| Description | Council meeting, 28 March 1817
[Sederunt given]
The Council resolved to provide access to the Town's records to Mr Harvey, and to any other gentlemen named by the committee of Burgesses, for the purpose of acquiring information on the Guildry Funds, in reply to the demand in Mr Harvey's letter of 20 March 1817. However, the Council did not accept that the Burgesses had any right to demand access to the Town's records, and resolved that inspection of the records should take place in the presence of a committee of the Council and the City Clerk or Chamberlain.
In response to the fourth resolution of the meeting of Burgesses referred to in Mr Harvey's letter, the Council re-affirmed their readiness to change the constitution of the burgh, as stated in their address to the Burgesses, proprietors and inhabitants of 19 February 1817; but the Council resolved to oppose any change involving universal suffrage, as it would lead to confusion and anarchy. The Council resolved to consider any schemes to restore the public confidence and re-establish the credit of the Corporation, and commended the scheme for a small annual assessment to the consideration of their fellow citizens. The Council directed Baillie Duncan to transmit an extract of this Act of Council to Mr Harvey, to be laid before the Burgesses.
(118v - 120r)
The Council appointed Hugh Lumsden Esq of Pitcaple, advocate, Ruling Elder, to be their Commissioner to the next General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to be held in Edinburgh on 22 May 1817, being satisfied of his qualifications to be a Member of Assembly. (120r - 120v)
The Council empowered Mr Hardie to apply to the Town's Trustees to provide the Master of Mortifications with the sum required to pay the College bursaries. (121r)
The Council approved the Provost's motion, seconded by Mr Alexander Galen, to register in the Sheriff Court Books of Aberdeenshire as a probative writ, the minutes and resolutions showing that the magistrates and Council as trustees under the New Street Act undertook the creation of the two new streets with the express consent and approbation of the community. (121r - 121v) |