In suppressing great evils, strong and adequate powers must be applied, and nothing can give force and activity to these powers, but the ability to reward liberally all persons engaged in the public service, either as police officers, or as temporary agents for the purpose of detecting atrocious offenders. The following ideas are therefore suggested with a view to the important subject at present under discussion. The Coinage Laws (except those relating to copper money) which contain the most important regulations in the way of prevention, having been made a century ago, it is not to be wondered at, in consequence of the regular progress of the evil, and the new contrivances and artifices resorted to, in that period, that many obvious amendments have become necessary. A consolidation of the whole laws from the 25th of Edward the Third, to the 14th of his present Majesty, would, perhaps, be the most desirable object; as it would afford a better opportunity of correcting every deficiency, and of rendering this branch of the criminal code, _concise_, _clear_, _explicit_,--applicable to the existing evils, and to the means of prevention. For the purpose, however, of more fully elucidating this proposition, it will be necessary to state the existing laws, and what are considered as the most apparent deficiencies therein. We will begin by giving a short _Summary_ of the existing Laws. 25 Edw. III. _stat._ These acts make counterfeiting the 5, _cap._ 2. gold and silver coin of the 1 Mary, _stat._ 2, _c._ realm--counterfeiting foreign money, 6. current within the realm--knowingly 1 & 2 Ph. & Mary, bringing false money into the realm _cap._ 11. counterfeit to the money of England; 5 Eliz. _cap._ 11. or bringing in _any_ false and 14 Eliz. _cap._ 3. counterfeit money, current within 18 Eliz. _cap._ 1. the realm; in order to utter the same here;--diminishing or lightening any current (gold or silver) coin--_High Treason_.--Counterfeiting foreign money, not current in the kingdom--_Misprision of Treason_. 8 & 9 Will. III. These Acts contain a detail of _cap._ 26 (_made the principal offences and punishments, perpetual by_ 7 upon which prosecutions Anne, _c._ 25)--9 are founded at present. & 10 Will. III. _c._ 21. 7th of Queen Anne, Allows 400_l._ a year for prosecuting _cap._ 24. offenders; increased by 15 Geo. II. _c._ 28. § 10, to 600_l._ 15th of George II. Amends some of the above laws, and _cap._ 28. establishes new regulations relative to the Copper Coinage.