July 1776
Middlesex

proceedings in respt. to the
commitment of Mr
[..] uncan Campbell
London Merchant
[..] ut Campbell of
[..] with in the County
[..] of Overseers of
convicts to be kept to
[..] Labour on the
[..] Hames under
[..] ct of 16th G:111}

An Act of Parliament lately passed intituled "an Act to authorize for a
limited time the punishment by hard Labour of offenders who for certain
Crimes are or shall become liable to be Transported to any of his
Majestys Colonies or Plantations" being laid before this Court and
the same being read and it appearing that the Justices of the Peace
for the County of Middlesex at their Quarters or other General Sessions
of the Peace are directed by the said Act to appoint an Overseer or
Overseers to take the management and direction of such persons
who under the authority of the said Act shall be punished by being
kept to hard Labour in the raising Sand Soil and Gravel from and
Cleansing the River Thames or any other Service for the benefit of
the Navigation of the said River The Chairman recommended
Mr. Duncan Campbell< no role > of the City of London Merchant as a fit
and proper person to be appointed and overseer under the said
act Mr. Campbell attending was called in and being asked what
he had to propose to the Court he offered himself to the Approbation
of the Justices and solicited to be appointed an overseer under the
said Act and being also asked whether if he were appointed
he should or would look to or expect from the County of Middlesex
any part of the Expence that may attend the Execution of the
office in any respect whatever or should or would make any Claim
hereafter upon the County or Their Treasurer for or in respect of the
same Mr. Campbell said he only looked to the Justices for a
meer appointment and not that they or they County Treasurer
were to defray any part of the Expences attending the Execution
of the office of overseer under the said Act he having contracted
with the Government in respect to the Expences that may attend
the Execution of the office and that if he were appointed he should
not nor would at any time hereafter apply to or Claim of the
Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex or the Treasurer
for the said County any Sum or Sums of Money that might be
paid or Expended by him in the Execution of the said office of overseer
in any Respect whatsoever Whereupon Mr. Campbell< no role > being
desired to withdraw it was moved and Seconded that this Court
do appoint the said Duncan Complete an overseer under the
said Act od Parliament and the same being unanimously agreed
to It is Ordered that Duncan Campbell< no role > of London Merchant
be and he is hereby appointed by virtue of and pursuant to the power
and directions Contained in the Act of Parliament passed in the
Sixteenth Year of the Reign of his present Majesty King George
the Third intituled an Act to authorize for a limited time the
Punishment by hard Labour of offenders who for certain Crimes
are or shall become liable to be Transported to any of his Majesty's
Colonies