Collaboration, 1750-74 53each locality was to have a minimum number of watchmen and patrols, at
least 323 watchmen and 55 patrols, a total increase of 22. Patrols, unlike
watchmen, were constantly on the move and did not call the hours. Since this
was a more physically strenuous job, patrols were paid more. Patrols were
mandatory only during the winter months but 'the Number as well as Duty
may be augmented at the Discretion of each respective Parish'. Beadles
would be required to patrol their parishes, to check on the watchmen and
patrols, keeping a record of any lapses in discipline. Whitworth stated: 'The
above Plan has been already experienced with good Effect in the Parishes of
St. Andrews Holborn [sic], and St. George the Martyr; and the Bill is formed
upon the lOth of George II for Saffron Hill, etc.'^48 Previous night watch Acts
were left in force, as amended by this bill. Starting with the minimum
numbers prescribed, it was left to each parish to make the fmal determina-
tions of exactly how many men would be appointed and the distribution
between those who would 'have certain Beats and Stands ... and how many
of them are to patrole, and have no certain Stands'.^49 The bill proposed new
rate ceilings, minimum wage rates for watchmen and patrols, precise hours
of duty, and specific tasks to be performed. For example, the bill stated:
'every Watchman shall every Night Half-hourly during his Whole Time of
watching, go round his Walk or Beat, and loudly, and as audibly as he can,
call or proclaim the Time of the Night or Morning'. A watchman was
'authorized and impowered to arrest and apprehend all Night Walkers,
Malefactors, Rogues, Vagabonds, and other loose idle and disorderly Per-
sons, whom he shall find ... disturbing the public Peace, or that he shall have
Cause to suspect of any evil Designs .. .'.^50
The bill gave statutory sanction to certain practices developed over the
years in Westminster since the 1730s through trial and error. For example,
the vestries of St George, Hanover Square, and StJames, Piccadilly, had
agreed to instruct their watchmen to come to each other's assistance, regard-
less of parish boundaries. This came from a tradition of cooperation between
these two parishes. Whitworth's bill made such cooperation mandatory
between all parishes:
that in Case any One or more of the said Watchmen shall want any
Assistance to enable him or them to perform any Part of the Duty herein
and hereby required to be by him or them done, then and in every Case
any other of the Watchmen of the same or any adjoining Parish, Uberty,
Precinct or Place have knowledge or Notice thereof by the Rattle, or other
Signal Outcry, or otherwise to repair to and assist such Watchman or
Watchmen wanting Assistance, by the best Ways [and) Means in his or
their Power ....^51This bill included other changes that had developed out of the experiences
of the previous 40 years. In disciplinary matters, these included keeping