When a general survey is taken of the Metropolis--The great numbers among the higher and middle cla.s.ses of life, who live unmarried--The mult.i.tudes of young men yearly arriving at the age of p.u.b.erty--The strangers who resort to the Metropolis--The seamen and nautical labourers employed in the Trade of the River Thames, who amount at least to 40,000--And the profligate state of Society in vulgar life, the intelligent mind will soon be reconciled to the statement, which at first view would seem to excite doubts, and require investigation.
But whether the numbers of these truly unfortunate women are a few thousands less or more is of no consequence in the present discussion, since it is beyond all doubt, that the evil is of a magnitude that is excessive, and imperiously calls for a remedy.--Not certainly a remedy against the possibility of Female Prost.i.tution, for it has already been stated, that it is a misfortune that must be endured in large societies.--All that can be attempted is, to divest it of the faculty of extending its noxious influence beyond certain bounds, and restrain those excesses and indecencies which have already been shewn to be so extremely noxious to society, and unavoidably productive of depravity and crimes.
The Author is well aware, that he treads on tender ground, when in suggesting any measure, however salutary it may be in lessening the Calendars of Delinquency, _it_ shall have the appearance of giving a Public sanction to Female Prost.i.tution.
Under the influence of strong prejudices long rooted in the human mind, it may be in vain to plead _plus apud me ratio valebit quam vulgi Opinio_.
If however the political maxim be true--_Qui non vetat peccare, c.u.m possit, jubet_--it certainly follows, that by suffering an evil to continue, when we have it in our power, in a great measure, to lessen or prevent it, we do _violence to reason_ and _to humanity_.--That a prudent and discreet regulation of Prost.i.tutes in this great Metropolis, would operate powerfully, not only in gradually diminishing their numbers, but also in securing public morals against the insults to which they are exposed, both in the open streets and at places of public entertainment, cannot be denied.
That young men in pursuit of their lawful business in the streets of this Metropolis, would be secured against that ruin and infamy, which temptations thus calculated to inflame the pa.s.sions, have brought upon many, who might otherwise have pa.s.sed through life as useful and respectable members of Society, is equally true:--While _frauds_, _peculations_ and _robbery_, often perpetrated for the purpose of supporting those unhappy women, with whom connections have been at first formed in the public streets (and in which they themselves are not seldom the chief instruments) would be prevented.
Were such proper regulations once adopted, the ears and eyes of the wives and daughters of the modest and unoffending citizens, who cannot afford to travel in carriages, would no longer be insulted by gross and polluted language, and great indecency of behaviour, while walking the streets. Indeed it is to be feared, that the force of evil example, in unavoidably witnessing such scenes, may have debauched many females, who might otherwise have lived a virtuous and useful life.
Whatever consequences might be derived from a total removal of Prost.i.tutes (if such a measure could be conceived practicable) with respect to the wives and daughters, who compose the decent and respectable families in the Metropolis, this apprehension is allayed by the proposed measure. While virtue is secured against seduction, the misery of these unhappy females will also be lessened. Their numbers will be decreased, and a check will be given, not only to female seduction by the force of evil example, but to the extreme degree of depravity, which arises from the unbounded lat.i.tude which is at present permitted to take place, from the unavailing application of the laws, made for the purpose of checking this evil. If it were either politic or humane to carry them into effect, the state of society where such members are congregated together render it impossible.
Although by the arrangement proposed, a kind of sanction would, in appearance, be given to the existence of Prost.i.tution, no ground of alarm ought to be excited, if it shall be proved, that it is to lessen the ma.s.s of turpitude which exists; that it is to produce a solid and substantial good to the Community, which it is not possible to obtain by any other means.
What therefore can rationally be opposed to such an arrangement? Not surely Religion, for it will tend to advance it: Not Morality, for the effect of the measure will increase and promote it; not that it will sanction and encourage what will prove offensive and noxious in society, since all that is noxious and offensive is by this arrangement to be removed.--Where then lies the objection?--_In vulgar prejudice only._--By those of inferior education, whose peculiar habits and pursuits have generated strong prejudices, this excuse may be pleaded; but by the intelligent and well-informed it will be viewed through a more correct medium.
Ingenuous minds are ever open to conviction; and it is the true characteristic of virtuous minds, where they cannot overcome or destroy, to lessen as much as possible the evils of human life.
To the numerous unhappy females in the Metropolis who live by Prost.i.tution, this observation peculiarly applies.--The evil is such as must be endured to a certain extent--because by no human power can it be overcome; but it can certainly be very much diminished--perhaps only in one way--namely, _by prescribing rules_--"Thus far shall you go, and no farther"--the rules of decorum shall be strictly preserved in the streets and in public places. In such situations Women of the Town shall no longer become instruments of seduction and debauchery.
It may be asked, will not all this promote the cause of religion and morality:--admitted; but could not this be done without giving the sanction of the Legislature to pursuits of infamy. The answer is obvious:--the Legislature has done every thing already short of this, to effect the object; but instead of promoting good, the evil has increased; and it is to be lamented _that it is daily increasing_.--Instead of the walks of Prost.i.tutes being confined as formerly, to one or two leading streets in Westminster, they are now to be found in every part of the Metropolis--even within the jurisdiction of the city of London; where the dangers arising from seduction are the greatest, they abound the most of all of late years.
In adopting the proposed measure, the example of Holland may be quoted, where, under its former Government, the morals of the people in general were supposed the purest of any in Europe, while the Police System was considered as among the best. Italy has also long shown an example, where Prost.i.tutes were actually Licensed, with a view to secure Chast.i.ty against the inroads of violence, and to prevent the Public eye from being insulted by scenes of lewdness and indecorum.
Female Chast.i.ty, which is highly regarded by the natives of India, is preserved by rearing up a certain cla.s.s of females, who are under the conduct of discreet Matrons, in every town and village; and with whom, under certain circ.u.mstances, an indiscriminate intercourse is permitted--a measure of political necessity. Their morals, however, in other respects are strictly guarded, and their minds are not susceptible of that degree of depravity which prevails in Europe. They are taught the accomplishments of singing and dancing--they exhibit at public entertainments, and are even called upon to a.s.sist at religious ceremonies.
The unrestrained lat.i.tude which is permitted to unfortunate females in this Metropolis, is certainly an inlet to many crimes.
The places of resort in Summer, and particularly the Public Gardens, which were formerly an innocent relaxation to sober and discreet families, can now no longer be attended with comfort or satisfaction, from the offensive manners of the company who frequent such places.
It is not that the Gardens are in themselves a nuisance, or that to the inferior exhibitions any blame is to be imputed; for both might be rendered the medium of that rational recreation so necessary both for the health and comfort of the middling or lower ranks of the people, to whom _policy_ and _reason_ must admit occasional amus.e.m.e.nts are necessary.--If so, what can be more innocent, or better calculated for health and occasional recreation than the a.s.semblage of decent people in a Tea Garden?--
Many of them, however, have been shut up, and this recreation denied to the people, because Prost.i.tutes resorted to those places; insulted public morals,--promoted lewdness and debauchery, and banished modest and decent families.
This, if the true cause was developed, is not to be imputed to the place, which in itself was favourable to the innocent amus.e.m.e.nt of the people, but to a deficiency in the Police System.--It was not the Gardens nor their Keepers that offended.--The evil arose from the want of proper regulations, to restrain these excesses and to keep them within bounds.
Such places of resort under appropriate Police regulations, might be rendered a considerable source of revenue to the State, while they added greatly to the comfort and innocent recreation of the People.--By shutting up the Gardens the People are driven to the Ale-houses, where both air and exercise, so necessary to health, are denied them, and where the same excesses often prevail, tending in a still greater degree, to the corruption of morals.
Wherever mult.i.tudes of people are collected together, as in a great Metropolis like London, amus.e.m.e.nts become indispensably necessary.--And it is no inconsiderable feature in the science of Police to encourage, protect, and controul such as tend to innocent recreation, to preserve the good humour of the Public, and to give the minds of the People a right bias.
This is only attainable through the medium of a well-regulated Police.--It is perfectly practicable to render Public Gardens as innocent and decorous as a Private a.s.sembly: although under the present deficient System they are the greatest of all nuisances.--Decent and respectable families are compelled to deny themselves the privilege of visiting them, because no restraint is put upon indecency, and vice reigns triumphant.
It is because things are either done by halves, or nothing is done at all to secure the privileges of innocence, that the sober and harmless part of the community are compelled to forego those recreations which contributed to their comfort: while the young and thoughtless, heedless of the consequences and inexperienced as to the effect, rush into the vortex of dissipation, and unable to discriminate, become victims to the licentiousness which is suffered to prevail.
Since recreation is necessary to Civilized Society, all Public Exhibitions should be rendered subservient to the improvement of morals, and to the means of infusing into the mind a love of the Const.i.tution, and a reverence and respect for the Laws.--How easy would it be under the guidance of an appropriate Police, to give a right bias through the medium of Public amus.e.m.e.nts to the dispositions of the People.--How superior this to the odious practice of besotting themselves in Ale-houses, hatching seditious and treasonable designs, or engaged in pursuits of the vilest profligacy, destructive to health and morals.
Even the common Ballad-singers in the streets might be rendered instruments useful under the controul of a well-regulated Police, in giving a better turn to the minds of the lowest cla.s.ses of the People.--They too must be amused, and why not, if they can be amused innocently.--If through this medium they can be taught loyalty to the Sovereign, love to their Country, and obedience to the Laws, would it not be wise and politic to sanction it?
If in addition to this, moral lessons could occasionally be conveyed, shewing in language familiar to their habits, the advantages of _Industry and Frugality_--The pleasure of living independent of the p.a.w.nbroker and the Publican--The disgrace and ruin attached to drunkenness and dishonesty, and the glory and happiness of a _good Husband_, a _good Father_, and _an honest Man_, might it not reasonably be expected, that in a religious as well as a moral point of view, advantages would be gained, while the people were both instructed and amused?
Crimes have been generated in a considerable degree both by immoral and seditious books and songs.--It is true the laws are open to punishment. The road however to justice, with respect to the former, is circuitous and difficult, while in the latter case their execution is felt to be _harsh_, _severe_, and _ultimately ineffectual_: hence licentious and mischievous Publications prevail, and Ballad-singers are suffered often to insult decency, and to disseminate poison in every street in the Metropolis.
Like many other evils they remain in spite of the statutes made to prevent them.--They were evils suffered centuries ago where the laws proved equally unavailing: but the state of society and manners rendered them less dangerous.
In the Machine of Government there are many component parts where responsibility attaches;--_but with respect to objects of Police, it would seem at present to rest no where_, and hence is explained at once, the want of energy in the execution of our laws, and why so many excellent Statutes remain a dead letter.--To live encircled by _fears_ arising from uncontrolled excesses of the human pa.s.sions, either leading to turpitude or terminating in the commission of crimes, _is to live in misery_.--Police is an improved state of Society, which counteracts these excesses by giving energy and effect to the law. It is like the Mechanical power applied to an useful Machine, devoid of which, it remains without motion, or action, and without benefit.
"Government," _says the benevolent Hanway_, "originates from the love of order.--Watered by Police it grows up to maturity, and in course of time spreads a luxuriant comfort and security.--Cut off its branches, and the mere trunk, however strong it may appear, can afford no shelter."
CHAP. XIII.
_Indigence a cause of the increase of Crimes.--The System with respect to the Casual Poor erroneous.--The miserable condition of many who seek for an Asylum in the Metropolis.--The unhappy State of broken-down Families, who have seen better days.--The effect of Indigence on the Offspring of the Sufferers.--The discovery of the Children of unfortunate Families applying for Soup at the Establishments.--The unparalleled Philanthropy of the opulent Part of the Community.--Estimate of the Private and Public Benevolence amounting to 850,000l. a year.--The n.o.ble Munificence of the Merchants.--An Appeal to the exalted virtue of the Opulent, who have come forward in acts of Humanity.--The deplorable State of the Lower Ranks attributed to the present System of the Poor Laws.--An Inst.i.tution to inquire into the Causes of Mendicity in the Metropolis explained.--The State of the Casual Poor resumed.--The abuses and inefficacy of the relief received.--A new System proposed with respect to them and Vagrants in the Metropolis.--Its advantages explained.--The distinction between Poverty and Indigence explained.--The Poor divided into five Cla.s.ses, with suggestions applicable to each.--The evil Examples in Workhouses a great cause of the Corruption of Morals.--The Statute of 43 Elizabeth considered.--The defective System of Execution exposed--Confirmed by the opinion of Lord Hale.--A partial Remedy proposed in respect to Vagrant and Casual Poor.--A Public Inst.i.tution recommended for the care of this cla.s.s of Poor, under the direction of three Commissioners.--Their Functions explained.--A Proposition for raising a Fund of 5230l. from the Parishes for the support of the Inst.i.tution, and to relieve them from the Casual Poor.--Reasons why the Experiment should be tried.--The a.s.sistance of Sir Frederick Eden, and other Gentlemen of talents, who have turned their thoughts to the Poor, attainable.--The advantages which would result to the Community, from the united Efforts of men of investigation and judgment, previous to any final Legislative Regulation.--Conclusion._
Indigence, in the present state of Society, may be considered as a princ.i.p.al cause of the increase of Crimes.
The System which prevails in the Metropolis, with respect to these unfortunate individuals who are denominated the _Casual Poor_, will be found on minute inquiry to be none of the least considerable of the causes, which lead to the corruption of morals, and to the multiplication of minor offences in particular.
The number of persons, who with their families, find their way to the Metropolis, from the most remote quarters of Great Britain and Ireland, is inconceivable. In hopes of finding employment they incur an immediate and constant expence, for lodging and subsistence, until at length their little all is in the p.a.w.nbrokers" shops, or sold to raise money for the necessaries of life. If they have been virtuously brought up in the country, despondency seizes upon their minds, in consequence of the disappointments and hardships, their adventurous or incautious conduct has doomed them to suffer; which as it applies to the most deserving of this cla.s.s, who will not steal, and are ashamed to beg, often exceeds any thing that the human mind can conceive.
Their Parochial Settlements are either at a great distance, or perhaps as natives of Scotland or Ireland, they are without even this resource. The expence of removing, as the Law directs, is too serious a charge to be incurred by the parish where accident has fixed them.
They are treated with neglect and contumely by the parochial Officers; and even occasionally driven to despair. Willing to labour, but bereft of any channel or medium through which the means of subsistence might be procured. It is a.s.signed to no person to hear their mournful tale, who might be able to place them in a situation, where they might gain a subsistence; and under such circ.u.mstances it is much to be feared, that not a few of them either actually perish for want, or contract diseases which ultimately terminate in premature death.
Such is frequently the situation of the more decent and virtuous cla.s.s of the labouring people, who come to seek employment in the Metropolis. The more profligate who pursue the same course have generally other resources. Where honest labour is not to be procured, they connect themselves with those who live by petty or more atrocious offences, and contribute in no small degree to the increase of the general phalanx of delinquents. The young female part of such families too often become prost.i.tutes, while the males pursue acts of depredation upon the Public, by availing themselves of the various resources, which the defects in the Police System allow.
In addition to the families who thus resort to the Capital, young men frequently wander up who have become liable to the penalties of the laws, in consequence of being unable to find security for the support of a natural Child in their own parish; or who perhaps have incurred the punishment due to some other offence.--Without money, without recommendations, and bereft of friends, and perhaps afraid of being known, they resort to low public houses, where they meet with thieves and rogues, who not unfrequently in this way recruit their gangs, as often as the arm of Justice diminishes their numbers.
But it is to be lamented, that in contemplating the ma.s.s of indigence, which, in its various ramifications, produces distresses more extensive and more poignant than perhaps in any other spot in the world, (Paris excepted) its origin is to be traced in almost every rank of Society; and though sometimes the result of unavoidable misfortune, is perhaps more frequently generated by idleness, inattention to business, and indiscretion. But at all events, the tear of pity is due to the helpless and forlorn offspring of the criminal or indolent, who become objects of compa.s.sion, not only as it relates to their immediate subsistence; but much more with respect to their future situations in life. It is in the progress to the adult state, that the infants of parents, broken down by misfortunes, almost unavoidably learn, from the pressure of extreme poverty, to resort to devices which early corrupt their morals, and mar their future success and utility in life. Under the influence of these sad examples, and their necessary consequences, do many females become Prost.i.tutes, who in other circ.u.mstances, might have been an ornament to their s.e.x, while the males, by contracting early in life habits that are pernicious, become, in many instances, no less noxious to Society.
Familiarized in infancy to the p.a.w.nbroker"s shop, and to other even less reputable means of obtaining temporary subsistence, they too soon become adepts in falsehood and deceit. Imperious necessity has given an early spring to their ingenuity. They are generally full of resource, which in good pursuits might render them useful and valuable members of the Community: but unhappily their minds have acquired a wrong bias, and they are reared insensibly in the walks of vice, without knowing, in many instances, that they are at all engaged in evil pursuits.
In all these points of view, from indigence is to be traced the great Origin and the Progress of Crimes.
In attending the different _Soup Establishments_ (where 50,000 indigent families, at the expence of one halfpenny per head, have a meal furnished every day during the winter)[93] the Author has observed, with a mixture of pain and satisfaction, particularly at one of them, the children of unfortunate and reduced families, who, from their appearance, have moved in a higher sphere, the humble suitors for this frugal and nourishing aliment.
[Footnote 93: See page 81 and 82 for an account of this Charity.]
To have contributed in any degree to the relief of distress rendered painful in the extreme from the recollection of better days, is an ample reward to those benevolent individuals, who have joined in the support and conduct of an undertaking, of all others the most beneficial that perhaps was ever devised, for the purpose of a.s.sisting and relieving suffering humanity.
While the wretchedness, misery and crimes, which have been developed, and detailed in this work, cannot be sufficiently deplored, it is a matter of no little exultation, that in no country or nation in the world, and certainly in no other Metropolis, does there exist among the higher and middle ranks of Society, an equal portion of Philanthropy and Benevolence.--Here are to be discovered the extremes of vice and virtue, strongly marked by the existing turpitude on one hand, and the n.o.ble instances of charitable munificence, displayed by the opulent part of the Community, on the other.
Nothing can place this in a stronger point of view, and perhaps nothing will astonish strangers more than the following summary Estimate of the various Inst.i.tutions, supported chiefly by Voluntary Contributions, in addition to the legal a.s.sessments, all tending to ameliorate and better the condition of human life, under the afflicting circ.u.mstances of indigence and disease.[94]
[Footnote 94: For a specific account of these Inst.i.tutions, see the Chapter on Munic.i.p.al Police.]