"_Norfolk Street, 19 May, 1799._ "SIR, "THE Commissioners of the Navy having an intention of applying to Parliament, to extend and amend the Laws, for preventing the embezzlement and stealing of his Majesty's Naval Stores; and having directed me, in preparing the intended Bill, to attend to the suggestions and recommendations on the subject, in your excellent and valuable publication, I shall consider myself much obliged to you, as I am sure the Commissioners will, if you will, at your leisure, have the goodness to furnish me with any hints on the subject, which may have occurred to you, since the publication of your Treatise, and which you think may be worthy the attention of the Legislature. "I am, Sir, with respect, "Your most obedient humble Servant, "CHA. BICKNELL. "_P. Colquhoun, Esq._."] I. A GENERAL POLICE SYSTEM. By the Establishment of a Central Board of Police, on the Plan strongly recommended by the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Finance, in their 28th Report, ordered to be printed in June 1798:--It is there proposed to bring under regulations by licences, all those classes of dealers in _old and second-hand ships' stores--old iron and other metals_, and several other dangerous and suspicious trades, the uncontrolled exercise of which, by persons of loose conduct, is known to contribute to the concealment and multiplication of crimes.--Infinite embarrassments would, through this collateral medium, be placed in the way of those particular Dealers, who reside in the vicinity of the Dock-yards, and who, by a variety of criminal devices, while they are instrumental in doing much mischief, have been able, in many instances, to elude Justice, and to carry on their nefarious practices with impunity. A Board of Police so organized, by means of Licences and subordinate Officers, as to keep the conduct of these classes of delinquents in view who, by giving facilities to the embezzlers and stealers of naval and other stores, are the chief sources from whence the evil springs; and with power to refuse Licences to those who are known to have been guilty of criminal conduct; would operate very powerfully in limiting these classes of dealers to the honest part of their trade, by which infinite mischief would be prevented. II. A LOCAL POLICE FOR THE DOCK-YARDS.