1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

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“To the Guildry Incorporation of Dundee; Gentlemen I request that you will assemble in the Guild Hall tomorrow at ten o’clock forenoon when business of importance will be submitted to the Meeting. I am &c Pat Whitson D.G.” The Meeting unanimously made choice of Mr Saunders to be Clerk to the Meeting. The following Minute of the Toun Council held on the 13t October was read to the Meeting. “At Dundee the thirteenth day of October in the year 1817 Sederunt of Council Alexander Riddoch Esquire Provost James Smith Councillor to the Guild David Brown John Calman Treasurer Patrick Anderson James Smith Jr Shoremaster David hazel John Guild James Gray Archd, Ogilvie Merchant Councillor Pat Whitson Dean of Guild William Barrie Merchant Councillor George Thoms old Bailie & Councillor Kinnaird Brown Trades Councillor John Crichton old Bailie & Councillor David Hill Trades Councillor Trades Bakers Tailors Hammermen Cordiners Bonnetmakers Weavers Glovers Fleshers Waulkers The Minute of the last Meeting of Council held upon the Sixth day of October Current was read: Provost Riddoch made the following address and motion “Gentlemen I have assembled the Council for the purpose of considering the expediency of applying to the King in Council for a new Set or Constitution for Dundee. I feel it incumbent on me fully to explain my reasons for proposing a change of such importance to the Toun and I hope that I shall meet with the indulgence of the Council if in the course of my explanation I shall have reason to say a few words of myself. By the present set the Burgesses have no voice either in the election of the Council or in the administration of the affairs of the Burgh. This System has long been complained of by the Inhabitants and occurrences which happened centuries ago have of late tended very much to increase the general discontent. From inattention to their interests the Guildry in the year 1606 allowed the election of their Dean to be transferred to the Council, to whom afterwards they also relinquished the management of their funds, and although the Council seemed still inclined to recognise the Guildry by appointing a number of their members to be Assessors to the Dean it is now a considerable time since they exercised even that last vestige of their rights. About three years ago however a number of Gentlemen belonging to that Body evinced a determination to resume their ancient privileges, and after a good seal of discussion the Council on the Ninth of August 1815 recognised first the justice and expediency of the Guildrys resuming the election of the Assessors to the Dean of Guild, their Collector and officers and the management of their own funds; and secondly the justice and expediency of the Guildry electing their own Dean. But from the length of time that had elapsed since the Guildry had exercised that right the Council were then not prepared to say that a recognition of it by them alone would be sufficient to enable the Council to receive as one of their Members if Dean elected by the Guildry. In that measure I heartily agreed with the Members of the Council. But certain circumstances afterwards occurred which induced us to alter our opinion. The Council were moved to adopt the Resolution solely by the justice of the Guildrys claim: but as appears from the Resolution itself they were unacquainted with the extent of their powers and on farther consideration and of advice which they conceived to be sound they were led to entertain serious doubts whether by attempting to alter a part of the System of Borough Government they would not give rise to farther innovations which might affect a branch of the Constitution of the Country, besides they had also doubts whether the change would be satisfactory to the Inhabitants at large. Under these circumstances the Council on the 20 th of March rescinded the Resolution of 9 th August. In consequence of this last act the Guildry commenced a Process before the Court of Session for the recovery of their funds and 54
power to manage their own affairs. In the course of this litigation and connected with it a very keen and party spirited discussion took place which has fermented other disputes, and set the greater part of the people in opposition to the Council in their public character while as private individuals the held as respectable a rank in Society and actually were as much respected as their fellow Citizens. But however much these disputed are to be deplored yet if the Council could not consistently with their duty comply with the wishes of the people – if they still were of opinion that the demands of the Guildry could not be granted without offending other classes of the Community – and above all if they still thought the concession would in any way injure the higher interests of the Country I should not hesitate to declare that the Council would be bound to resist the demand. I am however happy to state that no such necessity now exists. The number and high respectability of the Gentlemen who have signed the Petitions for the Guildry and Burgesses which now be on the Table obviate every doubt as to the unanimity of the Toun and the Constitution lately granted by the King in Council to Montrose affords the most satisfactory proof that his Majestys Government so far from opposing highly approve of the Scots Boroughs themselves reforming their own Sets agreeably to the wish of the Inhabitants. I therefore see no good reason which the Council of Dundee can have for continuing the present Contest with the Guildry. Indeed I am clearly of opinion that the best interests of the Toun demand that a much greater change than what that body has asked should be made upon the Set. At present some of the most desirable public improvements are prevented. The very limited revenue of the Toun renders it necessary to procure an act for paving, lighting and cleaning the Streets and for establishing a Police but the Inhabitants seem determined to withhold their aid from this and every other public undertakings long as they are denied a share in the administration of the Touns affairs; and measures of so great importance cannot be carried thro’ without their cordial assistance and support. It is however not without a great sacrifice of personal feelings to an imperative sense of duty that I bring forward such a proposal at this particular time. The Council were aware that from the beginning of the political disputes which now agitate the Toun the System has been attacked chiefly through the Members of Council; and that almost the whole force of the opposition has been directed against me as Chief Magistrate or as your supposed Leader. I have been charged with various acts of malversation; on these grounds protests have been taken against me in Parliament. On my own part and acting by advice which I consider good I did not deign to answer the accusations alluded to, bur resolved to wait while they should assume the shape of a regular action or complaint when I intended to meet and repel them in the competent Court. I appeal to all who now hear me whether I have ever shrunk from those charges or taken any steps to smother them. On the contrary I have allowed every facility to their being made public and have never objected to anything against me personally being put on the Records of the Toun feeling conscious that at the proper time I should be able completely to wipe them off and vindicate my character from every aspersion. In a few months the period of my services as Provost will have expired and on my finally retiring from Office the Records of all the acts of a long public life will be open to he inspection of my successors but I am not afraid of the result of any investigation they may be pleased to institute. It will be found I hope that while I was in Council the funds of the Toun have been husbanded with a most frugal hand, and if one of the charges against me, that I have been the Leader of the Council for forty years be true I shall be entitled some merit for having out of a Revenue more scanty than that of any other Toun of equal size in Scotland, expended very considerable sums on making the Streets in widening old ones, and otherwise improving the Borough without diminishing the Public resources, for notwithstanding some late attempts that the Toun is approaching to Bankruptcy I am proud to say that while the Debt has increased not more than £2000 Stg during the last twenty four years property has been added to the amount of nearly three times that sum. In 1793 the Debt was £14000 and it is still only £16000 Stg. Therefore without seeking on the one hand to shelter myself from the unfounded charges alluded to and of the other regardless of the construction which may be put on my conduct by those who are prejudiced on favour of the present Borough System I conscious of the purity of my motives, and having no other view in end than the public good, Move that the Council shall call a Meeting of the Burgesses of Dundee resident within the Royalty, or actually carrying on Trade there though resident in the Suburbs to be held in the Steeple Church on Wednesday the twenty ninth Current at eleven o’clock forenoon for appointing a Committee of their number to meet with a Committee of the Council for the purpose of framing a new Set or Constitution for Dundee similar to one lately given to Montrose to be afterwards submitted 55
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 and 20: meeting in the Toun hall of the Sub
Page 21 and 22: hand down to his successors in offi
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: a little more for himself than the
Page 57 and 58: Mr David Blair Jr thereupon moved t
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1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

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