1764.

Octor: 18th :

Bailey as proper and it being given out that the Expence of Rebuilding
Newgate would amount to Sixty thousand pounds the Justices for Middx
Assembled in the February Session considering themselves as the Guardians of the
County rate the only fund of present applicable to the repair of Gaols thought it
necessary by a Publick advertisement to convene their Bretheren in order to form
a resolution in a matter of so great Importance and an Advertisemt for that
Purpose was published but before the day of Meeting a Petition of the Mayer
Alderman and Commons of the City of London was presented to the House
the Eighth of March in Substance much the same as the former with the
addition That the Gaol ought to be rebuilt at the Expence of the City and County
"and that the Petitioners were ready to do every thing on their part that could
"be equitably expected of them." And this Petition as also the former was referr'd
to a committee of which Mr Alderman Harley was appointed Chairman

A great number of Justices from all parts of the County Attended this
meeting and the matter having been opened to them and the unreasonableness
of the Citys demand on the County clearly shewn as also that is their Petition
should be granted the County besides contributing two thirds of the mony
required to rebuild the Gaol would be chargeable the Perpetual repair of it. It was
unanimously resolved to oppose the Petition so far as it rended to lay a Charge on the
County.

Previous to this Care had been taken by a very diligent Research into the
History of the City Walls and Gates an Inspection of Sundry Ancient Records in the
Tower the Several Charters granted from time to time to the City the Inscription on the
East and west sides of Newgate and other Matters of Antiquity to collect Materials
for and Evidence in Support of a Counter Petition and a Petition was accordingly
Ingrossed and produced at this meeting in the form following

To the Honorable the Commons of Great Britain
in Parliament Assembled

The humble Petition of his Majestys Justices of the,
Peace for the County of Middlesex in Session Assembled in,
Behalf of themselves and the rest of the Inhabitants of the
said County

Sheweth, That [..] Petitioners observe by the Notes of this Honorable House,
that a Petition of several Inhabitants of London residing near the Gaol
of