to the Lord Treasurer, discovered to him; Informing him, That certain old Fines were kept there, in the Custody of the Cirographer, [i.e. the Officer in the Common-Pleas that engrosseth Fines;] and that the same Fines ought to be in the keeping of the Lord Treasurer and Chamberlains of the Exchequer: And moved him to call the said Cirographer before him, to know by what Right he kept the same; and thereupon to give Order for their removing.

One who lived in the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, speaking of the Hospitals, and particularly of this, applying himself to the Romanists that boasted of their Hospitality: "Look into London, said he, what Hospitals be there founded in the Gospel Time. The Poor indeed relieved; Youth godly brought up; and the Idle set to work. Popery would sometime feed the Hungry, but seldom correct the unprofitable Drones, that sucked the Honey from the labouring Bees; nor bring up Children in the Fear of God. But to fill the Belly, and not to teach Virtue, is to increase Vice. Well worth BRIDEWELL, therefore: For it is a good School."

This a Right Reverend Bishop of Durham spake to oppose his Popish Adversary, who had preferred the Times of Popery before those of the Gospel, because of the Hospitality of their Religious Houses.

Another, who wrote above an Hundred Years ago, giveth this Account of Bridewell: That in it were an Hundred poor Children trained up, besides many other Persons kept at work.

This, and the Three other Hospitals, were thought to spend, by Charitable Gifts upon the Poor, about 10000l. yearly.

In Bridewell, at the City's Charge, were built in those Times Twelve new Granaries, sufficient to contain Six Thousand Quarters of Corn; and Two Storehouses, which might hold Four Thousand Chaldron of Coals; for the Provision of the City: At the Charge of 3000l. or there abouts.]

The Use of this Hospital now is for an House of Correction, and to be a Place where all Strumpets, Night-walkers, Pick-pockets, vagrant and idle Persons, that are taken up for their ill Lives, as also incorrigible and disobedient Servants, are committed by the Mayor and Aldermen, who are Justices of the Peace within the said City: And being so committed, are forced to beat Hemp in publick View, with due Correction of whipping, according to their Offence, for such a Time as the President and Court shall see Cause. The Court-Day being generally every Friday in the Forenoon.

And to this Hospital are sent several Youths, as Apprentices to Glovers, Flax-Dressers, &c. who there reside: And these are clad in Blue Doublets and Breeches.

In the Year 1666, this House was burnt, and all the Apartments thereto belonging; as also all the Dwelling-Houses in the Precinct of Bridewell; which was about Two Thirds of the Revenues of the House. But notwithstanding its lying in Ruins, the Governors made Provision for the several Arts-Masters and their Apprentices, in Places remote from the City, until such Time as the said Hospital could be rebuilt. And now the Chapel, Court-House, Work-Houses, and Dwelling-Houses within the said Hospital (by the Care and Pains of the worthy Governors thereof instructed therewith, and the liberal Contributions of divers worthy Persons) are all rebuilt, in a more convenient manner than formerly. Which Reparations, Rebuilding, and other incident Charges occasioned by the Fire, amounted to above 6000l. And now the working Trades go on in the same manner as before.

And moreover, there have been Vagrants, and the like idle People, taken in and relieved. Also Apprentices brought up in the aforesaid Trades, every Year many Hundreds.

And besides the great Loss that this House sustained by the Fire in 1666, their Revenue was much impaired by Two other Fires that happened at Wapping; where a great many Tenements belonging to it were burnt; the one in June, 1673; and the other in November, 1682.]

The Account of Bridewell, brought in for the Year 1704, was as follows:

Vagrants, and other indigent and miserable People received here the last Year, 441

Maintained and brought up in divers Arts and Trades, 118

The Account of Bridewell, given in for the Year 1705, was thus:

Vagrants, and other indigent and miserable People received here, were in Number 366

Maintained and brought up in divers Arts and Trades, Apprentices, 132

The Condition of Bridewell Hospital from the Year 1705, to 1706, (as it was published) stood thus:

Received into this Hospital this Year, Vagrants, and other indigent and miserable People, 171

Received from the Prison of Newgate, Convicted Women, who pleaded the Queen's Pardon, upon Condition to be kept at hard Labour in the said Hospital for one whole Year, and afterward during the Queen's Pleasure, 11

Maintained in the said Hospital, and brought up in divers Arts and Trades at the only Charge of the Hospital, Apprentices, 133

The Condition of the said Hospital from Easter 1706, to Easter 1707, stood thus:

Vagrants and other miserable People, and 19 Women from Newgate, to be kept at hard Labour, received into this Hospital the last Year, 272

Maintained in the said Hospital, and brought up in divers Arts and Trades, 138

Some Years after, viz. Anno 1711.

Received into Bridwell the last Year, 336

Discharged, Convicted Men and Women, 16

Remaining, Convicted Persons, 40

Maintained there, and brought up in divers Arts and Trades, Apprentices, 114

And the Two late Years, viz. 1717, and 1718, these were the true Reports brought in.

Anno 1717. Received into Bridewell, Vagrants, &c. 350

Maintained and brought up in Trades, Apprentices, 103

Anno 1718. Received Vagrants, and other indigent and miserable People, 288

Maintained in the said Hospital, and brought up in Trades and Arts, Apprentices, 94]

The President, Sir William Withers, Knight and Alderman.

The Treasurer, John Taylor, Esq;