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To Mr Colquhoun
Keep The greater part of this Case, might it should soon be
without objection, communicated by the Opponents, for the sake of
sharing strong a Case they would have to
contend with. But in that event, it might be requisite in point
of prudence, that parts should be struck out, and some Report
of the Committee of Finance has been made, it might be necessary that
mention should be made of that Report, and Extracts given from it.

Case. - —
The following notes in
pencil were made
about a twelve month
ago by Mr Hawkins
(Eldest Son of the late Sir John
Hawkins) who has been
particularly studious of
the History of Westminster
and for many years
occupied the House in
the Broad Sanctuary,
next to the Abbey,
from which he removed
about 1 1/2 year ago
J.B. 12 Oct. 1798

Stating the Grounds of the annexed Bill for appropriating part of
Tothill Fields, to the reception of a Penitentiary, intended to be erected,
under the Penitentiary Contract Act, of the 7th July 1794. —

Might it not be of some use to say something of the abortive attempt
that was made in 17964 to improve the spot and of the failing of that
attempt through the Opposition made by the Parishes?

The waste spot, known by the name of Tothill Fields, contains at
present in the gross, about 58 Acres; including the Scite of Rochester Row
and that of the Old pile of Buildings, called the Five Chimnies, used in
the time of the great plague as a pest House(a), and for this long time, and
probably ever since that time, as a Poor House (which two Scites together
may occupy about two Acres of the extent) and the space employed in
Roads, which may occupy about six or eight Acres.—

The Westminster Scholars, as stated in the Bill, make use of the
waste as a Cricket Ground — A considerable part of it, to the amount of —"—
several acres, is in a swampy state, both Summer and Winter: a much more
considerable part, in Winter: the whole of the portion lying behind Rochester
Row, amounting to upwards of six acres, is altogether unproductive; being
without a single blade of Grass upon it: and a considerable part of the
remainder, is equally bare of Herbage, the Surface being continually covered by
fresh Loads of Rubbish, promiscuously shot down upon it. —

The situation has been noticed, in popular Songs, as a place of resort
for disorderly and dishonest Company: and, for the purpose of seditious meetings
and enterprizes, it could, so long as it continues in its present state, afford
at any time a spot but too commodious: commodious, not only by reason
of the magnitude of its expanse, but on account of its being common land,
that is a spot on which persons of all descriptions and designs, have a
right to place themselves, and in any numbers, without being liable to be
warded off, & dealt with as Trespassers, as they might be if it were —"—"—
private Ground.—

From this circumstance, added to that of its comparative vicinity to the
King's residence, and to Westminster Hall, it would afford (especially since St. Georges
Fields has been so much overspread with Buildings) the readiest place of Meeting, for
any enterprize of insolence or hostility, against the King, the two Houses of Parliament,
or the Courts of Justice: and should disaffection ever spread among the King's Guards,
—

(a) Stowe's Survey of London by Strype.

Identifier: | JB/123/200/001"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 123.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	123	Main Headings	panopticon
Folio number	200	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles	case - / stating the grounds of the annexed bill, for appropriating a part of tothill fields, to the reception of a penitentiary house, intended to be erected, under the penitentiary contract act, of the 7th july 1794
Category	copy/fair copy sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	c1
Penner		Watermarks	[[watermarks::[monogram] propatria [britannia motif, bell motif] 1795]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections	jeremy bentham	Paper Produced in Year	1795
Notes public		ID Number	41626
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