Procedure, 30 December 1701, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Seventeenth day of Aprile J^aj vii^c and one years

A1701/4/12

A1701/4/12¹

Procedure

Report Anent Blackhouse

The Lords of His Majestys privy Councill having considered that it is represented to their Lordships by John Alexander of Blackhouse that he hes receaved a Commission from their Lordships for hindering the Importation of Irish victuall and that he hes been using Some dilligence in the Execution therof, and that he hes a Report ready to be given in of any grain Secured by him, And because he understands applications will be made for these found guilty To prevent trouble to the Councill, and that the people may have access to represent their caices, Craved that their Lordships would appoint a Committy of their own number, Their Lordships by their Interloquitor of the Fyfteenth of aprile Instant nominated and appointed a Committy of their own number to Consider the Two petitions given in to their Lordships by John Clerk and Alexander Gordon merchants in Greenock with another petition given by George Robertson merchant in Glasgow, and remitted to the said Committy to hear Blackhouse, and the petitioners upon the saids Two petitions and Subject matters therof, and Recommended to the said Committy to make their Report to the whole Councill Which Committy having accordingly mett, They made their Report to the Councill as Follows. Viz That the Committy are of opinion That any victuall that came in after the proclamation which was the Sixth day of January last, that was before that tyme bona fide brought In Ireland, and Imported before the Tenth of February therafter, should not fall under the Certification of the act neither against Importers nor buyers therof, But that after the said tenth day of February, The act of parliament Should take its Effect fully both against Importers and buyers and resetters conform to the tenor therof, But in Regaird the Committy judges it hard, That victuall Seazed, Should be Staved and consumed, They are of opinion, That Seing thar is allowance given to the Garrison of Fortwilliam, to Import Five Hundered bolls of bear, and alse many of meall, or a certain quantity whatsoever it be, what victuall hath been or shall be Seazed may be applyed pro tanto conform to that allowance, at the current rate betwixt Ireland and Scotland, And the agent for the garrison giving his receipt for it bearing ane Express oblidgement to Report, betwixt and ane certan day, The Commandant for the tyme his Certificat, that it is brought to and unloaded in the said fort, Shall be Blackhouses Exoneration; and that they money to be payed by the Garrison for it to Blackhouse, Shall be applyed for the use of the poor at Sight of the Lord Montgomry, Lord Justice Clerk and Mr Francis Montgomry or any one of them necessary Expenses and Blackhouses Reward as the Councill Shall modify being first deduced, as to Ships and vessells, that may come with victuall for hereafter within any of our Scots harbours and then pretend that they are to go, for Norway or any other Country Its the opinion of the Committy, That they Should be Seazed, unles they be forced in by Stress of weather, or for necessary Safety But for any Vessells of this Kind, That are already come in They may be Suffered to go away with their Loadning, And if any forraign Vessell Shall come and anchor in the River of any Road upon the Coast with Victuall pretending that they come to know if the Import be allowed or not They Shall be Seazed unles they receave a waiter aboard while they Stay and pay his Expenses, and oblidge them to be gone So Soon as they can wind and weather Serving, But for Scots Vessells with Scots masters So coming with Victuall to the River of Road forsaid, they are for hereafter to be made Seazure Simpliciter, Sic Subscribitur John Maxwell I.p.d. Which Report of the Committy being this day Read in presence of the Lords of His Majestys privy Councill, They have apprehended and heirby Approves therof and have decerned and declared, and heirby decernes and declares the Said Report to have the Strength of ane act or decreet of Councill interponed therto.