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

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Image 214 of 22214th July 1757


to the Sessions as the Law directs

5th. Another Cause of this great Expence has arisen from a wrong Use made of
Vagrant Passes by the Officers in some parishes who to save the great Expence
of Settlement Passes or the Maintenance of casual Poor not belonging to them
and whose Settlements were at a great Distance have passed such Poor as
Rogues and Vagabonds although no Act of Vagrancy had been committed
and more especially the Scotch and Irish Vagabonds.

6th. Your Committee are also of Opinion that the putting the Vagrant Act into
Execution in particular Parishes and Places (howsoever landable the Intention of
the Magistrates may be) brings a large Expence upon the County without producing
the designed Effect to the publick for as the Design of putting the said Act in this
manner into Execution relates only to one Species of Vagabonds namely Beggars
these of them who are were the Objects of Compassion than Punishment feel the
Lash of the Law while the artificial Objects of Distress who have reduced Begging
into a Trade well know how far the Whip of Justice extends and carefully avoid
coming within its reach And this is a strong reason for the general Inforcement
of the Law through the County

Another Cause of the Grievance complained of arises from the ready harbour
Beggars find in the Outskirts of the Town from the Keepers of Houses who
left them out to Vagrants at Two pence a Night though by the Statute before
mentioned Chap: 5. sec. 22 "If any Person knowingly permit any Rogue or
"Vagabond or incorrigible Rogue to lodge or take shelter in his House Barn
"or other Outhouse or Building and shall not apprehend and carry him
"before a Justice or give Notice to the Constable so to do such Person shall
"forfeit upon Conviction not exceeding Forty Shillings nor less than Ten Shillings"
And though these kind of Houses are notoriously known to every Officer in the
Parish where they exist yet for want of such Officers doing their Duty by giving
the necessary Information to the Magistrates this excellent Clause of the Law
(which if well executed would is a great Measure remove the Nusance) remains
a dead Letter:

Your Committee are of Opinion that the following Regulations with others that
may be Suggested by the Wisdom of the Court being put into Execution with
Spirit and Vigour will restore the Vagrant Act to its activity and by rendering
it an Object of Terror to the Idle our Streets may be cleared in a little time of
the Swarms of real and counterfeit Wretches which are a Burthen to the Minds as
well as the Purses of worthy People: and such Objects being confined to their
proper Settlements the real ones will be decently provided for, the lagy Impostors
receive proper Correction and this and the neighbouring Counties will be relieved




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