VI
Walter Grossett to the Commissioners of Customs
Hond. Sirs,—In Obedience to your directions of the 8th Instant Inclosing an Order and Warrand from Lord Justice Clerk and General Guest Commander in chief of the Forces in Scotland, for bringing over all Ships, Vessells and Boats, lying in any of the Harbours or Creeks, betwixt Stirling and S: Andrews on the North side of the Firth, to the Harbours therein specified on the south side thereof, and for Burning or destroying the ships and Vessells etc., of such of the Proprieters thereof as should refuse to comply with these Orders; I have with the assistance of the Kings Boats at Queensferry and Borristounness, and two Boats Crews belonging to the Happy Janet stationed off Queensferry, removed, disabled, or destroyed, all Boats and Vessells that lay betwixt Stirling and Aberdour. But as the doing of this, would not have hinder the Rebell Army from geting a Cross the River, while Boats and Vessells were allowed to remain at the severall Creeks in Carron Water, and at Hargens Nuik Airth, and Elphingstone, and other Creeks on the south side of the Forth betwixt Borristounness and Stirling; I therefore proceeded to these places, and prevailed with severall of the Proprieters of Boats and Vessells there, to remove them from thence, but as some of them refused to comply, by reason of their not being included in the Order and Warrand above mentioned, I am therefore Humbly of Opinion, that Lord Justice Clerk and General Guest should be applyed to, for a Warrand for the removing or destroying of them. And as there are at this time at Alloa, a considerable quantity of Deals and Learge Loggs of Wood, of 30 or 40 feet in Length, of which Floots may not only easely be made, for the Transporting of Men, Horses etc.; from the one side of the River to the other, but upon which Flooting Batteries may be reased, to move from place to place, to play upon such of His Majesties Forces or others, who may be employed in Defending the Banks of the River, to prevent the Landing of the Rebells. It is therefore Humbly submitted, how far it may be thought proper at this Juncture, to have these Deals and Loggs removed from Alloa. If this is approven off, what I would propose as the easiest method of removing them, would be to put them on Board of Vessells, to ly at Borristounness till the danger is over. With this view I spook to several shipmasters of my acquaintance, (who I knew to be good Whiggs and well wishers to the common Cause) on Tuesday last at Borristounness, and who at my request, readily agreed to take them on Board their Vessells, upon their only being paid the Charges they should be put to in going to Alloa to Load and unload them. All which is Humbly Submitted by Hon: Sirs Your Hors Most Obedt Huml Servt
Wat: Grosett.
Edinburgh 16th Decr 1745.
Endorsements.
16th Decr 1745.
Mr. Grosett to wait upon the Justice Clerk and Genl Guest with this Lre. and to Report their Opinion.
W. H. for the Secry.
The Board approve Mr. Grosetts Conduct and Zeal in this whole Affair and his proposal is agreed to if the Lord Justice Clerk and Genl Guest think proper.