Edinburgh the Second day of February Jaj vjc Nyntie thrie years
D1693/2/7
D1693/2/71
Act
Act Mr James Southerland
Anent the petition given in to the said Lords of their Majesties privy Councill be Mr James Southerland intendant of the Phisick Garden Shewing That in anno Jaj vjc Eightie nyne dureing the seidge as the Castle It being Judged expedient for facilitating the seige to dram the north Loch, which opens it self into a narrow Channell throw the garden, The watter in the passing did so overflow that the greatest part of the more tender and best plants were2 altogither lost, wherby the petitioner was not only put to a Considerable expence in recruiteing new ones, Bot also in the mean tyme came3 short of the ordinary benefite he gott by the Schollars. And in regaird the phisick Garden has no fond out of which such damnadges might be repaired The petitioner is forced in this case to apply to the saids Lords for redress In order quherunto the saids Lords would be pleased to consider that he both formed the garden and has ever since bestowed his wholl tyme and care upon it. and yet with no greater encouragement then a Sallerie of Twentie punds sterling a year payed him by the toune of Edinburgh wherof the greatest part goes for payment of the Garden kent and servants fies and the Remander comes very farr short of his oun mantinance: So that for entertaineing of forraigne Corrospondence and provision of the Garden, The petitioner has ever been left to his oun4 Credit which one all occasiones he hade Imployed so far That as he hath Very much benefited the garden, which at this day for plenty and varity of Plants is inferior to non in Brittan, so hath no less Impoverished himself and now that the petitioner is no longer able for want of due encouradgment to support the charge of the Garden it belongs to the saids Lords not only to repair the damnadges above represented, Bot also to take such a Laudable work into their particular care and protectione for the future And Therfore Humbly Craveing the saids Lords to take the premisses to their Consideration And to grant this petitioner such ane allowance as might not only compence the said Loss occasioned by the draining of the Loch, Bot Likeway’s may prove in some measure a reward for his bygone services and encouragment for the future ones towards the Garden As the petition bears The Lords of their Majesties Privy Councill haveing Considered this petition given in to them be the above Mr James Southerland with the report of a Committie of their oun number to whom the same was remitted bearing that the Committie haveing heard witnesses upon the matter of fact and taken Mr Southerlands oune Oath theron as to his ditriment and Loss doe find that the wholl phisick Garden was not only under ane Inundation for severall dayes, Bot Likewayes was so Covered over with Mudd, Rubish and stones That it was the work of many men for many dayes to clear it and put it in ane capacity for labouring againe, Bot cheifly his Loss consisted in haveing his Dilicat plants flowers and shrubs for the most part Distroyed and killed which he hade purchased with very great travell and expenses and the assistance of many men And he Declared upon his oath that besyde the deficultie in recovering them and his oun great travell and paines with the work of his servants for a wholl seasone, So that they could work no other work, That his reall expences was above fiftie punds Sterling, And the Councill Considering that this Loss comes upon the petitioner by the publict order and for the publict serveice Therfore They Recommend to the Lords Commissioners of their majesties thesaurie to cause payment be made to the said Mr James Southerland of the said Fiftie punds starling, And the said Committie haveing reported that they hade under their Consideration the great advantage that the toune of Edinburgh has by this physick garden And also the nation Wherby not only the young phisicians appothecaries and Chirurgeons, Bot also the nobility and gentry of the nation are taught the knowledge of the herbs And also multitude of Plants Shrubbs and trees are Cultivated in this garden which ware never knowen in this natione before and more numerouse nor in any other garden in Brittain alse weell for the honor of the plaice as the advantage of the people And in bringing it to this, Mr Southerland has ruined his privat portion, The toune of Edinburgh and Collodge alloweing only Twentie punds starling per annum for the said Garden off which thrie pounds seventein shilling is payed for the ground to the Hospitall besydes furnishing them with kaill and herbs towards Fiftein punds Steirling is bestowed on the Servants and labouring of the yeards And for Ordinary furnishing of seeds yearly will be about Seven or Eight pounds Sterling besydes what is bestowed upon Curiosities and extraordinaries which sometymes will amount to ten or twelve pound a year for all which he hath no encouradgment bot the gratificatione of some schollars which will not amount to half of the expenses, so that certainely this physick Garden will faill unles Supported by the publict Therfore the saids Lords of their Majesties privy Councill Doe heirby Declair that they will allow the soume of Fiftie punds sterling a year out of the fynes which shall be Imposed by the Councill from tyme to time as the same shall be Imposed to be payed to the said Mr James Southerland wherof twentie five punds sterling to be bestowed upon expences of the Garden to be supervised be such as the Councill shall appoint And twentie five punds sterling to be of additionall sellarie to the said Mr James, And the saids Lords Doe heirby Recommend to the Committie as formerly to speak with the said Mr James Southerland anent his meddells
1. NRS, PC2/24, 178v-179v.
2. One illegible word scored out here.
3. Insertion.
4. Insertion.
1. NRS, PC2/24, 178v-179v.
2. One illegible word scored out here.
3. Insertion.
4. Insertion.