Sessions Home Old Baily
18. Sept. 1781.

Sir

Your Letter to us, in answer to ours of this date, we have
this instant had the honour to receive, and having maturely
Considered the same, we beg Case to remark to you, that the
New Prison , and Bridewell , Clerkenwell , tho in our County, are
not under our Controul, but that of the Justices of Peace for the
County, by whom the Keepers and their Apertants are appointed,
and we conceive it is the Duty of the Justices of the Peace , not
only under the presents Circumstance of the temporary absence of
the Soldiers during the ensuring Election, but also under every
other Circumstance that may arise, to take such steps as to
them shall seem necessary to secure the said Prisons.

We shall therefore rely, on their immediately adopting the
mors effectual means, for the public safety, in this instance,
the necessity of which they are certainly fully apprised of, as
you acquaint us, that it is the opinion of the Justices, that the
persons employed as Assistants to the Keepers, to take care of the
said Prisons, will not be sufficient to guard them, and to prevent a
General escape, were it to be attempted, during the absence of the
Soldiers more doing duly upon them.

We are

Sir
Your most obedient and
most humble Servants

Tho Sainsbury< no role >
Wm. Crichton< no role > }
Sheriffs of
London &
Middlesex

William Mainwaring< no role > Esqr .