OS1/11/105/57A

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 57a
A letter from Mr. Downie
Bailie of Wester Portsburgh

Easter and Wester Portsburgh are Burghs of Barony of
some antiquity, and now hold of the Magistrates of Edinburgh
by whom the Superiorities were acquired in 1648 and
1661. They are governed by a Baron Bailie who is
elected by and is always one of the Town Council of
the City, and by a Resident Bailie in each Burgh,
who are also elected by the Town Council, but since the
passing of the Burgh Reform Act, the registered parliamentary
Electors within the District have been allowed to nominate
the persons to be appointed Resident Bailies. At last
nomination, which was a contested one, about 150 Electors
gave their Votes. In respect of Jurisdiction the Bailies
are on the same footing as the Magistrates of other
Burghs of Barony, and are Justices of the Peace for the
City, but they have for some years discontinued the
holding of regular Courts for the recovery of small
Debts, one only being called in the year for the
purpose of Keeping the right from falling into disuetude.
Their services are now chiefly required in matters of voluntary
Jurisdiction, and they have also to appoint and superindend a
[continued on page 57b]