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To his grace [James Douglas], duke of Queensberry, his majesty's high commissioner, and the right honourable estates of parliament, the humble address and petition of the magistrates and town council of Dysart, in name of the community.
That where after a long and expensive war we expected to have enjoyed the fruits of a happy peace in the encouraging of foreign trade and of manufactories at home, in the employing the poor of the nation (which through the dearth of victual are become very numerous), in improving the natural product at home, and in lessening the burden of the nation.
But instead of these blessings, we are extremely aware of the decay of trade, that our export is prohibited almost everywhere, especially in the kingdom of France, that our nation is drained of coin, and though we have good and wholesome laws for encouraging trade, yet that they are not put into execution, that our poor are not employed as they ought to be, and, to consummate our miseries, that a standing army in time of peace is kept up, a heavy burden to the nation.
Amongst other our misfortunes, we cannot but be aware of the repeated discouragements our colony of Caledonia has met with, which, though they had acts of parliament and his majesty's letters patent in their favour, and though a vast treasure was expended in that expedition, yet measures have been taken to defeat the design, to dishearten the colony after their settlement, which, to our great grief, have proved too effectual, by which means many of our countrymen have lost their lives through the inhuman usage of their unkind neighbours, in the flourishing of which colony were placed the hopes of recovering our sinking state and nation.
May it therefore please your grace and the right honourable the estates to take the premises into your consideration, and to fall upon such proper and effectual measures as you in your wisdom shall think fit for encouraging foreign trade and manufactories at home, for employing the poor in improving the natural product of this kingdom, for supporting and protecting our national interest of Caledonia and for easing us of the burden of so many forces in time of peace. And your petitioners shall ever pray.
†9 January 1701
Presented and read in parliament.