To the Right Honourable John Barber< no role > Esquire Lord Mayor
of the City of London And Others his Majestys Justices of
the Peace at this General Sessions Assembled

Wee the Grand Jury of the City of London having With great Concern
Observed That many Vexations and litigious Prosecutions have Appeared before us in
the Course of this our Duty and Service Against many of the Inhabitants of this
great City Humbly Conceive it becomes us to Enquire how and in What Manner
Such Prosecutions are fomented and Stirred up and by Whom Prosecuted and Carryed
on

And first it Appears to us that Divers Persons Clerks or Servants to many
of his Majestys Justices of the Peace within this City Do Under Colour And in the
Execution of their Office Exact and Take from all Persons Accused And others
bound to prosecute Several Sums of Mony Under Pretence for Warrants, Commitments
Recognizances, Discharges and other Matters Incident to the Duty and Office of a
Justice of Peace Contrary to the known Laws of this Realm In Violation of publick
Justice And to the great Oppression of his Majestys Subjects

Wee further Observe that many such Clerks and Sollicitors in Confederacy with a
Set of People calling themselves informing Constables Newgate Sollicitors and Others
Do not only Excite and Stirr up Ignorant and unwary People to enter into such Prosecutions
but are Actually Concerned as Sollicitors and Agents for them thereby encouraging and
Abetting ignorant and weak People to Strife and Envy and getting that Mony from
them Which they Stand in Need of for the Support of the themselves and poor familys

These Things Wee humbly beg Leave to present as tending to the
Subversion of the Laws The Hindrance of Justice The Litigating Strife And
Contrary to the good Order and Government of this great City Begging that this
Court will take such Measures for redressing such Evills for the future As Shall
Seem most meet and Reasonable