_The prevailing practice explained, when offenders are brought before Magistrates.--The necessary caution, as well as the duty of Magistrates in such cases explained.--Professed thieves seldom intimidated when put upon their trial, from the many chances they have of escaping.--These chances shortly detailed.--Reflections on the false humanity exercised by prosecutors towards prisoners.--Their rudeness and cruelty, when engaged in acts of criminality.--The delays and expences of prosecutions, a great discouragement, inducing sufferers to put up with their loss, in silence.--How the inconvenience may be remedied.--An account of the different Courts of Justice, appointed for the trial of offences committed in the Metropolis.--Five inferior and two superior Courts.--A statement, shewing the number of prisoners convicted and discharged during the last year.--Reflections on this sad catalogue of depravity.--A radical defect somewhere.--The great purity of the Judges of England.--The propriety of a co-operation with them, in whatever shall tend to promote the ends of Public Justice.--This object to be attained, in the greatest possible degree, by means of an authorised Public Prosecutor.--The advantages of such an institution, in remedying many abuses which prevail in the trial of offenders.--From 2500 to 3000 persons committed for trial, by Magistrates, in the Metropolis, in the course of a Year.--The chief part afterwards returned upon Society._ Arriving at that _point_ in the progress of this Work, where persons accused of offences are detected and brought before Magistrates for examination, ultimately to be committed for trial, if the evidence shall be sufficient:--It is proper to explain the prevailing practice under such circumstances. The task, in this case imposed upon the Magistrate, is arduous and important; requiring not only great purity of conduct, a profound knowledge of mankind, and of the common affairs of life; but in a more peculiar manner those powers of discrimination which may enable him to discover how far criminality attaches to the party accused; and whether there are grounds sufficient to abridge for a time, or ultimately to deprive the prisoner of his liberty, until a Jury of his country shall decide upon his fate. It frequently happens that persons accused of crimes are apprehended under circumstances where no doubt can rest on the mind of the Magistrates as to the guilt of the prisoner; but where the legal evidence is nevertheless insufficient to authorize an immediate commitment for trial.