A Letter from 〈◇〉 to his Friend concerning the state of the Town of Glasgows Business, &c. Sir, YOU being so desirous to know the true account of the noise that goes abroad anent the administration of the Affairs of Glasgow, I have prevailed with myself to obtemperat your commands, and that the rather because I having particular opportunities of insight in that matter, it may be known who are to be blamed. There being spread abroad in the Town of Glasgow, and other parts in the country, about the month of November last 1699. that the present magistrates and Council of Glasgow had much malversed and prejudged the Common Good thereof, by bringing it under great Debt and Burdens, and oppressing the Inhabitants by illegal impositions, they being conscious to themselves of their innocence and upright dealing in all the Towns concerns, and their great labour, pains, and constant diligence to relieve and raise it up from the many great debts and burdens under which it was sunk at their accession to the Government of the place, they thought it convenient rather than to ly under these reproaches and calumnies industriously spread against them, to expose their accounts and Management to the view and knowledge of both Houses of Merchants and Trades, though they did foresee that it might be attended with some evil consequences. And to that effect both the saids Houses being convened, they did make choice of six persons of each rank to Revise the counts and Management, and to report again to both Houses, after the foresaid persons had gone through the whole Affairs committed to them as said is. And it being observed by those who were appointed by the Town-Council to attend them at their several diets, and clear up matters to them, that some did take up Notes and Observes from time to time, it 〈…〉 counts and before departure, that they would make known their remarks, that if there were any thing in them that needed their clearing, or to give them satisfaction, it might be given. It was Answered by one of the Auditors, and who with others had made some observes, and consented to by all, that before they proceeded and did any thing in the matter, they should meet amongst themselves, and Consert their minutes and Observes; and if there were any thing worthy of notice, they should give it in to these appoin●ed by the Town Council, and that after they had considered them, and prepared their Answer, they might call the Auditors together, and what after reasoning should be found needful, to lay before the Houses as their report, should be done, and not while then, which was highly reasonable and just. Though it hath been often times earnestly desired that the saids remarks and observes may be given, that an answer may be given to them, and that the Houses may receive satisfaction, yet to this hour it could never be obtained: By which the magistrates a●d Town-Council are lying under the reproach, and are exposed to malicious Tongues. Therefore Sir, for your satisfaction, and their vindication, I have given you this Information. The magistrates and Town-Council of Glasgow, at their coming to the Government of the Burgh, July 1689. Found the Debts( as far as then came to their knowledge) to be of Principal Sums, bearing Annualrent, and the Annualrents thereof, and other Sums contracted by their Predecessors, as will appear by the Leger Book, Folio. 1, 2, & 26. And was made appear to the Auditors the Sum of 177083 12 00 At Lambmass or Michaelmass 1691. being the two years John Anderson of Dowhill was Provost, notwithstanding the great charge the Town was put to at the time of the happy Revolution, & depursments payed out for the Government upon their several orders, which remains still owing to the Town; and the great expense laid out about the time when they obtained from his gracious Majesty their freedom of Electing their magistrates as freely as any Royal Burgh of the Kingdom. The Debt was reduced, as will appear by the balance of their Books in the foresaid Leger Folio 57, and 58. To the Sum of 1409●0. lib. 8 sh 6 d Principal Sums, which with the Annualrents thereof, and other Debts not bearing Annualrent, amounts to 146254 16 02 So there is payed of Debt 030828 15 10 At Lambmass or Michaelmass 1693. being the two years that James Peadie of Ruchill was Provost, there being 15136. lib. payed for expense and charges about the time of obtaining the two pennies on the Pint of Ale, and paying to William Anderson in part of 9000 marks, wherewith the foresaid Gift was burdened 1000 marks, which is in both 15802 lib. 13 sh. 4. d. The Debt increased to the Sum of 154033. 14. 8. of Principal Sums, which with the Annualrents thereof, and other Debts not bearing Annualrent, as appears by their balance in the foresaid Leger, Folio 94. amounts to 165051 14 08 At Lambmass or Michaelmass 1695. being the two years William Napier was Provost, there being then come to their knowledge of Debts contracted by their Predecessors before the happy Revolution, 10158. 2. 8. over and above what is contained in the preceding two Paragraphs, whereof there was 8000 lib. to the Trades House in Glasgow, comform to an Act of Council, for their encouragement to build a ruinous Land at the across; And a Debt of 2587 lib. 16 sh. the Town was decerned in by the Lords of Session to pay Provost boil of Irvine, because John Wallace then bailie of Glasgow in the years 1687, or 1688. suffered Walter Gibson to escape, after he was taken with Caption, and counting 8000 marks resting to William Anderson of the said 9000 marks, wherewith their foresaid Gift was burdened, makes in all 18079 lib. 5 sh. 4 d. The Towns Debts, as will appear by the balance of the foresaid Books, Folio 132, and 133. amounted to of Principal Sums 173814 lib. 18 sh. 4 d. which with the 〈…〉 and other Debts not 〈…〉 At Lambmas or Michaelmas 1697, being the two years the foresaid John Anderson of Dowhill was again Provost, there being then of Debt come upon the Town, for the Lands of Provan, and others contracted by their Predecessors, 1341 lib. 4 sh. 6 d. as appears by Leger-Book, Folio 134. the Town was then in Debt over and above 9000 lib. contracted for the Towns fourth part of the 3000 lib. Sterling subscribed to the African and Indian-Company, as will appear by the balance of the said Books Leger, Folio 174. of Principal Sums 147785 lib. 16 sh. 02 d. which with the Annualrents and Debts bearing no Annualrent, does amount to 161980 10 02 There is payed of Principal Sums their two years 26029 lib. together with 18017 lib. 6 sh. 8 d. of Annualrents, as appears by the Journal, Pages 140 and 145, and Leger, Folio 166 and 169. There remains two years counts not cleared the time the foresaid Ja. Peadie was again Provost, viz. from Michaelmas 1697 to Michaelmas last 1699. because of several Debts standing out owing to the Thesaurers of that time, which they are seeking in, and must charge for before they can count. The Towns Debts contracted as said is by their Predecessors, comform to the preceding account, and as appears by the Leger-Book, Folio 1, 2, and 26, is 177083 12 00 Item, Of more Debt contracted by their Predecessors, comform to the foresaid account and Leger, Folio 95, is 12745 18 08 Item, Of more Debt contracted by them, comform to the preceding account, and as appears by the Leger, Folio 134. 1341 04 06 191170 15 02 Item, As appears by the foresaid account and Leger-Book, the Expense about the obtaining the Gift of the Two Pennies on the pint, Cost the Town 15136 00 00 Item, That the Gift was burdened with to pay William Anderson. 6000 00 00 21136 00 00 Total Sum 212306 15 02 The Town was in Debt, as appears by the foresaid account at Michaelmas 1697, and balance of the Books, Folio 174. 161980 10 02 So there is payed of clear Debt. 50326 05 00 Now if it be considered, tho that the Gift of the two pennies on the Pint brought the Town in 21000 lib. of Debt, yet that is now payed and more, by the frugal Management of the magistrates and Town Council, and there is yet nine years running of the said Gift from Martinmass 1697 to Martinmass 1706, wherein much Debt may be payed by frugal Management and Care and Diligence in seeking in the Towns Debts; But the Annualrents of so many and so great principal Sums, the Town is yet owing is such a burden upon the Towns Revenue, that its immpossible to pay them without some other way and industry be used than by the Revenue, for it is known and evidently appears by the account of the Towns Revenue, and the Auditors of the accounts will not refuse it, that after what is yearly payed out of it to the Towns and barony, Ministers Stipends, Master and Doctor of the grammar School, Feu-duties payed to the college and others, tithe, Tack duties and maintinance of the Churches and Precenters, and several salaries and Burdens yearly upon the said Revenue, which are too long here to be narrated, there remains only but 6000 lib. Scots to pay Nine or Ten thousand Pound of yearly Annualrents, and for the support of the Government; and like ways of the foresaid 6000 lib. there is 1000 libs reckoned for Seats in the Churches, of which the Town of Glasgow has received nothing these several years past, and now is appropriat for building 〈…〉 But I hear some are pleased to object, that the particulars of the Towns Revenue, as they are valued in the account amount to more. To which it is answered, that the casual Articles of the Revenue are stated as they can render communibus annis one year with another, and some years they render more, and some years less, and it is known, that except these three or four years by past, wherein Victual hath been dear, they have alwise rendered about the Sum they are valued at, and this very year 1700 the Towns Milns which is the greatest part of the Towns Casual-Rent, give less then they are valued at in the account, and though some years they may render 1000 marks or two more, which is the most that they have been known to render, what is that to so great a Burden that lies upon them; And whatever they have or do amount to, is fairly counted for, as the Auditors knows and will aclowledge, as is evident by the Books; And what other Rents the Town hath, which are not casual, are truly stated as they are set at. It is likewise objected, that the Town is stented together with the Cess for the Burrow Missive deuce, whereas Edinburgh and some other Burghs do not stint for them. To which it is answered, that such Burghs whose Revenues may bear that burden, I think they do well in so doing, and they wish from their hearts that they had such a Revenue that could not only bear the burden of the Burrow Missive deuce, but also the King's Cess, in which case none of the Inhabitants should be burdened with either; For certainly it can be no pleasure to them that such grievous Burdens are laid on, if otherwise it could be helped, for the magistrates bear as heavy a part thereof as any others, and some of them more then any in the Town; Whereas in other Towns the magistrates for the time being, are free of such Stents and Burdens. Some are also pleased to say, that tho they have not a Fund to pay the Burrow Missive deuce, they should borrow it. It is answered, what would that amount to at the long run, would not that at last ruin the Town; Beside they consider not that they are bound by an Act of Parliament to contract no Debt, but to pay principal Sums with the effects of the two pennies on the Pint: As also that many Burghs of Scotland not only stint for the Burrow Missive deuce, but for the very Annualrent of the Money they are owing, and for their Commissioner Fies to Parliament 〈…〉 It is likewise evident and is made appear, that notwithstanding of all the Stents have been laid on the Inhabitants from time to time, which they aclowledge to their Grief and Sorrow have been great and heavy, yet these Stents have never been able to come the length of paying the said deuce, but the Common-Good hath been burdened with above five hundred pound Sterling lost by them, and do daily loss by them, as does appear by the several accounts of the saids Stents.