1699 Item to Peter Thomson bookbinder for cutting them being 3 quares Item to John Forbes printer for printing them conforme to his accompt Item drink money to his man 1700 Item from Mr Low merchant in Danzeick † A copy of the printed "Supplicatione" is preserved in Mar. Coll. Ch. Room, "Buildings of 1682-," No. 3. "To all Our Generous and Charitable Countrey-Men within the CITYES of Dantzick and Konings-berg, and the Kingdom of POLAND. The humble Representation of the Principall and Masters of the Marischall Colledge of ABERDEEN Sheweth, in SCOTLAND. THAT the Edifice of our Colledge having, from its first founding after the Reformation from Popery, continued mean and incapable to lodge our Students, or allow conveniency for our publick Solemnities; We being pressed with the daily Disadvantages of so small and incommodious a Building, were forced to begin a New-Work, which by the favour of Heaven and charitable Contributions of pious Persons we have now near compleated: and is so spacious, stately and convenient, that its no less an Ornament to the City, then an Advantage to the Colledge. And as this Work hath been much advanced, and in a great measure carried on by the Charity of our worthy Countrey-Men in Dantzick, Konnings-berg, Elbing, and other Forreign Parts (all whose Memories shall ever be honoured by Us, and some of Whom for their great Liberality have Chambers appointed in the said New-work for their Name and Friends) and our money being now exhausted, in order to the perfecting and furnishing of the Fabrick, we are under a Necessity of having Recourse to the Piety of Those of Our Countrey-Men who have not had Opportunity to extend their Charity for so good a Work. And therefore have Recommended to Our trusty and good Friend Mr. James Robertson Merchant, (whose love to Religion and Learning, and kyndness to this Town and Colledge have Encouraged Us to offer Him this Trouble) that He may present this Our Address to all Those who are true Lovers of their Countrey, and wish the Advancement of Religion, and Increass of Learning; And that he or any intrusted by him may receive from them what Contributions they shall be pleased to allow for the finishing of our New-Work; and as We shall never be wanting to offer up our Prayers for the Prosperity of our Benefactors; so we shal duely Record the Names of all Those who are pleased to allow Us any Assistance in Our Publick Registers, and by the Monuments of Our Gratitude render the Memory of their Charity as lasting as the Society on which it is bestowed. This is solemnly Promised and shall be Inviolably and Faithfully Performed by MARISCHALL Colledge of ABERDEEN, June 2d 1699. + Mr Low writes IAMES OSBURN T. P. ROBERT PATERSON Principal. GEORGE LIDDELL S. M. P. Alexander MORE Regent. WILLIAM SMITH Regent." "For the much Honoured Director Principall and Regents off the Marshall Colledg of Aberdeene Much Honoured Dantzig 26 Aug Ao 1700 Your Letter of the 4 Jully signifiet to me that Mr Robertson hath delivered to you ane hundred rix dollers quhich I alloted for the reparatione of your Colledge, and when gloriously finished 1701 1700 Item from Robert Panton factor in Holland From James Robertson marchant of the money which he had pro- 957 13 04 From Thomas Lesly of Colpney which he had received from 203 00 00 595 00 00 I shall think that small mite of Contributione weell bestowed, neither shall I euer be against anything that tends to the good and weelfaire of your Citty, but rather promott the same to the vttmost of my Pouer. Moreouer I acquaint you that my Vncle hath giuen me orders also to remitt you for that same fabrique ane hundred rix dollers quhich ye will be pleased to receaue from my brother in Law James Moorisone the delywerer of this Letter. I shall be glaid to hear of many, yea and more generous Contributters for that use then we have beene. Interim quhairine I cane in any other thing be serviceable to you my chieffest desire shall be to honour your Commands. Adding no more to this purpose I conclude with assuring you that I remaine Much honor'd Your most humble servant Robert Low" (Mar. Coll. Ch. Room, "Buildings of 1682-," No. 4.) In the Accounts occur the entries : lib. s. d. "1701 To Charles White for drawing Robert Lows picture givn by order of the principall six dollars 1707 To Charles Whyt for gilding and painting Mr Lows picture frame 17 08 00 02 00 00❞ According to Professor Knight (Collections, pp. 909, 1295) the portrait of Low (termed "postmaster of Dantzic ") was extant circa 1840. It cannot now be identified. * Mr Miller writes (Mar. Coll. Ch. Room, "Buildings of 1682-," No. 4-) "To the Much Honoured the Principal and Masters of Mareshall Colledge in Aberdeen Dantzig 26th March S N Much Honoured 1701 I had the honour of your verie aggreable Letter per Thomas Hendersone, to which had made answer sooner had anything worth writeing occurred. This Winter I have been occasionaly at Cönigsberg, wher I made all imaginable Interest with our Countrymen ther, in order to gett ther charity for the Marshall Colledge, and contrare to thoughts have had pretty good Success being every of our Countreymen gave according to his ability, in so farr that I gott Seven hundred gilders polish for which (being have No Occasion to Remitt) yow may prevail upon me by your draughts at pleasure. I Reffer sending yow a Catalogue of those who have contributed (being upwards of fiftie in number would take up too much Room) untill the Aberdeens Ship arrive. I hope yow'l be so kind as to write a general Letter of thankes to our countreymen in Cönigsberg and send it per the Aberdeens ship addressed to Mr Thomas Hervie Senior and Mr William Gray and others our countrey in Cönigsberg and please send it under my Cover. If I can be further serviceable to my Alma Mater with heart and hand Ill goe about it being I am with much Respect, Much Honoured Your verie humble Servant Will. Miller" Writing again on 14th July, Miller regrets that he cannot hold out hopes of a further sub 1702 Item from James Robertson Thesaurer the ballance of the money he received from Danzick and Polland conforme to accompt 1703 Item from Alexr Ross marchant in Danzick lib. s. d. 159 16 08 026 05 00 "Many of the applications, however, are afterwards characterised as having been expensive and unsuccessful'. "The money obtained was expended in purchasing trees, stones, sand, and lime: there were no contractors or estimates. Every voucher, even the most trifling, has been preserved, and a great economy seems to have been practised. But the miserable state of roads, masons and carpenters in that age made everything expensive in the end. "The interior finishings were long postponed. The Hall in particular lay for many years without windows; several of these were erected and adorned by the graduates at leaving College, as appears from various entries in the Album, and from the names painted scription "tymes are so very hard in this countrey and so little trade". He sends the list of former subscribers. "Cönigsberg 7m0 Febrij 1701 A List of the Scots Fraternity in Cönigsberg who have been pleased to Extend their charity towards the perfecting the fabrick of Mareshall Colledge in Aberdeen on the wainscot. The names of other benefactors to the buildings are still visible on tablets in the pannels of the Vestibule of the Hall [destroyed in 1840]. "In estimating the expense of the building it is nearly impossible, from the accounts, to discriminate it from the numerous repairs. Thus keys innumerable to the Tertian, Bajan Schools, &c.; bands and locks for them nearly as often. 'A lock to the Bilboe;' 'a lock to the penetential chamber'; 'a new key to the fornicators chamber': "Then the endless annual entries about the lodgings: 'boxbeds'; 'daills' without end; tables 'brocken be that damnable custome of Chalking the schooles be the students of the first and third classes'; 'glassen windoes brocken be ane other custome of bracking windoes at their removall'. "No carts seem to have been employed. lime by sea.” (Knight's Collections.) The following are sample disbursements : "240 bolls of lime at 14 s. The sandstone came from Moray, the 330 loads of sand from the Castlehill before the lime came at 6 placks the load 500 loads of sand brought from the links at rod per load 900 barrowfuls of stones undressed A boatload of stones lib. s. 169 8 85 4 4 36 100 sklates 595 trees 50 2 10 292 10 Clearing the court of 2000 loads of rubbish 50" In the same Mass, together with two letters from Mr Robert Gordon, Warsaw, is a note of a "Colection for the Marschal Coledge of Aberdeen In Anno 1700 LXXVI. John Fraser, student of Divinity, mortifies to the Council one thousand merks Scots to maintain a bursar. 18th September, 1695.* Be it known to all men by these present Letters Me Mr John Fraser Student of Divinity in Aberdeen Forasmeikle as I am at present Sick and diseased in bodie but perfect and sound blessed be God in mind memory and judgement and being certain of death though most uncertain of the time and manner thereof I doe recommend my soul to God hopeing to be saved by the merits of Jesus Christ and my body to be decently interred as becometh And as for my worldly affairs I make my letter will and testament as follows And first I nominat and appoint Robert Cumming present Master of Mortifications of the Burgh of Aberdeen and his successors Masters of Mortifications of the said Burgh my only Executors haill and universal Legators and Intromitters for the uses and ends always after specified with my haill goods gear debts sums of money books and others whatsomever pertaining and resting owing to me And "Benefactorum igitur agmen claudat M. JOHANNES FRASERIUS, ex generosa oriundus prosapia, et S. Theologiae Studiosus, cujus virtutem, doctrinam et pietatem supra annos, non ita pridem conspeximus et amavimus, et quem præproperè nimis nobis, in ipso Juventutis flore eheu ereptum lugemus! Insolitam in Juvene testatus est pietatem, bona sua, laudabili parsimonia et sobrietate comparata, Academiae huic et Pauperibus ex asse erogando: Et moriens monstravit, qualem habitura fuisset Ecciesia columnam, et Academia Marischallana alumnum, modò Numini visum fuisset, ipsius producere vitam. Sed Ignis quò clarius effulsit, citiùs extinguitur; eripit se aufertque ex oculis subitò perfecta virtus; quicquid est absoluti faciliùs transfluit, et optimi Proh! neutiquam diurnant. Ast, Si numeres annos cecidit, florente juventâ, -Smith's Oratio, p. 30. With this tribute to the virtues of John Fraser, Professor Smith brings his record of benefactors to a close, assuring his audience "nullius Beneficii vel Donarii, in Academiam Marischallanam collati, utcunque exigui, unquam interituram Memoriam . . Et quamdiu ullus restabit honos Literis, quamdiu Latinae Linguae potentia, vel Graecae gratia florebit, Musarum Alumni, summis semper laudibus, praedicabunt, Maximos illos HEROAS, eximios illos VIROS, Academiae Marischallanae BENEFACTORES, Nulla dies unquam memori quos eximet aevo; Sed referent Musae, et vivent, dum robora tellus ᏃᏃ |