306 Notes for the Month. OcT. 



The learned gentleman evinces as much sound sense in this resolution, as 

 he is in the habit, on all occasions, of displaying shining talent : with 

 his faculties which make the highest grades of honourable success certain 

 it would be ill calculation for him to take up the trade (always ques- 

 tionable), of a politician. Sir James Scarlett will probably have the first 

 vacant judgeship, and make way for Mr. Brougham in his present post of 

 attorney-general. 



One of the first contemplated measures of the new ministry, is said 

 to be a plan, by Lord Lansdown, for reforming our metropolitan police. 

 This, at least, is the report ; whether founded in fact, or born of com- 

 mercial indignation for the burglaries lately committed in Bread-street, 

 we do not pretend to determine. Whichever way the fact may be, how- 

 ever, attempts at improvement can do no mischief, and can scarcely avoid 

 producing, in detail, some advantage; but we are not disposed to be 

 sanguine as to any very material change, so far as the abatement of crime 

 is concerned, to be effected by the uoble Marquis's exertions. There are 

 but two courses, in the way of police arrangement or criminal legislation, 

 which we can take to check the quantity of crime currently existing in the 

 country ; and it is hardly possible to take a step in either of them without 

 doing that which is open to objection. An increased severity in punishing 

 offence cannot be the remedy which is proposed : that course would be no 

 less in the teeth of the spirit of the new government, than contrary to the 

 general opinions of society. And for the system of prevention the advan- 

 tage of that engine has long been understood ; but it is impossible to take 

 any material steps in the employment of it, without trespassing to exactly 

 the same extent upon the liberties of the subject : the freedom which we 

 lose is of more value than the security which we gain, The fact is, that the 

 very constitution of society in a country like England, leads inevitably to 

 the creation of offences against property and those are the only offences 

 which increase with us in a very wide and extended degree. Indepen- 

 dently of those crimes which arise out of the want of employment or of 

 food, the very abundance of riches that exists in the country, and the 

 absolutely vital necessity which is felt (and inculcated) for possessing them, 

 must have the effect of making some men knaves, while it renders so 

 many productively stirring and industrious. " Affaires, embarras, servi- 

 tudes, projets" says a French writer ; " tout cela se lit sur tons les 

 visages. Dans y,ne societe de vingt personnes, DIX-HUIT s'occupent des 

 moyens $ avoir de I'argent, et QUINZE N'EN TROUVERONT POINT!" 

 This is but a fair description of the state of society in England ; and where 

 so many men are bent upon gaining one object, there will always be a 

 proportion who will attempt to gain it in an illegal way. 



The Times of the 25th ultimo it is going rather far back for a notice, 

 but we want to say a word upon the subject throws out a hint to the 

 " nepotism" of English bishops, in an account of church employments held 

 by one family only a father and two sons no fewer than eight appoint- 

 ments to the annual amount of 26,000/. ! The paragraph concludes with 

 an intimation, that " the clergy in general of the country are deeply dis- 

 gusted at these arrangements." What cause the " clergy" may have for 

 disgust, we shall not stop to inquire ; because a fact of more extended 

 importance is most certain that the public has deep cause for disgust at 

 the general disposition of church property in this country. It is not 

 enough that the most extravagantly enormous revenues arc raised every 

 year from the people, to support a list of superior church dignitarif- 



