<div1 type="SM_GOpage" id="LMSMGO55607GO556070178"> <xptr type="pageFacsimile" doc="LMSMGO556070178"></xptr>
<p n="1004"> <note type="authorial" place="margin">February 1778</note>
produced The Subsequent draught of a Representation to the Lord High<lb></lb>
Chancellor of Great Britain of the misbehaviour of <rs type="persName" id="LMSMGO55607_n1004-1">John Gretton</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_n1004-1" type="given" value="John"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_n1004-1" type="surname" value="Gretton"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_n1004-1" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
<rs type="occupation" id="LMSMGO55607_occ435">Esqr</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_occ435" type="occupation" value="Esqr"></interp>
<lb></lb>
one of the Justices of the Peace of the <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55607_geo937">County of Middlesex</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo937" type="placeName" value="County of Middlesex"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo937" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
and of his<lb></lb>
abuse of his authority in various Instances was by the Chairman laid<lb></lb>
before the Court and the same being read as follows Vizt</p>
<p n="1005">To the Right Honourable Henry Earl Bathurst Lord<lb></lb>
High Chancellor of Great Britain</p>
<p n="1006">The Representation of his Majesty's <rs type="occupation" id="LMSMGO55607_occ436">Justices<lb></lb>
of the Peace</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_occ436" type="occupation" value="Justicesof the Peace"></interp>
for the <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55607_geo938">County of Middlesex</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo938" type="placeName" value="County of Middlesex"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo938" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
assembles<lb></lb>
in their General Session holden by adjournment<lb></lb>
at the <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55607_geo939">Guildhall</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo939" type="placeName" value="Guildhall"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo939" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
in <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55607_geo940">King Street Westminster</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo940" type="placeName" value="King Street Westminster"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_geo940" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
on<lb></lb>
Friday the 13th day of March 1778</p>
<p n="1007">Sheweth</p>
<p n="1008">That the said Justices having received sundry Complaints<lb></lb>
and having also been themselves witnesses of sundry Instances of<lb></lb>
Oppression illegal practice and other misbehaviour in certain of the acting<lb></lb>
Magistrates keeping Public Offices in these parts of the County that are<lb></lb>
adjacent to London and therefore the most populous, and it appearing to them<lb></lb>
that the said Magistrates with the assistance of their Clerks and a number of<lb></lb>
infamous persons called Runners by harrassing the Dwellers in this County<lb></lb>
with vexatious Imformations and terrifying them with Prosecutions for<lb></lb>
the Breach of and Disobedience to Statutes that never were enacted and<lb></lb>
Laws that do not exist and by various other Arts and Practices equally<lb></lb>
venal and corrupt had a considerable time past been raising a Revenue<lb></lb>
to themselves to the great Disgrace of Justice and the oppression of the Subject<lb></lb>
The said Justices did by an Order made in their General Session of the Peace<lb></lb>
holden by adjournment on Thursday the fourth day of December last<lb></lb>
refer it to a committee of their own Body to enquire into and examine<lb></lb>
the said Complaints and the evidence on which the same were grounded</p>
<p n="1009">That by the Report of the said Committee It appears that said<lb></lb>
Committee did accordingly take upon themselves the enquires directed<lb></lb>
by the said Order of Referrence and proceeded therein to the examination<lb></lb>
of Witnesses upon Oath and also to the inspection of such papers as were<lb></lb>
from time to time produced to and laid before them and that in the<lb></lb>
Course of the said Enquiry the following Instances of misbehaviour of<lb></lb>
<rs type="persName" id="LMSMGO55607_n1009-1">John Gretton</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_n1009-1" type="given" value="John"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_n1009-1" type="surname" value="Gretton"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55607_n1009-1" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
one of the Magistrates complained of appeared to them</p>
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