1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

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
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