STATE PAPERS. 



335 



enlarged, by the 29 Geo. II. c. 25. 

 and by the 31 Ceo. II. c. 17. and 

 an unity and gradation of authority 

 are endeavoured to be established ; 

 and the high constable is directed 

 to obey the orders of the high 

 steward, and the petty constables 

 to obey the high steward. 



The duties and superintendance 

 of the high steward have fallen 

 into great disuse, although very 

 important duties are imposed on 

 him. It appears, however, that 

 on great occasions of ceremony, he 

 has from time to time personally 

 interfered, and put himself at the 

 head of the whole civil force of the 

 city of Westminster, marshalling 

 and arrangrinsr the subordinate offi- 

 cers. The present high steward, 

 the Marquis of Buckingham, is 

 stated to have so interfered at the 

 funeral of Lord Nelson and Mr. 

 Pitt. 



The statute of 14 Geo. III. c. 90. 

 seems to have superseded this sys- 

 tem. It is a local act applicable 

 to the city and liberties of West- 

 minster, and certain other parishes 

 therein named ; and prescribes the 

 duties of constables, beadles, pa- 

 troles, and watchmen. It is not 

 founded upon the principle of 10 

 Geo. II. c. 22. which relates to the 

 city of London, but it limits the dis- 

 cretionary powers of the different 

 parochial authorities, and pre- 

 scribes the exact manner in which 

 the various descriptions of persons 

 employed must discharge their 

 duties, and defines the smallest 

 number which each parish is to 

 employ, and the lowest amount 

 of wages to be paid. It details the 

 manner in which misconduct and 

 neglect is to be punished, and 

 meritorious exertions rewarded. It 

 is observable, that both these sta- 



tutes refer to the ancient statute of 

 watch and ward, the 13th Edw. I. 

 and recognize the' principle, that 

 the protection of every district is a 

 compulsory duty incumbent on 

 the inhabitants ; and, therefore, an 

 express clause is inserted in each of 

 these acts, to discharge from this 

 dutj' such inhabitants as shall con- 

 tribute to the rate for defraying the 

 expense of such ward and watch. 

 Other parishes or hamlets are go- 

 verned by particular acts of par- 

 liament, authorising the raising of 

 rates for watching and lighting ; 

 but, in many cases, the execution 

 of the law is extremely defective, 

 and in some cases the power of 

 raising money is inadequate. In 

 other parishes there is no legisla- 

 tive provision ; and neither the 

 magistracy or the government have 

 at present any connection whatever 

 with the state of the watch, and 

 no control or superintendance 

 over it. 



Your committee feel that much 

 would be done by merely extend- 

 ing the provisions of the 14 Geo. 

 III. to the adjacent parishes in 

 and near the metropolis, provided 

 it were duly executed; but ihey 

 are convinced that it may receive 

 very beneficial amendments, for 

 the details of which they would 

 refer to the appendix, stating here 

 only, that in many instances it may 

 be absolutely necessary to give 

 powers for levying a higher rate 

 than is now allowed, in order to 

 defray the expense arising from an 

 increase of the numbers or wages 

 of the persons employed in dif- 

 ferent capacities in the nightly 

 watch ; your committee being 

 strongly impressed with the opinion 

 of the expediency, if not neces- 

 sity, of relieving the watch once 



at 



