The rise of an overseas trading and colonising policy in
Scotland materialised in the establishment of the African Company in
imitation of the great English chartered companies. On 24th June, 1695,
the Act of Parliament incorporating the company trading to Africa and the
Indies was passed. It entitled the company to fit out their own or hired
ships in warlike or other manner to other lands and to make reprisals. In
their expeditions to Darien from 1698 to 1700 their vessels were all
armed, and some of them, if not all, had letters of marque from the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty of Scotland approved by the Privy Council.
This colonising spirit, quite as much as the war with France—which
entailed the necessity of guarding Scots shipping against French
privateers—and the many complications that continued to arise out of
Scotland's dependence on the English Navy, accounted for the ready
establishment by Parliament in 1696 of a small permanent Scots naval
squadron of three men-of-war, which were built in London, and which were
not fully paid for as late as April 1699. On 1st April, 1696, the first of
this squadron, the Royal William, was commissioned with Edward Burd as
captain. The other two, the Royal Mary commanded by John Bosswell, and one
not named, probably the Dumbarton Castle, commanded by George Lyon, were,
judging from their pay lists, commissioned in June 1696. They were
manned after the custom of the time by seamen and a complement of soldiers
provided from the army. Their chief service was the defence of the
shipping of Scotland against French privateers until the peace of Ryswick.
Some interesting matters arise in connection with naval
affairs during this period. The Privy Council of Scotland, which had
hitherto assumed and exercised full control of naval affairs in Scotland,
after the death of the Duke of Hamilton, Lord High Admiral of Scotland, in
1694, and after the putting of that office into commission, ceded some of
its power to these Commissioners. On 12th January, 1697, the Privy Council
left it to the Admiralty to give Captain Burd directions as to protecting
Scots shipping about Orkney, and on 10th March the same year a commission
was issued by the said Commissioners to Andrew Brown to be
lieutenant of the Royal William. The privateer's commission, issued on
20th December, 1700, to Captain John Campbell of the Speedwell of two
hundred and fifty tons burden mounted with twenty-four guns
and navigated by fifty men, denned the powers of the Admiralty. In
terms of the King's commission setting up the Scots Admiralty referred to
in the Speedwell's commission it was provided that the consent of the
Privy Council was necessary to the issue of commissions by the Admiralty
to men-of-war or privateers.
On 13th January, 1697, the Earl of Marchmont, writing to
the joint Secretaries of State for Scotland, complained of an infringement
of the sovereignty of Scotland by an English man-of-war insisting on the
Royal William striking[This
salute claimed by the English Navy is discussed by M. Oppenheim in vol.
iii. of Sir William Monson's Naval Tracts, in the Navy Records
Society's publications, 1912, pp. 45-55.]
to her. This assumption by English men-of-war is more than once hereafter
referred to and gave rise to irritation and protests.
The peace of Ryswick, in terms of which William's title to
the crown of Great Britain was conceded, and Louis' power was curtailed,
was signed on 20th September, 1697. The Scots army was in consequence
much reduced in establishment, and the three Scots men-of-war were soon
after laid up. Marchmont, writing on 22nd October, 1697, speaks of the
warships as laid up. The pay list of the Royal William, interesting as
giving the rates of pay, the origins of the seamen and information that
some joined the Darien expedition, shows that she was laid up in Blackness
road in the Firth of Forth on 1st December, 1697, with a very reduced
complement of men. The settlement of the arrears of pay due to the
officers and men of the three Scots men-of-war detailed in the pay lists
given for the time they were in commission was a long drawn out
affair. The tacksman of the poll tax—imposed to meet these arrears—was
ordered on 2nd August, 1699, by the Commissioners of the
Admiralty to pay the seamen. They seem, however, to have got scant
justice, for on a representation that Cochrane the tacksman oppressively
took a receipt for 30 lib. for every 19 lib. paid by him, Parliament dealt
with the matter on 7th January, 1701 ; and as late as 17th June, 1703,
Captain Bosswell and his seamen of the Royal Mary again petitioned
Parliament, complaining of the abuse of public faith by William Cochrane,
tacksman of the poll, in holding back their pay.
[The
Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,
vol. xi, p. 62 and App. p. 18.]
A poll tax was originally imposed by the Scots Parliament on 29th May,
1693, on all the individual inhabitants of Scotland with certain
exceptions, and was graduated according to the status of the
individual. Its first object was to clear off arrears due to the
country and to the army before 1st February, 1691. It was
subsequently reimposed, and was applied to defray military and naval
expenditure. Like most other Scots taxes it was farmed out.
Meantime the African Company was pushing on the ill-fated
colonising scheme which ended in the disaster of Darien. On the eve of
peace, on 3rd August, 1697, the Privy Council approved of letters of
marque issued by the Commissioners of Admiralty in favour of the captains
of four privateers belonging to the company ; and later, on the 20th of
that month, the Royal William was instructed to carry over to Hamburg
seamen to man two of them, the Caledonia and Instauration, and to convoy
these two vessels to Scotland.
The ships that sailed in the first expedition to Darien
from Leith, on 26th July, 1698, were the St. Andrew, Captain Andrew
Pennicuick (commodore), the Unicorn, Captain Robert Pinkerton, the
Caledonia, Captain Robert Drummond, ships carrying from 46 to 70 guns
apiece; the Endeavour and the Dolphin, tenders of 14 guns each or thereby.
The expedition arrived at Darien on 3rd November, 1698, and set about
founding a colony and opening up trade with the neighbouring colonies,
particularly with the English colonies in the West Indies and New England.
Ignorance of proper methods, un-preparedness, the hostility of the English
colonies and the awkward political complications arising in connection
with their settlement in Spanish territory, which involved the active
hostility of Spain and the antagonism of the English Government then at
peace with Spain-—all combined to ruin the enterprise. The colony was
abandoned on 20th June, 1699. The Endeavour foundered in the retreat; the
St. Andrew reached Port Royal, and the Unicorn New York, but both were
left to rot. The Caledonia alone reached Scotland, in November 1699. The
Dolphin was cast away on 5th February, 1699, near Cartagena, and her crew
imprisoned as pirates by the Spaniards. They were only released in Spain
after long diplomatic negotiations and the direct' intervention of King
William. On 24th February, 1699, the company sent off to Darien the
Dispatch, a brigantine of 14 guns, under Captain Andrew Gibson, with
provisions and advices. She was wrecked outward-bound amongst the Western
Isles of Scotland. On 12th May, 1699, two auxiliary ships were
dispatched—the Olive Branch, owned by the company, Captain William
Jameson, and the Hopeful Binning of Bo'ness, hired from and commanded by
Alexander Stark. They arrived at Darien about the middle of August, to
find the original settlement abandoned. The Olive Branch was destroyed by
fire a few days after arrival; and the Hopeful Binning soon after
withdrew with the handful of settlers to Jamaica.
A second expedition sailed from the Clyde on 24th
September, 1699, and arrived at Darien on 30th November, 1699. It
consisted of the Rising Sun, of 60 guns, owned by the company and
commissioned by the Commissioners of Admiralty with the approval of the
Privy Council, Captain James Gibson, commander and commodore, the Hope,
owned by the company, Captain James Millar, commander, the Duke of
Hamilton, chartered by the company, Captain Walter Duncan, commander, and
the Hope of Bo'ness, chartered by the company, Captain Richard Dalling,
commander. The same causes which led to the failure of the first
expedition led to the failure of the second, and on nth April, 1700, the
settlers finally abandoned the colony. The Rising Sun was wrecked at
Charleston, Carolina, and the Duke of Hamilton was also destroyed there.
The Hope was cast away on the rocks of Colorados, Cuba, and the Hope of
Bo'ness was sold at Cartagena to the Spaniards.
CHAPTER IV
The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, Vol. IX, pp.
352-354 (résumé).
9th May, 1695.
The King's Letter to Parliament.
' You will also be sensible that there is a necessity to
have the coast and trade secured from privateers.' On 16th May this part
of the King's letter was referred to the Committee of Trade, who were
directed to communicate with the Committee for Security of the Kingdom.
Ibidem, vol. IX, Appendix, p. 98.
21st May, 1695.
‘The Committee of Trade having had under consideration that
part of the King's letter relating to the security of trade and the
defending the sea coasts of this kingdom from privateers, it is their
opinion that a naval force is absolutely necessary for the encouraging and
security of the trade and defending of our coasts ; and it is likewise the
opinion of the said Committee that the said naval force must consist at
least of five ships of war, three of which ships to be from thirty to
forty guns and two of twenty to twenty-four guns, which ships may be
bought for twelve thousand pound sterling, and the maintaining of them
well manned and in ware and tare for eight months in the year will amount
to twelve thousand pound sterling more. And in case there be a necessity
for employing any of them longer in the year than eight months, it will
amount to six hundred pound sterling more or thereby.’
EGLINTOUN,
[Alexander, eighth Earl of Eglintoun.]
I.P.D.C.
Ibidem, Vol. IX, p. 356.
On 27th May, on the report of the Committee for Security of
the Kingdom, parliament allowed three hundred thousand
[25,ooo sterling.]
pounds Scots2 for providing and maintaining cruisers and
convoys for the defence of the coasts and trade.
Minutes of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Edinburgh. 26th November, 1695.
Warrant to the Clerks of Council to write to Mr. Hamilton
in Ireland anent the Ship belonging to Fort William.
The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do hereby appoint
any of their clerks to write to Master William Hamilton, Writer to the
Signet, presently at Ireland, to cause put the ship called the William and
Mary, which belonged to Fort William, into the possession of such of the
seamen belonging to that ship as are in that place, and order these seamen
to sail the said ship to New Port, Glasgow, and to get others joined to
them, if they be not sufficient to sail it themselves, there to lie till
further order ; and that the said Mr. Hamilton take such security of these
persons to whom the said ship shall be committed, as they are able to
give, that they shall sail the said ship to the said port and make her
forthcoming for the use of the said garrison.
1
Carstares State Papers and Letters (1774), p. 270.
Edinburgh. 10th December, 1695.
Sir James Ogilvie to Mr. Carstares.
I am sorry our Indian Act occasions so much trouble; for I
think it will do little hurt to England seeing we want[Do
not possess.]
a fleet.
Minutes of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Edinburgh. 4th March, 1696.
Committee anent securing Ships in the Firth.
The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do hereby
recommend to the Lord Justice Clerk and Lord Enstruther to call for and
speak with the magistrates of Edinburgh, and to appoint the magistrates to
call for and speak with such skippers at Leith and other places upon the
coast side and with the merchants who may have interest in the ships lying
in the harbours in the Firth as they can meet with, and to see what ways
they^can propose as most convenient for securing the ships in the harbours
from the French, in case any French ships shall come within this Firth,
whether it will be fit to carry the said ships to the harbour or road of
Queensferry or other western harbours or roads, or what other expedients
they will propose.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 6th March, 1696.
Recommendation to the Lords of Treasury to provide Vessels
to cruise the Coasts.
The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do hereby
recommend to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury to cause
presently provide, furnish and send out a vessel or boat from Fifeness,
and another from Dunbar or Eyemouth to sail and cruise within and without
the Firth, if they can see or perceive any number of ships making towards
this Firth, and upon first sight thereof immediately to give information
of the same to the Lords of Privy Council.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 10th March, 1696.
The Magistrates of Edinburgh appointed to send out Two Spy
Boats.
The Council having sent for the magistrates of Edinburgh,
compeared[A
Scots law term, meaning appeared in court in consequence of being
summoned.]
Baillie Boudin and Baillie Warrander, to whom the Council recommended
immediately to make ready two spy boats at Leith, and to furnish the same
sufficiently with a good number of seamen for rowoars[Rowers.]
and with oars and sails and all things necessary, and
presently to dispatch them and to send an intelligent person with each of
them who understands the shapes and building of ships and to go out and
sail the Firth, the one by Fifeness and the other straight forward and to
view the ships and vessels steering off Montrose and to bring a
particular account what the ships are and to whom they belong, from
whence they came and whither they design, and what is their errand or
business, if they can know the same.
The Acts of the Parliaments 0f Scotland, Vol. X, p. 10.
10th September, 1696.
The King's Letter to Parliament.
The continuing of the forces, the buying of arms . . . and
the provisions for your frigates being all for your defence . . . will
readily persuade you to give what is needful for those ends.
Minutes of the Privy Council of Scotland.
The Abbey of Holyrood House. 11th September, 1696.
Recommendation for Furnishing Eighty Soldiers to Captain
Burd's Ship.
Sir James Steuart, his Majesty's Advocate, having
represented to the Council that Captain Burd, who commands one of the
Scots men-of-war, his company consists only of one hundred men, whereas
the complement put upon him by the Admiralty is one hundred and eighty
men,[See
Pay Book of Royal William, p. 226.]
so that he lacks eighty of the Admiralty's complement and
craves to be provided for some time out of his Majesty's standing forces
until his complement be made up, his Majesty's High Commissioner and
Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do hereby recommend to Sir Thomas
Livingstone, commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces within this
kingdom, to furnish to the said Captain Burd the said number of fourscore
men with their arms out of his Majesty's regiments of foot soldiers ; and
recommend to the said Sir Thomas Livingstone to take care that the same
be good and sufficient men ; and appoint officers to be sent along with
them ; and ordain Captain Burd to furnish sufficient provisions for their
aliment during their abode aboard, which is to be till the first day of
November next to come.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 12th January, 1697.
Anent Captain Burd's Cruising about Orkney.
The Lord Advocate having moved that it is the desire of the
merchants that Captain Burd may be ordered to go with his ship to Orkney
and lie in the road of Kerstoun[Cairston,
in the west of the Orkney Islands.]
and cruise about these islands for defence of our Scots ships, the Council
did let the same fall, it being proper for the Admiralty.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 20th January, 1697.
Letter to the King anent a Ship taken in Orkney by an
English Man-of-war.
A letter from the Council to the King anent a Scots wine
ship taken at Kerstoun in Orkney by an English man-of-war was read, voted
and approven, and appointed to be transcribed and carried through the
Councillors' houses in the afternoon that it may be dispatched by a flying
packet this afternoon with a fuller letter to the Secretaries of State.
Follows the tenor of the letter :—
May it please your sacred Majesty,—Having had a complaint
exhibited to us in Council that a ship belonging to some of our merchants
called the Kathrine of Dysart, James Symsone, master, having come homeward
the length of the road and bay of Carstounl in Orkney, where
she was at anchor close upon the land, was there with her crew seized and
carried away by an English frigate called the Woolage frigate, one Staple-toun,
captain, as if she had been lawful prize; which, being a manifest
violation of the rights of this your ancient kingdom and a heavy loss and
grievance to your good subjects concerned, and in effect of that
consequence as to the security of our trade that it may in a great manner
frustrate the payment of your Majesty's customs, we thought it
our duty, specially for preventing the grudges and animosities so likely
to arise from such practices, to lay the case before your Majesty with all
submission, most humbly entreating that your Majesty would cause give the
necessary orders to make the captain of the said frigate make full
restitution both of the ship and lading and damages of the parties
concerned; and that, because of the frequent insults we have suffered of
this kind, if it please your Majesty, such intimation and orders may be
given to all ships of war and other ships and their commanders and masters
that they présumé not to seize, attack or molest in any sort any ship or
vessel belonging to your lieges of this kingdom within the harbours, roads
and waters thereof, which will both tend to the honour of this your
ancient kingdom, the security and encouragement of the trade thereof, and
the great satisfaction of all your Majesty's good subjects. We are, may it
pleasure your Majesty, your Majesty's most loyal, most faithful and most
obedient subjects and servants (sic subscribitur),
POLWARTH,
CANCELOR,
QUEENSBERRY,
ARGYLL,
LEVEN,
ANNANDALE,
JO. HAMILTON,
TEVIOT,
RAITH,
BEILHAVEN,
HAMILTON,
JA. STEUART,
HOPE,
JO. MAXWELL.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh, 9th March, 1697.
Warrant anent Soldiers to Captain Burd's Ship.
The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do hereby
recommend to the Lord Viscount of Teviot,
[Sir Thomas Livingstone, created Viscount Teviot 4th December, 1696;
promoted Lieutenant-General 1st January, 1704; died at London 14th
January, 1711, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.]
commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces within this
kingdom, to furnish and cause put aboard of Captain Burd (who commands one
of the Scots men-of-war) his ship, the number of forty-five sentinels and
two sergeants, with their arms, out of his Majesty's regiments of foot,
and to take care that they be good and sufficient men ; and ordain the
said Captain Burd to furnish sufficient provisions for their aliment
during their continuing aboard the said ship, which is to be aye and
until these presents be recalled.
MS. in Register House, Edinburgh.
10th March, 1697.
By the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord
High Admiral of Scotland, &c, To Lieutenant Andrew Brown, hereby
appointed Lieutenant of his Majesty's Ship Royal William.
By virtue of the power and authority to us given we do
hereby constitute and appoint you lieutenant of his Majesty's
ship the Royal William, willing and requiring you forthwith to go on
board and take upon you the charge and command of lieutenant in her
accordingly, strictly charging and commanding all the officers, seamen and
soldiers belonging to the said ship subordinate to you to behave
themselves jointly and severally in their respective stations and
employments with all due respect and obedience unto you their said
lieutenant, and likewise to observe and execute as well the instructions
herewith to you delivered attested by our clerk as what further orders and
directions you shall from time to time receive from your captain or any
other your superior officers for his Majesty's service, wherein you nor
none of you may fail as you will answer the contrary at your perils ; and
for so doing these presents (being to be recorded by our clerk and to
continue until recalled) shall be your warrant. Given under our hands and
the seal of the Office of Admiralty at Edinburgh the tenth day of March
1697, and of his Majesty's reign the eighth year. (Sic subscribitur),
POLWARTH,
JO.
HAMILTON,
AR. HOPE,
SIR
FRANCIS SCOT,
GEO.
CLERK.
Marchmont Papers, Vol. Ill, p. 129.
11th March, 1697.
The Earl of Marchmont to the Earl of Tullibardine[
Lord Murray, created on 27th July, 1696, Earl of Tullibardine, afterwards
Duke of Athole, was appointed Joint Secretary of State for Scotland in
January, 1696.]
and Secretary Ogilvie.[Sir
James Ogilvie, afterwards Earl of Seafield, appointed Joint Secretary of
State for Scotland on 5th Fsbruary, 1696.]
Captain Burd with the Royal William is commanded out to
cruise, because we hear of several small privateers about the coast. He
has got with his sailing orders several articles of instruction, which are
chosen out of the printed instructions which used to be given to his
Majesty's ships in England. The copy of the fifteenth article is here
inclosed, which your Lordship may consider, and acquaint the King of it,
as you think fit. It is necessary also to acquaint his Majesty that the
captain of the Nonsuch told Captain Burd that he had orders from the Lords
of the Admiralty of England to force the Scots frigates to strike, when
they meet with them. The Admiralty here can hardly believe it, yet Burd
says that some of them shot sharp [with shot] at him, as he
came down the river. The Lords of the Admiralty desire, lest any
mischief should happen, that, your Lordship would timeously speak to the
King of this; and they doubt but his Majesty will own his Scots frigates
as well as his English, and appoint only such salutation as passes
amongst the English one to another, and will not admit his flag of the
kingdom of Scotland to do homage to any, seeing they have a like interest
in his Majesty.
Minutes of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Edinburgh. 5th May, 1697.
Warrant to Lord Advocate to write for Seamen to Captain
Burd's Ship.
The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do hereby
recommend to Sir James Steuart, his Majesty's Advocate, to write in
name and authority of the Council to the magistrates of the several
maritime towns within the Firth that they proportion amongst them and
furnish to Captain ------ Burd, commander of a man-of-war belonging to
this kingdom, the number of twenty sufficient seamen, and, if the said
twenty men be not immediately furnished, that the magistrates send in to
the Council lists of all the seamen within their respective bounds,
with certification that the Council will take another order for up
lifting of the said seamen as law will allow.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 8th July, 1697.
Warrant to Furnish Parties of Foot Forces to man the Two
Scots Ships of War.
The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do hereby
recommend to the Earl of Argyll, commander-in-chief of his Majesty's
forces within this kingdom for the time, to cause furnish such parties of
his Majesty's forces of foot for manning the two ships or men-of-war
belonging to this kingdom lately come from England as the Commissioners of
the Admiralty shall think fit and appoint.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 27th July, 1697.
Recommendation anent the Three Scots Men-of-war.
The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Councils-having considered
this memorial presented to them by the Commissioners of the Admiralty of
this kingdom, they hereby recommend to the Lords Commissioners of his
Majesty's Treasury to make such provisions for the three Scots men-of-war
lying in the road of Leith as their Lordships are able to do, to the
effect these ships may go and cruise for a month or two about the coasts
of this kingdom for clearing the coasts of French capers and to secure his
Majesty's ships against the same or any prejudice from them.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 3rd August, 1697.
Approbation of Letters of Mart[Marque],
in favour of Captain Pinkertoun and others.
The commissions or letters of mart in favour of the persons
afternamed, viz. one in favour of Captain Robert Pinkertoun, captain of
the good ship called the Union, a second in favour of Captain James
Gibsone, master of the good ship or frigate called the Rising Sun, a third
in favour of Captain John Broun, master of the good ship or frigate called
the Instauration, the fourth in favour of Captain William Tennant, master
of the good ship or frigate called the Calydona, being this day read in
presence of the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council, they hereby approve
of the said commissions, and appoint the persons abovenamed, masters or
captains of the ships respectively foresaid each of them to swear and sign
the oath of allegiance to his Majesty King William, and to sign the
assurance to his Majesty appointed by Act of Parliament, and that before
they enter upon the exercising of the said commissions or their offices
therein as masters or captains of the foresaid ships.
The Darien Papers, by 3. Hill Burton (1849), pp. 47,
48.
Instructions from the Court of Directors of the Company of
Scotland trading to Africa and the Indies, to Captain William Tennant,
Commander of one of the said Company's Ships named the Caledonia.
Whereas the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have
ordered his Majesty's ship the Royal William, commanded by Capt. Edward
Burd, to carry and transport to Hamburg such seamen as are by you listed
into the company's service, therefore you are with all convenient
expedition to go on board his said Majesty's ship, accompanied with all
the seamen listed by you as aforesaid, and then to give your best
assistance to the said Capt. Burd in making the best of your way to
Hamburg, where you are immediately upon your arrival to repair to Mr.
Alexander Stevenson our company's present agent in that city, and deliver
to him the herewith transmitted pacquet.[Packet.]
You are then with all convenient speed to receive of the
hands of the said Mr. Stevenson our said company's ship named the
Caledonia, and take upon you the charge and command thereof, with an
inventory of all manner of goods, stores, provisions, ammunition and other
necessaries thereunto belonging, signed by the said Mr. Stevenson, which
you are to signify by a receipt to him under your hand.
You are likeways to take on board of our said company's
ship all such other cargo or merchant goods as the said Mr. Stevenson
shall appoint or allow of, we having particularly advised him with
relation thereunto, and while you continue at Hamburg to follow his advice
and instructions in all matters relating to the company's service, and
after having received your dispatches there, you are to make the best of
your way directly home to the road of Leith, still keeping company (as
near as conveniently may be) with his Majesty's said ship the Royal
William, and the company's other ship called the Instauration, commanded
by Capt. John Broun.
And in regard we understand that you and the said Capt.
John Broun are in very good terms each with the other, we do allow you to
concert and agree among yourselves as to the matter of precedency in point
of command, but in case you should happen to disagree therein you are (in
presence of Mr. Stevenson) to determine the same by lot or cast of dice.
You are also to concert and agree with the said Capt. Broun
as to an equal division of all the seamen which are to carry over the
company's said two ships from Hamburg as aforesaid, but if you should
happen any ways to differ therein you are to be determined by the said Mr.
Stevenson as absolute umpire for us in that matter.
And whereas further the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty have upon our request granted you a commission or letter of marc
dated the 3rd day of August, 1697, herewith delivered unto you, you are to
act pursuant thereunto, with such care, conduct and discretion as is
suitable to the trust reposed in you, and the bond of cautionry granted to
the said Admiralty by the said company.
Extracted by order of the said Court of Directors.
Signed at Edinburgh the 20th day of August, 1697, etc., in
communi forma by
ROD. MACKENZIE, SECRY.
Carstares State Papers and Letters (1774), p. 331.
Edinburgh. 10th August, 1697.
Lord Advocate to Mr. Carstares.
The Commissioners of the Admiralty ordered ships to be
built at London. They proved excessively dear, above £17,000 ; and, before
we could relieve them, the Lord Chancellor and Lord Rankeillour, Sir
Francis Scot, George Clerk and I were necessitate to oblige our credit for
£18,000 sterling. And, because the fund of the pole [the poll tax]
did not answer, we applied to the Treasury for their help ; but first they
had no money ; and next they said they had no warrant. We told the excise
was given for the ships, as well as for the forces, and at length
prevailed for a precept of £4000 sterling on the excise payable March
1699, for clearing what is owing, and keeping the ships, if possible, at
sea a small time. But you may judge how this remote fund can answer. . . .
The Admiralty must have his Majesty's allowance to borrow money by
advance, for such rates as we can obtain it. ... And I assure you our
ships, if kept out at sea, would be more profitable and pleasing to the
nation than any regiment we have.
Ibidem, p. 337.
Whitehall. 31st August, 1697.
Secretary Ogilvie to Mr. Carstares.
Sir,— . .
. The Admiralty is much concerned in that matter of which they have wrote
to the King. They have got a precept from the Treasury of £4000 sterling,
to be paid out of the last quarter's tack-duty of the second year's
excise. Nobody would accept this without a considerable allowance, both
upon the account of the hazard that they run, and of the lying out of
their money. They desire that the King will impower them to transact and
manage that precept to the best advantage. I have written of this
likeways to Mr. Pringle.
[Robert Pringle, appointed Under Secretary for Scotland 26th October,
1695, and Secretary Depute for Scotland on 26th May, 1696].
If this be not done before the King returns it will occasion a great
disappointment to the factors and merchants, who did advance the price of
the ships, and what was due for the provisions. I know the Advocate has
wrote to you of it very fully ; so I need add no more.
Ibidem, p. 343.
Edinburgh. 14th September, 1697.
Lord Advocate to Mr. Carstares.
Sir,—I acquainted you with the case of our Admiralty, and
how five of us Commissaries were necessitate to engage our credit to get
home our ships ; and that at length we have got a precept from the
Treasury of £4000, payable April 1699. We have sent the draught of
a letter to be signed by his Majesty approving this precept,[In
State Papers (Scotland) Warrant Books, vol. xvi, is given
the King's letter, dated 8th October, 1697, to the Lords Commissioners of
Admiralty, approving of said precept.]
and allowing us to raise money upon it. Pray befriend us in the dispatch
of it, for it would make our precept more valuable, and the raising of
money upon it more easy.
State Papers (Scotland) Warrant Books, Vol. XVI. .
King's Letter to the Privy Council for . . . laying up of
the Ships of War.
William
R.,—Right trusty and well beloved Cousin and Councillor . .
. since our service does not now require the keeping up of the frigates,
you are likeways to give orders for laying up the same until we shall have
occasion for them, for doing whereof this shall be your warrant. So we bid
you heartily farewell. Given at our Court at Loo the 8th day of October,
1697, and of our reign the ninth year. By his Mate command,
Ro.
Pringle.
Marchmont Papers, Vol. Ill, pp. 141-2.
Polwart House. 22nd October, 1697. Nine in the morning.
The Earl of Marchmont to the Lord Advocate at Edinburgh.
I am glad the ships are laid up, and the stores ; care must
be taken to keep them, as well as the ships. I am very sorry that you and
Bailiff Clerk are so much troubled by the seamen; certainly
they need their wages—good words will not satisfy them. I wish you may get
money to do it, at least in part. You know, my Lord, that I will not fail
to give the utmost assistance in my power to those I am engaged with,
especially yourself.
Seafleld Correspondence (Scottish History Society), pp.
232-4.
21st May, 1698.
My Lord Advocate and Baillie Clerk's Letter to the Lord
Chancellor anent the Admiralty and the Mediterranean -passes.
May it please your Lordship,—Baillie George Clerk and I,
the only Commissioners of the Admiralty at present in this town, with Hugh
Cuningham, our clerk, have thought fit to send to your Lordship the
account of the moneys appointed by the Parliament for the use of the
Admiralty, as it was stated by your Lordship and the other Commissioners,
and whereof the principal subscribed by the Commissioners is in the
clerk's hand. Your Lordship may remember that this account, as the foot
of it bears, was stated and recommended to your Lordship to be laid before
his Majesty that his pleasure may be known therein, for payment of the sum
of near six thousand pounds sterling yet resting to the captains and their
men, as the account bears, and likewise for direction what shall be
done with the ships, and how they shall be preserved and employed now in
the time of peace. I need not put your Lordship in mind how the
Admiralty ordered their equipage to be laid up at Burntisland, and where
the vessels themselves should be kept, nor what were our considerations
upon the whole matter. Your Lordship was at too much pains and trouble
in this whole business to need any remembrancer. But, my Lord, the
ships are now lying idle, and the equipage and stores are in hazard to
perish or be embezzled, and both need some money for their preservation.
The merchants also, specially the Glasgow men, would be content that the
ships were in case to cruise, were it but for decency and to fright away
pirates and robbers, which may take ships when they please out of our very
roads and harbours. But the principal point desired is that there may be
an instruction to the Parliament in order to this whole business, and that
the Admiralty may have some fund to pay bygone just debts owing to several
very indigent men and families, and to bear its necessary expenses. . . .
JA. STEUART,
GEO. CLARK.
My Lord,—There is also herewith sent a memorial about
Mediterranean passes which I hope your Lordship will mind as much as
possible. You know how much it is desired by the merchants, and your
Lordship also knows the difficulties, so that I need add no more about
it.
JA. STEUART,
GEO. CLARK.
State Papers (Scotland) Warrant Books, Vol. XVII, Nos. 15
and 16.
A List of the Comrs for auditing the Admiralty
Accounts.
William
R.:
A list of the persons whose names are to be insert in the
Commission to be granted by us for auditing the accounts of the
Commissioners of Admiralty in our ancient Kingdom of Scotland.
John, Marquess of Tweeddale.
John, Earl of Lauderdale.
Robert, Earl of Lothian.
David, Earl of Leven.
The Earl
of Loudoun.
John, Earl of Kintore.
John, Earl of Ruglen.
George, Viscount of Tarbat.
John, Lord Carmichaell.
David, Lord Ruthven.
Adam Cockburn of Ormistoun, our Justice Clerk.
Sir William Hamilton of Whitelaw.
Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh.
Master ffrancis Montgomery.
Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony.
Sir Robert Sinclair of Stevenston.
Sir Patrick Hume, our Solicitor.
Given at our Court at Kensington the 24th day of June,
1698, and of our reign the tenth year.
Docqt of the War' for a Commission for auditing
the Accounts of the Commissioners of Admiralty.
May it please your Maty,—These contain your Mats
warrant for a commission to be past per saltum under your Great Seal of
Scotland to the persons above named, and also insert in a list signed by
your Maty or to any five of them who are declared to be a
quorum for stating and auditing the accounts of the Lords
Commissioners of your Admiralty, or others concerned in the executing of
the said office with the receivers, collectors and intromitters with
the funds laid on for building and maintaining of ships, or any
other moneys destinate for such uses, and that from the date of their
commission to the first day of June instant, and to approve or disapprove
of the articles thereof, and to grant them an ample discharge of the whole
sums to be compted for, which your Maty for yourself and as
prince and steward of Scotland does ratify and confirm, ordaining
this present commission to continue in force till--------------and no
longer.
Given at his Mats Court at Kensington the 24th
day of June, 1698, and of his Mats reign the 10th year.
Sir John Dalrymple's Memoirs.
The First Darien Expedition.
On the 26th of July, of the year 1698, the whole city of
Edinburgh poured down upon Leith to see the colony depart amid the tears
and prayers and praises of relations and friends and of their countrymen.
Many seamen and soldiers whose services had been refused, because
more had offered themselves than were needed, were found hid in the
ships, and, when ordered ashore, clung to the ropes and timbers, imploring
to go without reward with their companions. Twelve hundred men sailed in
five stout ships.
Carstares State Papers and Letters (1774), p. 425.
Edinburgh. 15th August, 1698.
Lord Seafield[Sir
James Ogilvie was created Viscount Seafield on 24th June, 1698.]
to Mr. Carstares.
Sir,—Since my
last we have been endeavouring in the Committees to procure some relief to
the broken officers and to the disbanded seamen ; and We have hopes to
carry an act for poll money; but it is to be so regulated as that it will
not reach the poor.
Ibidem, p. 430.
Edinburgh. 2nd September, 1698.
Lord Seafield to Mr. Carstares.
All the subsidies that we
could propose in the terms of our instructions are granted. We have the
tunnage[On 1st September, 1698, Parliament assigned certain tunnage dues
to maintain the Scots Navy under burden of a salary of ^100 to Sir
Archibald Sinclair, Judge of Admiralty, and of payments ordered in 1695
to Mr. John Adair, Geographer, and Mr. John Slezer, etc.] for keeping
of our ships, which runs five years ; we have poll money imposed for two
years for payment of the arrears.
