S.P.
AD 1772
-3

To the Right, Honble James Townsend< no role > Esqr . Lord Mayor
of the City of London , John Glyn< no role > Esqr . Recorder and
Others This Majestys Justices now Assembled at the
Guildhall in and for the said City for the Purpose of
Setling and Regulating the Wages of Journeymen Weaver
Employ'd in the Narrow Branch's of the Silk Manufactory

The Humble Pettition of the
Journeymen Employ'd in the above
Branches the Engine Branch
Excluded

Sheweth,

That your Lordships poor Pettitioners
Did serve a regular Apprenticeship to the said Branches by which
formily they did and had it in their power to maintain themselves
and family's in a decent Manner, But unfortunately for them
the Master has prevented that, by reducing from time to time for
some Years Back the prices of our Labour which has been very
Predjudicial to us as Likewise to the Trade in General

And this Honble Court well Know
that the King and Parliament has taken our case into their wise
and Tender Consideration by passing an Act Impowering your
Lordship and this Honable Court to Regulate and settle the same
and Takeing Notice of an Advertisement in the Daily Paper
appointing this day for that purpose we have Agreeable thereto now
assembled in order to be heard concerning the said Prices which we
have hare unto annixd for Realy my Lord our Case has been for
some Years very Pettions and we Humbly hope the Court will be
of the same Oppinion for what is now before you cannot Injure the
Masters and will Contmt your poor Pettitioners

Your Lordships poor Pettioners most
Humbly Prays that our Case may be Maturily and Tenderly considered by
this Honble Court and to Redress those Greviances ourselves and
family's have Labourd under for Many years by the Appression of
the Masters for this Honble City allways was Ready to Redress
the Greviances of the poor Labouring man as for as Justice
would direct without paying any regard to any Body of persons
and we Humbly hope our Greviance will be redriss'd accordingly

And Your Lordships Pettitioners as well as their Distress'd family
will [..] be in Duty Bound all says to pray Etc