people, which, of course, will have the effect to generate
crimes. Such is the evil consequences of natural
wealth suddenly acquired, that it is always counter-
balanced by evils in the opposite scale.

What you have most of all to dread in America, as
a general corrupter of morals, is the want of a due
control on public houses and liquor shops, in your
bung-hole towns. Until publicans of all descriptions
are licensed, and put under strict regulations, the
abuses through this medium will increase, and pro-
duce excessive evils, which will be almost without a
remedy, if not prevented in due time.

The prohibition of distillation can never be expect-
ed in any country, and therefore all we can hope for,
is a strong control over those who deal it out to the pro-
fligate and the idle, and to those who are influenced
by their example.

At the commencement of the last year, I published
a tract on the duty of a constable, which I first meant
for the instruction of those in Westminster

; but
in the progress of the composition, while the press
was going, I was induced to snatch an occasional
hour from public business, and to extend it so as to
apply to all England. In the appendix to this tract,
I have introduced rules and orders for publicans. I
shall send you this work, with others. You will
find in it a tolerable epitome of the manner in which
the general police of England is conducted. I wish
I could say it was conducted according to the true
and genuine spirit of the laws, upon which the sys-
tem is founded.

I conclude with my best thanks for the obliging
communications you have made to me, and the valua-
ble books and papers you have had the goodness to
send me on the interesting subject of Police.

And I am, with the greatest respect and esteem,
My dear sir, your very obliged friend, P. COLQUHOUN.
Mr. THOMAS EDDY, New York.