blazon of the City of London  
REASONS humbly Offered, for the BILL to Enable the City of LONDON to Pay their ORPHANS by Sale of 3000 l. per Annum of Their Lands, by a Revenue from Hackney-Coachmen, and by a Duty on Coals.  
AS to that Part of the Bill that concerns Hackney-Coachmen; It is humbly Offered, Why they should be under the Government and Regulation of the City of London, and Pay to the City, rather than Middlesex or Westminster.  
The City of London hath Time out of Mind made By-Laws, for regulating Disorders and Annoyances within the said City and its Liberties; And on this account did very Anciently limit the Numbers of Cars to be used in London-Streets, and give them Licenses yearly, (Which hath been often allowed in Westminster-Hall:) And likewise the Common-Council of London did of Later years, after the expiration of the Act of Parliament touching Hackney-Coaches (by Advice of the best Council) make an Act, to prevent mischief to the Streets and Inhabitants of the City, and damage to Trade by the multitude of Hackney-Coaches, Restraining them to a Number, and regulating their Stand.  
If the other Bill for Reviving the former Act, and Licensing Hackney-Coaches by Commissioners, take place, One part of it is directly repugnant to the other: For by the former Act, The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London are appointed Commissioners, 
13 & 14 Car. 2. c. 2. Sess. 31.  for putting that Act in Execution within London. But by the Bill, Seven Commissioners, appointed by their MAJESTY'S, only are to Licence and Regulate Coaches in London: By which the Mayor and Aldermen of London are to be perfectly ousted from their Government in London in that particular, and will be disabled to prevent or redress any Annoyances that may be occasioned thereby to the Streets.  
By the former Act of Parliament, the Rent of Hackney-Coaches was appointed for Enlarging several Streets as well in London as Westminster: And althô there was Raised thereby 34000 l. it was all applied to Westminster, Except 1000 or 1500 l. for Rebuilding Temple-Bar; which was as well for the Convenience of Westminster as London, being the common Boundary of them both. So that to give London an equal Advantage (the Streets whereof are as much at least used and broken by Hackney-Coaches as Westminster;) It is conceived, LONDON ought now to have the benefit of that Revenue, as Westminster had it before; either to make good their Streets, and reimburse their Charge in Enlarging some of their Streets, (particularly that over London-Bridge, which they have lately caused to be enlarged at a great Expense) or for some other Public use.  
As to the Academy propounded to be supported by the Hackney-Coachmen, That being designed for Noble men's and gentlemen's Sons; It might be presumed, Persons of their Quality should Endow and Maintain such a Foundation themselves, rather than enforce a Provision for it by an Imposition on Hackney-Coachmen, who no way Relate to it: And the City of London (where great part of them are Employed) have no compensation for the Damage it suffers by them.  
The Loss is exceedingly great the City of London sustained by means of the Dreadful Fire in Anno 1666, considering then Houses burned down, a vast quantity of Goods and Merchandizes destroyed, the great Charge of Rebuilding, the Interruption of their Trade, and the carrying it in great measure out of the City: Whereby the Losses and Calamity that befell London, have been a very great Gain and Advantage to Westminster, and the adjacent Parts in Middlesex, in the Improvement and Increase of their Trade.  
The City of London is Charged in all Taxes much higher than Middlesex and Westminster, and had pressed for a considerable Abatement in the last Aid, had it not been for Retarding the Act; And that they were in hopes of the Parliaments further Assistance, in enabling them to pay their ORPHANS.  
The City of London provides Sheriffs for the County of Middlesex, and excuseth the Gentlemen of the County from that Charge, maintains the County Gaol for Middlesex and Westminster, and is at the sole Charge of keeping all Sessions (which are many every year) of Gaol-delivery for all their Felons.  
And the City of London lies under a very great Charge from divers Charitable and Public Works, which the Inhabitants of Westminster and Middlesex are free from. For Instance, (amongst others) their several Hospitals, which cost them many Thousand Pounds per Annum to maintain, being all for the service and benefit of the Public, either in Educating and Providing for Poor Children, or Harbouring and Providing for Disabled Seamen and Soldiers.  
The City hath been at great Expenses in Raising a Months Tax yearly, ever since the Militia Act, 14 Car. 2. (which in Westminster and Middlesex hath been but a Quarter part;) And the raising and keeping up their Trained Bands upon several Public Occasions, and particularly on occasion of the late Popish Plot, hath cost the Citizens of London (over and above the said Tax) 500000 l.  
They have also been at great and constant Expense in Maintaining an Artillery Company, for Martial Exercise and Discipline.  
London also contributes towards Supporting the Poor of divers Parishes in Middlesex and Westminster.  
In Reference to the Coal Revenue desired, It was concluded by former Parliaments, to be the most Equal and Indifferent way of Raising Money for building the Churches, and other like Public Uses in London; And it is humbly hoped, This Parliament will bestow it now upon the City, for Relief of their ORPHANS: The burden whereof will not be great, and will lie principally on London and the Parts adjacent, which make no small Advantage by their Neighbourhood to London, and may well (for that and other Reason's ) contribute so small a part towards the Cities Support: And even those Parts without the City of London are inhabited by great Numbers of its Citizens.  
The Government of the City of London, (unless delivered from the Pressure of this great Debt) can never Subsist; And it may be considered, That the City is useful and serviceable to the Nation in divers respects, particularly by the great Sums raised Yearly to the Crown by its Trade; the Cities supplying Money by Loans, on all public Emergences; and the great part it bears of the Kingdom's Tax. But the Nation's Honour is concerned (and perhaps, at one time or other, its Safety may be so too,) That the Government of its Capital City should be maintained, and Assistance given them for the discharging a Debt (wherein so many poor Persons are concerned) Contracted only by the many, great, and unavoidable Calamities that have befallen the City, and by Payment of Interest from time to time; And not (as hath been suggested) in Extravagant Expenses, or to maintain the Mayor and Sheriffs, who Serve the Government at their own great Expense; And some of them have had their Estates greatly exhausted thereby.   

Printed by Samuel Roycroft, Printer to the Honourable City of London.