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perpetual source of anxiety and trouble to the authorities.
The removal of obstructions, &c., also engaged the attention
of the Commissioners, and several valuable local improvements
in the widening of streets were carried out under their
auspices (d). In this connection I may refer to an entry on
the minutes of the Clink Commission dated 1st April, 1789,
inasmuch as it throws some light upon the nature of the
tenure of Pond Yard, the right of way through which has for
a long time past been a subject of discussion, and shows that
at that time tho site was private property held of the Crown.
The Commissioners, it appears, contemplated making a new
street from Bankside through Pond Yard, but were unable to
do so owing to the excessive price demanded for some of the
properties. Tho entry to which I refer is the report of a
committee appointed to enquire into the matter, and I give it
in extenso:—
"The Committee appointed 13th August. 1788, for the purpose of
"You are not to wear your Watch Coat when off duty, under the
penalty of Six Pence.
"You are to have a clean Shirt, be clean shaved and have clean Hands
and Face* ever}' Sunday Night, under the Penalty of Six Pence.—All these
Penalties to be deducted out of your Wages.
"No Watchman to go out of his Beat, unless to assist some Person iu
Distress, or to Apprehend some Offender.
"Any Watchman wanting Assistance must use his Rattle, and every
Watchman who hears it must hasten to his Assistance.
"All Public Houses making a Custom of being open or having Company
or Lights after Twelve o'Clock must bo reported to the Beadle, who is to
minute the time in his Journal.
"No Person with a Horse or Cart, or without, carrying any Load or
Burthen, after Twelve o'Clock, must be suffered to pass without Examination;
and if the Articles are suspected to be Stolen or carrying off clandestinely,
the Party and Goods must be conveyed by and from one Watchman to
another in the shortest way to the Beadle at the Watchhouse; and, if he
thinks proper, must be detained until the Direction of a Magistrate can be
obtained.
"Any Watchman misbehaving himself or neglecting his Duty will be
liable to the Penalty of Ten Shillings or be discharged from his office.
(d.) Exempli gratia, Maid Lane (afterwards New Park Street, now Park
Street), Thames Street (now Emerson Street) and other place in the Clink
were widened at considerable expense. Upper Ground Street, in the Parish
of Christchurch, was also widened and improved, but this was done by Commisioners
specially appointed under the Act 31, Geo. III, known as the
Upper Ground Street Act.
*Italics mine. Let us hope that their ablutions were not limited to Sundays.