December 1785

Mr. Chairman also informed the Court That he had seen Messrs.
Boodle and Partington respecting the Ground before the Session House
claimed by Lord Northampton but that he had not been able to come to any
decisive Agreement with them relative thereto but that they had repeatedly
expressed their Wishes to accomodate the County as far as it could be done
without being a general Injury to Lord Northampton 's Property and
Manorial Rights in Clerkenwell

By adjournment same day

The Vagrants
beingbrot. into
prison being in
a dangerous State

Mr Barnfather Stated to the Court that about a Year ago an Order of
Sessions was made desiring all Justices before whom Vagrants were brought
to see that such Vagrants were in a State of health fit to be passed without
endangering Life not with standing which order the Parish officers Continue
to pass them in numbers many of whom are so dangerously Ill and Weak; that
when in Bridewell they frequently dare not remove them agreeable to the pass
but they remain in that goal in the most deplorable Condition of Filth Vermin
and Diseases for Weeks to the great danger of the lives of the other prisoners by
the infection spreading over the Goal That on Saturday the 10th of Novemr.
last a Vagrant was sent into the Prison from Shadwell actually dying and
expired early on the Tuesday Morning his Name was John Edwards< no role > his Body
after Death was fall of Vermin and every disorder That this Evil is become
so general that it is dangerous for any person to attend them and the
Apothecary and nurses have great and unnecessary trouble for which
they have no satisfaction. These Vagrants are often so Ill that they
cannot be passed with safety as directed but lie in the most deplorable
condition in the Gaol Weeks together creating great trouble to the Keepers
and others, Expences to the County and highly infections to the Gaol and all
therein-Mr. Gibbs the Apothecary to New Prison and the House of Correction
being called in Stated to the Court that the said John Edwards< no role > when he came
to the Prison was in the most deplorable Condition being one mass of Vermin
and Disease he also Stated to the Court that the Vagrants in general
which were sent to the said Gaols were in a most weak deplorable & filthy
State and that in Consequence there of many of them were obliged to be
kept there in for a fort night and upwards before it was possible for
them to be removed-Mr. Harwood the Governor of the House of Correction
at Clerkenwell being called in stated to the Court that the said John