To His Grace JAMES Duke of Queensberry, His Majesty's High Commissioner, and most Honourable Estates of Parliament, The Representation of George Lockhart Merchant in Glasgow, and other Inhabitants of that City.  
HUMBLY SHOWETH.  
THAT Whereas, Their Majesties were Graciously Pleased, to grant a Charter in favours of the City of Glasgow, which is also Ratified in Parliament, Giving Power to the said City and Town Council thereof, to Elect their Provost, Bailies, and other Officers as freely as the City of Edinburgh. Whereby we humbly Conceive, that the Provost, Bailies, and Council were to be Elected in the same manner as the other Officers. But by Misunderstanding of the said Charter and Act of Parliament, there has Crept in an Error in the practice of Elections, whereby the Merchants and Trades Halls are excluded both from Leiting and Electing of the Provost or the Bailies, or Choising the Council; And the said Provost, and Bailies, are Leited and Elected, and the Council Chosen by the Council of the Preceding Year; As if the said Council were come in place of the Archbishop, to whom the Nomination of the Provost, and Choice of the Bailies, out of the Leits presented by the Town Council, only belonged: And which Practice, We humbly Judge, is Contrar to Our Charter and Act of Parliament.; And Tends plainly to the perpetuating the Magistracy in a few hands, Whereas the Election ought to be as free as any other Royal burgh's, and especially in all Respects as that of the City of Edinburgh.  
WE DO LIKEWAYS humbly Represent; That We have suffered by Stenting and Impositions, under the Name of the King's Cess, Considerably beyond the Quota Imposed upon the City by Acts of Parliament since Whitsunday 1693; whereof We have Subjoined an Account: By which it may appear there has been Exacted 32586 Pound 18 sh. 6 d. more than the King's Cess (not including the Over Stint now Imposed for Lambass and Martinmass 1700) which is not only a Considerable Burden of itself, but contrar to Law in manner of exacting, by Quartering, poinding and Imprisonment: This being Imposed and Exacted without Authority, and not pretended to by the Town of Edinburgh; We Humbly Beg, The same may be Redressed and prevented by the High and Honourable Court of Parliament.  
May it therefore please your Grace, and Most Honourable Estates of Parliament, to allow the Merchants and Trades Halls, to have the same Privileges and Freedom, of Electing the Provost. Bailies, and Council, as they have of the Dean of Guild, and Deacon-Conveener; And to Discharge any Stenting or Exaction, but what shall be imposed by Acts of Parliament; which will restore quiet, and Encourage Industry, among the good Neighbours and Inhabitants of the Town of Glasgow.  
And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray, etc.   


●he Town of Glasgows proportion of Cess, laid on by Acts of Parliament, As follows,   Lib. Towns Cess for Whitsunday and Lam: 1693 for six months, 10800 ●●●to, at Martinmass 1693 and Candlem: 1694. for six Months, 10800 ●●●to. At Whitsunday and Lamass 1694. for six months: 10800 ●●●to, At Lamass 1695 and Candlemass 1696, for six months, 10800 ●●●to, At Lamass 1696, for three Months is 5400 ●●●to, At Martinmass 1696, Cand: and Whit: 1697. for six Months 10800 ●●●to, At Lamass and Martinmas 1697, for 4 Months 7200 ●●●to, At Candlemass and Whitsunday 1698. for four Months, 7200 ●●●to, At Lamass and Martinmass 1698: for four months 7200 ●●●to, At Mart: 98 Candl: & Whit: 99: for 4 months & a Quarter; 7650 ●●●to, At Lomb: and Martin, 1691. for 4 months & a quarter; 7650 ●●●to, At Candlem: and Whit: 170● for 4 months and a quarter, 8160 Reckoning for that time the Town 〈◊〉 17 lib. o the Stint Rolls. 8160  104460   


Money Imposed under the Name of KING'S Cess, As Follows, Viz.   Lib. sh. d▪ By Stint imposed for Whitsun: & Lam: 1693: for six months 11964   By Ditto, for Mertin: 1693 and Candl: 94: for six months 12000   By Ditto. for Whitsun: and Lamb: 1694. for six months 13000   By Ditto, for Lamb: 1695 & Candl: 1696 for six months; 13000   By Ditto; for Lambmass 1696 for three months; 10363   By Ditto; for Mar: 1696 Cand: and Whit: 97: for six months; 11600   By Ditto; for Lamb: and Mart: 1697; for four months; 11000   By Ditto; for Candl: and Whits: 1698: for four months; 9735 9 8 By Ditto; for Lamb: and Martinmass 1698; for four months. 9700 8 8 By Ditto: for Mar: 98, Cand: & Whit: 99; for 4 months & a quar: 8450   By Ditto, for Lamb: and Mar: 1699; for four months and a quar. 10950   By Ditto; for Cand: and Whit: 1700 for 4 months and a quart: 15284    137046 18 4  
●●llance Imposed and Exacted (th● Over-Stent for 
 Lambmass and Martinmass 1700 not included) 32586 18 4  137046 18 4