| Description | Council meeting, 17 February 1814
[Sederunt given]
The Council resolved to meet on 19 February 1814 to elect a well-qualified person to be one of the Ministers, in place of Rev Dr James Shirrefs, who had resigned. (21v)
The Council approved the report of the committee appointed to consider the incommodious state of the Court House and Jail, in conjunction with a committee named by the County. The following arrangements had been made during numerous meetings.
First, the joint committee decided to construct a new Court House and additional Jail in the area immediately behind the Town House, consisting of the lane between Huxter Row and Lodge Walk, the printing office occupied by Mr Chalmers belonging to the Treasurer of Aberdeen, and the tenement of land belonging to Robert Duncan's heirs. An arrangement had been made with the Commissioners of the Bridewell by which a proportion of the Bridewell was to be used as a Jail.
Second, the expense had been estimated by Mr Smith, architect, to be £5,000 (including the purchase of Duncan's property at £800) plus £1,000 for contingencies.
Third, the expense was to be divided equally and raised by an assessment on the Town and County. It was agreed that the area belonging to the Treasurer occupied by Mr Chalmers' printing office would be given up without compensation, but in return the magistrates would be given exclusive rights to the present Court House and to two rooms in the new buildings.
Fourth, Duncan's property had been purchased for £650.
Fifth, plans of the new building made out by Mr Smith, and a draft of the Bill to be presented to Parliament, were laid before the Council.
(21v - 22v)
The Council approved of the Treasurer's purchase of the tenement of land specified in the previous report from the heirs of the late Robert Duncan for £650, payable on 20 June 1814. (22v - 23r) |