BY the Custom of LONDON (Allowed and Confirmed by divers Acts of Parliament, and particu­larly Saved in the Act 12 Car. 2. which took away the Court of Wards) The Lord Mayor and Aldermen are Guardians of the ORPHANS of all Free-men of the said City, And have the Care and Govern­ment of them and their Estates; and every Free-man's Executors are bound by Recognizance to pay his Childrens Portions into the CHAMBER of London, Or else become bound with Three sufficient Securities, (Citizens of London) to pay them when they come of Age: Pursuant, and in Obedience to this Custom, the Portions of great Numbers of Orphans of the said City, have been Paid into the said Chamber, whereby the Chamber is become Indebted to them, As followeth:

The greatest Part of the City of London being Burnt down in Anno 1666, As also the Cities Publick Buildings, with the greatest part of their Revenue, The Chamber was forc'd (before the Grant of the Coal Revenue) to Disburse divers Great Sums of Mony (All which were taken up at Interest) to Recover the City out of its Ruins, in Rebuilding their Prisons and other Publick Buildings, Clearing and Paving the Streets, Repairing the Common Sewers, and other Publick Works. And whereas before the said Fire, the Fines received upon Renewing of Leases were a great Support to the Chamber; Most of the Cities Houses being Burnt down, The City was forc'd (for Encouragement of Tenants) to make Long Leases thereof without Fines, whereby the Chamber hath ever since been deprived of a considerable Income thereby.

The Cities Rights and Liberties having in the Reign of King CHARLES the Second been frequently Questioned and Invaded (the better to subject the City to Arbitrary Power,) And at last Judgment upon the Quo Warranto given against their being a Corporation; They were forc'd (for their necessary Defence therein) to Disburse very great Sums of Mony out of the Chamber of London; By which Means aforesaid, and the constant Payment of Interest, The Debt (which in 1665 was 265000 l.) is now Swelled to near 750000 l.

All the Freehold Lands and Tenements belonging to the Chamber of London do not amount to 4000 l. per Annum; Near 1000 l. per Annum whereof is charged with Charitable Ʋses, and the Residue is for Support of the Cities Government; Which yet the City (if it shall be thought Convenient to leave Its Government without that Support) will Sell towards Payment of the said Debt. The WIDOWS and ORPHANS (to whom this Debt is Owing) are many Hundreds in Number, and very Many of them have no other Subsistence to Depend upon; Wherefore it is Humbly hoped the PARLIAMENT will Compassionate Their and the Cities deplorable Case, and afford a Relief suitable to the Greatness of the Debt; Which They Presume the rather to Hope, in Regard the Citizens of London have (on All Occasions) been Service­able to the Publick, and particularly in Their Guards, during All the Time of Prosecuting The Popish Plot, And upon Occasion of the late Disturbances before His Present MAJESTIES Arrival to this City, Which hath Cost the Citizens near 300000 l.

The Debt being so vastly Great, and the Creditors so Numerous, It will not be possible to Preserve the City, and Support its Government against the Multitude of Actions that will be brought, Whereby the Corporation must be Torn in Pieces, without the Parliaments Favourable Assistance, to Enable the City to Pay off the Debt. And it is Humbly Submitted, Whether the Support of the City of London, ( and of Its Government) be not for the Interest and Benefit of the Whole Kingdom?