| Description | Council meeting, 25 March 1813
[Sederunt given]
The Council agreed a donation of [no sum given] to the Managers of the Poor's Hospital and elected the following directors for the year ending Candlemas 1814; the Provost, magistrates and other members of the Town Council; Baillies William Shepherd and Alexander Galen; Sir Alexander Bannerman; Doctors Livingston, Dyce, Moir and Skene; Mr Niven of Thornton, Mr Martin of Nellfield; Messrs Thomas Bannerman and William Smith, merchants; Doctor Dauney; Mr Carnegie, Town Clerk; Nathaniel Gillet; Messrs John Ross and John Knott, Teachers of Music and Convener Douglass. (251v - 252r)
The Council approved the sale by public roup of the Town's four Common Mills from 26 May 1813 for the respective periods and annual rents; the Upper or Flour Mill for one year at £200 was not taken; the Nether or Malt Mill for two years at £120, with the obligation to convert the dwelling house annexed into a kiln, barn and cellar and to improve the machinery and effect some repairs, was taken by George Henderson, residing in Aberdeen, with John Rae, merchant in Aberdeen, standing caution; the Justice Mill for one year at £90 was taken by Margaret Simpson, widow of Alexander Christie, sometime miller at Justice Mill, with John Manson, miller at Ferryhill, and the said George Henderson standing caution; the Mill of Bucksburn with part of the croft of the Land of Bucksburn adjacent for three years at £60 was taken by Peter Simpson, miller at Bucksburn, with the said George Henderson standing caution. (252r - 252v)
The Council approved of the magistrates' suggestion that the lease for one year of the aforementioned Flour Mill be advertised for sealed offers, with the lease going to the highest bid, providing it amounted to the sum fixed by the magistrates and communicated to the Court prior to the sale. (252v)
The Council remitted to a standing committee the sale by public roup of the Bell and Petty Customs, presently held by Alexander Mearns, for three years from 26 May 1813, and the Pack House and Weigh House Dues for one year from 1 June 1813. (252v - 253r)
The Provost reported to the Council that the Masters of the Grammar School had made frequent complaints concerning the inadequacy of the existing accomodation, a situation worsened by the increase in the numbers of boys. As a result, the magistrates had reached an agreement with the Governors of Gordon's Hospital for the feu of a piece of ground in the Hospital garden [measurements given] for the construction of an additional building. From Whitsunday 1814, the annual feu duty was agreed at £3 and one firlot of bear at the fiar price of the County. The Council approved the proposal and instructed the standing committee to advertise for contractors' estimates before 16 April 1813, agreable to the plan and specifications made out by Mr John Smith. (253r - 253v)
The Council unanimously disapproved of a proposition from the Chancellor of Exchequer intimating that he would be willing to repeal the exemption from toll enjoyed by mail coaches as it regards Scotland by imposing, in lieu thereof, an additional postage on letters throughout Scotland as compensation to the Revenue. Instead, the Council recommended that Mr Farquhar, Member of Parliament, should be instructed to oppose the measure should it be brought before Parliament. (253v - 254r)
The Provost laid before the Council a draft of a Bill for an Act of Parliament for the further improvement of Aberdeen Harbour currently pending in Parliament to allow the purchase of certain grounds belonging to the Treasurer and community of the City, necessary for the completion of the improvements, as well as to enable the Treasurer, the Trustees and other proprietors of property in and around the village of Footdee, to unite into one common property, thereafter to lay out, improve and feu the same. Members of Council were requested to report back their comments on the draft. (254r)
The Council fixed 5 April 1813 to elect a Commissioner to attend the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on 20 May 1813. (254r - 254v)
The Council admitted twelve Burgesses. (254v) |