January 1795

We whose Names are hereunder written the Church
Warden Overseers of the poor and other Inhabitants of the
Hamlet of Ratcliffe in the Parish of Saint Dunstan Stepney &
County of Middlesex beg leave to represent to you that by an
Inspection of the Poor Rate Books of the abovementioned Hamlet
it appears that nearly one half of the Dwelling Houses and other
Buildings hitherto assessed to the said Rate have been destroyed.
by the dreadful Fire which happened in July last and that the
Houses so destroyed were Inhabited by Persons who formed the
Principal trading part of the Hamlet - Permit us to add
that a similar Calamity occurred on Friday last in the said
Hamlet which tho' but trifling in its consequences to that alluded
to above will under our present situation be an additional
burthen We beg leave also to observe that the greater number of
the remaining Inhabitants are of a description not able to bear the
least possible increase of the Taxes already imposed upon them
Yet in consequence of the first calamity the number of those who
require Parochial assistance has been greatly augmented the
present Winter, and We have every reason to belive that We
shall still have a much greater influx of poor: The certain
consequence will be that great numbers of Persons at present
resident within the Hamlet. (who have no immediate connection
with the Trade thereof) will withdraw themselves and remove to
places less burthened: and thus as the Rates increase will the
means and ability of paying them decrease: - Permit Us
lastly to add, that We cannot help thinking but that the
Tradesmen who are at Present left may be justly included
among the Sufferers by the late Fire: We take the liberty of
submitting to your humane consideration this brief Account of the
present and future probable state of the Hamlet unless some
relief be extended to it, under the flattering impression that.