1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

therefore, thus appointed, most respectfully request, that you will do them the honour of
naming an hour when it may be convenient for you, as Chief Magistrate, to receive them; and
you will then be good enough to communicate any information regarding the public
improvement in question, which you may think proper. They are, respectfully Sir, your most
obedient servants
(signed) W, Roberts
David Blair Jr
Edw Baxter
Dundee April 23 1817
To this Letter Provost Riddoch returned no answer. Whether at this time he began to be afraid
of an investigation into the general merits of the plan – whether he thought that the natural
connection between it and the 1809 speculation on the same fatal spot might introduce a
discussion of the merits of the later project – or that as your Committee have been told never
having laid the plan and estimated expence of the works before his own Council for their
sanction and advice, he thought it would be throwing too great a slight even on them, to
communicate in the first instance his plans to a Committee appointed by the Guildry – we
cannot pretend to decide. His motives for with holding this information must be left to the
judgement of the public. We therefore proceed to lay before the Guildry the information we
have collected concerning the undertaking at the Sea Braes. As origin, object and estimated
expence.
First. The Origin – Barred from all authentic information concerning the origin of these works
by the conduct of the Chief Magistrate, your Committee can only refer to public report, which
attributes them to a wish to improve and beautify the Toun, and to the laudable motive of
furnishing employment to the labouring poor of Dundee during the present great distress
purposed have been answered, will be inquired into afterwards; but it is understood that the
funds necessary for carrying on the works are to defrayed out of the poor or Hospital
revenues.
Second. The same difficulty attends, in some degree, this part of the subject. But the plan the
Magistrates seem to have in view, is to enclose a space from the Sea. Equal to about two
English Acres including the Braes, by a strong wall projecting into the Sea to the distance of
forty five yeards from high water mark and stretching from Mr Martins property on the west
to join Mrs Thoms on the east boundary. It is understood that this place is to be fitted up with
sand from the banks, to the height of the Sea Wall above which, three feet of earth will have to
be added, and a parapet wall built sufficient to enclose this soil. The ground thus gained will
then be sold in five lots, for building stances. In presenting this account of the plan to the
Guildry, the Committee are aware it will be asked where the houses are to be built. They
cannot give an answer to the question. The road along the Braes is thirty one feet wide, and
the statutes provides for a breadth of forty feet for a turnpike road, if the houses then be
intended to front the Road, the north wall must be built on the edge of the precipice, and the
buildings must be supported upon foundation walls of fifty six feet in height. This would be
expensive, dangerous and perhaps impracticable. Again, if the houses be erected near the
South Boundary at the bottom of the precipice your Committee have yet to be informed how
access is to be procured down the precipice to the adventurous inhabitants.
Third. Your Committee have admitted their want of authentic information concerning the
origin, and their inability to comprehend the object of the works. They feel therefore, some
hesitation on these points. But in the most important branch of the subject they stand on
firmer ground, and ask you to rely with full confidence in the correctness of their information,
measurements, and calculations. The information of the estimates have been collected from
the best sources, the measurements have been taken on the spot, and compared with these of
the Tradesmen who offered to execute the work. The Sea Wall being in a state of forwardness,
we begin with laying before the Guildry that part of the expence. The Wall contains thirty nine
roods, and two thirds of a rood Face measure; which has been contracted for at £24:16/- Per
rood of face measure, besides payment for a centre arch to lead off the water from a common
sewer. The amount of this contract then is £983:14:8d. exclusive of the Centre arch. A
considerable time after this Contrast was concluded, and after great part of it had been
executed, the Magistrates then advertised for a contractor to fill up the space between the
Wall and the precipice. It may be enquired, why, in undertaking a work of this magnitude, the
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