Windsor Castle 8. Octr. 1728
Letter from the Lord
Viscount Townshend
Principall Secretary
of State against
Street Robberys Etc
Sir
His Majesty< no role >
being very much concerned at the frequent
Robberys of late Committed in the Streets of London,
Westminster
and Parts adjacent, and being informed
that they are greatly to be imputed to the Unlawfull
Return of Felons Convict, who have been transported
to
his Majesty< no role >
's Plantations has been graciously
pleased, for the better Discovering and Apprehending
of Such Felons, to give Orders to the Lords Commissioners
of
his Majesty< no role >
's Treasury, to cause to be paid to
any Person or Persons, who before the First day of
March next shall Discover any of them, So as
they may be apprehended and brought to Justice,
a Reward of Forty Pounds for each Felon
Convict returned, or that Shall return from
Transportation before the Expiration of the
Term for which he or She was Transported, who
Shall by the means of Such Discovery be brought
to Condign Punishment
And it having been further Represented to his
Majesty, that Such Felons and other Robbers and their
Accomplices are greatly Encouraged and Harboured
by Persons who make it their Business to keep
Night. Houses, which are resorted to by great Numbers
of Loose and Disorderly People, and that the Gaming
Houses, and also the Shops where Geneva and other
Spirits and Strong Lignors are Drunk to excess,
much contribute to the Corruption of the Morals of those
of an inferior Rank, and to the leading them into
these Wicked Courses, his Majesty< no role >
has commanded me