the


OF  THE    METROPOLIS.  509

the  year  1792,  the  public  mind  became  impressed
with  an  idea  that  the  chief,  if  not  the  only  object  of
the  institution  was  to  preveht  Robberies,  Burglaries*
and  other  atrocious  Offences;  and  that  the  suppres-
sion of  those  crimes,  which  bore  hardest  upon  So-
ciety, and  were  most  dreaded  by  the  Public  at  large,
was  to  be  the  result.  These  expectations  shewed,
that  neither  the  powers  nor  authorities  gradted  by  the
Act  of  Parliament,  nor  the  other  duties  imposed
upon  the  Magistracy  of  the  Police,  were  understood.
For  this  Statute,  useful  as  it  certainly  is  in  a  very
high  degree  in  many  other  respects,  does  not.  con-
tain even  a  single  regulation  applicable  to  the  preven-
tion of  crimes ;  except  that  which  relates  to  the  ap-
prehension of  suspected  characters,  found  in  the  ave-
nues to  public  places,  with  intent  to  commit  felony,
who  are  liable  to  be  punished  as  rogues  and  vaga-
bonds,— and  even  this  provision  does  not  extend  to
the  city  of  London.
