more Company and of greater rank thither and great
Numbers of people already resort to and play at those plat
Nor is there any part of this Town, wherein the Number
of Ale houses Brandy and Geneva shops do not daily
increase tho' they are so numerous already that in
some of the large of parishes, every Tenth House at least
sells one sort or other of those Liquors by Retaile
And this we humbly offer, as the principal cause of the
Increase of our Poor, and of all the Vice and Debanchery
among the Inferior sort of People, as well as of the
Felonies and other Disorders comitted in and about
this town

We have perused and considered of the Laws & Statutes
now in force for Suppressing & Reforming these abuses &
of the powers thereby given us, which tho' they seem to be
very large & sufficient yet the good purposes intended
by them, are in great measure prevented by season of
some Defects in those Laws, and of severall difficulties
we meet with in Execution of them of which we beg leave
to lay before your Lordship the following particulars.
As those who frequent any of the Disorderly Houses above
mentioned will never informe against them, It is very
difficult to find out the Persons who keep them, and the
names & plates of abode of those who resort to them, and yet
more difficult to got legall Evidence against them by any
other means than frequently searching the Houses and
taking them in the Fact and this is rendred in a manner
in effectuall by the method they are all of late fallen into
(especially at gameing Houses) of keeping their Doors
shut against our Officers and all they suspect, whereby as
has been often firmely Experience they prevent and elude
our Endeavours to punish or suppress them, the Law not
impowering as or over officers (as we humbly conceive)
to break open Doors on any Searches tho' after demand
and refusall of admittance

We are also under a very great Difficulty, with respect to the
great number of Ale houses and Brandy Shops, the best, if
not the only method. We know of, to prevent ye. inconveniencies
arising front them, is to suppress such as are disorderly or
superflous,& to punish those, who sell without license,
Bnt