subscribed these presents, at the Trinity-house of Leith, the sixth of February, one thousand seven hundred and thirtyeight years. Signed by the following Shipmasters, viz.:— WE Subscribing, having seen an act of the royal burghs in the year 1735, obtained by the Merchant Maiden Hospital of Edinburgh, for a voluntary contribution to be collected through all the burghs of Scotland, for supporting and repairing the harbour of Peterhead; and whereas we are very sensible that the reasons set furth in this petition, upon which the act was obtained, are true, and deserve re gard from every person who has any concern in trade or shipping; and as we are of opinion that a declaration from us, who are known to the usefulness and benefit which the reparation of the harbour of Peterhead may and will be to trade in general, will be of some consequence in promoting so necessary and charitable a work, and will procure contributions in a more liberal way from all trading and seafaring people, we do therefore, by these, attest the necessity of repairing the harbour of Peterhead by a voluntary contribution, and do recommend the same to all concerned, as tending not only to the benefit of this nation, but of all those who have occasion to trade in the north seas. And this we do with the greater readiness, that we have had many sensible, though melancholy proofs of the civility and kindness of the inhabitants of Peterhead to the crews of such vessels as have had the misfortune to be stranded near that place; and, in particular, to the Rachael and Mary of Leith, William Hunter, master, which has been gratefully acknowledged in the public prints, by those concerned; which misfortune might have been, and many others may be prevented, were the harbour in such a condition as the inhabitants do now propose, which they are unable to do of themselves, without the charity of well-disposed people. Edinburgh, February 7th, 1838.—(Sic. sub.) Archibald Balfour John Gordon Robert Dundas Archibald Steuart James Colquhoun Alexander Blackwood Thomas Allan George Dunbar James Gordon John Coutts William Alexander Robert Baillie John Haliburton James Blair Alexander Arbuthnott Ro. OSWALD, N.P. Copy, Act of Town-Council of Edinburgh, IN FAVOUR OF THE HARBOUR OF PETERHEAD, FOR A VOLUNTARY CON-、 TRIBUTION.* AT EDINBURGH, the fifteenth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight years.-The Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, with the Deacons of Crafts, Ordinary and Extraordinary, in Council assembled. A Petition by the Governors of the Merchant Maiden Hospital, and Mary Erskine, superiors of the town of Peterhead, in behalf of the said town, was read, setting furth, That in the year one thousand seven hundred and thirty-five, the petitioners obtained an act of the Convention of the Royal Burghs for a voluntary contribution, to be collected through all the royal burghs of Scotland, for support of the harbours of Peterhead, and for the reasons set furth in their petition to the said Convention, ingrost in their act produced, and to which they referred. And as for several good reasons, the example of this city might be of singular advantage to the petitioners in promoting so charitable and laudable a design, and at the same time of such universal benefit to trade in general, now that commissioners were come to this city, who have generously and chearfully un dertaken to make a tour through the kingdom for that purpose. Praying, therefore, that a contribution might be appointed to be made within this city, in such manner as to the Honourable Council should seem most effectual, as the said petition, signed George Millar, preses, bears. The said Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, with the said Deacons of Crafts, having considered the said petition, with an act of the General Convention of the Royal Burghs, July, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-five, and a declaration by several merchants, aud an attestation by the shipmasters of Leith, certifying the great usefulness of the harbour of Peterhead, and the great necessity for the reparation thereof, did unanimously resolve and appoint, that, in aid of the aforesaid reparation, a voluntary contribution be made from the citizens and inhabitants of this city, suburbs, and privileges thereof, to be ingathered by such persons as shall be thereto appointed by the said Master and Governors, at such time as shall hereafter be appointed by the Council; and that, on the Lord's day immediately preceding thereto, notification thereof be made by the ministers from the pulpits, with suitable exhortations, to dispose every person to contribute liberally to so good and useful a work. Extracted, Peterhead, eighth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight years.—The above are just copies of the principals, and attested by me, Robert Oswald, Nottar · Publick in Peterhead. FOR THE SATISFACTION OF THE CONTRIBUTORS IS ADDED, An Account of the progress of the Work; with a general charge of what is already done for ten years past, with what yet remains indispensably necessary to be done, for rendering the south harbour safe and accessible. The improvements are as follows: 1.-Several additions built to the great south pier, about 60 feet long, and 30 feet high, with a buttress at the southwest corner, with a number of great rocks laid at the back of it. 2. The channel widened to 90 feet, with a great many rocks dug out of the bason of the harbour. 3.-A pier built on the north side for the conveniency of fixing pauls; all which, with the charge of a lighter, tuns, fixing a cran on the pier head for heaving up stones from the channel, (being frequently much damaged by winter storms), and other necessary instruments for the work, by the treasurer's accompts, amounts to above £.450 sterling, for advancing £.200 whereof the feuars have been obliged to grant their private securities, until they can be reimbursed out of the public fund. 4. A pier on the west side, begun anno 1738, the foundation whereof is 400 feet long, one third whereof is finished. The charge of this year's work, being about £.200 sterling, is mostly cleared by the voluntary contributions of Aberdeen, and the other northern burghs betwixt that and In verness. The above being a state of the harbour as it presently stands, it remains to show what is indispensably necessary |