| Description | Council meeting, 25 June 1810
[Sederunt given]
The Dean of Guild laid before the Council the report dated 20 June 1810 of the committee appointed to examine the evidence given by John Rae, merchant in Aberdeen, before a House of Commons committee (Mr Harrison, counsel for the Harbour Bill), concerning the state of the Shore and Harbour Dues and of the Ballast Lighters as well as the correspondence on the subject between the Provost and magistrates and the Town's Solicitor in London. The committee members were Alexander Pirie, John Forbes, George Tower and John Young.
The committee reported that Mr Rae claimed to have been approached in 1808, when Tacksman of the Shore and Harbour Dues, by Mr Alexander More, merchant in Aberdeen and member of the Council, and advised to meet with More's brother, the then Provost, George More and another gentleman. This meeting he alleged took place at Provost More's house where More suggested that if he did not attend or bid at the forthcoming sale by public roup of the Shore and Harbour Dues that they could be acquired at a lower rent and that Rae would receive a fourth share in the Dues along with himself, Alexander More and Alexander Duthie junior, all Council members, and that Rae could further benefit from their position and influence on the Town Council.
The lease was for one or three years in the option of the tacksman provided he should declare it on or before Candlemas 1809 at the advanced rent of £200 per annum. It was secured by Duncan Davidson, advocate, on behalf of Alexander More and was held still by the four parties.
It was also alleged that Alexander More contacted the Shoremaster on 30 January 1809 regarding the one year lease of the Ballast Lighters from June 1808 to June 1809 and suggested that as these and the Shore and Harbour Dues were so connected he would continue his lease of them during the currency of his lease of the Shore and Harbour Dues at the same rent. The committee could find no record of this application either being accepted or rejected and Mr Gibbon, the Shoremaster at that date, claimed to have never seen the letter. As a consequence however, the Ballast Lighters Dues were held for a further two years at £201 per annum, in comparison to the £367 per annum recently secured at a public roup.
An affidavit denying the charges by Provost More before a Justice of the Peace, dated 21 April 1809, was laid before the Council. The report concluded by recommending the Council place the case before an eminent counsel to consider securing an action of reduction of the present lease and a refund of what was illegally obtained.
The Council acknowledged the seriousness of the charges and ordered copies of the report to be forwarded to Alexander and George More and requested that the men either appear the following day before the Council or state in writing their comments on the charges.
(151r - 156r)
The Provost laid before the Council a copy of the new Harbour Act to be in force for twenty-one years from 1 July 1810 with the magistrates and Council appointed Commissioners and Trustees. (156r - 156v) |