134" SCIENTIFIC NEWS 



Mr. Day'i From the concurrent teftimony of many Individuals, the 



watchman's re- p r efent fyftem of watching cities is languid and inadequate : 

 no houfe is fecure, when depredation is determined on, or if 

 there be any fecurity, it is more from the means taken within, 

 than from the watching without. Magiftrates have feen and 

 pointed out the defects in the fyftem, and have at times ap- 

 plied what means they could to counteract the evils arifing from 

 thofe defecls hut their means have been ineffectual : and 

 householders have been obliged to fubmit to their rifques with 

 no other confolation but that of thinking, that though the 

 plan of watching was bad, it was better than none. In at- 

 tentively considering the plan, the defecls feem to reduce 

 themfelves to the following heads ; \ft, The too long intervals 

 which watchmen take, between their going their rounds — by 

 which it appears that confidering any individual houfe, that 

 lioufe has not the benefit of actual watching more than ten 

 minutes through the whole night. 



2ndlj/. The Watchman's call of the hours, — from which 

 no fervice arifes to any, but to the depredators of the night, 

 as is obvious to any one who reflects, that of the many hundred 

 housebreakings and ftreet-robberies committed in London in 

 the year, how few of the depredators are detected or taken 

 by the watchmen themfelves, from no fault perhaps of thefe 

 laft, but becaufe the thieves have taken advantage of the 

 watchman's repofe in his box, and what is more, of the notice 

 which he gives, by vociferation, of his diftance or approach, 

 by which they haften, or delay their attack, or carry off their 

 plunder accordingly. 



3dly. The uncertainty of the watchman's doing his duty— - 

 who either from intoxication, drowfinefs, or indolence, or 

 induced by the badnefs of the night, may mifs his rounds, 

 without detection. 



$th. The ufe ot he lanthorn, which anfwers no purpofe 

 but that of adding to the fignal of the watchman's approach. 

 And laftly the uf< of the watch-box, which anfwers no end 

 but that of promoting drowfinefs, and perhaps difeafe, from 

 the chills which are increafed by inaction in a cold damp 

 houfe. 



F<>r thefe defects it will be atked what effectual remedy can 

 be piopofed ? To double the number of Watchmen would be 

 the mod obvious, but is out of the queftion when we confider 



the 



