To the Worshipfull the Justices for the County of Middlesex
Assembled at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held
in and for the said County at Hicks's Hall in Saint
John Street

The Humble Petition of the Several Journeymen Taylors whose
Names are hereunto Subscribed on behalf of themselves and the rest of the
Journeymen Taylors within those Parts of the Weekly Bills of Mortality
which are within the said County of Middlesex .

Sheweth

That by an Order made at the General Quarter Session of the Peace held at Hicks's Hall
aforesaid in and for the said County of Middlesex by Adjournment on Thursday the Nineteenth
day of January last past This Honble Court in pursuance of the Power vested in them by the
Statute in that behalf made and Provide Did (amongst other things) Order and appoint That
from that Time untill the Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary in the Present Year
and now last past and from the Feast of Saint Michael untill the Feast of the Annunciation of
the blessed Virgin Mary next following in each and every Year the Hours of Work for all
Journeymen Taylors Servants and Apprentices to Taylors and other Persons employed or to
be employed or retained as Taylors in the making up Mens or Womens Work within the
Limits aforesaid should be from Six of the Clock in the Morning untill Seven of the Clock in the
Evening (except only that there should be Allowed them by the Master One Hour for Dinner in
the Time aforesaid) And that from and after the said Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed
Virgin Mary untill the Feast of Saint Michael for all Time to come the Hours of Work of such Journeymen Servants
And [..] renties and other Persons employed or to be employed as aforesd. within the said Limits should be [..]
Six of the Clock in the Morning untill eight of the Clock in the Evening (Except the Dinner Hour before excepted [..]

That in obedience to the said Order Your Petitioners have Duly conformed themselves to the Terms thereby Stip [..]
and are content with the Wages thereby Settled and do with all thankfulness Acknowledge the Many Favours they have
received from this Honble Court But your Petitioners most humbly beg leave to represent to your Worships That their
Sedentary Course of Life and constant Attention to their Business for such a length of Time as from Six o'Clock in the
Morning till Eight o'Clock at Night greatly impair their Heath and Constitution Prejudice their Sight and Facultys
and unavoidably cause a neglect of their Domestic Concerns to the great hurt of their Familys.

That the Master Taylors having considered the Complaints made by your Petitioners and being convinced of the
Truth thereof are willing and desirous if it shall Appear Meet to this Honble Court that the Hours of work for your
Petitioners and the other Journeymen Servants and Apprentices in the same Business may be limitted for the
future from Six o'Clock in the Morning till Seven o'Clock at Night (allowing the Dinner Hour) all the
Year round.

That in Regard your Petitioner are content with the Wages now Settled and are most earnestly
desirous and do hereby determine and engage to conform themselves to all such Regulation as shall be
made by this Honble Court and in regard of the great Hardships they sustain by Working till Eight o'Clock
in the Evening.

Your Petitioners therefore most humbly Pray your Worships to take the
Premisses into your Consideration And that you will be Pleased to Vary and Alter
so much of the said Orders as relates to the Hours of Work of your Petitioners and
such Journeymen Servants and Apprentices in the Summer Season as aforesaid
and to Order and Appoint that from henceforth for the time to come the Hours of work
for your Petitioners and all Journeymen Taylors Servants and Apprentices to Taylors
and other Persons employed or to be employed or retained as Taylors in the
Making up the Apparel and Cloaths of Men and Women within the Limitts
aforesaid shall be from Six o'Clcok in the Morning untill Seven o'Clcok in the
Evening all the Year round (except only that there shall be allowed them by
the Master one Hour for Dinner in the Time aforesaid).

And your Petitioners shall ever Pray Etc.