"To the Right Honourable the Lord De la Warr, Chairman of the
Session for the City and Liberty of Westminster; or, in his
Lordship's absence, to the Deputy Chairman.
_Windsor Castle, Oct. 8, 1728._
"MY LORD,
"His Majesty, being very much concerned at the frequent
robberies of late committed in the streets of London,
Westminster, and parts adjacent; and being informed, that
they are greatly to be imputed to the unlawful return of
felons convict who have been transported to his Majesty's
Plantations, has been graciously pleased, for the better
discovering and apprehending of such felons, to give orders
to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, to
cause to be paid to any person or persons, who, before the
first day of March next, shall discover any of them, so as
they may be apprehended and brought to justice, a reward of
40_l._ for each felon convict returned, or that shall return
from transportation before the expiration of the term for
which he or she was transported; who shall, by the means of
such discovery, be brought to condign punishment.
"And it having been farther represented to his Majesty,
that such felons and other robbers, and their accomplices,
are greatly encouraged and harboured by persons who make
it their business to keep night-houses, which are resorted
to by great numbers of loose and disorderly people; and
that the gaming-houses, as also the shops where Geneva and
other spirits and strong liquors are drank to excess, much
contribute to the corruption of the morals of those of an
inferior rank, and to the leading them into these wicked
courses: His Majesty has commanded me to recommend it, in
his name, in the strongest manner, to his Majesty's Justices
of the Peace for the City and Liberty of Westminster, to
employ their utmost care and vigilance, in the preventing
and suppressing of these disorders; and that they do, in
their several parishes or other divisions, hold frequent
petty Sessions for this purpose, and call before them the
High Constable, Petty Constables, and other proper officers
under their direction, and give them the strictest orders
and warrants, from time to time, as there shall be occasion,
to search for and apprehend rogues, vagabonds, idle and
disorderly persons, in order to their being examined and
dealt with according to the statutes and laws in that behalf;
and the said Justices are also to proceed according to law,
as well against all persons harbouring such offenders in
their houses, as against those that sell Geneva or other
spirits and strong liquors, who shall suffer tippling in
their houses or shops, contrary to law; and against such
as keep common gaming-houses, or practise or encourage
unlawful gaming. And his Majesty, having very much at heart
the performance of this service, wherein the honour of his
government, the preserving of the peace, and the safety of
his Majesty's subjects are so much concerned, does further
require the said Justices, in their respective Sessions, to
draw up in writing, from time to time, an account of their
proceedings herein, inserting the names of the Justices of
the Peace attending such meetings, and of the Peace-officers
whom they shall employ, taking particular notice of the zeal
and diligence of each of them in the performance of his duty;
which accounts are to be transmitted from the said several
Sessions to one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of
State, to be laid before his Majesty; who, being himself
informed of their behaviour, may bestow marks of his Royal
bounty upon such of the said officers as shall remarkably
distinguish themselves by the faithful and diligent execution
of their office; his Majesty not doubting but the said
Justices, on their part, will take care to punish with
rigour, as by law they may, those who shall appear to have
been guilty of corruption or negligence therein.
"Your Lordship will be pleased to acquaint the Justices of
the Peace for the said City and Liberty, and all others whom
it may concern, with this his Majesty's pleasure; that the
same may be duly and punctually complied with.
"I am, &c.