Aberdeen Council Register: volume 68 - extract dated 6 May 1801 Council meeting, 6 May 1801 [Sederunt given] The Council adopted the recommendations of the committee appointed to consider the demands made by Mr Alexander Mather, teacher of the English School and Keeper of the Register of Baptisms, in return for his resignation. Recommendations included payment of 400 merks annual salary to Mr Mather's successor. The Council directed the Treasurer to pay an annuity of £30 to Mr Mather during his life, and annuity of £10 to his wife after his death, for the rest of her life; both annuities to be met by Mr Mather's successor. (38r - 38v) The Council appointed Mr Gilbert Falconer, teacher of a private English school in Aberdeen, to the posts of Master of the public English School and Keeper of the Register of Baptisms, in place of Mr Alexander Mather, for the annual salary of 400 merks. Conditions of the appointment are specified: that he should pay the annuity due to Mr Mather or to his widow; and that he should not raise school fees beyond 5 shillings, without the prior consent of the Council. Mr Falconer accepted the appointment and the conditions. (38v - 39v) The Council approved the decision of the magistrates to offer John Ross, baker, present Tacksman of the Bell and Petty Customs and the Customs of the Flesh Market, a lease of those Customs for three years at £330 annually, as there had been no bids for the lease at the public roup. The Council accepted Arthur Milner, Alexander Crombie and John Gill, merchants in Aberdeen, as cautioners for John Ross. (39v) The Council remitted to a committee of the magistrates to consider how best to set the lease of the Town's Common Mills, as there had been no bids for the lease at the public roup. (40r) The Council resolved to perambulate the Town's Inner Marches and to visit the Bridge of Dee and the Bridge of Don on 11 May 1801. (40r) The Council rescinded the Act of Council [of 4 April 1801] granting a lease of a piece of ground at Torrie to the Union Whale Fishing Company, following a letter from Messrs Fraser and Mole intimating that the partners of the Company could not accept the conditions of the lease offered by the Council. (40r) 6 May 1801