Royal Letter - Directing the Bishop of London to Hold a Collection for the Poor [1761-03-09]

George R.

Right Reverend Father in God, Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Councillor, We greet you well; Being informed that the poorer Sort of Our Subjects in and about Our City of London do suffer great Hardships at this Time, and being graciously disposed to do all that lies in Us for their Relief and Support, We have thought fit, heartily, to recommend it to you, and do hereby expressly require you, to take Care that Publication be made in all the Parish Churches within Our said City, and Liberties thereof, the Lord’s Day next following the Date of these Presents, that the Church Wardens or Overseers of the Poor do, the week following, collect the Benevolence of Charitable and Well-disposed People at their respective Dwellings within each Parish, for, and towards the Support and Relief of Our said poor Subjects; and that the Ministers in each Parish do, effectually, excite their Parishioners to a charitable Contribution, and to cause the several Sums, so collected, to be paid immediately into the Chamber of London, to be distributed to the several Parishes as the Lord Mayor of Our said City, and you, shall think fit and direct; And that Our own Example may not be wanting, Our further Pleasure is, that you call upon Our Commissioners of Our Treasury for such Sum of Money as We have directed and appointed to be paid to that End, and to dispose the same as aforesaid. And so We bid you heartily Farewell. Given at Our Court at S^t James’s the Ninth Day of March 1761. In the First Year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty’s Command

Holdernesse

Superscribed
To the Right Reverend
Father in God Our Right
Trusty & Welbeloved Councillor
Tho^s Lord Bishop of London.