Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 10.djvu/388

 382

NOTES AND QUERIES. [n s. x. NOV. u. wit

Alexander was tacksman of the Weigh House, which, as we learn from ' Chambers'* Gazetteer of Scotland,' was established by King James in 1477. From the same authority it is gathered that the spire was taken down,

" according to Arnot, about a hundred years before the period he wrote (1776), and from that time till 1822 the body of the house only remained, a mass of deformity on the public street. The Weigh-House stood detached from all other build- ings at the head of the West Bow, on a piece of ground which had been conferred upon the Burgh by David II. in the year 1352. It consisted of two storeys, the lower of which was used for weighing goods, while the upper was leased by a dealer in butter and cheese.'

In 1748 the Bailie's intronvssions were thus certified :

I, Robert Fleming, Printer in Edinburgh and present City Treasurer, grant 1 me to have received from Bailie Alexander Lindesay, merchant in Edinburgh, the sum of Forty three pounds eight shillings and ten pence eight twelfths of a penny sterling, and that as the remaining bidding money and one quarter's tack-duty of the tack granted to him by the Good Town of Edinburgh of the Weighage dues of the Weigh-house of Edinburgh, viz. from the term of Martinmas last to the term of Candlemas next, being forehand payment as provided by the said tack. In witness whereof I have written and subscribed these presents at Edinburgh this twenty third Day of November one thousand seven hundred and forty eight years.

R. FLEMING, Tr.

Consideration may be given to some of the terms in vogue in the city at the time : Edinburgh, March, 1753.

Received from Bailie Alexr. Lindesay, Mercht., for the annual subsistence of the Orphan Hospital eight shillings and four pence sterling payable at Martinmas last, conform to an obligation granted by him thereanent.

WILLIAM BRAIDWOOD, Tres.

The rating for the itinerants worked out as in this receipt :

Edinburgh the 23 rd day of Feby. 1741 Received from Bailie Alexr. Lindesay, Merct., four shillings sterling, as his Voluntary Contribution for maintaining the Begging-Poor of this City, the four weeks ending 28 th Febry. Coll w by me

Jo. FERGUS.

A sxim of 201. Scots was demanded as proportion of the new supply granted to the King, and payable in 1732 and 1733, while in 1760 (including watch money) it amounted to 511. Scots, or U. 15s. sterling. The receipt in the latter case is signed by James Ramsay. For 13 windows, in 1760, the occupant was charged 6s. 6d., and Is. for house duty. For his seat in the Tolbooth Kirk of Edinburgh the holder was called xipon to pay II. sterling for the year; but, on the other hand, as indicated by William Young's receipt, 34 carts of coals cost 81. 10s. the size of the cart is not stated.

It was said above that the commodities sold by the brothers were not confined to one class of goods. In 1715 James Ander- son, a merchant in Glasgow, finding little sale for figs left upon his hands by a friend who had gone abroad, offers them to the Lindesays. One John Brown seems to have been the carrier between Glasgow and Edin- burgh, and he was the bearer of the goods between the two dealers. Cider seems to have been a class of goods in which they dealt. The Glasgow house advises an expected arrival from Bristol of three casks which were to cost 11. Is. Sd., working out at 4s. 9d. per dozen at the port of shipment. On arrival in Glasgow the cost stood thus :

Cost in Bristol of 29 doz. 10 bottles 817

Freight from Bristol 15

bringing up the water 18

Costage of letters to and from Bristol 3

19 g

The charges sending to Edinburgh

of 29 doz. bottles carriage at 9rf.

per doz 119

Impost at Edin. of y e same com- puted 5 load 5 6

1 7 $

is for 29 dozen 7s. 2&d. p. doz. 10 8 ft

As the price of sale suggested was 8s. 6c/. per dozen, the profit was not on an extra- vagant scale.

Currants are quoted at 50s. per cwt., and a cask is sent on which had been purchased from Jean Will, a shopkeeper in Glasgow. The tare of these casks at Bristol was com- puted at 16 per cent, but

" this woman pretends to be ignorant of such allowance, and says she'll inform herself of M r W Gordon of the Wester Sugarhouse (now at Edin- burgh), who sold, or gave her them to sell."

The cartage was to be at the rate of 22d. per cwt. gross weight.

The letter goes on to say :

" Charles Hay has sent me the weig I wrote for* which came to hand, yesternight. I do not know if he show'd it to you, but it looks to be a well made little bob, pale strong hair. He seeks 40 shilling* for it, which I and any that sees it thinks twelve shillings too much or more, viz. 25 or 28 maybe ye price ; however, what I write for I love to pay without trouble, and so I send you here enclosed 1! guineas, which surely may pay for the weig? however, I leave you to pay him for it, and what- ever less or more advise me."

The parties seem to have been on very intimate terms, as another letter will show :

Glasgow, 10 th April, 1721. DEAR ROBERT,

I received the favour of yours of the 28 th ' past with Thos. Hay's bill Reg* protest. Pray keep in mind to make ready my salver.

The purse you sent me was very well liked by the person who got it, and I own myself much, obliged to you for your care and good, choice.