1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

The Committee resolved to publish those proceedings for the information of the Guildry and
they appointed the Sub Committee to prepare them for publication along with the Clerk.
The Committee unanimously voted their thanks to the Mediators and to the Sub committee
for their conduct on the negotiation and appointed this vote to be added to the report by the
Clerk.
The Committee appointed the Sub Committee to prepare a memorial relative to an action of
malversation to be laid before the Committee and they added Messers David Blair Junr, John
Peter, Thomas Ivory, William Ellet and James Saunders to the Sub Committee. – The same
committee to attend the conduct of the action depending for the funds and to report from time
to time.
The motion of declarator was in the meantime called in Court and carried on with vigour and
as the Committee left this matter to the Law agents they had no occasion to meet for some
time.
At a General Meeting of the Guildry Incorporation of Dundee held within the Ancient
Operative Lodge on Wednesday the 19 th day of February Current at twelve o’clock noon in
consequence of a public requisition by twenty one members of the Incorporation:
Mr Robert Jobson as permanent Preses of the Guildry took the Chair
Mr Jobson stated that this Meeting had been called for the purpose of voting the address to
the Prince Regent; and he hoped no gentleman would bring forward any business
unconnected with the object for which the Meeting had been called.
Mr Roberts concurred with Mr Jobson in the propriety of not discussing subjects foreign to
the purpose of the Meeting; and he hoped that the resolutions he was about to propose would
not be considered irrelevant for they related to an obstruction which it had been attempted to
throw in the way of the Guildrys now assembling. Mr Anderson the Dean of Guild appointed
by the Magistrates having declined to assemble the Incorporation in terms of the requisition.
– Mr Roberts had intimated to the Dean that it was his intention to move at the Meeting a
vote of censure upon his conduct and he might defend himself either personally or by writing.
– In consequence of this motion Mr Anderson had addressed to them the following letter.
William Roberts Esquire
Dear Sir
Mr Collier called this forenoon, and stated that you had requested him to intimate to me, that
at a Meeting to be held tomorrow it is intended to make a vote of censure upon me for
refusing to comply with the requisition which you and some other Gentlemen sent to me last
week. For this information I beg you will accept of my thanks. Although it would certainly be
very gratifying to me, were my conduct as a public man to meet with the approbation of my
fellow citizens, yet I trust that neither the desire of praise nor the dread of censure will ever
make me to act otherwise than what I consider to be my duty. No man can approve more
highly than I do of addressing the Prince Regent upon the present occasion. But in the
requisition which I received (the one published in last weeks “Advertiser” is not a copy of it)
The Gentlemen who subscribed it styled themselves members of the Guildry Incorporation.
Now you know that the Toun Council plead in their Defences to the action presently
depending regarding the management of the Guildry fund that there is no Guildry
Incorporation in Dundee.
Whether this is a good defence or not I do not pretend to say; but at all events had I convened
the Guild Brethren in terms of the requisition I would have considered myself as having
comprehended the plea of the Toun Council by admitting what they deny; and I am confirmed
in this by the opinion of the Counsel employed by the Toun in that Process. This was my
reason for declining to comply with the requisition; and I hope you will have the goodness to
communicate it to the Meeting.
I am Dear Sir
Your most obed Sert
Dundee Febry 1817 (signed) Pat Anderson
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