[M1705/6/39]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Prayers said, rolls called.
Minutes of the last sederunt read.
The article of the report of the commission for public accounts relating to [John Hamilton], lord Belhaven's tack of excise from September 1695 to March 1697 read. Petition for the Lord Belhaven and his partners read. Petition for George MacKenzie, one of the Lord Belhaven's subtacksmen, read. The parliament having considered the petition given in by Belhaven and his partners, with the report of the commission, they find that the sum of £17,181 11s 7d sterling was never paid in by the country to the said tacksmen or subtacksmen, therefore they discharge them and the country of the said sum in the terms of the deliverance of parliament upon their petition.
Moved that the principal tacksmen be discharged of the sum of £526 11s 10d sterling uplifted by them and not yet accounted for, and, after debate, it was put to the vote discharge the tacksmen of the said sum or not, and carried discharge.
Then the parliament, having considered George MacKenzie's petition, they decree and ordain the sums in the hands of Thomas Beaton of Tarvit and William Bernard, two subcollectors of that excise, to be paid in to him in the terms of the deliverance of parliament upon his petition, and the said George MacKenzie further recommended to her majesty for his surplus losses mentioned in his petition.
The article of the report of the said commission relating to [James Douglas], duke of Queensberry's bond lying in the treasury read. Petition for his grace also read, craving to be free of annualrents of the said bond and compensation of the principal sum, he being creditor to the public in far greater sums. And the parliament, having considered the said report with the petition, they grant the desire thereof in the terms of the deliverance of parliament upon the said petition.
Article of the report of the commission relating to the bond of £853 2s sterling, granted by the late [Archibald Campbell], duke of Argyll to the lords of treasury, read, and her majesty's high commissioner and the estates of parliament, having considered the report with the following letter directed by her majesty to the lords of treasury and bond itself, which is in these terms: that if between then and 15 September 1696 and 1 April next thereafter his grace did not procure and deliver to the said lords his majesty's warrant for delivering up to his grace the said bond without repayment of the said sum, then he obliged himself, his heirs and successors to pay and refund the same. And his grace, having obtained her majesty's letter of the date 24 February 1703, authorising and requiring the said lords to state the account of arrears due to his grace of pay and clothing, and to deliver up to the said duke the said bond of £853 2s sterling, and to take his receipt as so much paid to him on account of his said arrears of pay and clothing, therefore they recommended to the lords of treasury to give up and discharge the said bond upon their getting a valid discharge of the sum of £853 2s sterling as a part of the arrears due to the said deceased duke of Argyll.
The article of the report of the commission relating to the hearth money collected by the deceased [James Melville], laird of Cassingray read, considered and approved by the parliament, and recommended to the lords of treasury who are hereby authorised to discharge the heirs of the said Cassingray and to give up the bond wherein he and his cautioner stand bound for the said hearth money.
Article of the report of the commission relating to Sir Alexander Bruce of Broomhall and partners, their advances to the army upon the accounts mentioned in the report, and the petition for the said Sir Alexander Bruce read, and the parliament, having considered the said report with the petition, they find the petitioner creditor to the public in the sums and manner contained in the deliverance of parliament upon the said petition.
Moved that a gratuity should be given to the members of the commission of parliament, namely: [Charles Murray], earl of Dunmore, Mr William Seton [of Pitmedden], Mr John Clerk [of Penicuik], Mr Dougald Stewart [of Blairhall] and Mr Robert Fraser for their pains and attendance in auditing and examining the public accounts since the last session of parliament. Agreed to that each of the forenamed persons shall have £200 sterling paid to them for their said pains and attendance, and that out of any sure fund as the same shall hereafter occur.
Agreed likewise that Walter Riddell, clerk to the said commission, for his pains and attendance on the said committee shall have £50 sterling paid to him.
Moved that in regard no sure fund does at present appear out of which the above-named persons can receive ready payment of their respective sums, that therefore the estates of parliament should recommend them to her majesty that she may order the said payments in the way and manner her royal wisdom shall judge most proper, which motion was agreed to accordingly.
Agreed that the article of the report of the commission relating to the poll-money collected by [William Cochrane of] Ferguslie and the petition given in by George Preston be first under consideration next sederunt of parliament.
The article of the report of the commission relating to Major James Cunningham of Aiket read, petition for the said Major James Cunningham also read, and he preferred to a certain sum, as contained in the deliverance of parliament upon his petition.
The article of the report of the commission anent Sir George Hamilton, late commissary of the army, read, petition for the said Sir George also read, and he recommended to the lords of treasury, as contained in the deliverance of parliament upon his petition.
The article of the report of the commission relating to John Campbell of Knockrioch and partners' collection of the poll 1695 read, petition for the said John Campbell and partners also read, and he recommended to the lords of treasury, as contained in the deliverance of parliament upon his petition.
Petition for Mr Charles Campbell read, and a stay of personal execution granted to him in the terms of the deliverance of parliament upon his said petition.
Article of the report of the commission relating to John Drummond and James Dunlop, late general receivers, read, petition for them also read, and they recommended to the lords of treasury for the ends contained in the deliverance of parliament upon their petition.
Article of the report of the commission relating to Captain John Slezer read, petition for the said captain also read, and he recommended to the lords of treasury in the terms of the deliverance of parliament upon his petition, and that part of the petition craving a stay of personal execution ordained to be seen and answered by his creditors against the next sederunt.
Ratification in favour of [Robert and Alexander] Bisset of Lessendrum read.
Then the lord chancellor, by order of her majesty's high commissioner, adjourned the parliament until Friday next at 10 o'clock.
[James Ogilvy, earl of] Seafield, chancellor, in the presence of the lords of parliament