1764.

Octor. 18th

Same Prisons so do they make the Prison of Newgate which is Situate in and
as properly the Prison of London the Prison of the County of Middx That therefore
the Custody of the Middx prisoners is not to be considered as a Burthen on the City
but as a necessary consequence of their nomination of the same persons as are,
Sheriffs of London to be Sheriff of Middx the right to which nomination they must
be supposed originally to have solicited as they constantly exercise it and under,
Colour thereof have for many years past raised immence Sums That altho it is
now upwards of 600 years since the first Building of the said Gaol no attempt
hath ever been make to charge the County of Middx with any Expence attending
the same but on the Contrary at the time of Publick Calamity(viz) Immediately
after the dreadful conflagration in 1666 when the real Distresses of the Citizens,
might oblige them to Implore the aid of Parliament they without my previous
Application to the County of Middx obtained for the purpose of Building Prisons
for Felons and other Malefactors (among other things) a Grant of a very
considerable Revenue by a Duty on Coals

That how mach soever your Petitioners may be disposed to Lament
that notwithstanding the many Alterations additions and Improvements
that have been made to the said Gaol within these few years the same is still
so ill constructed close and Incommodious as that the Prisoners are Subject
to disease and the Prison is become a most dangerous nusance they Humbley
hope that the County of Middlesex is not answerable for any of the bad conseqers
of its Construction or Situation in as much as the City and not the County have,
made it what it is

That fo: the several Reasons above mentioned as also for divers others
of Singular wright and Importance which your Petitions have to Offer they do
deny that the said Gaol ought to be rebuilt at the Expence of the City of London and
County of Middx in any Proportion whatsoever on the Contrary they say and
Doubt not by the aid of this Honorable House to prove that the City ought of
right and according to the Known Principles of Law reason and natural,
Justice are bound at their sole Expence to rebuild and repair the said Gaol
whenever the same shall be necessary Wherefore your Petitioners most
humbly pray this Honorable House that they may be heard by themselves
or their Count against the matters Contained in the two Several Petitions
so far as the same may any way tend to Impose a charge on the said
CountyThis