Star.
London, England, 1806-11-20 00:00:00

At • Meeting of the Grand Csrnmitteenf the Incor.
potations of Dumfties. the Convener war indrolt
ad to take a Protell, of which the following is a
Copy, and was directed to canoe the fame to be
pahli!hed : •
•
y JOHN FERGUSSON. prefrnt Convener niche
a 5 Trades of Dumfries, in oltediroce to the unanimous Injunc-
tions of a Meting of the Grand Committee of fildTraties, bold on
the twenty-third day of September current, herby. reprefent to
you, the Magiltrates and Town Council orDumfriev, now aeon •
bled for the petrel& of electing Marianne, a Dean. and a Tear
firer for the eating yur—That by the Sett or Conititution of
the Burgh ref Dumfries, Merchants in the 'Cown are the only pin.
etas capable of being eleJted as Provoft, Bailie, Dean. Teener
and Merchant Council, and for the heft of all polTtlik relent.-
ash perfons contribute largely to the profptrity of the Burgh,
siert dee bulbul. lies, and their property is finned ; and be-
adle*, they of ail ens ere belt fitted for the economical and pru-
dent 111•111agement of the revenues This (Amery regulation, how-
ever, baa too frequently been departed from, and arso perbd Was,
the Sae more groh, or more glaring, than at prefent. The-Pro-.
volt Is not only ttot a Merchant, but being an Officer of the Cul-
toms, Is prohibited from being one; the °Writ Bailie Is meekly
in the fame fituation and one of the other two Baines ; the
Ifreafurer, and no leis than Sx of what ibeutj be !Seethe*
Councillors. (bat now fo only in name) nen* were hferettants, or
concerned in mercantile Du/Ines; nay, what It If In/fit& week
three of theft Councillors refide free! miles &flans test the
Burgh, and have no property in it ; and as if all this had not been
enough to funs up the meafurc of iniquity, there ere initanees of
men tieing Hefted Into Council who never refided to the lingli,
who at the time of eleftinn Were nett In the kingdom; and es of
this Int defetiption, (a Cokeel,) ekofen in September eilliteen
hundred and four, never knew of the high honour till within there
few days, that, pairing the town by chance, be got notice, and was
iworn into office—not in a Council, hut by a Junto enlleeted for
the purpofe; and this sty day three new Councillor's, hale been
fworn in,all of whom are equally unqualified for :he office. It Is
difficult to believe that any Irian with good Intentions, and having
the Camille ft (park of independence In bit mind, earl allow himfelf
Co far to be the tool of a party, and become the Mettle of (etlth
individuate—As the Magifhates and Council were originalfy lia•
fliruted for the management of the Burgh, of esurfe thole, who
wrere aloft [needed in its welfare, belt acquainted with its' filva•
don. and Swett to Jima, were pointed out ip tha.Sett as the only
perfons eligible, and from whole management ;Mid might be re-
efed : But while the prelate illegal clam eontinstes, while
the Magiftrates and Council aro incapable of their rePeethie offi-
emend while snen uneonnefted with the inwn, and naturally in-
ellfferint shoat itealfals hold the reins, meafures ruinous and im
roper mud be leading features in its government. Accordingly,
the foods have been molt feandaloufly niiihuniaged, and bankruptcy
and ruin mutt ere long be the euMequence.-14 r tiEKF.PORE, in
name of fall Incorporations, and of all Merchants, Burgeffes, and
Proprietors of hauls and land in laid Burgh, who approve hereof,
and concur herein, PROTSIT, that the mass before alluded to,
and others in limiter eireurnitance, arc not hitiaed to aft as Ma
&Metes, Cr as Merchant Councillors ; and whatever they do in
tidier capacity being ufurped authority, may be legally difregarded.
—And I now intimater that tither prefame to aft, the Incorpora•
titans, conceiving it a :Any they owe to themfelves, and to the pub-
lic at large, are reedited to take the proper meafores for baring
them Upended arid removed: And I lOar it r a ra taftST. that che
expencet thereby Incurred Mall inn, as hat molt mina:ly ktpriied
in too nuely inftancee. be defeated from the Node of the Burgh,
hut fliall fall upon the individuals who fupport tech illegal der-
flan, : —W HER Ell P iN, and upon all and fundry rite premirra, I
rcrtnire initruments lo the hands of William Gordon, Notary Pub •
lie, at Dwrifties, this twenty ninth day of September. deism'
hundred and fie years, Shire width prefenee of Mr. William Hyl
lop, reading in tridgend of Dumfries. and John Wahine, Clerk
re the (aid Notary Public, witneffs, cfpecially required to the pre;
milt (Sired) • JOHN PERGUSSON/