being known to refort thither, for the more convenient purpofe of carrying on their unlawful defigns.

3d. That it would be of great public benefit, if all justices of the peace would please to hold a special felons in their feveral districts, once a fortnight (as it is already done in feveral parts of this Riding) or even oftener (at least for fome time) if they find occafion for fo doing.

4th. That privy fearches fhould be made in every district, as near the fame hour as may be, a day or two previous to fuch felons, where offenders (vagrants chiefly fo) may be brought to fpeedy juftice; by being immediately corrected, or otherwife dealt with according to

law.

5th. That were this mode of proceeding to be carried into full effect, offenders would find it difficult to efcape from juftice, te public peace would be greatly reitored, the office of a magiftrate would become lefs irkfom, large fums of money would be faved which are now lavifhed away in apprehending, keeping in prifon, conveying vagrants, and others; parides would be eafed of the trouble and expence in relieving per fons who travel with pafles, and whose who lives are often spent in perpetual vagrancy; and a final top might, in a great degree, be put to thofe numerous beggars who actually extort money by impofing, under various pretene s, upon the ignorance or credulity of others.

th. That the great number of public houfes, and especially thofe which are kept by improper perfons, or in improper fituations, are productive of various mifchiefs, and therefore, until fuch time as a re

duction of them can be effected, (which is much to be desired) it is a matter of great moment that the occupiers of fuch houfes offending against the law, fhould have their licences withheld, their recognizances ettreated, or be otherwife punished, according to the nature of the off nce.

7th. To prevent the increase of thefe houfes, the clergy, parishofficers, and others, are requested not to grant any certificates, 10 enable perions to obtain licences, unless they have full fatisfaction of the truth to which they fub eribe, and that fuch houfe is really wanted for the public convenience: and further, that fuch certificates fhould be communicated to the juftices of the divifion four weeks previous to their holding their Bewter fellions.

8th. That houfes of evil fame, common brothels, houfes for harbouring of vagrants, and fuch like, are in many places become a notorious grievance; and that it is the intere, as well as the dury of every man, to exert himself in fuppreffing them.

oth. That as many perfons are difcouraged fro apprehending and prof cuting offenders, by an idea of the great expence thereof, it is proper to declare, that all judges and juffices of the peace are impow ered by law to grant an adequate allowance to profecutors and witnefles; juftices of the peace alfo, out of feifions are ready to make every liberal grati cation to thofe who purfue, apprehend, or convey ofle ders to prios: and in many places there are fubfcriptions or monies collected by way of affeff ment, or the above purpo.cs.

1th. That in thofe places where Sunday-fchool have been opened, their good effects are plainly per(E 4) ceived

ceived in the orderly and decent comportmment of the youth who are inftructed therein: it is therefore moft earnestly to be wifhed, that thofe virtuous citizens who have begun this good work, would continue their best endeavours to forward it with that zeal and perfeverance which its great importance requires. And if thefe inftitutions fhould become established throughout the kingdom, there is good reafon to hope, that they will produce an happy change in the general morals of the people, and thereby render the execution of criminal justice lefs frequently neceffary.

It is Ordered, that the thanks of this court be given to the rev. Henry Zouch for his communication of the above propofitions; and he is requested to publifh the the obfervations on which they were founded.

The Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Middlefex, and the Cities of London and Westminster, prefented to the Houfe of Lord, in June, 1785, against a Bill for regulating Lotteries, which had paffed the House of Commons, but which, in the Sequel, was rejected by the Lords.

To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled.

THE humble petition fheweth, that your lordships petitioners are greatly alarmed at the increase of ftatutes which abolish the inquefts by grand jury, and trial by peers, and which inveft juices of the peace with the powers of thefe great protectors of the liberties and properties of Englishmen.

"That your lordship's petitioners

have read with astonishment a bill, brought into the house of com. mons by William Mainwaring, efq. entitled, "A bill for amending and more effectually carrying into execution an act, made in the 27d year of the reign of his prefent majefly, entitled, "An act for licenting lottery office keepers, and regulating the fale of lottery tickets."

That the faid bill, if carried into a law, will operate as a fevere grievance upon every defcription of his majesty's fubjects.

That faid bill invests juflices of the peace with greater powers, than were ever invcited in any of his majesty's courts of record, or exercifed or affumed by the court of ftar chamber.

That faid bill invests justices to grant general warrants against perfons named or described, to fearch their perfons, their houfes, or any other place, whether by day or night, an oath being made before them, that fuch perfons are fufpected to have in their houses, or any other place, or concealed about their perfons, any lottery regifter or books, whether fuch perfons be male or female.

That faid bill takes away every protection of habitation, and leaves your petitioners, their wives, and daughters, liable to the most indecent violation of perfon, and their property to the mercy of every abandoned wretch who difregards the crime of perjury.

That faid bill takes away the writ of certiorari; and though it gives the fubjects a right to appeal, to the quarter fellions, yet renders that appeal nugatory, as it impowers the justice to deftroy all writ ings produced in evidence before him, and of courfe deprives the

party

party charged of the only means of defence which can acquit him upon his appeal.

That faid bill obliges perfons accused to answer to interrogatories by bill, and criminate themfelves.

The faid bill empowers juftices. to grant warrants to apprehend perions who neglect attending as witneffes, though fuch perfons may never have rec ived any fummoas, and may at the time fuch fummons is left at their house or lodging, be abfent in a diftant part of the country.

For thefe reafons, and becaufe your lordship's petitioners underftand that faid bill pafled through the honourable the houfe of commons in great hurry, and at times when very few members were prefent, your lordship's petitioners humbly hope your lordfhips will take this petition into consideration, and not pafs this bill into a

nation.

Impelled at once by duty and inclination, your majelly's faithful citizens of London are happy in tendering an unfeigned affurance of their affection and zeal for your majefty's perfon and govern

ment.

Deeply fenfible of the value and importance of your majesty's life to the profperity of your kingdoms, and of the unfpeakable affliction which your people would have fuftained by its mournful termination, the late horrid occurrence (which threatened that national calamity) could not fail to excite in their minds a proportionate alarm; but more particularly painful and fevere were their fenfations, on reflecting that your majesty's gracious attention to the petitions of your fubjects had proved the lamentable caufe of expoling your facred perfon to danger.

Permit us, royal fir, to add our moft fervent prayers, that your reign may continue long and profperous over free, happy, and unitcd fubjects; and that defcendyour ants may tranfmit the bleffings the nation now enjoys to the latest pofterity,

Signed, by order of court,
WILLIAM RIX.

ANSWER.

I receive, with the greateft pleafure, the very affectionate expreffions of your duty and attachment to me, and thank you for your congratulations upon the providential deliverance from the attack which has been lately made upon my perfon: thofe profeffions cannot but be acceptable to me from my loyal city of London, to whom I am always difpofed to fhew every mark of attention and regard.

The

The Address of the Bishop of London, Dean and Chapter of St. Paul' and Clergy of the Citics of London and Wefiminfier.

It would be unbecoming in any order of men, it would be peculiarly offensive in ours, to approach your Mjely on this occafion with the language of adulation; but they

Majefty.

Moft Gracious Sovereign, WE, your majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the biflop of London, the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, and the clergy of the cities of London and Westminster, impreffed with a deep fenfe of the many and invaluable bleffings which we enjoy under your majefty's mild and aufpicious government, the great advantage which religion has ever received from your countenance and protection, and the con ftant fupport which morality has derived from your example, cannot but feel ourselves particularly interested in the fafety of your majef. ty's life; and we beg leave to prefent to your majesty our moll fincere congratulations on its late providential prefervation.

We have returned our thanks to God for this inftance of his goodnefs to your majefty; and we fhall not fail continually to pray to God, that that life which he has thus fignally protected, may long be continued to your majefty in uninterrupted health and profperity.

The Address of the Bishop and Clergy

of the Diocefe of Chefter.

WE, your majey's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the bishop, the dean and chapter, and the clergy of the diocefe of Chester, beg permiffion to offer to your majesty our fincereft congratulations on the late ovidential deliverance of your royal perfon from the hand of an affaflin.

quainted with the uniformly moral and religious tenor of your majetty's private lite, and who reflect as they ought, on the many invaluable blefings this nation experiences under your ma eny's wild and paternal government, will not we are confident, charge us with tranfgrefling the ritel bounds of truth, when we fay, that the lofs of fich an example, and fuch a fovereign, would have been one of the evereft calamities with which heaven could have afflicted this land: whatever difference of tentiments there may be on other points, on this we believe there is but one opinion.

It affords us fome confolation to know that the fole contriver of this frantic defign was nothing more than a wretched maniac; a circumstance, however, from which we may draw this awful leffon, that not only the felicity, but the very exiftence of the greatest potentates, and the most flourishing empires, may be endangered by the feeblett agents, and that in God alone is their fecurity and refuge.

The recent proof he has been pleafed to give us of this great truth demands the warmest and denefs. And alarmed as all our fears vouteft expreffions of our thankfulhave just been, by feeling ourfelves on the very brink of deftruction, we implore with redoubled ardour the almighty Ruler of the universe, that he would fill continue the fame watchful care over your majetty's perfon, which he has already manifefted in fo fignal au inftance; and that he would grant your_majefty and your royal family, a long enjoyment

enjoyment of that peace, profperity, and general fatisfaction, which his blething on your majefty's councils has vifibly diffufed through every part of your dominions.

The Addref of the Bishop and Clergy

of the Diocese of Landaff. To the KING's mft Excellent Majefty.

Moft Gracious Sovereign, WF, the biflop, the archdeacon and chapter, and the clergy of the diocefe of Landaff, your majefty's loyal and dutiful fubjects, humbly intreat your majeliy graciously to accept our faithful congratulations on the protection which the good providence of God has lately vouchfafed to your majefty from the attack of an infane affaffin.

The mildnefs of your majefty's government, united with the exemplary probity and condefcenfion of your private life, can have left your majefty no deliberate enemies, no apprehenfion of danger from the malice of any of your fubjects. In the late calamitous event your majefty will feel a comfort, which is fully felt by all your people, from knowing that the hand of violence was not a med against your majefty's life by the fpirit of public faction or private difcontent.

The worth of kings, in every age and country, have been encouraged by the adulatory addreffes of flagitious men to perfevere in the modes of government destructive to the freedom and felicity of mankind; fincerity and truth have been in this way, fo of en facrificed on the altar of private intereft, as almoft to render fufpicious the profeffions of honeft men on the fairest occafions; yet, on this occafion, we fear not the being accused of flat

tery or infincerity, when we avow, in the face of the world, that we believe there is not a fingle perfon in your majesty's dominions who will not join with us in thanking God for this inftance of his goodnefs towards you, and in praying that he will long continue to us the happinefs, and the liberty, civil and religious, which we enjoy under your majesty's government.

The Addrefs of the Bishop and Clergy
of the Diocefe of St. Ajaph.
To the KING's moft Excellent
Majeftv.

WE, the bishop, dean and chapter, and clergy of the diocefe of St. Alaph, afk leave, with unfeigned and loyal humility, to congratu

late your maje y on your late deliverance from the knife of the affaffin. When fuch dangers are fometimes permitted to threaten the greatest of the fons of men, we are authorized by fcripture to regard them as the awful admonitions of Providence to confider the importance of their duty, and the uncertainty of the time allotted to fulfil it. May your majelly's mind be always duly impreffed with a religious fenfe of thofe virtues and public fervices which the highest of all human ftations requires at your hands. May you always poffefs those powers of mind, and that enlarged and active benevolence, which are requifite to prefide with wifdom over a people that was once virtuous, and that is fill generous, brave, and enlightened. In offering up thefe prayers we depart not from our character as blameless ministers of the gofpel, and we wish to enrich your majefty with greater blessings than is in the power of flattery to invent; we wish you the

glory,