Wapping's Answer TO white-chapel   

THE Answer of Wapping TO THE Reply of white-chapel.  
THE Reply of white-chapel would endeavour to confute our just Allegations, but being Objects of so much pity both in our Church and Lay State, We hope this our most true and modest Answer will be accepted.  
1. They assert that about 12 years ago Wapping had almost as many houses as white-chapel and say its believed that now we are above a third part, &c. 'twas warily expressed Houses not Persons; knowing that most of our Houses are very small and inhabited by poor Seamen, &c. therefore ( tho many) have but few persons in them. But since that time, several Hundreds of new, large, and beautiful houses have been erected in the Upper Hamlet; many of which are of 30 or 40 l. per Annum, and contain great and rich Families: so that it's believed by many of their own Hamlet, that we are not a Fifth part.  
2. They say their accidental poor is much greater than formerly, &c. All persons are sensible what a severe year this hath been to the poor, thro want of employment and scarcity of food, no wonder therefore if this year they have found an increase. But Wapping which under 20 years ago paid no Overcess for accidental poor, hath for several years last past, been constrained to raise above 200 l. per Annum Overcess, so that by their way of Computation, if they are 8 times, we are 200 times poorer than formerly.  
3. As to the Repairs of the Church, we hope 'tis so unreasonable, that it needs no Answer.  
4. As to the High-ways, we answer in general,  
That time out of mind we never paid but 6 l. per Annum towards the High-ways, which continued till about the year 1679, till which time we had Surveyors of our own, and having by that time paved our own High-ways, which were formerly graveled( which in our own Hamlet, not in another Parish( as they falsely affirm) cost so much money) They took the advantage of breaking the Old Contract, and have since most grievously burdened us by extravagant expenses and unjust Collections; having in one year collected in our Hamlet 17 l. more than they brought to Account.  
Church-lane( which they insist on) is no High-way but only a Back-lane.  
white-chapel hath great advantages in point of Trade, by the Road, which they pretend is so very chargeable; having in particular a Hay Market in their Street thrice a Week, and from every Hay Cart they receive 2 d. for their Scavengers and 2 d. to each House before which they stand: But no benefit accrues to Wapping by the Road, they being above a Mile distant from it.  
* The Scavengers have formerly let their Profits for 25 l. per Annum to one Walker.  
Why the last years Charge was greater than formerly( abating their exorbitant expenses, will be set forth by our Witnesses, and likewise why we choose Collectors of our own; but it's very wonderful that the same Road which according to their Ratiocination) but 14 years ago, cost but 18 l. per Annum, should now cost above 200 l. per Annum.  
As to St. Anns and St. James, they had no High-ways of their own, or some other great reason continued their Contributions; on the other side Shadwell a neighbouring Parish, in the year 1670 was made distinct from Stepney, without being burdened with Contributions to the High-ways of Stepney.  
5. Touching the Outlets of the Common Sewers, The sum of their Answer is, That we dwell in drained ground, which was formerly under water, which did then receive the water of the Upland; therefore it ought to do so still without any consideration. We reply by asking them What help did the Upland High ways receive from this ground when under water? Let us contribute no more now, than the ground did before drained, and the dispute is ended: And we hope it will appear not very reasonable that the Upland should receive all the advantages, but bear nothing of the burden of the lower ground: And when an industrious people have made dry land of a Marsh, and are at the yearly expense of vast Sums to keep up their Fences against the Water, and when notwithstanding all their care, they often sustain great damages by the Water, they hope the Mercy and Goodness of our Legislators will consider and commiserate their Condition.  
6. As to the Charities, we deny their great untruth that we have more than they, or benefit from the River: And let them but produce the Donations, if we are excluded in any particular, we desire not a part; but those that are given to the Parish in general, without my restriction, we must claim to; which have been demanded particularly by Philip D'Assigny late Chappel-warden, but shiftingly refused; and have been ever since wrongfully detained by the Upper Hamlet; Which will be more than an equivalent to their High-ways.  
We therefore pray this Honourable House to weigh our Condition, and since we are reduced to this Extremity, that we must let our chapel fall, and the public Offices of Religion perish, if we are continued in the same State we are. We therefore hope we shall find relief, in being made Parochial.