Decreet, 29 December 1698, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Third day of March J^aj vj^c nyntie Eight years

A1698/3/9

A1698/3/9¹

Act

Act Anent Trade

Anent the Representation given in to the Lords of his majesties privy Councill By the Convention of Burrows Shewing That where they being certanly Informed That there is ane Treaty of Commerce to be held att London for adjusting masters of Trade Betwixt the Subjects of great Brittain and French nations who are to have ther severall Representations att the forsaid Treaty and Considering the great Concern This Kingdom may be in that Treaty and that no Commissioners as yet nominat for them, They Judged it ther humble duty alse well as ane nationall Interest To Represent to their Lordships what Discouragements the Trade and Commerce of this Kingdom is under, through the heavy Impositions and Burdens That are upon the goods they import to France as particularly all ther Scots Woolens Butter Linnen Cloath Coatts and wherof The Duty is so great That it is Equall to ane prohibition as also the fishing of this nation which is undenyably the farr Greatest manufactor thereof cannot be vendit in France being under ane absolute prohibition only since the Begining of the Late Warr, wherby must considerable Quantities of Herring which were sent thither, this last and present season were stopt from sale and the owners obliged to Dispose them otherways To ther great Loss and disadvantage and some who could make no use thereof in forraign mercats are oblidged to Bring them Back and in Like manner Ther is ane Imposition of fifty solze per Tunn Exacted from scots ships and vessells Tradeing To France besides many other Inconveniencies the Traders of this Kingdom are Exposed unto, By all which the Trade of this nation will be brought to ane very Low Condition If Remeid be not provided. And Therfore The Convention Humbly propose to ther Lordships That they would be pleased To Address his majestie upon this Exigence That such from this Kingdom his Majesty shall be pleased to nominate may be admitted as members In the forsaid Treaty of Commerce to Represent this nation in these most weighty and Important Concerns thereof. And That ther Lordships would Direct the Royall Burrows To doe what may be propper to them upon this Emergent wherwith they will Dutifully Comply Especialy considering That this Kingdom hes many repeated Immunities from the French granted to them which are hopefull may deserve consideration in the Treaty of Commerce if allowance be given to Represent them therein. The saids Lords of his majesties privy Councill Having heard² this petition Given in to them by the Royall Burrows Read in their presence They doe heirby Remitt the same to the Committie formerly appointed anent French Trade Viz The Marquess of Tweddale The Earles of Lauderdale Leven Annandale and Ruglen The viscount of Tarbat The Lords Advocate and Justice-Clerk The Lairds of Pollock and Kelburn and Sir Patrick Murray, And declares any Three of the said Committee to be a sufficient quorum And Recommends to them to meet att Three of the cloack this afternoon And To proceed in what is already remitted to them by the former Reference And to Consider this Petition and what is to be done as to the point of Trade And apoints The meeting of the Burrows now presently att Edinburgh To nominat a Committe of their own number To Attend the Committee of Councill appointed in this matter And Recommends to the Committee to make their Report to the Councill this afternoon.