January 1779

In 1732 the Court of Alderman made the following order Vizt.

Martis 3rd die Octobr. 1732 Annog RRo: Georgy
Sedi Magne Brittania Etc. Sexto

Child Mayor

"This Court taking Notice of the very great hardships attending poor
"prisoners who are comitted to the Goal of Newgate charged with several
"Crimes That after such poor prisoners are tryed at the Sessions House in
"the Old Bailey and are acquitted by the Jury yet they are frequently after
"such Acquittal detained in Custody for no other Cause than for nor
"payment of fees to their great injury and Oppression and this Court being
"Resolved as much as in them lies to relieve such poor unhappy people
"in that respect doth now order and direct that That as well all such poor
"unhappy Prisoners as have been tried and acquitted at the said Sessions
"at the Old Bailey as those who at any time hereafter shall be tryed and
"acquitted by the Jury shall not be detained by the Keeper of the said Goal
"for or on Account of fees only but shall immediately upon such Acquittal
"be discharged without paying any fees for or in respect thereof unless it
"shall be otherwise ordered by the Court and it is further agreed and ordered
"by this Court that if the Keeper of the said Goal for the time being shall presume
"to detain any prisoner who has been or shall be acquitted as aforesaid for
or on Account of non payment of fees only he shall be deemed Guilty of a
"Misbehaviour and prosecuted for the same with them most Severity of Law
"And it is further Ordered that Copies of this Order be made and hung
"up in the said Goal of Newgate and at the Sessions house in the old
"Bailey and be for the future duly observed". this order has never been
repealed by any other order of the same Court unless the delivery of the
lable of fees to Mr. Akerman with his appointment can be construcd as [..]
(which fees are the usual Established fees taken by the Keeper previous to the
Year 1732) and has been Complied with by the Keepers even to the present
time but upon Search it is found that this order is not now hung up either
in the Goal of Newgate or' at the Court at the old Bailey the Court of Alderman
have however since its date appointed several Committees to inquire into the
profits of the Keeper Etc and in the Year 1744 upon such a Reference the
following Report and Order thereupon were made Vizt.

This day the Committee appointed to Consider what
shall be allowed the Keeper of Newgate for Executing the said office
delivered into this Court a Report in Writing under their hands which
was read in these Words

To