XX. And, in order to defray the Expence of Rate to he maintaining and employing the Poor, and of repair- laid for the ing the Highways within the faid Parish, be it fur- Poor, and ther enacted, That the faid Veftry, and the Over- for repairing feers of the Poor of the faid Parish for the Time the High. being, or the major Part of them duly affembled, ways. fhall and are hereby authorized and required, in the Month of March, in the Year One thousand seven hundred and ninety, and also in the Month of March in every fucceeding Year, to make a fair and equal Pound Rate upon all Persons who do or fhall occupy any Houfes, Buildings, Tenements, Grounds, or poffefs any rateable Property within the faid Parish, for raifing fuch Sums of Money as fhall be neceffary for defraying the Expence of maintaining and employing the Poor, and repairing the Highways within the said Parish, and all other Expences relating thereto.

Beadles,

XXI. And, in order to the appointing a proper Veftry to Number of Beadles, and a fufficient Nightly Watch appoint within the faid Parifh, be it further enacted, That Watchmen, the faid Veftry fhall meet upon the First Day of and Patrols, December One thousand seven hundred and eighty- and a Comnine, and fhall afterwards meet in the Month of mittee for the Management March in every Year, to ascertain and fix what of them. Number of Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols will be proper to be employed within the faid Parish, for the Protection of the Perfons and Property of the Inhabitants, for One Year then next ensuing, and shall also appoint Fifteen Perfons, being Householders refiding within the faid Parish, who shall be called The Committee for the Watch, and all fuch Perfons fhall continue in Office until others fhall be appointed in their Stead; and any Three or more of the faid Committee may exercife any of

the

;

the Powers hereby vested in the faid Committee and the faid Committee fhall hire and employ fuch able-bodied Men to be the Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols for the faid Parish, as they fhall think proper, and fhall direct in what Manner the Watchmen and Patrols shall be armed, and how long they fhall continue on Duty, and shall make fuch Rules, Orders, and Regulations, for the better governing the faid Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, as they fhall from Time to Time judge proper; and the faid Committee fhall appoint all fuch Officers and Perfons as they fhall have Occafion to employ for the better carrying fo much of this Act into Execution as relates to the faid Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, and out of any Money arifing by the Rates to be made for defraying the Expence of the faid Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, to pay fuch Salaries and Wages, and make such Allowances to the faid Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, and to the Officers and Perfons whom they fhall employ for their Attendance and Trouble, as the faid Committee fhall think reasonable; and the faid Committee may remove and discharge any of the faid Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, and any fuch Officers and Perfons aforefaid, and appoint others to fill up the Vacancies occafioned by fuch Removals, or by Death; and it fhall be lawful for the faid Committee, if they judge it expedient, to make fuch Provision towards the Support and Maintenance of any decayed and infirm Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, and give fuch Rewards to fuch Watchmen and Patrols as may be disabled, wounded, or hurt in the Execution of their Duty, as the faid Committee fhall from Time to Time think proper and reasonable; and the faid Committee fhall caufe fuch Number of Watch Boxes to be continued and

erected,

erected, and at fuch Places as they fhall from Time to Time judge proper; and if any Perfon fhall take down or remove any Watch Box belonging to the faid Parish, without the Confent of the faid Committee, or shall wilfully break or damage any fuch Watch Box, every such Perfon fhall for every fuch Offence forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty Shil lings, and fhall alfo pay the neceffary Charges of replacing, repairing, and making good the fame.

additional

XXII. Provided always, That if upon any Oc- Committee cafion the faid Committee fhall think neceffary to to appoint employ a greater Number of Watchmen and Patrols Watchmen than fhall have been afcertained and fixed upon by and Patrols. the faid Veftry, as aforefaid, it fhall be lawful for the faid Committee at any Time to appoint and employ fuch additional Number of Watchmen and Patrols, and for fuch Time as they shall think neceffary, any Thing herein-before contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Watchmen,

and Patrols.

XXIII. And be it further enacted, That the Duty of faid Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols fhall, during Beadles, the Time of their being upon Duty, ufe their utmost Endeavours to prevent any Mischief by Fire, and alfo any Burglaries, Robberies, Affrays, and other Outrages and Disorders within the faid Parish; and it fhall be lawful for the faid Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, or any of them, and they are hereby alfo refpectively required, during the Time they are on Duty, to apprehend and detain all Malefactors, Rogues, Vagabonds, and other diforderly Perfons whom they fhall find disturbing the public Peace, or shall have Cause to suspect of any evil Designs, and to deliver fuch Perfons, as foon as conveniently may be, to the Constable of the Night, or (in his Abfence) to the Keeper of

the

Penalty for infulting them

when on Duty.

Victuallers

not to fuffer

them to be in their

Houfe during the Time they ought to be on Duty.

Conftables to

Watch House

the Watch Houfe belonging to the faid Parish, in order that fuch Perfons may be secured in the said Watch House; and fuch Constable or Keeper of the faid Watch Houfe fhall and is hereby required to convey every fuch Perfon, as foon as conveniently may be, before fome Justice of the Peace for the faid City and Liberty, or the faid County of Middlefex, to be examined and dealt with according to Law; and if any Perfon or Persons shall affault or refift, or fhall promote or encourage the affaulting, or refifting, any Conftable or Keeper of the faid Watch Houfe, or any of the faid Beadles, Watchmen, or Patrols, whilft in the Execution of their Office or Duty, every fuch Perfon fhall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay any Sum not exceeding Five Pounds; and if any Victualler or Keeper of any Publick House or Cellar fhall knowingly harbour or entertain any Beadle, Watchman, or Patrol, belonging to the faid Parish, or permit or fuffer any fuch Beadle, Watchman, or Patrol to remain in fuch Publick Houfe or Cellar during any Part of the Time appointed for their being on Duty as aforefaid, every fuch Victualler or Keeper of a Publick House or Cellar fhall, for the First Offence, forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty Shillings, and for the Second and every other Offence any Sun not exceeding Five Pounds.

XXIV. And be it further enacted, That the attend in the feveral Conftables of the faid Parifh fhall refpecin Rotation. tively, during the Time which fhall be appointed by the faid Committee for the faid Watchmen to be upon Duty, attend in the faid Watch House by Turns, in fuch Rotation as fhall be fettled by the faid Committee, fo that One of fuch Conftables fhall be prefent in the faid Watch House every Night, and every Conftable fo attending fhall, and

is

is hereby required to take Charge, and dispose of according to Law, all fuch Perfons as fhall be brought before him by any of the faid Beadles, Watchmen, or Patrols as aforefaid; and if any fuch Constable shall at any Time neglect or refuse to do and perform his Duty, according to the Directions and Meaning of this Act, he fhall, for every fuch Neglect or Refufal, forfeit and pay any Sum not exceeding Ten Shillings; and, in order the Lift of the better to enable the faid Committee to fettle the Conftables to Rotation of the Conftables as aforefaid, the High Constable for the City and Liberty of Westminster Clerk. fhall, and is hereby required from Time to Time, within Four Days next after the Appointment of Constables for the faid Parish, to make and return to the Vestry Clerk of the faid Parish a true List of the Names of all fuch Conftables as fhall be fo appointed for the faid Parish, and the said Vestry Clerk fhall lay the fame before the said Committee.

be delivered

to the Veftry

XXV. And, for the more effectually preventing Qualification improper Perfons being Deputy Conftables within of Deputy the faid Parish, be it enacted, That no Person fhall Conftables. be appointed a Deputy Constable for the faid Parish, who shall be a Victualler or Alehouse-keeper, or who shall not at the Time of fuch Appointment be an Householder, and refident in the said Parish, and who fhall not produce a Certificate or Testimonial in Writing, figned by the Churchwardens of the faid Parish, fignifying that he hath been approved by Three of the Veftrymen of the faid Parish.

Altered by 53 Geo. 3. ch. 38. f. 32. Vid. pa. 146.

Account of

XXVI. And, for the better enabling the faid Turncocks Beadles, Watchmen, and Patrols, to prevent Mif- to deliver an chief by Fire, be it further enacted, That every their Names, Turncóck now or hereafter to be employed within &c. to the the said Parish, by any Water Company, fhall and Vestry Clerk,

is