Procedure, 30 December 1701, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Eighteenth day of February one thousand seventy and one

D1701/2/18

D1701/2/18¹

Act

Act John Hill anent Irish victwall

Anent a petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill by John Hill Merchant in Greenock humbly Shewing That the petitioner did saill from the River of Clyde to Ireland about the Midle of october with a qwantitie of Coalls and hemp with intention to Returne mony But Finding that could not be done without the loss of ten per cent he was aither necessitat to under goe that loss and so make a Frwitless voyadge or otherwayes in returne of the saids Goods to Load a small qwantitie of victwall which accordinly was bought before the midle of December And Loaded that moneth And the petitioner was clear to saile the fyfth of Janwary And de facto did saile from Carlingfoord loch upon the nynth of the said Moneth And falling under a great storme and stress of wather was driven in to Portaferrie and detained there for three weeks and tuo dayes after which putting to sea again was within Fourtein hours driven in to Donachadie and detained there sex dayes And after putting to sea a third tyme was driven back to Loch Lairne From whence the petitioner aryved at Port Glasgow the eleventh of this moneth all which can be proven by the Collectors at the Custome houses where the said Hemp and Coalls were shipped And by the oaths of the persones aboard of the said vessell where the said Fourhundreth bolls of victuall or therby were shipped And seing the petitioners were at sea before the proclamation forbidding the Importation of Irish victwall was publisehd and that the petitioners in effect receaved the victwall as Track for other goods and not only bona fide bought and shipped the saids Four hundreth bolls of victwall aboard the saids two small vessells long before the proclamation But have suffered such hard and Lamentable stress at sea and otherways in the said voyadge as could not but move the saids Lords with Compassion And to prevent the petitioners ruine after so great hardships And therfore Craveing to the effect aftermentioned As the said supplication bears The Lords of His Majesties privie Councill haveing considered the above petition given in to them by the above John Hill Merchant in Greenock They Heirby Allow and Ordain the above Four hundreth bolls of victwall or therby aboard the above tuo vessells called the John of Dumfreis and John of Saltcoats To be delivered and disposed of upon the petitioners verefieing the above export of Coall and Hemp by the servants of the Custome house And the other poynts of the petition by the oaths of the persones aboard the saids tuo vessells To be given in before the Admirall deput of the bounds And Discharges all Collectors waiters and others whatsomever from troubleing or molesting the petitioner in Liveing or disposeing therof upon any accompt whatsomever