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jointly, of which numerous instances are recorded in the
minutes.
The proceedings of the Vestry upon the proposed establishment
of a penitentiary in the parish are thus recorded:—
Wednesday, the 9th November, 1796. Mr. Drake, Vestry Clerk of
St. Margaret's acquainted these Vestries, that yesterday at the
request of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, he waited on
them, and that His Lordship the Dean, with several Prebendaries
present, signified that a communication had been made to them
by Mr. Bentham of Queen Square Place, Westminster, that an
Application was intended to be made to Parliament this Sessions,
and before Christmas next, for a Power to Erect and Build a
Penitentiary House in Tothil Fields. That the Ground on which
the same was to be Built was for that purpose proposed to be
alienated that a certain Allotment of Ground in the said Fields
(as should be agreed upon) was to remain with the Dean and
Chapter for the use of and Recreation of the King's Scholars of
Westminster, as had been from antient Custom, and that an
allotment of Ground or other compensation should be made to the
Parties interested for the Old Buildings in the said Fields commonly
called the Five Chimnies, Originally Built by the Parish
of St. Margaret Westminster. That His Lordship the Dean and
Prebendaries Present further signified that the said Application
would most probably meet with their Concurrence so far as their
Rights and Interests therein extended, but that as the Parishes
of St. Margaret and St. John the Evangelist Westminster, in
which Tothil Fields is situated have certain Rights and Interests
in the said Fields in respect to the Commoning and Herbage
thereof, they were desirous that communication might be made
to the Vestries of the said Parishes for their consideration of the
intended Application, so far as it may affect the said Parishes, at
the same time observing that in case of the acquiesence in stipulating
for proper Terms and not resisting the Application an
opportunity might offer for having a sufficient and convenient
allotment of Ground Assigned to them for the Building of a Workhouse
for the Poor of the said Parishes if they should be so
disposed.
That they should hold a Chapter on Wednesday the 16th instant on
their own Business, but that if the Vestries in consequence of
this information should wish to see them on this particular
matter they will then be ready to receive them.
Resolved That the Church Wardens of these Parishes be requested
to convene a Joint Meeting of these Vestries on Tuesday next
at Twelve o'Clock at Noon precisely in St. Margaret's Vestry
Room. To take into consideration the said Message.
15 Novr., 1796. Resolved That the Thanks of these Vestries be
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