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 Joseph Bird< no role > of
the Hamlet of Ratcliff in the County of Middlesex
Esquire

Sheweth

That your Petitioner was on the 23d Day of June
1797 not only rated or assessed for his Dwelling House situate at Cock
Hill in the said Hamlet of Ratcliff but also for his Sail Loft Warehouse
and wharf situate and lying behind his said Dwelling House by the
Commissioners acting in and under a certain Act of Parliament
passed in the 11th. Year of his present Majesty Intituted "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 Cross Butcher Row and Brook Street And
"the several Streets Lanes and Passages opening into the same and for
"removing all Obstructions and Annoyances there from 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 Sail Lost Warehouse and
Wharf situate behind his said Dwelling House 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 which exempts your Petitioner from any Rate or Assessment
whatsoever for the said last mentioned Premises

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