New York is growing more and more like Paris in respect to the police. It is literally governed by them. They have almost everything in their own hands, and are prone to make the law a terror to all but evil doers. That they have entirely too much power is beyond question: and that they abuse it is a matter of hourly observation. But, like the World, they are improving; are much better now than they have ever been, and are likely to continue to develop upward.

It is common and easy to censure the police, who are neither estimable nor lovable, as a class; but, on the whole, they are about as good, or as little ill, rather, as can be expected considering their calling, character, and circumstances. We have no right to look for saintliness in blue uniforms and pewter badges, particularly when their wearers receive but $25 to $30 a week, and are necessarily demoralized by the very air they breathe.

The reputation of the tribe is bad; and men are rarely better than their reputation. They are compelled to associate with vulgarians and scoundrels of all grades; are exposed to every species of temptation; act unfavorably on each other, and have no restraining influences beyond their own intelligence, which is not very great, and their fear of exposure, which is not probable. Like every other body, they have bad as well as good men; and I am inclined to believe the former are very much in the majority. Why should they not be? Who wouldn't deteriorate as a policeman? Six months on the force is enough to make Bayard a bully and Howard a blackguard. Therefore, all who resist the strong tendency of their vocation are deserving of extreme credit.

Some of the greatest rogues in town can be found among the so-called guardians of the public peace, and, on the other hand, a number of men who, in spite of temptation, association, and misrepresentation, have quick sympathies, generous impulses, and kindly hearts. The character of a metropolitan policeman can generally be determined from his physiognomy. Peter Smith you would trust instinctively; for his mild eye, broad forehead, and clear-cut chin will not lie. Dennis O'Grady you would avoid after dark; for you read treachery, brutality, cruelty, in the flat nose, the restless glance, the heavy jaw, the bull-like neck.

The police of New York number about 2,100, independent of the detectives, and are for the most part very comely physical specimens of the race. The force of the Metropolitan District, which includes the City, Brooklyn, Richmond, King's, part of Queen's and Westchester counties, has 2,566 men. At their head is Superintendent Kennedy who has under him four inspectors, eighteen surgeons, forty-five captains, ninety-three doormen, ninety-one rounds men, one hundred and seventy-seven sergeants, and twenty one hundred and thirty-seven patrolmen. They are tall, erect, well-formed, able-bodied, chosen more for their muscle than their morals, for their pluck than their purity. They are regularly drilled, especial pains being taken with the Broadway squad and form a very effective force for good or evil. They are capable of doing excellent service, as has been shown on numerous occasions and with weapons in their hands, which they know how to use, make quite a little army of defense. During the August riots of 1863, they proved themselves men of determination and courage; fought the furious mob like veteran soldiers and gave their lives to the preservation of public order and the restoration of the law of the land.

The Broadway squad, composed of about one hundred picked policemen, are noticeably good-looking. They are very neatly attired, and though they have light duty, are very serviceable in assisting women and children across the crowded thoroughfares, directing strangers to different parts of the city, arresting pickpockets, and preventing street fights. They are the real autocrats of the highway, and the position is sought by all the members of the force; only the most intelligent and best-behaved being eligible to the place.

They have charge of street-encumbrances, and sign nuisances, and can regulate all such things as they choose. As Broadway is always blocked up and almost impassable from the causes named, it is fair to suppose the policemen are paid for their purblind ness. Indeed, it is generally understood that bank-notes of any sort have a singular effect upon policemen's eyes. They can't see beyond a ten or twenty-dollar note in the broadest light of day; and, after dusk, a bill of much smaller denomination not only obscures their vision, but affects their memory. They receive, doubtless, very liberal douceurs in that great avenue, and their perquisites must be far beyond their salaries. The best class are usually Americans, men who originally entered the force because they could get nothing better to do, and who from long service have become attached to it from its alternately indolent and exciting character. They may not preserve their garments unstained, nor their hands unsoiled, that is above policial power, perhaps but their sins, if venal, are venial also. They do not lose their instincts of humanity nor their sympathy with suffering. They keep many an honest fellow from the hands of sharper, many a virtuous country girl from the wiles of procuresses and the arts of debauchees. 

They have abundant opportunities to do good, and when temptation the other way is not too strong, or nature too weak, they obey their better selves. Not infrequently they prove themselves heroes in guarding honesty and innocence and have yielded their lives to protect the defenseless and succor the distressed. They have time and again saved children and women from the flames at imminent peril to themselves; have snatched men from death and their sisters from worse than death, and been entitled by their deeds to the highest fame. Rarely has the chronicle been made; and, when it has, it has been forgotten a moment after.

The worst class, which is two, perhaps three, to one of the other, are generally foreigners, ignorant, brutal fellows, whom any elevation renders tyrants and bullies. They first obtained their place by partisan favor, though the present police are appointed by the Commissioners regardless of politics. They are in full sympathy and communion with all the rogues within sound of the City Hall bell, and follow their calling purely to make money. They are fond of arresting innocent ruralists, charging them with some heinous offence, and frightening them out of their wits and pocket books at the same time.