To the Right Worshipful His Majesties Justices of the
Peace for the County of Middlesex in their present
General Quarter Sessions of the Peace Assembled

The humble Petition of Joshua Walker< no role > Keeper of
New Prison at Clerkenwell in the said County

Sheweth

That your Petr: on Saturday last was served with an
Order of this Honble Court for the payment of £20. due at Lady day 1727 as
Keeper of the said Prison on Accot: of repairing the same and also the like
sume of £20. due at Ladyday 1728 . upon the like Accot: to Barwell Smith< no role >
Esqr : on or before the first day of this present General Quarter Sessions of
the Peace.

That your Petr: on his first Entrance on his said Office
had the Keeping of such prisoners as were Comitted to his Custody for
Felony or suspition of Felony (unless Indicted) so that Your Petr: did
then receive their Fees But by an Order of Court since made at the Old
Baily London Your Petr: hath been obliged to deliver such Prisoners to-
gether with the Copies of thir Comitments to the Keeper of Newgate six
days at least before every Sessions whereby Your Petr: intirely loses their
Fees to his great detriment and is at the Trouble & Charge of keeping &
maintaining most of them besides the Care & Trouble of conveying them
to Newgate

That Your Petr: hath for near two Years past had but
few other kind of Prisoners comitted & brought to his Custody & most of them
poor indigent persons whose Fees he not only loses but must maintain them
(and often times smal Children brought with them) during their Confinement
In somuch that Your Petr: doth not receive by the profitts arriseing or accrew-
ing to him by vertue of his said Office so much as pays the necessary charge
of House keeping maintaining servants & the poor Prisoners, paying for
the Water & smal repairs finding comon necessaries, carrying the Dirt away
and other incident Charges belonging to the said prison (the Truth whereof
Your Petr: is ready to Testifye upon Oath if required) All which renders Your Petr:
uncapable of paying the Yearly Sumes of £20. & £10. charged on Your Petr: on
his first Entrance of the said Office.

Therefore Your Petr: most humbly prays Your Worships will
be pleased to take the premisses into Your Considerations &
grant him such relief as to Your Worships in your great
Goodness & Clemency shal seem meet.

And Your Petr: shall ever Pray &
Joshua: Walker< no role > .