To the Right Honoble the Lord Mayor & the rest of the
Worshipful his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the
City of London at the General Quarter Sessions of the
Peace for the same City Assembled.

The Humble Petition and Appeal of the
Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London
Governors of the House of the Poor commonly called St. Bartholomew
Hospital near West smithfield London of the Foundation of
King Henry the Eight.

Sheweth

That St. Bartholomews Hospital situate in [..]
Parish of St. Bartholomew the less is of Antient & Royal Foundation Granted
& Established by King Henry the 8th for the Relief of Sick Lame Wounded &
diseased Poor, wherein some Thousands of Poor objects are Annually Relieved
and Cured

That soon after the great Fine of London, Houses & Shops were made
in the Buildings within the Cloisters & Precinct of the Hospital, for the
Convenicnce of the Inhabitants of London (then in great distress for Houses)
who Occupying the same as Tenants to the Hospital for their own benefit
Became Rateable & chargeable to the Poors Rates.

That about the Year 1730 some of the Antient Buildings & Wards of
the Hospital & some of the sd Houses & Shops (having become reuinous) were
pulled down & since which by the Donation of Governors & other Benefactors,
four large Pyles of Buildings have been Progressively elected & are now
used for the Hospital, one of which Pyles or Wings contains a Hall
Compting House & other Rooms wch are used for Meetings of the Governors
Receiving Rents, Examining & Admissions of patients, & the other three Pyles
of Buildings are used for Wards for the patients & their Nurses only.

That one of the sd. Pyles or Building of the Hospital being finished
about the year 1758 the Churchwardens & Overseers of the Poor & inhabitants
of the Parish of St. Bartholomew the less by a Rate Intitled a Rate or
Assessment on the Inhabitants & occupiers of Lands Houses Shops Sheds
Tenements & Ward houses within the Parish of St. Bartholomew the less
London made & Assessed by them the Churchwardens & Overseers of the
Poor & Inhabitants of the sd. Parish whose names are thereunto subscribed
pursuant to the several Acts of parliament made in that behalf for
three Months for or towards the relief of the poor of the sd. Parish as
their necessity shall require have Assessed & Rated Your Petitioners for
such Wards of the sd. Hospital at & ofter the Rate of £20. a year for
& towards the Relief of the poor of the sd. Parish as followeth.. that is to
say "The Mayor Commonalty & Citizens of the City of London Governors
of the House of the poor, commonly called St. Bartholomews Hospital