APPENDIX A. (continued 3)

Vpon the late sadd occasion which happened by reason of the tumult and insurreccõn that was within this Citty and places adjacent this courte entred into consideracõn of some meanes to be vsed and prepared to prevent and suppres the Like for the future And to that purpose it was propounded that the number of 100 horses might be in readinesse within this Citty furnished with all things fitting for service to be drawe forth vpon any occasion by the Comand of ... for the tyme being for the suppressing of any tumult or other disorder as occasion should require And after some debate had thervpon it was genãlly conceived that the proposicõn was fitt to be entertained And to that purpose itt was thought fitt and soe ordered by the courte that the Comitte of the milicia for London shall consider how the said horses shalbe raised and the charge therof And how they shalbe kepte maintained and disposed of for the service of the Citty And of all other matters and circumstances concerning the same And to report to the next common councell in writing their opinions therin That soe this courte vpon their report may doe thervpon what they they shall think fitt and may be best for the good and saftie of this Citty.

No. 75.

Letter from Fairfax to Skippon upon his re-appointment to the command of the City's forces. Dated Windsor, 10 May, 1648.

Journal 40, fo. 275.

I received yours and understand by severall gentlemen of the millitia of London how much you are desired and importuned to accepte of the comand of the forces in and aboute the cittie of London. I must needs say I cannot but be sorrey to parte with one who hath upon all occasions doun such good service for the Parliament and Kingdome. But my private respects ought to give place unto the publique And since it is so generally desired by the cittie and severall millitia, I cannot but be glad they have made soe good a choice and hope it will tend to the furtherance of union and good agream^t for the advantage of the Parliament, Cittie and Kingdome. The consequences whereof I apprehend to be such that I cannot but denie my selfe and frely leave you to your selfe and doe disingage you from any tye to my selfe or the army under my comand in case you accepte of the aforesaid comand in the cittie Wishing you much hapiness in your undertakings I remayne &c.

Windsor 10^th May, 1648.

No. 76.

A narrative of the proceedings of the Court of Common Council held in Guildhall, London, the 13th of January, 1648-9, presented by order of the Court to the House of Commons.

Journal 40, fo. 314.

A common councell beinge lawfully summoned to meete at eight of the clocke in the morneinge upon the day above written, Wee commoners of the citty of London members of the said courte in obedience to the said summons and for discharge of the trust reposed in us made our appearance att the vsuall place of meetinge for the saide courte about the time appointed. Aboute eleaven of the clocke the Lord Maio^r accompanied onely with two of the Aldermen tooke the chayre Wee then desireinge the lord mayo^r that the acts of the last courte might be reade accordinge to the vsuall course of the saide courte and for the further confirmacõn of the said acts could not obteyne the same (though earnestly desired) for above an howres space after which some members of the said courte (being parte of a committee formerly chosen by the said courte) tendered a peticõn therevnto to bee reade, and considered of which peticõn (beinge the same now presented to this hono^ble House) was drawne vpp by them in referrence to an order of the said courte and received the approbacõn of the majo^r parte of the quorum of that comittee and though itt was often and earnestly prest for a long time by the majo^r parte of the courte that it might be reade to receive the sence of the courte, yett the Lord Maio^r wholly refused to suffer the same or that the question should be putt whether it should be reade yea or noe After the fruitelesse expence of many howres another question beinge drawne vpp the majo^r parte of the courte required itt to be putt, to be putt [sic] to be decided according to the right and custome of the courte and beinge denyed therein declared how vnjust and of what a destructive nature to the beinge of the courte such a denyall would bee yet notwithstandinge the Lord Maio^r with the two Aldermen departed and lefte the courte sittinge to the greate greife and generall dissatisfaccõn of the same Beinge thus deprived of our ordinary assistance for our proceedings, wee did then require and command the Common Serjeant and Towne Clarke officers of the said courte to stay in the courte and putt the question both which they contemptuously refused and lefte the courte sittinge likewise Wherevpon in discharge of our trust and in our tender care of the common good of Citty and Kingdome Wee did stay and remaine a courte wherein was thrice reade debated and voted (nemine contradicente) the peticõn hereunto annexed to be as this day presented to this hono^ble Howse.

Havinge given this hono^ble Howse this breife, but true, narrative of parte of our sufferings for eight howres at least In the breadth (as wee conceive) of our vndoubted rights & priviledges and conceiveinge the like obstruccõns would render our meetings in councell altogether fruitlesse for publiq benefitte and service for the future Wee are forced to appeale vnto this hono^ble Howse for such consideracõns hereof and direccons herein, as may make the commons of London in common councell assembled vsefull to the ends for which they were chosen.

No. 77.

Letter from the Council of State to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City for defacing statues of James I and Charles I. Dated Whitehall, 31 July, 1650.

Repertory 60, fo. 213.

My Lord and Gentlemen.

In pursuance of an Order of Parliament wee desire you forthwith to give order that y^e two Statues that Stand at y^e west end of Paules above y^e worke borne up by y^e Columnes sett upp to represent King James and the late King may forthwith bee throwne downe. Alsoe y^t y^e head of that Statue at y^e Exchainge sett there to represent y^e late King be broaken off, and y^e Septer broaken out of his hand And this inscripcon put upp by it Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliæ restitutæ primo Annoque Domini 1648 Januarij 30º And yow are alsoe to take care that y^e inscripcon under those Statues at Paules be cutt out of y^e stones and that this be doune before Saturday the tenth of August next and y^t y^e Councell bee then certified of your proceedings therein.

Signed in y^e name and by order of y^e Councell of State appointed by Authority of Parliament Jo: Bradshawe P'sid^t. Whitehall 31 July 1650.

No. 78.

Another letter from the same ordering the entire removal of the statue of Charles I at the Royal Exchange. Dated Whitehall, 14 Aug., 1650.

Id., fo. 220b.

My Lord and Gentlemen

By a lre from y^e Councell beareing Date y^e 31^th of July last order was given for y^e throwing downe of the two Statues at ye west end of Paules & likewise for y^e takeing of y^e head & Septer out of y^e hand of y^t w^ch stood at y^e Exchainge in Lond w^ch according to y^e desire of the Councell Wee understand is put into Execucõn. Since which the Councell haveing taken y^t matter into further consideracõn they have thought fit to order that that y^e whole of what is remayneing of y^e Statue of y^e late Kinge at y^e Exchainge be taken downe and that y^e Inscripcõn which was ordered to be placed neere unto it be now written in y^e place wher y^e said Statue did stand.

Signed in y^e name & by ord^r of y^r Councell of State appoynted by Authoritye of Parliam^t Jo: Bradshawe Prsid^t. Whitehall 14^th of August 1650.

No. 79.

Letter from the Council of State to the City for removal of ordnance to the Tower. Dated Whitehall, 19 Nov., 1653.

Journal 41, fo. 90b.

The Councell of State have considered that there are severall great guns belonging to the Citie of London which are now remayning at Leadenhall, and severall other partes of the Cittie, and for the better secureinge thereof have thought fitt that the L^t of the Tower should draw them in thither on Tuesday next, wherein yo^r Lordship is desired to give yo^r assistance, and to cause the same to be delivered accordingly takeinge a receipt from the officers of the Ordnance by an inventory indented conteyning the numbers and quallities. And the Councell doth hereby declare, and give yo^r Lordship assurance that this is not at all intended as a disrespect to the Citty, or in prejudice to their interest in the said guns, but in order to their safeguard, and to be returned back to the Citty when they shall have occasion for them and desire them.

Whitehall 19^th November 1653.

No. 80.

The City's humble Petition and Representation to the Lord Protector promising to stand by him against the enemies of the Nation; 16 March, 1657-8.

Id., fo. 170b.

Sheweth

That the peticoners are deepely sensible of the manie mercies & signall providences that these three nations have received from Almightie God in subduing his and their Enemyes in the times of our late warres, in which it pleased our wise and Gratious God to vse your highnes as the most speciall & eminent Instrument in his hand as chosen out and fitted by him for those great & subsequent workes by which his name mightbe Glorifyed, the three Nations & in speciall his owne people therein protected and preserved from their enemies att home & abroad. And not only soe, but the Continued goodnes of god hath followed vs in soe much that after a sharpe & bloody warre seuãll yeares together, for some yeares last past those cloudes have bine brooken, and the Sun of peace hath shined vppon vs with a great measure of hope putt into our harts of a happie lasting & well grounded forme of goverment, according to the peticõn and advice of the late Parliam^t consented to by your highnes for which wee doe as in duty bound blesse the Lord and desire a long and happie continuance of the same. But yet your peticoners taking notice from your Hignes late gracious speech to them that the old restles enemy is reviving his almost dead hopes of prevailing to execute his wrath and malice against god your highnes & the good & peacefull people of the three Nations, partly from the discontents of a Brain sicke party at home and especially from the aides of the popish inveterate enemy abroad and have laid designes to themselves hopefull, by insurreccons from within and invasions from without vs to raise newe troubles & kindle the flames of warre againe amongst vs, by which to change our Government & therein ruine the three Nations. The premisses considered the peticoners do professe vnto all both frinds and Enemyes. That we shall vppon our antient principales of love & fidelitie to God your Highnes & the good people in the three nations with all readines oppose this enemy to the vtmost with our lives & fortunes.

And therefore we doe most humbly pray that your highnes will please with all cheerefulnes as supreme Maiestrate to God & in the Goverment of these three Nations for preservacõn of religion the lawes lĩbties peace & safety thereof. And as your peticoners doe blesse God for you soe they shall (as in duty bound) faithfully and constantly in their seuãll places not only yeild obedience to you therein but bee Enemyes to yours & the Nations Enemyes, and freinds to yours & the Nations friends.

And ever pray &c.

No. 81.

Letter from Sir John Langham to the Court of Aldermen, declining to resume the Aldermanry from which he had been deposed by Parliament, on the score of ill-health. Dated Crosby House, 18 Sept., 1660.

Remembrancia ix, 8.

My Lord & Gentlemen,

By a copy of a vote of Common Councill held y^e 4^th of September present (w^ch was left at my house) I find my selfe declared to bee an Ald̃ran of London, & invited to y^e execucõn of that place. The knowledge of my vnfitness for y^t imploym^t by reason of my great age of 77 yeares, & those infirmities y^t accompany it, did soon put me upon y^e resolucõn of getting my discharge from it. But y^e death of my eldest sonn's wife & child, did overwhelme me as well as him w^th that greife, w^ch permitted not my goeing abroad untill the last Thursday, when I hoped to have found at Guildhall a full court of Ald̃ren. But those expectacõns failing me, I forbore y^e declaring my Intencõns & desires then. And being this day upon my retreat into the Country for the necessary refreshm^t of my selfe & sonn I thought it my duty to acquaint yo^r Lord^p: & this Court w^th my Condicon & most earnest Request. I have now beene laid aside about 12 yeares; The Rump Parliam^t haveing first imprisoned me in y^e Tower (y^e 24^th of 7^ber 1647), cheifly (as was conceived) to prevent my being chosen Lord Mayor the Michãs following, where I remain'd vntill the 6th of the next June, when I was enlarged w^th out so much as Peticõning. But afterwards to satisfye y^e Ambicõn of some that had a mind to bee in our seats, S^r John Gayre, Ald̃ran Adams, my selfe & Bro^r Bunce, by a resolve of that Remain of a House of Commons that presumed to sitt as a Parliam^t, were disenabled & discharged from being Ald̃ren, & others chosen in our steds. Notw^thstanding w^ch displeasure of those who usurped the Government & my being out of their sight, in y^e Country, y^e Citty retained those kind remembrances of me & my sufferings as to choose me 2^ce one of their Burgesses, in those Convencõns, w^ch wee called then Parliam^ts w^ch as they are argum^ts that I enjoyed their favour, so they are Reasons that I take not ill w^t this Court, or y^e Common Councill complyed in ag^t my Right, out of a feare of those who had made themselves Masters of the Three Kingdomes as well as this Citty: And that sense of my duty w^ch made me accept of serving this Citty (where God hath blest me) when called to it, & continue in that service whilst permitted, would now alsoe command my returne to the executing of my place, as an Ald̃ran, upon that Invitacõn I have rēcd, did not my finding and dayly discovering my disabilityes perswade me that you in Justice ought not to require, what I out of Conscience ought not to accept, ffor, both my age hath a legall excuse from the troubles of Magistracy, & yo^r affaires need that presentness of parts, w^ch a life so much worne out as mine is, cannot afford. I doubt not but I might have obteyned my discharge elswhere, but because yo^r Lord^p & this Court, are those to whome y^e memb^rs of it especially are to betake themselves I thought it unbecoming me so farr to despair of yo^r Justice & ffavour, as to look for it in any other place. Wherefore, I make it my importunate request to your Lord^p & this Hon^ble Court, that I may be discharged, for ever, from being an Ald̃ran, & part of that tyme that yet remaines of my life shall be spent in pray^rs for the happiness & flourishing of this Renowned Citty And when I shall have yo^r dismission into y^t privacy, wherein I may vndisturbedly prepare for the other & better world I am hasting into, I shall not cease to be a fervent Lover of that place, wherein I have received so manyfold mercyes from y^e Divine goodness, nor to bee my Lord and Gentlemen, yo^r affeccõnate ffreind and humble servant.

Crosby House the 18^th Septem^br 1660.

No. 82.

Letter from the Earl of Manchester to the Court of Aldermen, desiring that the Butchers of the City might continue to supply offal to the King's "Game of Beares" as formerly. Dated Whitehall, 29 Sept., 1664.

Original Letter.

My very good Lord and the rest of my very good ffreinds the Court of Aldermen.

Being informed by the Master of his Ma^ties Game of Beares and Bulls and of others that very well remember that the Company of Butchers did formerly cause all their Offall in Eastcheape and Newgate Markett to bee conveyed by the Beadle of their Company vnto two Barrow Houses conveniently placed on the Riverside to receave the same for the provision and feeding of his Ma^ties Game of Beares And that that Custome hath beene interrupted in the late Troubles when the Beares were killed. And that his Ma^ties Game being now againe by the order of the King and Councill removed to the usuall place on the Bank side at the very great charges of the Master of the Game I shall therefore earnestly recommend it to your Lo^PP and the rest of my very good freiends the Court of Aldermen and desire you to give such order to the Master and Wardens of the Company of Butchers that their offall may bee duely conveyed to the aforesaid houses as formerly it was for the feeding of his Ma^ties said Game which the under officers at present are forced to provide by extraordinary and very chargeable meanes soe not doubting of your Care herein I rest

Your humble Servant (Signed) Manchester. Court at Whitehall Septemb: 1664 Michaelmas day

No. 83.

The City's address to King Charles II congratulating him upon his escape after the Rye House Plot; 2 July, 1683.

Journal 50, fo. 83b.

To the Kings most Excellent Ma^tie

The humble Addresse of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Councell assembled Sheweth.

That wee your most Loyall and dutifull subjects haveing with astonishment received y^e discovery of a most traterous and horrid Conspiracy of diverse ill affected and desperate persons to compasse y^e death and destruccõn of your Royall person and of your Dearest Brother James Duke of Yorke, and that to effect y^e same theis have held Severall Treasonable Consultacõns to Levy men and to make an Insurreccõn and made great provision of Armes; A designe notoriously tending to y^e present destruccõn not only of your best Subjects but of y^e Sacred Person of your Ma^ty y^e best of Princes and to involve this and y^e future Generacõn in Confusion blood and misery carryd on notw^thstanding their Specious pretences by knowne dissenting Conventicles and Atheistical persons.

And haveing in y^e first place Offered up our Solemn thanks to Almighty God for his Watchfull Providence in bringing to Light this impious and Execrable Machination.

We doe in ye next place humbly offer to your Ma^tie y^e deepe resentments of our Loyall hearts concerning y^e same and begg your Ma^tie to rest fully assured that as no interest in this world is valuable to us in comparison of your Ma^tyes service and safety so wee are determined readily to Expose our lives and fortunes in defence of your Ma^tyes person your heires and successors and your government establisht in Church and State and particularly for discovering Defeating and destroying all such Conspiracys assotiations and attempts whatsoever.

All which Resolutions are accompanyd w^th our daily and fervent prayres that your Ma^ty may Vanquish and overcome all your enimyes and that the yeares of your happy reigne over us may be many and prosperous.

No. 84.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle to the Lord Mayor informing him of the Pretender having set up his Standard in Scotland. Dated Whitehall, 4 Sept., 1745.

Journal 58, fo. 377.

His Majesty having received an Account, That the Eldest Son of the Pretender after having been some time in Scotland, has traiterously assembled a considerable Number of Persons in Arms, who have Set up a Standard in the Name of the Pretender, resisted and attacked some of His Majesty's Forces, and are now Advancing towards Perth or Edenburgh; And there being the greatest Reason to Apprehend, That these Attempts have been Encouraged, and may be supported by Foreign Powers; The King has commanded Me to Acquaint Your Lordship therewith, And His Majesty being fully persuaded of the Abhorrence and Detestation that must be raised in the Minds of all his faithful Subjects, at this Audacious Attempt, to Subvert Our most excellent Constitution both in Church and State under which Alone the Liberties and Properties of these Protestant Kingdoms can be preserved, And being Particularly convinced of the Zeal and Loyalty of his good City of London His Majesty Orders Me to assure You, That he has the firmest Confidence, that Your Lordship, pursuant to the great Trust reposed in you, will in Conjunction with the other Magistrates of his said good City, exert your Authority with the utmost Care and Vigilance on this important Occasion, for the Preservation of the Publick Peace; The Security of the City of London; and the Disappointment as far as depends upon You, of these wicked and Traiterous Designs. I am &c. Whitehall, September 4th 1745.

No. 85.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle to the Lord Mayor informing him of the Pretender having entered Derby, and desiring him to put the City into a posture of defence. Dated Whitehall, 6 Dec., 1745.

Repertory 150, fo. 40.

I am commanded by the King to Acquaint Your Lordship; That His Majesty has, this day, received certain Advice, that the Rebels, with the Pretender's Son, Arrived, on Wednesday last, at Derby, in their way, as they give out towards London; That His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland upon this New motion of the Rebels towards Derbyshire, had made the necessary Disposition for getting before them, with the utmost Expedition; And had determin'd for that purpose, to March, the direct way for London. Part of the Cavalry of His Royal Highness's Army will be this Night at Northampton, and the Remainder to Morrow, And the Foot will Encamp to Morrow also near Northampton so that His Royal Highness did not Doubt, but he should be able to reach Northampton so as to be between the Rebels and London; But in order that the Peace and Security of the City of London, may be provided for, in all Events, His Majesty has commanded me to recommend it to Your Lordship, That imediate Directions may be given for augmenting the Guard of the City, in such manner as shall be thought proper; And that a sufficient Number of the Train'd Bands may be constantly out in the day time, as well as at Night, to preserve the peace of the City. Your Lordship will also be pleas'd to take Care, that Orders may be given to the Commanding Officers of the Parties employ'd in that Service, to be very vigilant in preventing, or suppressing any Disorders, or Tumults; And to Seize any Persons that may be assembled together in a riotous manner: And also that a Guard may be constantly posted in the Squares and open Places of the City; And that there may be daily Meetings of the Magistrates appointed in proper places to See, that these Services are perform'd.

Your Lordship will likewise be pleas'd to Cause an Exact Account to be taken of all Horses (as well Coach and Saddle Horses) in the several Stables within the City; where Horses are kept for hire; and transmit an Account of the same, to be laid before His Majesty.

The King thinking, that it may be of great Service, that proper Signals should be made, in case of any Commotion or Alarm, and also that Alarm Posts should be appointed, within the City, and Suburbs; His Majesty has commanded, that the same should be forthwith done, And that Your Lordship should have imediate Notice of it.

His Majesty has also given directions to the Master General of the Ordnance, to appoint forthwith proper Persons, to Inspect the several Entrances into the City, and to Consider, in what manner, in case of an Emergency the same may be obstructed.

I am to desire your Lord^p would be pleased to transmit to me, to be laid before the King an Account of the Number of Men, that are at present, appointed for the several Guards to the City, and of the Places, at which they are posted; As also of what Number of Men you would propose to add, for that Service, And in what parts of this City, they may most usefully be posted.

His Majesty having been inform'd, that a considerable number of his good Subjects, Inhabitants of the City, out of Zeal for His Majesty's Service, and for the preservation of Our Excellent Constitution, are desirous of appearing in Arms, on the present occasion; His Majesty has ordered me to recommend it to your Lord^p to give all possible Encouragement to such laudable designs, And if Your Lord^p will transmit to me the Names of any Persons that shall be willing to Engage in the manner above-mentioned, I will imediately procure a proper authority from His Maj^ty for that purpose.

The Zeal, which your Lo^p & the City of London have shew'd for the Defence of His Maj^tys Person and Government, and the Abhorrence and Detestation You have express'd, for the present unnatural Rebellion, give His Majesty the strongest Assurance, that you will Exert your utmost Endeavours in Opposition to the bold and dangerous Attempts, now making by the Pretender and his Adherents; which threaten the Peace and Tranquility of this great and flourishing City.

I am &c. Whitehall Decm^r 6{th} 1745.

No. 86.

Proceedings relative to the expunging of the recognizance entered into by William Witham, Messenger of the House of Commons—as narrated by James Morgan, Clerk to the Lord Mayor, to the Committee appointed to assist in defending Crosby, Wilkes and Oliver; 22 March, 1771.

Committee Book.

Mr. James Morgan Clerk to the Lord Mayor acquainted the Committee that he was served on Wednesday Morning last the twentieth instant with an order of the House of Commons dated the nineteenth March 1771 to attend that House with the Minutes taken before the Lord Mayor relative to the Messenger of the House of Commons giving security for his appearance at the next General Quarter Session of the Peace for the City of London to answer such Indictments as may be preferred against him for the supposed assault and Imprisonment of J. Miller. In consequence of this Order he attended the House of Commons on Wednesday the twentieth instant with the book from between two and three o'clock in the Afternoon—that he was called in between two and three o'clock the next Morning and was asked by the Speaker who he was—he said he was Clerk to the Lord Mayor of London.—The Speaker ask'd for the Minutes that were taken, then he produced the book at the Bar. The Speaker sent for the book to him and ordered that part relating to Miller to be read. He was likewise ordered up to the Table and the Minutes were read. That a Motion was then made that those Minutes should be expunged which was carried in the Affirmative. That he was ask'd by a Member whether M^r Aldⁿ Wilkes and M^r Aldⁿ Oliver were there. He answered they were. He was then ordered to the Bar and was served with an Order of the House of Commons as follows—Ordered that M^r James Morgan Clerk to the Lord Mayor of London do expunge from the Minute Book kept by him at the Mansion House the entry relative to William Whitham a Messenger of this House giving security for his appearance at the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the City of London. That he answered he had no Indemnity for so doing. The Speaker said he was ordered so to do. He then did expunge that Minute accordingly. He was then ordered to withdraw.

This Committee doth desire the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor to call a Court of Common Council for Tuesday next and lay the whole transaction of the above affair before the said Court, when M^r Morgan is to attend with the Minute Book.

No. 87.

Letter from Charles Fox, Chairman of the Westminster Committee, to the Town Clerk of London suggesting a general meeting of the Committees of Association. Dated St. James's Street, 20 Feb., 1780.

Minutes of City Committee of Correspondence.

Sir,

The Westminster Committee observing that the London Committee are instructed "to meet such Members of the Committees of the several petitioning Counties, Cities and Boroughs as are now in London, or who may be deputed for the purpose of presenting, or supporting their Petitions, and who may think it necessary to confer, on the means of promoting the common object of the said Petition" have directed me to acquaint you that it is their opinion, that nothing is so desireable in the present Stage of the business as a general meeting of the several Committees by their Agents or Deputies. From the correspondence they have had with the other Committees they have reason to think this opinion is pretty general; and therefore if the London Committee should concur in that opinion they would wish to know in what manner the London Committee think such a measure may be best effected.

It has been suggested that the London, Middlesex and Westminster Committees, might meet by their Deputies and that a joint invitation from them to the other Committees would come with more propriety and weight than such a proposal from any single Committee: But altho' this mode has been thought of, any other that is equally adapted to bring about the measure proposed, will be equally acceptable to the Westminster Committee.

I have the honor to be &c. St. James's Street February 21^st 1780.

No. 88.

Letter of thanks from Edmund Burke to the same for the City's approval of his Bill for Economical Reform. Dated St. James's Square, 6 March 1780.

Ibid.

Sir,

I receive with great satisfaction and very humble acknowledgement, the honour which the Committee of the Common Council of London have been pleased to confer on me, by their Resolution of the 3^d Inst., which you have been so obliging as to transmit to me. Their approbation of the plan which I submitted to Parliament;—the effects which they expect from its being carried into execution,—these secure to me the co-operation and support of the greatest Corporation in the World, thro their very respectable Committee. Be so good, Sir, as to assure that Committee, that I shall be unwearied in my endeavours, to carry into execution the measures which they have approved, and which, under such a sanction, I am entitled to consider as leading to the attainment of some part of the desires, which they, in common with multitudes of our fellow subjects have lately express'd. I say some part, because I am sensible that much more is wanting; and I protest to the Committee, with great sincerity, that I shall be, as active, as industrious, and as zealous in supporting the constitutional and salutary measures, already proposed, and such as may be hereafter proposed, by other Gentlemen, as I have been in endeavouring to give effect to my own humble, but, certainly, well intended conceptions. The people alone can procure the final attainment of the just and temperate requests which they have made. Their interference as constitutional always, as it was now necessary, has already produced a visible effect. A continued watchfulness, on their part, will beget an active attention in the Representative body, to the Interests of their constituents. Let us continue true to ourselves, and we shall not find many that will dare to be false to us. Let each, in his station of public trust, give the best Counsel his capacity suggests, and let our whole collective and united efforts be applyd to execute whatever is wisely plann'd, be the Proposer who he may. Let us do this and the People cannot remain long unsatisfy'd in their just and reasonable desires. I have the honour to be &c.

Charles Street, St. James's Square, 6^th March, 1780.

No. 89.

Letter from Charles Fox to the Town Clerk of London forwarding copy of proceedings of the Westminster Committee of Association, and giving particulars of the proceedings of the House of Commons upon Dunning's motion. Dated St. James's Street, 13 April, 1780.

Ibid.

Sir,

I have the honour of transmitting to you a copy of the proceedings in Westminster Hall on the 6th inst. in which you will observe that the form of Association adopted by the City of Westminster, is nearly similar to that of the County of York.

There never was a time when Union was more necessary than the present, as the only hopes of those who wish to defeat the wishes of the people, are confessedly founded upon supposed disagreements among the true friends of their country.

I should long ago have transmitted to your Committee, lists of the Members who have voted in the late important questions, but have been unable to procure any on which I could depend. That which was printed in the Newspapers, was to my knowledge very incorrect.

I cannot close my letter without informing you that the three following Resolutions were agreed to by the House of Commons on the 6th instant.

"That it is necessary to declare, that the Influence of the Crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished."

"That it is competent to this House, to examine into and correct Abuses in the Expenditure of the Civil List Revenues, as well as in every other branch of the Public Revenue, whenever it shall appear expedient to the Wisdom of this House so to do."

"That it is the Duty of this House, to provide, as far as may be an immediate and effectual redress of the Abuses complained of in the Petitions, presented to this House from the different Counties, Cities and Towns of this Kingdom."

The number who voted for them were 233

Against them 215

so that in one of the fullest houses that we have ever known a complete approbation has been given to the sentiments of the Petitions, with a promise to attend to their Prayers. How that promise will be performed, it is our duty to watch; If we persevere in our exertions, I think there is little or no doubt of obtaining our objects, but if we are lulled into Security by Success, it is but too probable that the Representatives of the People may relapse into their former inattention to their constituents.

I am &c. St. James's Street, April 10th 1780.

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