Jump to Content
Jump to Main Navigation
Jump to Section Navigation
Sign in
Register
London Lives 1690 to 1800
Crime, Poverty and Social Policy in the Metropolis
Main Navigation
Home
Search
Browse
Lives
Historical Background
The Project
London Lives Book
<
div1
type
=
"SM_GOpage"
id
=
"LMSMGO55603GO556030214"
>
<
xptr
type
=
"pageFacsimile"
doc
=
"LMSMGO556030214"
>
</
xptr
>
<
p
n
=
"773"
>
to the Sessions as the Law directs
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"774"
>
5th. Another Cause of this great Expence has arisen from a wrong Use made of
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Vagrant Passes by the Officers in some parishes who to save the great Expence
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
of Settlement Passes or the Maintenance of casual Poor not belonging to them
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
and whose Settlements were at a great Distance have passed such Poor as
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Rogues and Vagabonds although no Act of Vagrancy had been committed
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
and more especially the
<
rs
type
=
"placeName"
id
=
"LMSMGO55603_geo1190"
>
Scotch
</
rs
>
<
interp
inst
=
"LMSMGO55603_geo1190"
type
=
"placeName"
value
=
"Scotch"
>
</
interp
>
<
interp
inst
=
"LMSMGO55603_geo1190"
type
=
"type"
value
=
"undefined"
>
</
interp
>
and Irish Vagabonds.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"775"
>
6th. Your Committee are also of Opinion that the putting the Vagrant Act into
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Execution in particular Parishes and Places (howsoever landable the Intention of
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
the Magistrates may be) brings a large Expence upon the County without producing
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
the designed Effect to the publick for as the Design of putting the said Act in this
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
manner into Execution relates only to one Species of Vagabonds namely Beggars
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
these of them who are were the Objects of Compassion than Punishment feel the
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Lash of the Law while the artificial Objects of Distress who have reduced Begging
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
into a Trade well know how far the Whip of Justice extends and carefully avoid
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
coming within its reach And this is a strong reason for the general Inforcement
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
of the Law through the County
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"776"
>
Another Cause of the Grievance complained of arises from the ready harbour
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Beggars find in the Outskirts of the Town from the Keepers of Houses who
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
left them out to Vagrants at Two pence a Night though by the Statute before
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
mentioned Chap: 5. sec. 22 "If any Person knowingly permit any Rogue or
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
"Vagabond or incorrigible Rogue to lodge or take shelter in his House Barn
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
"or other Outhouse or Building and shall not apprehend and carry him
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
"before a Justice or give Notice to the Constable so to do such Person shall
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
"forfeit upon Conviction not exceeding Forty Shillings nor less than Ten Shillings"
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
And though these kind of Houses are notoriously known to every Officer in the
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Parish where they exist yet for want of such Officers doing their Duty by giving
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
the necessary Information to the Magistrates this excellent Clause of the Law
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
(which if well executed would is a great Measure remove the Nusance) remains
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
a dead Letter:
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"777"
>
Your Committee are of Opinion that the following Regulations with others that
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
may be Suggested by the Wisdom of the Court being put into Execution with
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Spirit and Vigour will restore the Vagrant Act to its activity and by rendering
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
it an Object of Terror to the Idle our Streets may be cleared in a little time of
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
the Swarms of real and counterfeit Wretches which are a Burthen to the Minds as
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
well as the Purses of worthy People: and such Objects being confined to their
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
proper Settlements the real ones will be decently provided for, the lagy Impostors
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
receive proper Correction and this and the neighbouring Counties will be relieved
</
p
>
</
div1
>
View as Text
Section Navigation
Home
Search
Browse Documents
Lives
Historical Background
About This Project
Copyright & Citation Guide
Contact Us