Att Edinburgh the Eighteenth day of February one thousand seventy and one
D1701/2/16
D1701/2/161
Act
Act in favours of James Montgomry and partners for a soap and glass manufactory at Glasgow
Anent a petition given in and presented to his Majesties high Commissioner and Lords of privie Councill by James Montgomerie younger Merchant in Glasgow Shewing That the petitioner and other his partners at Glasgow considering how that Citie and all the Countrie in its Neighbourhood and farther west is Furnished with Glass Botles Notwithstanding of severall Glassworks at Leith and Morisonshaven which cannot be transported but with a vast Charge and great hazard And finding not only the Fernes (a most usefull materiall for that work) to be very plenty in that countrie But also that there is a great qwantitie of Wood ashes in the West Highlands which serve for litle or not other use and may be Manufactored first into good whyt soap which is nowhere made in the Kingdome to perfection and the remains of these wood ashes after the soap is made is a most excelent Materiall for makeing Glass The petitioner and partners haveing duely weighed and considered all these advantages Which would necessarly redound to the whole Kingdome in Generall And in a more particular mainer to the westerne pairts therof had since march last been with great applicatione and vast Charges of seeking out the best workmen in England and provyding all necessaries for the same And have also ereceted houses and Furnaces for serveing both the soap and Glassworks Therfore humblie Craveing to the effect undermentioned As the said petition bears The Lords of His Majesties privie Councill haveing considered the above petition given in to them by the above James Montgomerie They doe hereby Allow the petitioner and his partners to proceid in the Glasswork and soapwork mentioned in the petition And Doe heirby Erect the samen in a manufactory And Grants and endues the said manufactory with all the priviledges and Immunities formerly granted by acts of parliament and privie Councill to Manufactories so as the petitioner and his partners may make soap and Glass of all kynds not secluded by the Laird of Prestongraing his act of parliament mentioned in the petition
1. NRS, PC2/28, 32v-33r.
1. NRS, PC2/28, 32v-33r.