_Walter Grossett to the Commissioners of Customs_
HOND. SIRS,--In Obedience to your directions of the 8^{th}
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
Ho^{rs} Most Obed^t Hum^l Serv^t