October 1777

County of Middlesex out of which he constantly paid to the Clerk of the
Goal Delivery the Clerks of the peace or other Officers of the respective Courts
aforesaid the Sum of Six Shillings and two pence and to the Keeper or
Goaler of his Majestys Goal of Newgate the Sum of Fourteen Shillings and
Ten pence making in the whole the Sum of One pound and One Shilling for
each Transport that some time after the late Act abovementioned took place
he Contracted with the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for the management
and direction of the Convicts that should be sentenced to hard labour on the
River Thames according to the said Act that on ponesal of the Act he
Observed that the fees which he had heretofore constantly paid to the several
Officers abovementioned for the Orders of Transportation were by the Act now
charged upon the County Treasurer and that therefore he did not mention the
said fees in his proposals to Government nor were they Considered in his last
agreement with the Treasury for the carrying into Execution the purposes of
the said Act that Government under their present Agreement with Mr.
Campbell< no role > must thus Consequently have actually Saved the Sum of One
found One Shilling in the Expence of Each Convictend as the said Sum
of One pound and One Shilling was never before Charged or Chargeable
upon the County Treasurer but was always paid by the Contractor for the
Transportation of Felons It is the Opinion of the Committee that as the
County is already very heavily burthened by the Support of great numbers
of Women and Boys as well as Men Convicts sentenced to Confinement
and Labour in the Houses of Correction belonging to the said County
under the said Act which also have been altered for their reception at a
very great Expence and which burthen by the Continual increase in
daily becoming heavier as well as for the apprehension Support Conveyanced
and punishment of Various other Offenders besides many other Expences
falling upon the County of Middlesex as being from its situation the general
receptible of idle and disorderly people from every other part of the Kings
Dominions a proper petition in the name of his Majestys justices of the peace
for this County founded upon and Stating the foregoing facts be presented to
the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury humbly praying that as
Government have already taken upon themselves the Expences incurred
in the Execution of the abovementioned Act of Parliament so far as
regards this County in respect to the Support Etc. of the Convicts employed
on the Thames they would be pleased to pay the demands made upon the County
Treasurer by the several persons abovementioned the Justices having
approved of and appointed Mr. Campbell Overseer under the said Act
in Compliance with the recommendation of the Ministry in Confidence
that