From G. Bickham et al. (unpublished)
By an Act of the General Assembly of the 8th April, 1786,
directing the sale of such of the City Lots as remain the property
of the State, your hon. Board is authorised and required to
reserve so many of the public Lots as shall be at least two
hundred and not more than four hundred feet square, in such part
of the city as you may judge most convenient, to be appropriated
as a burial ground for the Interment of Strangers and others, who
may not have been in communion with any religious society at the
Time of their decease.
As Officers of the City, we pray the Attention of your hon.
Board to the above Requisition of the Legislature, and request
that an Appropriation of Ground may be made for the purpose, in
such part of the City as may be judged most convenient; and beg
leave to inform you that we have examined the plan of the City,
now in the Comprtoller General’s Office, and find a Number of
Vacant Lots to the Southward of the Hospital and House of
Employment, on Lombard street, between Sixth and Tenth streets
from the river Delaware, 78 by 396 feet each, which we are of
opinion would be more convenient for the purpose than any others
of the public Lots now vacant. We therefore pray an Appropriation
of as many of these Lots for the use of the City as your hon.
Board may think proper to grant. We have the honor to be,
Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servants,