This broadside, dated 13th June 1856, relates to a rivalry between two competing railway companies' directors, James Adam, the author of the document, and John Duncan, his opponent. The Aberdeen Journal referred to this quarrel as "the case of the rival Buchan lines", begun in April that year. Both Mr. Adam's scheme, the "Formartine and Buchan line", and Mr. Duncan's, the "Aberdeen, Peterhead, and Fraserburgh scheme", failed to obtain permission to proceed until 1858, when Mr. Adam finally succeeded.

The broadside specifically addresses the question of the Links Branch, included in Mr. Duncan's scheme. According to the Aberdeen Journal, the Head Court of the inhabitants was meant to express its opinion on the matter on Saturday 14th June. Apparently, Mr. Duncan wanted to act before obtaining an approval from the Magistrates, and issued a Hand-Bill to complain of having been prevented from "staking off what he says are the Boundaries of his Line on the Links". Mr. Adam accused Mr. Duncan of being a "Dictator of Public Opinion" and reminds him that he cannot proceed without officially lodging a Parliamentary Plan.

Mr. Duncan tried to bypass the Magistrates appealing to the public opinion for his advantage, and was therefore publicly denounced by Mr. Adam. This document provides an interesting instance of how dynamics between private citizens and authorities worked in relation to public matters.

Document Type

Broadside

Document Reference

HD04_21

Keyword

Politics

Collection

Aberdeen Local Studies

Magnifier?

Yes

Public Access

Yes