WILLIAM WEIR OF WAYGATESHAW, ESQ; -- APPELLANT. ARTHUR NASMYTH, JOHN SYME, CHARLES HAMILTON ... AND OTHERS ] RESPONDENTS. THE APPELLANT'S CASE. [with:] ... THE CASE OF THE RESPONDENTS WILLIAM CULLEN, CHARLES HAMILTON, JOHN SYM, AND ARTHUR NAISMITH ONLY [caption titles]

[London, March 1742-3].. 3,[1]pp. and 4pp. Folio. Old folds, a 9.5 x 3.5 cm portion of the blank inner margin of the second item neatly cut away, 18 lines of contemporary manuscript in blank area of p.4 of the second item, some tanning to folds, second item largely separated along spine fold, but very good. Two primary documents relating to this case, docketed "To be heard at the bar of the House of Lords, on Wednesday the 2d day of March 1742-3." Weir was a grain merchant in Waygateshaw, Lanark, during "the years 1739 and 1740 [when] there was a great Scarcity next to Famine in Scotland...." As a consequence of people's suspicions that he was manipulating the price of grain while retaining significant stores of it, "several of the poorer Inhabitants in and about the Burgh of Hamilton..." confronted him with requests for supplies at more moderate prices. When Weir declined, a "mob" set about helping themselves to a number of loads that were hauled away and a portion sold. Weir here brings charges against the Respondents, as Magistrates, accusing them of not adequately responding to the situation in order to quell the "mob" and retrieve what remained of the property. The manuscript notes summarize the verdict, which was rendered in favor of the Respondents. ESTC locates copies of each item, at the British Library, Paxton House, and, evidently, multiple copies at Dublin Society of King's Inn. ESTC T207679 and T207564.