been guilty of corruption or negligence therein. "Your Lordship will be pleased to acquaint the Justices of the Peace for the said City and Liberty, and all others whom it may concern, with this his Majesty's pleasure; that the same may be duly and punctually complied with. "I am, &c. TOWNSHEND." When Government issues such notices as the preceding, it authenticates the paragraphs of Newspapers, which might otherwise be doubted; indeed, they abound at this period with the most horrid tales of murders, beatings, and robberies, in every direction. The Post-man of October 19, observes: "The persons authorized by Government to employ men to drive Hackney-coaches have made great complaints for the want of trade, occasioned by the increase of street-robbers; so that people, especially in an evening, choose rather to walk than ride in a coach, on account that they are in a readier posture to defend themselves, or call out for help if attacked. Mean-time it is apparent, that whereas a figure for driving of an Hackney-coach used lately to be sold for about 60_l._ besides paying the usual duties to the Commissioners for licensing, they are at this time, for the reasons aforesaid, sold for 3_l. per figure_ good-will." The year 1730 introduced a new and dreadful trait in the customs of thieves and other villains, which seems to have originated in the lazy constitutions of some predatory wretches in Bristol; where they sent a letter to a Ship's Carpenter, threatening destruction to himself and property, if he did not deposit a certain sum in a place pointed out by them. As that unfortunate person neglected to do so, his house was burnt in defiance of every precaution; and the practice was immediately adopted throughout the Kingdom, to the constant terror of the opulent. London had a threefold share of incendiaries; indeed, the letters inserted in the newspapers, received by various persons, are disgraceful even to the most abandoned character. The King was at length induced to issue his Proclamation, forbidding any person to comply with demands for money, and offering 300_l._ reward for the apprehension of such as had, for four months previous to the date of the Proclamation, sent incendiary letters, or maimed or injured his subjects for non-compliance.