TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



287 



of the Lord Chief Justice of England, the chief of 

 magistrates. 



A thoroughly efficient policeman should be a fair 

 scholar and a competent criminal lawyer ; he should 

 possess a far greater share of the wisdom and tact of 

 Solomon and the patience of Job than usually falls 

 to the lot of mortals ; to which should be added the 

 bodily strength, endurance and constitution of a 

 prize-fighter. How long a man thus gifted would 

 think it worth his while to remain a member of any 

 Police Force, I need scarcely stop to enquire. 



The fact is that by far the greater portion of 

 the world's work is done by imperfect instruments. 

 Perfect instruments, whether human or otherwise, 

 are somewhat scarce, and if nothing worse than the 

 best be employed, I fear but little of that work would 

 be done. 



The publication of a pamphlet purporting to be 

 a report of the proceedings at a recent public meet- 

 ing, in the course of which you came in for your 

 share of censure, affords me substantial basis for re- 

 mark. 6 i The most atrocious murders " it is said, 

 " such as London detectives, would trace at once, are 

 here committed with impunity." I incline to the 

 opinion that this ugly fact is due rather to the short- 

 comings of Trinidad Jurymen than of the Trinidad 

 Policemen, and I will add that I am not myself dis- 

 posed to believe altogether in the omniscience even 

 of London detectives. 



There are many grim secrets, both of old and 

 very recent date, which have effectually baffled this 



