EXPENSE OF THE POLICE.
IN estimating the cost of the New Police, it does not seem to have struck any of the objectors, that the police are on duty both night and day, and that the watch which they superseded were on duty only during the night. This must of necessity call for a greater number. The method of an average rate, however, seems altoge- ther unjust. Where the greatest amount of goods is, there the rate ought to be highest, because there the temptations to thieve as well as the facilities are greatest : but this is not the case ; on the contrary, in many instances where there are none but dwel- linghouses and gardens—where there are no thieves, and nothing to attract them—the rate is as great as where there is abundance of both. The refusal to state the number of officers in each district is founded on no sound principle. The safety of the pub- lic ought not to depend on opinion ; nor does it ; for though the Commissioners may keep the number of the police from the rate- payers, they cannot keep it from the thieves. In fact, this most proper knowledge seems kept from the people of the several parishes, because if the numbers were known, it would then be seen that the overcharge in some instances is monstrous and intolerable. We have no doubt that there will be a regular account of these matters moved for next session, and granted ; and also that the assessments will in future be made proportionable to the protection enjoyed, each parish contributing according to its rental to the support of the general establishment.
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