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ashes and other refuse was contracted for by the Commissioners,
who were empowered by Statute of 2 Wm. and
Mary, 1691, cap. 8, to require the inhabitants to sweep the
streets before their respective houses on every Wednesday
and Saturday, and to have the refuse ready for removal by the
raker, on penalty of 3s. 4d. for each neglect. The scavengers
were to cause carts to be brought into all the streets every
day by bell, horn, clapper, or other distinct and loud noise.
Comparatively little can be gathered from the minute
books of the Vestry in relation to this service, owing to the
superintendence having been vested in an independent
Commission. Occasional examples were, however, made
even prior to the power being' vested in the above Commissioners,
of which an instance has been supplied from
the Public Record Office by Mr. T. C. Noble:—
The Petition of Joseph Rea, Deputy
Bailiff of Westminster, 1633.
To the Rt Honble the Lords and others of His
Maties most Honoble Privy Councell.
The humble Peticon of Joseph Rea deputy Bayliffe of the
Libty of Westmr Psonr in ye ffleete.
Humbly Sheweth
That he is comitted by yor honors for his deficiency in his
office in not p'forming his maties Writts and yor Lopps order for
Clensing the Streets. Hee humbly acknowledgeth and sorry
for his remisnes therein yet hee hath made publicque and daylie
proclamacon throughout the whole liberty and often caused the
same to be made cleane since the receipt of his Maties Writt and of
yor honord Order and two Men thereto appointed bringing in the
names of offenders above Sixty have beene since att the towne
Courtt for the Citty of Westmr Punisht by fine to the Poore and
Informer.
Most humbly beseecheth yor honors to vouchsafe him
libty and he shall dutifully execute his Ma1'"
Writts and yor honors Orders as he hopeth his
diligence therein will be immediately and
continually manifested to yor honors
And yor Petr as in duty bound humbly Pray for yor honors
JOSEPH REA.
Neither the local justices nor the Vestry were satisfied
with the state of affairs under the Commissioners, for the