_The pitiable condition of the unhappy Females, who support themselves by Prostitution:--The progress from Innocence to Profligacy.--The morals of Youth corrupted by the multitude of Prostitutes in the streets.--The impossibility of preventing the existence of Prostitution in a great Metropolis.--The Propriety of lessening the Evil, by stripping it of its Indecency and much of its immoral tendency.--The advantages of the measure in reducing the mass of Turpitude.--Reasons offered why the interests of Morality and Religion will thus be promoted.--The example of Holland, Italy, and the East-Indies quoted.--Strictures on the offensive manners of the Company who frequent Public Tea Gardens:--These places under a proper Police might be rendered beneficial to the State.--Ballad-Singers--Immoral Books and Songs--Necessity of Responsibility for the execution of the Laws attaching somewhere._ 334 [Transcriber's Note: should be p. 333] CHAP. XIII. THE ORIGIN OF CRIMES CONTINUED: STATE OF THE POOR. _The System with respect to the Casual Poor erroneous.--The effect of Indigence on the Offspring of the Sufferers.--Estimate of the private and public Benevolence amounting to 850,000l. a year.--The deplorable state of the Lower Ranks, attributed to the present System of the Poor Laws.--An Institution to inquire into the cause of Mendicity in the Metropolis explained.--A new System of Relief proposed with respect to Casual Poor, and Vagrants in the Metropolis.--The distinction between Poverty and Indigence.--The Poor divided into five classes, with suggestions applicable to each.--The evil Examples in Work-Houses.--The stat. of 43 Eliz. considered.--The defective system of Execution exposed.--A Public Institution recommended in the nature of a Pauper Police, under the direction of three Commissioners:--Their Functions.--A proposition for raising a fund of 5230l. from the Parishes for the support of the Institution, and to relieve them from the Casual Poor.--Reasons why the experiment should be tried.--Assistance which might be obtained from Gentlemen who have considered this subject fully._ 351 CHAP. XIV. ON THE DETECTION OF OFFENDERS.