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London Lives 1690 to 1800
Crime, Poverty and Social Policy in the Metropolis
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Southwark
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and your Committee apprehend it would be of Service to the publick to
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ask such Concurrence your Committee being also convinced that most of the Beggars in
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the Kingdom do at times resort to this Metropolis being led by various Motives, some
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through Curiosity others by hope of Gain, and that they are well acquainted that upon
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being apprehended they will be provided for is their return home by a Pass without
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Punishment, are of Opinion that the Resolutions this Court may come to is this respect
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should not only be affixed up is proper Places about the several Parishes in this Town
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and published in the Daily Papers but also that those Resolutions should be affixed
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up in the Towns and Villiages in this County near the several Road leading to
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London and publishes in such Evening Papers as may best circulate the knowledge
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of such Resolutions throughout the Kingdom whereby Vagabonds in the distant
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Countgs being informed that certain Punishment and no Gain will attend their
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Peregrination they may be deterred from the base attempt of coming here.
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But your Committee apprehend that how Judicious soever the Construction of any
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Plan to exterminate this almost inveterate Evil may be, and however desirous and
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vigilant the Magistrates may likewise be in their several Districts to carry
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the Orders and Resolution of this Court into Execution, it is certain that without
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an active discharge of Duty in the Subordinate Officers their utmost Efforts will
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be defeated, they therefore recommend that in the printed Resolutions the
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Constables and other Peace Officers may be strictly charged to do their Duty is this
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respect by the promise of Protection and Reward for the faithfull and active
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discharge of it and censure and Punishment upon their neglect, and as
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the common
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People have not a proper Idea of the Offence of begging and have in many
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instances by their Obstruction rendered it very dangerous for the Peace Officers
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to whip Stardy Beggars your Committee recommend the printing is their Resolutions
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that Clause of the Vagrant Act which inflicts the Penalty of five pounds upon
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any Person hindering the Execution of the said Act and also to enjoin all
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Persons being thereunto required in his Majesty's Name to aid and assist the Peace
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Officers in the discharge of their Duty in apprehending and executing lawfull
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punishment upon such Vagrants and that the Churchwardens Overseers of the
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Poor and the Parish Officers be also required to search for in their respective
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Parishes and Divisions and return to the several Magistrates proper Informations
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of the Name and Place of Abode of such Persons who shall for the future
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presume to lodge and harbour Beggars and Vagrants in their Houses or Out
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Buildings of any kind in order that the Penalty prescribed by the said statute
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may be levied upon such Offenders.
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And your Committed are of Opinion that the indiscriminate passing of every
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Vagrant Beggar brings more charge upon the County than is necessary and as
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the Law leaves a discretionary Power to pass or not pass such Vagrants, after
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inflicting the Punishment your Committee think that the severe whipping of Sturdy
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Beggars would be sufficient to drive them out of this County without the Expence
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of a Pass, and it only Object of real Distress were passed and that from
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Bridewell
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it would produce a considerable Saving, and as the neglect of returning the
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