During the later years of Sir Frank Souter’s _régime_ the police force was seriously undermanned. Colonel Bruce’s proposals had brought it to approximately the right strength in 1865, but the city continued to expand so rapidly that the numbers then deemed adequate no longer sufficed for the purposes of watch and ward. In 1871 the force numbered 1473, of whom 285 were paid by Government and 1188 by the Municipality, exclusive of 396 men who did duty on the railways. In the following year the Senior Magistrate of Police, John Connon, remarked that “the European Police Force, though now too much reduced, is upon the whole a most respectable body of men, always ready for duty and capable of it. I can conscientiously say as much of numbers of natives of different ranks in the force.”[91] The reduction in numbers, to which he referred, apparently lasted for several years, the total strength of the force varying from 1402 in 1873 to 1408 in 1877. In 1879 it had decreased still further to 1392 men, of whom 262 were classed as Government and 1130 as municipal police (_i.e._ paid by the Municipal Corporation). In 1881 the number paid for by Government had risen to 324, but the number of “municipal police” was less by 58 than in 1871. The subject was alluded to by the Commissioner in his annual report of June 6th, 1885, and he emphasized the fact that, despite minor increases during the previous twenty years and in spite of a definite expansion of the scope and character of police-work, he was actually in command of 101 men less than in 1865. [Illustration: Armed Police Jamadar Bombay City] In 1885 the Bombay Police Force was composed as follows:— (_a_) _Land Police_ 1 Commissioner of Police 1 Deputy Commissioner of Police 6 Superintendents 36 Officers on Rs. 100 per month and over 92 Officers on less than Rs. 100 per month 1020 Constables (_b_) 98 Police guards for Government buildings (_c_) _Harbour Police_ 1 Superintendent 13 Subordinate Officers 87 Constables (_d_) _Dockyard Police_ 7 Subordinate Officers 77 Constables (_e_) 5 Police-guards for distilleries (_f_) _C. D. Act Police_ 2 Subordinate Officers 10 Constables (_g_) _Prince’s Dock Police_ 6 Subordinate Officers 44 Constables (_h_) 20 Constables at burning and burial grounds. The total cost of this force, including rent, contingencies, allowances and hospital expenses, was Rs. 475,297. The cost of the Land Police was borne by Government, the Municipal Corporation giving a fixed contribution towards it. The Corporation paid also for the constables posted at the burning and burial grounds. Government bore the whole cost of the Harbour Police, while the charges of the Prince’s Dock Police were debited to the Port Trustees.