December 1784

The Magistrates of this County hoping that the Number of
Irish Vagrants sent to Park gate would have been soon reduced without
the necessity of troubling Gentlemen in the other Counties upon the Subject
have hither to prevailed upon the Masters of the vessels sailing from
Park gate to Carry over much above the Number of Vagrants which they
were obliged to take in proportion to their Tonnage and have paid for
the freight and Victualing of such additional Vagrants out of the public
Stock of this County so that during the year ending at Michaelmas last
we have sent over 1325 which is 1169 above the proportion the Masters of
the Vessels were obliged to take according to the Act of Parliament before
referred to and the expence during the period above mentioned of
passing Vagrants thro' this County and maintaining Vagrants at
Park gate till they can be Shipt and paying for freight and provisions
for them on their passage has cost this County £1969..8s..2d and by
far the greatest proportion of that expence was incurred during the
last three quarters of the year, the expence during the first quarter
being only £251..10..1d.

The Masters of the Vessels sailing from Parkgate to Dublin
having objected to the carrying over above the Number they are obliged
to receive under the terms of the Act of Parliament. It will be impossible
for the Magistrates of this County to get the Vagrants Shipt from hence
and they have therefore directed me to represent the foregoing facts to
you and also to inform you that the opportunities of sending Irish
Vagrants from Liverpool to every part of Ireland are very frequent
as one on more Vessels Sail from that port for Ireland almost every day
Wind and Weather permitting And there are 3 packets each of them
of about 80 Tons burthen which Sail Statedly every Week for Dublin
besides other Vessels which are continually sailing from Liverpool to
the North of Ireland and to Waterford and other parts and if the
Vagrants which are apprehended in London or Middlesex were sent
by the most direct Road to Liverpool their Journey by Land to that port
would it is apprehended be shorter than the Route they at present take
And by the Act before referred to they are directed to be sent by the most
direct road to the port from whence they may be Shipt contrary to