 
 blackest caste, was, with singular ingenuity, seized by 
 him, and conveyed by that officer alone to Hert- 
 ford gaol. He travelled after delinquents to all parts 
 of the continent and America, and was eminently
 
 n8 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 successful in his captures. Yet, after such service, 
 when the New Police was established, these old ser- 
 vants were dismissed with small pensions, to the 
 indignation of their friends and admirers, and of the 
 public. 
 
 One of the most persevering and successful of these 
 thief-takers was Keys, who is said to have captured 
 the last malefactor that was executed for coining. To 
 the detection of this branch of crime " smashing," 
 as it was called he devoted himself. There was a 
 coiner, one James Coleman, who was so shrewd and 
 cautious as to defy all attempts made to secure him. 
 Such was his ingenuity and tact that he evaded justice, 
 during a hot pursuit of the police, for many months. 
 Keys, at that time, was in the Bow Street day patrole ; 
 he knew that Coleman was " making the showful," as 
 it was called in the slang, but could not discover where 
 he lived. The plan pursued by the coiner was this : 
 he never entered even the street where he lived if he 
 observed any one about at all strange to the neigh- 
 bourhood, nor did he take the produce of his labour 
 out himself for sale, but was always followed by a little 
 girl with a basket containing it. He supplied shillings 
 at the rate of four shillings a score, and other spurious 
 moneys in proportion. The little girl left the counter- 
 feits with the smashers, and Coleman received the 
 money. Limbrick, of the Hatton Garden office, who 
 was at the time very zealous in the cause of the Mint,
 
 THE BO W STREET FORCES. 1 1 9 
 
 and had earned some fame by apprehending coiners, 
 used every exertion to take this man, but without 
 effect. Either Keys or Limbrick could have brought 
 home to him the connection with the little girl and the 
 basket, but that was not sufficient for the ends the 
 Mint had in view ; their object was to get him taken 
 for the capital offence, viz. in the act of coining ; and 
 to that end Keys set his ingenuity to work. He hired 
 a man, at an expense of three-and-sixpence per day, to 
 pass through the street where he suspected Coleman 
 lived, morning and afternoon, in the garb of a milk- 
 man, carrying a yoke and a pair of pails, having pre- 
 viously been made acquainted with the person of 
 Coleman by Keys. After the man had done this duty 
 for nearly two months he began to think it useless, but 
 Keys knew that if Coleman did reside in the street, 
 the longer the man with the pails continued his 
 employment the better, because it would lull suspicion 
 to him, if he entertained any, of his being a spy. At 
 length their patience was rewarded by Coleman making 
 his appearance. Looking out about eight o'clock one 
 morning, and seeing no one in the street but the milk- 
 man, he ventured from his door to feed his chickens. 
 The supposed milk-dealer hastened to inform Keys of 
 the circumstance, and that officer, in conjunction with 
 others of the patrole, surprised the coiners that night. 
 " When I got to the top of the stairs," said Keys, " I 
 could hear Jem and his woman, Rhoda Coleman, as
 
 rao CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 she was called, conversing about the coin while work- 
 ing. ' That's a rum 'un, Rhoda,' said Jem. I was 
 about," continued Keys, " to break the door in with 
 my foot ; in fact, I had lifted my leg up, and had placed 
 my back against the opposite wall for that purpose, 
 when I heard Coleman say, ' Rhoda, go and get us a 
 quartern of gin.' I waited about two minutes, and 
 she opened the door to go out for the gin. I and my 
 comrades rushed in and secured Coleman with the 
 moulds and work red-hot in his hands. He was 
 surprised, but cool. ' Do yer want me, master ? ' said 
 he, looking up in my face. * Of course I do, Jem,' 
 said I; and having handcuffed him, I proceeded to 
 search the place. We took away upwards of twenty 
 pounds' worth of counterfeit coin, as well as all the 
 implements, &c., used in the process of manufacturing 
 it." Coleman was tried, convicted, and executed. 
 The woman was acquitted. 
 
 " Rhoda," continued Keys, " removed the body to 
 her lodgings, and kept it for twelve days. I had 
 information three times that if I went I should find 
 Rhoda coining again, and that the moulds, &c., were 
 concealed in the coffin, under the body of poor Jem 
 Coleman. This, I afterwards ascertained, was the 
 fact."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 
 
 IN 1828, Mr. Stafford, who had been connected with 
 the police twenty years, and who was well known as 
 the official chief clerk at Bow Street, gave a little 
 sketch of the office and staff to the committee of the 
 House of Commons. He said that the eight principal 
 officers at that time attached to the office were 
 Townsend, John Sayer, John Vickery, Daniel Bishop, 
 Samuel Taunton, William Salmon, George Ruthven, 
 and James John Smith. " Townsend and Sayer 
 generally attended his Majesty when he was out of 
 town. They are now at Brighton. Salmon and 
 Ruthven have been upon the continent in pursuit of 
 persons who have absconded with property belonging 
 to their employers in the city. They are both 
 returned. Bishop has been at a variety of places in 
 the country I think three or four different places 
 on business. Taunton has been to the assizes. A 
 little while before that he followed some offenders to 
 Scotland, and brought them from thence. Vickery 
 has been employed a good deal in making inquiries
 
 122 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 for the post-office, relative to .some offences that have 
 been committed there. He has been also in Hamp- 
 shire, where he is remaining unwell. In fact, he has 
 never been well since he was very ill-used some time 
 ago, and nearly murdered. Smith has been employed 
 in a variety of matters in Kent and Essex, and at 
 Norwich, and latterly at Baldock, in Hertfordshire. 
 In fact, when they are not called out of town to attend 
 to offences committed in the country, they devote their 
 time and attention to the discharge of their duty 
 in London." He then explained how, when an appli- 
 cation was made for the attendance of a police officer, 
 and the party proposed to remunerate the police- 
 officer for his time and trouble, the practice was to 
 attend to such applications, and if an officer could be 
 spared, to send one to perform it. " If he cannot be 
 spared we generally select one of the most intel- 
 ligent and best-informed men upon the police 
 establishment. Of course the magistrates attend to 
 the nature of the offence committed. "We have 
 frequent applications with regard to matters that 
 perhaps are not thought to come exactly within the 
 scope of the police, and the parties do not get the 
 attendance of an officer. The remuneration, I believe, 
 is very little considered. If the magistrates thought 
 it an offence of that magnitude that required their 
 immediate attention and assistance, an officer would 
 be sent. At all events the question of remuneration
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 123 
 
 would be left to be settled afterwards." This, however, 
 as will be seen, was quite too partial a view. The 
 wheels of the detective car moved but sluggishly, or 
 scarcely at all, if ungreased, as it was called. 
 
 When the system was most flourishing, viz. about 
 1820, it will scarcely be credited that the whole force 
 available for despatch to the country, was no more 
 than six or eight ! These were the " runners " of the 
 first class, such as Ruthven, Townsend, Sayer, 
 Vickery, Bishop, and others, whose long experience 
 and professional " scent " rendered even a single visit 
 about as valuable as that of a first-rate physician 
 brought down " special " for a desperate case. Each 
 of these men was entitled to receive but II. 5s. a week 
 regular salary. But any one sending for them was 
 expected to pay a guinea a day, besides 14s. a day 
 travelling expenses. It was obvious that this wretched 
 remuneration would not suffice to stimulate the 
 energies of the officers ; and where some great robbery, 
 say from a bank or house of business, had been com- 
 mitted, handsome gratuities were looked for and 
 received. It was noted that the men were always 
 anxious to leave their town duties for these " country 
 jobs." Sir Richard Birnie, who, from long service and 
 old fashion, believed that his Bow Street officer was 
 " the best of all possible officers," declared that though 
 this remuneration was expected, it was never enforced, 
 being left to the liberality of the parties ; and on such
 
 124 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 not being forthcoming, the office took care that the 
 men did not lose by their journey. It was boasted, 
 indeed, that at Bow Street, of all the police offices, 
 "everything was paid for" liberally. 
 
 As might be expected from such a system, the 
 " runners " indemnified themselves in many less legiti- 
 mate modes. Indeed, it almost came to this, that 
 every real service became a special one, and no efficient 
 aid was likely to be rendered unless it was recognized 
 on such special terms. Townsend and Lavender 
 frankly expounded these methods. It was a custom 
 that a sum of 40/. was usually allowed for distribution 
 among the witnesses and officers on a conviction for a 
 felony; the latter estimating their total receipts 
 under this head at about 20Z. to 30/. a year to 
 each officer. It was believed, however, that much 
 more was received. Thus, when there were Bank or 
 City prosecutions, the officers were paid by the 
 particular bank, and for their attendance at the trial. 
 There was also the sale of what were called the 
 " Tyburn Tickets," and for special duties at the Court 
 and Brighton. But, in his own characteristic style, 
 Townsend thus recounted these sources of profit. He 
 explained that " his duty was to attend when any of 
 the magistrates want my assistance within the juris- 
 diction of Middlesex, for I cannot go out of town on 
 account of attending on the court-days, and particu- 
 larly if there is anything wanted at Windsor, Or
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 125 
 
 supposing that the Prince goes out of town to 
 Brighton, and so on, then we attend there. When the 
 Regent goes to Brighton, for instance, Sayer and I 
 go. It frequently happened, in the early part of 
 my life, that the public may want an officer, especially 
 public bodies; for instance, the Excise office, the 
 Custom House, the Stamp office, the Bank, they all 
 come there ; and if they see an officer, whoever is in 
 the way, they instantly go, because if they were 
 to wait for matter of form, perhaps the party they 
 wanted to apprehend would be gone. An officer 
 from Bow Street is not constantly in attendance 
 at the Bank. Only ten days a quarter. That 
 Sayer and I do every quarter, and have done for 
 many years these five-and-twenty years, I dare say. 
 Depredations used to be committed there dreadfully 
 at dividend times. We have a guinea a day for it. 
 That is paid by the Bank." 
 
 He then explained the system of giving rewards on 
 conviction. " The usual way in distributing the 40/. 
 on conviction is, that the recorder gives the prosecutor 
 from five to fifteen and twenty pounds, according to 
 circumstances, and the apprehender the remainder ; 
 that comes to, perhaps, only three or four pounds 
 apiece, though the world runs away with the ridi- 
 culous idea that the officers have 40/. It is a singular 
 circumstance, but in all cases of felony there are but 
 two cases where there is any reward at all ; those are
 
 126 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 a highway robbery and a burglary ; all the others are 
 mere bagatelles." 
 
 He then explained the nature of the Tyburn 
 Tickets, which exempted from serving as constable and 
 other parish offices. " These are worth 201. apiece. I 
 have sold them as low as 12Z. In such a parish as St. 
 George's, Hanover Square, the people are of so much con- 
 sequence that they will serve themselves. The highest 
 is in Covent Garden, where it is worth Zbl. ; for the con- 
 stable of the parish must sit up, I think, one night out 
 of three ; and whoever is hit upon as a parochial con- 
 stable says, ' This is a hard thing, and therefore I will 
 buy myself off ;' and a ticket in that parish, therefore, 
 is worth more. If an officer gets a guinea a day, it is 
 a chance whether he gets any reward; that must 
 depend upon the liberality of those public offices who 
 choose to pay it. I am very sorry to say that sometimes 
 they are rather mean upon that subject. 
 
 " Sometimes I have myself, in the early part of my 
 life, when I was in the habit of going to do the busi- 
 ness for public offices, been out of town for a week or 
 a fortnight. I went to Dunkirk in the year 1786 to 
 fetch over four that were hanged. I went for Mr. 
 Taylor, a Hamburg merchant. There are certain 
 cases in which we may be employed longer. There 
 have been officers for eight or ten days on the poaching 
 cases. Vickery was down for a fortnight in Glouces- 
 tershire, with Colonel Berkeley. Frequently it takes
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 127 
 
 a great deal of time to detect a banditti like that. In 
 those cases where the individual, in a case similar to 
 that you have just mentioned, sends for a Bow Street 
 officer, the expense of his journey, and the payment of 
 his trouble, is defrayed by the individual." 
 
 Townsend, when he was examined before the 
 Committee, furnished quite an entertainment, so 
 shrewd and sensible were his opinions. He gave his 
 evidence in an amusingly familiar tone, as indeed was 
 then expected from one so intimate with the royal and 
 noble personages. On being asked as to the policy of 
 rewarding police in cash for obtaining convictions, and 
 whether it would not be better to leave it to the 
 decision of the magistrate or judge, he said, 
 
 " I have always thought so ; from the earliest part 
 of my time I have thought it, and for the best of all 
 reasons ; I have, with every attention that man could 
 bestow, watched the conduct of various persons who 
 have given evidence against their fellow-creatures for 
 life or death, not only at the Old Bailey, but on the 
 circuits, and I have always been perfectly convinced 
 that would be the best mode that possibly could be 
 adopted to pay officers, particularly because they are 
 dangerous creatures ; they have it frequently in their 
 power (no question about it) to turn that scale, when 
 the beam is level, on the other side ; I mean again st 
 the poor wretched man at the bar. Why ? this thing 
 called Nature says profit in the scale ; and, melancholy
 
 128 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET rOLlCE-OFFlCE. 
 
 to relate, but I cannot help being perfectly satisfied, 
 that frequently that has been the means of convicting 
 many and many a man. 
 
 " I told Sir Charles Bunbury my opinion upon that 
 subject thirty years ago, when he wanted to get rid of 
 rewards, that it should be in the breast of the judges 
 on the circuit, if they see the officer has done his duty 
 towards the public, they should have a discriminating 
 power to pay that officer according to the nature of 
 the case. Then the officer does not stand up and look 
 at this unfortunate creature, and swear to this or that 
 thing, or the other thing, for what, for the lucre for 
 Nature is Nature, do with its what you will ; for I have 
 been always of opinion, that an officer is a dangerous 
 subject to the community, if he is not so kept and so 
 paid as to afford him the means of being honest ; for 
 in some cases, God knows, it has been frequently the 
 case. 
 
 " I remember a case, which was proved, in the time 
 of the trading magistrates, where there was a fellow 
 who, a public officer belonging to Justice Hyde, was 
 hanged, and yet he was one of the officers. Justice 
 Welch in Litchfield Street was a great man in those 
 days, and old Justice Hyde, and Justice Girdler, and 
 Justice Blackborough, a trading Justice at Clerkenwell 
 Green, and an old ironmonger. The plan used to be 
 to issue out warrants and take up all the poor devils 
 in the streets, and then there was the bailing them
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 129 
 
 2s. 4d. which the magistrates had; and taking up a 
 hundred girls, that would make, at 2s. 4d. 9 III. 13s. 4d. 
 They sent none to gaol, for the bailing of them was so 
 much better. That was so glaring that it led to the 
 Police Bill, and it was a great blessing to the public to 
 do away with those men, for they were nothing better 
 than the encouragers of blackguards, vice, and 
 plunderers; there is no doubt about it." 
 
 Being asked was it not likely that a rich criminal 
 might have an influence over a needy officer? "No 
 question about it," said he. " I will give the com- 
 mittee a case in point ; supposing, for instance, when 
 I convicted Broughton, which, I believe, is now 
 twenty. two years ago, and who was convicted for 
 robbing the York Mail, I convicted at the same 
 assizes, the summer assizes, a celebrated old woman, 
 Mrs. Usher, worth at least three thousand guineas, for 
 she made over that property by her attorney. I was 
 then in the habit of attending Vauxhall, for which 
 I received half-a-guinea, and a half-pint of wine, which 
 I relinquished, and took the fifteen pence. 
 
 " Mrs. Usher picked a lady's pocket ; I was close 
 by, and secured her. She was tried before Baron 
 Hotbam. Mr. Ives, the gaoler in Surrey, before the 
 trial, came to me, and said, ' Townsend, you know 
 Mother Usher very well ? ' ' Yes,' said I, ' these ten 
 years.' He said, ' Cannot this be stashed ? ' meaning 
 put an end to. 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 130 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 " I said, * No, it was impossible that it could be ; 
 because the case was very plain, and of all women 
 upon earth she ought to be convicted : and in my 
 opinion, if she is convicted capitally, nothing but her 
 sex and her old age ought to save her from being 
 executed ; and I shall think it my duty when she is 
 convicted to state to the judge, after conviction, my 
 opinion upon her case,' which I did. 
 
 " She was convicted, and Baron Hotham ordered me 
 my expenses, which expenses, I believe, amounted to 
 four guineas and a half. I set off immediately in a 
 post-chaise to give evidence against Broughton. The 
 present Attorney- General was her counsel. Baron 
 Hotham said to me, ' This woman you seem to be 
 well acquainted with ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, my Lord,' said I, ' I am very sorry to say 
 she is a very old offender ; but her age, which your 
 lordship has heard her give, and her sex, are the only 
 plea that ought to save her ; ' for the jury found her 
 guilty of stealing, but not privately, which took away 
 the capital part ; therefore she was sentenced to two 
 years' imprisonment in the new 'gaol in the borough. 
 I then lived in the Strand ; two of her relations called 
 upon me, trying to see what could be done, and they 
 would have given me 200/. not to have appeared 
 against that woman. She was a very rich woman, 
 and made over all her property before she was con- 
 victed; she got the best part of it by plunder.
 
 THE POL1QE SYSTEM. 131 
 
 "I, it is true, have steered clear, but I do not owe 
 that to any merit myself. I have been lucky enough 
 to have situations where I have been very liberally 
 paid; and whether it has been my own sobriety or 
 attention it matters not; but I have had many 
 gratuities, and from the first people in the nation, or 
 I might have been as liable to temptation as any one 
 in London ; but I have a fellow-feeling for other 
 officers, and I must say that I think that some officers 
 deserve every praise, though I do not change ten 
 words with some of them in the course of a week." 
 
 It is extraordinary to think that all the incidents 
 familiar from romances, such as " Jack Shepherd," 
 with the informers, spies, " flash-houses," were in 
 full working order at the beginning of the century, 
 and a regular part of the criminal system. Townsend 
 is specially garrulous on the subject of "flash-houses." 
 " The fact is," he tells us, " a thief will never sit 
 amongst honest men, it is not his province to do it, 
 nor would he trust himself with those people ; there- 
 fore there must be bad houses, because A says to B, I 
 will meet you at such a place to-night. I know, five- 
 and- twenty or six-and-twenty years ago, there were 
 houses where we could pop in, and I have taken three 
 or four, or five and six at a time, and three or four of 
 them have been convicted, and yet the public-house 
 was tolerably orderly too. It has often turned out, 
 that when the information has come to the office, as it 
 
 K 2
 
 132 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 might be this morning, of a footpad robbery done so- 
 and-so, poor Jealous, and another officer, Macmanus, 
 who was many years in the office, and I have slipped 
 out and gone to some of the flash-houses, and looked 
 about nobody there ; and gone to another, and very 
 likely hit upon the party going to it or in it." 
 
 Then, as was his wont, the thief-catcher rambled 
 off on the subject of his own merits : 
 
 " Certainly, the flash-houses can do the officer no 
 harm if he does not make harm of it ; if an officer 
 goes there and acts foolishly, and does anything im- 
 proper, the same as for me to go to-night to all the 
 disreputable houses (I believe I know all of them, but 
 was there ever any one who would say that I went 
 and asked to have a glass of wine, and so on there, 
 and that no money should be asked), what sort of a 
 servant should I be ? I ought to be turned out, and 
 never employed in the department of the police again. 
 Who has been more in confidence than I have been with the 
 youngest part of society of the highest rank ? How often 
 have I gone to such places, there to talk over a little in- 
 cident that might happen to A.'s son or B.'s son, or 
 my lord this or the other's son ? but the consequence 
 was not a morsel of liberty, or how would Townsend 
 act upon those functions of authority, and get what 
 the parties asked me to do ; no, he must go there 
 full of power, with great distance towards the owner. 
 
 " And as to the poor wretches, in many cases, I
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 133 
 
 have been employed to bring their daughters home 
 to their parents, persons of the greatest respect and 
 consequence ; we have not found them at one place, 
 but at another ; we have taken them home, and there 
 has been an end to it. The respectable young men, 
 however liberally educated, are often very great fools, 
 for they often subject themselves to vast incon- 
 veniences through their own misconduct, by com- 
 mitting themselves ridiculously, and absurdly getting 
 into scrapes, and what has been the consequence ? 
 the consequence is, ' Townsend, what is to be done?'- 
 sometimes with the father, and sometimes with the 
 party himself. But how would this thing be executed 
 if I were to attempt anything like what I stated be- 
 fore ? No, I will take upon myself to say, I never 
 drank a glass of wine with those sort of characters, 
 because it will not do ; in order to execute my duty 
 properly I must keep them at a proper distance, and 
 it is only a foolish man that would attempt it." 
 
 He was then asked whether he thought that the 
 morals and manners of the lower people in the metro- 
 polis were better or worse than formerly : 
 
 " I am decidedly of opinion that, with respect to 
 the present time, and the early part of my time, 
 such as 1781, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, where there is 
 one person convicted now, I may say, I am positively 
 convinced there were five then. We never had an 
 execution wherein we did not grace that unfortunate
 
 T34 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 gibbet with ten, twelve, to thirteen, sixteen, and 
 twenty, and forty I once saiv twice. I have them, all 
 down at home. I remember, in 1783, when Serjeant 
 Adair was Recorder, there were forty hung at two 
 executions. I agree with George Barrington, whoin 
 I brought from Newcastle ; and however great Lord 
 Chief Baron Eyre's speech was to him, after he had 
 answered him, it came to this climax ' Now,' says 
 he, ' Townsend, you heard what the Chief Baron 
 said to me ; a fine flowery speech, was it not ? ' 
 ' Yes.' ' But he did not answer the question I put to 
 him.' Now how could he? Now after all that the 
 Chief Baron said to him, after he was acquitted, 
 giving him advice, this word was everything, says 
 he, 'My Lord, I have paid great attention to what 
 you have been stating to me, after my acquittal. I 
 return my sincere thanks to the jury for their good- 
 ness ; but your Lordship says, you lament very much 
 that a man of my abilities should not turn my abilities 
 to a better use. Now, my Lord, I have only this 
 reply to make I am ready to go into any service, to 
 work for my living, if your Lordship will but find 
 me a master.' Why, what was the reply to that? 
 * Gaoler, take the prisoner away.' Why, who would 
 employ him? that was the point. It is really farcical 
 with me sometimes, when 1 have heard magistrates 
 say, * Young man, really I am very sorry for you ; you 
 are much to be pitied ; you should turn your talents
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 135 
 
 to a better account; and you should really leave off 
 this bad course of life.' Yes, that is better said than 
 done for where is there anybody to take these 
 wretches ? " 
 
 He was next asked did he think any advantages 
 arise from a man being put on a gibbet after his 
 execution ? " Yes, I was always of that opinion, and 
 I recommended Sir William Scott to hang the two 
 men that are hanging down the river. I will state my 
 reason. "We will take for granted that those men were 
 hanged as this morning, for the murder of those 
 revenue officers they are by law dissected ; the sen- 
 tence is, that afterwards the body is to go to the 
 surgeons for dissection, there is an end of it it dies. 
 But look at this : there are a couple of men now 
 hanging near the Thames, where all the sailors must 
 come up, and oiie says to the other, ' Pray, what are 
 those two poor fellows there for ? ' * Why,' says 
 another, ' I will go and ask.' They ask. ' Why, 
 those two men are hung and gibbeted for murdering 
 his Majesty's revenue officers.' And so the thing is 
 kept alive. If it was not for this, people would die, 
 and nobody would know anything of it. In Aber- 
 shaw's case I said to the sheriff, ' The only difficulty 
 in hanging this fellow upon this place is its being so 
 near Lord Spencer's house.' But we went down and 
 pointed out a particular place ; he was hung at the 
 particular pitch of the hill where he used to do the
 
 i 36 CHRONICLES OF BO W STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 work. If there was a person ever went to see 
 that man hanging, I am sure there was a hundred 
 thousand." 
 
 Some of his recollections as to the pitiless severity 
 of courts in the matter of sentences are curious and 
 interesting ; especially what he recalls about highway 
 robberies : "I remember, in very likely a week, there 
 should have been from ten to fifteen highway robberies. 
 We have not had a man committed for a highway 
 robbery lately ; I speak of persons on horseback ; 
 formerly there were two, three, or four highwaymen, 
 some on Hounslow Heath, some on Wimbledon Com- 
 mon, some on Finchley Common, some on the Romford 
 Road. I have actually come to Bow Street in the 
 morning, and while I have been leaning over the desk, 
 had three or four people come in and say, I was robbed 
 by two highwaymen in such a place ; I was robbed by 
 a single highwayman in such a place. People travel 
 now safely by means of the horse-patrole that Sir 
 Richard Ford planned. Where are there highway 
 robberies now ? As I was observing to the Chancellor, 
 when I was up at his house on the Corn Bill ; he said, 
 ' Townsend, I knew you very well so many years ago.' 
 I said, ' Yes, my Lord ; I remember your coming first to 
 the bar first in your plain gown, and then as King's 
 Counsel, and now Chancellor. Now your Lordship 
 sits as Chancellor, and directs the executions on the 
 Recorder's report; but where are the highway rob-
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 137 
 
 beries now ? ' And his Lordship said, ' Yes, I am 
 astonished.' 
 
 " There are no footpad robberies or road robberies 
 now, but merely jostling you in the streets. They 
 used to be ready to pop at a man as soon as he let 
 down his glass that was by bandittis." When asked 
 if he remembered the case of Abershaw, " I had him 
 tucked up where he was ; it was through me. I never 
 left a court of justice without having discharged my 
 own feeling as much in favour of the unhappy criminal 
 as I did on the part of the prosecution; and I once 
 applied to Mr. Justice Buller to save two men out of 
 three who were convicted ; and on my application we 
 argued a good deal about it. I said, ' My Lord, I 
 have no motive but my duty; the Jury have pro- 
 nounced them guilty. I have heard your Lordship 
 pronounce sentence of death, and I have now informed 
 you of the different dispositions of the three men. If 
 you choose to execute them all, I have nothing to say 
 about it ; but was I you, in the room of being the 
 officer, and you were to tell me what Townsend has 
 told you, I should think it would be for a justification 
 for you to respite those two unhappy men, and hang 
 that one who has been convicted three times before.' 
 The other men never had been convicted before, and 
 the other had been three times convicted ; and he very 
 properly did." 
 
 But there were graver evils, really caused by the
 
 138 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 system itself. The thief-takers, underpaid, as we 
 have seen, were necessarily uncontrolled in their deal- 
 ings. Their operations were secret : they were in 
 constant communication with thieves and the com- 
 panions of thieves, and there was no authority over 
 them save that of the Bow Street magistrate. It was 
 asking for impossibilities that this handful of men 
 should, by their own unaided efforts, discover or bring 
 to justice the criminals of such a metropolis as 
 London, and they were obliged to rely on rather 
 unclean agencies, the practical value of which had 
 been taught and bequeathed to them by Mr. Wild. 
 The most important of these aids was these " Flasli 
 Houses," or Thieves' Tavern ; and they were largely 
 employed as the means of obtaining information about 
 thieves or of seeing them. It can scarcely be credited 
 to what an extent this abuse was tolerated, even so 
 lately as fifty years ago. The officers who frequented 
 these places grew familiar with the faces and figures 
 of the thieves. The magistrates, however, affected to 
 deny the existence of such places, and Sir N. Conant 
 could not be got to admit that such a system was 
 tolerated at all. " I do not know that there are flash 
 houses existing ; and if I did, I would, as far as the law 
 enables me, immediately suppress them. If I say the 
 officers look to those places, it implies that those places 
 exist ; but I believe they do not exist upon system. I 
 send police officers to every licensing meeting, to give
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 139 
 
 evidence against houses that have come to my know- 
 ledge, as encouraging a resort of thieves. There is no 
 feeling in Bow Street to nurse such places, either in 
 the magistrates or officers. The police-officers go into 
 them to seek for thieves whom they know are likely 
 to associate at a particular place. A man discharged 
 at the Old Bailey, yesterday, for a robbery, would go 
 the same night to the place where he was last taken 
 into custody." 
 
 This evidence was pointed at certain notorious 
 houses which were actually within a few doors of the 
 Bow Street office, and of which more presently. 
 
 The " runners," however, were more candid than 
 the magistrates, and frankly owned that it was a 
 valuable agency in their system. Thus Sayer, the 
 officer, declared that he knew such places " perfectly 
 well ; I very often go to those flash houses, and find 
 many thieves in most of them." 
 
 " Whom you know to be reputed thieves ?" " There 
 is no doubt of it. : ' 
 
 " The flash houses collect the thieves together. In 
 Sir John Fielding's time there was the ' Blakeney,' in 
 Bow Street, next door to the office ; that was a house 
 that men and women used to drink in. We would find 
 a great deal of difficulty, when informations were 
 brought to Bow Street, in being able to apprehend the 
 offenders, unless there were such houses ; but when 
 this sort of people use the house in Covent Garden or
 
 HO CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 St. Martin's Lane, we should have him at once by 
 merely going there." 
 
 Vickery was equally outspoken : 
 
 " I am of opinion that these flash houses tend to 
 facilitate the detection of offenders. I am sure they 
 do ; I am well aware they do ; but these houses are 
 not now as they were, because they are visited by the 
 officers from time to time, whenever they think fit, 
 without the least molestation or inconvenience ; they 
 may go into these houses, look round and see what 
 company there are there, and what they are doing, 
 without any interruption : formerly we could not go 
 into these houses without a magistrate's warrant ; and 
 probably if we went to make any inquiries, we should 
 not come off without some insult or molestation ; but 
 now it is quite otherwise. I hold myself much above 
 this kind of gentry, and I am always treated with 
 great civility. 
 
 " There are a number of houses of that sort 
 frequented by particular bands of thieves. They are 
 attended with this advantage, for they often furnish 
 the means of detecting great offenders : they afford an 
 opportunity to the officers of going round, and know- 
 ing the suspicious characters, or of apprehending per- 
 sons described in advertisements. 
 
 " It is desirable that the officers should know there 
 are such houses, for there is a regular correspondence 
 carried on between the thieves of Birmingham, Liver-
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. .141 
 
 pool, and Manchester, and other places, and the thieves 
 of London." 
 
 This familiarity with thieves led, as might be 
 imagined, to another gross scandal, viz. the purchase 
 of immunity or tolerations by bribes to the underpaid 
 officers, and, what was more discreditable, the entering 
 into regular treaties for the compounding of great rob- 
 beries, when, on restitution of a portion, prosecution 
 was forborne. This practice became rife, being en- 
 couraged by the great banking-houses, who were eager 
 to recover their property, or a portion of it, on any 
 terms. Worthy Sir Richard Birnie, however, in 1828, 
 could not bring himself to believe in such practices. 
 But the Committee of 1828 made some extraordi- 
 nary discoveries. These compromises were generally 
 negotiated by solicitors or police officers, or by both, 
 with the plotters of the robbery, and receivers, or, 
 as they are commonly called, " the putters up " 
 and "fences." These persons usually planned the 
 robbery, found the means, purchased the information 
 necessary, and employed the actual thieves as their 
 agents, themselves running no material risk. These 
 sums have been apportioned, mostly by a percentage, 
 on the value of the property lost ; but modified by a 
 reference to the nature of the securities or goods, as to 
 the facility of circulating or disposing of them with 
 profit and safety. 
 
 " A great majority of these cases have taken place
 
 T 4 j CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 where large depredations have been committed upon 
 country bankers. Two banks, that had severally been 
 robbed of notes to the amount of 40002., recovered 
 them on payment of 10002. each. In another case, 
 22002. was restored, out of 32002. stolen, for 2302. or 
 2402. In another case, Spanish bonds, nominally 
 worth 2000?., were given back on payment of 1002. A 
 sum, not quite amounting to 20,0002., was in one case 
 restored for WOOL In another, where bills had been 
 stolen of 16,0002. or 17,0002. value, but which were 
 not easily negotiable by the thieves, restitution of 
 60002. was offered for 3002. In another case, 30002. 
 seems to have been restored for 191. per cent. In 
 another case, where the robbery was to the amount of 
 70002., and the supposed robbers (most notorious 
 'putters-up' and 'fences') had been apprehended, 
 and remanded by the magistrate for examination, the 
 prosecution was suddenly desisted from, and the pro- 
 perty subsequently restored for a sum not ascertained. 
 In the case of another bank, the sum stolen, being not 
 less than 20,0002., is stated to have been bought of the 
 thieves by a receiver for 2001. ; and 28002. taken of 
 the legal owners, as the price of restitution. There is 
 proof of more than sixteen banks having sought, by 
 these means, to indemnify themselves for their losses ; 
 and that property of various sorts, to a value above 
 200,0002., has, within a few years, been the subject of 
 negotiation or compromise. They have proof of nearly
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 143 
 
 12,0001. having been paid to them by bankers only, 
 accompanied with a clearance from every risk, and 
 perfect impunity to their crimes." 
 
 It is perhaps not extraordinary that bankers, who 
 have been so repeatedly subject to heavy losses, should 
 take measures to procure indemnity. A highly respect- 
 able banker has said before the Committee, " I have no 
 hesitation in mentioning, that at a meeting in our 
 trade, I have heard it said, over and over again, by 
 different individuals, that if they experienced a loss to 
 a serious amount, they should compound." This is by 
 no means considered to be the universal opinion of 
 that respectable body. Another object was, to render 
 the information obtained in one case, available for the 
 prosecution or examination of another, which was 
 effected, when every case passed through the hands of 
 the same solicitor. To him, of course, the active 
 agency and executive proceedings of the society were 
 committed. For the purpose of furthering their 
 objects, means of intercourse, or at least of communica- 
 tion, were sought with notorious "fences," and those 
 who are commonly called " family men." In conse- 
 quence of the knowledge thus acquired of thieves and 
 their haunts, he has been generally employed by the 
 country bankers upon the loss of parcels, and informa- 
 tion obtained from him as to the robbery of coaches, a 
 species of depredation which appears not to be among 
 the objects of prosecution by the society ; but which
 
 144 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 has been so common, that a banker's parcel is known 
 by the cant name of " a child." It is not extraordinary, 
 that from such intercourse a belief should have pre- 
 vailed abroad, that a regular channel was thus esta- 
 blished, through which offers might be made and terms 
 negotiated for the restitution of the stolen property of 
 bankers. 
 
 The same committee probed this matter to the 
 bottom, and succeeded in obtaining such revelations 
 that they thought it impolitic and dangerous to print 
 the evidence. These negotiations have been fre- 
 quently carried on by solicitors (few, it is said, in num- 
 ber) of that class whose practice lies chiefly in the 
 defence of culprits, and commonly denominated 
 " Thieves' Attornies." 
 
 With respect to the agency of. police officers in 
 these transactions, confined to those of the City and 
 of Bow Street, it was notorious that the leading Bow 
 Street officers were deeply concerned in such treaties. 
 But it is amusing to find with what simplicity Sir R. 
 Birnie affects to be. ignorant of all such business. Sir 
 R. Birnie admitted himself to have had suspicions 
 formerly, as, when questioned whether in the late cases 
 of parcels being stolen from coaches being restored, he 
 had been able to trace any connection between the 
 police officers and the parties who had lost their pro- 
 perty, he replied, " Certainly not ; and I will ven- 
 ture to say that in one particular case, where it
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 145 
 
 was roundly asserted that it was done through the 
 medium of a police-officer, I have reason to believe 
 that it is untrue." Mr. Halls says, e I had my sus- 
 picions, but I had no knowledge of it ; and so far from 
 having any knowledge of it, I had given my mind, if 
 possible, to ascertain the means of acquiring a know- 
 ledge of it.' An inquiry was also instituted by the 
 Home Office during the last year, into a compromise, 
 in which an officer was rumoured to have been 
 concerned, without any discovery being made, 
 though every officer in the establishment was sworn 
 and examined. This ignorance could not therefore 
 arise from attention not having been called to the 
 subject. 
 
 The Committee were still inclined to believe that, 
 however readily the officers of Bow Street and the 
 City Police have undertaken the negotiations of these 
 compromises, they seem in some instances to have 
 been induced to do it without a corrupt or dishonest 
 motive; and individuals of them have been satisfied 
 with a much less sum for effecting the compromise, 
 than the reward offered for the apprehension of the 
 guilty parties. Suspicion has arisen in one case, that 
 800/. more was received by the officer who negotiated 
 than the thieves asked or received ; and in another, 
 50Z. was paid to procure restitution of 500/., and 
 neither the 500Z. nor the 50Z. were ever restored. In 
 no case, however, does it appear in evidence that any 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 146 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 one of them stipulated for a reward beforehand ; nor 
 connived at the escape of a thief; nor negotiated a 
 compromise, when he possessed any clue that might 
 lead to the detection of the guilty. Your Committee 
 have before adverted to the ignorance in which the 
 magistrates appear to have been kept as to these 
 practices by the officers. It should seem, from the 
 evidence of Sir E. Birnie, that they only supposed 
 a very small number of compromises to have taken 
 place, and those through the medium of attornies. 
 Looking, however, to the regular system and undis- 
 turbed security with which the officers acted, it would 
 not be strange if they should have conceived that the 
 magistrates did not disapprove ; and entertaining the 
 same opinion as Sir R. Birnie, ' that the magistrates 
 must have means of detecting them,' should have 
 thought them disinclined to interfere, unless some 
 unlucky publicity forced these practices upon their 
 notice." 
 
 Sir R. Baker, another magistrate, when asked con- 
 cerning such compromises, " Would you have con- 
 sidered, if it had come to your knowledge, that it was 
 a crime ? " answers, " Not merely the recovery of the 
 goods ; if they connived at the escape of the parties, 
 I should say it was a crime, not otherwise." This, it 
 should be remarked, refers to a period previous to 
 1821, from which year Sir R. Birnie more particularly 
 dates his disbelief of such transactions.
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 147 
 
 This practice was a flagrant offence against the la\v, 
 and the history of the statute 4 Geo. I. c. 11, is given 
 in the words of Mr, Justice Blackstone : " An eighth 
 offence, is that of taking a reward under pretence of 
 helping the owner to his stolen goods. This was a 
 contrivance carried to a great length of villainy in the 
 beginning of the reign of George I., the confederates 
 of the felons thus disposing of stolen goods, at a 
 cheap rate, to the owners themselves, and thereby 
 stifling all further inquiry. The famous Jonathan 
 Wild had under him a well-disciplined corps of thieves, 
 who brought in all their spoils to him, and he kept a 
 sort of public office for restoring them to the owners 
 at half-price : to prevent which audacious practice, to 
 the ruin and in defiance of public justice, it was enacted 
 by stat. 4 Geo. I. c. 11, that 'whoever shall take a 
 reward under the pretence of helping any one to stolen 
 goods, shall suffer as the felon who stole them ; unless 
 he causes such principal felon to be apprehended and 
 brought to trial, and also gives evidence against him.' 
 Wild, still continuing in his old practice, was upon this 
 statute at last convicted and executed." 
 
 This statute was repealed, and its provisions re- 
 enacted next Session, by stat. 7 and 8 Geo. IV. c. 29. s. 
 58 ; but which makes the offence no longer capital, 
 and limits the highest punishment to transportation 
 for life. One officer stated, that his brethren had 
 agreed " to give up all transactions of the sort ; as they 
 
 L 2
 
 i 4 8 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 thought some mischief would come of it under Mr. 
 Peel's Act." But it does not appear that this agree- 
 ment took place- till after the inquiry, before alluded to> 
 had been instituted by order of the Home Office. It 
 is extraordinary, say the Committee, in the most 
 innocent way, that the police officers, with the severe 
 Act of Geo. I. in existence, could have considered 
 themselves as committing no crime ; and your Com- 
 mittee infers some deficiency in the law, which the 
 statute of last Session may not have completely 
 remedied. 
 
 " The Committee was further convinced that the fre- 
 quency of these seemingly blameless transactions, has 
 led to the organization of a system which undermines 
 the security of all valuable property, which gives police 
 officers a direct interest that robberies to a large 
 amount should not be prevented ; and which has esta- 
 blished a set of * putters up ' and ' fences,' with 
 means of evading, if not defying the arm of the law; 
 who are wealthy enough, if large rewards are offered 
 for their detection, to double them for their impunity ; 
 and who would in one case have given 1000Z. to get rid 
 of a single witness. Some of these persons ostensibly 
 carry on a trade ; one, who had been tried formerly for 
 robbing a coach, afterwards carried on business as a 
 Smithfield drover, and died worth, it is believed, 
 15,OOOZ. One was lately the farmer of one of the 
 greatest Turnpike Trusts in the Metropolis. He was
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 149 
 
 formerly tried for receiving the contents of a stolen 
 letter, and as a receiver of tolls, employed by him, was 
 also tried for stealing that very letter, being then a 
 postman, it is not too much to infer, that the posses- 
 sion of these turnpikes is not unserviceable for the 
 purposes of depredation. Another has, it is said, been 
 a surgeon in the army. The two others of the four have 
 no trade, but live like men of property ; and one of 
 these, who appears to be the chief of the whole set, is 
 well known on the turf, and is stated, on good grounds, 
 to be worth 30,OOOL Three of these notorious depre- 
 
 * 
 
 dators were let out of custody, as before stated, when 
 there was a fair prospect of identifying and convicting 
 them. It is alarming to have observed how long these 
 persons have successfully carried on their plans of 
 plunder ; themselves living in affluence and apparent re- 
 spectability, bribing confidential servants to betray the 
 transactions of their employers, possessing accurate 
 information as to the means and precautions by which 
 valuable parcels are transmitted; then corrupting others 
 to perpetrate the robberies planned in consequence." 
 Opposite the Bow Street office was a low tavern 
 called the " Brown Bear, 3 ' of which more later on ; it 
 was a sort of " flash house," the resort of thieves, and 
 a valuable adjunct to Bow Street office. It was 
 patronized by the " runners," as here they were 
 always sure to find any delinquent that was wanted. 
 From this quasi connection with the chief office, the
 
 150 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFPICE. 
 
 " Brown Bear" was often made use of as a sort of 
 chapel of ease, owing to the want of accommodation 
 over the way, and officers were allowed to take their 
 prisoners there for the night, when they had arrived 
 too late to attend the office. This was analogous to 
 the practice of keeping debtors in the neutral con- 
 finement of the " spunging-house." 
 
 A curious picture, which illustrates this system, is 
 furnished by Samuel Bamford, one of the smaller 
 Radical fry in the train of Henry Hunt, during the 
 Manchester plots of 1814 and 1815, and when the spy 
 system was rife. The conspirators had been arrested 
 in the country by two " king's messengers." and were 
 taken up to town in their custody: 
 
 " We arrived in London," says Bamford, in his 
 natural and genuine narrative, " about twelve o'clock, 
 and were immediately conveyed to Bow Street. We 
 were placed in a decent room, our irons were 
 immediately removed, and most of us wrote home to 
 our families. A gentleman named Capper was in- 
 troduced, and I thought he seemed to scrutinize us 
 very much. Sir Nathaniel Conant, an elderly and 
 respectable-looking gentleman, also came in, and in- 
 formed us that Lord Sidmouth could not see us that 
 day, and that we should be well provided for at a house 
 in the neighbourhood. Soon afterwards we were con- 
 ducted in couples to a room prepared at the * Brown 
 Bear' public-house opposite; where, after supper, the
 
 THE POLICE S YSTEM. ^ 5 1 
 
 doctor amused ourselves and keepers (who were eight 
 or ten police officers) with several recitations in his 
 most florid style. Messrs. Williams and Dykes, the 
 messengers, came and brought with them a friend, and 
 they each seemed much entertained. Mr. Perry, one 
 of the chief officers at Bow Street, afterwards entered 
 and apologized for having to submit us to what might 
 be a small inconvenience. It was customary, he said, 
 to secure prisoners during the night, by a chain, and 
 he hoped we should take it as a mere matter of form ; 
 we expressed our readiness to submit to whatever 
 restraint might be deemed necessary. Small chains 
 being produced, myself, Lancashire, and Healey, were 
 fastened together, and the other five were in like 
 manner secured, after which we continued our amuse- 
 ments during an hour or two, and then went to rest on 
 beds in the same room, still secured by chains to the 
 bed-posts, and to each other." 
 
 The scenes that followed are worth recalling, as illus- 
 trating the summary process by which sedition-mongers 
 were dealt with in these critical days. This system of 
 questioning and examination by the ministers seems to 
 belong to foreign procedure, and reads strangely now. 
 
 " About four o'clock p.m. we were conveyed in four 
 coaches to the Secretary of State's office at Whitehall. 
 On our arrival we were divided into two parties of four 
 and four; and each party was placed in a separate 
 room. A gentleman now appeared, who asked seve-
 
 152 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 rally our names and occupations, which he wrote in a 
 book and then retired. In a short time another person 
 came and called my name, and I rose and followed him, 
 along a darkish passage. I must confess that this 
 part of the proceedings gave rise to some feelings of 
 incertitude and curiosity, and brought to my recollec- 
 tion some matters which I had read when a boy, about 
 the inquisition in Spain. My conductor knocked at 
 a door, and was told to go in, which he did ; and 
 delivered me to a gentleman, whom I recognized as Sir 
 Nathaniel Conant. He asked my Christian and surname, 
 which were given : he then advanced to another door, 
 and desiring me to follow him, he opened it, and bowing 
 to a number of gentlemen seated at a long table covered 
 with green cloth, he repeated my name, and took his 
 place near my left hand. The room was a large one, 
 and grandly furnished, according to my notions of such 
 matters. Two large windows with green blinds and 
 rich curtains, opened upon a richer curtain of nature, 
 some trees which were in beautiful leaf. The chimney- 
 piece was of carved marble, and on the table were many 
 books; and several persons sat there assiduously- 
 writing, whilst others fixed attentive looks upon me. 
 I was motioned to advance to the bottom of the table, 
 and did so ; and the gentleman who sat at the head of 
 the table said I was brought there by virtue of a 
 warrant issued by him, in consequence of my being 
 suspected of high treason that I should not be
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 153 
 
 examined at that time, but must be committed to 
 close confinement until that day sennight, when I 
 should again be brought up for examination. Mean- 
 time, if I had anything to say on my own behalf, or 
 any request to make, I was at liberty to do so ; but 
 I must observe, they did not require me to say 
 anything. 
 
 " The person who addressed me was a tall, square, 
 and bony figure, upwards of fifty years of age, I should 
 suppose, and with thin and rather grey hair : his fore- 
 head was broad and prominent, and from their caver- 
 nous orbits looked mild and intelligent eyes. His 
 manner was affable, and much more encouraging to 
 freedom of speech than I had expected. On his left 
 sat a gentleman whom I never made out ; and next him 
 again was Sir Samuel Shepherd, the Attorney-General, 
 I think, for the time, who frequently made use of an 
 ear-trumpet. On Lord Sidmouth's right, for such was 
 the gentleman who had been speaking to me, sat a 
 good-looking person in a plum-coloured coat, with a 
 gold ring on the small finger of his left hand, on which 
 he sometimes leaned his head as he eyed me over ; this 
 was Lord Castlereagh. 
 
 " * My Lord,' I said, addressing the president ; 
 * having been brought from home without a change 
 of linen, I wish to be informed how I shall be provided 
 for in that respect until I can be supplied from home.' 
 The council conferred a short time, and Lord
 
 iS4 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Sidmoutli said I should be supplied with whatever was 
 necessary. 
 
 " * You will be allowed to communicate with your 
 family, said his lordship ; * but I trust you will see 
 the necessity of confining yourselves to matters of a 
 domestic nature. You will always write in the presence 
 of a person who will examine your letters ; you will 
 therefore do well to be guarded in your correspondence, 
 as nothing of an improper tendency will be suffered to 
 pass. I speak this for your own good.' 
 
 " The other prisoners were then severally called in 
 and informed of the cause of their arrest, in the same 
 terms that I had been ; and that they would be again 
 examined on that day sennight. One characteristic 
 incident was, however, said to have occurred before the 
 privy council. On the doctor being asked how he 
 spelled his surname, he answered in broad Lancashire : 
 * haitch, hay, haa, 1, hay, y,' (H, e, a, 1, e, y,) but the 
 pronunciation of the e and a being different in London, 
 there was some boggling about reducing the name to 
 writing, and a pen and paper were handed to him. 
 The doctor knew that his forte lay not in feats of pen- 
 manship any more than in spelling ; and to obviate 
 any small embarrassment on that account, he pulled out 
 an old pocket-book, and took from it one of his pre- 
 scription-labels, on which the figures of a pestle and 
 mortar were imposed from a rudely engraved plate ; 
 and these words, ' Joseph Healey, Surgeon, Middleton.
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 155 
 
 Plase take Table Spoonfuls of This Mixture Each 
 
 Hours.' This he handed to Lord Sidmouth, who, 
 
 as may be supposed, received it graciously, looked it 
 carefully over, smiled, and read it again, and passed it 
 round the council-table. Presently they were all 
 tittering, and the doctor stood quite delighted at find- 
 ing them such a set of merry gentlemen. The fact 
 was the first blank had been originally filled with a 
 figure of two : ' Plase take 2 Table Spoonfuls,' &c.' ' 
 
 This "Brown Bear" faced the Bow Street office, 
 and was usually the scene of such arrangements, indeed 
 was a notorious " flash house." Tlie facetious " Joe 
 Munden," whose house had been robbed, came to Bow 
 Street to make his complaint. The magistrates, 
 having heard his story with much interest, he being a 
 public favourite, gave him a friendly piece of advice. 
 "Munden," they said, "you must not tell any one we 
 gave you this advice, but to prosecute will cause you 
 a great deal of trouble and unpleasantness, and you 
 had better put up with the loss." One of the magis- 
 trates whispered to an officer and inquired, " Who was 
 on the North Road last night?" "Little Jemmy, 
 with a party, your worship." " Have you ascertained, 
 Munden," rejoined Sir William Parsons, " how the 
 robbers gained an entrance ? " " By forcing up the 
 parlour window." " Was there an impression of a 
 very small foot on the mould beneath ? " " Yes." 
 " Enough ! Should you like to see the leader of the
 
 156 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE OFFICE. 
 
 gang that robbed your house ? " "I have rather a 
 fancy for it," said the astonished comedian. " Then 
 go over to the * Brown Bear ' opposite, at one o'clock 
 to-morrow afternoon ; enter the room on the right, 
 and you will see Townsend, the officer, seated at the 
 head of a table with a large company. You may be 
 assured that all the rest are thieves. If he asks you 
 to sit down do so ; and the man who sits upon your 
 right hand will be the person who planned and con- 
 ducted the robbery of your house." With the glee 
 consequent upon a relish for humorous situations, the 
 actor promised compliance. He attended at the 
 appointed time; knocked at the door was told to 
 enter, and a group of gaol-birds met his eye, headed 
 by Townsend, who was diligently engaged in carving 
 a round of beef. "Mr. Townsend," said the 
 aggrieved child of Thespis, " I wanted to have spoken 
 to you, but I see you are engaged." " Not at all, 
 Mr. Munden ; I shall be at your service in a few 
 minutes ; but perhaps you will take a snack with us. 
 Jemmy, make way for Mr. Munden." Jemmy, with a 
 wry face, did as he was bid. The actor sat down ; 
 turned towards his uneasy neighbour, and examined 
 his features minutely. The company, believing that 
 Jemmy was undergoing the process of identification, 
 laughed immoderately. It happened that a round of 
 beef, with the remnant of a haunch of venison, had 
 formed the repast with which Munden's uninvited
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 157 
 
 guests had regaled themselves. The thieves, who 
 were well aware of the burglary, and knew the person 
 of the victim, indulged themselves in extempore and 
 appropriate jokes. " Jemmy, your appetite is failing," 
 said one ; " have a little more. You were always fond 
 of boiled beef." Curiosity satisfied, the actor with- 
 drew, greatly to the relief of Mr. Jemmy, to whom he 
 made a low bow at parting. This hero afterwards 
 suffered the last penalty of the law for some offence 
 of greater magnitude. These were the customs that 
 prevailed half a century ago. The officer had the 
 thieves under his immediate eye, and seldom gave 
 them much trouble until they were worth 40/. ; that is, 
 candidates for the gibbet and the halter. If much 
 stir was made after a lost gold watch, and a handsome 
 reward offered, a hint from the man in office recovered 
 it ; and when the final period of retributive justice 
 arrived, this functionary fearlessly entered a room 
 crowded with malefactors, and, beckoning with his 
 finger, was followed by his man, who well knew " he 
 was wanted." The " Brown Bear " was as safe a place 
 of retreat for the thief as any other. It is even said 
 that a famous highwayman ensconced himself for some 
 time very snugly in lodgings near it, knowing that 
 search would be made after him in every other direc- 
 tion ; as young Watson did in Newgate Street, when 
 every wall was placarded with a large reward for his 
 apprehension.
 
 158 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 A case that made considerable noise at the 
 time, the robbery of the Paisley Bank, when over 
 20,OOOZ. was carried off by two expert housebreakers, 
 who had come down specially for the purpose, was to 
 exhibit the convenience of the " Brown Bear " in a 
 most striking way. This, as will be related later, was 
 the work of the notorious Jemmy Mackcoull, who, 
 with a confederate, carried the scheme through with 
 the most perfect success. He found that it was im- 
 possible to get rid of such a mass of notes whose 
 numbers were known. He accordingly determined 
 to enter into treaty with the prosecutors for the 
 restitution of the booty It forms an edifying com- 
 mentary on the maxim, " Honour among thieves," and 
 migh tbe scenes from the Beggar's Opera. 
 
 The prospect of reward made all concerned in the 
 detection very keen and suspicious of each other. 
 " Huffey White," the confederate, was captured on an 
 old charge, at once, and lodged in jail. Sayer, the 
 police officer who was concerned in the business, re- 
 lates what took place. "Mackcoull," he says, "on 
 the arrival of the burglars in London, was entrusted 
 with the whole of the booty, but only on condition 
 that the following morning he was to place it in the 
 hands of one, William Gibbons, a celebrated pugilist, 
 who, although not a thief himself, was yet well known 
 to the higher order of thieves, and being a man of 
 some property, was frequently trusted with the care
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 159 
 
 of plunder ; indeed, so high did he stand in their esti- 
 mation, that it was believed he could be trusted to any 
 amount. Mackcoull, however, never intended to let 
 the notes go out of his own possession, and when 
 White and French met him next mornVng, he told 
 them that Gibbons was out of town, and would not 
 return for some days. In fact, he had already cheated 
 his confederates out of 4000Z., for although the notes 
 taken from the bank amounted to 20,000/., the memo- 
 randum he had given at Wellwyn stated only 16,000/. ; 
 so that, from the very first, he never intended to 
 behave fairly." It will be noted that this is in the 
 business-like spirit of Mr. Wild, particularly the happy 
 bit of aphorism underlined. 
 
 Mackcoull had himself a narrow escape from being 
 apprehended with White. On entering Tower Street, 
 he caught sight of the officers, and instantly hurried 
 off to the residence of a friend in Swallow Street, 
 whence he despatched a confidential messenger to his 
 wife, with orders that if the officers had not then 
 been in search of him she was to put the whole of 
 the notes into a small trunk, and send them back in 
 a coach with the messenger. Mrs. Mackcoull sent off 
 the notes accordingly, and scarcely had an hour 
 elapsed before the officers arrived, and searched every 
 part of the house, but being unable to discover any- 
 thing of a suspicious nature, they concluded that the 
 notes might be in the possession of French.
 
 160 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLlCE-OFflCE. 
 
 " Mackcoull, having meanwhile received the whole of 
 the notes, counted over about 6000/. worth, which he 
 concealed on his person, and then getting into a 
 hackney-coach, hastened off with the remainder, locked 
 up in a small trunk to Bill Gibbons. Gibbons, how- 
 ever, insisted on the notes being counted over, which 
 was done; the entire sum amounting to 13,800/., 
 which having been made up into a parcel, Gibbons 
 immediately secreted in a back parlour chimney. 
 
 " French having in the meantime heard of the appre- 
 hension of White, and knowing that nothing but 
 giving up the money taken from the bank could save 
 either White's life or his own, had an interview with 
 Mrs. Mackcoull, and told her he was willing to give 
 up his share of the plunder, begging her at the same 
 time to go to her husband and tell him that he 
 (French) thought it would be best, for the sake of all 
 parties, to endeavour to open a negotiation with the 
 bank upon the subject. This Mrs. Mackcoull pro- 
 mised to do, adding that she had no doubt her husband 
 would agree to the proposal. 
 
 " Now, the house at which Gibbons used commonly 
 to smoke his pipe of an evening was the " Brown 
 Bear " in Bow Street, the landlord of which was, at 
 that time, a Mr. Hazard, with whom, as may be 
 readily supposed, Gibbons was on terms of intimacy. 
 Of him Gibbons learnt all the news of the day, and 
 among the rest the robbery of the Paisley Union
 
 THE 
 
 BEAR. -
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 161 
 
 Bank, and the apprehension of Huffey White. On 
 hearing this Gibbons hastened to Mrs. Mackcoull, and 
 had just time to tell her that he had been at the 
 ' Brown Bear,' when she, suspecting what he had 
 heard, interrupted him by exclaiming, Oh, how glad 
 I am to see you, my dear Mr. Gibbons ; will you step 
 in and take tea ? ' and then she went on with a long 
 lamentation about the ' unfortunate affair,' and said 
 she thought that, to save Huffey's life, the notes ought 
 to be returned, proposing that he (Gibbons) should 
 enter into a negotiation, and be paid properly for 
 his trouble. Gibbons assented readily to the sugges- 
 tion, and on leaving the lady, bent his steps to Bow 
 Street, to break the matter to his friend Hazard, the 
 publican, through whom he intended opening the 
 arrangement with the bank. 
 
 " Now, Gibbons, finding that Hazard had heard 
 every detail of the affair from two of the waiters, 
 who had put up at his house, and also from the 
 officers who had been at Scoltock's, unceremoniously 
 proposed to him to break the negotiation to Vickery, 
 the officer. Hazard agreed, and Vickery readily 
 undertook to see the agent for the bank. Gibbons 
 had scarcely reached home, when Mrs. Mackcoull 
 arrived, and told him that her husband was willing to 
 give up the notes, and that, on the following morning, 
 he would put down in writing what he thought ought 
 to be the terms of the treaty. 
 
 VOL. i. M
 
 1 62 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 " Now, Sayer was an old acquaintance of Mrs. Mack- 
 coull, and Mackcoull therefore fixed on him to conduct 
 the negotiation in the way he wanted. The bank had 
 offered a reward for whatever part of the money might 
 be recovered, and as Sayer was fond of money, there 
 was thus an inducement for him to undertake the job. 
 Mrs. Mackcoull accordingly called upon Sayer, who 
 undertook to make to the bank agent the following 
 proposals : namely, that, on the money being re- 
 turned, White and French should be pardoned for 
 escaping from the hulks ; that no prosecution should 
 be instituted against any of the parties ; and that 
 Mackcoull should not be troubled or molested about 
 any old story of nine years' standing ; all which the 
 agent for the bank, thinking he was going to get 
 back his employers' 20,OOOL, readily agreed to, and 
 the pardon having been obtained for White and 
 French, a time was appointed for the money to be 
 paid over. Accordingly, one evening at ten o'clock, 
 Mrs. Mackcoull waited on the agent for the bank, 
 and, in the presence of Mr. Sayer, produced a small 
 basket, containing, as she said, all the notes that her 
 husband possessed, but which, to the utter amazement 
 both of Sayer and the agent, on being counted over, 
 were found to amount only to 11,941Z. Of course, 
 the lady affected to know nothing about the remainder, 
 and, of course, also a variety of lies were subsequently 
 told to account for Mackcoull knowing nothing about
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 163 
 
 the deficiency, which, I need scarcely add, never 
 made its appearance. 
 
 " Shortly after this Mackcoull went out of town for 
 a time, causing his friends to circulate the old report 
 of his having gone to the West Indies, a story so 
 firmly believed by the bank and their agents that they 
 gave up all hopas of ever seeing or hearing any 
 more either of Mackcoull or the remainder of their 
 money." 
 
 A police-officer who wrote his recollections of his 
 services, relates the sequel of this strange transaction. 
 According to his story, " Sayer was so dazzled by the 
 splendid booty he had been dealing with, that, so soon 
 as Mackcoull was secured which he was a long time 
 after he sought out the woman, his old acquaintance, 
 and lived with her for many years, in Lisle Street, 
 Leicester Square. She was thrown out of a gig and 
 killed. After which, he removed to the neighbourhood 
 of Chelsea, where he expired, at an advanced age, 
 about four years back, worth upwards of thirty 
 thousand pounds. Just before he died he pointed to 
 a closet and the fire, and made motions to convey to 
 the relatives about him, that he wished them to destroy 
 something. They could not comprehend his meaning, 
 and a few minutes after he breathed his last. The 
 old fellow had not long left this sublunary world, when 
 the stolen Glasgow and Paisley notes again made their 
 appearance in circulation. Inquiries were instituted, 
 
 M 2
 
 1 64 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Ruthven was employed, and the principal police-officer 
 of Glasgow, Mr. Miller, came to town, to assist in the 
 investigation, which ended in a man, by trade a 
 copperplate printer, being taken into custody, who, it 
 appeared, was a relative of Sayer's, and had innocently 
 come into the possession of the notes, they being a 
 portion of the property found on the premises at the 
 decease of that officer. Extraordinary means and 
 exertions were adopted to ascertain if any more pro- 
 perty could be found; even the garden at Sayer's late 
 residence was dug up for several feet, and a vast 
 number of picklock-keys and housebreaking imple- 
 ments found ; but, saving these things, no property 
 of any description was discovered. The copperplate 
 printer was, of course, discharged. The only method 
 of accounting for Sayer's possession of the notes is, 
 that the woman must have had them from Mackcoull, 
 and, from the supposition that they would some time 
 or other become available, had kept them by her ; for 
 it is not likely that Sayer had received them from 
 the thieves, either as hush-money or as a portion of 
 the plunder to be restored to the bank. If he had 
 compromised his honesty and honour, by accepting a 
 present from the cracksmen, they undoubtedly would 
 have turned round upon him after their apprehension ; 
 and it is not likely that he would have applied them 
 to his own use, instead of returning them, because 
 they were to him quite valueless, and their circulation
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 165 
 
 would have been his entire ruin. There is no doubt 
 that when in his dying moments he made an effort to 
 be understood, by pointing to the cupboard and the 
 fire, that he wished them to be burned, for in that 
 identical cupboard the notes were found." 
 
 With sucli temptations it was impossible to prevent 
 " black sheep," as they might be called, bringing 
 discredit on the force. In 1816, ugly rumours got 
 abroad that some of the officers were in the habit of 
 holding out inducements to burglars and others, to 
 carry out their schemes, in the hope of obtaining the 
 reward that was likely to be offered. This system 
 was discovered by mere accident, and it was found 
 that a well-known efficient officer, Vaughan, was 
 concerned in a villainous plot against the lives and 
 liberty of innocent persons. A certain "wooden-legged 
 man," named Drake, had given one of the horse- 
 patrole, whose name was Vaughan, information of a 
 burglary that was about to be committed. Five men 
 were arrested and examined before the magistrates, 
 when it came out that they had been "put up" to 
 the business by Vaughan. On a further examination 
 it appeared from the evidence of the wooden-legged 
 man, that the patrole met him and three others at 
 Sadler's Wells, where the plan of the burglary at 
 Hoxton was arranged for the following night; the 
 patrole first asking whether they could not put him 
 up to a crack, by getting some young fellows into the
 
 1 66 CHRONICLES OF BOIV STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 thing and informing of it. The wooden-legged man 
 procured three brothers, another man, and a boy, to 
 join him in the burglary on the following night. 
 Next day, he sent a boy to the patrole for some money, 
 who sent him 10s., with word to lush them well, and 
 also furnished him with a, jemmy (a crow), phosphorous 
 bottle, matches, and some pick-lock keys. The 
 w ooden-legged man now prevailed on the three brothers 
 to accompany him at night to commit the burglary, 
 telling them it was an easy matter; that he knew 
 there was a box which contained notes and some 
 valuables, also a good dab (or bed), and a handsome 
 dial worth Wl. When they consented, he informed 
 the patrole, and took the woman to a public-house, to 
 give an opportunity to the others to commit the 
 burglary. He went frequently in and out, whilst 
 another stopped to detain the woman. Edwards, a 
 patrole from Bow Street, lay in wait to detect them. 
 
 The wooden-legged man and the parties he had 
 engaged, came to the house. They found the door 
 unlocked, and as the leader refused to go in, the 
 unfortunate men who were intended to be the victims 
 of the project also hesitated ; but the signal agreed 
 on with the patrole being given, they all fled. The 
 patrole made an impression with the crow-bar on the 
 lintel of the door, to make it appear to have been 
 forced. The crowbar and dark lantern were de- 
 posited in the house, and an alarm given that it was
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 167 
 
 robbed. The wooden-legged man now led the patrole 
 and his party to the house where the three brothers 
 lodged, into the pocket of one of whom the patrole, 
 as is stated by his associate, put a ring belonging to 
 the woman of the house. 
 
 Another case was discovered in which the patrole 
 had applied to the wooden-legged man to procure 
 some person to commit a burglary, in order that he 
 might share the conviction money. The wooden- 
 legged man was at a loss to find a house, and the 
 patrole recommended to try the house of a friend of 
 his own, in Gray's Inn Lane, on which he said the 
 attempt might be conveniently made. The plan being 
 laid, the patrole went to his friend, and told him he 
 had private information that his house would be 
 robbed on the night of the 18th of June, and requested 
 him to keep his dog tied up and quiet in the house, 
 as he and his party should be on the watch and 
 apprehend them. This was agreed to, and the leaders 
 provided their party against night, and encouraged 
 them by telling them the job was easily accomplished 
 and that they would be sure of at least 100/. besides a 
 great quantity of articles of value, which they could 
 get, as if given them as a gift. They met at the 
 watering-house at the corner of the King's Road, 
 where they concerted the plan ; they then went to 
 the persons with whom they were engaged to commit 
 this burglary ; and the patrole, to give them a better
 
 1 68 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 opportunity, went to the watchman, who was nearly 
 opposite, and told him he was a Bow Street officer, 
 and had information that a burglary was to be com- 
 mitted, and that he and his party were in wait to 
 apprehend them, and he desired the watchman to put 
 out his candle and shut himself up in his box ; the 
 watchman refused, saying he would do his duty, but 
 he would not either put out his light or quit his post, 
 and that he would assist to apprehend any persons. 
 Finding himself foiled in this plan, the patrole con- 
 trived to give charge of two girls, who were disputing, 
 that whilst they and the watchman were gone to the 
 watch-house the party might make the attempt. One 
 of them came afterwards to the patrole, and said the 
 j a ff er is ou *' He answered, I told you it was to be 
 out of the wa}'. In consequence of this disappoint- 
 ment, however, the attempt was postponed to another 
 night. The patrole waited on the gentlemen of 
 the watch-board, and made a complaint against 
 the watchman, in consequence of which he was sus- 
 pended. 
 
 The watchman, as far as he knew, confirmed the 
 above evidence, he having seen the patrole several 
 times before the door. 
 
 " Mr. Nares desired the watchman to call on him, 
 and that he should be paid for the time he was sus- 
 pended ; and the watchman produced a petition, which 
 was signed by several respectable inhabitants of the
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 169 
 
 neighbourhood, and which also deposed to his character. 
 He has since been restored." 
 
 Once the system was discovered, a number of 
 cases of a similar kind were revealed to the magis- 
 
 o 
 
 trates. 
 
 " On another occasion, Mackay saw Vaughan give 
 two bad dollars and four bad shillings to a person 
 named O'Shea, who was to procure an innocent man 
 to buy some article from the mother-in-law of Vaughan, 
 who keeps a chandler's shop in Gray's Inn Lane. A 
 small quantity of good silver was also to be given to 
 him, in order that when he was searched there might 
 appear no excuse for passing the bad money. Mackay 
 afterwards saw O'Shea go into a public-house and 
 shortly return with a poor sailor, whom he directed to 
 go into the shop before mentioned. The sailor did 
 so; O'Shea fled, and immediately the former, having 
 changed some bad money, came out with a loaf. He 
 was instantly seized by Vaughan, who was in waiting, 
 and having secured him and brought him before the 
 magistrate, he was fully committed for trial and 
 convicted." 
 
 There were several other cases of an equally atro- 
 cious nature mentioned by Mackay, which came within 
 his knowledge by information from and connection 
 with the parties concerned. " On Tuesday night, when 
 Mackay was taken into custody in bed, there was 
 found upon his table a letter addressed to Mr. West-
 
 170 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 wood of the Bank, disclosing all he knew of the 
 circumstances of the present inquiry, and surrendering 
 the names of the criminal parties. The principal 
 actors in the scene as it relates to the coining, we 
 understand to be Pelham, Brock, O'Shea, and Mac- 
 Power. Jefferson and Dickons were, after the exa- 
 mination of Mackay on Thursday, ordered to appeal- 
 before the magistrates. 
 
 " Gr. Browne, Mackay, and Drake are now in cus- 
 tody : Hubbard is also in Horsemonger Lane." These 
 were all well-known officers. It was melancholy to 
 find also that the trusty and resolute Ruthven was also 
 implicated; he was, however, released upon bail. But 
 Vaughan, the chief delinquent, had as yet escaped 
 arrest and was in hiding. But he was presently 
 captured. 
 
 " Soon after (in July, 1816), a man came to the office 
 and inquired for Bishop, the officer. The officer, being 
 out upon business, he told the magistrate he knew 
 where Vaughan, the late patrole, was concealed. The 
 magistrate sent the information to Limbrick and Read, 
 the officers belonging to Hatton Garden office, who 
 were originally the cause of discovering this man to 
 have been guilty, that they might have the credit of 
 apprehending him again. Limbrick and Read went 
 on Friday morning, and having procured the assistance 
 of Freeman, the officer, belonging to Whitechapel Road, 
 understanding that Yaughan was armed, they pro-
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 171 
 
 ceeded to Whitechapel Road, and entered a house kept 
 by Vaugban's uncle, where they found him in a parlour, 
 and two loaded pistols upon him. Having secured 
 him, they brought him to the office, where they arrived 
 about three o'clock, when he underwent an examina- 
 tion before Mr. Nares. 
 
 " Limbrick and Read produced the pistols, and a 
 pocket-book which they found upon him. There were 
 papers and memorandums in the book which throw 
 considerable light, and tend to confirm a great deal 
 respecting him, so that he who has been exercising a 
 considerable portion of cunning to entrap others, had 
 not cunning enough to put out of the way those docu- 
 ments which will tend to convict himself. 
 
 " He denied having run away from his regular resi- 
 dence, or that he was living in concealment at his 
 uncle's house ; but stated that the reason of his going 
 to live there was, it was not convenient for him to 
 sleep at home on account of his wife having lately been 
 brought to bed. He considered himself not bound to 
 appear till next sessions, at which time he had given 
 bail to answer charges that might be brought against 
 him, and in consequence of what had been said in 
 public and private respecting his conduct, he did not 
 consider himself safe in walking the streets. He 
 denied what had been said against him to be true, but 
 asserted that there was a conspiracy against him. 
 
 " Dickons, one of the patrole, who used to act with
 
 J72 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 him in the employ of the Bank of England in detecting 
 the utterers of counterfeit tokens, was present, and 
 much abuse passed between them. On Thursday it 
 was ascertained that Dickons complained of having been 
 classed with Vaughan, and it having been insinuated 
 that he was concerned with him in his malpractices, 
 he was told he ought to find Yaughan to clear him- 
 self, and Adkins, the officer, offered to give him a 
 guinea if he would apprehend him ; he set off, taking 
 another patrole with him, but saying he did not like 
 to go to take him without a warrant as he knew he 
 was armed, although he confessed he was not afraid of 
 him. In the course of the investigation it was ascer- 
 tained that Dickons had met Vaughan since he had 
 been wanted, and had advised him to run away to 
 France. Dickons was ordered into custody till he 
 produced the necessary bail. 
 
 " Vaughan was committed as an accessory before the 
 fact in breaking open the house of Mrs. M'Donald in 
 Hoxton, which was the circumstance that led to the 
 discovery of these transactions." 
 
 Charges of another description were also made against 
 the Bow Street officers. One of an odd, and perhaps 
 of a rather unhandsome kind, was made by one of the 
 foreign consuls against the patrole. 
 
 " Mr. Halls, the Hanoverian Consul, wrote to com- 
 plain to Sir R. Birnie, a few days ago, that persons 
 professing to belong to the Bow Street patrole had 
 called at his house and asked for presents by the way
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 173 
 
 of Christmas boxes, and wishing to know if such a prac- 
 tice was sanctioned by the magistrates. Sir R. Birnie 
 stated that such a practice, so far from being sanc- 
 tioned, was strictly prohibited, and any officer known 
 to have asked such a thing would be dismissed from 
 his situation. Sir Richard subsequently learned that 
 Francis Holyland, the conductor of the Bedford Square 
 division of night-patrole, was the officer who had called 
 at Mr. Halls' and other houses to collect Christmas 
 boxes, and on Tuesday morning he ordered that officer 
 to come before him, and asked how it was that he had 
 presumed to act in defiance of a known rule which was 
 laid down, and always rigorously enforced by the 
 magistrates ? Holyland said he was extremely sorry, 
 but he assured Sir Richard that it was done in igno- 
 rance, and that the moment he discovered he was 
 wrong he discontinued it. Sir R. Birnie " Sir, you 
 called upon the Hanoverian Consul with a printed 
 paper beginning ' We, the undersigned,' and at the head 
 of the list appeared your name. You must have known, 
 and I am sure did know, that such a practice was 
 contrary to the orders of the magistrates, and you are 
 suspended from your office." 
 
 Bond, another Bow Street officer, who was well- 
 known from his connection with Drury Lane Theatre, 
 often found himself distracted by the conflicting duties 
 required of him by the managers and the public. Thus 
 he was one day addressed by " Sir Richard," who told 
 him that he had heard several complaints respecting
 
 174 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 the want of due attention on the part of those officers 
 who should attend the different entrances to the pit 
 and boxes, to protect the public from the depredations 
 of thieves. The officers appointed to that duty at 
 Drury Lane, instead of rendering the public their pro- 
 tection and assistance, were placed as watchers over 
 the checktakers, a duty which it was never intended 
 they should perform, and which he (Sir R. Birnie) had 
 determined to put a stop to. A magistrate had just 
 informed him that he had been robbed of his watch, 
 chain, and seals, at the box-entrance, on Monday 
 evening, a circumstance which could not have occurred 
 if the police-officers had been at their posts. 
 
 Bond, in reply, said he would lose no time in com- 
 municating with his son on the subject. He added that 
 when he was at the theatre, attempts had been. made 
 to place the officers under his directions over the door- 
 keepers and checktakers, and Mr. Winston, a gentle- 
 man connected with the management, had more than 
 once told him that the public might take care of them- 
 selves, and that the police were at the disposal of the 
 managers, whose interests they were bound, in the 
 first instance, to protect. 
 
 Some ingenious knaves even occasionally took ad- 
 vantage of the special dress of the officers to assume 
 their duties, and with some success. " For the last ten 
 days a new and successful mode of plunder has been 
 carried on in the neighbourhood of London by two or
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 1^5 
 
 three fellows who pretend to belong to the Bow Street 
 patrole, and who are dressed in red waistcoats, and 
 produce constables' staves. The plan of these villains 
 appears to be perfectly arranged- They pretend to 
 come in search of a suspected character, or to look for 
 stolen and contraband goods. Easy access is found by 
 assuming the authority of police-officers, and upon 
 being shown through the different apartments, they 
 never fail to carry away whatever is valuable and 
 portable that comes within their reach. A few even- 
 ings since, about ten o'clock, they went to the " Rsd 
 Lion " public-house, near Wimbledon Common. The 
 landlord was not at home, and they proceeded to 
 search the house for an ideal suspicious character ; in 
 doing so they contrived to carry off from the different 
 apartments property to a considerable amount. The 
 same night they went to a tradesman's house in the 
 neighbourhood, and, he being from home, they searched 
 the house under pretence of looking for stolen 
 goods." 
 
 Many anecdotes used to be current as to the stu- 
 pidity of the old watchman or Charlie ; but the com- 
 plaints periodically made at the office show that their 
 ignorance exceeded the common belief. On the other 
 hand the constant battering and ill-usage received could 
 not be expected to improve their discrimination. 
 
 Thus we find that Courteney, a watchman of the 
 Strand, brought a man before the magistrates for
 
 176 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 smoking a cigar in the street ! The accused had been 
 locked up nearly twelve hours for this offence. It is 
 almost unnecessary to say that the man was instantly 
 discharged, and the watchman received from the magis- 
 trates an admonition for his misconduct. 
 
 And again : On Wednesday night, Sands, a watch- 
 man of the Savoy, Strand, took Mr. Crosbie, the 
 officiating clergyman of Sydenham, into custody for 
 talking to a person in the street, and refusing to 
 " move on " when ordered so to do. The gentleman 
 was obliged to leave his watch and seals as a security 
 for his appearance at this office the next day, where he 
 accordingly came ; and Sir R. Birnie, after hearing the 
 case, ordered Sands to be suspended from acting in 
 future. 
 
 On another occasion, two young men were brought 
 up by one of the guardians of the night on a charge 
 of disorderly conduct. The young men said in their 
 defence that they were returning home through Drury 
 Lane, when a chimney-sweep snatched the hat off one 
 of them and ran away. They called to the watch- 
 man, but he refused to go after the offender, because 
 it was a different parish. Sir R. Birnie severely 
 reprimanded the watchman. The idea of making a 
 distinction of parishes in such a case was mere non- 
 sense. The watchmen were always ready enough to 
 bring ridiculous charges, like the present, to the office ; 
 but he never found one of them bringing a criminal
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 177 
 
 charge. Their conduct, in this instance, was out- 
 rageous. The defendants were then dismissed. 
 
 Amateur Police. 
 
 A curious practice connected with the general police 
 system, and which came out before the various com- 
 mittees, was that the constables in "Westminster and 
 in most of the outlying districts were requisi- 
 tioned inhabitants, who had to perform the duties 
 without pay, or, indeed, good willj or else by substi- 
 tute, the latter being glad to undertake the office for 
 a trifling remuneration. At Westminster there was a 
 quaint, old-fashioned system in vogue up to the time 
 of the establishment of the new police. The burgesses 
 elected a court of their own, called a ** Leet," which 
 was presided over by the Dean and High Steward. 
 This leet selected about eighty tradesmen of the 
 district, always with the odd exception of the licensed 
 victuallers. These persons were named to do the 
 duties of constable in the district, and, it would 
 appear for the most part, performed the duties or 
 undertook to perform them in a sort of halting 
 fashion, some coming on duty every fifteenth night, 
 " unless otherwise engaged." A system of substitutes 
 was, of course, encouraged, and some eight or ten men 
 were ready, for a sum of from eight to twenty pounds, 
 to undertake the duties. This number really repre- 
 sents the acting watch of the district. Deplorable 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 178 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 accounts were given of the class of person thus 
 appointed paupers from the workhouses being often 
 selected, and the others aged, worn-out creatures, 
 picked up "anyhow and everyhow." This was to be 
 expected, as in some districts the remuneration was 
 no more than Is. 6d. a night, or perhaps 2s. 6d. for an 
 " odd job." It was confessed, however, that this 
 was eked out by a practice of " compounding charges 
 at the watch-house." Much ridicule of the " Charlies' ' 
 inefficiency might have been spared, for, with such a 
 system and such materials, what could have been 
 expected. 
 
 Acting with these wretched guardians of the peace, 
 we find our old friend " THE BEADLE," flourishing all 
 over London to an extraordinary degree. There were 
 over fifty of these officials, among whose duties was 
 that of " setting the watch," and, in some cases, of 
 going round through the night and seeing that the 
 watch were at their posts. These men had from 60?. 
 to 701. a year. In a few cases, however, the office was 
 taken quite au serieux by conscientious inhabitants; 
 but they paid dearly for their sincerity. Thus, in the 
 year 1828 an active young tradesman in the Bow 
 Street district was appointed parish constable of St. 
 Paul's. Struck with the disorders of Covent Garden 
 and the helplessness of the police, he determined, 
 instead of hiring a substitute, to perform the duties 
 himself. It is instructive to find what was the fate of
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 179 
 
 his well-meant efforts, and how he was treated, not by 
 the rogues and disorderly characters, but by the 
 authorities, who did not relish his intrusion. 
 
 "When he took up his office he found Covent Garden 
 at midnight a regular pandemonium, though Charles 
 Lamb, who lived there about the same time and in the 
 same scenes, was delighted with the racket. " There 
 were thieves and f night-coaches,' ' cads ' who attended 
 the night-coaches, coffee-houses being open to a very 
 late hour, and public-houses also, a number of the worst 
 of characters, which scarcely deserve the name of men, 
 that I have every reason to believe were of the most 
 infamous description. By-night coaches I mean a 
 number of coaches that ply upon the stand to take 
 night-fares. I made it my duty to make particular 
 inquiry with a view to get rid of that nuisance. I 
 spoke first to Sir Richard Birnie upon the subject, and 
 he said, * Give them regular notice to leave the stand, 
 and if, after midnight, any of those coaches should be 
 found plying, I shall send a body of officers sufficient 
 to take the whole to the green-yard.' This notice I 
 served at the watering-house attached to that stand. 
 I afterwards, fearful of committing myself, went to 
 Mr. James Quaife, one of the principals of the hackney- 
 coach office, and he said that Sir Richard Birnie had 
 no such power ; that the hackney-coaches had a right 
 to stand where they pleased, and at what time they 
 pleased ; that they might form a line in any street 
 
 N 2
 
 i8o CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 whatever. This was contrary to what I had heard 
 before. 
 
 " My experience was strengthened by the injury 
 that I myself, as a housekeeper, sustained by the noise 
 and disorder. I was anxious, like other housekeepers, 
 to make the most of my lodgings ; and whenever I had 
 got respectable gentlemen into my house, I could not 
 retain them, from the noises at night, occasioned 
 by those men who were, to use a familiar term, sky- 
 larking and repairing the coaches, taking off the wheels 
 and hammering and clanking ; and sometimes they 
 would have the girls in the coaches and upon the 
 boxes, and riding up and down. These coaches were 
 made any use of by thieves for the conveyance of 
 stolen goods ; of it I have no doubt. I made myself 
 as active as I could, because I started with the inten- 
 tion to see how far the powers of a constable would go 
 towards doing it, because I perceived, as everybody 
 else does, a wonderful apathy in the police-officers ; 
 and it was mortifying to see a party of officers stand- 
 ing at one end of the street and, night after night, a 
 throng of well-known thieves congregating at the other 
 end of the street, and no steps taken to remove them. 
 I am speaking of officers attached to Bow Street, and 
 of that class of officers. Before I was constable, and 
 since I have been constable, I have seen gentlemen, 
 for instance, leaving the portico of the theatre with a 
 lady having hold of each arm. His pockets have been
 
 THE POLICE SYSTEM. 181 
 
 defenceless, as it were, and I have seen the thieves 
 follow him in the most audacious manner and dip their 
 hands in his pockets, and take handkerchiefs and 
 snuff-boxes, or anything else. I have seized them 
 repeatedly." 
 
 The professional officers soon found an opportunity 
 of " doing him a turn," as they called it. 
 
 " I had to contend with innumerable difficulties," 
 he says. " I saw a marked spirit of envy, and a 
 determination to do me all the injury they possibly 
 could ; as if I were undertaking something I had no 
 business to interfere with. I consider they acted as 
 men conscious that every conviction I carried to 
 Bow Street was a tacit reproach upon them for not 
 doing their duty. I repeatedly heard of threats made 
 behind my back, and those threats, in one instance, 
 were carried into execution. While I was clearing the 
 avenue in front of Drury Lane Theatre having pre- 
 viously consulted Sir Richard Birnie, and having had 
 from Sir Richard Birnie the promise of assistance and 
 support while I was doing that, I was seized by 
 Bond and Nettleton, two of the deputed officers 
 attached to Drury Lane Theatre, and I was struck 
 and dragged through the streets like a felon. Sir 
 Richard Birnie, either from some false impres- 
 sion, or from some feeling I could not well decipher, 
 chose to dismiss the complaint without hearing the 
 case gone into, treating it as a squabble between
 
 182 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 officers. They charged me with striking them, which 
 was as false as God is true. To show the malice 
 with which they treated me, they wanted to drag 
 me to St. Martin's watch-house. They threatened 
 the constable of the night that if he did not take 
 charge of me they would take me to St. Martin's 
 watch-house. Having given charge of me, of course 
 they made their complaint. And that complaint was 
 dismissed instantly."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie 
 
 THE court at Bow Street was always, in spite of 
 attempts at alteration and rearrangement, a poor, 
 straitened place, whose accommodation was miser- 
 ably inadequate to the important work that was des- 
 patched there. We can see what it was from the 
 picture that adorns the adventures of " Torn and 
 Jerry," where it appears to be no more than a large 
 room, though it is a place of more pretension in the 
 plate given in Akerman's "Microcosm of London." 
 On great days, in our time, when the " Slade Case," 
 for instance, was going on, the shifts to find room for 
 the witnesses, counsel, &c., were of pitiable kind, and 
 the atmosphere of the ill-ventilated and crowded place 
 was scarcely enjoyable. Yet here the patient Bow 
 Street magistrate carried out his complicated functions, 
 on a small salary and under many difficulties. At the 
 beginning of the century, the total outlay for the main- 
 tenance of the office, its staff and detectives, and 
 police officers, including the salaries of the magis- 
 trates, did not reach an annual sum of 8000/. From the
 
 184 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 year 1792, when seven offices were established, their 
 united cost was no more than 18,OOOL, each of the sub- 
 sidiary offices was allowed but 2000Z. a year ; while 
 the total outlay for administration and the detection of 
 crime was only 26,OOOZ. It was wonderful that with a 
 system thus " starved," such results were obtained ; and 
 these were mainly owing to the energy and spirit and 
 personal exertions of the Bow Street magistrates them- 
 selves. Thus unselfishness has always distinguished 
 the officers of the country, who show themselves eager 
 to supplement what the system fails in, by their own 
 labour. From his peculiar position and duties, the 
 magistrate at Bow Street generally developed qualities 
 and characteristics of a special kind and suited to his 
 position. He had, as we have seen, to act as "thief- 
 taker," direct the pursuit of criminals, as well as to deal 
 with them, and be in perpetual conflict and contact 
 with the disorderly classes. To Bow Street every kind 
 of case, some of the most strange kind, found its way ; 
 and as the proceedings were drawn out, there was 
 generally found something startling or dramatic to 
 enliven the cases. The magistrate's wits became as 
 it were sharpened, and his experience, as may be con- 
 ceived, was of the most varied description. Hence 
 there were to be seen, and are to this hour seen, little 
 dramas of an amusing, an exciting kind, for what was 
 at stake was of a serious description often life or 
 liberty, and on the preparatory struggle at this stage, 
 the criminal's safety depended.
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 185 
 
 One of the most prominent of the later magistrates, 
 and whose name was most familiar to the public, was 
 Mr., afterwards Sir Richard, Birnie, under whose 
 auspices, as we shall see, many diverting scenes were 
 furnished for the amusement of the public. The story 
 of his rise shows that he was a remarkable character 
 ill his way, and must have possessed a singular resolu- 
 tion. The son of a saddler, he came to London from 
 Banff, where he was born, a poor unfriended Scotch 
 lad, with hardly " a saxpence " in his pocket. 
 
 On the ground where the Union Club now stands 
 formerly stood a tavern, known as the Cannon 
 Coffee House, which was at the end of a street known 
 as Hedge Lane, but later as Whitcomb Street. Here 
 he was glad to find lodging in an attic in a mean house. 
 The floor below was occupied by a thrifty barber, who 
 one day observed the lad following a coal-cart and 
 picking up the lumps of coal which fell from it, 
 which he carefully brought home to his garret. He 
 was so delighted with this sign of a provident spirit 
 that he determined on the spot that he should be his 
 heir and son. By a lucky chance the boy obtained 
 employment with the firm of Mackintosh, who supplied 
 the Royal Family with harness, &c. ; and being once 
 despatched to wait on the Regent, H.R.H. was so 
 pleased with his style and manners, that he required 
 that the. same agent should for the future always wait 
 on him. This " taking fancies " was a peculiarity of 
 the Regent's. Birnie soon became foreman, then
 
 1 86 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 partner, and, it is said, married the daughter of his 
 first patron, the barber. 1 He presently exhibited a 
 serious fancy for parochial work, taking a deep interest 
 in the smaller official life. Indeed, he used to boast 
 that he had filled every office in the parish, save that 
 of watchman and beadle. Such zeal was encouraged, 
 and at the request of a duke he was made a magistrate ; 
 when he could indulge his taste with greater facility, 
 and was to be seen constantly at Bow Street, follow- 
 ing the cases. On a few occasions he took the magis- 
 trate's place. He was presently appointed to Union 
 Hall Court, and later to Bow Street, and devoted him- 
 self to the duties of his post with a peculiar gout. He 
 was an energetic and courageous magistrate, and these 
 qualities he displayed with a signal effect on several 
 notable occasions. It was he who planned the perilous 
 enterprise of the arrest of Thistlewood and his gang, 
 which was attended by loss of life. He led on the 
 party fearlessly, "the balls," as it was described, 
 " whistling about his head." In the riots connected 
 with the Queen's funeral in the following year he 
 showed similar intrepidity in confronting an excited 
 mob, and when one of the magistrates shrank from 
 reading the Riot Act, he undertook the duty. 
 
 On the bench, in the exercise of his duties, he dis- 
 played good sense and sagacity, exercising a wholesome 
 severity, tempered by a certain good-humour. This, in 
 1 Kichardson's " Recollections."
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 187 
 
 process of time, was developed into a sort of freedom, 
 or even buffoonery, which entertained the public ; and 
 displays of jocoseness and " scenes " began to be regu- 
 larly looked for when" Sir Richard " was on the bench. 
 Some of these were often dramatic, and formed a con- 
 trast to those grimly tragic episodes of which the office 
 was too often the scene. Occasionally, Sir Richard's 
 freedoms exposed him to unpleasant scenes. The 
 familiar magistrate expects every one to receive his 
 utterances in an obsequious spirit, and when he meets 
 resistance becomes intemperate. A scene of this kind 
 arose in connection with a cab-fare, the sum in dispute 
 being one shilling. After an adjournment, Mr. Miller, 
 a barrister, said he attended on behalf of Mr. Jay, by 
 whom ha had been instructed to resist the demand. 
 The original summons was dismissed on account of 
 some technical defect. 
 
 Sir Richard : I remember all that very well, sir. I 
 could not convict on the first summons because of some 
 clerical error. The coachman is entitled to his 
 expenses. 
 
 Mr. Miller : I submit not : the party who obtains 
 a dismissal on such a ground is never saddled with 
 costs. 
 
 Sir Richard : I say the coachman is entitled to his 
 expenses if the distance he goes for be correct; and 
 more I say, he shall have them, too. 
 
 Mr. Miller : I must protest against this. The point
 
 1 88 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 for your determination is of great public importance, 
 and demands deliberation before it is decided. 
 
 Sir Richard : Am I not deliberate ? I say he shall 
 have his expenses. 
 
 Mr. Miller : You sit there to administer the law as it 
 is, and I contend that such a decision is wholly un- 
 warranted. Was not one shilling put into your hand, 
 coachman ? 
 
 Complainant : Yes, but I would not accept it. 
 
 Mr. Miller : That is immaterial : the tender was a 
 legal due, and got rid of all cause of complaint. 
 
 Sir Richard : Stuff and nonsense ; was ever anything 
 so pitiful ? Make out the order, Mr. Woods, for the 
 payment of the shilling, and costs of the present 
 summons. 
 
 Mr. Miller ; As counsel, I am bound to offer every 
 argument that suggests itself to me. 
 
 Sir Richard : Yes, I know you are paid for talking, 
 and must earn your fee. The public business cannot 
 stand still. Call on another case. 
 
 Mr. Miller: I must say that such conduct on your 
 part justifies the opinion which is everywhere in circu- 
 lation respecting your administration of the law. 
 
 Sir Richard : You had better restrain yourself, 
 sir. 
 
 Mr. Miller: In addition, I have to thank you for 
 your polite attention, and the epithets of " stuff and 
 nonsense" applied to me.
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 189 
 
 Sir Richard : You mistake. I meant these to apply 
 to your defence, and not to you. 
 
 Mr. Miller: I shall certainly never appear before 
 this tribunal again until some more courteous and 
 gentlemanlike person presides over it. 
 
 Sir Richard : With all my heart. I did not send for 
 you now, much less want you. 
 
 Mr. Miller: This conduct of yours shall not be 
 forgotten ; I shall see if it can be used in a higher 
 quarter; (saying which, Mr. Miller left the office, 
 leaving the matter to be finally adjusted by his Wor- 
 ship, who made the order, which was refused to be 
 complied with by the defendant). 
 
 This was not very edifying. In fact, during the 
 later portion of his life, Sir Richard displayed a rather 
 testy, not to say eccentric disposition, which exposed 
 him to the free comments of a hostile press. On one 
 occasion, in 1828, an unseemly scene took place between 
 him and some of the parishioners of Co vent Garden, 
 in reference to the election of Overseers. 
 
 " On Tuesday last, a Petty Session was held at St. 
 Paul's, Covent Garden, for the appointment of Over- 
 seers. Mr. Dow was called to the chair by the 
 parishioners, who had prepared a list of eight house- 
 holders. The late Select Vestry had prepared a 
 private list of their own, without consulting the 
 parishioners. On Sir Richard Birnie and Mr. Hall 
 entering the room, the former demanded of Mr. Dow
 
 190 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 who he was. Mr. Dow gave his name, and expressed 
 his readiness to resign the chair to Sir Richard. The 
 worthy magistrate, however, seized him by the arm 
 (which, having been dislocated, was in a sling), and 
 said, " Get out, sir, get out ! " 
 
 Mr. Dow : Gently, Sir Richard, you do not consider 
 my arm ; you give me great pain. 
 
 Sir Richard : I care nothing about your arm. 
 
 The Magistrate then called for the list of the 
 " Select," and was proceeding to call from it, when 
 his attention was requested to the list sanctioned by 
 the parishioners. 
 
 Sir Richard : I know nothing about any lists. 
 
 Mr. Corder wished to explain. 
 
 Sir Richard : I'll hear no explanation. 
 
 A parishioner happening to express a wish not to 
 detain the magistrates, as their official duties would 
 oblige them to attend at Bow Street, Sir Richard 
 interrupted him with " Obliged, sir ! I am not obliged 
 to attend. How dare you, sir, presume that I am 
 obliged ? I can stay away all day if I like." 
 
 Mr. Dow emphatically remonstrated with Sir Richard 
 Birnie on his conduct, which he declared to be unmanly 
 and ungentlemanly, adding, " You have treated me 
 like a dog." 
 
 Sir Richard ordered Mr. Roche to take down Mr. 
 Dow' s words, upon which the latter repeated them. 
 The meeting separated under strong feelings of 
 dissatisfaction."
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 191 
 
 "D-ick Martin" 
 
 A frequent performer in this way was Mr. Richard 
 or " Dick " Martin, M.P. for Galway, whose protection 
 of animals, exhibited in the most eccentric and fanatical 
 fashion, was set off by his natural readiness to take 
 offence, and thus exhibit " cruelty to animals " in the 
 case of his own species. " Martin's Act " was the 
 result of his exertions, and the author was the most 
 forward to enforce its provisions. He was accordingly 
 constantly dragging some groom or driver before Sir 
 R. Birnie or Mr. Minshull, who treated his oddities 
 with good-humoured indulgence. These scenes were 
 very entertaining, and the reporters took care to give 
 his opinions with literal accuracy. 
 
 It was thus that in August, 1823, he summoned a 
 waggoner in the service of Messrs. Fitch and Sons, 
 market-gardeners, for "wantonly and cruelly " beating 
 a horse. 
 
 " Mr. Martin proceeded in his usual animated manner 
 to state that on Monday se'nnight, as he was approach- 
 ing Covent Garden market in his gig, he heard the 
 loud smacking of a whip, and he found the defendant 
 flogging a horse with all his strength, and in the most 
 wanton and cruel manner. The unfortunate animal 
 was not in a team he was not at work at all, but was 
 tied up by the head to another waggon, and it was 
 therefore quite improbable that the animal had given 
 any provocation for the beating he had got ; indeed, he
 
 i 9 z CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 (Mr. Martin) was prepared to say upon his solemn 
 oath, that he believed there was no necessity whatever 
 for beating the horse in the manner described. There 
 was another circumstance of this case which he was 
 extremely sorry to be obliged to relate, and that was, 
 that a person of the decent and respectable appearance 
 and manners of him who now stood by the side of the 
 waggoner (pointing to Mr. Fitch), should have sanc- 
 tioned such cruelty. While he (Mr. Martin) was 
 talking to the waggoner, Mr. Fitch came up and said 
 that he had ordered his man to flog the horse, and 
 that he deserved it, adding that the horse had a sore 
 wither, and had set up kicking at a violent rate, and 
 it was necessary to beat him well. 
 
 Mr. Fitch here requested to be heard, upon which, 
 
 Mr. Martin said, <c 0, man alive, that will never do I 
 I accuse you as well as your man." 
 
 Mr. Minshull : I don't know that Mr. Fitch is not 
 an admissible witness on behalf of his servant. 
 
 Mr. Martin : But I do, though. Sure I charge them 
 loth. 
 
 Mr. Fitch, without being sworn, stated that the horse 
 in question had been kicking incessantly for more than 
 half an hour before. The horse was irritated by the 
 rubbing of the collar-chain against a sore place on his 
 wither. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : What was your object in whipping 
 him ?
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 193 
 
 Mr. Fitch : Why, sir, to make him stand still. 
 
 Here Mr Martin broke out in characteristic style, 
 " Ha, ha ! that's very good, and reminds me of 
 an anecdote exactly bearing upon this case. A 
 French financier under the ancien regime had, among 
 his stud, a horse which had a knack of devouring 
 another horse's corn as well as his own; and in order 
 to put a stop to a practice so injurious both to the 
 robber and the robbed, he ordered execution of death 
 to be put in force upon the offender, and the horse (a 
 beautiful animal by the bye) was shot. But, egad, the 
 financier found that this execution had very little effect 
 in the way of example, for other thievishly-inclined 
 horses still robbed their neighbours, and his friends 
 told him he might shoot the whole stud before he cured 
 the evil; so he ordered no more executions." ;A loud 
 laugh followed the relation of this anecdote.) 
 
 Mr. Minshull said the words of the act were " wan- 
 tonly and cruelly," and was Mr. Martin prepared to say 
 that this defendant had acted " wantonly and cruelly " ? 
 
 Mr. Martin, with much warmth, said he had most 
 undoubtedly. He had said before, and he now repeated 
 it, that upon his oath the man acted wantonly and 
 cruelly. The animal was tied up and perfectly quiet. 
 If he was not convicted, all previous convictions under 
 this act were unjust, and all magistrates who had 
 decided against persons accused under this popular 
 statute had transgressed the law. 
 
 VOL. i. o
 
 194 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Mr. Minshull said it was very difficult to define the 
 degree of chastisement which this act contemplated in 
 the term " cruelty." 
 
 Mr. Martin said this was precisely the line of argu- 
 ment adopted by the advocates of cruelty the opposers 
 of his bill he meant Mr. Brougham among others ; 
 and his (Mr. Martin's) answer, and the answer of Lord 
 Londonderry and others too, was, that cruelty was to 
 be defined according to received notions of it. Now 
 he declared that this man acted wantonly and cruelly ; 
 and he liad been used to horses for thirty years, and 
 he would moreover call his groom, who would declare 
 the same opinion. 
 
 The groom was then called, and said he thought the 
 horse cruelly and unnecessarily beaten. 
 
 Sir R. Birnie : But was this beating necessary ? I 
 think a man must be permitted to exercise his own 
 judgment as to the extent of chastisement he may 
 inflict upon his horse. 
 
 Mr. Martin: Oh, by G , if a man is to be the 
 judge in his own case, there's an end of everything. 
 
 Sir R. Birnie : I must fine you 5s. for swearing. 
 
 Mr. Martin : I am sworn already. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Yes, but you have just sworn an 
 unnecessary oath. 
 
 Mr. Martin (taking out his purse) : Well, I'll pay. 
 
 Sir R. Birnie (smiling) : No, I will not enforce it 
 this time. I was joking only.
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 195 
 
 Mr. Martin again very earnestly pressed for a con- 
 viction, and said that if a man flogged his apprentice 
 with unnecessary severity, he must not be allowed to 
 be the judge whether or not he had acted with cruelty. 
 That must depend upon the cool, unbiassed judgment 
 of others. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Was the man out of temper ? 
 
 Mr. Martin: Quite infuriated." 
 
 All this was highly amusiag and entertaining to the 
 audience. But these indulged farceurs are often 
 inclined to abuse their privilege and turn on those who 
 tolerate their antics. Thus, when the owner of the 
 animal proceeded to urge that a horse was sagacious 
 and understood what he was beaten for, 
 
 Mr. Martin replied : " Nonsense, man. As well 
 might you beat a horse to-day for kicking this day 
 week. I tell you what you should do to make a horse 
 good and obedient ! just go whisper in his ear, " You 
 are a good horse, and I am a bad man," and I engage 
 he will be as quiet as a lamb ! 
 
 The Magistrate again expressed an opinion that a 
 man must be allowed to exercise his own judgment, 
 whereupon 
 
 Mr. Martin, with an energy of manner which beg- 
 gars description, exclaimed, " Time has been that when 
 the brains were out, the man would die ;" and at the 
 same time sprang from his seat upon the bench, and 
 throwing down a bar which is placed to keep off the 
 
 o 2
 
 196 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 people, seemed about to leave the office, but paused a 
 moment, and returned in great agitation to the bench. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : My brains may be out now, and I 
 still live; but I shall act upon my own judgment as 
 far as it goes, and I cannot make up my mind to con- 
 vict in this case. 
 
 Mr. Martin : Then I tell you that it is high time you 
 were relieved from the labours of your office. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : That was a very kind and gentle- 
 manly remark certainly, Mr. Martin ; but I will keep 
 my temper, whatever you may do. I dismiss the case. 
 
 Mr. Martin, during the last two nr three minutes 
 that he remained, moved to and from the bench and 
 the body of the office with great rapidity; and at 
 length snatched up his hat, hurried out, observing as 
 he went, that he would apply for pardon for all who 
 had ever been convicted under this statute." 
 
 In 1825 we find this singular person engaged 
 in conflict with the proprietors of Blackwood's 
 Magazine and the Morning Chronicle, who had 
 ridiculed not so much his philanthropic exertions, as 
 the eccentric and tyrannous method by which he tried 
 to enforce his views. 
 
 " Mr. Martin addressed Sir Richard Birnie, com- 
 plaining of the repeated attacks made in the Morning 
 Chronicle upon him, for his endeavours to put a stop 
 to the ill-treatment of animals ; more particularly for 
 an article quoted in that paper from Blackwood's
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 197 
 
 Magazine, which the hon. legislator asserted aimed at 
 his life inasmuch as it was asked plainly and un- 
 disguisedly, " Why don't you kill him?" "Thus," 
 said Mr. M., " this paper not only disseminates the 
 most barefaced libels upon the motives of my exertions 
 in the cause of humanity, but actually solicits any one 
 to knock me on the head, as he would a bullock." 
 
 Sir Richard said, " Pray, Mr. Martin, may that not 
 mean the ox, and not you ? " to which Mr. M. 
 replied, he was satisfied it clearly meant himself. 
 " Look," said he, " to the daily attacks which are 
 made upon me. It was but a short time since, under 
 an article of Police, they headed it, ' Mr. Martin and 
 another unfortunate ass ; ' and who could that mean 
 but me?" 
 
 On friday, Mr. V. Dowling attended as the repre- 
 sentative of Mr. Clement. Mr. Adolphus was counsel 
 for the defence. 
 
 The paragraph thus commenced : " Blackwood 
 and Martin. It is well for the former that a con- 
 siderable interval separates him from Mr. Martin, 
 otherwise we think his friends might be in some 
 apprehension for him. Our hair absolutely stood on 
 end when we read the following attack in the last 
 number." Then follows the quotation from Black- 
 wood, beginning, " That Irish Jack-ass, Martin, &c." 
 
 Mr. Adolphus, an adroit advocate, then proceeded 
 to deal with the case, and, it will be seen, inflamed the
 
 198 CHRONICLES OF BOW S2REET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 " animals' friend " almost to fury. He said that Martin 
 swore that he believed the intention of the journalist 
 was to incite people to murder him ! He was 
 astonished at such swearing ! If a man was to swear 
 so from ignorance he should pity his intellect if from 
 malice, he would say, God forgive him ! and he would 
 say so in common charity, for such a man would have 
 much more to answer for than the miserable brutes for 
 which he affected to feel so much compassion ! As to 
 the " angry gabble," it was known to all who read the 
 papers of the day that there was a, person in the habit 
 of going about to the different police-offices, disgusting 
 everybody with his angry and vulgar gabble ; loading 
 every poor wretch with such epithets as " savage 
 scoundrel," " atrocious wretch," "ruffianly miscreant," 
 and others equally violent. If he stopped there, 
 ' perhaps there would be no great harm ; but when that 
 man could deliberately swear that he saw an animal 
 beaten with a bludgeon, which afterwards turned out 
 to be a switch (Mr. Martin : A switch !) yes, a 
 switch when he could magnify a switch into a 
 bludgeon, and that too on his solemn oath he (Mr. 
 A.) could not, he would not trust himself to express 
 his opinion of him ; and when such a man as that came 
 forward with a charge like the present, it ought to 
 be received with great caution indeed. The paragraph 
 quoted from Blackwood began : " That Irish Jack- 
 ass, Martin." Now, whether the writer called him
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 199 
 
 Dick-ass or Jack-ass, it was much the same. It was 
 well known that in Essex, and some other counties, 
 it was as common to say Dick-ass as Jack-ass, and 
 therefore either would apply. He should like to know, 
 indeed, if the ass was not the most libelled of the two. 
 There was one ass that spoke but once, and never told 
 a lie. Was that the case with Mr. Martin ? He was 
 afraid not. Mr. Adolphus, after continuing in the 
 same strain for some time, returned to the subject of 
 the affidavit. He would now call evidence to show 
 that Mr. Martin's declaration here upon oath, and his 
 assertions elsewhere, were totally at variance; and 
 that so far from feeling any fear, he had gone even into 
 the lion's den, the office of the Chronicle, a few hours 
 after he had sworn the affidavit, and said, " Well, 
 what's going on ? What's doing ? This is all nuts to 
 me itbrings me into popularity I like all this sort 
 of thing." And yet to-day he has the audacity to come 
 forward and support that most improper affidavit. 
 
 Mr. Martin here threw himself across the table as 
 far as ho could reach, and exclaimed, 
 
 " You scoundrel, Iww dare you say it is an improper 
 affidavit ! " 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Really, Mr. Martin, I am quite 
 astonished. 1 must hold you to bail, sir. 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie : Mr. Martin, you have said you 
 are a magistrate pray pay some respect to the bench 
 here, whatever may be the custom in Ireland.
 
 200 CHRONICLES OF BO IV STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Mr. Minshull said he had heard sufficient to authorize 
 him to call upon Clement to give bail, himself in 200/., 
 and two sureties in 100Z. each. 
 
 At the next hearing Mr. Martin appeared in person, 
 and the affair ended harmoniously. With regard to 
 Blackwood's Magazine he considered it to be the 
 parent root which had sent forth the many branches 
 of libels that appeared in the Morning Chronicle against 
 him. He next proceeded to notice the long statement 
 made there on a former day by Mr. Adolphus. " I 
 myself," said he, "was greatly - accountable for the 
 extravagant length and the irrelevant abuse to which 
 that individual had recourse, in fact, for no other 
 purpose than that of repeating the vile libels which had 
 appeared previously in the pages of the Morning 
 Chronicle." 
 
 Mr. Halls : Will you allow me to say, that no part 
 of what you say has anything to do with any case which 
 has appeared before me. I know nothing about it. 
 
 Mr. Martin : I wish to say, that if it was any fault, 
 I encouraged it. There is also another subject which 
 I think will be consolatory to the Bench. I was, on 
 the occasion to which I now allude, guilty of an act of 
 great intemperance, I was greatly criminal; and not 
 being able at that time to apologise, I come now 
 humbly and penitentially to make my apology for what 
 I said when that man was addressing the Bench. My 
 opinion is, that we ought not to inflict intemperate
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 201 
 
 punishment on the brute creation ; and it was there- 
 fore particularly inexcusable in me to be so intem- 
 perate against that which was a brute a brute, who 
 was a brute without reason, and exiled almost from 
 the society of human beings. 
 
 Mr. Halls: I must not hear this, as the parties 
 about whom you are speaking, are not present. I 
 must not, I cannot hear these observations. I have 
 such an opinion of the Magistrate who heard the case, 
 that I am sure he would not allow any imputation to 
 be cast on your character, Mr. Martin, which you 
 would not have an opportunity of refuting. 
 
 Mr. Martin : I bow. From Mr. Blackwood I have 
 received the most penitential letter it is possible for a 
 man to write. He acknowledges the atrocity of the 
 libel, and allows the impropriety of disseminating it : 
 that it got in without his knowledge ; and, in the 
 subsequent number, which will appear in a few days, 
 there will appear an apology which will satisfy me. 
 But I doubt if an apology will satisfy me ; but this will, 
 when he comes to be punished, serve to mitigate the 
 sentence which will be passed on him, whether I pro- 
 ceed against him by an indictment at the Quarter 
 Sessions, or obtain a criminal information in the King's 
 Bench. Now, sir, your Worship, I shall take my leave, 
 and, on a future day, make the application to which 
 I have alluded." 
 
 Sir Richard, who, as we have seen, had a character
 
 202 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 for eccentricity, seemed to welcome these public per- 
 formers, who were congenial to him, and enlivened 
 the dull monotony of a police-court. A number of soi- 
 disant " public men " were glad to advertise themselves 
 and their "hobbies," and found Sir Richard always 
 willing to give them the opportunity they desired. 
 A field-day at Bow Street was thus often sought by 
 Cobbett, Orator Hunt, and other demagogues who 
 arrived with some grievance and were then truly 
 welcome. 
 
 Cobbett. 
 
 Thus, the agitator Cobbett, having taken up the 
 subject of turnpike overcharges, contested the matter 
 so sturdily that he became a terror to the pike-keepers 
 from his frequent summonses, and was actually allowed 
 to go through the gates free. In 1823 he was very 
 busy at this work, and on October 23 he appeared at 
 the office, and laid informations against several turn- 
 pike toll-collectors for having taken too high a toll from 
 poor men who kept one-horse carts, and who were very 
 numerous on the roads leading out from Hyde Park 
 Corner. Mr. Cobbett stated that, as nearly as he could 
 calculate, the renters of the tolls in his neighbourhood 
 had, for about eighty days last past, extorted to the 
 amount of at least 51. a day on the Kensington road 
 alone ; and that, too, from some of the most indus- 
 trious and hard-working men in the whole kingdom.
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 203 
 
 This was going on all round the metropolis, and even 
 many miles out into the country in almost every direc- 
 tion. The tolls of all the roads from Hyde Park 
 Corner westward are rented by rich Jews, against 
 whose long purses poor men are wholly unable to con- 
 tend. Mr. Cobbett, hearing of this system of oppres- 
 sion, about five weeks ago, went to the Kensington 
 turnpike-gate, and told the toll-collectors that, if they 
 did not desist from their extortion he would call them 
 to account. Finding the extortion still going on, he 
 resolved to make the complaint. He obtained sum- 
 monses for several toll-collectors, and the like were 
 obtained by seven one-horse cart men, who came to 
 the office with him. 
 
 Mr. Levy, one of the lessees of the turn pike- roads, 
 attended by a solicitor, appeared to answer to informa- 
 tions exhibited by Mr. William Cobbett against the 
 collectors of tolls, for exacting from divers persons 
 therein named, three halfpence more than by law 
 allowed. Mr. Cobbett attended to conduct his case, 
 and at the invitation of Sir R. Biruie took a place 
 on the bench. Some amusing scenes followed, exhibit- 
 ing the sturdy arrogance of the demagogue. 
 
 On the solicitor for the lessees requesting that it 
 might stand over until they could have the assistance 
 of counsel, 
 
 Mr. Colbett : It is of vital importance to the public 
 as well as the lessees, and more especially to the poor
 
 204 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 men, on whose behalf I appear namely, the proprietors 
 of one-horse carts, who have suffered shamefully by 
 this system of extortion. 
 
 Mr. Levy : Why, you have never suffered, Mr 
 Cobbett, and why need you be so warm in the cause ? 
 
 Mr. Cobbett : No ; because they know me ; I have 
 threatened to pull them up ; and they are therefore 
 glad to take threepence, instead of f ourpence halfpenny. 
 
 Mr. Levy : Why they let you through for nothing 
 sooner than be troubled with you ; you know that you 
 no sooner show your face, than they call out, " That's 
 Cobbett ; let him go." 
 
 Mr. Cobbett to Mr. Levy : You are a Jew, I suppose. 
 
 Mr. Levy : I am a Jew, it is true ; but you are neither 
 Jew, Christian, nor any other religion. You are an 
 Atheist, as everybody knows. 
 
 Mr. Cobbett smiled, and observed, that what he had 
 advanced in this office was strictly true. He had 
 taken up the business only in consequence of an 
 application from several poor men who were sufferers 
 by the system. One poor man alone, a gardener, had 
 paid more than 30s. in three-halfpences within the 
 last few weeks. 
 
 Some other conversation followed, during which 
 Mr. Levy said that he would undertake that between 
 that day and the final decision of the case, the 
 additional three-halfpence should not be taken. They 
 only wanted time to meet the question properly.
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 205 
 
 Mr. Cobbett : Time ! you have had time enough. 
 I told one of your men I meant to pull you all up. 
 
 Mr. Levy asked what man ? 
 
 Mr. Cobbett : How can I remember the face of any 
 one of your men, when you change them every two 
 hours ? 
 
 Mr. Levy : But you could have seen his name over 
 the door. 
 
 Mr. Cobbett : I did not look for his name, for I did 
 not think such a step necessary ; but I give you my 
 word I told him so. 
 
 Mr. Levy : Tour word ! what is your word ? You 
 have been talking/or these three years about your Grid- 
 iron, but you are not broiled yet. 
 
 Mr. Cobbett : No, nor crucified either ; nor do I wish 
 to be. 
 
 Mr. Levy : Perhaps not ; but you might be without 
 injustice. 
 
 Sir R. Birnie said, he could not help thinking the 
 proposition of Mr. Levy a fair one, and if Mr. Cobbett 
 had no very powerful objection to offer, the case should 
 be postponed. 
 
 Mr. Cobbett : Oh, in God's name, let them have the 
 benefit of counsel ; do not deprive the gentlemen of the 
 benefit of counsel. 
 
 Ultimately, the hearing was postponed to Monday, 
 October 13. 
 
 This is equally edifying whether we regard the
 
 206 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICF. 
 
 toleration of the bench or the decency of the dis- 
 putants. 
 
 The Hunts. 
 
 The well-known violent agitator, "Orator" Hunt, 
 was in 1818 compelled to attend at Bow Street, owing 
 to an unpleasant fracas. The " Orator," who was him- 
 self unstinted and unmeasured in his abuse of all who 
 were opposed, was, as we might expect, particularly 
 sensitive as to criticisms passed on his own proceed- 
 ings. The absurd extravagancies into which popular 
 agitation may lead its votaries was well illustrated by 
 his proceedings. He was at the time busy contesting 
 an election in London. On his way from Covent 
 Garden, he halted with his party in front of three 
 newspaper-offices in the Strand, where, after denun- 
 ciations against the conduct of these journals, he 
 burnt a copy of each. He attributed the change which 
 had taken place in a paper called The Observer, to 
 an individual being (as he termed it) at the head of its 
 reporters, named Dowling. " This," he said, " was 
 no other than the well-known Spectacle Dowling the 
 Spy." This was repeated more than once. This 
 having been communicated to Mr. Dowling, he, on 
 Friday, proceeded to the hustings with a horsewhip, 
 and on Mr. Hunt arriving with his son, his dumb 
 brother, and other friends, Mr. Dowling struck him 
 several blows with his whip. In a moment the con-
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 207 
 
 fusion became general, the crowd closed upon Mr. 
 Dowling, and Mr. "West and others seized him and 
 prevented further violence. During the fracas the 
 dumb brother and the younger Hunt contrived to 
 strike him some blows upon the face across the 
 shoulders of those who surrounded him. The civil 
 power had by this time interfered. Mr. H. Hunt said 
 that he had been informed before he came to the 
 hustings that he was to be horsewhipped, and was 
 advised to bring his stick. Mr. Dowling acknow- 
 ledged he went to the hustings to horsewhip Mr. 
 Hunt. Mr. Birnie said that he had but one course to 
 pursue, and that was to bind both parties over to the 
 sessions. Mr. H. Hunt then produced a letter, which 
 he said he had received about five months since, in 
 which he was informed that Mr. Dowling had declared 
 that he would horsewhip him wherever he met him ; 
 and that he (Mr. Hunt) was prevented from appear- 
 ing at the election of Lord Mayor, in consequence of 
 that threat. Mr. Birnie now said that he felt himself 
 bound to call upon Mr. Dowling to find sureties to 
 keep the peace towards Mr. H. Hunt, and Mr. "W. Hunt 
 also to find similar sureties with regard to Mr. 
 Dowling. Mr. Hunt said he did not wish that Mr. 
 Dowling should be held in any sureties. Mr. Birnie : 
 " What, not for horsewhipping you, Mr. Hunt ? " 
 Mr. Hunt : " No : it was a mere nothing ; my brother 
 received the blows ten times harder than I did ; and
 
 208 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 I should not now even be afraid of Mr. Bowling and 
 a hundred such Irish bullies ! " Mr. Bowling said 
 the latter remark was not one which could properly 
 be replied to in the presence of a magistrate, but that 
 since Mr. Hunt was so courteous, he was inclined to 
 be equally so and should not insist upon his (Hunt) 
 being put to the trouble of entering into recognizances, 
 as, if he considered it necessary, he could take other 
 steps hereafter. Mr. Birnie thought both had acted 
 with prudence, and complimented Mr. Hunt on his 
 forbearance, after the manner in which he had been 
 horsewhipped by Mr. Bowling. The parties then 
 withdrew. 
 
 This singular toleration on the part of the magis- 
 trate, who did not perhaps appreciate the position, 
 naturally led to further hostilities. The two gentle- 
 men, not being bound to keep the peace, were panting 
 to renew the fray, and Mr. Bowling was literally 
 " spoiling for want of a bating." We are not sur- 
 prised to find that within a few weeks Mr. Bowling 
 appeared at Bow Street to complain of being assaulted 
 by Mr. Hunt. 
 
 On Wednesday Mr. Hunt was brought to the office 
 to answer a charge of assault on Mr. Bowling, who 
 horsewhipped him on the hustings at the late West- 
 minster election. Mr. Bowling said the simple accu- 
 sation which he had to make against Mr. Hunt was 
 that he had struck him on the preceding day in St.
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 209 
 
 Clement's churchyard. He had been informed that it 
 was Mr. Hunt's intention to give him what is called a 
 good thrashing, and had resolved, if such an attempt 
 were made, to make no resistance, but to treat him 
 in the manner which persons who had forfeited the 
 character of a gentleman deserved. On Tuesday 
 morning, having borrowed a newspaper of Mr. Cle- 
 ment, he called into his shop about half-past eleven to 
 return it. Mr. Hunt and his son were there. Mr. 
 Dowling laid the paper on the counter and was retir- 
 ing, when Mr. Hunt exclaimed, " Well, Mr. Spectacle 
 Spy, are you disposed to finish my horsewhipping 
 now ? " Mr. Dowling replied, " Mr. Hunt, I wish to 
 have no altercation with you," and was retiring, when 
 Mr. Hunt applied to him the foulest epithets, and said 
 be was a despicable government spy and informer, 
 Mr. Dowling defied him or any man on earth to prove 
 the assertion. Mr. Hunt then said, " You got it 
 inserted in all the papers the account of your having 
 horsewhipped me, and that I had not the spirit to 
 resent it." Mr. Dowling in answer, rather for the 
 ears of several persons who were in the shop than for 
 Mr. Hunt's gratification, said, " Upon my honour, the 
 charge is incorrect." Mr. Hunt then added, "If 
 you did not, some of your myrmidon colleagues did, 
 and I shall find an opportunity to give you a good 
 thrashing," following up his threat with an invitation 
 to go into the street then and fight it out. Mr. Dow- 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 zio CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 ling said that lie might execute his threat then, but 
 that he should feel himself degraded by resenting 
 anything which so contemptible a fellow either said or 
 did, at least in the way he seemed to wish, and was 
 then quitting the shop, when Mr. Hunt followed him 
 to the door, and repeated his invitation to a boxing- 
 match in the street. Mr. Bowling again declined the 
 proposed exhibition, and Mr. Hunt struck him a 
 slight blow on the face, which knocked off his spec- 
 tacles. "B n you," continued Mr. Hunt, "will 
 you resent that ? " " Not in the way you would 
 wish, Mr. Hunt," replied Mr. Bowling, " and even if 
 I were disposed so far to degrade myself, the infir- 
 mity of being short-sighted would prevent me from 
 engaging in so unequal a contest." Mr. Dowling 
 then walked away, but returned, and asked for and 
 obtained Mr. Hunt's address, with a view to the pre- 
 sent proceedings. 
 
 This forbearance and restraint seems astonishing in 
 one of Mr. Bowling's country, and rather suggests Bob 
 Acres' " you're beneath my notice ! " A Mr. Lydon, 
 who was in Mr. Clement's shop when the affair took 
 place, corroborated the statement of Mr. Bowling as 
 to the abusive language of Mr. Hunt, and Mr. Bow- 
 ling saying that he would not degrade himself by 
 resenting anything which came from a person so well 
 known. He said he saw Mr. Hunt strike Mr. Bow- 
 ing one blow, and thought he attempted to strike
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 2 1 1 
 
 him oftener, but he could not speak positively to this. 
 This account Mr. Hunt pronounced grossly incorrect, 
 inasmuch as he had never collared Mr. Dowling, nor 
 did he strike him more than one blow, and that a 
 slight one, rather with a view to make him resent it 
 than otherwise; but Mr. Dowling had acted most 
 cowardly, and had refused to tight. Mr. Dowliug 
 said he had much more reason to complain of the 
 report than Mr. Hunt. Mr. Hunt : " This is a proof 
 of the sort of fellows who act as reporters." Mr. 
 Dowling said that he had heard Mr. Hunt had also 
 turned reporter, and had written an account stating 
 that he had knocked Mr. Dowling down, and per- 
 formed other acts of heroism, with a view of having 
 his account of the transaction inserted in the papers. 
 Mr. Hunt did not deny this charge, and called upon 
 for his defence, admitted that Mr. Dowling's state- 
 ment was in a great measure correct, although exag- 
 gerated. Mr. Hunt added that the irritation of his 
 mind, from what had happened at Covent Garden, 
 had induced him to determine to give this bully an 
 opportunity of finishing his horsewhipping if he 
 thought fit; but he had, in a cowardly manner, 
 refused to fight. Mr. Dowling : " You knew where I 
 was to be found, and you also knew I was ready and 
 anxious to meet you in the only way a gentleman 
 ought to require." Mr. Hunt : " What ! meet a Govern- 
 ment spy who attempted to swear away the life of 
 
 p 2
 
 212 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Dr. Watson ! " Mr. Bowling repelled this attack, and 
 Mr. Hunt left the office, after being bound over to 
 the sessions, using the most abusive language towards 
 Mr. Dowling. Such was this edifying scene. 
 
 The matter did not end here, and the turbulent 
 Hunt family once more appeared at Bow Street. 
 
 " Mr. Thomas Hunt, a son of the celebrated orator, 
 was, on Friday, brought to the office, charged with 
 having attempted to strangle a person named Ferrar. 
 The accused is about twenty-two years of age, and 
 the accuser is well known at most of the gaming- 
 houses. On Thursday night Ferrar and a companion 
 of his named Quin, picked up a country squire, whom 
 they introduced to the wine-house of Mr. Robottom, 
 the ' Finish,' in James Street, Covent Garden, where 
 they proposed to play at cards. Robottom refused to 
 let them play in his house, and they drank wine till 
 they fell asleep. Whilst Quin and Ferrar were sleep- 
 ing some persons took off their hats, put a quantity 
 of sawdust inside, and replaced them. When they 
 awoke, on taking off their hats, the sawdust fell down 
 their bosoms, and covered their clothes. They 
 accused each other of playing the trick, and from high 
 words proceeded to blows, when some one interfered, 
 and said that Mr. Hunt had done it. Ferrar called 
 Mr. Hunt by many opprobrious names, and Mr. Hunt, 
 who denied having done it, said he was a blackleg, 
 and cautioned the country * squire ' against forming
 
 OFFICE ECCENTRICITIES. 213 
 
 an acquaintance with him. This observation pro- 
 voked Ferrar, and he uttered a most filthy and 
 unmanly insinuation against Mr. Hunt, whose indig- 
 nation being raised, he seized Ferrar by the throat, and 
 gave him such a tremendous squeeze that he was, in 
 less than half a minute, nearly strangled. 
 
 " Robottom was examined, and he said that he had 
 prevented Ferrar and Quin from 'pigeoning' the 
 ' squire,' and [that Mr. Hunt was not the person who 
 put the sawdust in the hats of Ferrar and Quin. 
 
 " Mr. Hunt said that he certainly could not deny 
 having committed the assault, but he contended that 
 any one possessing a spark of manly feeling on hear- 
 ing a wretch apply such odious language to him, 
 though he might be a dwarf in stature, would rush 
 upon the slanderer and annihilate him if he could, so 
 he (Mr. Hunt) would have destroyed the villain 
 Ferrar if he could. 
 
 " Sir E. Birnie said that if any one had used such 
 language in reference to him, as Ferrar had applied 
 to Mr. Hunt, lie would have beaten his head off Ms 
 shoulders, and he would not, therefore, call upon Mr. 
 Hunt to find bail. The sessions were sitting, and Mr. 
 Ferrar might go and indict Mr. Hunt. The case was 
 then dismissed."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 
 
 THE attraction of a police court, particularly for the 
 lower classes, has always been extraordinary, and 
 amounts to a positive fascination. A well-known 
 humourist, and a very acute observer of the odd 
 whims and turns of human character, and who has 
 made a particular study of Bow Street office, Mr. 
 George Grossmith, has described to me how much he 
 has been struck with this odd passion. He had often 
 seen in the unwashed crowd, herded at the bottom of 
 the court, a particular face peering over the barrier, 
 day after day, all absorbed in the humours of the scene. 
 By and by, the attraction would operate on his move- 
 ments, and actually draw him nearer : he would be 
 recognized in a more convenient place for observation. 
 In time he would be found under the witness-box, and 
 finally, after an interval, would be recognized at the 
 bar itself ! Then would come a blank, during which 
 he might be presumed to be working out his sentence, 
 when one day the face would be recognized in its old 
 place beyond the barrier, to pass once more through 
 the various stages, till it again faced the magistrate at
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 2 1 5 
 
 the bar. This enjoyment is no doubt founded on the 
 taste for anything dramatic, which is here provided 
 gratis. 
 
 The same eagerness is also shown by the superior 
 classes when any case affecting persons of the same 
 degree is in progress. Then the narrow precincts are 
 blocked by fine ladies and gentlemen ; the magistrate's 
 bench is invaded, inconvenience of all kinds, a stifling, 
 almost fetid atmosphere, endured and breathed cheer- 
 fully, and every stage of which is a tedious formal 
 procedure is relished, in the hope of dramatic " bits " 
 occasionally turning up. Sometimes thirty or forty 
 reporters from all parts of the kingdom crowd in, and 
 pay their acknowledgments at the close to " the 
 
 courteous clerk, Mr. ," who has been at his wit's 
 
 end to find them accommodation. The Press has 
 indeed helped to develop this taste; for, five-and- 
 twenty years ago, only a couple of these auxiliaries 
 attended, who gave a compressed historical epitome of 
 the proceedings. Now, when there is anything sensa- 
 tional, the whole dialogue is furnished, and every 
 question and answer set out, together with the de- 
 meanour of the audience, marked by what the French 
 call " hilarity," or " rires" "loud laughter," or " roars 
 of laughter, in which the magistrate heartily joined." 
 It must be a curious, original feeling, for a prisoner, 
 whose liberty or life may be involved, to hear this 
 merriment. We can fancy his aching wonder of heart,
 
 216 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 " Sport to you, death to me." When such absorbing 
 cases are protracted for many days, the audience 
 gathered in old Bow Street is something amazing ; all 
 the courts and alleys give up their unclean miscellany; 
 and, in the notorious Bolton and Park case, the very 
 housetops were lined to see the accused depart in the 
 black van. 
 
 On old bookstalls we sometimes light on an odd 
 volume of " Life in London," or the "Finish," with the 
 brilliantly coloured and spirited plates of the doings of 
 " Tom and Jerry." This work furnishes a complete 
 panorama of the gay gentleman's progress, which 
 appeared to consist in defying all authority in the 
 pursuit of pleasure. Scuffles with watchmen, seizure 
 of hackney-coaches, "rows" at Drury Lane Theatre, 
 general conflict, this was carried out with a certain 
 ruthless gallantry and profuse expenditure of cash, 
 all which, strange to say, secured immunity, and even 
 indulgent treatment, at Bow Street. The account of 
 the doings of Tom and Jerry, as recorded, seemed gross 
 exaggeration, but it was really an exact account of a 
 curious time. The writer, Pierce Egan, seems to have 
 been known to Kichardson, who has left a curious 
 account of these disorderly days. Mr. Egan, he says. 
 was of respectable family. He had been a com- 
 positor, a bookseller, a sporting writer, and contributor 
 of sporting news to the newspapers, &c. In the last- 
 mentioned capacity he was employed by the proprietor
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 2 1 7 
 
 of the Weekly Dispatch to record the " doings of the 
 ring," in which employment his peculiar phraseology, 
 and his superior knowledge of his business, soon ren- 
 dered him eminent beyond all rivalry and competition. 
 He was flattered and petted by pugilists and peers ; 
 his patronage and countenance were sought for by all 
 who considered the road to a prize-fight the road to 
 reputation and honour. Forty years before, his presence 
 was understood to confer respectability on any meeting 
 convened for the furtherance of bull-baiting, cock- 
 fighting, cudgelling, wrestling, boxing, and all that 
 comes within the category of " manly sports." If he 
 " took the chair," success was hailed as certain in the 
 object in question. On the occasions of his presence, 
 he was accompanied by a "tail." In the event of 
 opposition to his views and opinions, his satellites had 
 a mode of enforcing his authority, which had the 
 efficacy without the tediousness of discussion; and 
 though, in personal strength, far from a match for any 
 sturdy opponent, he had a courage and a vivacity in 
 action which were very highly estimated both by his 
 friends and foes. 
 
 As the literature of Combe Wood and Moulsey 
 Hurst began to decline, he had the sense to cultivate 
 the literature of the theatre, and his tact in the deli- 
 neation of a certain side of life was exemplified in the 
 farces of which he was the writer. He had on several 
 occasions visited Oxford and Cambridge, and had
 
 218 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 obtained the " honours of the sitting " prolonged 
 throughout the night in many of the colleges of those 
 venerable institutions. 
 
 But though reporting was in its infancy fifty years 
 ago, the eccentricities of Bow Street .permitted an odd 
 and original form of recording all that occurred. The 
 general tone of hilarity and facetiousness thus tolerated 
 or encouraged by the magistrates, operated in rather a 
 novel way. The public became interested and curious 
 to know what was going on, and it felt that they often 
 thus lost what was " as good as a play." The exhibitions 
 of " fast life," the profuse use of slang, &c., were too 
 good to be lost; and prompted some ingenious reporters 
 to try their hands at giving a lively and dramatic air to 
 what went on before them. One, Mr. Wight, who acted 
 for the Morning Herald, gradually obtained a sort of 
 celebrity for his powers in this direction. He had the 
 knack of adopting a rollicking, " chaffing" tone in all 
 that he described. He modelled his style after that of 
 Mr. Pierce Egan, and added many strokes of what was 
 then considered humour. The general tone was, how- 
 ever, ridicule of the unlucky beings who were treated, 
 and who, in addition to their legitimate sufferings and 
 inconvenience, found themselves laughed at by the 
 town. 
 
 It is difficult to say how far the happy imagination 
 of the reporter is accountable for the incidents and 
 dialogue of these scenes. But, setting this question
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 2 1 9 
 
 aside, the following sketches, besides being entertain- 
 ing, from their dramatic spirit, have a curious interest 
 as pictures of social life. One is struck by the general 
 violence that was then abroad, and we wonder how 
 the spirit of disorder could have been kept in check at 
 all. The inspiration of " Tom and Jerry," it will be 
 seen, was at work, and every one of the " right sort " 
 was eager to show his "sort" by either "boxing" a 
 watchman, driving off with a hackney-coach, or " bilk- 
 ing " a tavern-keeper. The following illustrates these 
 noble aims : 
 
 Gentlemen Jehus making the most of a Jarvey. 
 
 John Wigley Williams, Esquire, was put forward 
 from amongst a group of nocturnals from St. 
 Martin's watch-house. He had been given in charge 
 by a hackney-coachman for non-payment of his 
 fare. He was a young and altogether exquisite per- 
 sonage ; but his Parisian-cut toggery was sadly de- 
 teriorated by the dust and dirt of his subterraneous 
 dormitory. 
 
 Coachee stated that " this gentleman and another 
 gentleman," at eleven o'clock the night before called 
 him off the stand in the Old Bailey, and before he 
 could get down to let them into his coach they both 
 jumped upon his box, snatched the reins and whip out 
 of his hand, and began flogging and driving away 
 " like mad," down Ludgate Hill and up Fleet Street.
 
 220 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 He endeavoured to stop them repeatedly, but it was of 
 no use; every time lie opened his mouth the other 
 gentleman said to this gentleman, " Shall I shove him 
 off the box, Wigley ? " and every time this gentleman 
 replied, " Go it ! " In this manner' they galloped on 
 through Temple Bar and along the Strand, cruelly 
 flogging the horses at every step. " Don't flog my 
 horses, gentlemen, they arn't used to it," cried coachee. 
 " Shall I shove him off the box, Wigley ? " said one 
 gentleman " Go it ! " replied the other. At last they 
 reached Charing Cross ; and there coachee made such 
 a determined resistance that all three were in danger 
 of tumbling off the box in a bunch, and the horses 
 were stopped by some persons passing, when one of 
 the " gentlemen " ran away like a " pickpocket," as 
 coachee said, and the other refusing to pay anything 
 for his ride, was handed over to the watchman, who 
 carried him forthwith to the watch-house. 
 
 When the coachman had told his story, the magis- 
 trate, addressing himself to the captured Jehu, asked, 
 " Pray what are you, sir ? " 
 
 " Me, your worship ? I am Mithter John Wigley 
 Williamths." 
 
 " That is your name only. How do you describe 
 yourself ? " 
 
 " I thuppose, your worthip, sthpeaking of mythelf, 
 I thoud thay I am a gentleman." 
 
 " A gentleman, sir, is a very equivocal title now-a-
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 2 2 1 
 
 days, and if the coachman thinks proper to prosecute 
 you for the assault upon him I would then know 
 something more of you." 
 
 The coachman said he would rather decline prose- 
 cuting for the assault, because it would be such a loss 
 of time to him. 
 
 Mister John Wigley Williams said there was an 
 agreement that they should drive themselves ; and he 
 would have paid the fare if the coachman would have 
 let him gone on as far as he wished to go. He com- 
 plained bitterly of the treatment he had met with in 
 the watch-house, having been thrust down into a filthy 
 dungeon 
 
 " Where all other disorderly people are put," said 
 his worship, to save him the trouble of finishing the 
 sentence. 
 
 The watch-house keeper said a bed was offered to 
 the gentleman, but he would not have it, and was so 
 very impudent and noisy that it was found necessary 
 to put him below. 
 
 The magistrate ordered him to pay the coachman 
 his fare from the Old Bailey to Charing Cross, together 
 with two shillings for his time in attending to make 
 his complaint. 
 
 Mister Gentleman John Wigley Williams obeyed this 
 order without demur; and having paid another shilling 
 for his discharge-fee, he was suffered to go home to his 
 parents.
 
 222 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Gabriel Spriggins. 
 
 Amongst a number of " disorderlies " who were 
 brought up before the sitting magistrate (Alderman 
 Garratt), for breaches of the peace or disorderly con- 
 duct, a person of gentlemanly appearance and manners, 
 who called himself Gabriel Spriggins, particularly 
 attracted the attention of the magistrate. 
 
 " A wretched old charwoman, who lives in a dirty, 
 and at night dismal place, called Star Court, Chancery 
 Lane, came forward and charged Gabriel with having 
 broken open her bedroom door in the dead of the pre- 
 ceding night. She said she was a lone woman, who 
 had but one son, a sailor, who lived in her room a 
 garret at No. 3 when he was in town; and it so 
 happened that he was sleeping at her feet. The old 
 woman, who it was evident had not yet recovered 
 from the fright in which she had been put, ran on 
 with a detail of circumstances, which the magistrate 
 could only clearly collect from her son, a gloomy- 
 looking sailor. From his account it appeared that, at 
 four o'clock on the morning before, they were awakened 
 by the barking of the old woman's dog, and heard a 
 sort of scratching at the room door. The sailor 
 thought it was a cat scratching to get in, and beat the 
 dog for awakening him on so slight an occasion. The 
 noise then ceased, and all was quiet for a time. Some 
 time after she was awakened by a noise as if the door 
 of the room had been burst open, and after an interval
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 2 2 3 
 
 of silence she felt a cold hand wandering over her bed, 
 when she exclaimed, thinking her son had got up, 
 " Jack, is that your hand ? " " No, mother, I wasn't 
 stirring," said the sailor. " Then there's some fellow 
 in the room," replied the old woman. The sailor, at 
 the word, sprung out of his bed, and felt about in the 
 dark for the intruder ; designing to send him, whoever 
 he might be, by one step, from the top to the bottom 
 of the stairs. He caught hold of him at last, and gave 
 him a twist towards the door with the design men- 
 tioned, which threw him across the old woman as she 
 lay in bed. The sailor flung himself upon the intruder, 
 whom he found was rather a heavier opponent than 
 he calculated upon, and threatened to blow his brains 
 out if he stirred. Gabriel, who was under the sailor, 
 threatened to murder both of them if they resisted 
 him, and accompanied his threat by many " strange 
 and desperate oaths." The old woman, as soon as 
 she could disencumber herself from the load, went to 
 the window and screamed out " murder ! " lustily, 
 whilst the intruder and her son were grappling on the 
 floor for ascendency, with various success. The 
 watchman and a crowd of the miserable lodgers in 
 the house soon rushed into the room and seized the 
 prisoner. They were not a little amazed to find a 
 person of gentlemanly appearance in the house, and in 
 such a situation, and the whole had a most curious 
 appearance, particularly from the figure of the old
 
 224 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 woman, with her hair hanging about her neck, and of 
 her son, who was, of course, undressed. The prisoner 
 threatened furiously, and resisted being carried to the 
 watch-house, whither however he was taken, but could 
 not be prevailed upon to give any account of himself, 
 how he got to that height, or for what purpose. The 
 house, it appeared, is let out in lodgings to numerous 
 miserable lodgers, for whose convenience the door is left 
 open, and they sleep in all that enviable security which 
 is produced by having nothing worth taking to lose. 
 
 The prisoner, who had, during the recital of the 
 story expressed the highest surprise and amusement, 
 as if the witnesses had been relating a fiction, when 
 called upon gravely by the magistrate to tell who and 
 what he was, and to account for his extraordinary 
 proceedings, replied, " My name is Ireland : I am 
 flauto primo, which means, your worship, principal 
 flute, at the King's Theatre, where I was last night. 
 The whole of the strange story that these people have 
 been telling you I know nothing of, and certain I am 
 that I was in my own bed, long before and after four 
 in the morning, therefore I conclude that these good 
 people have been dreaming." 
 
 He was immediately recognized by a gentleman 
 present, as the eminent flute player of the Italian 
 Opera house, where most lovers of music must have 
 heard, and been ' delighted with, his fine tones and 
 brilliant execution. The magistrate saw at once that
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 2 2 5 
 
 the son of Apollo had been sacrificing rather freely to 
 Bacchus, and that he was still under the influence of 
 his libations, although it was not apparent at first 
 sight. He appeared impressed with the idea, as he 
 had slept in the Compter, that he had been in his bed 
 all night. 'The worthy alderman gave particular in- 
 structions to the officers to take care of him, and con- 
 vey him to his friends. Poor Ireland is since dead : 
 ' he was a fellow of infinite jest ;' universally esteemed, 
 and in his profession admirable." 
 
 A Bold Stroke for a Dinner. 
 
 Officers in the services did not disdain to try and 
 " bilk " a tavern-keeper of a dinner. But this again 
 was only part of the morals of " fast life." 
 
 " There was a little personage in striped cotton 
 trousers and blue surtout, calling himself " Lieutenant 
 Seaman, of the Honourable East India Company's 
 Foreign Naval Service," brought before Gr. R. 
 Minshull, Esq., the other night, at the suit of Mr. 
 Jaggers, landlord of the Army and Navy Coffee 
 House, St. Martin's Lane ; on a charge of having 
 conspired, with two other persons unknown, to 
 defraud the said Mr. John Jaggers of three pounds 
 of rump steak, one pot of porter, two bottles of 
 sherry, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 Lieutenant Seaman, when brought before his wor- 
 ship, could not keep his perpendicular ; and every now 
 
 VOL. I. Q
 
 226 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 and then he came down with a hiccupping lee-lurch 
 upon the magisterial table. 
 
 " Stand up, sir," said the attending gaoler. " Is 
 that the way to conduct yourself before a magis- 
 trate ? " 
 
 " Hiccup ! " replied Lieutenant Seaman, opening 
 his eyes as wide as he could ; " and is that the way 
 vou address a British officer, I should like to know ? 
 
 tt 
 
 Have I the hiccup honour of addressing Sir 
 Richard Birnie ? " 
 
 " No my name is Minshull," replied the magis- 
 trate. 
 
 " Aye I'm sorry for that, Mr. Minshull I wish you 
 had been Sir Richard Birnie, because I should have 
 the honour of knowing you and you would have 
 known my family to b.e vastly respectable and 
 hiccup ! " 
 
 Here the lieutenant stuck fast ; but if anybody else 
 attempted to speak he interrupted them by desiring 
 they would recollect the respect due to a British 
 officer ; and it was-not till his worship had threatened 
 to have him locked up, that he could be prevailed upon 
 to be quiet. 
 
 It appeared, by the tavern-keeper's statement, that 
 the gallant lieutenant and two other superb-looking 
 gentlemen, came into his house that afternoon, and 
 ordered " rump-steaks, and etceteras for three ; " " And, 
 d'ye hear," added the lieutenant who seemed to be the
 
 MORNINGS A T BOW STREET. 227 
 
 leading man of the party "D'ye hear let them be 
 done to a turn, and served up instanter." 
 
 A dish of rump-steaks full of gravy, tender as a 
 chicken, and delicately garnished with fresh scraped 
 horse-radish, was served up " instanter " accordingly, 
 with India pickle, a foaming pot of porter, and all 
 things usually appertaining to a dish of rump-steaks. 
 These things demolished, capital Stilton, prime old 
 Cheshire, and double Gloucester, with two bottles of 
 excellent sherry, followed ; and then as soon as the 
 sherry was out two of the gentlemen bolted without 
 saying a word about the bill. Still, the landlord 
 thought the lieutenant would pay, but he was deceived ; 
 for in the next minute the lieutenant attempted to 
 bolt also; and so he would have done, had not the 
 landlord whipped out of his bar as quick as lightning, 
 and caught him by the skirt of his blue surtout just 
 as he was crossing the threshold. Thus awkwardly 
 taken to, the lieutenant confessed he had no money ; 
 and thereupon the landlord consigned him to the care 
 of a constable. 
 
 His worship now called upon the lieutenant for his 
 defence ; and the lieutenant replied, " It's all very 
 true and I'll pay on Friday." He was told that 
 Friday would not do, that he must pay instantly, or 
 be committed to prison. He declared he could not 
 pay " Come what, come may " and he was com- 
 mitted accordingly. We understand his family is 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 highly respectable, and very much annoyed by his 
 eccentricities." 
 
 The adventures thus described and embellished were 
 generally concerned with the so-called " Life " at the 
 theatres, saloons, and flash houses. The impression 
 left, it must be said, is something inexpressibly vulgar. 
 The exhibition of " manners," at the theatre particu- 
 larly, is extraordinary from its coarse brutality. Here 
 are some further specimens. 
 
 A 'Battle in the Boxes. 
 
 " Young Mr. Dakins occupied a front seat in one of 
 the boxes till the conclusion of the first piece. Then, 
 having nothing else to do, he looked round the house. 
 Suddenly he espied a party of friends, male and female, 
 in the very next box. They occupied the front seat 
 and part of the second ; and he, perceiving that there 
 was a vacant space on the second seat, went and took 
 possession of it forthwith, and was highly delighted at 
 the luckiness of the circumstance. In a few minutes 
 in comes the little round man " Hallo ! " says he, 
 " you've got my seat, young man." " Your seat, 
 sir ? " said the young man, with some surprise. 
 " Yes, my seat, sir," replied the round one. " Well, 
 sir," rejoined the young one, " you need not be so hot 
 upon 't there is a very nice seat, which I have just left, 
 in the front row of the adjoining box will you have 
 the goodness to take that, as I wish to remain here
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 229 
 
 with my friends ? " " No, sir," replied the round one, 
 very waspishly " no, sir, I shall not ! This is my 
 seat I have satten upon it all the evening, and I'll 
 have no other ; and let me tell you, sir, that I think 
 your conduct in taking it, sir, very ungentlemanly, 
 sir ! " The young man's friends now interfered, but 
 in vain ; and at length they told him to let the little 
 fat man have his seat, and they would make room for 
 him in the front row. So there they sat, enduring all 
 the moist miseries of four in a row, till the end of the 
 second piece ; when the young man, turning round his 
 head, perceived the little round man's seat empty again ; 
 and, after waiting a few minutes, and finding he did 
 not return, he again took possession of it, to the great 
 relief of the poor ladies in the front row. But he had 
 scarcely seated himself when in pops the little round 
 man again, and without saying more than " I see this 
 is done on purpose to insult me ! " he seized the young 
 man by the collar of the coat behind, lifted him from 
 the seat, and very dexterously slid himself into it. In 
 an instant all was uproar. " Turn him out ! " 
 "Throw him over!" The little fat man lost his 
 balance, fell backwards, and in that position he let fly 
 " O-TI immense volley of lacks" which the young man 
 received on his stomach. The ladies shrieked, the 
 gentlemen tried to hold his legs down, the house cried 
 " Shame ! " and at length, after kickings and cuffings, 
 and pullings and haulings, quite distressing to detail,
 
 230 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 the little round man was delivered over to the peace- 
 officers, and conveyed to the watch-house, panting like 
 a porpoise, and perspiring at every pore. 
 
 The magistrate said there were faults on both sides. 
 In the first place, the defendant should not have 
 quitted his seat without saying to his neighbour that 
 he intended to return ; secondly, common courtesy 
 ought to have induced the complainant to have relin- 
 quished it when demanded; and, thirdly, that the 
 defendant should have demanded it civilly. Upon the 
 whole, it was a very silly piece of business, and he would 
 recommend them to retire, and make an end of it by 
 mutual explanation, or apology. 
 
 This pacific advice, however, was rejected by both 
 parties, and so the little round man was held to bail." 
 
 It is indeed extraordinary to compare the condition 
 of the theatres of those days with their state at pre- 
 sent, and it would seem that the people frequented 
 them for every other purpose than that of seeing the 
 play. This, it has not been noticed, was a consequence 
 of the theatrical monopoly then enjoyed by the two 
 patent theatres, which, from the great size and 
 spaciousness of accommodation, offered attractions to 
 the disorderly followers of what was called " Fast life." 
 The proprietor, certain of his vast attendance, was not 
 above offering inducements to this miscellany, and 
 with this view prepared vast lobbies and a still 
 more peculiar institution of the day, " The saloon "
 
 AfORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 231 
 
 a magnificent and palatial chamber, still to be seen 
 at Drury Lane Theatre, which was crowded every 
 night with fair Cyprians and their followers, always en- 
 couraged to attend by even respectable managers. The 
 saloon was as important a part of the entertainment as 
 was the auditorium, and had its own " audiences." 
 
 It may be well conceived that it became a difficult 
 duty to preserve order and decorum in such assemblies, 
 and a regular force of officers from Bow Street were 
 engaged at the theatre, of whom the two Bonds, father 
 and son, were the best known. 
 
 " Tom and Jerry," and " Bob Logic," their mentor 
 and friend, used to repair to the theatre, not to see 
 the play, but to " make a night of it." The boxes were 
 constantly the scene of shameful "rows," drunken 
 " gentlemen " forcing their" way and attempting to 
 thrust others from their seats, putting their legs on the 
 seats, &c. Thus Thomas Baker Cox, Esq., of No. 1, 
 Soho Square, accompanied by a friend, appeared before 
 Sir R. Birnie, to prefer a complaint against Bond, 
 the principal constable of Drury Lane Theatre, for as- 
 saulting him in the pit of that theatre. The magistrate 
 immediately directed that Bond should be sent for. 
 
 " Mr. Cox stated that he went to Drury Lane 
 Theatre on Wednesday night, for the purpose of 
 seeing " An Operatic Extravaganza, called Giovanni 
 in Ireland." He seated himself in the pit, and some 
 of the scenes he applauded, and some of them he
 
 232 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 condemned, just as he thought they deserved, when 
 he was suddenly seized by the collar, and dragged from 
 the seat by Bond, who, in so doing, tore his shirt, and 
 seemed strongly inclined to proceed to further violence, 
 and drag him out of the house altogether ; indeed, he 
 verily believed he would have done so, had it not been 
 for the repeated cries of " Shame ! shame ! " which re- 
 sounded on all sides. These cries, however, induced him 
 to relinquish his grasp, and he (Mr. Cox) demanded to 
 know his name, but he answered only by producing a 
 constable's staff; and it was not till after long hesita- 
 tion and urgent reiteration of the demand, that he gave 
 his name, and stated himself to belong to the Police 
 Establishment at Bow Street. He added that he re- 
 peatedly observed Bond himself applauding the per- 
 formances in the most vociferous manner. 
 
 " Well, sir," asked the magistrate, " do you not think 
 one man has as much right to applaud, as another has 
 to censure." 
 
 Mr. Cox : " Certainly, sir ; but I think that it should 
 have taught him the impropriety of interfering with 
 others who were doing no more than himself." 
 
 Bond was now called upon for his account of the 
 affray. He said the gentleman (Mr. C.) came into the 
 pit in the middle of the performance, hurried to his 
 seat, and without waiting a moment to see whether 
 what was going on was good, bad, or indifferent, he 
 began shouting, "Off! off! off!" with all his might;
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 233 
 
 until the audience became so much annoyed, that there 
 was a general call throughout the house of " Turn him 
 out ! " and then, and not till then, did he lay hold of 
 him. He stated further, that the complainant was the 
 only person in the house who expressed the slightest 
 disapprobation ! In conclusion, he denied all that 
 had been said about tearing the shirt, or the extra 
 " dragging," and he affirmed that he should be able to 
 bring " hundreds of witnesses " to disprove it. 
 
 Mr. Cox persisted in the correctness of his statement. 
 He denied that he commenced his disapprobation at 
 his first entering the house ; on the contrary, he had 
 been there a long time, and it was not until he saw a 
 representation of a Court of Justice, in which singing 
 was introduced, that he expressed any decided censure ; 
 and he contended that he had an undoubted right to 
 express his opinion of any theatrical performance in 
 the customary manner. He then asked his worship 
 whether he could imagine anything more preposterously 
 ridiculous than singing in a Court of Justice ; and he 
 was proceeding to descant on some other incongruities 
 in the " Extravaganza" when 
 
 Sir R. Birnie interrupted him by observing that he 
 did not sit there to give opinions upon theatrical per- 
 formances ; all he had to do was to ascertain whether 
 an unjustifiable assault had been committed. The 
 proprietors of the theatre employed several constables 
 merely for the preservation of the peace, and it re-
 
 234 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 mained for Bond to show that the complainant was 
 committing a breach of the peace, or doing anything 
 to excite a breach of it ; and, if he could not do this, 
 his interference was certainly unjustifiable. Bond, 
 however, had talked of having witnesses to produce ; 
 and in order that both parties might be more fully pre- 
 pared, he should postpone the further examination of 
 the matter. 
 
 On Friday, Bond, the officer, attended before Sir 
 R. Birnie, with two persons, who, he said, would 
 prove all that he had stated with respect to the con- 
 duct of Mr. Cox, to be true. These persons were, a 
 publican in Newgate Market, and a tradesman of the 
 same place. Mr. Cox was called, but did not answer, 
 nor did he appear in the course of the day, and the 
 matter therefore rests for the present undetermined." 
 
 Here is a sketch of a scene at Drury Lane Theatre, 
 which shows what " Yahoos " were the professors of 
 " fast life," as it was called. 
 
 A Spree at the Theatre. 
 
 " Christopher Dobson and Harding Montague, 
 Esquires of course, but very coarse esquires, were 
 charged with creating a disturbance, and assaulting 
 the peace-officers, at Drury Lane Theatre, during the 
 performances there. 
 
 They were brought from Covent Garden watch- 
 house, together with a gang of young thieves, dis-
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 235 
 
 orderly cobblers, drunken prostitutes, houseless vaga- 
 bonds, and other off-scourings of society ; and a very 
 respectable appearance they made. 
 
 Eleven o'clock at length arrived, and the magistrates 
 having taken their seats, the demolished Corinthians 
 were ushered into their presence, and a charge, of 
 which the following is the substance, was exhibited 
 against them. 
 
 Between the third and fourth acts of Wild Oats, they 
 were swaggering about the lobbies, insulting every- 
 body that came in their way; the "big one" that 
 is to say, Mr. Kit Dobson offering to mill " anybody 
 in the world," and repeatedly exclaiming, " Oh, that 
 a man of my own powers would come athwart me ! " 
 and the " thin one " (that's Mr. Harding Montague), 
 lisping responsively, " That's your sort ! Go it, Kitty 
 my covy." Nobody taking the challenge, Kitty my 
 covy, in the overflowing of his Corinthianism, seized 
 the thin one, dashed him against the wall of the lobby, 
 and shattered one of the lamps with his empty know- 
 ledge-box. The thin one took it in good part, but Mr. 
 Spring, the box book-keeper, who happened to witness 
 the feat, was not so well pleased, and sent for Bond, 
 the officer, to remove them. Bond prevailed upon 
 them to be a little more quiet ; but in a quarter of an 
 hour after, he found them in the saloon, sparring, 
 bellowing, and capering, like a pair of inebriated 
 ourang outangs, as he said, to the great danger of the
 
 236 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 mirrors, and the scandal even of that temple of 
 depravity. He again attempted to remonstrate with 
 them : but all he could get from them, was a challenge 
 to fight from Kitty my covy ; and therefore he called 
 for the assistance of his brother officers, determined 
 to remove them entirely from the theatre. Jones, 
 Lewis, and Drummond, of the patrole, and Sayers, a 
 parish constable, came to his assistance ; and now 
 began what the Eganites call " a prime spree" Kitty my 
 covy laying about him with all his might, and the thin 
 one doing his little utmost to help him. The officers, 
 however, got them out of the house ; but they obstre- 
 perously insisted upon re-entering; and at last, after 
 a long altercation, they conveyed them to the watch- 
 house. In their way thither, Kitty my covy contrived 
 to get hold of the hand of one of the officers (Jones), 
 and gave it such a twist, that three of his fingers were 
 dislocated, and the tendons of the wrist so much 
 injured, that the surgeon of the establishment gave it 
 as his opinion, that he would not be able to use his 
 hand for several weeks to come. When they got into 
 the watch-house, this same Kitty behaved more like 
 a mad bull than anything else refusing to go below, 
 and threatening them with the displeasure of the 
 
 Marquis of W r. At length, however, they were 
 
 put down ; but in the conflict, Lewis (an old and rather 
 infirm officer) received such a savagely marked kick in 
 the groin from Mr. Kit Dobson, that he was laid
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 237 
 
 senseless on the floor for several minutes. Drummond, 
 another officer of diminutive make, he also kicked 
 violently on the stomach ; indeed all the five officers 
 engaged were injured in some way or other. 
 
 The magistrates now called upon these amateurs 
 of "Life" for their defence; whereupon Mr. Christo- 
 pher Dobson delivered himself verbatim as follows : 
 
 " Why, your worships, all I have to say about it is, 
 that I do belong to His Majesty's service, but haven't 
 been in the habit of being much in town, and the fact 
 is, I don't know what it is ; but this gentleman (the 
 thin one) is my friend I suppose we were not in our 
 regular senses ; certainly we were not so sober as we 
 might have been but the fact is, that we must make 
 good any damage that we have done." 
 
 Mr. Harding Montague said nothing, but he gasped 
 pitifully, and looked altogether so droopingly lackadai- 
 sical, that the very officers seemed sorry for him. 
 
 Their worships ordered that they should put in 
 bail, to answer the five distinct charges of assault at 
 Quarter Sessions Christopher Dobson, Esquire, in 100/., 
 and two sureties of 50L each, and Harding Montague, 
 Esquire, in 801. , and two sureties of 40/. each. 
 
 The unfortunate gentlemen remained locked up the 
 whole day among the other unfortunates, in the strong 
 room, and in the evening they gave the bail required ; 
 but it was at the same time intimated, that the Grand 
 Jury had returned five true bills against them, and
 
 238 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 that they would in all probability be taken upon Bench 
 warrants on the morrow. Oh this " Life /" 
 
 Even ladies were not secure against violence from 
 the ungentlemanly blackguards who frequented the 
 theatres. In our time persons in the pit suffer uncom- 
 plainingly or with good-humoured grumbling when 
 some lofty bonnet completely obscures what is doing 
 on the stage. Not so the " Tom and Jerry " black- 
 guards in the boxes. Thus with a- Mr. Sadd, who 
 had attended Mrs. and Miss Higginbottom to Covent 
 Garden, the former lady, as it was admitted, being 
 arrayed in an enormous hat or bonnet which shut off 
 all view of the stage. This grievance, however, is much 
 complained of in our own time, and the bonnet 
 " pittite " who has come out for an evening's enter- 
 tainment finds himself deprived of even the sight of 
 the stage by some growth of hat directly in front of 
 him. He, however, submits with a grumbling protest. 
 " When the opera commenced, the defendant Hutchin- 
 son, in a very rude and peremptory manner, ordered 
 Mrs. fligginbottom to take off the "monstrous" 
 bonnet which she had on her head. She was offended 
 at the manner in which she had been addressed and 
 treated his commands with contempt. The defendant 
 used most offensive language, thrust his knees against 
 Mrs. Higginbottom's back, and repeated his order. 
 Gross remarks were made about the size of the lady's 
 person, and also of her bonnet, and a young man
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 239 
 
 about seventeen years of age thrust himself between 
 the lady and witness, and he pushed him from him. 
 The defendant and another man, who was short, stout, 
 bald, and passionate, seized witness by the collar, tore 
 his coat [here the garment, tattered and torn, was 
 exhibited], and struck him repeatedly. Witness called 
 in an officer, and asked Mr. Hutchinson to give his 
 address. He refused to do so, and witness believed 
 that he was ashamed of his outrageous and ungentle- 
 manly behaviour. The language of the defendant and 
 his friends was most gross, and one of them said that 
 his mother's bonnet was the size of a hayrick. Mr. 
 Hutchinson said, " Now, sir, the real fact is, that I and 
 a gentleman present, and a youth about sixteen years 
 of age, took our seats in the pit of the theatre, on a 
 form behind a very large female who wore a most 
 tremendous bonnet. Its size was monstrous, and 
 prevented me from having a view of the performances 
 or of the stage even." A gentleman who wore 
 spectacles, who sat near him, said that the bonnet 
 ought to be pulled off if she would not take it off. On 
 observing that there was room for one person to sit by 
 the side of Mr. Sadd, he placed his young friend there, 
 and Mr. Sadd violently forced himself against the 
 youth. Being indignant at such conduct, he seized 
 Mr. Sadd by the collar, and dragged him from the 
 youth to his proper seat. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : This fracas appears to have arisen
 
 2 4 o CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 entirely out of the circumstance of a lady wearing a 
 monstrous-sized bonnet. I own that the fashion of 
 wearing such large coverings for the heads of ladies in 
 theatres is a great nuisance to play-goers ; but it was 
 not right to talk about pulling the bonnet from a lady's 
 head, and it might not be convenient for a lady at all 
 times to take off her bonnet. 
 
 Mr. Lomas said, It was not true that Mr. Hutchinson 
 addressed her in ungentlemanly language. The assault 
 was first committed by Mr. Sadd thrusting himself 
 violently against a youth sixteen years of age, his (Mr. 
 Lomas' s) nephew. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : It is a pity that such monstrous-sized 
 bonnets should be worn at a theatre. The case has a dif- 
 ferent appearance since the explanation of Mr. Lomas. 
 
 Mr. Sadd : Mr. Lomas assaulted me, and I charge 
 him with the outrage. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Both gentlemen must find bail to 
 answer the charge at the sessions. Bail was put in 
 and the party discharged." 
 
 How to catch a Customer. 
 
 An extraordinary case in 1824 shows that the 
 buffoonery of the day had extended even to tradesmen 
 in their relations with their customers. 
 
 " A gentleman well known in the rouge et noir circles, 
 presented himself before the magistrate to claim redress 
 against a bootmaker in New Street, Covent Garden.
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 24 1 
 
 The unfortunate gentleman had walked, or rather 
 twaddled to the office in a pair of loose slippers ; and 
 there was such a manifestation of suffering in his voice, 
 countenance, and gesture, that everybody pitied him. 
 
 He said he had been miserable enough to have some 
 dispute with his bootmaker, in which he might perhaps 
 have expressed himself rather more warmly than the 
 occasion warranted. On Saturday the bootmaker sent 
 him home a pair of boots which had been some time 
 under repair, and on Sunday morning he put them on 
 and walked out, intending to call upon several of his 
 friends. But he had not walked more than two 01 
 three hundred yards when his feet began to feel 
 " cursedly uncomfortable," and the more he walked 
 the more uncomfortable they became. He returned 
 home. " Bring the bootjack, Molly ! " he exclaimed. 
 Molly brought the bootjack, and with eager anticipa- 
 tion of ease he stuck his heel into the friendly fork, 
 but, alas ! he no sooner began to pull than his agonies 
 were increased tenfold ! and the bootjack was kicked 
 away in despair. At last for it is miserable to dwell 
 upon such horrors at last the gentleman, sweating at 
 every pore, and wound up almost to madness with his 
 pain, thrust his heel once more into the yawning jack, 
 and pulled with such a desperate might, that his foot 
 came forth with its poor toes completely scarified ! 
 Not only the stocking, but the skin was left behind, 
 and even his very corns were torn up by the roots ! 
 
 VOL. i. R
 
 242 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Suffice it to say, that the other foot was torn away in 
 the same manner, and it came forth from the con- 
 founded boot almost as skinless as an anatomical 
 preparation. 
 
 And now, what do our readers suppose wrought all 
 this miserable mischief ? The bootmaker had, with 
 " malice prepense" as it would appear, lined the whole 
 interior of the toe part of each boot with cobbler's wax ! 
 The gentleman himself was firmly of opinion that it 
 was done maliciously, and he urged the magistrate to 
 grant him redress. 
 
 The magistrate observed that it was a new case ; 
 and though it was certainly a most unpleasant one, he 
 feared it could not be brought within his jurisdiction. 
 
 The gentleman suggested that it would probably 
 come under the act for preventing the wanton destruc- 
 tion of property. His stockings had been destroyed, 
 his boots had been spoiled, and his feet had been 
 cruelly scarified. All this had been done wantonly 
 and wilfully, he said; and in corroboration of the 
 premises, he produced the pair of silk stockings which 
 he wore on the agonizing occasion. 
 
 These stockings certainly were spoiled; and after 
 much urging; on the part of the gentleman, his worship 
 consented that a summons should issue for the boot- 
 maker's appearance. 
 
 However, it came to nothing ; for in half an hour 
 after the gentleman crept back to the office, and said
 
 MORNINGS AT BOW STREET. 243 
 
 he and the bootmaker had come to an eclaircissement 
 that would render his worship's interference unneces- 
 sary. What was the nature of that eclaircissement did 
 not appear." 
 
 The Champion and Coppersmith. 
 
 " The Champion of England not he who, gallantly 
 armed, rode proudly through ranks of assembled 
 chivalry, and challenged the world in defence of his 
 Sovereign -but the champion of England's prouder 
 pugilism the belted hero of the prize-ring the man 
 whose fist is fate the in a word, honest Tom Cribb, 
 entered the office covered with mud, and holding in 
 his giant grasp, a little, well-bemudded, wriggling 
 coppersmith, named William Bull. " And please your 
 worships," said the champion, "this here little rascal 
 (shaking him), comes into my tap-room, with two or 
 three dirty chaps of the same sort, and got so sweet 
 upon themselves with drinking beer, that they must 
 needs go into the parlour to drink grog, amongst the 
 gentlemen, your worships ! and because I wouldn't 
 stand that, this here little rascal (shaking him again) 
 smashes two panes of glass to shivers, and then tried 
 to bolt, but it wouldn't do." 
 
 The champion was desired to loose his hold upon 
 the coppersmith, and he did so instantly ; but he still 
 regarded him with a look of angry indignation, whilst 
 the saucy little coppersmith, adjusting his disordered 
 
 B 2
 
 244 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 jacket, exclaimed, " My eyes, Mister Tommy ! let us 
 ever catch you at Bristol again, and we'll zarve you out 
 for this ! " 
 
 Mr. Bull Bill Bull he called himself was ordered 
 to be quiet, on pain of being instantly locked up ; and 
 other witnesses of the affair were examined, by whose 
 evidence the champion's account of it was fully sub- 
 stantiated, with an additional circumstance or two, 
 which he, with his usual modesty, had omitted to 
 mention, viz., that he, with his own right arm, cleared 
 his house of the three coxcombical coppersmiths in a 
 minute ; and that when the fourth, Mr. Bill Bull, 
 milled the glaze and bolted, the champion himself 
 pursued with the fleetness of a wild elephant, caught 
 the scampering coppersmith by the " scuff of the neck," 
 and falling with him to the earth, they rolled over and 
 over in the mud till the impetus of their fall was spent ! 
 and this was the way in which they came to be so 
 muddily encased. 
 
 The coppersmith had nothing to say for himself, 
 except that he thought himself, " as good a man as 
 Mr. Tommy, any day," and that he had as much right 
 to drink grog in a parlour as any other gentleman. 
 
 The magistrate commended the champion's conduct ; 
 told him he should be protected from insult and out- 
 rage in his business ; and ordered the potvaliant cop- 
 persmith to be locked up until he should pay for the 
 windows he had demolished.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 
 
 The Rival Bedouins. 
 
 THEKE was something highly farcical in a theatrical 
 dispute which was taken to Bow Street for settlement. 
 Mr. Braham in 1833 or 1834 had engaged what were 
 called " The Bedouin Arabs," to perform at the once 
 popular Colliseum in the Eegent's Park; when Ducrow, 
 who was installed at Astley's, put out advertisements 
 announcing a similar entertainment, but performed by a 
 much larger contingent of " Genuine Bedouin Arabs." 
 Braham, who had gone to a large expense to secure his 
 Arabs, took the extraordinary step of applying at Bow 
 Street for a warrant to stop Mr. Astley's performances. 
 Ducrow was an eccentric personage enough, and I 
 believe was the author of the sagacious speech " Cut out 
 the dialect and come to the 'osses !" the pith and 
 moment of all dramatic compositions. Indignant at the 
 attempt to stop his performances, he issued this racy
 
 246 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 proclamation, which is really delightful for its spirit, 
 coarse contempt, and a sort of " horse-coper's " 
 raillery. 
 
 " Extraordinary Equestrian and Gymnastic Arab 
 Feats ! Surpasses anything of the kind ever produced. 
 The public are respectfully informed that these are not 
 the four black men who play without their shoes and 
 stockings at the west end of the town, but upwards of 
 forty British artists, that challenge all Europe for 
 talent, variety, extraordinary feats of manly skill and 
 activity, and who nightly receive thunders of applause 
 from crowded audiences, and do not play to a dozen of 
 daily loungers. The union of talent and Arab spec- 
 tacles of this establishment does not confine itself to 
 the tumbling of four great ugly blacks, who have 
 been refused an engagement at Astley's, because there 
 are so many superior and more extraordinary men of 
 our own country nearly starving, and compelled to 
 perform on an open race-course for a penny, whilst 
 those four men can get one hundred pounds per week, 
 because they are black, and foreigners. 
 
 " The reader no doubt has witnessed boys running 
 alongside of a coach, doing what is termed * cat-in- 
 wheel,' and turning foresprings with one hand and 
 then the other ; or throwing summersets from a sand- 
 bank. Such is the grand performances of these 
 Sauteurs, consisting of three or four blacks, who walk 
 on their hands, with their naked feet in the air, like
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 247 
 
 two black frying-pans (of course no lady or respectable 
 person can sit and see this). 
 
 " These blacks, with the man who takes half their 
 money, applied at Bow Street to ask if they could not 
 prevent Astley's from using the word * Arab Exercises,' 
 for that the public went every night and filled Astley's, 
 and never came to see them at all ! Why, of course, 
 the public are the best judges, and know the difference 
 between seeing a spectacle in character, produced with 
 splendour, to introduce the talents of the flying man, 
 the equilibrists, elastic tumblers, the antipodeans, 
 jugglers, dancers, men and horses, tableaux, the 
 groups of trained horses, and other novelties ! But 
 come, see, and judge for yourselves; for this is only a 
 small part of Astley's entertainments." 
 
 "Mine Host and his Waiter.' 1 
 
 Enter Mr. OXBERRY, in a long plaid cloak turned up 
 with black velvet, as Landlord of the Craven's Head 
 Tavern, Drury Lane WILLIAM CLUFF, his waiter 
 Attendants, Officers, &c. 
 
 Cluff : And please your worship, I am a waiter, 
 what waits at taverns and places. T'other day Mr. 
 Oxberry had a dinner of twenty-one at his house, the 
 Craven's Head, your worship, hard by; and I was 
 engaged to wait upon 'em, which I accomplished to 
 every gentleman's satisfaction, I believe; and if I did
 
 248 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 not, many of 'em are here present, and let 'em speak 
 to it. After dinner, saving your worship's presence, 
 a dessert was ordered for twenty-one, at sixpence a 
 head; and I set it out very handsomely, as I always 
 do. Then, your worship, I handed the plate to the 
 chairman for the sixpence a-head, and he very kindly 
 told me to bring another plate for something for the 
 waiter that's me, your worship. When the bell rung, 
 I goes up, your worship ; and the chairman says to 
 me, says he, " Here, waiter, there's sixteen shillings- 
 for the dessert, and the rest for yourself." " Thank 
 you, sir," says I. "Oh, no thanks," says he "You've 
 been vastly attentive, and it's due to you." With that, 
 your worship, I takes my half to myself, and takes the 
 other half eight shillings your worship, to the bar ; 
 whereby Mr. Oxberry blowed me up, and said a dessert 
 for twenty-one, at sixpence a-head, comes to ten and 
 sixpence. " Very well," says I, " Sir, I can't help it 
 the gentlemen have done all what they pleased." So 
 then, your worship, without no more provocation than 
 this here, Mr. Oxberry said I should pay for three 
 plates and one glass, what the gentlemen broke ; and 
 says I to Mr. Oxberry, says I 
 
 Magistrate : The warrant charges Mr. Oxberry with 
 assaulting and beating you I do not want to hear 
 about your plates and dishes come to the assault at 
 once. 
 
 Cluff ': Well, your worship, by that means Mr.
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 249 
 
 Oxberry goes upstairs, and I heard him telling the 
 gentlemen that I should say they were all a parcel of 
 scaly fellows; whereby I told him it was a lie; by 
 which means he laid hold of my collar and shook me, 
 and hit me two or three times, your worship, while the 
 other gentlemen held me. 
 
 Magistrate : And as far as I can judge at present, 
 you richly deserve to be shaken. 
 
 Mr. Oxberry : Your worship ; this fellow 
 
 Magistrate : Keep your temper, Mr. Oxberry. 
 
 Mr. Oxberry : Your worship, I will endeavour. 
 This person, who has been haunting my house this 
 fortnight for employment, I engaged, as he says, to 
 wait upon a little dinner I had at my house. I am a 
 publican, sir 
 
 Cluff ': And sinner, (aside) 
 
 Mr. Oxberry : After dinner he came down to me, 
 complaining him that the company had not paid him ; 
 whereupon I went upstairs and told them what he had 
 said, that they were a parcel of shabby fellows. 
 
 Magistrate : There you were wrong, Mr. Oxberry. 
 I think the person who repeats a hasty expression, as 
 bad almost as the first utterer of it. 
 
 Mr. Oxberry : Your worship, I admit it. But I had 
 no sooner uttered the words, then he pops into the 
 room, and calls me a liar I and I very naturally ordered 
 him out of my house; but I never struck him. On 
 the contrary, he struck me.
 
 250 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Betty Chambermaid : Your worship, I saw the 
 waiter, Mr. Cluff, come into the room and call 
 master a liar, and strike him quite in a passion, 
 your worship. 
 
 First Gentleman : I substantiate what Betty 
 Chambermaid has said. Certainly the waiter struck 
 Mr. Oxberry, and Mr. Oxberry did not strike the 
 waiter. 
 
 Second Gentleman : That's very true. 
 
 Cluff: Your worship, these are all Mr. Oxberry's 
 friends. Besides, Mr. Oxberry always serves his 
 waiters so. 
 
 Magistrate : Then you expected he would beat you 
 when you asked him for employment ? 
 
 Cluff: Your worship, I knew I run great risk 
 of it. 
 
 Magistrate : The warrant is dismissed. Good morn- 
 ing to you, Mr. Oxberry. [Exeunt Ornnes. 
 
 Furious Frank. 
 
 " The close of the business at Bow Street office was 
 enlivened, " to a degree," by the eccentricities of 
 a person who called himself, in the first instance, 
 " Captain Frank Brigges, of the Royal Navy, and a 
 gentleman hiccup" It afterwards appeared, how- 
 ever, that he was not of the Royal Navy, but of the 
 Bombay service ; and as to his gentility, he was cer-
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 251 
 
 tainly, for that night at least, the most ungentle 
 gentleman we ever saw. 
 
 It seems that at half-past eight the same evening, he 
 presented himself in the box-lobby of the second circle 
 at Drury Lane Theatre, and demanded to be shown to 
 " a d 1 sh good box." He was shown to a box 
 accordingly ; but whether a " d 1 sh good one," or 
 not, did not appear. We should rather suppose not ; 
 for he had not been seated many minutes before he 
 began to manifest symptoms of dissatisfaction. One 
 moment he turned his left side to the stage ; then he 
 turned the right side ; and, this not being to his mind, 
 he turned his legs behind him, as an Emeralder might 
 say, and placed his back towards the stage. This 
 position did not please him long, and he tried to stand 
 upright ; but the perpendicular was past his power ; 
 and after swaying backwards and forwards and side- 
 ways, like a Lombardy poplar in a chopping wind, he 
 came down with a lee-lurch, and seated himself on the 
 blooming shoulders of a comely dame on the seat 
 below him. All these varieties of position he accom- 
 panied with critical comments on the players, the 
 house, the lights, and the ladies ; and when remon- 
 strated with by the gentlemen in the surrounding 
 boxes, he boldly retorted, " D mme, arn't I an 
 Englishman!" At length, when he seated himself on 
 the lady's shoulders as aforesaid, the box-keepers were 
 desired to interfere ; but they, not being able to quiet
 
 252 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 him, called in Harradine, one of the patrole, employed 
 at the theatre as a constable. Harradine endeavoured 
 to prevail upon him to be quiet, but he was answered 
 with a " d mme, arn't I an Englishman ! " There 
 was now a general cry of " Turn him out ! " and 
 Harradine proceeded to remove him. He came out 
 into the lobby quietly enough ; but he was no sooner 
 here, than he " showed fight," refusing to stir an inch 
 further, and challenging " all the world." 
 
 The uproar he caused made it necessary, for the 
 peace of the audience, that he should be removed from 
 the theatre, and Harradine took him into custody ; in 
 doing which that officer not only received several blows 
 within the house, but was twice fairly, or rather 
 foully, knocked down in the street before he could get 
 him to the door of the office. Finding himself at the 
 door of the office, he became ten times more furious 
 than before, and kicked and plunged with such violence, 
 that the bringing him into the presence of the magis- 
 trate was more like bringing a mad bull to the stake 
 than anything else we can compare it to ; and, like a 
 mad bull, too, he commenced a roaring remonstrance 
 against his detention, as soon as he perceived himself 
 before the magistrate. The magistrate endeavoured to 
 prevail upon him to be quiet, that he might hear the 
 charge against him ; and with some difficulty he suc- 
 ceeded ; but the enraged captain had not been silent 
 more than a minute before he let fly his fist in the face
 
 ECCENTRICITY 253 
 
 of Goodwin, an officer who had nothing at all to do 
 with him, and who was standing quietly by the 
 magisterial table. 
 
 " Lock him up ! " said his worship, in whose im- 
 mediate presence this irreverent and wanton act of 
 violence was perpetrated " Let him be locked up in- 
 stantly;" and now came the tug of war. The captain 
 threw himself into an attitude of defiance, " his very 
 look an oath," and his eyes flashing fire : three or four 
 officers sprung upon him ; the captain forced himself 
 out of their grasp ; they again seized him, and began 
 tugging him towards the door, he catching at every- 
 thing in his way, and clinging to every hold he made 
 with astonishing tenacity; and, what was very curious, 
 he seemed to take hold of any projection with his feet, 
 as firmly as he did with his hands. This scene con- 
 tinued nearly five tedious minutes nothing but sheer 
 silent tugging on one side, and screaming resistance 
 on the other ; and when at length the captain's 
 strength was exhausted, and he was left locked up in 
 the dark by himself, he set up a long continuous howl, 
 so loud and dissonant, that we can compare it to 
 nothing but a concert of half-a-dozen donkeys, " when 
 first the soul of love is sent abroad " amongst them, on 
 some fine spring evening. For more than a quarter of 
 an hour did he continue this asinine serenade, sans 
 intermission ; and all the courts and avenues of Bow 
 Street "rebellow'd to the roar."
 
 254 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Meantime, Harradine and the box-keepers gave 
 their evidence, and then the captain was brought in 
 again to hear it read. He appeared now with a pair 
 of highly-polished very handsome handcuffs on his 
 wrists ; but, notwithstanding their brightness, it was 
 evident they annoyed him sadly. Indeed he was quite 
 an altered man his blustering had vanished like the 
 bursting of a bubble, and his bellowing had dwindled 
 to a blubber. He approached the table between two 
 officers, holding up his manacled hands to the magis- 
 trate, and whimpered out, " Only see here, sir, how 
 they've served me ! " 
 
 The magistrate told him he was very sorry to see a 
 gentleman decorated in such a manner, but he had 
 brought it upon himself, 
 
 The captain gave a long " Oh ! " and the clerk 
 began to read over the evidence, but the captain was too 
 much distressed both in mind and body to attend to it ; 
 and he continued sometimes in a deep bass voice, and 
 sometimes in a squeaking treble, alternately deploring 
 and deprecating the whole proceeding. " I pledge 
 you my honour, sir," said he, in bass, " that I have 
 done nothing worthy of this coercion." Then instantly 
 going off into a treble, he exclaimed, " Oh ! my dear 
 kind Mr. Magistrate, do intercede for an unfortunate 
 gentleman do, God bless you ! now do, that's a kind 
 dear soul ! " Then bass again, " Upon the word of a 
 gentleman, sir, I am not drunk. Upon my honour, I
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 255 
 
 have drunk nothing but water these ten days." Then 
 treble again, " Oh ! you d d rascally officers, what 
 have you used me in this manner for? Only look 
 here, your worship see here, what the rascals have 
 put upon my poor hands ! let me go home, and I'll go 
 down on my knees to you, you kind, dear, kind, very 
 kind gentleman ! I'll give you any money if you'll 
 only let me go ! " Bass again, " I have certainly been 
 used extremely ill, without having given the slightest 
 provocation to anybody," &c., &c. 
 
 Meanwhile " the big round tears coursed each other 
 down his purple nose in piteous chase," mingling with 
 other nameless matters, which the gaoler, who stood 
 by his side, wiped away from time to time, for decency 
 sake ; and, at length, the magistrate finding there 
 was no chance of getting him to attend to the evidence 
 ordered that he should be taken to the watch-house, 
 and be brought up again in the morning. 
 
 He was taken accordingly, without much difficulty, 
 and, to cut short a story already far too long, when he 
 was brought up on the following morning, he was so 
 excessively contrite, that he was forgiven by all parties, 
 and allowed to go home, and get " a plaister for his 
 broken coxcomb." " 
 
 Lord Mansfield's Wig. 
 The following history connected with Lord Mans-
 
 256 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 field's wig is truly amusing from the dramatic display 
 of characters on both sides. 
 
 " It appeared that a barber called Williams had ob- 
 tained a summons against the defendant, who is clerk 
 to Mr. Reeves, an attorney in Tottenham Court Road, 
 calling upon him to attend on a given day, to show 
 cause why he should not pay a debt of 39.9. \\\d. 
 
 Mr. Williams, who spoke with a sort of lisping 
 squeak, garrulously addressed the commissioner : 
 " He had," he said, " been a hair-dresser, man and 
 boy, for sixty-eight years. He had served his time in 
 the Temple, where he had had the honour of making 
 wigs for some of the greatest men as ever lived of all 
 professions, and of all ranks judges, barristers, and 
 commoners churchmen as well as laymen illiterate 
 men as well as literate men ; and, among the latter, he 
 had to rank the immortal Dr. Johnson. But of all 
 the wigs he had ever set comb to, there was none on 
 which he so much prided himself as a full state wig 
 which he had made for Lord Mansfield. It was one 
 of the earliest proofs of hi^ genius ; it had excited the 
 warm commendation of his master, and the envy of 
 his brother shopmates ; but, above all, it had pleased, 
 nay, even delighted, the noble and learned judge him- 
 self. Oh ! gemmen," exclaimed Mr. Williams, " if 
 you had known what joy I felt when I first saw his 
 noble lordship on the bench with that wig on his head ! " 
 (in an under-tone, but rubbing his hands with ecstasy)
 
 ECCENTRICITY, 2 5 7 
 
 " Upon my say so, I was fuddled for the three days 
 after ! " 
 
 The Commissioner : What has this wig to do with 
 the defendant's debt ? 
 
 Mr. Williams : A great deal : that's the very bone 
 of contention. 
 
 The Commissioner : Doubtless ; but you must come 
 to the marrow, if you can, as soon as you can. 
 
 Mr. Williams : I will. Well, as I was a saying 
 where did I leave off ? Oh ! when I was fuddled. 
 
 The Commissioner: I hope you have left off that 
 habit, now, my good man. 
 
 Mr. Williams : Upon my say so, I have, trust me ; 
 but as I was a saying, to make a long story short, in 
 course of time I left my master in the Temple, set up 
 for myself, and did a great stroke of business. Ay, I 
 could tell you such a list of customers. There was 
 
 The Commissioner : Never mind, we don't want your 
 list go on. 
 
 Mr. Williams : Well, then, at last I setup in Boswell 
 Court, Queen Square. Lawk me ! what alterations T 
 have seen in that Square, surely, in my time. I re- 
 member when I used to go to shave old Lord 
 
 The Commissioner : For God's sake, do come to the 
 end of your story. 
 
 Mr. Williams : Well, I will. Where was I ? Oh ! 
 in Boswell Court [Commissioner, aside : I wish you 
 were there now.] Well, then, you must know when 
 
 VOL. i. s
 
 258 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Lord Mansfield (God rest his soul !) died, his wig 
 the very, very wig I made got back to my old master's 
 shop, and he kept it as a pattern for other judges' 
 wigs ; and at last, who should die but my master him- 
 self. Ay, it's what we must all come to. 
 
 The Commissioner : Go on, go on, man, and come to 
 the end of your story. 
 
 Mr. Williams : I will, I will. Well, where was I ? 
 Oh ! in my poor master's shop. Well, so when he 
 died, my mistress gave me for she knew, poor soul ! 
 how I loved it this 'dentical wig ; and I carried it 
 home with as much delight as if it had been one of 
 my children. Ah, poor little things ! they're all gone 
 before me. 
 
 The Commissioner : Come, if you don't cut this 
 matter short, I must, and send you after them. 
 
 Mr. Williams : Dearee me ! you put me out. Well, 
 as I was a saying, I kept this here wig as the apple of 
 my eye ; when, as ill-luck would have it, that 'ere Mr. 
 Lawrence came to my shop, and often asked me to 
 lend it to him to act with in a play I think he called 
 it Shycock, or Shylock, for he said he was to play the 
 judge. I long refused, but he over-persuaded me, and 
 on an unlucky day I let him have it, and have never 
 (weeping and wiping his little eye with his white apron) 
 seen it since. 
 
 The Commissioner : And so you have summoned him 
 for the price of this wig ?
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 259 
 
 Mr. Williams : You have just hit the nail on the 
 head. 
 
 The Commissioner : Well, Mr. Lawrence, what have 
 you to say to this ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence (with great pomposity) : Why, sir, I 
 have a great deal to say. 
 
 The Commissioner : Well, then, sir, I desire you will 
 say as little as you can, for there are a great many 
 persons waiting here whose time is very precious. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : Not more precious than mine, I 
 presume, sir. I submit that this case is in the nature 
 of an action of trover, to recover the possession of this 
 wig ; and this admitted, sir, I have humbly to contend, 
 that the plaintiff must be nonsuited; for, sir, you 
 will not find one word of or concerning a wig in his 
 declaration. The plaintiff must not travel out of his 
 record. 
 
 The Commissioner : What record ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : The record in Court. 
 
 The Commissioner : We have no record. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : You have a summons, on which I 
 attend to defend myself ; and that is, to all intents and 
 purposes, de facto, as well as de jure, a record similar 
 to, and of the essence of, a record in the Court above. 
 
 The Commissioner : Sir, we are not guided by the 
 precedents of Courts above here. Our jurisdiction 
 and our powers are defined by particular Acts of 
 Parliament. 
 
 s 2
 
 260 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence: Sir, I contend, according to the 
 common law of these realms, that I am right. 
 
 The Commissioner : I say, according to the rules of 
 common sense, you are wrong. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : Sir, I have cases. 
 
 The Commissioner : Sir, I desire you will confine 
 yourself to this case. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : What says Kitty upon the nature of 
 these pleadings ? 
 
 The Commissioner : And pray, who is Kitty ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : The most eminent pleader of the 
 present day. 
 
 The Commissioner : I never heard of a woman being 
 a special pleader. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : He is not a woman, sir ; he is a man, 
 sir, and a great man, sir and a man, sir 
 
 The Commissioner : Do you mean Mr. Chitty ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : I mean the gentleman you call 
 Chitty, and most erroneously so call him; for you 
 ought to know that the Ch in Italian sounds like an 
 English K ; and Mr. Kitty, by lineal descent, is an 
 Italian. It is a vulgar error to spell his name with a 
 y final, it ought to be i, and then it would properly 
 sound Kitty. 
 
 The Commissioner : I should rather take Mr. Chitty 's 
 authority for this than yours. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence (in anger) : Sir, do you contradict 
 me?
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 261 
 
 The Commissioner : Sir, I will bring this case to a 
 short issue. Did you borrow this man's wig ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : I did. 
 
 The Commissioner : Do you choose to return it ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : It is destroyed. 
 
 The Commissioner : How destroyed ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : It was burnt by accident. 
 
 The Commissioner : Who burnt it ? 
 
 Mr. Lawrence : I did, in performing the part of the 
 Judge in Shakspeare's inimitable play of the Merchant 
 of Venice. While too intent on the pleadings of Portia, 
 the candle caught the curls, and I, with difficulty, 
 escaped having my eyes burnt out. 
 
 The plaintiff here uttered an ejaculation of mental 
 suffering, something between a groan and a curse. 
 
 The Commissioner : Well then, sir, I have only to 
 tell you, you are responsible for the property thus 
 intrusted to your care ; and, without farther comment, 
 I order and adjudge that you pay to the plaintiff the 
 sum of 39s. llfd., which is the sum he is prepared to 
 swear it is worth. 
 
 Mr. Williams : Swear ! Lord love you, I'd swear it 
 was worth a Jew's eye. Indeed, no money can com- 
 pensate me for its loss. 
 
 The Commissioner: I cannot order you a Jew's 
 eye, Mr. Williams, unless Mr. Lawrence can per- 
 suade his friend Shylock to part with one of his ; 
 but I will order you such a sum in monies numbered,
 
 262 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 as you will swear this wig is fairly and honestly 
 worth. 
 
 A long dispute followed, as to the value of the wig, 
 when Mr. Williams ultimately agreed to take 20s. and 
 costs, and the parties were dismissed, mutually grum- 
 bling at each other. 
 
 A Great Man in Distress. 
 
 There is a certain Shandean pathos in the following : 
 A personage, who described himself as " General 
 Sarsfield Lucan, Viscount Kilmallock in Ireland, a 
 peer of France, and a descendant of Charlemagne," 
 presented himself before the magistrate to solicit a 
 few shillings to enable him to proceed on important 
 business to Wexford. 
 
 General Sarsfield Lucan wore an old brown surtout, 
 with the collar turned up behind to keep his neck warm, 
 and a scrap of dirty white ribbon fastened to one of 
 the button-holes ; a black velvet waistcoat, powdered 
 with tarnished silver fleurs-de-lis , and an ancient well- 
 worn chapeau bras, surmounted with a fringe of black 
 feathers. He carried under his arm a large roll of 
 writings, and all his pockets were stuffed with tin 
 cases, pocket-books, and bundles of papers : his " fell 
 of hair'' was ruefully matted; an enormous tawny 
 whisker covered either cheek and his upper lip and 
 chin, which, for want of shaving, " showed like a
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 263 
 
 stubble-field at harvest home," was all begrimed with 
 real Scotch. 
 
 He said he was a native of Wexford in Ireland, and 
 had spent the last seven years in Paris, where his 
 cousin, Louis XVIII., nominated him a peer, and gave 
 him a decoration (the bit of white ribbon above 
 mentioned) ; but his instalment had been postponed 
 by the then recent change in the ministry ; his cousin 
 (Louis XVIII.) assuring him, that as soon as his 
 present ministers were kicked out, he should come in. 
 In the meantime his father had died, and willed him 
 certain lands and houses in Wexford ; whereupon ho 
 wrote to his sisters, who were resident there, to desire 
 them to send him the proceeds of his estates forthwith ; 
 but instead of so doing, they had themselves adminis- 
 tered to the will, and were dissipating his patrimony. 
 Under these circumstances, his cousin, the king, 
 advised him to set out immediately for Ireland, aud 
 seek redress in person. " Journeying with this intent," 
 he landed at Dover a few days before, but on reaching 
 London he found his finances exhausted, and he was 
 now driven to the unpleasant necessity of applying to 
 their worships for a few shillings to enable him to 
 proceed. 
 
 Sir R. Birnie said, he wondered his royal cousin had 
 not furnished him with the means of prosecuting his 
 journey. 
 
 " Sir ! I scorned to trouble him at all on such a
 
 264 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 palthry subject as money," replied the general, with 
 some warmth ; and he then went on to state, that in 
 order to satisfy his coach-hire from Dover to London 
 he had been necessitated to give up possession of his 
 working tools. 
 
 " Your working tools ! " said the magistrate ; " and 
 pray may I ask what trade your lordship follows ? " 
 
 " No trade in the world at all," replied the general ; 
 "I am not the person to be after following trades. 
 The tools I am spoking about are what I used in some 
 of the greatest inventions the world ever saw. I in- 
 vented a ^apparatus for extracting stone and gravel 
 from the blather without any operation at all. I in- 
 vented a machine for fishing up vessels foundered at 
 sea, as aisy as fishing up an oyster ; and I invented 
 another machine for making accouchement the most 
 aisy thing in existence a mere fla-bite to the most 
 tender lady imaginable ! And it was partly these in- 
 ventions, indeed, that brought me to this country now 
 because I did not choose to be giving foreigners the 
 benefit of them." 
 
 " Pray, sir," said Mr, Minshull, " will you give me 
 leave to ask whether you were ever confined ? " 
 
 The General: Confined/ for what would I be con- 
 fined? 
 
 Mr. Minshull : If you do not understand the nature 
 of my question I am sorry I put it ; but it certainly 
 appeared to me possible that
 
 ECCENTRICITY, 265 
 
 The General : Sir, you appear to me to be after 
 taalking in a very queer kind of a way to ajontleman! 
 You ought to know what is due to a respectable and 
 graat man, even though he is in distress. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Well, sir, I will speak as plainly to 
 you as you do to me. It is my opinion, and the 
 opinion, I believe, of every person present, that you are 
 out of your mind ; and that if you have never been 
 confined it is high time you were so. 
 
 The General angrily declared he was altogether mens 
 sana in corpore sano ; and professed himself astonished 
 that anybody should entertain a contrary opinion ; 
 then taking from his side-pocket a round tin case, 
 nearly as large as a demi-culverin, he offered to pro- 
 duce from it documents to show that he was really the 
 important personage he professed himself to be. 
 
 The magistrates, however, had no faith in the 
 matter ; they told him it might be all very true, but 
 they had no funds to assist him with ; and, as he 
 appeared very incredulous on this subject, they at 
 length ordered him to withdraw upon pain of being 
 committed to prison under the Vagrant Act. 
 
 This was an awful alternative, which the gallant 
 " General " did not think proper to risk ; so gathering 
 up his patents and papers, he put his feather-fringed 
 chapeau upon his head, and taking an ample pinch of 
 snuff so ample, indeed, that it rushed through his 
 olfactory labyrinth with the noise of a mighty cataract
 
 266 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 he stalked majestically out of the office, muttering 
 anathemas as he went. 
 
 A Hideous Plot. 
 
 Simple and unpretending in its details as the follow- 
 ing story may be considered, it is doubtful if any more 
 revolting picture of villainy can be found in the New- 
 gate Calendar. 
 
 " In October, 1838, a merchant of the City, whom we 
 shall call Mr. Goldsmith, had two clerks in his count- 
 ing-house who were the sons of early friends, who left 
 them destitute orphans much about the same time. 
 Mr. Goldsmith had treated them as his own children. 
 One was named Henry Wilkinson, and the other John 
 Simpson JBetts. Mr. Goldsmith had an only daughter, 
 Emily, to whom he had intended one of his clerks 
 should be married ; a circumstance, in fact, which he 
 had for some years past communicated to the boys 
 themselves, telling them at the same time, that his 
 daughter would be left to her unrestricted choice, and 
 that it would depend upon themselves which would be 
 the happy man. Her choice fell upon the younger, 
 Betts. This decision, it appears, wounded the other's 
 feelings so much that he was resolved upon revenge ; 
 and never did the devil suggest to the human heart a 
 plan of revenge more diabolical than the one which 
 Wilkinson conceived and put into execution. 
 
 For the furtherance of his scheme, AVilkinson became
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 267 
 
 deeply connected with a nest of blacklegs at one of the 
 
 hells in the Quadrant, by whose assistance he was 
 
 enabled to carry his operations into effect. The charge 
 
 of Goldsmith's books was divided between the two 
 
 clerks, Wilkinson keeping .the journal and ledger, and 
 
 Betts the cash and day books. It was also the duty of 
 
 Betts to keep the bankers' book, and to draw the 
 
 checks which were signed by Goldsmith, a private 
 
 mark being placed upon a particular part of the check 
 
 in order to guard against forgery. With this private 
 
 mark Wilkinson was well acquainted, and early in the 
 
 beginning of last August he forged a check in Mr. 
 
 Goldsmith's name upon the bankers for fifty pounds, 
 
 which he received in one note, the number and date of 
 
 which he carefully noted down. It appeared that it 
 
 was Goldsmith's custom to send for his bankers' book 
 
 at the end of every month in order to agree and 
 
 balance it with his own cash book ; so that Wilkinson 
 
 knew that nearly a month would have to elapse before 
 
 the forgery would be discovered, which gave him ample 
 
 time to secure his object. As soon as he had got the 
 
 fifty pound note he went with it to his companions at 
 
 the hell, by whom in the course of a few days he was 
 
 furnished with a forged counterpart, corresponding in 
 
 every respect with the genuine note, and bearing 
 
 exactly the same date and number. The object of this 
 
 will be seen presently. 
 
 The 1st of September was the day fixed upon
 
 268 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 for the marriage of Miss Goldsmith to Betts, and 
 the 28th of August had already arrived, when 
 Wilkinson, who had been the whole preceding part of 
 the month endeavouring to persuade Betts to make a 
 visit to the gambling-table in question, at length suc- 
 ceeded in getting him there on the evening of that day 
 under a special promise that he was not to be asked to 
 play. Champagne, however, did its work, and Betts 
 was drawn into the snare. He played and won fifty 
 pounds. The forged note for that amount was paid him 
 by the loser, whose services in losing the money with 
 the assistance of his confederates, had been remune- 
 rated with the genuine note. Wilkinson whispered 
 into his ear that now was the lucky time to leave off. 
 The note was to be a handsome present to Emily on 
 her wedding day. Betts took his advice, and they 
 left the hell together Betts, to make preparations 
 for his departure next morning for the country 
 house at Windsor, and Wilkinson to complete his 
 revenge. 
 
 The happy party at Windsor were already in the 
 church, and the clergyman was about to commence 
 the ceremony, when Wilkinson rushed in, apparently 
 breathless, and desired a moment's conference with 
 Mr. Goldsmith. He then produced a letter from that 
 gentleman's bankers, which stated that a check for 
 fifty pounds had been forged in his name, and that they 
 had reason to suspect one of his clerks of the act,
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 269 
 
 because the private mark was upon the check. 
 Thunderstruck by this intelligence, the old man 
 inquired of Betts if he knew anything about it; but 
 while he was making denial, Miss Goldsmith, who did 
 not like the appearance of things, joined the trio, and 
 very quickly settled the, matter by the production of 
 the note which Betts had given her, and which, of 
 course, corresponded exactly with the description 
 furnished by the bankers. All doubt was now at an 
 end ; the ceremony was abruptly interrupted and the 
 parties retired ; Emily, Wilkinson, and Mr. Goldsmith 
 to the house of the latter, and Betts to the station- 
 house under the charge of a policeman. 
 
 The case was investigated by Sir R. Birnie, who 
 displayed more than his usual acuteness. With the 
 assistance of Mr. Goldsmith he established a well- 
 conducted inquiry. The plan he adopted was this. 
 He persuaded Mr. Goldsmith to offer privately a reward 
 of one hundred pounds to any one who was present at 
 the gaming-table on the night when the money was 
 lost. A needy swindler came forward and divulged 
 the whole. Wilkinson was now called upon for an 
 explanation, but was missing. It is supposed that he 
 got on board a steamboat for France or for Amster- 
 dam. The proceedings in this matter have been kept 
 so secret that no notice has been nor will be taken of 
 them in the papers. One great good, however, has 
 come of them a regular manufactory of forged notes
 
 2 7 o CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 has been discovered, the particulars of which will in 
 due time come before the public." 
 
 Mysterious Visitors. 
 
 Sometimes extraordinary personages came to the 
 magistrates : they were always received with respect 
 and due allowance. As on a Wednesday morning in 
 March, 1821, when a lady alighted from a travelling- 
 chariot at the door, and requested to be shown in 
 immediately. The carriage had an imperial on the 
 top, and was covered with dust. The lady herself was 
 apparently of middle age, and a slight genteel figure ; 
 but she bore in her countenance strong marks of a 
 fixed melancholy. She wore a blue riding-habit, with 
 a black beaver riding-hat ; and her whole person was 
 nearly covered with a large black lace veil. One of 
 the clerks immediately conducted her to the magistrate, 
 who politely requested her to take a seat ; but she 
 declined it with a melancholy ejaculation of the simple 
 monosyllable " No;" at the same time motioning him, 
 with a graceful wafture of her hand, to proceed with 
 what he was about. The magistrate, somewhat alarmed 
 at her manner, requested her, since she would not sit 
 down, to walk round to the other side of the table. 
 She did so ; and the other business before the magis- 
 trate being almost immediately disposed of, he said, 
 " Now, madam, I will hear what you have to say."
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 2 7 1 
 
 She replied nearly as follows : " I have only to place 
 in your hands these pamphlets, containing matter of 
 deep interest, such as fraud, felony, and presumptive 
 murder ; and to request you will make them public, 
 preparatory to a public and great event. 
 
 These words were delivered in a tone of the most 
 profound melancholy, and at the same time with the 
 firmness of one accustomed to dictate and to be obeyed. 
 She then handed to the magistrate two quarto pamph- 
 lets, one of which appeared, by the title-page, to be an 
 investigation into the conduct of a certain reverend 
 gentleman; and both of them seemed to have their 
 margins nearly covered with writing. The magistrate, 
 taking the books, observed that he had not time to 
 peruse them at that moment ; he would look into them 
 at the first convenient opportunity. " Do so ! ' : in- 
 stantly rejoined the lady in an authoritative manner; 
 " Do so ! but give them publicity promise ? " The 
 magistrate, " I assure you, madam, I will look into 
 them; and I will do what is right." To this the lady, 
 dropping her voice to its former melancholy tone, 
 replied, " I believe you, from what I have observed ; 
 I believe you. Farewell!" And having so said, she 
 returned to her carriage, and drove off at a rapid pace; 
 no one at the office knowing who she was, whence 
 she came, where she went to, nor scarcely what she 
 wanted. 
 
 In 1827 another "mysterious case" occupied the
 
 272 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 attention of the court for a short time. In those days 
 there were many cases which, as it were, flitted past 
 and were heard of no more. The magistrates seem to 
 have been accessible enough and were willing to give 
 advice, or perhaps wished to distract the monotony of 
 their duties. Thus one day a young man of highly 
 interesting appearance, applied at this office to solicit 
 the magistrate's advice, under the following novel and 
 very mysterious circumstances : 
 
 He stated that he had never been blessed with 
 parental solicitude and tenderness, having from his 
 infancy, until very lately, lived with a laundress in the 
 Temple, named Elm, who received a liberal allowance 
 for his maintenance down to the period of her death, 
 an event that took place about six months ago, when 
 the allowance ceased, and he was thrown destitute 
 on the world. His lamented protectress had fre- 
 quently stated that his friends were of elevated rank, 
 and that he ought to have the enjoyment of an ample 
 fortune, out of which he was kept, she said, by the 
 turpitude of some individuals. She died without 
 having furnished the applicant with any clue by which 
 he could discover his parents. All he knew concerning 
 his birth was, that he was born in the house of a 
 surgeon, named Bradford, who, at that time, resided 
 contiguous to the Kent Road. During Mr. Bradford's 
 lifetime, the money allowed to Mrs. Elm for the appli- 
 cant's support, came through his hands ; and after his
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 273 
 
 death, Mrs. Bradford paid it. She declined giving him 
 any further assistance. But he had been told by his 
 protectress, Mrs. Elm, that Mrs. Bradford was the only 
 one living who could afford him any knowledge of his 
 parents ; and he hinted that her reasons for declining 
 to do so were pecuniary. 
 
 An officer was then directed to wait upon Mrs. 
 Bradford, and to prevail upon her, if possible, to 
 appear at the office. Accordingly the lady presented 
 herself. She was far advanced in years, and appeared a 
 good deal agitated. 
 
 Mr. Minshull said, that if she knew anything of the 
 young man's friends, in common justice she ought to 
 disclose it. Mrs. Bradford denied that she knew any- 
 thing of them. 
 
 Applicant : Surely, ma'am, you cannot deny having 
 paid me money ; and why will you not explain from 
 whom that money came ? 
 
 Mrs. Bradford : That I'll never explain to you, nor 
 to any one else. 
 
 Applicant : Do you not know who my parents are ? 
 
 Mrs. Bradford (in some confusion) : Yes, I know 
 something about them, but I don't choose to tell. 
 
 . Mr. Minshull : I tell you what, ma'am, you are 
 acting most unnaturally and cruelly, and can be forced 
 to give the information required of you, by a Bill in 
 Equity ; and I hope this young person will find some 
 solicitor to take up his case. 
 
 VOL. i. T
 
 274 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Applicant : For God's sake, Mrs. Bradford, tell me 
 who my parents are ? 
 
 Mrs. Bradford (with increased confusion) : Yes, I 
 know something about them, but I cannot tell it. 
 
 A gentleman named White, who was sitting on the 
 bench, here interposed : he handed the applicant his 
 card, and bid him call at his house, saying that, from 
 what he had heard and seen, he would do all in his 
 power to unravel the mystery ; and if any additional 
 information could be obtained, that he would engage 
 to have a bill filed. Mrs. Bradford was anxious to 
 depose that she had no property belonging to the 
 applicant, and expressed her wish to retire. 
 
 Applicant : Mrs. Bradford, before you go, now tell 
 me, have you not told me, on applying to you for 
 money, that you must first speak to my friends ? Mrs. 
 Bradford denied that she said so, or that she ever knew 
 his friends. 
 
 Mrs. Bradford : Am I at liberty to go ? 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Certainly, I cannot detain you ; but 
 before you depart, I wish you would give this young 
 man the information he seeks. 
 
 Mrs. Bradford gave no reply, but hurried out of the 
 office as quickly as she could. Here the matter ends 
 for the present. 
 
 Some weeks later further information was obtained. 
 The publication of the particulars of what had occurred 
 at Bow Street created a pretty general public feeling
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 275 
 
 in Elm's favour, and throughout the early part of 
 the week crowds of persons assembled round the 
 door of Mrs. Bradford, who now lived in Tottenham 
 Court Road. By the kind interference of a Mr. White, 
 that lady was induced to make a statement in writ- 
 ing of all the facts which she knew of relative to 
 young Elm. On Thursday the whole of the parties 
 appeared at the office, when the young man, having 
 read the document, expressed himself satisfied with 
 the statements it contained, and the case was dis- 
 missed. 
 
 In 1803, it seems, Mrs. lived not very far from 
 
 Portland Place, and carried on an extensive business. 
 She was a handsome widow, and a person of distinction 
 one day passing by the shop, being struck with her 
 beauty, called in and gave an order. He repeated his 
 visits, and an intimacy commenced, which was carried 
 on for a short time. She urged her bon ami to marry 
 her, and was surprised to learn that it was out of his 
 power to make her his wife ; but he consented to make 
 her a handsome bonus provided she immediately 
 married some one else. In a few weeks afterwards 
 she was married to Mr. T., the son of a rich tradesman 
 at Oxford, and in five months after the union she gave 
 birth to a boy, which Mrs. Elm received from the 
 mother at Dr. Bradford's house, in Hereford Street, 
 Fitzroy Square, and brought up as her own. She (the 
 mother) died very suddenly a little more than a year
 
 2 7 6 CHR ONICLES OF BO W S TREE T POLICE- OFFICE. 
 
 ago. Young Elm had learned that she was his reputed 
 mother, and he called upon her at the house of her 
 husband, Mr. T., and said to her, " I am the boy you 
 put to nurse with Mrs. Elm, and I am told you are my 
 mother." She was so affected by the unexpected com- 
 munication, and the- sight of the young man, who is 
 stated to resemble her very strongly, that she fell on 
 the floor in a fit, and never recovered the effect of the 
 shock she was a corpse in a fortnight afterwards, 
 and young Elm, incog., followed her to the grave. It 
 is stated that old Mr. T., of Oxford, the grandfather 
 of Elm, bequeathed a considerable property to his 
 grandson ; but the query is, would Elm be able to take 
 under that will ? 
 
 A Sensitive Singer. 
 
 A celebrated female vocalist appeared to prefer a 
 charge against the proprietor and editor of the Morn- 
 ing Chronicle, for a libellous paragraph in that jour- 
 nal, tending to a breach of the peace, and instigating 
 to murder. The paragraph was to the following 
 effect : 
 
 " For our parts, being moderate men, averse from 
 any violent measures, and lovers in all things of 
 gentle counsels, we should incline to adopt Handel's 
 method of making performers sensible of their faults, 
 thus described by a writer in the London. In the
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 277 
 
 days of Handel if a singer gave offence, he used to 
 take her by the waist and throw her out of the window. 
 This was a laudable practice, and Greatorex should 
 revive it. It was indeed a laudable practice throw- 
 ing singers out of window ! This was letting them 
 down a peg to some purpose ; aye, in those days a 
 man had some chance of hearing tolerable music, 
 when such judicious means were taken to perfect the 
 performers. If they gave themselves airs, away they 
 went into the street ; if they were out of time or tune 
 one moment, they were out of the window the next. 
 This was the true concert pitch. We conceive that 
 sore throats, coughs, and colds, and hoarsenesses 
 were very scarce in those exceeding good old times ; 
 those airings from windows must have hardened the 
 constitutions, and braced the nerves finely we would 
 fain see something of the kind revived. The idea of 
 throwing them out of window seems just the thing. 
 Until some plan of this sort is adopted, we shall have 
 nothing but apologies and disappointments. One 
 decent tumble would cure all the sickness and sulki- 
 ness even of the opera company." 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Have you, Miss , such an 
 opinion on the subject as to enable you to make an 
 affidavit?" 
 
 The lady answered that she had. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : A professional man will advise you 
 best as to the affidavit you ought to produce.
 
 278 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Miss -: I have one prepared, sir. Here it is. 
 It was then put in and read. 
 
 "MIDDLESEX to wit. Kitty - , of - , in the 
 city of , spinster, maketh oath and saith, 
 that William Innel Clement, being a person of an 
 evil and malicious mind and disposition, and 
 unlawfully and maliciously contriving to vilify, dis- 
 grace, and injure this deponent, and to provoke her 
 to a breach of the peace, and as this deponent verily 
 believes, to incite the professors, amateurs of 
 music, and others, the subjects of our Lord the 
 King, to commit an outrage upon, and murder 
 this deponent, on the 4th day of October instant, 
 with force and arms, within the said city of West- 
 minster, in the county of Middlesex and elsewhere, 
 did unlawfully print and publish in a certain 
 public newspaper, called the Morning Chronicle, 
 a wicked, scandalous, and mischievous libel, of 
 and concerning singers, and the deponent as a 
 singer, that is to say, ' I hope to see those people 
 properly appreciated. In the days of Handel, if 
 a singer gave offence, he used to take her by the 
 waist and throw her out of the window. This 
 was a laudable practice, and Greatorex should 
 revive it. It was indeed a laudable practice. 
 This was the true concert pitch. We would fain 
 see something of the kind revived. Let them 
 down a story by all means,' to the evil example
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 2 7 g 
 
 of all others, and against the peace of our Lord 
 the King, his crown and dignity. 
 
 (Signed) " Kirrr . 
 
 " Sworn before me, Oct. 5, 1825." 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie: Really, my dear madam, I 
 think you have no reason whatever for apprehension ; 
 ladies are naturally timid, and we know how to make 
 allowance for their fears ; but these words which have 
 so dreadfully alarmed you, are those exaggerated ex- 
 pressions which signify nothing, because they say so 
 much, they are as unmeaning as compliments. 
 
 Miss then went on in the most vehement 
 
 manner : I do on my oath really and truly 
 believe that the Morning Chronicle had in view 
 the destruction of me and I positively swear 
 that I think my life is in danger. 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie : From whom ? 
 
 Miss (in confusion, and evidently taken by 
 
 surprise) : From the publisher. (Laughter.) 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie : What ! you think, my dear 
 young lady, Mr. Clement put this libel of the London 
 into his paper to incite his publisher to murder you ? 
 (Laughter.) 
 
 Mm : No, I mean the proprietor. (Another 
 
 laugh.) 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie : How ? 
 
 Miss : I only say, and I mean to say that they
 
 28o CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 meant in this libel to incite the professors and ama- 
 teurs of music to do me some grievous bodily harm ; 
 I actually, really, and positively do fear for my life. 
 
 The gentleman who attended on behalf of the 
 Morning Chronicle now said that he was ready to 
 bring forward bail for Mr. Clement if required, but 
 he trusted that Mr. Minshull would exercise his dis- 
 cretion, and dismiss so frivolous and ridiculous a com- 
 plaint. 
 
 The newspapers of 1825 were certainly free and 
 outspoken in tbeir criticisms, but nowadays it would 
 seem to be going a little too far were Mr. Sutherland 
 Edwards or Mr. Davison to suggest such drastic 
 a process for a singer as was done in the London and 
 Morning Chronicle. 
 
 Miss : In deciding Mr. Martin's case, which 
 
 is exactly like mine in every particular, Mr. Minshull 
 had no discretion at all ; I believe that is the general 
 impression. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : No, I have no discretion at all in 
 cases of this kind ; I know my authority, and must 
 require Mr. Clement to put in bail, to keep the peace 
 towards all his Majesty's subjects, and to answer any 
 
 complaint that Miss may prefer against him at 
 
 the sessions. 
 
 Miss , on retiring, gave notice that at an early 
 
 day she should appear to require Messrs. Hunt and 
 Clarke, of Tavistock Street, the publishers of the
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 281 
 
 London Magazine, to be held to bail for the atrocious 
 libel and instigation to murder in that journal, as, 
 observed she, " It shall not be said that I make fish 
 of one and flesh of another." 
 
 " Boardmen " Fifty Years ago. 
 
 Sir Richard once expressed his detestation of the 
 now familiar " harmless, necessary " boardmen, with 
 whom, it will be seen, he was inclined to deal sum- 
 marily. This was brought out in an amusing dia- 
 logue with one of those foolish persons not wholly 
 unknown in our day who, under pretence of philan- 
 thropy, put aside the laws. Mr. Howard, a respect- 
 able Cheapside shopkeeper, had rescued a mendicant 
 from the mendicity officers. 
 
 Elisha Pickle, one of the officers referred to, de- 
 posed, that having apprehended a notorious impostor 
 begging in St. Martin's Court, he was conducting 
 him to prison, when he made considerable resistance. 
 A mob was in consequence collected, and witness and 
 his brother officer were much abused. Mr. Howard was 
 one of the most active ringleaders of this mob. He 
 collared witness several times, notwithstanding he had 
 produced his authority. Several other persons were 
 almost equally violent, and the impostor, taking ad- 
 vantage of the row, made his escape from their 
 custody. The other officer substantiated this account.
 
 282 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Mr. Howard being called upon for his defence, re- 
 torted the charge of violence upon the officers. They 
 were, he said, dragging the poor fellow along in a 
 most unmerciful manner, he crying out the while, 
 " What is my crime ? I am only guilty of being poor, 
 and have only asked for labour." " Moved to pity by 
 these cries, and the wretched appearance of the man," 
 continued Mr. Howard, " I remonstrated with these 
 men on their violent conduct. I told them they had 
 no right to take the man to a prison, for I would that 
 moment take him into my own service. Several re- 
 spectable persons joined me in these remonstrances, but 
 the officers treated us with contempt, and eventually, 
 I believe, I did lay my hand on the shoulder of the 
 fat officer." 
 
 The Magistrate ; You say, Mr. Howard, that you 
 would have taken him into your own service. Pray what 
 are you, and what employ would you have given him ? 
 
 Mr. Howard : I am a boot and shoe maker, residing 
 in Cheapside, but being about to remove from that 
 street, it was my intention to employ him in carrying 
 a board announcing that removal. 
 
 The Magistrate : Those board-carriers are some of 
 the greatest nuisances with which the metropolis is 
 infested; and had the officers brought some of yours 
 here they would have been dealt with accordingly. 
 
 Mr. Howard replied that nevertheless it was a 
 common practice, and had its advantages. As to the 
 charge in question, he repeatedly assured the magis-
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 283 
 
 trate that he had only interfered from motives of 
 humanity. 
 
 After some further conversation the magistrate 
 proposed Mr. Howard should accompany the officers 
 before the committee of the society, but one of the 
 society's clerks who was present said such a step 
 would be useless, as the society had determined to 
 prosecute, in the present instance, by way of example, 
 their officers having met with frequent interruption. In 
 consequence of this notification, the magistrate called 
 upon Mr. Howard to find bail to answer the charge 
 elsewhere, and he having no bail ready was locked up. 
 
 The streets, indeed, if not so garish with adver- 
 tisements, hoarding, &c., had special shows of a very 
 painful kind, which have long since passed away. 
 So late as 1830 the shocking spectacle of flogging 
 persons at the cart's tail through the streets of London 
 was often presented. Here was one of these scenes : 
 
 " Shortly after the court had passed sentence, the 
 gates of the Old Bailey yard were unfolded, and the 
 hundreds who had long impeded both the foot and 
 carriage-way, rushed in to be gratified with the sight 
 of a public flogging. The unhappy culprits were Wm. 
 Barnes, aged forty-four, and Samuel Hunt, aged thirty- 
 five, who were convicted of stealing a bushel of oats. 
 It appeared to astonish the medical gentlemen in 
 attendance that the culprits bore ninety-one lashes 
 with such apparent fortitude. Our astonishment and 
 indignation were aroused when we saw at the back
 
 284 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 chamber of a house, a matron of seventy, and four 
 damsels in their non-age, laughing at the writhings of 
 their guilty fellow-creatures." 
 
 In the previous year a more horrible spectacle still 
 was witnessed. " A poor boy, aged about thirteen years, 
 was flogged at the cart's tail, a distance of nearly 150 
 yards, for stealing a pair of shoes, and 'his screams 
 after the second lash were heart-rending. He con- 
 tinued to shriek and cry " Oh, Lord ! oh, Lord ! " 
 during the whole distance, and on being placed in the 
 cart at the conclusion of this English, this Christian 
 torture, the wretched child seemed too weak to support 
 himself his back was dreadfully lacerated. A con- 
 siderable crowd was collected, who, of course (for the 
 frequency of these revolting scenes has not yet totally 
 obliterated the common feelings of humanity) expressed 
 the strongest indignation at the horrid sight. The 
 punishment was inflicted at ten o'clock on Friday 
 morning." 
 
 It will be hardly credited what brutal cruelty 
 distinguished some of the pastimes of the lower classes. 
 So recently as the year 1770 it was found necessary 
 to issue the following notice from Bow Street : 
 
 Public Office, Bow Street, Feb. 19, 1770. 
 
 A CAUTION. 
 
 Next Tuesday, commonly called Shrove Tuesday, 
 being that day on which the humanity of Englishmen
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 285 
 
 has been usually disgraced by that no less barbarous 
 than shameful practice of throwing at cocks : Notice 
 is hereby given, that the high constable with the 
 peace-officers in and near this Metropolis, will, accord- 
 ing to custom, on that day, by the direction of the 
 magistrates, search throughout their respective juris- 
 dictions, in order to suppress this evil ; though one 
 would imagine that a moment's reflection on this 
 diversion, would for ever put an end to it ; for what 
 can be more cowardly or dastardly than that of tying so 
 inoffensive, so useful, and so brave an animal to a stake, 
 as a poor cock, till by large sticks this animal is either 
 totally destroyed, or his limbs so broke that he cannot 
 stand ; nay, frequently the cruelty does not end here, 
 for when they have no longer a leg to stand on to face 
 their relentless enemies, they are placed in a hat or pot, 
 till they are totally destroyed. Nay, what is still worse, 
 pigeons, the emblem of love and tenderness, are on this 
 day wantonly fastened to brick-bats, to share the same 
 fate. But 'tis to be hoped, that masters of families 
 will carefully represent the heinousness of this offence 
 to their servants and apprentices ; and if they should 
 not take the benefit of their advice and this caution, 
 'tis to be hoped they will be apprehended by the con- 
 stables, and brought to condign punishment. As, 
 besides the above cruelty, it frequently happens that 
 passengers passing and repassing receive great injuries 
 from the sticks thrown on these occasions.
 
 286 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 The curiously pathetic style of this, so foreign to 
 the cold official strain, should be noted. 
 
 Again, in April, 1812, Mr. Birnie and Mr. Nares 
 had before them what was reasonably described as 
 " an extraordinary case." 
 
 It appeared that as Croker, belonging to the office, 
 was passing along the Hampstead Road, he observed 
 at a short distance before him, two men on a wall, and 
 directly after, he observed the tallest of them, a stout 
 man about six feet high, hanging by his neck from a 
 lamp-post attached to the wall, being that instant tied 
 up and turned off deliberately by the short man. This 
 very unexpected and extraordinary sight astonished 
 and alarmed the officer. He made up to the spot with 
 all possible speed, and just after he arrived there, the 
 tall man fell to the ground with the handkerchief by 
 which he had been suspended. Croker produced his 
 staff, said he was an officer, and demanded to know of 
 the other man the cause of such extraordinary conduct ; 
 in the meantime, the man who had been hanged re- 
 covered from the effects of his suspension, got up, and, 
 on finding Croker interfering, gave him a violent blow 
 on his nose, which nearly knocked him backwards. The 
 short man was then endeavouring to make off; how- 
 ever, the officer procured assistance, and both the men 
 were secured and brought to the above office, when 
 the account the fellows gave of themselves was, that 
 they worked together on canals. They had been in 
 company together on the Wednesday afternoon ; had
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 287 
 
 tossed up with halfpence for money, and afterwards 
 for their clothes ; the tall man, who was hanged, won 
 the other's jacket, trousers, and shoes. They then in 
 the most wanton and brutal manner tossed up who 
 should hang the other ; the short one won that toss, 
 and they got upon the wall, the one to submit, and 
 the other to carry their savage purpose into execution 
 on the lamp-iron. 
 
 They both agreed in this statement : the tall one, 
 who had been hanged, said, if he had won the toss he 
 would have hanged the other. He said he then felt 
 the effects of the experiment on his neck, in conse- 
 quence of the time he was hanging, and that his eyes 
 were so much swelled that he saw double. Mr. Nares 
 and Mr. Birnie, the magistrates, both expressed their 
 horror and disgust at such conduct and language, and 
 ordered the man who had been hanged to find bail for 
 the violent and unjustifiable assault on the officer, and 
 the short one for hanging the other. Neither of them 
 being provided with bail, they were committed to 
 Bridewell for trial. 
 
 In 1833 the magistrates had an opportunity to 
 relieve their ennui by having a little comic performance 
 in their court. 
 
 At Bow Street, on March 27, 1833, Thos. M'Kean, a 
 respectably attired man, having a strong Scottish ac- 
 cent, was brought before Mr. Halls, the sitting magis- 
 trate, charged with an assault. 
 
 Mr. Burnaby, the clerk, intimated to Mr. Halls that
 
 288 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 the defendant was the father of an extraordinary Scotch 
 boy, who was said to be gifted with second sight, and 
 also with the power of describing objects in a room 
 which he could not by any possibility see in a direct 
 way. 
 
 Mr. Halls said he should like much to see the young 
 Gordon M'Kean, of whom he had heard and read much. 
 
 Mr. M'Kean called his son, a fine-looking lad, about 
 eleven years of age, forward, and placing him with his 
 back to the bench, put a handkerchief over his face, 
 and requested the worthy magistrate to consent to an 
 exhibition of his powers for a few minutes, to which 
 Mr. Halls consented. 
 
 Mr. Burnaby, the boy being placed as before de- 
 scribed, took his watch from his pocket, and said, 
 " What have I got in my hand?" "A watch," was 
 the reply. " What is it made of?" " Gold." " What 
 chain is attached to it ?" " None at all," said the boy, 
 " there is a riband to it." 
 
 Mr Halls : Can you tell at what hour the hands 
 stand ? 
 
 Soy : Yes ; at twelve. 
 
 Mr. Burnaby : More or less ? 
 
 Boy : Neither more nor less, but precisely twelve. 
 
 Mr. Burnaby showed his watch, and the hands were 
 at twelve precisely. 
 
 Mr. Burnaby then produced his purse from his 
 pocket, and asked the boy the colour of it, and what it
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 289 
 
 contained ; and his answers were, without having the 
 least opportunity of turning round towards the bench, 
 that one end of the purse was brown and the other 
 yellow, and that the brown end contained sovereigns 
 and the yellow end silver. Mr. Burnaby admitted the 
 correctness of the description, and taking some silver 
 from his pocket, asked the boy to describe the different 
 pieces. " What is this ? " said Mr. Burnaby, taking a 
 sixpence. " Sixpence," said the boy, " and of the date 
 of 1819." "What is the next," said Mr. Burnaby. 
 "A shilling, and dated 1815," was the reply. And 
 when the clerk brought forth another coin, and asked a 
 similar question, the boy said, " That is a sixpence, and 
 of the date of 1817 ;" and all of these guesses proved 
 to be correct. 
 
 It would seem an extraordinary thing now were we 
 to hear of a magistrate entertaining himself and his 
 court with such puerilities. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 
 
 A Tragic Encounter. 
 
 ONE of the saddest instances of the duelling mania 
 came to Bow Street in 1818, when Mr. Theodore 
 O'Callaghan, of Gerrard Street, with Lieut. Newbolt, 
 R.N,, his second, and Mr. Thomas Phealan, were 
 brought up for being concerned in a duel with Lieut. 
 Bailey of the 58th Regiment. 
 
 The quarrel, it will be seen, had a thoroughly 
 Irish character, and arose " in the most natural way 
 in the wurrold." The two principals, having met to 
 arrange a duel with two " friends," had fallen out in 
 course of the arrangements. The meeting took place 
 at Chalk Farm, and Lieut. Bailey was killed. 
 
 Mr. Adams, who occupied a house overlooking the 
 ground, stated that about nine o'clock that morning 
 he was in his bedroom, in the act of dressing himself, 
 when he heard the discharge of two pistols, which 
 induced him to look out of his window : he saw four 
 gentlemen in two fields off his house, near Chalk Farm, 
 whom he considered to be in the act of fighting a
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 291 
 
 duel. He finished dressing himself with all possible 
 speed, and hurried off to the spot, to endeavour to 
 prevent the shots being repeated. Just as he arrived 
 at the gate, and was in the act of getting over it, 
 two pistols went off : he observed one of the gentlemen 
 turn round. The three other gentlemen went up 
 to him instantly ; two of them supported him on each 
 side ; to prevent him from falling each of them held 
 his arms. On his getting, up to them one of them said 
 to " him they were all friends." He saw blood running 
 down the trousers of the deceased profusely. The 
 parties inquired of him if there was a house near, to 
 conduct the deceased to it. They supported him to 
 witness's house, which was about 400 or 500 yards 
 off. The deceased appeared to be in a dangerous 
 state. A surgeon was sent for with all possible speed. 
 The deceased was laid on a sofa in his parlour, and 
 while he was lying there he desired Mr. Theodore 
 O'Callaghan to come to him, held out his hand to 
 shake hands with him, and said he had behaved most 
 honourably. The deceased observed that he was sen- 
 sible he was dying. After this he called the other 
 two prisoners to him, shook hands with them, made 
 similar observations to them, and said he forgave them 
 all. Mr. O'Callaghan, after this, went off to Hamp- 
 stead to get a coach to convey him from his house ; in 
 the meantime Mr. Rodd, a surgeon of Hampstead, 
 arrived, who, after examining the wound, said it was 
 
 u 2
 
 292 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 impossible to remove him from where he was. The 
 shot had entered on his right side, passed through his 
 intestines, and had all but passed through on the 
 left side, it only being kept from obtruding out by the 
 skin. The shot had carried with it a piece of the 
 cloth of his coat and other garments. The deceased 
 observed to him that the quarrel which had been the 
 cause of the duel was not originally a quarrel of their 
 own, but it had sprung out of a quarrel of two of their 
 mutual friends, who were to have fought a duel on 
 Sunday, and they were to have been their seconds (!) The 
 deceased lived about two hours, or two hours and a 
 quarter. All the prisoners paid every possible at- 
 tention to the deceased during the time he lived. He 
 conversed with them all, particularly with Mr. 
 Phealan, who, the deceased told him, had been his 
 second, or his friend, he could not recollect which. 
 Witness heard him request Mr. Phealan to write to 
 his father the full particulars of the whole affair, who, 
 he understood, lived at Limerick. Mr. Phealan then 
 went off to London to procure more surgical assist- 
 ance. On his return the deceased had expired. Mr. 
 Newbolt went in the meantime to inquire for lodgings in 
 the neighbourhood. Mr. O'Callaghan went to Hamp- 
 stead to procure a coach. They all appeared anxious 
 to do everything for the deceased, and were not in- 
 clined to abscond, but very readily surrendered. 
 The prisoners were not called upon for any defence.
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 293 
 
 The magistrate informed them that the law did not 
 make any distinction in cases of murder, all being con- 
 sidered principals ; they must all therefore be detained. 
 
 Mr. Birnie added it was in evidence before him that 
 one of the King's subjects had been deprived of life, 
 and upon prima facie evidence it was murder ; he had 
 therefore made up his mind that the prisoners must 
 all be committed to Newgate, to take their trial for the 
 murder of Lieut. Bailey. 
 
 The prisoners were accordingly conveyed to Newgate. 
 
 " Tommy " Moore and Jeffrey. 
 
 We may contrast with this the rather farcical issue 
 of Tom Moore's quarrel with Jeffrey, and which the 
 poet recounts with a due sense of the comical turn 
 which the incident took. As is well known, the 
 poet had been incensed by a severely contemptuous 
 article in the Edinburgh Review, which he said " had 
 roused his Irish blood ;" though at first he did not 
 think of noticing the affront. It is not improbable 
 that the eclat of an encounter with so celebrated a 
 person suggested itself. Moore was then a gay 
 adventurer in town, much patronized by the great and 
 fashionable, and a duel would be likely to increase his 
 prestige. This view is supported by the fact that he 
 admits feeling no sense of injury. He, however, naively 
 says that the expense of a journey to Edinburgh to 
 fight the reviewer was almost beyond his resources.
 
 294 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 " In this mood of mind," he says, "I returned to Lon- 
 don" (this was in theyear 1806), "and there, whether by 
 good orill luck, but in my own opinion the/ormer, there 
 was the identical Jeffrey himself, just arrived on a short 
 visit to his London friends. From Rogers, who had met 
 Jeffrey the day before at dinner at Lord Fincastle's, I 
 learned that the conversation, in the course of the day, 
 having happened to fall upon me, Lord F. was good 
 enough to describe ine as possessing * great amenity 
 of manners ;' on which Jeffrey said laughingly, * I am 
 afraid he would not show much amenity to me.' 
 
 " The first step I took towards my hostile proceeding 
 was to write to Woolriche, a kind and cool-headed 
 friend of mine, begging of him to join me in town as 
 soon as possible ; and intimating in a few words the 
 nature of the services on which I wanted him. 
 
 "As Woolriche's answer implied delay and delibe- 
 ration, it did not suit, of course, my notions of the 
 urgency of the occasion ; and I accordingly applied 
 to my old friend Hume, who, without hesitation, agreed 
 to be the bearer of my message. Having now secured 
 my second, I lost no time in drawing up the challenge 
 which he was to deliver ; and as actual combat, not 
 parley, was my object, I took care to put it out of the 
 power of my antagonist to explain or retract, even if 
 he was so disposed. After adverting to some assertion 
 contained in the article accusing me, if I recollect 
 right, of a deliberate intention to corrupt the minds of
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 295 
 
 my readers, I thus proceeded : { To this I beg leave 
 to answer, you are a liar ; yes, sir, a liar ; and I choose 
 to adopt this harsh and vulgar mode of defiance, in 
 order to prevent at once all equivocation between us, 
 and to compel you to adopt for your own satisfaction, 
 that alternative which you might otherwise have 
 hesitated- in affording to mine.' 
 
 " There was of course but one kind of answer to be 
 given to such a cartel. Hume had been referred by 
 Jeffrey to his friend Mr. Horner, and the meeting was 
 fixed for the following morning at Chalk Farm. Our 
 great difficulty now was where to procure a case of 
 pistols ; for Hume, though he had been once, I think, 
 engaged in mortal affray, was possessed of no such 
 implements ; and as for me, I had once nearly blown 
 off my thumb by discharging an over-loaded pistol, 
 and that was the whole, I believe, of my previous 
 acquaintance with fire-arms. William Spencer being 
 the only one of all my friends whom I thought likely 
 to furnish me with these sine-qua-non, I hastened to 
 confide to him my wants, and request his assistance 
 on this point. He told me if I would come to him in 
 the evening, he would have the pistols ready for me. 
 
 " I forget where I dined, but I know it was not in 
 company, as Hume had left to me the task of providing 
 powder and bullets, which I bought in the course of 
 the evening at some shop in Bond Street, and in such 
 large quantities, I remember, as would have done fer
 
 296 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 a score of duels. I then hastened to Spencer, who, in 
 praising the pistols as he gave them to me, said, 
 ' They are but too good. 5 I then joined Hume who 
 was waiting for me in a hackney-coach, and proceeded 
 to my lodgings. We had agreed that for every 
 reason, both of convenience and avoidance of suspicion, 
 it would be most prudent for me not to sleep at home ; 
 and as Hume was not the man, either then or at any 
 other part of his life, to be able to furnish a friend with 
 an extra pair of clean sheets, I quietly (having let my- 
 self in by my key, it being then between twelve and 
 one at night) took the sheets off my own bed, and 
 huddling them up as well as I could, took them away 
 with us in the coach to Hume's. 
 
 " I must have slept pretty well ; for Hume, I re- 
 member, had to wake me in the morning, and the 
 chaise being in readiness, we set off for Chalk Farm. 
 Hume had also taken the precaution of providing a 
 surgeon to be within call. On reaching the ground 
 we found Jeffrey and his party already arrived. I say 
 his ' party,' for although Horner only was with him, 
 there were, as we afterwards found, two or three of 
 his attached friends (and no man, I believe, could ever 
 boast of a greater number) who, in their anxiety for 
 his safety, had accompanied him, and were hovering 
 about the spot. And then was it that, for the first 
 time, my excellent friend Jeffrey and I met face to 
 face. He was standing with the bag, which contained
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 297 
 
 the pistols, in his hand, while Horner was looking 
 anxiously around. 
 
 " It was agreed that the spot where we found them, 
 which was screened on one side by large trees, would 
 be as good for our purpose as any we could select ; 
 and Horner, after expressing some anxiety respecting 
 some men whom he had seen suspiciously hovering 
 about, but who now appeared to have departed, retired 
 with Hume behind the trees, for the purpose of load- 
 ing the pistols, leaving Jeffrey and myself together. 
 
 " All this had occupied but a very few minutes. We, 
 of course, had bowed to each other on meeting ; but 
 the first words I recollect to have passed between us 
 was Jeffrey's saying, on our being left together, ' What 
 a beautiful morning it is ! ' ' Yes,' I answered with 
 a slight smile, * a morning made for better purposes ;' 
 to which his only response was a sort of assenting sigh. 
 As our assistants were not, any more than ourselves, 
 very expert at warlike matters, they were rather slow 
 in their proceedings ; and as Jeffrey and I walked up 
 and down together, we came once in sight of their 
 operations : upon which I related to him, as rather 
 a propos to the purpose, what Billy Egan, the Irish 
 barrister, once said, when, as he was sauntering about 
 in like manner while the pistols were loading, his 
 antagonist, a fiery little fellow, called out to him angrily 
 to keep his ground. 'Don't make yourself unaisy, 
 my dear fellow,' said Egan; ' sure, isn't it bad enough
 
 298 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 to take the dose, without being by at the mixing 
 up?' 
 
 " Jeffrey had scarcely time to smile at this story, 
 when our two friends, issuing from behind the trees, 
 placed us at our respective posts (the distance, I 
 suppose, having been previously measured by them), 
 and put the pistols into our hands. They then retired 
 to a little distance ; the pistols were on both sides 
 raised ; and we waited but the signal to fire, when 
 some police-officers, whose approach none of us had 
 noticed, and who were within a second of being too 
 late, rushed out from a hedge behind Jeffrey ; and one 
 of them, striking at Jeffrey's pistol with his staff, 
 knocked it to some distance into the field, while another 
 running over to me, took possession also of mine. We 
 were then replaced in our respective carriages, and 
 conveyed, crestfallen, to Bow Street. 
 
 " On our way thither Hume told me, that fromHorner 
 not knowing anything about the loading of pistols, he 
 had been obliged to help him in the operation, and in 
 fact to take upon himself chiefly the task of loading 
 both pistols. When we arrived at Bow Street, the 
 first step of both parties was to despatch messengers 
 to procure some friends to bail us ; and as William 
 Spencer was already acquainted with the transaction, 
 to him 1 applied on my part, and requested that he 
 would lose no time in coming to me. In the mean- 
 while we were all shown into a sitting-room, the people
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 299 
 
 in attendance having first inquired whether it was our 
 wish to be separated, but neither party having ex- 
 pressed any desire to that effect, we were all put 
 together in the same room. Here conversation upon 
 some literary subject, I forget what, soon ensued, in 
 which I myself took only the brief and occasional share , 
 beyond which, at that time of my life, I seldom ven- 
 tured in general society. But I have been told of his 
 saying, soon after our rencontre, that he had taken a 
 fancy to me from the first moment of our meeting 
 together in the field ; and I can truly say that my 
 liking for him is of the same early date. After all the 
 usual ceremony of binding over, &c., had been gone 
 through, it was signified to us that we were free to 
 depart, and that our pistols should be restored to us. 
 I was obliged myself to return to Bow Street, in the 
 course of a few hours, for the purpose of getting them. 
 To my surprise, however, the officer refused to deliver 
 them up to me, saying in a manner not very civil, that 
 it appeared to the magistrate there was something 
 unfair intended ; as, on examining the pistol taken 
 from me, there was found in it a bullet, while there 
 had been no bullet found in that of Mr. Jeffrey. 
 
 " Nothing remained for me (parliclarly as Hume had 
 taken his departure) but to go at once to Horner's 
 lodgings and lay all the circumstances before him. I 
 was lucky enough to find him at his chambers ; and 
 even at this distance of time, I recollect freshly the
 
 300 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 immediate relief which it afforded me when I heard 
 Homer exclaim, in his honest and manly manner, 
 1 Don't mind what these fellows say. I myself saw 
 your friend put the bullet into Jeffrey's pistol, and 
 shall go with you instantly to the office to set the 
 matter right.' We both then proceeded together to 
 Bow Street, and Horner's statement having removed 
 the magistrate's suspicions, the officers returned to me 
 the pistols, together with the bullet which had been 
 found in one of them." 
 
 " William Spencer," Moore wrote in his vexation to 
 Miss Godfrey, " is the cause of this very ill-judged inter- 
 ruption, though he had pledged his honour to keep the 
 matter as secret as the grave. I never can forgive him ; 
 for at this moment I would rather have lost a limb than 
 that such a circumstance had happened. And so there 
 is all my fine sentimental letters which I wrote yesterday 
 for posthumous delivery to your sister, you, &c. &c., 
 all gone for nothing, and I made to feel very like a 
 ninny indeed." 
 
 It seems that Mr. Spencer dined alone with the Fin- 
 castles, and, after dinner, told all the circumstances of 
 the challenge, the loan of the pistols, &c., to Lord 
 Fincastle, who (without, as it appears, communicating 
 his purpose to Spencer) sent information that night of 
 the intended duel to Bow Street. 
 
 "The manner," adds Moore, "in which the whole 
 affair was misrepresented in the newspapers of the
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 301 
 
 day, is too well known to need any repetition here ; 
 but I have been told, and I think it not improbable, 
 
 that to a countryman of my own (named Q ), 
 
 who was editor of one of the evening papers, 
 I owed the remarkable concurrence in falsehood 
 which pervaded all the statements on the subject. 
 The report from Bow Street was taken first (as I have 
 heard the story) to the office of the paper in question, and 
 contained a statement of the matter, correctly, thus : 
 ' In the pistol of one of the parties a bullet was found, 
 and nothing at all in the pistol of the other.' Thinking 
 it a good joke, doubtless, upon literary belligerents, my 
 countryman changed without much difficulty, the word 
 'bullet 'into 'pellet;' and in this altered state the 
 report passed from him to the offices of all the other 
 evening papers." 
 
 This incident in these days of nice punctilio was 
 excessively awkward ; and had the parties actually 
 exchanged shots and Jeffrey been wounded or killed, 
 Moore's reputation would have been forever lost. The 
 affair, however, almost led to a second encounter, for 
 many years later, Lord Byron, in his " English Bards," 
 alluded to the incident with the sneer : 
 
 " When Little's leadless pistol met his eye, 
 And Bow Street myrmidons stood laughing by." 
 
 On which Moore sent him a half-reproachful, half- 
 threatening letter, which, had it not been met in a
 
 302 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 gracious spirit, might have led to recriminations and 
 perhaps to a " meeting". Instead, however, they be- 
 came fast friends. 1 
 
 A Farcical Duel. 
 
 The lengths to which " affairs of honour " were 
 carried was even better illustrated by the following : 
 
 Mr. Villiers, a fashionably-dressed young gentleman, 
 stated that he and Mr. Thompson, who were both lay 
 students, lived in the same house, and had an equal 
 right to the use of the kitchen, but that some difference 
 arose between them relative to the coal-hole, which 
 could only be settled by a reference to the landlord, as 
 it involved a point of law, and not of honour. He ac- 
 cordingly wrote a letter to Mr. Thompson, to which he 
 received an answer, which, with permission of the magis- 
 trate, he would beg leave to read. It was as follows : 
 
 "Monday, 18th July, 1828. 
 
 " SIR, I am truly happy to find that the fears en- 
 tertained for your life are groundless. I thank you for 
 
 1 The witty lines of that incorrigible jester, Theodore Hook, on 
 this adventure, are not generally known. 
 
 " When Anacreon would fight, as the poets have said, 
 A reverse he displayed in his vapour, 
 For while all his poems are loaded with lead, 
 His pistols were loaded vfith paper. 
 For excuses, Anacreon old custom may thank, 
 The indulgence don't let him abuse, 
 For the cartridge 'tis known is always made blank. 
 That is fired away at Reviews."
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 303 
 
 your note, as I am extremely desirous that our respec- 
 tive rights may be quietly adjusted. Indeed, it has 
 been far from my wish to be under any obligation to 
 you. As you have purchased the furniture of the 
 kitchen, no doubt you have authority to remove them ; 
 but still I think it right to mention, that as my land- 
 lord granted me my lease with the use of these fixtures, 
 I shall insist on the right which I have so acquired, 
 while they remain ; and if you have purchased them 
 under a bad title, that is not my fault. As to the coals, 
 I have instructed my laundress, for whatever purpose 
 she may require a fire, to light one with my coals and 
 if she should find a fire lighted, then to put on coals 
 out of my cellar, and keep the fire up only on these 
 occasions that will be required for my convenience. I 
 do not feel myself called upon to bring an action against 
 you ; but, at the same time, I shall be most happy indeed 
 to defend one. Should you think fit to establish your 
 right to the kitchen and fixtures, by expelling my 
 laundress, as you have threatened to do, I take leave 
 to tell you, that I will hold you responsible in case you 
 shall have recourse to force. 
 
 " I remain, sir, your very obedient servant, 
 
 " HENRY AUGUSTUS THOMPSON. 
 
 " To Fre<lk. Villiers, Esq., 21, Lincoln's Inn Fields." 
 
 This letter created a considerable degree of laughter, 
 in which Mr. Minshull and Sir Richard Birnie heartily
 
 304 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 joined, especially when the writer stated "that he 
 could not keep up a brisk fire in consequence of the in- 
 terruption of Mr. Villiers' servant." 
 
 Mr. Thompson here stepped forward, and said he 
 begged to be permitted to explain the transaction. In 
 consequence of the irregularity of Mr. Villiers' servant, 
 I never (said Mr. T.) could get my dinner cooked at a 
 proper hour, and I accordingly remonstrated with Mr. 
 Villiers, but to no purpose, and at length I was driven 
 to the necessity of threatening to horsewhip him on 
 the previous Saturday. 
 
 Mr. Minshull : Threatened to horsewhip him ! Why, 
 I think that a more serious charge than any the letter 
 contains. 
 
 What now escaped from Mr. Villiers, in a quiet tone, 
 as if the thing were a matter of course is highly 
 amusing. 
 
 Mr. Villiers : Oh ! your worship, I challenged and 
 fought him for that. 
 
 Sir R. Birnie : Fought about what ? A coal-hole ! 
 Upon my word, there was nothing slack about you, I 
 perceive. 
 
 Mr. Thompson : Oh yes, Sir Richard we met at five 
 o'clock on Monday morning, when, after an exchange 
 of four shots, I succeeded in wounding my antagonist 
 on the breast, and I then felt that my wounded honour 
 was healed, especially when Mr. Villiers made the 
 necessary apology.
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS, 305 
 
 Mr. Minshull: Fought and exchanged four shots, 
 and all about cooking a dinner ! From your own con- 
 fession you have been guilty of a breach of the peace, 
 and I shall hold you to bail. 
 
 He accordingly ordered them to find bail, themselves 
 in 500Z., and two sureties in 250Z. each, to keep the 
 peace towards each other for two years. 
 
 We find noblemen and gentlemen resorting to 
 taverns around Covent Garden, in lieu of clubs, and 
 engaging in quarrels which led to " affairs of honour." 
 There was a place called " Offley's " in Henrietta 
 Street, which was often the scene of such incidents. 
 Thus in 1821 we find the Right Honourable Lord 
 Clanmorris exhibiting articles of the peace against 
 an officer. 
 
 Captain William Wallace, of the army, appeared 
 before the sitting magistrates. Lord Clanmorris stated 
 that he was at Offley's the other night, between twelve 
 and one o'clock, when Captain Wallace entered the 
 room, and advancing towards him said, " You are a 
 coward and a scoundrel ; I have published you as such 
 to the world, and am glad to meet you once more that 
 I may tell you so to your face." To this witness re- 
 plied, " It is quite impossible that anything coming 
 from so infamous a character as you can be noticed by 
 a gentleman." Captain Wallace then said, " You 
 scoundrel, you deserve caning, and I will cane you." 
 He laid his cane over the shoulders of witness, where- 
 VOL. i. x
 
 306 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 upon he took up a candlestick and threw it at Captain 
 Wallace ; a contest ensued, which was terminated by 
 the interference of the waiters. Captain Wallace said 
 that Lord Clanmorris and he had once been on a foot- 
 ing of intimacy, but his lordship had chosen, some 
 time ago, to brand him with the epithets of " scoundrel," 
 41 man of infamous character," &c., behind his back, 
 and afterwards refused to give him any satisfaction. 
 He saw his lordship, on the night in question, and 
 again demanded an explanation ; upon its being re- 
 used, he certainly did apply the terms that had been 
 mentioned, and told his lordship that he might con- 
 sider himself caned, but he did not strike him. Lord 
 Clanmorris threw a candlestick, which broke the back 
 of his hand, so that he was obliged to wear it in a 
 sling ; and indeed his friends told him he ought to 
 have taken out a warrant against Lord C. He said 
 Lord Clanmorris was particularly scrupulous in his 
 choice of gentlemen to fight with. Mr. Minshull said 
 he should call both upon the complainant and defendant 
 to find sureties for their appearance at the Sessions, 
 and for their good behaviour in the interim. 
 
 A Gaming-House Raid. 
 
 Mr. Graham, the magistrate, was concerned in a 
 curious and not undramatic enterprise which seems to 
 have brought him into some discredit.
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 307 
 
 The system of rewarding or stimulating the Bow 
 Street officials according to results, led, as was to be 
 expected, to jealousies, on the part of the other 
 officers. It was known that while rewards, &c., were 
 scarcely ever given at their offices, at Bow Street 
 " everything was done liberally and handsomely." 
 There was often shown an eagerness to anticipate or 
 frustrate the Bow Street men when a chance offered. 
 This was illustrated in the course of a " raid " made 
 on a gaming-house in St. James's, and which exhibits 
 the worst and most corrupt features of the Bow Street 
 system. Mr. Nares, one of the magistrates, complained 
 in an amusing way of how his own staff had been 
 tricked and deprived of the fruits of " the job." 
 
 " It was reported to me," he said, " that two 
 people got 400Z. which they ran off with." Asked 
 to recount this incident he said <; It was a warrant 
 of Mr. Graham's, and they were brought after- 
 wards before me. The warrant, 1 am sorry to say, 
 was put into the hands of a foreigner belonging to the 
 Alien Office, but our officers went with him. That man, 
 with two more men, rushed in before the officers, and 
 plundered the table at first. Then our officers came, 
 and found but very little ; and then this person, who 
 had no authority whatever, searched all the gentlemen 
 who remained in the room, and took the money out of 
 their pockets, and kept a list of that money ; and I 
 never could get that man, he was off. I do not kuo\v 
 
 x 2
 
 308 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 where he went to ; he never came to account for the 
 money. Adkins was the officer who went with the 
 warrant. 
 
 " The warrant was of course served by our constables. 
 These men said they had orders to act upon it, that is, 
 this foreigner and Mr. Capper, belonging to the Alien 
 Office, who went in a uniform, and with a drawn sword. 
 I never heard of such a thing in my life. It was not 
 legal. I never was so angry about anything in my 
 life, and I went to complain to Mr. Beckett about it. 
 This foreigner that took down the list, which was very 
 correct, no doubt, never brought the money forward. 
 I did tell Mr. Beckett that if he did not come, I should 
 not scruple to send a warrant after him. I did not 
 scruple to say that if he had come, and the gentlemen 
 swore to this, I should commit him for a robbery. 
 I sent Adkins repeatedly after this man ; I could not 
 find him ; what did he do but leave a twenty-pound 
 note for Adkins, and I told Adkins to keep that money 
 till it was called for. Supposed to be left by the 
 foreigner. I think the amount of the money was an 
 hundred and odd pounds. But I can perfectly recol- 
 lect what Mr. Beckett said. When I was extremely 
 angry about it, he said, ' There ! we have got into a 
 gaming-house, and you are jealous that we have found it 
 out.' The final result was, that the gentlemen were 
 held to bail that were gambling, and I never could get 
 at this foreigner in any way. Mr. Capper told me he
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 309 
 
 tried to get at him, and could not, or the money. 
 
 This was three or four years ago. I do not know the 
 
 least in the world what became of him. I said to Mr. 
 
 Alley, who was counsel for the gentlemen, ' Do you 
 
 find him out, and I will grant a warrant.' The money 
 
 was seized by Mr. Capper and by this foreigner. We 
 
 never search the pockets of people for their money. 
 
 but they were made to pull all their money out of their 
 
 pockets, and then there was a list taken of the money 
 
 each party gave up, and this list was sent to me in the 
 
 morning ; and as far as I recollect, Mr. Graham said 
 
 this person would come with the money, but I never 
 
 could get him. He spent the money, I suppose, except 
 
 this twenty pounds which Adkins is to account for. 
 
 Adkins has the twenty pounds now. I went to Mr. 
 
 Beckett when I discovered all this, to say T thought 
 
 this a very simple transaction as could possibly be, 
 
 and I said that it was a disgrace to the office, and that 
 
 I was sure neither Mr. Reid nor myself would have 
 
 granted such a warrant upon the evidence of such a 
 
 man as that. But I fancy they did not know that Mr. 
 
 Capper was to go in this uniform ; he belonged to some 
 
 corps. The officer very properly came, and gave the 
 
 account of it to me directly." 
 
 The comments made on this singular affair, which 
 seemed to be illegal in any point of view, were cer- 
 tainly just. " A more extraordinary transaction than 
 that which this upright and honourable magistrate has
 
 3 io CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 here disclosed never before occurred. An information 
 is lodged against a gaming-house, not in the usual 
 way, before a magistrate, at his residence, or at his 
 office, but, as it appears, at the Secretary of State's 
 office ; and the magistrate, Mr. Graham, instead of 
 pursuing the usual mode, by giving the warrant to one 
 of his constables to execute, allows it to be put into 
 the hands of a person who has no right whatever to 
 execute it, and that person a foreigner, and to add to 
 the strangeness of the transaction, a foreigner belong- 
 ing to the Alien Office ! ! ! How, be it asked, came Mr. 
 Graham to be selected for this office? Mr. Graham 
 was a favourite at Whitehall : he had three thousand 
 pounds lately voted him by parliament, on the motion 
 of Mr. Hiloy Addington, Under- Secretary of State, to 
 the utter astonishment of the public. Mr. Graham, 
 it is known, also, was suffered to hold his situation at 
 Bow Street years after he was incapacitated by in- 
 firmity from discharging its duties, or even from per- 
 sonal attendance at the office. Another magistrate of 
 the county was employed to attend in his place, on a 
 clear understanding between Mr. Graham and Mr. 
 Beckett, that he should succeed to the first vacancy 
 in the police establishment, and should even be 
 appointed, over the heads of all his seniors, to Bow 
 Street, on Mr. Graham's resignation. 
 
 " A Bow Street officer or two were ordered to attend, 
 that there might be an appearance at least of some
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 311 
 
 attention to legal authority ; but it was only for the 
 appearance, as the foreigner, Mr. Capper, of the Alien 
 Office, and another individual "rushed in before the 
 officers, and plundered the table at first." Here, be it 
 observed, that, if the parties who were playing had 
 resisted this unauthorized, this illegal violence, and 
 death had ensued, it would have been justifiable homi- 
 cide, whereas, if any one of the persons at play had 
 been killed, it would have been murder. " Then our 
 officers came, and found but very little. And then, 
 this person, who had no authority whatever, searched 
 all the gentlemen who remained in the room, and took 
 the money out of their poclcets. A more audacious 
 outrage was never committed. Now, be it further 
 remarked, that Mr. Capper, a clerk in the Alien Office, 
 and not then under the authority of Mr. Beckett, went 
 to his house in a uniform, and with a drawn sword ! 
 So that the gentlemen evidently complied with the 
 demand to deliver their money under an impression 
 of fear ! 
 
 " No less a sum than four hundred pounds was got 
 possession of by these unauthorized persons, which 
 appears to be independent of one hundred and odd 
 pounds ordered to be delivered out of the gentlemen's 
 pockets ! " 
 
 This, in fact, appears to have been nothing more 
 nor less than a robbery of the persons who were en- 
 gaged in play.
 
 312 CHRONICLES Of BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 The Smugglers. 
 
 There is always something romantic in the accounts 
 of these daring smuggling expeditions. To this day 
 at Folkestone are shown cellars and caves on the steep 
 cliff side, where the houses and cottages are built for 
 the convenience of hiding contraband wares, while old 
 boatmen tell of the six-oared boats which of a fine 
 night could be rowed across to the French coast. 
 Mr. Richardson, in his recollections, describes how 
 gangs of forty or fifty smugglers might be seen on 
 the Dover and Brighton roads, well mounted on 
 strong hardy horses, with half-ankers of brandy and 
 Hollands slung across their saddle-bows, well armed, 
 and prepared to resist force with force, making their 
 way to London, and crossing Westminster Bridge. 
 
 " When a boy I lived in a house my father had in a 
 wild part of Surrey, Combe, on the left of Croydon. 
 The house was almost isolated ; it had originally been 
 a farmhouse, and was surrounded with barns, stables, 
 and outhouses. We were frequently disturbed in the 
 night by the most unaccountable noises; the trampling of 
 many horses, accompanied with the hum of voices, &c. 
 
 " It was not long before we discovered the cause of 
 all this. About twenty or thirty men and horses were 
 in the habit of quartering themselves, as their occa- 
 sions required, in our barn. They were a mixed con- 
 gregation of ' Kentish Knockers,' or smugglers from 
 the Kentish Knock, gipsies, and assistant contraban-
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 313 
 
 dists from London. Here they arranged in what 
 manner to ' run ' their goods to the metropolis, and, 
 having done so, retired, and left the barn to its proper 
 owners. They never committed the slightest injury to 
 the place, nor did we ever suffer in any way from their 
 depredations. We certainly received a hint not to be 
 too curious in prying into their proceedings, which we 
 took in good part, and as they left us alone we did not 
 meddle with their affairs. The New Forest and the 
 Hampshire coast were the scenes of similar transac- 
 tions. The smugglers and their confederates were too 
 strong for the ordinary force of the Custom House, 
 and when extraordinary force was brought against 
 them, many sanguinary encounters were the result. 
 
 " A. man who has long retired from this kind of 
 business is still living, and after having weathered, 
 both metaphorically and actually, many a storm, and 
 been in many a fearful encounter with parties of the 
 Custom House officers, coast-guards, and revenue- 
 cutters, is in possession of a good estate in Oxford- 
 shire, respected by his neighbours, and beloved by the 
 poor of his neighbourhood, to whom he has been a 
 very active benefactor. 
 
 " On one occasion a considerable quantity of brandy, 
 gin, &c., being arrived off the coast of Christ Church, 
 Hants, and the weather being exceedingly rough, all 
 the boats employed in landing contraband cargoes 
 were staved by the tremendous surf on the beach.
 
 3 f4 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Without delay he and upwards of a hundred of his 
 followers marched up, about an hour after midnight, 
 to the house of this gentleman. 
 
 "P knocked loudly at the door, and the 
 
 gentleman, aroused from his sleep, put his head out 
 of window, and demanded what was the occasion of 
 the visit at that hour. ' Oh, Mr. B ,' answered 
 
 P , ' we want your father's boat, all our own are 
 
 rendered useless, and lie staved on the beach.' 
 
 " ' Why, P ,' replied Mr. B , ' I cannot lend 
 
 you the boat ; you know that would not do. I say I 
 cannot lend it, but at the same time I cannot prevent 
 you from breaking into the barn in which it is locked 
 up, and taking it away with you.' 
 
 " ' Ay, ay, sir ! many thanks, and good night.' 
 
 " In the course of a very few minutes the padlock on 
 the barn doors was broken, the doors opened, and the 
 boat hoisted on the shoulders of a dozen or fourteen 
 sturdy operatives, transported to the beach, and 
 launched. The whole cargo was landed in safety, the 
 boat safely returned, and a new padlock replaced that 
 which had been broken." 
 
 The Bow Street officers were often despatched down 
 to the Kentish coast when a seizure was in prospect. 
 In October, 1827, application was made to Sir 
 Richard Birnie for the assistance of one of his prin- 
 cipal officers to apprehend some of a most desperate 
 gang of smugglers, who had assailed and wounded
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 315 
 
 several of the persons engaged in the Preventive Ser- 
 vice on the coast of Dorchester. Captain Jackson, 
 inspector on that station, and Lieutenant Sparks, who 
 acts under him, had received instructions to seize upon 
 the smugglers, and Sir Richard Birnie directed Bishop 
 to join on this hazardous occasion. " The smugglers 
 had, on the day the conflict took place, landed 120 
 tubs of spirits on the beach, when they heard the 
 report of a pistol (the signal from the watch of the 
 Preventive Service) amongst the cliffs. The smug- 
 glers were armed with swords, pistols, and instruments 
 called ' swingles,' which are made like flails, and 
 with which they can knock people's brains out. Those 
 instruments are a new invention as weapons of attack, 
 and there is no possibility of guarding against them, 
 on account of their capacity of flying round the body. 
 The place where the spirits were landed is called 
 Ringbourn, and is in the vicinity of St. Alban's Head, 
 and a troop of the Preventive Service speedily at- 
 tended to the summons, and attacked the gang. 
 There were between seventy and eighty of the . 
 smugglers, and no more than ten of the Preventive 
 Service, so that the latter were, of course, over- 
 powered. Several were wounded upon both sides, 
 and it is believed that two of the smugglers were 
 killed upon the spot. The swingles were found, upon 
 this occasion, to do great execution heads and arms 
 were broken with them, and we understand that all
 
 3i6 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 round the coast they are now in use. Some of the 
 Preventive Service had taken particular notice of the 
 ringleaders of the gang, and warrants were issued for 
 their apprehension. The captain of the gang keeps a 
 public-house called the ' Ship,' near Woolbridge, on 
 the Weymouth Road, his name is Lucas. Captain 
 Jackson, his assistant, and Bishop, went well armed, 
 at two o'clock, in the morning, to Thomas Lucas's 
 house. Bishop knocked at the door gently, and the 
 smuggler asked, in a gruff tone, ' Who is there ? ' 
 ' It's only I, Mr. Lucas,' replied Bishop, * Mrs. Smith's 
 little girl I want a little drop of brandy for mother, 
 for she is bad in her bowels.' * Very well, my dear,' 
 cried Lucas, and opening the door, found himself in 
 the formidable grasp of the police-officer." 
 
 A more exciting conflict took place shortly after : 
 " Considerable interest was excited at this office on 
 Friday morning, in consequence of the news having 
 been circulated that a desperate gang of smugglers 
 had been apprehended in the county of Kent, and 
 would be brought up for examination. 
 
 " About half-past twelve o'clock George Ransley, 
 Samuel Bailey, Richard Bailey, Richard Wire, William 
 Wire, Thomas Gilliam, Charles Giles, and Thomas 
 Donard, all men of fierce aspect, were brought to the 
 office, and charged with the wilful murder of William 
 Morgan, a Quartermaster of his Majesty's ship 
 Ramillies, on the beach at Dover. The prisoners
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 317 
 
 were all dressed in smock-frocks, with the exception 
 of Ransley, the captain of the gang, who is a very 
 fine-looking man, apparently possessing great muscular 
 strength. 
 
 William Pickett deposed that, on the 29th of July 
 last he was stationed near the bathing-machines at 
 Dover ; between one and two o'clock in the morning a 
 party of smugglers, fifty or sixty in number, attempted 
 to land some goods from a boat. Witness endeavoured 
 to discharge his pistol as an alarm, but it did not go 
 off. Deceased then came up, fired his pistol behind 
 him, with the same object, and was immediately shot 
 by the smugglers. Witness was engaged with several 
 of the smugglers, and wounded some of them with his 
 cutlass he captured thirty- three tubs. Morgan died 
 a few minutes afterwards." 
 
 One of the smugglers then turned " King's evidence." 
 This was Michael Horn, a good-looking young man, 
 who made the following statement : 
 
 " I met Kansley about ten o'clock at night ; none 
 of the prisoners were then present. We went to a 
 place called the Palm Trees, about two miles from 
 Dover, and were there joined by all the prisoners ex- 
 cept Giles, and several others, to the number of sixty. 
 We were mustered in the presence of Ransley. 
 Twelve or sixteen of the party were armed with 
 muskets ; all the prisoners were armed except Giles 
 and Ransley, the leader of the party. We went to the
 
 318 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE, 
 
 bathing machines at Dover, about twelve or one 
 o'clock. Soon after a boat was run ashore. At this 
 moment Ransley said, Hallo, come on, and placed an 
 armed party at each side of the boat. We landed 
 several tubs of brandy and gin, and carried off about 
 seventy. I heard several shots fired, and I afterwards 
 heard that a man named Morgan was killed ; we were 
 interrupted by one of the Coast Blockade party. 
 Ransley paid me 23s. for my night's work." 
 
 The counsel said it would be necessary to confine 
 the prisoners in a place of more security than any 
 afforded on the sea coast of the county of Kent, as 
 it was a notorious fact that the smugglers had broken 
 open or pulled down every prison in that part of the 
 county. 
 
 Sir R. Birnie said, about five years ago, they broke 
 open the Gaol of Dover at noonday, in the presence 
 of several magistrates, and rescued fifteen of their 
 gang. One of the officers of the Blockade Service now 
 present complained that he found some difficulty in 
 inducing the magistrates of the Cinque Ports to back 
 warrants against smugglers, as it was said they were 
 engaged in smuggling themselves. 
 
 This view of persons of superior station favouring 
 the proceedings of the smugglers is confirmed by Sir 
 R. Birnie's directions to some Bow Street officers 
 whom he was sending down to Kent to deal with 
 their malpractices. He said,
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 319 
 
 " Ruthven, on your arrival in Kent it will be your 
 duty to apply to some magistrate to back the warrants, 
 and be sure you do not apply to one of the magistrates 
 of the Cinque, Ports, lest the object you have in view 
 be thwarted by the party giving information to the 
 persons accused, as was the case in a very recent in- 
 stance ; but go before some of the magistrates of the 
 county who are, I believe, most of them honourable 
 men. Very recently, when Bond, the officer, went 
 into Kent with a warrant to apprehend a smuggler, on 
 
 going before the Mayor of , to get the warrant 
 
 signed, he was detained for some time, and the Mayor, 
 in the interim, gave information to the wife of the 
 smuggler, who immediately absconded." Sir Richard 
 said he had affidavits in his possession to support 
 what he had stated. 
 
 Informers. 
 
 A curious feature in this routine of magisterial 
 jurisdiction was the recognition of the services of 
 informers, who drove a brisk and profitable trade in 
 bringing publicans before the courts for selling without 
 licence. Thus, in 1828, one Jackson had been fined 
 10/. on the information of one of these men, and 
 had appealed. These gentry were not, however, re- 
 garded with favour by the Bench, as will be seen from 
 the reception accorded to this person when he re- 
 appeared a few days later with a fresh charge against
 
 320 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE 
 
 the same publican. The papers took care to report the 
 case in rather a minute and dramatic fashion, with 
 the dialogues that took place on such occasions, par- 
 ticularly when Sir E,. Birnie their favourite performer 
 took a prominent part. The clerk expressed his 
 surprise, and on handing the information to Sir 
 Eichard Birnie, said " it was rather hard upon the 
 defendant to appear twice in the same week on a 
 similar charge. I think, for my part, that it would be 
 no more than modest in a common informer to abstain 
 from all fresh proceedings while an appeal is pend- 
 ing." 
 
 " Modesty and a common informer," exclaimed 
 Colonel Clitheroe, the magistrate of Brentford, who 
 entered the office just as Mr. Woods gave utterance 
 to the words ; " what an anomaly ! Why, who the 
 deuce was ever absurd enough to imagine that modesty 
 and a common informer ever travelled together ? If 
 you want an instance of the purity of common in- 
 formers, I can furnish you with a famous one. Some 
 time ago one of these fellows, Johnson, summoned the" 
 driver of the Letham coach for an alleged offence, and 
 then wrung out of the hands of the poor devil three 
 guineas for compromising the affair." 
 
 " Sir Richard (smiling) : Colonel, here is Mr. John- 
 son, he can answer for himself. 
 
 Colonel Clitheroe (making a low bow) : Oh, Mr. 
 Johnson, I did not know you were present ; I had not
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 321 
 
 the pleasure of knowing you before. You have heard 
 what I have said, and I now tell you that I used every 
 means to make you out ; and I can assure you, that if 
 I had established a charge against you, I should have 
 dealt with your modestyship without either delicacy 
 or ceremony. 
 
 Johnson : I feel convinced the magistrates must admit 
 that I have always done my business fairly and properly. 
 He denied what was stated by Colonel Clitheroe. 
 
 Colonel Clitheroe : I have not the smallest doubt on 
 my mind, but that you are the same. However, it is 
 well for you that I cannot prove the fact. I know 
 you all well enough ; you are a d d set of fellows, 
 who go about laying informations, and then levy largo 
 contributions from the poor devils, under the pretext 
 of making the matter up. 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie : It is an infamous system, and 
 it is high time that a stop should be put to it. 
 
 Colonel Clitheroe: It is indeed, Sir Richard. But 
 for my own part, I have come to the resolution of 
 never receiving an information from any one of these 
 fellows again. Mind, Johnson, I now tell you never 
 to dare to show your nose near my house, for I will 
 never receive any information of you or any of the 
 tribe. When you next come down my way, you had 
 better go at once to the Magpie and Stump. 
 
 Johnson : I never was doing business iu Brentford 
 in all my life. 
 
 VOL. i. T
 
 322 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 Sir Richard Birnie : Oh, come, that story is long 
 enough. I am really sorry, Johnson, to see you 
 harassing a useful and well-regulated house in this 
 way. This house is very different from Grub's and 
 other houses. As Mr. Jackson has appealed, you 
 must excuse me, I cannot take this information. 
 
 Johnson received back the information, making a 
 most reverential stoop, in indication of his submission." 
 
 Later we are told of " several shrewd fellows who 
 have made themselves very busy lately in laying in- 
 formations against pawnbrokers, for taking more 
 interest upon their pledges than they are allowed by 
 law. For this purpose some trifling article is pledged, 
 and when it has remained long enough for the legal 
 interest to amount to three farthings, it is redeemed, 
 when the pawnbroker, in some cases doubtless in- 
 advertently, demands a penny, and thereby renders 
 himself liable to the information. One of these far- 
 thing informations came on to be heard before Sir 
 Richard Birnie. The informer gave his name and 
 address James Betts, watchmaker, Gee Street, Clerken- 
 well. Mr. Adolphus addressed the bench, and sub- 
 mitted that the witness was entirely unworthy of 
 credit. Among the multitude of other arguments he 
 insinuated that these * fellows,' the witness, informer, 
 &c., were in the habit of throwing down the penny, 
 and running out of the shop without the farthing in 
 exchange."
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 323 
 
 A Gaming -House " Grab." 
 
 The "worthy" magistrate, in serious cases, was 
 expected to put himself at the head of his force, and 
 lead them on, in what was often a service of danger. 
 "We thus hear of them bursting in upon assembled 
 conspirators, or making " raids," as they were called, 
 upon coiners and gamesters. It would be difficult to 
 conceive of Mr. Flowers, or Mr. Vaughan, or Sir 
 James Ingham, in this militant aspect. Such incidents 
 were full of excitement. 
 
 Here is an account of one such spirited attempt 
 which took place in 1822, and was described as "A 
 gaming-house grab" 
 
 " Yesterday the police-office at Bow Street was 
 crowded to excess, in consequence of a general capture 
 made the preceding night of a large party of roulette- 
 players at a house, No. 16, Bury Street, St. James's. It 
 appeared that in consequence of information given by 
 a young man, to Thomas Halls, Esq., the magistrate, 
 a plan was laid for the informer to go into the play- 
 room ten minutes before the officers, and by the time 
 he had taken his station and observed who were at 
 play, the magistrate and his party were to enter by 
 stratagem or force and apprehend the gamesters. In 
 pursuance of this arrangement, Mr. Halls, Mr. Rich- 
 mond, Vickery, Ruthven, and eight patrole, went to 
 the place of rendezvous, and the informer having ob- 
 
 v 2
 
 324 CHRONICLES OF BOW STREET POLICE-OFFICE. 
 
 tained admission very readily, the police secured 
 themselves in a long passage leading to the first barrier 
 or entrance door, when Mr. Richmond rang the bell 
 for admission. A porter opened the little wicket, and 
 asked Mr. Richmond his business ; he, Mr. Richmond, 
 said, ' I understand you play at roulette ? ' the porter 
 answered, ' Yes, but I don't know you.' Mr. Rich- 
 mond said it was all right, and handed him a card ; 
 the door was then partially opened, but it is presumed 
 the porter caught a sight of the officers, and instantly 
 closed it. A formal demand being then made in the 
 name of Mr. Halls, the magistrate, for admission, and 
 it not being complied with, the patrole began battering 
 with the mall that was left in the house of Marrs, by 
 the murderer of him and his family, and also with the 
 crow-bar left at the house of Williamson, who was 
 also shortly afterwards murdered by, no doubt, the 
 same hand; but before the breach was made, one of 
 the officers was put over the wall, and, by opening the 
 outer door, let in the magistrate and the whole party ; 
 when Ruthven, having burst a pannel of the inner 
 door by one blow of the mall, Mr. Richmond sprang 
 through it, and, followed by Drummond, one of the 
 patrole, ascended the stairs, and found the gaming- 
 room in great confusion, but no person in it ; they 
 ran up another flight, and in a chimney they found 
 seven men piled on each other, whom they were obliged 
 to pull down by the legs. The other parts of the
 
 DUELS AND GAMING-HOUSE RAIDS. 325 
 
 house were then searched, and thirteen other persons 
 were found, some concealed in a coal-cellar, and others 
 in a closet. They were all assembled in one room, 
 and Mr. Halls directed their names to be taken, and 
 they were then conveyed to different watch-houses 
 until yesterday, when they were brought before Mr. 
 Halls and Mr. Marshall. Ruthven proved that he 
 found the following memorandum : Mr. Gill is to 
 put into the bank, 311 ; Mr. Odell, 291 ; silver, 211 ; 
 sovereigns, 81. In addition to this, William Phillips, 
 the informer, proved that he was in the gaming-roorn. 
 when the magistrate demanded admittance ; that 
 roulette was then playing. That on the first alarm, 
 Odell seized the bank and ran out of the room with 
 it, and the roulette wheel was separated from the 
 table, and the players ran and secreted themselves in 
 various parts of the house. The magistrate convicted 
 all the six persons, who were proved to be in the 
 room at play, and sentenced Page and Paton to one 
 month, and the other four to three months' imprison- 
 ment and hard labour in the House of Correction, 
 and all the others were ordered to enter into re- 
 cognizances not to haunt any gaming-house for twelve 
 months."
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 IT will be interesting to supply a few notes con- 
 cerning the magistrates of later generations, who sat 
 upon the Bow Street bench. Mr. Hall, or Halls, 
 might be considered the last of the old school of 
 magistrates ; and when he retired, in 1864, one of the 
 Marlborough Street magistrates was summoned to 
 take his place. This was a genial Irishman, of much 
 sound sense, knowledge of the world, and good- 
 humour, the well-known Sir Thomas Henry, who was 
 duly knighted, an honour already declined by only 
 two of his predecessors, Messrs. Hall and Read. He 
 administered his duties for many years to the satis- 
 faction of all concerned. He had that liking or 
 toleration for social enjoyment theatrical and of 
 other kinds which is found to be a merit in the 
 judicious functionary, who is thus likely to understand 
 better, and tolerate the various transactions brought 
 before him, and which a more rigid judge would pro- 
 bably misconceive. He died in June of the year 1876. * 
 
 1 " By-the-bye," writes Mr. George Grossmith, who knew him well, 
 " when I was speaking to you of his coolness and aplomb on the
 
 328 APPENDIX, 
 
 The present staff of Bow Street magistrates are well 
 known to be painstaking, conscientious men, furnished 
 with a store of good common sense, and not without 
 distinct points of character. There are the veteran 
 Sir James Ingham the doyen of all the magistrates 
 of the metropolis, Mr. Vaughan, and Mr. Flowers. 
 Mr. Grossmith, who, to his other gifts of increasing 
 the gaiety of the community, adds that of touching 
 gaily, and with a light and pleasant pen, the humours 
 of the hour, a few years ago contributed to Punch 
 some lively sketches of characters and manners at 
 Bow Street. In them will be found the idiosyncrasies 
 and perhaps oddities of the different magistrates, 
 touched, however, in goodhumoured style. The series 
 is entitled, " Very Trying," and will be recalled by 
 many. The illustrations were by Mr. Harry Furniss. 
 Here is one of the little comedies or farces, in which 
 the solemn impressiveness of Mr. Vaughan is con- 
 bench, I intended to give you a forcible instance of it. He bad just 
 sentenced a woman to imprisonment for some violent assault, when sbe 
 suddenly stooped down, took off her boot (no lady's drawing-room 
 shoe, I can assure you), and flung it at his head. It flew to within 
 an inch of his ear, and smashed the glass of the book-case behind him. 
 I think every man in court immediately ducked his head, except Sir 
 Thomas, who never moved, and did not even raise his eyes from the 
 book in which he was taking notes. He was a sound lawyer, and a trifle 
 vain of the coup-de-grdce which he knew how to inflict on some noisy 
 barrister or solicitor, after which he would slyly glance round at his 
 audience, especially to the reporters, as much as to say, ' I had him 
 there.' "
 
 APPENDIX. 329 
 
 trasted with the bewilderment of some young offender 
 who is before him : 
 
 Mr. Warn (Vaughan), the learned magistrate, address- 
 ing the prisoner : Prisoner at the bar, presuming that 
 you are unrepresented either by counsel or an attorney, 
 do you intend to interrogate the officer ? 
 
 The Prisoner : What ? 
 
 Gaoler (colloquially interpreting the learned Magis- 
 trate) : Got any questions to ask P 
 
 The Prisoner : I don't know. 
 
 Mr. Warn : That is a statement. However, if you 
 desire to address the Court upon this charge, you 
 shall offer your defence now, as I understand there is 
 no further evidence to be adduced either pro or con. 
 
 The Prisoner What? 
 
 Gaoler (again interpreting the learned Magistrate) : 
 Got anything to say ? 
 
 The Prisoner: Yus, sir. I didn't know I was doin' 
 any wrong. 
 
 Mr. Warn (proceeding to sum up in the simple and 
 explicit manner characteristic of this particular learned 
 magistrate) : Prisoner, you have been brought before me 
 on the sworn testimony of a Metropolitan constable for 
 begging within the precincts of the monument erected 
 in memoriam to NELSON. It is, as you must be aware, 
 a charge under the Vagrant Act, and I am bound to 
 admit, it appears to me there is a prima-facie case 
 against you. You have made no attempt to rebut the 
 
 VOL. i. z
 
 330 APPENDIX. 
 
 evidence of the officer, and I can only, as an ultimatum, 
 give credence to his evidence, which admits of little 
 doubt in my mind. The defence (if a defence it can 
 be designated at all) that you have chosen to set up, 
 is to my mind unworthy of the invention you have 
 thought necessary to bestow upon it. You may not 
 have perused the sections of the Act of Parliament 
 bearing upon this particular charge, but every child 
 must be aware, from maternal or paternal information, 
 that the act of begging in any form is contra leges. 
 Your defence is, therefore, totally unworthy of con- 
 sideration. Now, I warn you, if in future you will 
 persist in pursuing this nefarious method of existence, 
 I shall have to sentence you to a term of incarceration 
 without the option of a pecuniary penalty. Pray do 
 not treat this caution with indifference. Upon this 
 occasion, however, your liberty will be afforded you. 
 
 The Prisoner (bursting into tears) : Oh ! how long 
 have I got ? Oh ! what have I got ? 
 
 "We are then introduced to Mr. Bowers, who is 
 supposed to lighten the proceedings with occasional 
 merry jests. 
 
 Mr. Bowers : Who is Alf Watson ? 
 
 Complainant : He is a packer at the Stores, you 
 know. 
 
 Mr. Bowers : Well, I didn't know, but I'm always 
 pleased to receive information. I hope he'll stick to 
 his packing-cases, and keep out of assault cases.
 
 APPENDIX. 331 
 
 (Laughter.) However, we had better not interrupt 
 the evidence. 
 
 Complainant : Let's see where was I ? oh, I 
 know. Well, your worship, the man in front, who 
 I thought was Alf Watson, turned out to be de- 
 fendant. 
 
 Mr. Bowers : What made you think it was Alf 
 Watson. 
 
 Complainant : The back of his head looked like 
 Alfs. 
 
 Mr. Bowers : Oh, I see a phrenological similarity. 
 
 Complainant : May be, your worship. All I know 
 is, some people's backs of their head is more recog- 
 nizable than the fronts of their face. Look at the 
 back of my head. (The witness here turned his back 
 to the learned magistrate, and displayed a triangular 
 bald patch, which created considerable amusement in 
 court.) 
 
 Mr. Bowers : It would be as well, I think, to let the 
 evidence now proceed without interruption. 
 
 Complainant : Well, your worship, I calls out, 
 " Hulloh, Alf Watson!" and I leant over, and touched 
 him gently on the back of his head with my stick just 
 so. (The complainant lightly tapped with his stick the 
 ledge of the witness-box.) 
 
 Mr. Bowers : A rather striking illustration. 
 
 Defendant (interrupting) : Not a bit like it, your 
 worship. He tapped me like this. (The defendant
 
 332 APPENDIX. 
 
 here struck with his stick a tremendous blow on the ledge 
 of the prisoner's dock.) 
 
 Mr. Bowers : I cannot help thinking that that is a 
 violent assault upon the court. (Loud laughter t in 
 which the chief usher joined.) Now I think we must 
 let the case proceed without interruption. 
 
 Complainant: At all events, your worship, I didn't 
 hurt him. 
 
 Defendant Oh, didn't you ? Perhaps your worship 
 would like to look at my head. (The defendant turned 
 his back to the magistrate, and displayed a large con- 
 tusion.) 
 
 Mr. Bowers : Of course it's impossible to judge at 
 this distance, but it appears to me to resemble an extra 
 development of the bump of Philoprogenitiveness. 
 However, I will hear your defence at the proper time, 
 defendant ; so please don't let us interrupt the 
 witness. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 01LBKBT AJfD KIVHfOTOW, LD., ST. JOHlf'g HOUSE, CLKRKEH WELL EOA.D, I.ONDOIT.
 
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 NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, with 59 Illustrations, cloth, 55. 
 
 DOMBEY AND SON,. with 61 Illustrations, cloth, 55. 
 
 EDWIN DROOD; REPRINTED PIECES; and other Stories, with 30 Illustra- 
 tions, cloth, 55. 
 
 THE LIFE OF DICKENS. BY JOHN FOKSTEK. With 40 Illustrations. Cloth, 55. 
 
 BARNABY RUDGE, with 46 Illustrations, cloth, 45. 
 
 OLD CURIOSITY SHOP, with 32 Illustrations, cloth. 43. 
 
 CHRISTMAS STORIES, with 23. Illustrations, cloth, 45. 
 
 OLIVER TWIST, with 28 Illustrations, cloth, 35. 
 
 GREAT EXPECTATIONS, with 26 Illustrations, cloth, 35. 
 
 SKETCHES BY " BOZ," with 36 Illustrations, cloth, 3 s. 
 
 UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER, with 26 Illustrations, cloth, 3 s. 
 
 CHRISTMAS BOOKS, with 28 Illustrations, cloth, 35. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND, with 15 Illustrations, cloth, 35. 
 
 AMERICAN NOTES and PICTURES FROM ITALY, wiih 18 Illustrations, 
 cloth, 33. 
 
 A TALE OF TWO CITIES, with 25 Illustrations, cloth. 3* 
 HARD TIMES, with 20 Illustrations, cloth, zs. 6d.
 
 CHAPMAN 6- HALL, LIMITED. 
 
 DICKENS'S (CHARLES) WORKS. Continued. 
 
 THE CABINET EDITION. 
 
 Now Publishing. 
 
 To he completed in 30 vols. small fcap. 8vo, Marble Paper Sides, Cloth 
 Backs, with uncut edges, price Eighteenpence each. 
 
 A Complete Work will be Published every Month, and each Volume will 
 contain Eight Illustrations reproduced from the Originals. 
 
 CHRISTMAS BOOKS. 
 
 MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT, Two Vols. 
 
 DAVID COPPERFIELD, Two Vols. 
 
 OLIVER TWIST. 
 
 GREAT EXPECTATIONS. 
 
 NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, Two Vols. 
 
 SKETCHES BY " BOZ." 
 
 CHRISTMAS STORIES. 
 
 THE PICKWICK PAPERS, Two Vols. 
 
 BARNABY RUDGE, Two Vols. 
 
 BLEAK HOUSE, Two Vols. 
 
 AMERICAN NOTES AND PICTURES FROM ITALY. 
 
 EDWIN DROOD; AND OTHER STORIES. 
 
 THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP, Two Vols. 
 
 A CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 DOMBEY AND SON, Two Vols. 
 
 A TALE OF TWO CITIES. 
 
 LITTLE DORRIT, Two Vols. 
 
 To be followed ly 
 
 UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER. 
 MUTUAL FRIEND, Two Vols. 
 HARD TIMES. 
 REPRINTED PIECES.
 
 33 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 
 
 DICKENS'S (CHARLES) WORKS. Continued. 
 MR. DICKENS'S READINGS 
 
 Fcap. %vo, sewed. 
 
 CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE, is. 
 CRICKET ON THE HEARTH, is. 
 CHIMES: A GOBLIN STORY, is. 
 STORY OF LITTLE DOMBEY. is. 
 POOR TRAVELLER, BOOTS AT THE HOLLY-TREE 
 INN, and MRS. GAMP. is. 
 
 A CHRISTMAS CAROL, with the Original Coloured Plates. 
 
 Being a reprint of the Original Edition. With red border lines. Small 8vo, 
 red cloth, gilt edges, 55. 
 
 CHARLES DICKENS'S CHRISTMAS BOOKS. 
 
 REPRINTED FROM THE ORIGINAL PLATES. 
 
 Illustrated by JOHN LEECH, D. MACLISE, R.A., R. DOYLE, 
 C. STANFIELD, R.A., &c. 
 
 Fca.p. cloth, is. each. Complete in a case, _$s. 
 
 A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE. 
 
 THE CHIMES : A Goblin Story. 
 
 THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH: A Fairy Tale of 
 
 THE BATTLE OF LIFE. A Love Story. 
 
 THE HAUNTED MAN AND THE GHOST'S STORY. 
 
 SIXPENNY REPRINTS. 
 
 READINGS FROM THE WORKS OF 
 CHARLES DICKENS. 
 
 As selected and read by himself and now published for the first time. Illustrated. 
 
 A CHRISTMAS CAROL, AND THE HAUNTED MAN. 
 
 By CHARLES DICKENS. Illustrated. 
 THE CHIMES: A GOBLIN STORY, AND THE CRICKET 
 
 ON THE HEARTH. Illustrated. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF LIFE: A LOVE STORY, HUNTED 
 DOWN, AND A HOLIDAY ROMANCE. Illustrated. 
 
 The last Three Volumes as Christmas Works, 
 In Oae Volume, red doth, :s. 6d.
 
 CHAPMAN & HALL, LIMITED. 39 
 
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 ISSUED BY MESSRS. CHAPMAN & HALL, LIMITED, 
 Agents for the Science and Art Department of the Committee of 
 
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 THE FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW. 
 
 Edited by FRANK HARRIS. 
 
 HE FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW is published on the ist of 
 every month, and a Volume is completed every Six Months. 
 The following are among the Contributors: 
 
 GRANT ALLEN. 
 
 SIR RUTHERFORD ALCOCK. 
 
 MATHEW ARNOLD. 
 
 AUTHOR OF "GREATER BRITAIN." 
 
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 PROFESSOR SIDNEY COLVIN. 
 
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