1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

More documents

Recommendations

Info

had by no means been forgot by the Magistrates, and that it was his first and last thought as an Individual he hoped that here would be a meeting early in the week. Monday: Mr Roberts called on Mr Anderson to know what had been done, to which he replied that there had been no meeting of the Toun Council which he regretted exceedingly, and as he began to feel the delicacy of his situation he had determined to wash his hands of the business unless the Magistrates gave him an early opportunity of discharging the duty he had undertaken by assembling the Toun Council , Mr Roberts urged very strongly to Mr Anderson the propriety of coming to a speedy determination and said that Provost Riddoch had done him the honour of naming with him, Mr Anderson in a manner that left an impression on the minds of most present that an answer would be given to the prayer by the magistrates in a few days now a fortnight had elapsed. Mr Roberts having communicated the substance of the preceding conversation to the sub Committee they were of opinion that it would be proper to convene the mediators and inform them the state of the negotiations which was accordingly done on Wednesday following and Mr Roberts thus addressed them. Gentlemen – the sub Committee have thought it their duty to assemble you for the purpose of acquainting you in an official manner of the situation in which the negotiation with the Magistrates at present stands, you will recollect Gentlemen at the Meeting which took place in the Toun Hall that after some discussion as to the proper mode of bringing our prayer before the Toun council Provost Riddoch suggested that I should meet Mr Anderson to converse the matter over and I accordingly did meet him that same evening, and he undertook to lay the matter before the Toun Council at its first meeting and I am bound to say what passed left an impression on my mind that Mr Anderson then expected an early meeting of the Toun Council – now Gentlemen more than a fortnight having elapsed I called in Mr Anderson on Monday to enquire what had been done and if nothing, if he expected an early meeting of the Toun Council, to which he answered that no meeting had yet taken place nor did he know when there would be a meeting, and that he had felt it necessary to mention to the Magistrates that he would wash his hands of the business if they did not give him an early opportunity of laying the prayer of the Guildry before them in Council. – Gentlemen I should regret that the negotiation with the Magistrates devolved to other hands than Mr Anderson who is personally (tho’ as a Magistrate he gives no opinion) friendly to the cause, from an apprehension that if Mr Anderson should be disappointed of an early meeting of the Toun Council he may resign the part he had undertaken. I have thought it right therefore to assemble you for your advice. The result of the consultation was that Mr Roberts was to wait on Mr Anderson, and entreat that he should not have an opportunity even until the Wednesday following still to keep the business in his hands and his complying therewith would be most agreeable to the Sub Committee. Mr Anderson agreed and added that he would not resign what he had undertaken without informing Mr Roberts. On the 11 th received from Mr Anderson the Note No 1 to which he sent in answer No 2. Nov 14 Messers Roberts and Mill waited on Mr Small and stated to him that several of the Magistrates had been heard to express sentiments hostile to the prayer of the Guildry, they called on him therefore to assemble the Mediators in order that some proceeding might be adopted to bring the negotiation to a close. Nov 19 In consequence of this request it would appear Mr Small assembled the Mediators on Saturday and Mr Baxter was appointed by them to wait on Provost Riddoch to know from him if any thing had been done to bring the negotiation between the Guildry and the Magistrates to a close. That evening the Mediators intimated their desire to meet the sub Committee at Merchants 8 o’clock. At this Meeting the Mediators except, Mr Robert Millar, and the Sub committee attended when Mr Baxter communicated to the Gentlemen that he had waited on Provost Riddoch and a great deal of conversation had passed between them the whole of which it was unnecessary to repeat, but he substance was that he as chief Magistrate considered himself as Trustee of one year only and he was determined to resist the prayer of the Guildry and 20
hand down to his successors in office the power of Magistrates as he found them. – he considered that the Magistrates would not be justified in acceding to the change proposed by the Guildry, as in his mind the Convention of Burghs before whom it was proposed to bring the Matter had no power to sanction such change, that such a change would be legally brought about by application to Parliament or the privie Council only. – At the same time he was but one of the Magistracy, but that he would assemble the Toun Council and let them judge for themselves, he himself being determined to remain neutral at the discussion. Mr Baxter than asked him when he would call a Council to which he replied that he did not know when it might suit the Gentlemen to meet in council as they were very busy about their own affairs. The Mediators then mentioned their regret that the negotiation had taken so unpromising a turn, and that tho’ the considered Provost Riddoch’s answer as official they would still recommend to Mr Roberts as Preses of the Sub committee to write a note to Mr Anderson that if no meeting of the Council took place by Monday the 25 Inst that Mr Roberts was to consider the negotiation at an end which Mr Roberts complied with in the following note No 3. Thursday: This morning Mr Miln called on Mr Roberts and stated that he had heard the Action for the funds had been called on the 12 th Inst notwithstanding the assurances the Sub Committee had given Mr Anderson in their note to him of the same date that it would not - Mr Roberts waited on Mr Saunders to know if that was the case, but Mr Saunders had received no advice: however on enquiring it was found to be so, and Mr Roberts considering that he was bound to give Mr Anderson a clear explanation how it had arisen in order to free the Sub Committee from blame Mr Saunders gave him in about an hour after, the statement contained in the Letter to him – No 4. On Mr Roberts leaving Mr Saunders he heard that a Toun Council has been summoned to meet in about half an hour and fearing he might not receive Mr Saunders written explanation he called on Mr Anderson and accounted to him how the mistake of calling the action had occurred and Mr Anderson very handsomely declared he had not suspected the Sub committee of being privy, and that he would state the whole explanation I had given him to the Toun Council.. In about an hour afterwards Mr Anderson wrote Mr Roberts the Note No 5. Mr Roberts having heard that Provost Riddoch had dilated a good deal in the Council regarding the action being called in face of a written pledge that it should not be so by the Sub Committee Mr Roberts immediately waited on Mr Anderson and showed him the written explanation which he having read, Mr Roberts then said, Mr Anderson will you allow me to put two questions to you. 1 st Will you candidly tell me if to your opinion that the Mistake of calling the action for the funds had any influence in bringing the Magistrates to the resolution which you have just communicated to me. – Mr Anderson after a little hesitation said it was his opinion it has had no influence on the Magistrates. 2dly. Mr Roberts then put his second question. As you note Mr Anderson in its concluding sentence seems to separate the funds from the general claims of the Guidry do you think if we can satisfy the Magistrates that the action has been called by mistake, they would negotiate with us on that point? Mr Anderson said he really believed the door was shut against all farther negotiation. Copy Letter referred to in the foregoing Notes: No 1. Dear Sir, I am sorry that I have not yet any communication to make from the Magistrates. It however occurs to me that tomorrow is the day when the action about the funds ought to be called, and I think you hinted the other day that it would not be proceeded in at present in hope that the Magistrates would accede to your wishes. Now I should be apprehensive that if the Magistrates should not comply with you request it might be said that they only wished delay in order to get the business another reason put off. I therefore hope you will excuse me for giving you this hint, that you may take such steps as you may think proper, so that I may be kept clear of blame in thus business &c. 11 November 1816 Signed Patk Anderson. 21
Page 1 and 2: Guildry Sederunt Book Volume Second
Page 3 and 4: The Clerk of the committee paid bef
Page 5 and 6: The Clerk of the Guildry Committee
Page 7 and 8: The Toun Council having unequivocal
Page 9 and 10: The Committee desired the following
Page 11 and 12: e construed into a contempt of the
Page 13 and 14: these meetings have been convened b
Page 15 and 16: present shall, at all times, be int
Page 17 and 18: The Meeting appointed Messers Willi
Page 19: meeting in the Toun hall of the Sub
Page 23 and 24: The Committee resolved to publish t
Page 25 and 26: application to the Convention of Bu
Page 27 and 28: The Clerk read the minute of last M
Page 29 and 30: That as the Magistrates and Council
Page 31 and 32: therefore, thus appointed, most res
Page 33 and 34: Price said to have been offered for
Page 35 and 36: and Council, with the advice of the
Page 37 and 38: William Neish, James Adam, William
Page 39 and 40: 14 th Curt and a copy of the Petiti
Page 41 and 42: Clark of his Majesty’s Customs, D
Page 43 and 44: At a General Meeting of the Guildry
Page 45 and 46: Mr Sturrocks motion was carried una
Page 47 and 48: The Meeting thereupon at half an ho
Page 49 and 50: 6 th . That a Committee be appointe
Page 51 and 52: next, which have not yet been audit
Page 53 and 54: a little more for himself than the
Page 55 and 56: power to manage their own affairs.
Page 57 and 58: Mr David Blair Jr thereupon moved t

1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?