WHereas by a late Act of Parliament , For repairing the High-waies and Sewers , and for paving and keeping clean of the Streets in and about the Cities of London and Westminster , &c. it is ( amongst other things ) enacted and commanded , That all persons within the City of London and Liberties thereof shall sweep and cleanse , or cause to be swept and cleansed , all the Streets , Lanes , Alleys and publick places before their respective houses , buildings and walls , twice every week , ( that is to say , on Wednesdaies and Saturdaies ) and cause all the Soil , Dirt and other Filth to be taken up into Baskets , Tubbs or other Vessels , ready for the Raker or Scavenger to carry away , upon pain to forfeit three shillings four pence for every offence or neglect respectively :

And that no person or persons whatsoever shall throw , cast or lay , or cause , permit or suffer to be thrown , cast or laid , any Sea-coal-ashes , Dust , Dirt , or other Filth or Annoiance , in any open Street , Lane or Alley within the said City or Liberties , before or against his , her or their dwelling-houses , buildings or walls , on the penalty of five shillings ; nor before the houses , buildings or walls of any of their neighbours or other Inhabitants ; or before or against any Church or Church-yard , or any other publick houses , buildings , or places whatsoever ; nor shall cast , lay or throw , or cause to be cast , layed or thrown into any common or publick Sink , Vault , Water-course , Common sewer or High-way within the said City and Liberties , or any other private Vault or Sink of any of his Neighbours or other Inhabitants , any Ashes , Dust , Filth , Ordure , or other noisome thing whatsoever , but shall keep or cause the same to be kept in their respective houses , back-sides or yards , until such time as the Raker or Scavenger do come to carry away the same , and then shall carry or cause the same to be carried out and delivered to the Raker or Scavenger , upon pain to forfeit for every such offence twenty shillings :

Also it is enacted , That no person shall hoope , wash or cleanse any Pipes , Barrels , or other Cask or Vessells , in any Street , nor set out any empty Coach to make or mend , or rough Timber or Stones to be sawn or wrought in the Streets , on the penalty of twenty shillings for every offence :

And further , that the Rakers and Scavengers every day in the week ( except Sundaies and other Holy-daies ) shall bring or send their Carts into all the Streets , places , Wards , Parishes and divisions where the same can pass , and at or before their approach , by a Bell , Horn , Clapper , or otherwise , shall give notice of their coming , and give like notice in every Court , Alley or place into which the said Carts cannot pass , and abide , and stay a convenient time for the bringing forth of their Ashes , Dust , Dirt , Filth and Soil to their Carts , upon pain of forty shillings for every offence or neglect respectively :

And likewise that every Housholder forthwith sufficiently repair or cause to be repaired or paved the Street , Lane or Alley before his house , wall or building , to the Channel , upon pain to forfeit twenty shillings for every default , and of twenty shillings a week for every week til the same be amended :

Now inasmuch as there is an apparent neglect of the said Act throughout this City and Liberties , and to the intent that the same may be henceforth duly executed in all the particulars before recited , and none be surprised through ignorance either of his duty or the penalties of his disobedience , It is thought fit to give you this intimation thereof , hereby requiring you in his Majesties name to give present notice and warning of the same to all Inhabitants , Scavengers , Rakers & others in any wise concerned within your Ward , strictly charging and commanding them and every of them respectively to be diligently intent in performance of their several duties in and about the premisses , upon the utmost penalties of the said Act ; for recovery whereof , and the impartial prosecution of all offenders in any the cases above mentioned , effectual care is taken that the Serjeant and Yeoman of the Channels ( the proper Officers in this behalf ) be vigilant , active and faithfull in their duties .

You are further to give this special direction , that in sweeping of the Streets the Soil be removed and swept up from the Channels to an heap under the houses , and not left or suffered to lie neer the Channel , to be forced by the motion of Carts and Coaches , or washt into the same by showres of Rain . And herein , and in all other means conducible to the performance of this service , so acceptable to his Majesty , and so many waies concerning the honour , health and good government of the City , you are to use your utmost care and endeavours , as you tender his Majesties pleasure , and the welfare and happiness of this City .