Folios 206-207. A letter from W Scoones and J Scoones, Clerks to the Magistrates...

Folios 206-207. A letter from W Scoones and J Scoones, Clerks to the Magistrates of the Lower South Aylesford, from Tonbridge, [Kent]. They write under the direction of William Bailey, William Knox Child and the Reverend James Isaac Monypenny, all magistrates, to acknowledge the receipt of the circular of 25 November and to ensure they are doing all to preserve the public tranquillity. They report the magistrates wish to establish a constabulary force, of which they have an example of in West Sussex, but they doubt the 'practability' of such an arrangement due to the number of special constables needed. They comment that many are refusing to take oaths, referring to a previous communication with Robert Peel on the same subject, and request advice on what they can do to combat this problem.