A letter regarding the Metropolitan Police Force, 1830

Transcript

Herne Hill

April 22, 1830

Gentlemen,

We are all so keenly interested in the good management and efficiency of the New Police, that I feel myself reluctantly bound to inform you of the misconduct of the Superintendent in this division of Brixton by being on Duty on Thursday night in a state of intoxication. [drunkenness]

If this is the first time you have had a report of this Gentleman of an unfavourable nature, I by my name may not be mentioned, should you think proper to caution him. But should it be otherwise I have no objection to substantiate [support with evidence] my statement, much as I should regret being called on for that purpose. 

Mr. Chamberlain [the Superintendent] is an entire stranger to me, and I have no means of having his general character or I should perhaps have taken a different course.

I am Gentlemen, your most …

E. Bicknell

My country house is in High Street, Newington Butts [Small village or hamlet, now an area in the London Borough of Southwark.]