To the Worshipful His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex
in General Quarter Session of the Peace at the Session House on Clerkenwell Green
in the said County assembled

The humble Petition and Appeal of Francis Whetstone
of the Hamlet of Ratcliff in the County of Middlesex Block
Maker

Sheweth

That your Petitioner was on the 23d. Day of June 1797
rated or assessed for a Dwelling House and other Premises situate in a
Yard or Court called the Ship Yard in the said Hamlet of Ratcliff in the
said County of Middlesex by the Commissioners acting in and under a
Certain Act of Parliament passed in the 11th. Year of his present Majesty
Intituled "an Act for paving and regulating Rosemary Lane from the Parish
"of Saint Botolph Aldgate to Cable Street also the said Cable Street the foot Path
"in Back Lane Part of the Precinct of Well Close the Street leading from
"Nightingale Lane to Ratcliff Crops Butcher Row and Brook Street And the
"several Streets Lanes and Passages opening into the same and for
"removing all Obstructions and Annoyances therefrom and preventing
"the like for the future"

That your Petitioner humbly conceives that he is not
liable to be rated or assessed for the said Premises the same not being
situate within any of the Places particularly specified in the said Act
and which have been paved by virtue of or in pursuance thereof but
on the Contrary the said Yard or Court wherein the said Dwelling House
and Premises are situate has not been new paved under any Provision
of the said Act but remains as it were previous to passing the said
Act which exempts your Petitioner from any Rate or Assessment
whatsoever

Your Petitioner therefore humbly appeals to this
Court against the Assessment of the said Commissioners
and prays that your Worships will be pleased to
appoint a Day to hear and determine the said Appeal

And Your Petitioner will ever pray Etc