found in the pockets, and secreted in the clothes of beggars, when brought before magistrates. That beggars make great profits by changing their clothes two or three times a day, and receiving money which was intended for others. That a blind man with a dog has collected thirty shillings aday; and others gain from three shillings to seven, eight, and even more per day. That there are two houses in St. Giles's, which are frequented by considerably more than two hundred beggars, whose average daily collections amount to from three to five shillings per day, two shillings and sixpence of which it is supposed they each spend at night, besides sixpence for a bed. That a

negro beggar retired some time ago to the West Indies, with a fortune of 15007. That beggars have said they go through forty streets in a day, and that it is a poor street that does not yield two pence; and also that it is a bad day that does not yield eight shillings, and more. Beggars make great use of children in practising upon the feelings of the humane. The following facts were ascertained by the committee. That children are sent out with an order not to return without a certain sum. That one man will collect three, four, or five children from different parents, paying sixpence or ninepence for each during the day. That some children have been regularly let out by the day, for two shillings and sixpence, as the price of their hire and an instance is stated of an old woman who keeps a night school for the purpose of instructing children in the street language.

Mr. Martin, who some years ago was active in his inquiries respecting mendicity, stated the number of beggars to be 15,000. But the committee, from the evidence laid before them, conceived the number to be much larger. To the authentic information already given, may be added: That beggars, having perambulated their circuits, live well, spending a considerable sum of money; have hot suppers, and regale themselves with various liquors. That the St. Giles's beggars (already named) are divided into companies, and subdivided into walks, and live luxuriously at night. That they eat no broken victuals, are mostly of a desperate character, sell the clothes that are given to them, and tear their clothes to aggravate the appearance of distress. That they assemble in the morning, agreeing upon their respective walks; and that some of their walks are sold. In summer, many of them emigrate to watering places, &c. &c.

Beggars evade the vagrant act by carrying matches, and articles of little intrinsic value, for sale. There is no form of distress which these wretches do not assume, in order to practise upon the humanity of strangers; and the above facts sufficiently evince the success of their impostures. To abate the excessive and disgraceful nuisance which they daily present in the streets of the metropolis, the people must either uniformly turn a deaf ear to their importunities, or the proper officers must rigorously exercise the power with which the laws intrust them.

River Police.

THE erection of the different docks in the Port of London, and the excellent system of river police, which has been established since the year 1798, have, happily, almost annihilated the evils which were formerly so extensive in this scene of industry; a obbery of any consequence on the river being now rarely known. The different species of crimes formerly perpetrated by individuals, under the appellations of river pirates, night plunderers, light horsemen, heavy horsemen, game lightermen, mud-larks, cope-men, scuffle-hunters, &c., are displayed at large in Colquhoun's excellent work, entitled "River Police," and will interestingly occupy the leisure hours of individuals who are desirous of viewing, at large, what the limits of our work allow us barely to mention. From a report of a committee of West India merchants, it appeared, that the annual saving to the planters was 111,012., and to the revenue of 50,150%., making an average of 161,162/., out of an importation amounting to 8,000,000l. per annum. What then must be the saving on the aggregate commerce of the River Thames! and how consoling to the benevolent moralist must it be to witness such an ample curtailment of depredation and crime !

PRISONS HOUSES OF CORRECTION

PENITENTIARIES, &c.

Newgate.

THIS prison still retains the name of Newgate from the gate which, till within a few years past, formed a part of it. It is immediately beyond the Sessions House, and is a massy building, with an extensive front of rustic work, possessing all the appearance of strength and security. Yet, in the infamous riots of 1780, the felons, confined even in the strongest holds, were released; stones of two or three tons in weight, to which the doors of their cells were fastened, were raised: and such was the violence of the fire, that the great iron bars of the windows were eaten through, and the adjacent stones vitrified.

The gate stood beyond this building; and as a military way has been traced under it, there can be no doubt that there was one during the time the city was in the possession of the Romans. But the place has been made up, and no vestige of it remains. The gate, which supplied its place, is supposed by Stowe to have been erected between the years 1108 and 1128, when Richard Beauveyes, bishop of London, by enlarging the precincts of St. Paul's, had obstructed the usual way under Ludgate, and made this new outlet necessary. It had been for ages a prison, and for persons of rank, long before the Tower was used for that

M

purpose.

Giltspur Street Compter.

THIS prison is situated to the north of Newgate, immediately across the street, and forms, with the east end of St. Sepulchre's Church, the entrance of Giltspur Street. It is a vast pile, of proper strength and simplicity, and was intended. to supply the place of one or both of the city prisons called Compters.

Fleet Prison.

THIS prison, for debtors, stands on the east side of Fleet Market, and was founded at least as early as the first year of Richard I. It was also the place of confinement for such who had incurred the displeasure of that arbitrary court, the Star Chamber.

King's Bench Prison.

THIS prison is situated in Southwark, and is a place of confinement for debtors, and those sentenced by the Court of King's Bench to suffer imprisonment for libels, and other misdemeanors. But those who can purchase the liberties, have the power of taking houses or lodgings without the walls. They have also the power of purchasing day-rules, according to fixed stipulations. This privilege is also enjoyed by the prisoners in the Fleet.