Middlesex Sessions:
General Orders of the Court
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3rd May 1753 - 15th September 1757

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Image 198 of 22221st April 1757


Southwark and your Committee apprehend it would be of Service to the publick to
ask such Concurrence your Committee being also convinced that most of the Beggars in
the Kingdom do at times resort to this Metropolis being led by various Motives, some
through Curiosity others by hope of Gain, and that they are well acquainted that upon
being apprehended they will be provided for is their return home by a Pass without
Punishment, are of Opinion that the Resolutions this Court may come to is this respect
should not only be affixed up is proper Places about the several Parishes in this Town
and published in the Daily Papers but also that those Resolutions should be affixed
up in the Towns and Villiages in this County near the several Road leading to
London and publishes in such Evening Papers as may best circulate the knowledge
of such Resolutions throughout the Kingdom whereby Vagabonds in the distant
Countgs being informed that certain Punishment and no Gain will attend their
Peregrination they may be deterred from the base attempt of coming here.

But your Committee apprehend that how Judicious soever the Construction of any
Plan to exterminate this almost inveterate Evil may be, and however desirous and
vigilant the Magistrates may likewise be in their several Districts to carry
the Orders and Resolution of this Court into Execution, it is certain that without
an active discharge of Duty in the Subordinate Officers their utmost Efforts will
be defeated, they therefore recommend that in the printed Resolutions the
Constables and other Peace Officers may be strictly charged to do their Duty is this
respect by the promise of Protection and Reward for the faithfull and active
discharge of it and censure and Punishment upon their neglect, and as the common
People have not a proper Idea of the Offence of begging and have in many
instances by their Obstruction rendered it very dangerous for the Peace Officers
to whip Stardy Beggars your Committee recommend the printing is their Resolutions
that Clause of the Vagrant Act which inflicts the Penalty of five pounds upon
any Person hindering the Execution of the said Act and also to enjoin all
Persons being thereunto required in his Majesty's Name to aid and assist the Peace
Officers in the discharge of their Duty in apprehending and executing lawfull
punishment upon such Vagrants and that the Churchwardens Overseers of the
Poor and the Parish Officers be also required to search for in their respective
Parishes and Divisions and return to the several Magistrates proper Informations
of the Name and Place of Abode of such Persons who shall for the future
presume to lodge and harbour Beggars and Vagrants in their Houses or Out
Buildings of any kind in order that the Penalty prescribed by the said statute
may be levied upon such Offenders.

And your Committed are of Opinion that the indiscriminate passing of every
Vagrant Beggar brings more charge upon the County than is necessary and as
the Law leaves a discretionary Power to pass or not pass such Vagrants, after
inflicting the Punishment your Committee think that the severe whipping of Sturdy
Beggars would be sufficient to drive them out of this County without the Expence
of a Pass, and it only Object of real Distress were passed and that from Bridewell
it would produce a considerable Saving, and as the neglect of returning the




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