Happy is it for the country, that a resource exists for the attainment of this object, than which nothing can contribute, in a greater degree, to the prevention of Crimes, and to the general improvement of Civil Society. CHAP. XIV. _The state of the Police, with regard to the detection of different classes of offenders, explained.--The necessity, under the present circumstances, of having recourse to the known Receivers of stolen Goods, for the purpose of discovering Offenders, as well as the property stolen.--The great utility of Officers of Justice as safeguards of the Community.--The advantages to be derived from rendering them respectable in the opinion of the Public. Their powers, by the common and statute law, are extensive.--The great antiquity of the Office of Constable, exemplified by different Ancient Statutes.--The authority of Officers and others explained, in apprehending persons accused of felony.--Rewards granted in certain cases as encouragements to Officers to lie vigilant:--The statutes quoted, applicable to such rewards, shewing that they apply to ten different offences.--The utility of parochial Constables, under a well-organized Police, explained.--A fund for this purpose would arise from the reduction of the expences of the Police by the diminution of Crimes.--The necessity of a competent fund explained.--The deficiency of the present System exemplified in the effect of the presentments by Constables to the Grand Inquest.--A new System proposed.--The functions of the different classes of Officers, explained.--Salaries necessary to all.--The System of rewards, as now established, shewn to be radically deficient; exemplified by the circumstance, that in 1088 prisoners, charged at the Old Bailey in one year, with 36 different offences, only 9 offences entitled the apprehenders to any gratuity:--Improvements suggested for the greater encouragement of Officers of Justice.--1043 Peace Officers in the Metropolis and its vicinity, of whom only 90 are stipendiary Constables.--Little assistance to be expected from Parochial Officers, while there exists no fund for rewarding extraordinary services.--Great advantages likely to result from rewarding all Officers for useful services actually performed.--The utility of extending the same gratuities to Watchmen and Patroles.--Defects and abuses in the System of the Watch explained.--The number of Watchmen and Patroles in the Metropolis estimated at 2044:--A general System of superintendance suggested.--A view of the Magistracy of the Metropolis.--The efficient duty shewn to rest with the City and Police Magistrates.--The inconvenience of the present System.--Concluding Observations._