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Therefore for the letter executing the said offices it is hereby
covenanted and agreed by and between the said parties that there
shall be Four divisions viz.:
South : the south side of tho Thames under tho Charge of said
Martin Smyth.
East: Moorgate and along the banks of Thames for the three
miles under charge of Francis Hexham.
North: From the Grindmills near Moorgate along the brook east
of Pankridge Church which runneth to Bridewell Dock to three
miles north under charge of Edward Grent.
West: Moorgate and Windmills and wost side of said brook
running to Bridewell to three miles westwards under charge of
Robert Moore.
That there shall be a Central office or place where proper books
shall be kept with a Register and that such office shall be near
Paul's Church, St. John's Hospital, Blackfriars or other convenient
place—each of the aforesaid four persons to have a separate office
if he prefers it.
So serious was the annoyance experienced even as
recently as the reign of George I. that the Vestry were
led by a complaint from the Speaker to revive their
Orders formerly given with a view to diminishing it:—
30th January, 1789. The Churchwardens acquainted the Vestry
that they had reced. a Letter from the Right Honble the
Speaker of the House of Commons of which the following is a
copy.
Directed,
To the Vestry of the Parish of
St. Margaret's, Westminster.
Gentlemen,
Complaint having this day been made to the House of
Commons that great numbers of Idle and disorderly Persons do
daily under pretence of asking Charity infest the Streets and
publick Places of the City and Liberty of Wesmr to the great
Annoyance and Interruption of the Members of the House of
Commons in their passage to and from the said House, and of
other Persons going on their Lawfull Occasions notwithstanding
the great Collections which have been made for the Relief of the
Poor during the Present Severe Season over and above the Provision
of the respective Parishes for that purpose. The House
of Commons have this day ordered me to Send to the Justices
of the peace for the said City and Liberty and to the Vestries of
the respective Parishes there that Directions may be forthwith
given by them to the Bedels, Constables, and other Officers of
the said respective Parishes to put the laws in Execution against
all idle and disorderly Persons who shall be found infesting the