Author: COLQUHOUN.- MAGISTRATE, A.- [=COLQUHOUN, P.]
Title: A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis, explaining the various crimes and misdemeanors which at present are felt as a pressure upon the community; and suggesting remedies for their prevention. By a Magistrate [between single rules] [Patrick Colquhoun]. Menimerint legum conditores, illas ad proximum hunc finem accomodare; ...'
Description: London, Printed by H.Fry, for C.Dilly, in the Poultry., 1796. [Page viii, A4 verso: 'London, February 15, 1796]. Sm 4to. W. 1 folding table at p. 252. Contemp. full clf., both covers expertly rehinged, spine ends repaired. Single blindst. decorative roll on both covers. Edges of covers some gilttooling. (Spine and covers some overall scratching and rubb.). [a4, b3, A-Z4, Aa-Xx4]. (XIII, I (blank), (5) -369, I (blank), I ['Nota' in which a small note from the publisher on the laws regarding bigamy; at the moment of writing new legislation had been proposed in Parliament, of which Colquhoun was unaware.], I (blank) pp.). (Quire Q some foxed spots; light off setting on endp. due to turn inns; for the rest a clean and very good copy in the original binding.) A very good copy. Rare true first edition. Three editions are known dated 1796, the 3rd one already enlarged to 440 pages. The first and second edition are quite rare and difficult to obtain. Later editions [1797, 1800, 1806 etc.] are quite commonly offered in the trade. The folding table at page 252 [between sheets Gg4 & Hh1] 'A Summary View of the Prisoners committed, tried, punished, disposed of, and discharged, in the Metropolis, in one Year, ending in October 1795.' The advertisement [a4, page vii-viii] with the Author's explanation of how the book came into being '... hav[ing] been written at intervals within the compass of about three months... a Work ushered into the world under so many disadvantages, must in some respects, be imperfect. Wherever such imperfections shall be kindly and candidly pointed out, the Author will feel great satisfaction in correcting them, in case the Subject of this Volume shall be thought of sufficient importance to PASS INTO ANOTHER EDITION...'. Dated February 15, 1796. Also important in establishing the first ed. is the note at the end by the publisher regarding the bigamy laws. These points indicating the true first edition. See Radzinowicz, 'History of the Criminal Law', i.l.c. the first time 'an attempt had been made to give a comprehensive survey of the state of crime in the metropolis...': Finer, 'The Police and public safety', i.l.c.: 'The very essence of Colquhoun's proposals was professionalism combined with unity of command.': In 12 chapters and an appendix Colquhoun, magistrate of the peace, discusses a 'wide variety of evils' often arising from the imperfections of the penal code, he explains the increase in crimes, calculates the damage done to public and private property in the metropolis [2 million pounds per annum], explains the increase in small thefts, the increase in thefts from naval stores and ships / vessels in the river Thames, discusses burglary and 'highway robbery', discusses the making and circulating of 'base money', explains the increase in cheating, swindling and gambling, points to the receivers of stolen goods, explains the means of detecting offenders, discusses the prosecution of offenders & punishment. Chapter XII focuses on the present state of the Police of the metropolis, its organization [up to the moment of writing in beginning of 1796 never before explained in the press] and the 'benefits which would arise from extending the system'. The appendix summarises the preceding chapters and adds further remedies and propositions for the prevention of crime.

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