1828.] General Increase of Crime. 361 



complaint, it most satisfactorily is it is fit, that by a peremptory act of 

 the legislature without waiting for the city to "give up its privileges" 

 such a public disgrace should be put an end to. 



A second circumstance of consideration, and one of more general 

 importance in any discussion, as to the improvement of our metro- 

 politan police, will be the conduct and regulation of that unhappy class 

 of females, with which, in common with those of most great cities, the 

 streets of London are infested. The subject is an unpleasant one to 

 treat of; but, for a short space, we find it our duty to pursue it : when 

 a nuisance is absolutely driving us from our streets, and even from the 

 windows of our houses, it is too great a fastidiousness to refuse to argue 

 upon the means of abating it. Upon the expediency of tolerating the 

 existence of the miserable class of beings in question, there can be no 

 doubt : but there is no earthly reason why, in England more than in any 

 other country, their conduct should be permitted to become an offence 

 to all society. There is no reason why, in London, after nightfall, it 

 should be impossible for any decent female to pass through the streets, 

 even protected, without being exposed to such insults, and such exhi- 

 bitions, as it is impossible to think of without indignation : and if it were 

 not that those who make the laws, are, by their wealth arid means of 

 equipage and attendance, 'secured from such annoyances, the state of 

 things is one which would not be permitted, for a single session of par- 

 liament, to continue. If thirty members of the House of Commons 

 were exposed, with their families for one month, to the offence, which is 

 endured by the tradesmen (no less respectable in their habits and feel- 

 ings) between St. Paul's and Charing-cross, within the next week, the 

 London magistracy would receive an intimation, that they must " give 

 up" their authority, or use it in some manner more beneficial to the 

 morals and convenience of the public. 



There certainly could be no cruelty in protecting the ears of decent 

 persons, and especially of the females, who may be compelled to move 

 through a particular locality, from gross and monstrous obscenity. 

 The permission to use such conduct can produce no advantage to the 

 parties so indulged : all that can be necessary, or adviseable, is to give 

 free licence to the trade of these miserable people : without allowing them 

 the privilege (extended to no other class of subjects) of insulting and 

 disgusting without any gain to themselves the whole community. 

 The same description of traffic is carried on in other capital cities ; in 

 Madrid, in Paris, and in Lisbon : but no where accompanied with any 

 approach to the same open and needless enormities. The abuse forms 

 no necessary part of the character or calling of the beings who commit 

 it : and arises simply from the natural proneness there is about human 

 nature especially in a degraded condition to offence, where it is 

 known that such offence will be tolerated. We are aware of the general 

 disposition that exists to treat these unhappy people with forbearance, and 

 we will not question the justness of that disposition : but we owe con- 

 sideration to other portions of the community besides that part which 

 happens to be vicious ; and, besides, the evil which we complain of, six 

 months of firm conduct would be sufficient to put an end to entirely. 

 The same females, who render our ordinary theatres almost unap- 

 proachable to decent women, from the offensive obtrusiveness of their 

 deportment, go into the pit at the Opera House the same individuals 

 where they know that riot is not permitted and conduct themselves 



M.M. New Series. VoL.V. No. 28, 3 A 



