To His Grace, the Duke of Queensberry, Her Majesty's High Commissioner, and the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament.  
The PETITION of George Drummond Keeper of the Tolbooth of Edinburgh,  
Humbly Sheweth,  
THAT your Petitioner having a Commission from the Good Town of Edinburgh, to be Keeper of their Tolbooth, with all Fees, Emoluments, and Privileges which had been enjoyed by any formerly in that Office, and free of all Burdens whatsoever, he has been in Possession of the said Office, by virtue of his Right, and all the Perquisits thereto belonging.  
A great part of his Charge being the Receiving and Keeping of Prisoners committed for Crimes, from all places of the Kingdom, Your Petitioner was by necessary Consequence obliged to Maintain and Aliment them, (the Parties themselves being for the most part very poor) and he gave in his Accounts from time to time to the Lords of Treasury, who before the Year 1688 ordered punctual Payment, to be made both of the Aliment and House-dues of such Prisoners, Excepting what was due for those who were set at Liberty, upon the General Indemnity just Published before the Revolution, amounting to above four Hundred lib. Sterl: of which, he expected to be reimbursed by the Government, and what he still hopes will be taken into Consideration.  
Your Petitioner has, since the Revolution, continu●● in the same Office, and till within these 7 Years or thereby, has received several Precepts for the said House-dues, and Aliment jointly to Account, from the Lords of Treasury, and upon the Faith thereof, did continue to advance the Aliment of Criminal Prisoners as formerly; But finding that these constant Out-givings did far exhaust all his other Profits, Your Petitioner was not able to support so great a Burden, which gave Occasion to Her Majesty's Advocate, to represent that Matter to the Lords of Privy Council, who were pleased to determine, That the Magistrates of Edinburgh should pay the House-dues of Prisoners Incarcerate for Murder, Theft, and such Crimes, But that both their Aliment and the House-dues of Prisoners on account, and by order of the Government, should be defrayed by the Public, and recommended Your Petitioner to the Lords of Treasury for that Effect, as the Act itself dated 3 of October 1704 Years at more length bears: But upon a Representation given in by the Good Town, Signifying, That the Government had been in constant Use to make Payment of both these Charges, and that they are so to continue by the late Act of Security, as also, That Sheriffs at Clearing of their Equys are in use to get large Allowance on the account of Public Prisoners, which demonstrates, That these are a Charge on the Government; there was a stop put to the Sentence, to your Petitioner's great Loss and Disappointment.  
There being no further Procedure in this Business since that time, and it being of very Great Moment to your Petitioner, to have some Certainty to depend on, he is necessitate with all Humility, to lay his Case before Your Grace and the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament, and begs leave to represent,  
That his Charge, being a very great Trust, obliges him to find Caution for a greater Value than any other Office in the Kingdom; That it binds him to constant Attendance, and to keep many Servants, for whom he is answerable; That besides, your Petitioner and his Cautioners are obnoxious to the constant Hazard of the Escape of Prisoners and otherwise, and did actually sustain the Loss of near 300 lib. Sterling by the breaking up the Tolbooth summarily, without any Warrant from the Government, about five Years ago.  
All this being considered, your Petitioner is firmly persuaded, That the Fees and Emoluments, belonging to his Office, (of which the Aliment and House-dues of Criminal Prisoners make a great part) will be thought but a suitable Recompense for his Trouble & Charge, especially seeing his Claim is expressly founded on his Private Right.  
Your Petitioner has an entire Confidence, that the Wisdom, Justice, and Goodness of Your Grace and the High Court of Parliament, will fall on some effectual Means, to refound your Petitioner of these Sums, a gr●●● part of which he hath advanced out of his Pocket on the 〈…〉 Account, (the laying out whereof has been a very heavy Weight on all his other Business) and if he be not reimbursed, of what is due of bygone Debts, and Provision made for Relief in time coming, he and his numerous Family will be inevitably ruined, which will be very hard after so long and Faithful Service. And seeing besides his said Loss at the Revolution, and in manner above-specified, there is Resting to your Petitioner the Sum of 1350 l: Sterl. or thereby. And that at present there are several Criminals in Prison, to be brought to Trial, who are at the Point of Starving, unless some speedy Remedy be applied.  
May it therefore please Your Grace & the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament, to determine, who shall be liable in Payment of the foresaid House-dues and Aliment of Criminal Prisoners, and to lay down some effectual Rule, by which not only the Bygones may be paid up, but Your Petitioner have some Certainty to depend on for Payment of the same in time coming. And your Petitioner shall ever Pray, etc.