| Description |
Council meeting, 30 April 1814
[Sederunt given]
The Council approved the sale of the following leases:
First, a three-year lease of the Nether Justice Mill (excluding the croft of land to the east of the Mill) was taken by James Smith, the present tenant, for £50 yearly rent. The exposer had an obligation to erect a kiln at the Mill, and to convert part of the buildings into a loft or granary, with a contribution of ten per cent towards the actual cost from the Tacksman. James Smith offered George Yeats, advocate in Aberdeen, as his cautioner.
Second, no offer had been received for a three-year lease of the Upper or Flour Mill within the Town, for £180.
Third, a two-year lease of the Upper Justice Mill was taken by Widow Christie, the present tenant, at the upset rent of £100. Widow Christie offered John Manson, miller at Ferryhill, and George Henderson as cautioners.
Fourth, a three-year lease of a lot of ground at the south-east end of the Shorelands between the Canal Basin and the Town's Quay, then occupied as a lime shed by Innes & Company, lime merchants, was taken by Alexander Cadenhead, advocate, for £19 5 shillings yearly rent, on behalf of the Farmer Lime Company.
(28v - 29r)
The Clerk reported that Mr James Chalmer, solicitor, London had informed him that, on an appeal by the Incorporated Trades against the Court of Session decision in the process brought by certain of the Incorporated Trades against the Town, the House of Lords had affirmed the decision of the Second Division of the Court of Session given in favour of the Town in 1809. The Lords upheld the Town's right to increase the compositions payable by entering craftsmen, in accordance with the Act of Council of 1801, and found that, on an examination of the 1587 Common Indenture, the Dean of Guild and the magistrates were entitled to demand two-thirds of the sum exacted by each Trade on the admission of entrants, rather than being limited to only two-thirds of twenty merks. (29r - 29v)
The Council resolved to petition both Houses of Parliament against a bill for altering the prices at which foreign grain was imported into Great Britain. The Council approved a draft petition, and directed the Provost to subscribe to it on their behalf and to transmit it to Mr Farquhar, the Member of Parliament for the District, for him to present it to the House of Commons. (29v)
The Council granted the application from William Copland, advocate in Aberdeen, to continue in the post of Collector of the Cess for the City and Liberties for the current year, on sureties provided by Mr George More and Mr James Milne, merchants in Aberdeen. The Council agreed to give the Taxation Book to Mr Copland and charged him to collect the whole assessed taxes, less a discount of £50 for his trouble, risk and expense, and the small feu and teind duties owing to the Treasurer. (29v - 30r)
The Council admitted two Burgesses of Guild and one Craftsman. [No names given.] (30r) |