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Foreign News
March 21, 1745
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
On October 13, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London presented an address to King George at Kensington, highlighting recent street robberies, armed gangs, and attacks on officers. They pledged vigorous action against the crimes. The King graciously responded, assuring support for law enforcement and immediate measures to suppress the disorders.
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From the London Gazette.
Kensington, Oct. 13. This Day the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London waited on His Majesty with the following Address; occasion'd by the many Street Robberies.
To the King's Most Excellent Majesty,
The humble Address of the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London.
Most Gracious Sovereign,
WE your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, having taken into Consideration the many Disorders and Robberies which have been committed within these few Weeks last past, in the Streets of your loyal Metropolis, beg Leave to approach your Throne, and humbly to represent to your most sacred Majesty,
That divers Confederacies of great Numbers of evil disposed Persons arm'd with Bludgeons, Pistols, Cutlasses, and other dangerous Weapons, infest not only the private Lanes and Passages, but likewise the publick Streets and Places of usual Concourse, and commit most daring Outrages upon the Persons of your Majesty's good Subjects, whose Affairs oblige them to pass thro' the Streets, by terrifying, robbing and wounding them; and those Facts are frequently perpetrated at Such Times as were heretofore deem'd Hours of Security.
That the Officers of Justice have been repuls'd in the Performance of their Duty, some of whom have been Shot at, some wounded, and others murder'd, in endeavouring to discover and apprehend the said Persons, by which Means many are intimidated from duly executing their Offices, and others put in manifest Danger of their Lives.
These unhappy Circumstances do, as we apprehend, tend greatly to weaken the Hands of the Magistrates, and render the Laws ineffectual:
It is to us a most alarming Consideration and Matter of great Grief that these Crimes should, in so short a Time, have grown to so great a Height; and we beg Leave humbly to assure your Majesty, that we will vigorously, and with the utmost Diligence, apply ourselves to restrain these Violences, and detect the Authors of them.
Permit us, Sir, to express our Hopes, that a speedy, rigorous and exemplary Execution of the Laws upon the Persons of Offenders, as they shall fall into the Hands of Justice, may, under your Majesty's Princely Wisdom, conduce greatly to the suppressing these Enormities, by striking Terror into the Wicked, and preventing others from entering into such evil Courses.
We thought it our indispensable Duty, to lay these Facts, and our Apprehensions upon them, before your Majesty, not doubting but we shall receive effectual Support, and your good Subjects all possible Security from your Majesty's Authority and fatherly Protection.
To which Address his Majesty was pleased to return the following most gracious Answer.
THE Concern you express for the great Disorders mention'd in this Address, and the Assurance you give me of exerting your utmost Endeavours to detect and suppress them, are very agreeable to me, and cannot fail to have a good Effect.
Nothing shall be wanting on my Part to put the Laws in Execution; to support the Magistrates; rigorously to punish such heinous Offenders; and to protect the Persons and Properties of my good Subjects.
And I will give immediate Orders, that the most effectual Methods be taken for these Purposes.
They were received very graciously, and had all the Honour to kiss his Majesty's Hand.
Kensington, Oct. 13. This Day the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London waited on His Majesty with the following Address; occasion'd by the many Street Robberies.
To the King's Most Excellent Majesty,
The humble Address of the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London.
Most Gracious Sovereign,
WE your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, having taken into Consideration the many Disorders and Robberies which have been committed within these few Weeks last past, in the Streets of your loyal Metropolis, beg Leave to approach your Throne, and humbly to represent to your most sacred Majesty,
That divers Confederacies of great Numbers of evil disposed Persons arm'd with Bludgeons, Pistols, Cutlasses, and other dangerous Weapons, infest not only the private Lanes and Passages, but likewise the publick Streets and Places of usual Concourse, and commit most daring Outrages upon the Persons of your Majesty's good Subjects, whose Affairs oblige them to pass thro' the Streets, by terrifying, robbing and wounding them; and those Facts are frequently perpetrated at Such Times as were heretofore deem'd Hours of Security.
That the Officers of Justice have been repuls'd in the Performance of their Duty, some of whom have been Shot at, some wounded, and others murder'd, in endeavouring to discover and apprehend the said Persons, by which Means many are intimidated from duly executing their Offices, and others put in manifest Danger of their Lives.
These unhappy Circumstances do, as we apprehend, tend greatly to weaken the Hands of the Magistrates, and render the Laws ineffectual:
It is to us a most alarming Consideration and Matter of great Grief that these Crimes should, in so short a Time, have grown to so great a Height; and we beg Leave humbly to assure your Majesty, that we will vigorously, and with the utmost Diligence, apply ourselves to restrain these Violences, and detect the Authors of them.
Permit us, Sir, to express our Hopes, that a speedy, rigorous and exemplary Execution of the Laws upon the Persons of Offenders, as they shall fall into the Hands of Justice, may, under your Majesty's Princely Wisdom, conduce greatly to the suppressing these Enormities, by striking Terror into the Wicked, and preventing others from entering into such evil Courses.
We thought it our indispensable Duty, to lay these Facts, and our Apprehensions upon them, before your Majesty, not doubting but we shall receive effectual Support, and your good Subjects all possible Security from your Majesty's Authority and fatherly Protection.
To which Address his Majesty was pleased to return the following most gracious Answer.
THE Concern you express for the great Disorders mention'd in this Address, and the Assurance you give me of exerting your utmost Endeavours to detect and suppress them, are very agreeable to me, and cannot fail to have a good Effect.
Nothing shall be wanting on my Part to put the Laws in Execution; to support the Magistrates; rigorously to punish such heinous Offenders; and to protect the Persons and Properties of my good Subjects.
And I will give immediate Orders, that the most effectual Methods be taken for these Purposes.
They were received very graciously, and had all the Honour to kiss his Majesty's Hand.
What sub-type of article is it?
Court News
Political
What keywords are associated?
London Street Robberies
Armed Gangs
King Address
Crime Suppression
Officers Attacked
What entities or persons were involved?
His Majesty
Lord Mayor And Aldermen Of The City Of London
Where did it happen?
London
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
London
Event Date
Oct. 13
Key Persons
His Majesty
Lord Mayor And Aldermen Of The City Of London
Outcome
officers repulsed, shot at, wounded, or murdered; king's assurance of rigorous punishment and protection for subjects.
Event Details
The Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen addressed the King on disorders and robberies in London streets by armed confederacies using bludgeons, pistols, cutlasses; outrages on subjects and officers; weakening of magistrates; pledge to restrain and detect offenders; hope for exemplary execution of laws.