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Wee further Certifie that it appears by the said retorne of the
Constable that of late since yor Lopps order the pavements have
been in most places well repaired and that wee have directed
Warrants to the sev11 Constables to apprehend such as have not
conformed themselves to yor Lopps comands and intend to proceed
against them for their contempts therein.
All wch we humbley leave to yor Lopps further consideracon.
The Pavement from King Street to Charing Crosse is very
ruinous but wee know not who should see it amended.
(Signed) M. ASHTON,
JOHN HOOKER,
PETER HEYWOOD.
A representation was made to the Vestry on Sunday, 1st
February, 174-6, "that the highway leading from the Horseferry
to the hither end of James Street is so bad and out of
repair that several parts are quite impassible." The Commissioners
of Turnpikes were requested to undertake the
necessary work for £50, but the proposal being declined,
the Vestry resolved to expend that sum on repairing the
road " from Market Street to Mr. Hutchins' Farm House."
Although the authorities—High Constable, Commissioners,
Scavengers, Surveyors of Highways, Vestry,
Trustees, and others—having jurisdiction over the streets
had increased in number at this time, the goal of perfection
was yet far from being reached. An Act of Parliament
"for the better relief and employment of the poor in the
parishes of St. Margaret and St. John the Evangelist, in the
City of Westminster, and for cleansing the streets and
repairing the highways within the said parishes" was
passed in 1752, 25 Geo. II., Cap. 23.
The original intention of the Vestry, when they appointed
a Committee to draw up a Petition to Parliament for the introduction
of the Bill, was to annex the Highways and
Scavengers' Rate to the Poor Rate. The project was
successful, the Bill being taken charge of by Sir R. Lloyd.
The scheme was before the Vestry on 5th December, 1751,
22nd January, 1752, and 28th February, 1752, when a resolution
was passed requesting the Churchwardens to pay the
fees of the House and all other expenses incidental to the