| Description | Council meeting, 2 October 1811
[Sederunt given]
Provost Young, Baillie Garden and Mr George Storey qualified themselves as members of the Council and took the oath de fideli administratione officii as Provost and Baillie. (207v)
The Council resolved to fine any Council member absent at a meeting the sum of 1 shilling and any member fifteen minutes late or more the sum of 6 pence. (207v)
The Clerk produced the record of the office bearers' tacks for inspection and the Council ordered the following Acts of Council to be observed; the Act of Council of 26 September 1791 against the prolongation of the tack or a feu of the Mill of Gilcomston to the Brewery Company; the Act of Council of 25 June 1798 prohibiting the granting of money from the Funds of the Bridges of Dee and Don except to roads in the vicinity of the Town; the Act of Council of 21 September 1801 respecting the management of the Town's business and prevention of abuses in the expenditure of monies. The Council remitted to the magistrates to examine which tacks were close to expiry. (207v - 208r)
The Council set 23 October 1811 for the Visitation of the Public Schools and 28 October 1811 for the competition for bursaries at Marischal College. Thereafter the Council elected the following gentlemen to be Visitors of the Schools: the Provost, four Baillies, Dean of Guild, Treasurer and Master of Mortifications, along with Provost Hadden, the four Town's Ministers and the Professors of the College. The Council also recommended to the magistrates the Act of Council of 31 October 1780 to secure a list of the vacant bursaries from the Managers of the Trades that they might be competed for at the same time. (208r)
The Council appointed a committee comprising the Provost, the four Baillies, the Dean of Guild, the Treasurer and Provost Hadden, along with the respective office bearers, or any three of them, (the Provost to act as Convener), to attend to the following branches of the Town's business:
First, the sale and disposal of those feu duties belonging to the various office bearers which had not been bought in terms of former resolutions.
Second, the various processes before the Court of Session concerning the Town; the process of declarator brought by the Council against Mr Menzies of Pitfodels to establish the Town's right to land in the Commonty, adjacent to Countesswells, Hazelhead and Springfield, claimed by Mr Menzies; the action of reduction at the instance of the magistrates and Council of the lease of the Shore and Pack House Dues taken by Alexander More, merchant in Aberdeen, in 1808 and for repayment by him and Mr George More of profits gained by them in connection with this lease; the appeal before the House of Lords remitted last session to the Court of Session between the Council and the Incorporation of Fleshers respecting the Weighing Dues of Tallow and Rough Fat; the action of reduction and declarator at the instance of Alexander Mar and certain members of the Incorporation of Fleshers to establish that the Town's Tacksman of the Bell and Petty Customs Dues has no right to demand any custom from Freemen Butchers upon carcasses of butcher meat brought for sale within the Burgh; the appeal before the House of Lords at the instance of the Incorporated Trades against the decision of the Court of Session in favour of the Town Council with respect their powers to increase the compositions paid by entering Craftsmen.
Third, the consideration of the sale of the stances on either side of St Nicholas Street and the propriety of feuing out a stance on the west side, being the corner stance on the west side of Schoolhill and Upperkirkgate the sale of which having been previously postponed.
Fourth, to investigate the present situation of the Teinds of the Salmon Fishings on the Water of Dee, the leases being expired.
Fifth, the application from the Masters of the Grammar School craving an increase of their school fees.
Sixth, the application from Collison, Pirie & Company to purchase the windmill and small croft adjoining.
(208r - 209r)
The Council elected Provost James Hadden, Baillie Alexander Galen, Baillie Charles Walker and John Niven Esq of Thorntown, all merchants and Burgesses of Guild to be the Bridewell Commissioners for the two years ensuing to execute the powers granted by the Act of Parliament 42 GEO.III on behalf of the Council. (209r)
The Council admitted four Craftsmen. (209r) |