Report of the Public Meeting held in the Burgh Meeting House, Tarbolton. on Monday, the 30th December, 1816

Report of the Public Meeting held in the Burgh Meeting House, Tarbolton. on Monday, the 30th December, 1816

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to consider the propriety of petitioning the legislature, on the present distressed state of the nation

Ayr, printed by David Macarter & Co., 1817.

pp24. disbound pamphlet [16x10cm].

light browning, but generally clean. title-page a little marked and dust-soiled, with 3cm closed tear.


very similar in tone to another pamphlet we have in stock relating to a public meeting held in Kilmarnock three weeks earlier, which suggests there was a co-ordinated campaign in the area to call meetings and deliver resolutions to air the grievances of the people - the high burden of taxation, corruption in high places, and under representation in parliament; a general swelling of discontent in the population that was eventually to lead to the Reform Act of 1832.

The Tarbolton meeting was opened by Mr. D. Reid, then addressed by Mr. William Drinnan, Chairman of the Committee, and Mr. McKnight, junr. Mr. Morton read out the eight resolutions, and Mr. McKillop gave a closing address in support of the resolutions.

very scarce, with the only recorded holding in the National Library of Scotland.