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given to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster for their communication
of an intention to apply to Parliament for obtaining
an Act to Erect a Penitentiary House in Tothil Fields. And
that they be requested further to favor the Vestry as soon as the
Plan shall be sufficiently ripened with the nature and extent
thereof. And the satisfaction intended to be proposed to the
Parishes in lieu of their Rights thereon the Parishes will
naturally reflect and confer with the Dean and Chapter without
any delay.
Thursday, 14 Feb., 1799. The Vestry then proceeded to take into
Consideration the proposed application to Parliament for Erecting
a Penitentiary House in Tothill Fields.
Resolved—That the Erection of a Penitentiary House in Tothill
Fields will be highly injurious to the Rights Privileges and
Interests of the Inhabitants of the United Parishes of Saint
Margaret and Saint John the Evangelist.
Resolved—That this Vestry on behalf of the said Parishioners will
on any Petition or other application being presented or made
to Parliament for that purpose, take such measures as may
appear to them proper in opposition thereto.
Resolved—That a Copy of these Resolutions be transmitted by the
Vestry Clerk to Jeremiah Bentham Esquire.
Suppression
of
Drunkenness.
By an Act of Parliament passed in 1 James I.,
cap. 9 (1603) and by other statutes subsequently
passed in the same reign, duties were imposed
upon the Churchwardens, of which the Vestry took cognisance
by directing, from time to time, that the "Churchwardens
go abroade on Sabbath Dayes according to the
antient usuage, and visite the public Tiplinge houses and
keepe good Orders in ye parish." For neglect of this duty
the Churchwardens were liable to a penalty of forty shillings.
Space forbids more than the recital of the preamble
of the first of the above-named Acts.
"Whereas the ancient true and principall use of Innes Alehouses and
Victuallinge Houses, was for the Receipte Reliefe and Lodginge
of wayfaring people travellinge from place to place and for such
Supplie of the wants of such people as are not able by greater
quantities to make their provision of Victuals and not meant for
entertainment and harbouringe of lewde and idle-people to spend
and Consume theire money and theire tyme in lewde and drunken
manner."
The second of the statutes referred to above subjected
brewers to a penalty of six shillings and eightpence for