Letter: from the council, 22 February 1705, Edinburgh

Act, 12 March 1705, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Twentie Second day of February Jaj vijc and fyve years

A1705/2/281

Letter: from the council

Letter from the Counsell to the Secretary anent Fort William

Letter from the Councill to the Earle of Roxburgh Secretary in waiting anent Fort William, and the burgh of Barronie therto belonging, being read was voted and approven and appoynted to be recorded, and recommended to the Lords Chancellor to Signe and transmitt the Same wherof the tenor followes
My Lord
Fort William at Inverlochie being a fort so necessary, And the Government haveing already expended, and being to expend so great charges upon it, Wee have thought fitt to transmitt this representation to be laid befor her Majestie; Immediatly after the revolusion some of the Highlanders haveing risen in armes and Joyned with Claverhouse, It was resolved that a fort which the English had keept all the tyme of ther usurpation at Innerlochie for the Securitie of the Highlands, Should be restored, For tho after the year Jaj vic Sixtie one, It had been wholly neglected, And was become a piece of waste ground, Yet haveing been a fort formerly, The Government on the occasion forsaid thought fitt to restore it which was done without any contradiction, and King William for its better Support did erect ther a burgh of Barronie, that the Garisone might have the benefite of weekly mercats and fairs, which was the advantage of the proprietor of the ground as weell as of the fort, And thus things continued in quyet for severall yeirs But the Duke of Gordon alleadging that the ground of the fort, and the burgh of Barronie was his property, He raised ane action of removeing against the Garisone and the Inhabitatns of the burgh as possessing his ground and property; When this action was lyke to come to ane issue, ther Majesties Advocat represented the matter to the Lords of Theasaury, who appoynted a conference with the Duke of Gordon, wherin without entering into any debate, either as to the poynt of right or possession, the Duke was told that his ground and lands about wer rather bettered by the fort and by the burgh of Barronie, But because it was fitt the Government Should be Secured as to the right of the fort, And that they would proceed Justly and fairly with him, They wer willing to purchase from him the forsaid ground which was in all but a two merk-land, and payed only Fourscore merks the merk Land, But that they wer resolved to deall Squarely with him, And pay him largely above the Just value for the purchase they proposed, The Duke on the other hand made answer Sometymes he would resigne the ground of the fort, but not the burgh of Barronie, And then that he would not Sell to the Queen, But rather in duty make her a free offer and Surrender, But aggreeing to nothing, And the Garisone in the mean tyme molested, and hindered, as to ther fewall and foggage by the Duks Baillies, who appear to have Litle kindness for the Government, This matter being reported to ws, who thought fitt to order Major Generall Maitland and the Garisone to continue ther possession as they had formerly enjoyed it, And that this wholl matter Should be laid befor her Majestie for preventing misrepresentations, And also for direction how to proceed in it, For it may Justly seem unaccountable that the Duke of Gordon who owes So much to the protection and favour of the Government, Should make difficultie to sell and resigne for a greater pryce then he would expect any wher els a two merk-land in Lochaber the wildest place in Scotland Especially when both fort and burgh are truly beneficiall to all his bounds about, However in the mean tyme her Majesties possession shall be maintained, And if the Duke cane be brought to a better resolution, It is that which wee much desyre; For that Such a necessary fort for the Security of the kingdome, And the quyet of these pairts, And that hath already been so chargeable, And is lyke to be yet more chargeable, And is lyke to be yet more chargeable to the Government, Should be given up and throwen away for any mans humor, Wee are hopefull that the Duke att length will find himselfe to be unreasonable, This by order and in presence of the Lords of her Majesties privie Counsell Is Signed by, My Lord, Yor Lordships most humble Servant, Sic Subscribitur Tweeddale Cancellar I.P.D.

At Edinburgh 22 February 1705

A1705/2/281

Letter: from the council

Letter from the council to the secretary concerning Fort William

Letter from the council to [John Ker] earl of Roxburghe, secretary in waiting, concerning Fort William, and the burgh of barony thereto belonging, being read, was voted and approved, and appointed to be recorded, and recommended to [John Hay, marquis of Tweeddale] the lord chancellor to sign and transmit the same, whereof the tenor follows:
My Lord,
Fort William at Inverlochy being a fort so necessary, and the government having already expended, and being to expend so great charges upon it, we have thought fit to transmit this representation to be laid before her majesty. Immediately after the revolution, some of the Highlanders having risen in arms and joined with [John Graham of] Claverhouse, it was resolved that a fort which the English had kept all the time of their usurpation at Inverlochy for the security of the Highlands, should be restored, For though after the year 1661, it had been wholly neglected, and was become a piece of waste ground, yet having been a fort formerly, the government on the occasion foresaid thought fit to restore it, which was done without any contradiction. And King William for its better support did erect there a burgh of barony, that the garrison might have the benefit of weekly market and fairs, which was [to] the advantage of the proprietor of the ground as well as of the fort. And thus things continued in quiet for several years. But [George Gordon] duke of Gordon alleging that the ground of the fort, and the burgh of barony, was his property, he raised an action of removing against the garrison and the inhabitants of the burgh as possessing his ground and property. When this action was like to come to an issue, their majesties’ advocate represented the matter to the lords of treasury, who appointed a conference with the duke of Gordon, wherein without entering into any debate, either as to the point of right or possession, the duke was told that his ground and lands about were rather bettered by the fort and by the burgh of barony, but because it was fit the government should be secured as to the right of the fort, and that they would proceed justly and fairly with him, they were willing to purchase from him the foresaid ground, which was in all but a two merkland, and paid only fourscore merks the merkland. But that they were resolved to deal squarely with him, and pay him largely above the just value for the purchase they proposed. The duke on the other hand made answer sometimes he would resign the ground of the fort, but not the burgh of barony, and then that he would not sell to the queen, but rather in duty make her a free offer and surrender. But agreeing to nothing, and the garrison in the meantime molested, and hindered, as to their fuel and grazing by the duke’s bailies, who appear to have little kindness for the government. This matter being reported to us, who thought fit to order Major General [James] Maitland and the garrison to continue their possession as they had formerly enjoyed it, and that this whole matter should be laid before her majesty for preventing misrepresentations, and also for direction how to proceed in it, for it may justly seem unaccountable that the duke of Gordon, who owes so much to the protection and favour of the government, should make difficulty to sell and resign for a greater price then he would expect anywhere else, a two merkland in Lochaber, the wildest place in Scotland, especially when both fort and burgh are truly beneficial to all his bounds about. However in the meantime her majesty’s possession shall be maintained, and if the duke can be brought to a better resolution, it is that which we much desire. for that such a necessary fort for the security of the kingdom, and the quiet of these parts, and that has already been so chargeable, and is like to be yet more chargeable to the government, should be given up and thrown away for any man’s humour. We are hopeful that the duke at length will find himself to be unreasonable. This by order and in presence of the lords of her majesty’s privy council is Signed by, my lord, your lordship’s most humble servant, Sic Subscribitur Tweeddale chancellor I.P.D.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 364-5.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 364-5.