o~ 4 ae Rarivet > L yf, i} aay, ioe 4 oe: 3 . f y S. ‘ ° nis ee DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY Natural History and Antiquarian Society _ FOUNDED NOVEMBER, 1862. SESSION 1911-1912. DUMERIES: _ Ewart Public Library. ey, tgi2 < a SP Lae x <10J0JE OY, y, £0 soppy ay} fo Uuorssiiusead pury iq paonpowday yuamasywaarpn fo mLof pnrfp.o wo hjyqnqosd st pun quid ay) fo waysyqnd ay). fo aun ay) sinaq yuamyunqua ay) fo undas ay) L0f spov.yuos Hurpoyos punog vUYON AY,, “AL (ONYOUw)D AO SAVG WHOL NI ANAOS GAVOU V N.S. Vol. XXIV. SO” THE TRANSACTIONS AND Journal of Proceedings OF THY DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY Natural History and Antiquarian Society FOUNDED NOVEMBER, 1862. SESSION 1911-1912. DUMFRIES: Published by the Council of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Dumfries and Maxwelltown Ewart Public Library. 1912 uae & 4. | [standards Haver tiser =" V2 Office=-Bearers for 1911=1912. SOOO President. H. 8. Guapstonk of Capenoch, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. Honorary Vice-Presidents. JAMES Barsour, F.S.A.Scot., Dumfries. J. F. Cormack, Solicitor, Lockerbie. Wm. Dickir, Merlewood, Dumfries. G. F. Scorr Extior, Meadowhead, Liberton. JouN M‘Kiz, R.N., Kirkcudbright. Dr J. W. Marri, Charterhall, Newbridge, Dumfries. Dr JAmEs MAaxwett Ross, Duntrune, Dumfries. Vice-Presidents. S. Aryort, F.R.H.S., Sunnymead, Dumfries. James Davinson, F.S.A.Scot., Sommerville. James Lennox, Provost of Dumfries, F.S.A.Scot., Edenbank, Dumfries. Dr W. Sempre, M.A., B.Sc., Ph.D. Mileash, Dumfries. Honorary Secretary and Editor of Transactions. G. W. Suiruey, F.L.A., Ewart Pubiie Library, Dumfries. Honorary Treasurer. M. H. M‘Kxrrrow, Burgh Treasurer, 43 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries. Honorary Librarian and Curator of Museum. G. W. Surguey, F.L.A., Ewart Public Library, Dumfries. Honorary Departmental Curators. Antiquities—W. Murray. Coins and Tokens—JAmegs Davipson. Natural History—Dr J. W. Martin. Geology—RosEert WALLACE. Herbarium—Miss Hannay and Dr Semeur. Honorary Secretary Photographic Section. W. A. MackinneL, The Shieling, Dumfries. Members of Council. The President; Hon. Vice-Presidents ; Vice-Presidents; Secretary ; Treasurer ; Librarian ; Departmental Curators ; Secretary of Photographic Section ; and Miss M. CartyLe A1rKEN, Messrs Ropert Dinwippig, A. D. Dryspatu, T. A. Hatumway, J. P. Minuean, R. C. Reip, G. MacLxop STEWART, and A. WEATHERSTON, rena RL Aak s5a°ee é : FAA © fiat ne owen! - y av RT). ote! et ‘ ig ee Be 4 at eal wa Bien es eh +4 NAT aed 7 tl alates > Ya Revie TA ee : isn TEAS, , CON LE IWwocs. PAGE Office-Bearers for 1911-12 Ss ia ae Bae ay, aS ee Annual Meeting .. swe is ee si as as 9 Presidential Mitcia. Hragh St Gladstone... 9 Addenda and Corrigenda to ‘‘ The Birds of Teeecahire® Hugh S S. Gladstcne ... ai ae sls The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910—J. M. ‘Corrie ae : 38 The Scottish Parliament and the Capes Boh racna rye im Rev. W. M‘Millan ... sie 0 bo Sy ANY, Glenluce Abbey as it was and is—Rev. A. Taylor Hill as wee alex The Kirkeudbrightshire Coast—Rev. C. H. Dick ... oi ee .. 135 The Application of Electricity in Agriculture— Professor J. W. Priestley 140 Electrical Treatment on Potato Crops, 1911—Miss #. C. Dudgeon... 143 Some Notes on Estate ie sigan in the cantiees Centur ap W. Miine one Sc oF ... 146 The Blacklock Receeariets at Taian imi Miller... , .. 155 The Carlyle Farm and Dwelling-place at Birrens; Agricola’s Well on Birrenswark Hill; and a German Company’s Copper Mine at Torbeckhill—all in the Parish of Middlebie—James Barbour ... 163 The Development of Modern Fish Culture, with aie Reference to the Salmonidze— Wilson H. Armistead ; : ae oa log) Notes on the Parish of Kirkgunzeon—Rev. J. E. Gillespie ey seo LENT] Scotch Forestry—The Romance and Business Side of it—G. F. Scott Elliot a ¥ ap Boon dtc John Welsh, the ieee Covenanter— Rev. S. pinkie a ies ... 190 Weather of 1911 in Relation to Health—Dr J. Maawell Ross .. ... 201 Rainfall Records for the Southern Counties for the year 1911—Andrew Watt ae ... 210 Abstract of Mensenlesien ee vations Water at Gachion Royal Institution, Dumfries, 1911... aes ae soe 22 Weather ana Natural History Notes for 1911—J/. Rutherford 4 ... 214 Some Local and other Plant Names—S. Arnott... Ec Ps soe 220 The Origin of the Name Dumfries—J. W. Whitelaw ae ee ... 229 On the Name Dumfries—G. W. Shirley... i ee Ee Frat The Crannogs in Carlingwark Loch—James A fleck oa ie --. 235 The Market Cross of Sanquhar—Rev. W. M‘Millan 360 a0 toe 6 CONTENTS. PAGE. Place Names of Kirkpatrick-Dorand, cee: called ame ‘ Durham—Rev, W. A. Stark... a vas vent 249 Destructive Forest Insects of Dumfriesshire—W. H. Whellens ... ..- 260 Anwoth Old Churchyard—Rev. F. W. Saunders... een ibe penal) The Coleoptera of the Solway Area—Bertram M‘Gowan ... x See The Early Coinage of Scotland, with Special Reference to a Small Group of the Early Coins of Alexander I[I].—James Davidson ... 285 Gleanings from the Vernacular—Dr Alexander Chalmers ae se» 289 John Lindsay, Provost of Lincluden—Dr John Lindsay ... Bi .. 292 Old Bridal Stone, Crouse Farm, Kirkcowan bee S eae Uk Meteorological Observations taken at Dumfries, 1909 and 1910... ... d0L Presentations Re oe Bos =e th rat ae ae .. 804 Purchases ... ae aa aa ee eh nS: ie aos ... 309 Exhibits... ae fs Pay sa ve ne ue ts ea OL Exchanges bee Se is es ate tor at ree vain) BLS List of Members ... ae eh Py oe aa a a ... oll4 Index sa er = re ee a Se ae «1 O28 ILLUSTRATIONS. A Road Scene in the Days of George IV... ae bce Frontispiece. Mail Bag Labels . a eee 6 as a eae oe sea Od Ms Geos aia is ae : ao St oe Ee i040 The Dumfries and Piripaiise § Mail Coach ... BAG ee Ria s) 380 Dumfries and Sanquhar Waybill, 12th July, 1789... zs as Bee ak Dumfries Postmarks—Plates L-V.... se i ea “> ann, 0 Glenluce Abbey. Plan... re hie ee tt ok ven ... 129 Coins of Alexander IIT. believed to be minted at Dumfries nin .. 288 Leadwork from Old Blue Bell Inn, Dumfries Ws ia oa .-. 308 PREFACE: It is intended that this volume, being the Transactions of the 49th year of the Society, should form the last volume of the New or Second Series. It will be followed by an Index of both Series in one volume. It is not a complete record of the session’s work inasmuch as it does not cover the summer months. It has been found desirable to publish the Transactions at the close of the Winter Session, and it is intended that in future the summer work should appear in the volume of the succeeding session. For the same reason no Treasurer’s Accounts are included in this volume. It must be understood that as each contributor has seen a proof of his paper, the editor does not hold himself responsible for the accuracy of the scientific, personal, and place names or for the dates that are given therein. I acknowledge my indebtedness to Miss Harkness for typing the Index, and to the Editors of “The Dumfries and Galloway Standard,” “ Dumfries and Galloway Courier and Herald,” and “The Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser” for reports of meetings. Mr W. A. Mackinnell has kindly photographed the Leadwork from the old Blue Bell Hotel, and Mr A. Coldwell, the Plan of Glenluce Abbey. I shall be glad to hear from members working on Local Natural History and Archeological subjects. Papers may be submitted at any time. Preference is always given to original work on local subjects. Enquiries regarding purchase of Transactions and payment of Subscriptions should be made to the Honorary Treasurer, Mr M. H. M‘Kerrow, 43 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries. Exchanges, Presentations, and Exhibits should be sent to the Honorary Secretary, Ewart Public Library, Dumfries. G. W: S, PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE Dumfriesshire and Galloway - Natural History and Antiquarian Society. SaisSo LOIN 1911-12. 20th October, 1911. ANNUAL MEETING. The PRESIDENT in the Chair. The Secretary and Treasurer submitted their annual reports, which met with approval. On the motion of the Treasurer, seconded by Mr Simon Scott, it was agreed to advertise the meetings in the local papers instead of sending out post-cards. On the nomination of the Council the Office-bearers were appointed for the Session. (Vide p. 3.) PRESIDENTIAL ADDREss. By H. S. Giapsrone, Esq. of Capenoch, M.A, F.Z:5., F2R.S.E. I have again to thank you for having elected me your Presi- dent for the coming session ; and though I feel that an apology is due from me for not having been a more regular attendant at the meetings of our Society during the past twelve months, I would remind you that I warned you a year ago how this would be. You know that the serious work of our Society is done in com- mittee, and that the records of these committee meetings do not 10 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. appear in our printed Transactions. I am not conscious ol having missed such a committee meeting during the past year; and therefore my guilt, although I know how few of our Society’s meetings and excursions I have attended, does not appear to me so enormous. ‘To be present on such occasions is surely more of a pleasure than a task, and it is only the awkward distance at which I live from Dumfries which has prevented my attendance as often as might be expected. As regards the past year, I think we may claim to have had a good season. Our ordinary member- ship, numbering 268, is at high-water mark; but there is no reason why this number should not be increased. In view of the fact that we may expect some extra-ordinary expenditure in con- nection with our jubilee, to be celebrated next year, it is very desirable that our membership should be added to as far as ever possible. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that some 17 per cent. of our present members are in arrear of their annual sub- scriptions. We have, of course, to mourn the death of several of our members during the past session. By the death of Mr Robert Service our Society has lost one of its keenest members, and Scot- land one of her most trustworthy zoologists. The names of Dr Chinnock and Mr J. Carlyle Aitken also occur to me. You have this session duly received the volume of our Transactions as usual, and you will shortly receive another volume. This publication of two volumes during but one session has been under- taken so as to avoid the delay, previously experienced, by which the papers read before us were not in our hands fill twelve months or more after we had heard them. I am sure this plan will be approved, and I trust that in the future the publications of our Transactions will be kept more up to date than in the past. You will notice when this, the 23rd volume N.S. of our Transactions, comes to your hands that nearly all the papers have a local bear- ing. Ina Society such as ours this is most desirable. The range of subjects covered in the 300 odd pages is satisfactorily diversi- fied, but I should have been glad to have been able to see more attention paid to photography; and some of our members will regret that so little has been done during the past season in philately. As regards our finances, I am glad to be able to announce a credit balance of £7 2s 9d. I may here mention that the sum of £170, which it was remitted to a sub-committee last year to invest, has been placed in heritable security at 3? per PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 11 cent. There remains an important venture to chronicle which, I am glad to say, has proved justifiable. I refer to the publica- tion by the Society of a book on Communion Tokens by one of its members, the Rev. H. A. Whitelaw. It may be thought that in doing so the Society has created a dangerous precedent, and I so far agree in that I am sure that all similar publications in the future should be carefully scrutinised by an able sub-committee of our Society before being undertaken. Anissue of similar character will shortly be published on the Dumfries Post Office, by Mr J. M. Corrie. We should welcome, this coming year, the fact that the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments is going to commence operations in Dumfriesshire. It has already sur- veyed Kirkcudbright, and many other counties in Scotland. There are several of our members who are well qualified to help the Commissioners in their work, and the names of Messrs Barbour, Lennox, and Mackinnell particularly occur to me. Last year I referred to the proposed publication of a MS. History of Dumfries. Mr R. C. Reid has, I am glad to say, been very successful in getting subscribers to this, and I hope we may shortly see his book on our bookshelves. Such, ladies and gentlemen, is a very brief review of what has gone on during the past session, and in all the innovations and improvements I can see the hand of our honorary secretary, Mr G. W. Shirley. Our secretaries in the past have always been whole-hearted in their desire to pro- mote the welfare of our Society, and, profiting by their good example, Mr Shirley is proving himself to be as energetic as the best of them. Our honorary treasurer continues to carry on his duties most scrupulously, and he would probably be only too glad to have far larger funds to administer. Why should we not try to please him in this respect by each endeavouring to increase our membership? It is now only twelve months before we celebrate the jubilee of our Society, and you will remember that a year ago you remitted to a sub-committee to consider how this occasion could most suitably be honoured. It has been decided—and, in fact, steps have already been taken—to do so by publishing an alphabetical index to all our past Transactions. This has already proved, and will prove an even greater, labour to our secretary. He, however, is impressed with the desirability of such a work, and we trust that its publication will be acceptable to a wider circle than that of our members. It is also hoped 12 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. to publish a list of all the members of our Society since its foundation in 1862, and a catalogue of all the books, manu- scripts, and specimens in the possession of the Society. Possibly the inclusion of these in the index volume already referred to may be impracticable, on account of the great space they will take up; but this is a matter which I would ask you to leave in the hands of the sub-committee you appointed last year. As regards the conduct of the fiftieth anniversary meeting on November 20th, 1912, there are several details to be considered, which I think it would be well to refer also to this sub-committee. When we consider that among our past presi- dents we can claim such illustrious men as the present Lord Chancellor, Sir Herbert E. Maxwell, Sir James Crichton-Browne, and Professor Scott Elliot, it would certainly seem ideal could we persuade them to be present on that occasion. We must, however, remember that from their very attainments their services are much in request, and for this reason they may be unable to take the active part in our jubilee, which I trust will meet with the co-operation of all the members of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. _t is indeed, something to be proud of that here, in the South-West of Scotland, a Society such as ours has flourished for close on fifty years. In each address which I have had the honour of deliver- ing to you as president, I have hitherto always tried to impress upon you, that the welfare of our Society depends on the efforts of each individual member. You will forgive my repeating a truism as true to-day as when I first told it to you two years ago. With these brief remarks, again thanking you for the honour you have done me in re-electing me to this chair, and sincerely hoping that the coming session will be as profitable as any of its predecessors, I shall read a paper which I hope may be deemed worthy of publication in our Transactions. “Tue Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.’’ 13 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA TO THE “ BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.” By Hueu S. Grapstong, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. Since the publication of my book on The Birds of Dumfries- shire in June, 1910, I have received a good deal of additional information on the subject. I have also become aware of several errors which I now propose to correct, though I shall not point out corrections in spelling or punctuation, except where such are important. The page references throughout are to T’ke Birds of Dumfriesshire. Going through the book seriatim there are the following remarks to be made on the section dealing with THE ORNITHOLOGISTS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. : William MacGillivray’s name should be spelt with a capital G (p. xxv.): a rule not generally followed, but which I have ascer- tained to be correct by the recent perusal of some of his auto- graph letters: letters not only rare but beautiful on account of their caligraphy. The epitaph on Dr. George Archbald’s tombstone in St. Michael’s Churchyard, Dumfries, runs Clarus in arte fuit medica, and so on. In my book the word medica appears emdica, which is nonsense. (p. XXvil.) Since the publication of my book I have learnt that I, and others, have been wrong in describing Dr. John Stevenson Bushnan as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He wrote Vol. XXVII., published in 1840 (not Vol. II.), of the first edition of Jardine’s Naturalist’s Library. (p. xxviii.) It was in 1830 that William Thomas Carruthers of Dormont sent Sir William Jardine a small collection of birds from Madeira. (p. xxix.) William Hastings, the taxidermist, is described as being “in a good way of business from 1860-1885.’’ (p. xxxi.) He, how- ever, in a paper read to the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society on January 6th, 1863, states that he had then been a preserver of birds for thirty years. Sir William Jardine’s collection of birds, nine thousand skins in all, sold by Messrs Puttick & Simpson on June 17th, 1886, realised £358. His collection of British birds, which he had sold ten years previously to the Edinburgh Museum, com- prised four hundred and thirty-two specimens. (p. xxxiii.) 14 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. Rev. William Little was a native of Jedburgh. (p. xxxiy.) Sir John Richardson, the intrepid Arctic explorer, is buried at Grasmere, Westmoreland. (p. xxxviii.) We have to add here the name of the late Robert Service, than whom no one has done more to elucidate the Fauna of the Solway Area. SERVICE, RoBert, b. May 23rd, 1854, at Netherplace, near Mauchline, Ayrshire, came to Maxwelltown at an early age. Educated at the old Free Kirk School, he in due course entered his father’s business as a nurseryman. A keen field- observer, all his spare time was spent in the study of the fauna and flora of the Solway Area. In 1876 he was the principal of those who re-organised the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, and was elected Secretary. In 1882 he was offered the appointment of naturalist to an expedition undertaking the exploration of Eastern Africa, which, however, he declined for private reasons. In 1892 and 1895 he gave valuable evidence to the Royal Commissions appointed respectively to investigate the vole plague in Scotland, and the salmon fisheries of the Sol- way. On the death of his father in 1901 the conduct of his business devolved almost entirely on himself, but in 1903 he was induced to act as honorary secretary and curator of the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Museum. His work was more than one man could overcome, and in 1910 he was stricken with paralysis ; his recovery was but partial, and he died on May 8th, 1911. His knowledge of the local fauna and flora was unsurpassed, and though his observations never took a more concrete form, upwards of two hundred valuable papers by him on these subjects are to be found in the scientific magazines of his day. Personally, I may say that without his generous assistance my book on The Birds of Dumfries- shire could never have been written. I think there should be included a short notice of STRICKLAND, Mrs (CATHARINE Dorcas MAute, 2nd daughter of Sir William Jardine, 7th Bart. of Applegarth (g. v. p. Xxxlil.), b. June 22nd, 1825; m. July 23rd, 1845, Hugh Edwin Strickland, the celebrated naturalist. Upwards of forty of the one hundred and one illustrations in her father’s “Tur Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.’’ 15 Contributions to Ornithology, 1848-1852, were drawn by her ; as well as several illustrations in her husband’s book, The Dodo and its Kindred, 1848. While pursuing geological studies, he was knocked down and killed by an express train on September 14th, 1853. After his death, she and Sir William Jardine edited his Ornithological Synonyms, Vol. I. Accipitres, 1855. She eventually gave her husband’s natural history collection to Cambridge University in 1867. She d. s.p. August 6th, 1888. The next section is the LIST OF CORRESPONDENTS. I can offer no excuse for my omission of the name of Mr. William Evans, F.R.S.E., M.B.O.U., of Edinburgh, who wrote me several helpful letters during the compilation of my book. Mr. George Russell, of Dumfries, is another correspondent whose name I should have included. Many of my original correspondents have sent me additional information since my book was published, and I have to thank the following new correspondents for their assistance :— Bedford, Her Grace the Duchess of. Blackwood, G. G., Edinburgh. Calder, T. M., Auldgirth. Dickson, Walter S., Moniaive. Dixie, Sir Beaumont, Bart., Annan. Goldie-Scot, A., Moniaive. Greaves, A. R., Tynron. Home, J. H. Milne, Canonhie. Robson, George H., Dumfries. Tweedie, A., Annan. Wilson, George B., Canonbie. As regards the BIBLIOGRAPHY, it would be tedious to enumerate the various magazines that have been read so as to keep my book up to date. A topographical work, published in 1910 by Mr. John Corrie, entitled Glencairn (Dumfriesshire): The Annals of an Inland 16 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. Parish, contains on pp. 180-185 a list of local birds, and should be included. Mr. William Evans, to the omission of whose name from my list of correspondents I have already alluded, has written many papers which I gratefully perused. Perhaps the most useful of these has been “Our Present Knowledge of the Fauna of the Forth Area.’’! His many contributions to The Annals of Scottish Natural History have also been of much assistance. The Catalogue of Dr. Grierson’s Museum, Thornhill, 1894, is a publication which I should have included. The Catalogue of the Birds contained in the Collection of Sir W. Jardine, is dated with a query [? July, 1847]. This catalogue is of great-rarity. I only know of one copy containing a title page, and this was given me quite recently by Lady Hooker, Sir William’s second wife. I have learnt that the cata- logue was drawn up by Sir William and his secretary, Miss Kent, just before he died. In fact, the proof sheets were not passed till a month after his death, and it was never rightly published ; though two hundred and fifty copies were delivered at Jardine Hall. These, I believe, were all subsequently destroyed. The date that I have given [? July, 1847] is therefore clearly wrong, and should read 1874. (p. lv.) The references to the various volumes of Jardine’s Natur- alist’s Library refer to the first edition and to the ornithological section of that work. (p. lvi.) This observation should, of course, be remembered throughout the book wherever such refer- ences occur. I have been wrong in stating that Sir William Jardine’s “Note of Rare Birds that have occurred in Dumfriesshire and Galloway ’’ appeared in the Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc., ot May 5th, 1868. J should have referred to this as 1871, p. 39. (r. lvi.) The correct title of the Kirkcudbright Advertiser is the Kirk- cudbrightshire Advertiser. (p. lvi.) It is interesting to know that Alexander Goodman More (p. Iviii.) was (circa 1861) supplied with a list of birds breeding in Dumfriesshire by Sir William Jardine. 1 Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edin., Vol. xvii., pp. 1-64d. “Ture Brrps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.”’ 17 The following papers by the late Robert Service should be added, as containing useful information regarding local birds :— “Bird Notes,’’ Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc., March 20th, 1908. “ The British Skuas, with special reference to their local occur- rence,’’ Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc., November 6th, 1908. “Notes on the British Starling,’’ Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc., January 28th, 1910. “Rare Birds of recent occurrence,’’ Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc., February 19th, 1909. Robert Service’s paper on “The Waders of Solway ”’ appeared in the Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc., Glasg., 1905-06, Vol. VIII., pp. 46-60; and not in the Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. iigc.,. (p. Ixi.). As regards the PHYSICAL FEATURES AND CLIMATE I am able to add the meteorological observations taken at Cargen, Kirkcudbrightshire, for the year 1910. BAROMETER. THERMOMETER. RAIN. | Mean. | Highest. | Lowest. | Mean. | Highest. Lowest. | Days. | Inches. Oct. Lith | Feb, 20th ‘July 12th | Jan. 26th 29°759 | 30°580 | 28 -326 47°38 | 81:5 10 161 56°21 WIND. Ne eee | Wah jose fe Se" Brey) Ow. ae The rainfall of the year exceeded the mean of the preceding fifty years by upwards of twelve inches and by over twenty-seven per cent. In nine months the average rainfall was exceeded, and it was the wettest August ever recorded at this station. Fortunately, September and October were exceptionally dry, and fine harvest weather was followed by a splendid seed time. 18 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. Although corn crops were somewhat light, the year on the whole was not unfavourable to agriculturists. On thirteen days upwards of one inch of rain fell in the twenty-four hours, an unprecedented record. The coldest month of the year was November—mean temperature nearly six degrees below the fifty years average. Records for this year (1911) are not yet due; but the drought and heat of the past summer is not likely to be soon forgotten, and I believe that such a period has not been experi- enced since 1826, though as early harvests were carried in 1893 and 1899 in the parish of Langholm. When writing of our “PLIGHT -NEGs” I have quoted (p. Ixxxv.) H. A. Macpherson’s statement, from p. 466 of his History of Fowling, where he says Irving “4 Crimean veteran.’’ This, I have since learnt, is not the case; though Murray may have been engaged in trans- porting troops to the Black Sea during the war. He had often been in Constantinople, and knew the eastern Mediterranean well. Murray was The section entitled PROTECTION is rendered out of date by the Wild Birds Protection (County of Dumfries) Order, 1911, which is here appended :-— THE WILD BIRDS PROTECTION (COUNTY OF DUMFRIES) ORDER, 1911. Whereas the WILD BIRDS PROTECTION (COUNTY OF DUMFRIES) ORDER, 1908, will expire on the 28th day of February, 1911: And whereas it is expedient to RENEW the said ORDER: Now, therefore, I, the undersigned, His Majesty’s Secretary for Scotland, in pursuance of the powers conferred upon me by the Wild Birds Protection Acts, 1880 to 1908, and upon appli- cation by the Joint Committee of the County and Burghs of Dumfries (to whom the administration of the said Acts has been delegated by the County Council of Dumfries, in terms of Section 76 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889, do hereby make the following Order :-— “THe Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.’’ 19 1. This Order shall apply within the County of Dumfries. 2. The “ Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880,’’ shall apply to the following Wild Birds, as if they had been included in the Schedule to the said Act, viz.:— Blackcap. Bullfinch. Buzzard. Crossbill. Dipper. Garden Warbler. Goosander. Hawfinch. Jay. Kestrel. Merlin. Osprey. Peregrine Falcon. Pied Flycatcher. Quail. Raven. Redstart. Siskin. Tufted Duck. 3. The taking or killing of any of the following Wild Birds is hereby prohibited throughout the whole year, viz. :— Bittern. Buzzard. Chough. Dotterel. Eagle, Golden. Eagle, White-tailed or Sea Eagle. Goldfinch. Grebe, Little. Grebe, Great-crested. Grebe, Slavonian. Kestrel. Kingfisher. Kite. Merlin, Osprey. Owl, Barn. Owl, Long-eared. Owl, Short-eared. Owl, Tawny. Peregrine Falcon. Sheld Duck. Shrike. Siskin. Titmouse, Long-tailed. Woodpecker, Great Spotted. 4. The taking or killing of the Woodcock is hereby pro- hibited between the first day of February and the first day of October in each year. 5. The taking or killing of any Wild Bird and the taking or destroying of the eggs of any Wild Bird are hereby pro- hibited on all Sundays throughout the whole year. 6. The taking or destroying the eggs of the following Wild Birds is hereby prohibited, viz. :— Bittern. Blackcap. Bullfinch. Buzzard. Chough. Crossbill. Dipper. Dotterel. Eagle, Golden. Eagle, White-tailed or Sea Eagle. Kestrel. Kingfisher. Kite. Mallard. Merlin. Nightjar. Osprey. Owl, Barn. Owl, Long-eared. Owl, Short-eared. Owl, Tawny. Redstart. Sheld Duck. Shoveller. Shrike. Siskin. Skylark. Snipe. Teal. Tern, Arctic. Tern, Common. Tern, Little. 20 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. Eider Duck. Oyster Catcher. Tern, Sandwich. Garden Warbler. Peregrine Falcon. Titmouse, Long-tailed. Goldfinch. Pied Flycatcher. Tufted Duck. Grebe, Great-crested. Plover, Golden. Wigeon. Grebe, Little. Plover, Ringed. Woodcock. Gull, Common. Pochard. Woodpecker, (Great Hawfinch. Quail. Spotted. Jay. Raven. 7. The taking or destroying the eggs of the Lapwing is hereby prohibited after the 15th day of April in each year. 8. This Order, which may be cited as “The Wild Birds Protection (County of Dumfries) Order, 1911,’’ shall remain in force until the Twenty-eighth day of February, 1914. Given under my hand and Seal of Office at Whitehall this 21st day of February, 1911. Ls) (Signed) PENTLAND, (us His Majesty’s Secretary for Scotland. In terms of the Wild Birds Protection Acts, 1880 to 1908, the Joint Committee of the County of Dumfries and Burghs hereby give public notice of above Order by the Secretary for Scotland. JOHN ROBSON, Clerk of the Committee. County Buildings, Dumfries, 23rd Februrary, 1911. Several birds have, I am glad to say, been added to the Schedule ; but the most beneficial clause is that prohibiting the taking of any wild birds or their eggs on all Sundays throughout the whole year. I recently heard a LOCAL MISNOMER which roused my excitement. I was told the “ Bittern’’ had nested’ in 1911 near Closeburn, but investigations revealed the fact that this was but another name for the Common Snipe. The table showing the NUMBER OF SPECIES known to have occurred locally, requires a little alteration :— “Tur Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE ”’ 21 Those “fof doubtful occurrence] ’’ should be [80] instead of “[29],’’ since on farther consideration I doubt whether the ‘Red-Backed Shrike should be included otherwise than such. This change alters the number of “ occasional Visitors ’’ to 29, but the occurrence recently of the Ibis replaces these former figures. ‘The total therefore remains 218, to which must be added [40], not “[39] [Introduced Species]’’ and those “ [of doubtful occurrence].’’ (p. xcvii.) The following notes refer to THE BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. THE MISTLE-THRUSH. A nest of this species was found (1910) so early as March 20th near Thornhill (Morton). THE BLACKBIRD. A white variety was seen at Closeburn in 1911 for the fourth year in succession. I saw a bird of the year this spring at Capenoch (Keir), which, though white with pale coloured legs and beak, had normally coloured eyes. THE RING-OUZEL. This species first made its appearance locally in 1910, on April 10th ; a somewhat early date. [THE BLACK REDSTART. My correspondent, Mr. William Evans, has in his possession the nest and white eggs of the Yellow Bunting found by Mr. R. Service at Duncow, near Dumfries, on June 16th, 1886, which helped to disprove the previous allegation that the Black Redstart had nested in that neighbourhood.] (p. 14.) [THE NIGHTINGALE. It is interesting to note that the first specimen recorded in Scotland was obtained on the Isle of May on May 9th, 1911.2] THE WOOD-WREN. Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, in his Fauna of the North-West Highlands and Skye, points out that Yarrell stated in 1843 and 1845, that “not one record exists ’’ of this species in Scotland. As it was regarded as a Scottish bird both by MacGillivray and Sir William Jardine, it is indeed difficult to say why Yarrell should have disregarded these com- petent ornithologists. At any rate I am prepared to abide by 2 Ann. Scott. Nat. Hist., 1911, p. 132. 22 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. their decision as to its presence here in the early part of the nineteenth century. An albino Wood-Wren was caught at the end of July, 1910, near Drumlanrig (Durisdeer). [THE REED WARBLER. This species has now occurred more than once in Scotland ; but only on migration.] (p. 30.) THE GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER was heard and seen in the Cairn valley on several occasions last spring. THE BRITISH DIPPER nested in its accustomed haunt on Capel Burn in 1909, 1910, and 1911, so that this nesting-site has now been resorted to annually for one hundred and twenty- six years by a pair of Dippers. (p. 36.) THE BRITISH MARSH-TITMOUSE. It now seems probable that my records under this head should apply to the BRITISH WILLOW-TITMOUSE (Parus atricapillus Kleinschmidtz). The only specimen that I have actually examined in the flesh was shot near Clonrae (Tynron) on July 20th, 1911. It was . sent to Mr. H. F. Witherby, who identified it as a juvenile British Willow-Titmouse. This species differs from the British Marsh-Titmouse in having a brownish-black, not glossy blue-black, head ; a more graduated tail, and brown edgings to the secondaries. (pp. 40-42.) THE GREAT GREY SHRIKE. One was obtained near Dumfries in the winter of 1907. One was seen in Canonbie parish not far from Scotch Dyke, on February 24th and March Ist, 1911, as I am informed by Mr. George B. Wilson. [THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. This species would perhaps have been better placed within square brackets. It has not “been known to breed occasionally in south-east Scotland,’’ though it has beén supposed to have done so.] (pp. 56-57.) THE WAXWING. The specimen found in a cupboard at Capenoch (Keir) has been ascertained to have been sent home from Russia in 1854. (p. 58). THE SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. J have / recenthjseemms letter from Sir William Jardine to an English correspondent, OT “THe Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.’’ we dated 1840, in which he refers to the comparative rarity of this species in Scotland at that date. (p. 58). THE SWALLOW. The first Swallows were seen locally in 1911 on April 19th, near Capenoch (Keir). On October 28th, 1911, six or seven Swallows were observed skimming about the surface of the water on the Annan close to the Town.° THE MARTIN. A white Martin is recorded as hatched near Ecclefechan (Hoddom) in the spring of 1911.4 THE BRITISH GOLDFINCH. I am certain that this species is on the increase throughout the county. THE HOUSE SPARROW. A cream-coloured individual was reported to me by Mr. J. Corrie as seen near Moniaive (Glen- ’ cairn) in June, 1911. THE CHAFFINCH. A “Shelfie wholly white with the excep- tion of a small brown bar across one of the wings’’ was recorded as frequenting Cleughbrae Mill farm, near Eccle- fechan, (Hoddom) during the winter of 1910-1911.5 It mated the following spring, but none of its progeny were white. THE COMMON CROSSBILL. A small flock was seen at Craigdarroch (Glencairn) on November 9th, 1911. THE TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL. A record of the occur- rence of this species in 1882 near Rothiemurchus, Inverness- shire,® would (if good?) make the Dumfriesshire record the third, and not the second, of its occurrence in Scotland. (p. 99.) THE YELLOW BUNTING. In explanation of the rhymes current locally as regards the connection of this species with his Satanic majesty, “Chambers says that this bird (called Devil’s bird in the North of Scotland) is the subject of an unaccountable superstition on the part of the peasantry, who 3 Dumfries Courier and Herald, Nov. 8th, 1911. 4 Dumfries Courier and Herald, Sept. 9th, 1911. 5 Op. ci., Feb. 11th, 1911. 6 British Birds (Mag.), Vol. v., pp. 24, 28. 24 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. believe that it drinks a drop, some say three drops, of the devil’s blood each May morning, some say each Monday morning.’’? The white eggs of the Yellow Bunting with the nest found in 1886 are now in the possession of Mr. William Evans. (pp. 101-102.) THE STARLING. A white specimen, a male, with pale yellow beak, pink legs and feet, but normally coloured eyes, was shot at Kirkland (Tynron) on June 10th, 1911. In 1911 Starlings proved a great pest at the Crichton Royal Institution, Dum- fries. They nested in the ventilators of the houses, and it was estimated that fully a half of these, or some one hundred and eighty, were thus utilised. The noise of the parent birds when feeding their young greatly annoyed the patients, and the mess they made was so disgusting that it was thought necessary by the Board of Directors to put up copper-wire screens at a total cost of £12 to £15, in front of each of the three hundred and sixty ventilators, to prevent the birds from repeating the nuisance the following spring. THE BRITISH JAY. I have several records of this species nesting in 1910 and 1911 in the littoral parishes. THE JACKDAW. Mr. George H. Robson informs me that he shot a pied Jackdaw in 1904 near Dumfries, and he kindly sent me one obtained on October 22nd, 1910, which had five white primaries in each wing. (p. 117.) THE RAVEN. This species nested in several of its old haunts last spring. THE HOODED CROW. One, a female, which I shot at Auchenhessnane (Tynron) on December 8th, 1910, was the first that had been seen in that parish. THE ROOK. An albino, a bird of the year, was shot near Lockerbie House (Dryfesdale) on May 15th, 1911. It was estimated in 1827, that the damage done by Rooks 7 Prov. Names Brit. Birds, 1885, pp. 70, 71. : “Tyr Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.”’ 25 to seed-wheat in Kirkmahoe parish amounted to £350 annually, besides injury to the potato crops. A rookery of about twenty nests existed close to Capenoch House (Keir) in 1847. Recently when going through a quantity of letters to Sir William Jardine I came across several references to this species. The following are perhaps the most interesting :— The damage done by Rooks to crops is referred to in an Act ot Parliament of James I. of Scotland (May, 1424). A list of rookeries in the following parishes was drawn up in 1844 :— Dalton Hook, Halldykes, Oldwalls, Corrielaw, Drysdale (s7c). Balgray,* Jardine Hall,* Dinwoodie (Applegarth). Shaw* (Hutton). Raehills (Johnstone). Park Woods (Kirkpatrick). Leitherhall, Miln,* Gerthland* (Wamphray). Craigieburn®* (Moffat). Those marked * were in existence in 1908; and possibly others now to be seen were known by other names in 1844. On March 22nd, 1844, the members of the Lockerby (sic) Farmers’ Club, on account of “the great amount of damage done annually to Turnips and other Crops by Rooks and Wood- pigeons ’’ requested proprietors in the district to reduce” the number of the former as far as practicable, and “to kill Wood- pigeons wherever they are to be found.”’ In 1858 the following rookeries are mentioned :—Amisfield, partly cut down; Raehills, destroyed by hurricane of 1857; Woodcockair, partially destroyed by the same cause ; Halleaths, partially destroyed by some of the trees being cut down. Throughout his life Sir William Jardine seems to have been in favour of checking, but not of exterminating, the Rook. The rookery at Jardine Hall (Applegarth) (p. 130) is known to have been in existence in 1844; and about 1870, people used to come there from Liverpool and other parts of Lancashire for the rook-shooting in spring. The following is the list of Rooks killed in Dumfriesshire in 1911, under the auspices of the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Associa- tion :— 26 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. Estate. No. of birds killed. Auchencastle ... at itt a 72 Balgray, etc. ..- site as ‘Ge See Burnfoot Ae om, i Ae oee ar OOO Castlemilk ae — Sos sve ene Comlongon - a Se ale SRO Dinwoodie eae an oe ac AO Dumcrieff wee At fee 22 00 Gillesbie abe es nee ea 2220 Halleaths — Re Bs ee AGG Hoddom et ae ae Rom. tol Jardine se ae: ae ai, C208 : Kinmount au ake oe joa keke) Kirkwood an ae oa ile 00 Mount Annan ... Sei Sie eet (All Murraythwaite ... fe , realy ee Raehills me as ee seas MOS Wamphray ae oes Ste iat | OU Gta eeee Bog ads AS THE SWIFT. A bird of this species was seen on August 13th, 1911, at Capenoch (Keir). Those, however, that were bred~ under the roof of that house left apparently some three days earlier. THE BRITISH GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. This species, which is certainly increasing locally, I have heard called the Black and White Spotted Woodpecker and the Black and White Woodpecker. Individuals were seen in the autumn and winter of 1910 at Carnsalloch (Kirkmahoe) and Auchengibbert Wood (Tynron). In the spring of 1911, I received reports of birds being seen near Closeburn Hall (Closeburn), Denbie (Dalton), Raehills (Johnstone), Capenoch (Keir), and Auchengibbert Wood (Tynron). At the latter place they nested in the same decaying tree as in 1910. (p. 160.) THE ROLLER has occurred on three occasions in the county, not twice (p. 165). Firstly, prior to 1839. Secondly, near Bankhead (Tinwald), October, 1864. Thirdly, near Auchen- brac (Tynron), June 23rd, 1910. The contents of the stomach of “Tuer BirDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.’’ Ar this latter specimen were identified for me by the late Robert Service as follows:—‘“(1) Nine specimens of the Dipteron, Anthemyia pluvialis (?), or a nearly allied species. (2) A quantity of Beetle remains, all of them being Geadephagous, and not less than sixteen individuals. (3) One ant, Formica curri- cularia. (4) One (head only) of the beetle Carabus nemoralis. (5) One specimen of Broscus cephalotes. (6) One specimen of Aphodius rufescens. (7) Numerous vegetable fibres. All of these could have been picked up in some woodland path at the time of year the bird was shot.” THE CUCKOO. Although reported as “heard at Glenmaid (Kirkmahoe) on Friday, March 31st, 1911,8 I very much "suspect some mistake here. Personally, I did not see this spring migrant locally till April 30th. THE BARN OWL. I understand that this species is not con- sidered uncommon near Denbie (Dalton). In August, 1911, an owl (of what species is not recorded) is stated to have flown against and smashed the thick glass look-out window of the cab of a locomotive engine, which was travelling at express speed between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.9 THE COMMON BUZZARD. One was seen at close quarters near Capenoch (Keir) on November 5th, 1910. I saw another near Chanlock (Penpont) on Nov. 8th, 1911. THE PEREGRINE FALCON nested in several of its accus- tomed haunts in the spring of 1911; and I knew of an eyrie in a new locality this year. The two eggs were, however, taken after they had been laid three weeks. THE MERLIN. In 19101 knew of a case where the female of a pair of breeding birds was shot from its nest on the ground. The survivor found a mate, and the old nest of a Carrion-Crow was utilised for the second matrimonial venture. In 1911 a pair of Merlins bred in the old nest of a Carrion-Crow in a Scots fir, some thirty or forty feet from the ground, near Kilmark (Tynron). The fact that this species does not uncommonly 8 Dumfries Courier and Herald, April 5th, 1911. 9 Thornhill News, August 14th, 1911. 28 - ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. breed locally in trees in disused nests of other species has already been recorded. (pp. 216, 217.) THE COMMON HERON. There was a heronry at Jardine Hall (Applegarth) in 1870, but not a large one. (p. 228.) ’ The number of nests at Dalswinton (Kirkmahoe) was only three in 1910 and in 1911. THE GLOSSY IBIS, Plegadis falcinellus (Linneus). On July 26th, 1911, a man employed to scare Rooks at Crurie (Eskdale- muir) shot an [bis from a flock of four. 1t was seen in the flesh by Mr. A. Hay Borthwick, who had Often seen the species in Egypt, and who at once informed me of the occurrence. The Ibis is but an irregular visitor north of the Alpine range of Central Europe, and only some sixteen records of its visiting Scotland have hitherto been recorded. [THE SPOONBILL. Mr. John Harkness has informed me that about 1865 a bird believed to have been a Spoonbill, and identified as such by Irving Murray who had become familiar with the species while employed in the Eastern Mediterranean, was shot at Priestside (Cummertrees). ] THE BARNACLE-GOOSE. One was shot on January Ist, 1895, near Shieldhill (Tinwald), some twelve miles from the sea. THE BRENT GOOSE. One was seen on the river Scaur, near Capenoch (Keir), some eighteen miles from the sea, on October 5th, 1910. THE WHOOPER SWAN. A flock of twenty-three Swans, be- lieved by my informant Mr A. Goldie-Scot, to have been of this species, were seen on Loch Urr (Glencairn) on November 9th, 1911. The ominous appearance of “The White Swan’’ on the loch at Closeburn, within twenty-four hours of which it is alleged that the heir of Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick (second Baronet of Closeburn) died, may be hazarded as 1686. (p. 258.) ? “Tue BirDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.’’ 29 THE MALLARD. The best night’s “flighting ” that I have heard of being obtained locally, was got near Shieldhill (Tin- wald) in the winter of 1894-1895, when forty-six mallard were obtained in one evening. THE PINTAIL. In February, 1911, I saw a lot of upwards of a hundred in the estuary of the Nith, opposite Carsethorn, Kirkcudbrightshire. I was informed that they are seen there in increasing numbers annually. THE AMERICAN BLUE-WINGED TEAL. The specimen now in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, and which is recognised as the bird obtained locally in 1858, is not a male (p. 276) as has been generally accepted, but a female. The illustration in my book is sufficient evidence of this, and Mr. Eagle Clarke has also carefully examined the bird at my request. THE WIGEON. It is interesting to note that Sir William Jardine, when on a tour in Sutherlandshire in the summer of 1834, was the first to ascertain that this species nested in Great Britain. The Wigeon has been found nesting in Roxburghshire within five miles of Dumfriesshire, so that records of its breed- ing locally may be expected any spring. A female was shot out of a flock of seven or eight at Craw- fordton Loch (Glencairn) on October 13th, 1910. THE GOLDENEYE. Males of this species in full plumage are comparatively so rarely seen, that it is worthy of record that I flushed one off a small loch near Capenoch (Keir) on Novem- ber 5th, 1910; another was seen on the same loch on November 14th, 1911. THE RING-DOVE. On March 22nd, 1844, the members of the Lockerby (sic) Farmers’ Club urged the local proprietors “to kill Woodpigeons wherever they are to be found, on account of the great amount of damage done annually by them to Turnips and other Crops.’’ In October and November, 1910, this species was locally more than usually numerous. On different occasions I counted 30 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. from the dining-room window at Capenoch (Keir) one hundred, ninety-two, seventy-seven, and seventy-two feeding beneath the oak trees. On October 31st I shot forty-four under the same trees with the aid of decoys. THE TURTLE-DOVE. One of a pair was shot by J. Anderson at Horseclose Wood (Ruthwell) on May 24th, 1909. An im- mature female was shot near Rockhall (Mouswald) by Mr Jardine Paterson in October, 1910. THE CAPERCAILLIE. A report that a bird of this species was seen near Comlongon (Ruthwell) in October, 1911, is not... : confirmed. THE BLACK GROUSE. In the autumn of 1843 some living Blackgame were sent under the charge of John Shaw, head gamekeeper at Drumlanrig, to Prince Albert for turning down on Bagshot heath. The season of 1910 proved an exceptionally good one. Ninety-five Blackgame were killed at Langholm on October 11th; and one hundred and fourteen at Auchenbrac (Tynron) on October 25th, 1910. The curious variety of a Greyhen, which I have recorded as shot “ by Sir Sydney Beckwith on the moors above Beattock Bridge in Annandale,’’ was obtained on August 21st, 1828. (p. 324.) THE RED GROUSE. The shooting season of 1910 was an ex- cellent one in some parts of the county. At Langholm, where the moors are particularly well studied from a sporting point of view, the remarkable total of over ten thousand Grouse, shot between August 12th and October 5th, was obtained. The best day’s bag was one thousand one hundred and ninety, killed off Middlemoss (Ewes). The year 1911 proved even better on the Langholm moors, where upwards of twenty thousand five hun- dred Grouse were shot before the end of October. Some of these moors extend into Roxburghshire, and the bag of two thousand five hundred and twenty-three, killed by eight guns at Roanfell on August 30th, cannot be claimed as a Dumfriesshire record. On Middlemoss (Ewes) one thousand three hundred and thirteen were shot on September 4th, 1911, beating the “THe Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.”’ Bull record of the previous year by one hundred and twenty-three birds. The eagerly awaited Final Report of the Committee of Inquiry on Grouse Disease was published in August, 1911, and is far too valuable a publication to pass by unnoticed. It would be impossible here to attempt to show how exhaustively this monograph has been compiled. “Grouse disease ’’ has been found to be due to the ravages of a threadworm, T'richo- strongylus pergracilis, wach infests the ceca. It is obviously difficult to cope with diseases of wild birds, but it is demon- strated clearly how ‘mportant it is to keep moors in good con- dition by considerate and systematic burning; and also, how dangerous it is to attempt to keep more Grouse on a moor than the ground will carry in early spring, at which period the food supply is likely to be at its lowest. The variety of plumage in the Red Grouse is dealt with fully in the Committee’s Report. In Dumfriesshire the males would appear to be for the most part of the red form, though the white-spotted form is occa- sionally met with. Of the females, the commonest form is the buff-spotted, though the red form is at times found. THE PHEASANT. In Scotland the pheasant does not appear to have been preserved at a very early period. Robert Gray writes :—‘ The first mention of the Pheasant in old Scotch Acts is in one dated 8th June, 1594, in which year a keen sportsman occupied the Scottish throne.’’20 Sir William Jardine con- sidered that “ upon the Scottish berder and high Cheviot range they must have been early abundant; for in the old ballad of the field of Otterburn we have :— “The roo full rekeles there sche rinnes, To make the game and glee ; The Fawken and the Fesaunzt both, Among the haltes on hee.’’4! The battle of Otterburn was fought on August 19th, 1388, and the ballad may be regarded as belonging to the fifteenth century. We have, however, no definite evidence of the existence of the Pheasant in Dumfriesshire till a much later date. There can be 10 Birds of West Scotland, 1871, p. 226. 11 Nat. Lib., Vol. IV. (Ornith.), 1834, pp. 191, 192. 32 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. no doubt that the species of recent years has been turned down in increasing numbers, and that it has thriven exceedingly. Personally, I am inclined to think that this increase has had something to do with the general decrease of Blackgame and Partridges locally. I have lately often been shocked to see Pheasants on ground which should belong exclusively to Red Grouse. I flushed a cock and hen Pheasant near Langshaw- burn (Eskdalemuir) in the spring of 1911 ; and have seen others at Loch Ettrick (Closeburn), Loch Urr (Glencairn), Shinnel- head (Tynron), and Polgowan (Penpont). What were these birds doing there? and if this species is going to take to the moors will it not be detrimental to the Red Grouse? These are questions I cannot answer authoritatively; but I know what I think, and I strongly believe that Pheasants should be kept strictly in their place, and not allowed to compete for existence with our indigenous species. Females assuming the plumage of the male occur far more often than is generally supposed. In the autumn and winter of 1910, I obtained specimens from Capenoch (Keir) and Auchen- hessnane (Tynron). Pheasants are well known to stray widely from where they are reared. Birds which were hand-reared and ringed at Cape- noch were shot three and four miles from where they were turned down. On December 3rd, 1910, I shot and winged a hen Phea- sant, which took refuge in a rabbit hole. It was necessary to dig down three feet before recovering it. THE QUAIL. Sir Emilius Laurie of Maxwelton tells me that it was about 1870, and not in 1838, that he shot a Quail on Braco farm (Keir). (p. 345.) A pair are said to have been seen near ‘Braehead (Torthor- wald) in July, 1910; but I was not able personally to verify this report. THE LAND-RAIL. Two nests with eggs were found in 1910 on August 8th and 9th, in a hayfield, near Beattock (Kirk- patrick-Juxta).12 72 Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1911, p. 145. “THe Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.”’ 33 THE SPOTTED CRAKE. One, which had killed itself by flying against the telegraph wires, was picked up in Holywood village on August 24th, 1910. THE WATER-RAIL. I saw a bird of this species near Byre- holm (Keir) on February 4th, 1911. THE LAPWING. The flock of “at least 50,000 birds ’’ seen “near Maxwelltown’’ in 1900, were on the farm of Garrol, Kirkcudbrightshire. (p. 371.) On August Ist, 1911, I shot a Lapwing at Capenoch (Keir), whose feet had become entangled in sheeps’ wool. One foot had been completely worn off, and the other was pitifully distorted and swollen. The bird was in an emaciated condition. On August 8th, 1911, I found a young Lapwing which had not yet gained its power of flight, and which must therefore have been hatched at an unusually late date. THE OYSTER-CATCHER. I saw a pair of these birds at Loch Urr (Glencairn) on May 22nd, 1911. I could find no nest, but quite possibly this had been destroyed along with many of the more accessible nests of the Black-headed Gulls. An Oyster-catcher was seen at Auchanstroan (Glencairn) early in September, 1911. THE WOODCOCK. A Woodcock with white primaries was shot in Capenoch Big Wood (Keir) about 1880. A light lavender-coloured Woodcock was shot near San- quhar on December 3rd, 1910, and is now in my collection, thanks to the generosity of Mr. A. R. Greaves. The winter of 1910 proved a good season; and I heard of thirty-three Woodcocks being killed in one day at Langholm in November; twenty-eight in the same month at Springkell (Kirkpatrick-Fleming) ; and twenty-two near Drumianrig on November 29th, 1910. The following spring more Woodcock than usual nested locally, and over fifty birds were picked up and _ ringed “B.Q.”’ near Langholm. I was informed of a nest with four 34 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. eggs so late as June 29th, 1911, at Craigmuie, Kirkcudbright- shire. THE COMMON SNIPE. It has recently come to my know- ledge that in some parts of the county this species in spring is known as “ the Bittern.’’ Before 1870, bags of from thirty to forty couple of Snipe were not infrequently obtained on Lochar Moss; and I have been told that sixty-one couple were shot there by three guns one autumn day in 1868 or 1869. Mr. Cecil Laurie and I shot thirteen and a half couple on Braco farm (Keir) on August 8th, 1910. A Snipe ringed “1908 H.’’ was shot at Springkell (Kirk- patrick-Fleming) in October, 1910; but it has not yet been ascertained where this bird came from. THE DUNLIN. In the spring of 1911 I saw several of these birds, obviously on their breeding grounds, near Loch Urr (Glencairn), and also near Langshawburn (Eskdalemuir). THE RUFF. One was shot near Glencaple (Caerlaverock) in September, 1911. This species has recently been described as “ getting quite common ”’ in that district: but the statement that a pair nested there in 1910 and 1911 is so unexpected as to need farther evidence. THE COMMON SANDPIPER. I have never seen this species inland locally as late as in 1910; when, on August 18th, I shot one on the river Scaur near Capenoch (Keir). THE GREEN SANDPIPER. A pair of these birds were seen at Morton Loch (Morton) on August 8th, 1911, by my friend Mr. Henry Birkbeck who is intimately acquainted with this species in Norfolk. THE REDSHANK. I saw a pair near Waterside (Keir) on March 15th, 1911, which is an early date for their appearance so far inland. I am informed by Mr. J. Bartholomew, that Redshanks nested for the first time on Kinnelhead farm 13 Dumfries Courier and Herald, Oct. 4th, 1911. “THe Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.”’ 35 (altitude, about 1,200 feet), in Kirkpatrick-Juxta parish, in 1911. I saw one near Langshawburn farm (Eskdalemuir) on May 24th, 1911. THE COMMON CURLEW. It is hardly correct to say that “the curious rippling crescendo note of the Curlew in spring is reserved for those who know the bird at its breeding-haunt,”’ (p. 417), for I have heard this note when on the Solway mud- flats in spring. Doubtless, however, it is best known to those who are familiar with the bird at its breeding-haunt among the hills. es > The white Curlew, which has been known to visit the head of Shinnel water annually in spring since 1904 (p. 419), was seen there again in 1911. Curlews were first seen in 1911, at their inland breeding- haunts in Keir on 20th, and in Tynron parish on 25th February. On June 12th, 1911, I spent an amusing half-hour watch- ing a pair of Curlews buffeting an old blackfaced ewe, which was taking much too close an interest, as they thought, in their progeny. THE WHIMBREL is not known to nest in the Outer Hebrides, as I have stated. (p. 421.) THE COMMON TERN. On August 4th, 1910, three Terns flew over my head while near Low Lann (Tynron). I was unable to ascertain to which species they belonged, but the appearance of any Tern twenty miles inland and far from any known breeding place during fine summer weather, is remark- able. THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. Langshawburn Loch (Esk- dalemuir), where there was a “ gullery ’’ of some two hundred nests in 1908, should be named Moodlaw Loch. (p. 432.) In the spring of 1911 I counted about one thousand nests at Loch Urr (Glencairn), and about eight hundred at the Dhu Loch (Penpont). The following Black-headed Gulls ringed locally, under the auspices of the Editor of the British Birds Magazine, have been recovered as under :— ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. ine Ringed at On ee On Approximately 9,473 Cleughhead | June 29th, | Paisley. August Ist, | 40 miles NNW. Loch(Dur- | 1910. 1910. from place of ring- isdeer) ing. 9,469 a June 26th, Croft Spa, | Feby. 7th, | 110 miles SE. from 1910. Darlington.| 1911. place of ringing. 9,489 5 June 29th, | Perth. August Ist, | 80 miles N. from 1910. 1910. place of ringing. 22,767 | Dhu Loch | June 28th, | Kirkmichael.| July 20th, | 14 miles SE. from (Penpont) 1ST LOM: place of ringing. 2,754 2 a Near Dum- | July 17th, | 15 miles SSE. from fries. 1911. place of ringing. THE COMMON GULL. As regards a complaint in 1852 of the damage done to the turnip crops in Berwickshire by this species, Sir William Jardine wrote :—‘“In our own district, at a distance in a direct line of about twelve miles from the sea, the Common Gull, since we can remember, during winter and spring, daily wends its way inland considerably farther than our locality, and as regularly may be seen returning toward evening in its wedge-formed groups. These during the fore- noon frequent the fallows, and often follow the plough; but their chief resort is the pasture land, and their chief, almost only food is worms or snails, etc. We have never heard of or suspected their attacking turnips or other vegetable pro- duce.4 THE POMATORHINE SKUA. ‘The two specimens “ obtained in Gretna parish in 1892’ (p. 444) are now in Tullie House Museum, Carlisle.15 THE BLACK GUILLEMOT. Mry statement that this species nests in “ precipitous cliffs ’’ (p. 452) is misleading. It nests in some places on low rocky islands, but is not known to breed within the limits of Dumfriesshire. 14 Contributions to Ornithology, 1852, p. 40. 15 Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc., Nov. 6th, 1908. “Tuer Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE.’’ 37 THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE. Several pairs nested in the Lochmaben Lochs in 1911; and I had the pleasure of seeing one there on the Castle Loch on June 6th. THE RED-NECKED GREBE. The Catalogue of the Birds contained in the collection of Sir William Jardine was printed in 1874, not 1847, as indicated. (p. 461.) THE SLAVONIAN GREBE attempted to breed in Inverness- shire in 1908 and 1909, not in “ Argyllshire ’’ as I have stated (p. 463), and would probably have done so had not the birds been persecuted.16 LEACH’S FORK-TAILED PETREL. The specimen recorded as picked up “by Mr. John Jardine’’ (p. 469), was found by him on November 16th, 1830, about three miles north of Jardine Hall (Applegarth) “ after one of the most violent storms of thunder, wind, and rain that had for many years visited Dumtfriesshire.!” A Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel was found on the road between Cummertrees and Annan on November 15th, 1911, having killed itself by flying against the telegraph wires. As regards THE INDEX, the following local names should be added :— Bittern for the Common Snipe (p. 389). Brown Hawk for the Kestrel (p. 217). Glead or Gled, formerly, for the Kite (p. 209). Woodpecker, Black and White, and Woodpecker, Black and White Spotted, for the Woodpecker, British Great Spotted (p. 157). Finally, it may be pointed out that in THE MAP the darker of the two shades of blue, used to denote the sea, indicates the water below low-water mark. 16 Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1910, p. 211. 17 Edinburgh Journal of Nat. and Geog. Science, 1830, Vol. TIl., p. 46. 38 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. In conclusion, I wish to state that I propose to make known any farther Addenda and Corrigenda, which may occur from time to time, to my Book on The Birds of Dumfriesshire, through the medium of the Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. 2nd November, 1911. Chairman—Mr JosEPH SWAN. Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. A RECORD OF PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT. By Mr JoHN M. Corrie. PREFACE. In sketching the general history of the Post Office (Section I.) free use has been made of the well-known works by Joyce and by Hyde. The subsequent chapters embody the results of per- sonal research among Public Records, original documents, and other authentic sources. To G. W. Shirley, Esq., Librarian of the Ewart Public Library, Dumfries, the writer is indebted for extracts, letters, and documents from the Burgh Records of Dumfries, for some early postmarks, and for seeing the work through the press. Grateful acknowledgments are tendered to Sir E. P. W. Redford, C.B., Secretary to the Post Office in Scotland, for arranging for per- mission to reproduce the postmarks ; to the Town Clerk and Town Council of Dumfries for kind permission to examine and to take extracts from the Burgh Records; to the Proprietors and Editor of the “ Dumfries and Galloway Courier and Herald ”’ for afford- ing opportunities of consulting the files of their paper and for the use of a block; and to Major Threshie of Barnbarroch, Dal- beattie, for permission to reproduce the valuable and interesting portrait of Robert Threshie. His acknowledgments are likewise due to J. W. Gulland, Esq., M.P.; C. S. Chapman, Esq., late Postmaster of Dumfries ; W. Carmichael, Esq., Postmaster of Dumfries; R. C. Reid, Esq., Mouswald; W. M‘Math, Esq., F.S.A.Scot., Edinburgh ; John Kirk, Esq., Poolhouses, Lockerbie ; James Davidson, Esq., F.C.S.;° S.--Amiott, . Bsq., FOR. EUSs" AP @aldwell=eane. POST OFFICE, BUCCLEUCH STREET, DUMFRIES, OPENED 1889, THE Dumrriés Post OFFice, 1642-1910. 39 Ak .C.O.; W. UL. Blackie, Esq.; W. Allan, Esq.; J. G. Drum- mond, Esq. ; and J. Thomson, Esq., Hole i’ th’ Wa’ Inn, Dum- fries, for assistance in various ways. In the preparation of these pages the writer has found a pleasant relaxation from the severer duties of a subordinate position in the postal service. If the work should prove of interest to his former colleagues in the Dumfries Office and help, even in a small measure, towards a complete history of the Post Office in Scotland, his labours will not have been in vain. I.—INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL HIsToORY. Like all institutions whose origin dates back to early times, the first establishment of a postal system is somewhat obscure. What may be regarded as the initial step in the postal develop- ment of our country is recorded during the reign of Edward II., when we learn that private individuals kept horses for hire so that a messenger might travel “ post,’’ 7.e., by relays. It is not, however, clear that at this early date the post was established as a public institution. In all probability it would be used as occasion might demand and as soon as the requirements of the moment had been satisfied the system would be allowed to fall into disuse. Again, in the reign of Edward IV., it is recorded that when at war with Scotland in 1481 he established a system of posts of 20 miles distance, so that he might receive early news of the progress of his army, and in 1482 Parliamentary sanction was obtained for the establishment of a public post to be paid out of the Treasury.°® These posts were controlled from the King’s Household, and an officer, known as the Master of the Posts, was appointed to direct them. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, about the year 1543, some kind of regular system of posts was adopted, but it would appear to have met with only a varying amount of success, as we find that although letters were conveyed from London to Edinburgh in four days (a rate of transportation exceedingly rapid for the period) the arrangement was abandoned after a very short time. 0. Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. I., p. 278. 1. The Post Office: An Historical Summary. Published by order of the Postmaster-General, 1911. 40 THE DumrriEs Post OFFice, 1642-1910. That the idea of a postal system was not altogether lost sight of, however, is abundantly evidenced by the fact that a patent granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1590 to John Stanhope as Master of the Posts was surrendered to James I. in 1607, and, with a view, no doubt, of securing the succession to Stanhope’s son, a new patent was granted to Stanhope, now Lord Stanhope of Harrington, and to Charles his son and heir-apparent. The appointment was as “ Master of the Messengers and Runners commonly called the King’s Post as well within the kingdom as in parts beyond the seas, within the King’s dominions.’’ Although not specially empowered by his patent to send or work posts in foreign parts, out of the King’s dominions, it appears to have been Stanhope’s practice to do so, no doubt, with considerable profit to himself. The King, James I., ever quick to detect a means of raising money, took advantage of this opening in Stanhope’s patent, and, by the recital of a patent bearing date the 30th April, 1631, we learn that “the King appointed that there should be an office or place called Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts, being out of the King’s dominions ; that the office should be a sole office by itself and not member or part of any other office or place of Postmaster whatsoever; and that there should be one sufficient person or persons, to be by the King from time to time nominated and appointed, who should be called the Postmaster or Post- masters of England for Foreign Parts, being out of the King’s dominions, and, for the considerations therein mentioned, the King appointed Matthew De Quester, and Matthew De Quester, his son, to the said office ; to hold to them the said Matthew De Quester, the father, and Matthew De Quester, the son, as well by them- selves or either of them as by their or either of their sufficient deputy or deputies, during the natural lives of Matthew De Quester, the father, and Matthew De Quester, the son, the said office of Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts, being out of the King’s dominions, for their natural lives and the life of the survivor, etc.”’ Thus until the year 1632 there were two distinct Masters of the Posts. Stanhope filled the one office and the De Questers the other. On the death of the younger De Quester, and the elder De Tue Dumrries Post Orfrice, 1642-1910. 41 Quester “being stricken in age,’’ the office of Postmaster of England for Foreign parts was, by the recital of a patent dated 15th March, 1632, made to devolve upon Wm. Frizell and Thomas Witherings as deputies of the elder De Quester. Nothing of note is afterwards heard regarding William Frizell, but Thomas Witherings soon proved himself a man of marked ability, keen in business, and shrewd in organisation. The success that attended these foreign posts under his able and energetic management would seem to have awakened a desire for a regular and more efficient service by the inland posts, for we find Thomas Witherings appointed to manage a system of public posts to be grafted under the chain of deputy postmasters already existing upon the roads and under the direction of Stanhope. By this appointment a third control of the Posts was intro- duced, and it is not, therefore, a surprise to find that such com- plex arrangements did not work smoothly. The controversies to which they gave rise resulted finally in Stanhope being driven from office. As soon as Witherings was legally secure in his place he seems to have set himself assiduously to the task of reorganising a system of inland posts. In less than a year he had established a regular service of postal communication between London and Edinburgh “to go thither and come back again in six days; and to take with them all such letters as shall be directed to any post town in the said road; and the posts to be placed in several places out of the road to run and bring and carry out of the said roads the letters as there shall be occasion, and to pay 2d for every single letter under fourscore miles; and if 140 miles 4d; and if above then 6d; and to any part of Scotland then 8d.”’ The system would appear to have been successful, for steps were speedily taken to monopolise the service, and in 1637 it was further ordered by proclamation that no other messengers or foot posts were to carry letters except those employed by the King’s Postmaster-General, unless it was to places not touched by the King’s posts, and with the exception of common known carriers or persons carrying a letter to a friend or messengers sent on purpose. It is not to be imagined that the formation of this monopoly took place without opposition. On the contrary, it gave rise to general dissatisfaction, as a result of which a Committee of ihe AD THE Dumrrigs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. House of Commons was appointed to inquire into the matter, but it was not until the Common Council of London endeavoured to set up a rival post that the question was finally settled, for the Commons, although they had loudly denounced the formation of the Crown monopoly, now promptly put down this infringement, and from that time the carriage of letters has remained, as a monopoly, in the hands of the Government. As far as Scotland is concerned it is largely to the wisdom and foresight of Oliver Cromwell that we are indebted for the establishment of the Post Office on a business footing. Changes in its constitution there have been, it is true, but in every case the object in view has been increased efficiency. Il.—Tue Dumrries Post OrricE—EarRLY History. Coming now to deal with local developments, we find the earliest record of a post in a Proclamation of Summons made at the Market Cross of Dumfries in 1592. As the person summoned had fled, the messenger, Nicoll Newall, had drafted an Instrument stating that he had performed his duty as aforesaid. The document, which was witnessed by John Finlayson “callit the Post,” and John Aitken in Kirkgait, was then (presumably) sent to the Clerk of Parliament.? At a later date we have mention of another post in the Minutes of Dumfries Town Council. “At Drumfreis the twentie ane day of marche 1622.—The qlk day George Ramsey post to the burrowes resauit fra Johne craik thesaurer of the said burghe in name of the provest and bailleis thairof the sowme of fourtie markis money and that for his paines and trubell in carrieing the missive letteris throw the heed burrowes of Scotland for ane generall convention to be halden in Drumfreis the secund day of July nixt and thairupon the provest and baillies decernit act.’’ Again, in the Burgh Treasurer’s Accounts for the year 1635, we have the following entry :— “TItm to Georg ramsay the burrowes post, 48 sh.”’ This was not a local post. At an earlier date George Ramsay 2. Acts of Parl. Scot, Vol. III., pp. 529 and 535, in H.M Register House, Edinr. THE Dumrriges Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 43 had been appointed by the Commissioners of Royal Burghs to be “thair common post.”8 It was not until some years later that regular postal com- munication, under Government control, was established in the district. Under date 15 Feb., 1642, we read:—“ The Lords of Privie Counsell recommends to the Earle of Cassills, the Lord Angus, Justice Clerk and shireff of Teviotdail, to thinke upon the best wayes and meanes for establisheing of posts betwix Portpat- rik and Carlil, and to call before theme suche persons as know the bounds and to try the most comodious places quhair the post stages may be established and to report.”’ At a later date it is recorded:—“ The Lords of Privie Coun- sell, for the good of his Majesties service and the better keeping of intelligence betwix Ireland and this, and dispatche of pacquets, thinks fit and ordans that post stages be provydit and established at Blaikburne [ ? Broxburn], Hamilton, Newmilne, Air, Girvane, Ballintrae, and Portpatrik, and that fiftie punds sterline be allowed as a fee for everie post maister yeerlie, and that half a yeeres fee be advanced to thame for furnisheing of horses, they first findeing caution for keeping three sufficient and able post horses for the service forsaid; and recommends to the Lord Chancellor and Treasurer Deput to deale with Sir William Seaton or anie other gentlemen in the bounds abone-written for setling and establisheing the saids post-stages in the places abone-written or at anie other places as sall be most convenient and make speedieest dispatch for the service.” ; In the case of the post stages between Carlisle and Port- patrick the same arrangements also to take effect. Again in a Supplication, by the postmasters between Port- patrik and Carlill, of date 27 Septr., 1642, we are informed :— “In the month of [ _ ] last order was given by the Parlia- ment of England ‘for establishing post stages betwix Edinburgh 3. Haddington, 9 July, 1619.—Vnderstanding the abilitie and qualificatioun of George Ramsaye and of his guid seruise done and to be done be him to the saids commissioners of borrowis, thayrfore they admitt and ressave the ‘said George Ramsay to be thair common post, and ordanis him to be imployit in making of all thair warnings.—Records of the Convention of Royal Burghs of Scotland, 1615-1676 ; Vol. III., p. 9. 44 Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. and Portpatrik and Portpatrik and Carlill,’ ‘and the doing so was laid by some of the Commissioners at Court upon Robert Glen- cors merchant burgess of Dumfreis,’ as a person who knew best to sattle post stages betwix Carlill and Portpatrik, and who wes also fittest person to be postmaster at Dumfreis; who did there- upon represent the mater to the Scotish Commissioners at Lon- doun and to the English Commissioners for the affaires of Ireland, who directed him to Mr Burlimakie, maister of the letter office, for agreement anent this service, and so the said Robert was established postmaister betwix Annand and Drumfreis, 12 myle, and Mark Cook‘ betwix Carlill and Annand, 12 myle; Andro M‘Min betwix Dumfreis and the Steps of Or, 12 myle; Ninian Mure betwix the Steps of Or and Gaithous of Fleit, 12 myle; and George Bell from thence to the Pethhous, elleven myles, and John Baillie from thence to the Kirk of Glenluce, 13 myle; and John M‘Aig from that to the Port, ten myles . . . which persons are the onelie men fitt for that employment, as being in-keepers and of approved honestie in these parts, who have done also acceptable service to the Parliament of England since the month of May that they entered to that service, and ar to be peyed be them for the same, as by thair orders may appeare and by some letters written to the said Robert Glencors from the said Mr Burlimakie, Sir John Cotworthie, and others, and this service wes found so neccessar that even in time of peace the same wes thought fitting for keeping intelligence with Ireland but stayed be the late Earle of Stafford, and since the supplicants have so long served with the good lyking of England and they wer also established by motioun of some of the Scotish Commissioners humblie desiring therefore the saids Lords to ratifie this imploy- ment and to allow the said John M‘Aig postmaster at Port Patrick.? “The Lords finding the desire of the supplicants reasonable and the imployment and service forsaid to be much conducing for intelligence betwix England and Ireland therefore they have allowed and be thir presents allowes of the saids supplicants thair imployments forsaid and of ane post bark to the said John M‘Aig, their fees always being paid to them be the Parliament of England.”® 4, Not “‘Loch,”’ as given by M‘Dowall.—History of Dumfries, p. 418 (8rd Ed., 1906). 5. Privy Council Records. THE DumrrRiEs Post OFFice, 1642-1910. 45 It was not, however, until the year 1664 that direct postal communication was established between Dumfries and the capital. On the “5 Dec,” of that year “ the counsall considering the tounes prejudice by want of constant correspondence with the toun of Edr and by wanting occasioune to get letrs conveyed to and from Edr about the inhabitants particular affairs for remedy yroff they haif appoynted the pnt magistrats Stephen Irving lait baillie the conveinar and Jon Martein four of ym to establish a constant foot poast to go weikly Betwixt this and Edr. To appoint his sallarie and to consider qt sall be payit for the post of lres and to every thing yranent qch may mak the same speci- ally effectuall for the weill of the brugh and to report yr Diligence - the next Counsall”6 No report in regard to this matter is recorded in the Burgh Records, but there can be little doubt that the instructions were duly carried into effect. Under date 19th February, 1677, we learn, “The qlk day the counsell ordeans and appoynts the thesr to pey to Wm. ffingas ane of the pnt baillies of this burgh the soume of ffyve libs Ster- ling the one half therof at lambes to come and the uther half therof at the last of March therefter in the year 1678 for his incouragement to maintean a post from this burgh to Edgr weekly for a year efter the last of March in this instant year and in caice the sd Wm. doe not agree wt the gnall postmaster for the liberty therof then ther pnts to be null etc.” Again under date 4th November, 1678, “The councill ordeans the thssr to pey to Wm. ffingas baillie the sowme of ffyve pund Sterling the one halfe at Martimmes nixt to come and the uther half at Witsunday nixt for his incuragment to mantean ane post from this burgh to Edgr weekly for a year qlk begun al March the last day theirof bypast and ends at Apryle nixt.” “20 Nov., 1679.—The councill continewis Wm _ ffingas baillie his cellary for the post office as formerly and ordeans the thest to make payment yrof for this year commencing from Apryle last." Thus in the earliest days of local postal arrangements those employed in the conveyance and delivery of letters were not 6. Dumfries Town Council Minutes. 7. Dumfries Town Council Minutes. 46 THE Dumrriges Post Orrice, 1642-1910. always in the pay of the Post Office or under its control, and it is of interest to obtain records of appreciation in respect of these “Council Posts ’’ as they were then designated. In the Burgess Roll of Dumfries Town Council under date 1st December, 1684, we find the following entry: “ Johne Fisher post ffor his bygone service as post to the brugh is admitted burgess and freeman given gratis.” On later dates, March 26, 1689, and 3rd July, 1689, we find the names of Wm. Irving and Wm M‘Goune as posts to the burgh.® As safeguarding the public property and interests, and possibly also with a view to imparting“dignity to the position of Council Post, a badge of office was provided. Under date 14 Feb., 1676,9 “The Counsall ordeans Wm. fingass to caus mak tua badges for the tounes posts qlk they will ordean to be payit by the ther upon ane accompt.” This instruction was duly carried out, and under date 10 March, 1676, it is recorded, “ The qlk day the Councill appoynts the toun thesr to receave from Balive Bishop two Silver Badges for ther two posts and to deliver the samyn to Wm. ffingas Post- master qo is to be furth command to the toun for them qn they sall be callit for and ordeans the thesr to pay to Balive Bishop twentie leb Scotts qch he had peyit out for the Silver and work- manship therof.” Again under date 2 Dec., 1700, we read: —“ The sd day the clerk produced to the counsell the touns post badge or Blazone which he got from the late post for whom he was catione and in 8. Dumfries Burgh Records. 9. In an old Post Office notice, dated June 15th, 1728, in the possession of W. V. Morten, Esq., Manager, P.O. Telephones, Leeds, we read that, . . . ‘‘It is ordered by the Postmaster Generall that every letter carrier whose walk is within London, Westminster, or Southwark, shall, as a badge of his employment, wear a brass ticket upon some (the most visible) part of his clothing, with the King’s Arms upon it, which ticket he is always to wear whilst he is upon duty. And all persons who shall discover any Letter Carrier, Porter, or other person whatsoever, delivering letters which should have passed through the General Post Office, without such Badge or Ticket upon the most visible part of their clothing are desired to give information thereof to the Postmaster General, that the offenders may be prosecuted according to Law, and for such infor- mation they shall meet with all fitting encouragement. Joseph Godman, Secretary.’’ THE Dumrrigs Post OFFicE, 1642-1910. AT respect the theasre is not here the same is continued in his hand till it be delyvered in face of counsell.” It is greatly to be regretted that these “ badges or Blazones ” have now disappeared. Notwithstanding such precautionary measures references ex- pressing mistrust in the posts are frequently met with, and the following examples from local records are of peculiar interest :— “Drumfries, Aug. 15, 1694.—The Clerk is appoynted to wryte to Mr Black Minister of Gratney to gett all the intelligence he can find annent Jannett Maire.” “Drumfries, Oct. 8, 1694.—In regard the Clerk could not gett a sure bearer to carie a letter to Mr Black Minr of Gratney anent informatione about Jannot Maire, the appoyntment is yet continued upon him.”!0 Again, in a letter from James Armstrong, Moderator of the Presbytery of Middlebee, to Mr Wm. Dunlop, Principall of the Glasgow Colledge, dated Oct., 1696, we find the following :— “Tf ye send your answere by Drumfries it will readily miscarry.” In contrast we quote the following extract from a letter dated from Drumfries, 14 April, 1762, and addressed to Mr Gilbert Grierson, Chamberlain to the Duke of Buccleuch at Dalkeith :— “T could not get a bill upon Edinr for £30 I wanted to remit you so I shall be obliged to send it in the posts pocket upon Monday.’’ It can scarcely be said that this mistrust was not warranted for, on occasion, liberties were taken with the correspondence of the individual. In the minutes of Dumfries Town Council, under date 3rd June, 1689, we find it deliberately recorded :—“ The sd day the Magistrates and Cowncill takeing to their consideration the pre- sent troubles of the tymes and that Correspondence may be suspected to be keept by dissafected persons in prejudice of the present governemint and for acuseing of the people. Therffore appoyntes and ordaines the post Master of this burgh to bring the poist letters to the Clerkes Chamber (dureing ther pleasr) that the directions of the lers may be read and any suspect Irs broken up and considered before sealling of the bag. And that at Sealling yrof the seall of any ane of the Magistrates be also put upon the same And att the returne of letters fra Edgr the poist 10. Dumfries Presbytery Records. 48 THe Dumrries Post OFfrice, 1642-1910. bring the bag before brekeawn yrof to the Clerkes Chamber to the effect forsd And further Impowers any of the Magistrats as they shall find cause to take the poistMr aith and his servants lers enent abstracting of lres or keeping up the same And to doe every uther thing requisit enent the premisses.”’ The only other reference to the postal affairs of this period that we have been able to discover occurs under date 3 July of the same year.1! “The whilk day in presence of Robert Johnstone ane of the baillies of Drumfries compeired personallie William M‘Goune toun post and enacted himself that he shall cary and behave him- self in all time comeing peicebilie as becomes, acting nothing prejudiciall to the protestant intrest Neither by word nor deid nor yet asperse lyes of the pnt government under the pain of ffiftie punds Scots of liquidat penaltie in caice of failzie. By and attour whet uther punishment the mag. Shall be pleased to inflict upon him.” Until the year 1715, according to various historians of the post office, there were no horse posts in Scotland except those which plied betwixt Berwick and Edinburgh, and from thence to Port Patrick for the sake of the Irish packets.!2 There must, however, have been earlier attempts to establish such a service. We are able to supply authentic information in respect of a London horse post passing through Dumfries in 1690. Thus in a document preserved among the Records of Dumfries Town Council and entitled, “ Petitione, John M‘Gillter to the toune counsall of Drumfries 1690,” we read as follows :— “Unto the right Honll the provost Baillies Conveiner and toun counsall of Drumfries the petition of John M‘Gillter prisoner in the burgh pledge-hous. Sheweth that qr the petitioner being in this toun upon wedensday the 2d aprylle instant And being exceedinglie drunk Did strike att 11. Dumfries Town Council Minutes. 12. Joyce’s History, p. 118. Lang’s Hist. Summary of the P.O. in Scotd., p. 9. THE Dumeries Post OrfrFice, 1642-1910. 49 the London posts horss that wes coming ryding through this toun with the packit that efternoone which occasioned the man and horss baith to fall upon the hie street And true it is your Worships may easilie consider that if their petitioner had not bene a drunken beast he had not medled with the post Wheiras he is verie sensible that the doing thereoff was more nor the peti- tioner dare answer for And he yet admires when your Worships put him in prisone that ye did not loaden him with irons or made him a spectackle to the haill toun for such a gross fact however their petitioner is exceedinglie sorie for what he did and trusts that he sall be more sober for the tyme to come. And wishes that all good people wold take example be him And now the truth is the petitioner has a great charge of a poor familie and the bestiall at home are in a starving conditione And the crop which hes sowen will undoubtedlie goe to ruine without he be set at libertie to oversee it himself. May it tharefore please your Worships in consideration of the haill premisses to set the petitioner att libertie and he sall be very willing to undergoe what punishment your Worships shall be pleasit to inflict upon him And hopes that this shall be a rebeuk for him to walk more soberlie for the future And your Worships anshr. John M‘Gillter.” In a marginal note, dated 7 Aprylle 1690, the document is endorsed :—“ The magistrats and counsall pnt continues to give anshr till this day aught days.” That the duties of the Town Council were, in other ways, closely linked with the Post Office of this period is shown by numerous entries in the Council Minutes and Treasurer’s Accounts, of which the following are typical examples :— “2 June 1684.—The sd day the counsell thinks fitt that there be correspondence for news keepit betwixt this burgh and the cittie of Cairlyle weiklie They therefore appoint the bailzies to 50 THE DumrriEs Post Office, 1642-1910. wryte to the postmaister of Cairlyle or Bernard Ross at Sark brig for sending in what news comes there weiklie and appoynts the same to be sent to the thessrs Shop and him to pay weiklie yrfore twentie four shillings Scots whilk shall be allowed in his accompts and appoynts the news Ires to be red ilk counsell day att the meeting yrof.” “9 March 1685.—The sd day the counsell ordaines the thessr to pay to Thomas Irving merd in name of Bernard Ross the sowme of thritie pound Scots for news sent be him to the mag. from Cairlyle and the same to be allowed in his accompts.” “30 Aug. 1697. The qlk day the Counsell appoynts the above Comettee to revyse Robert Johnstoune postmaster his accompts of the news Letters and other letters relating to the toun and what is dew to give precept therefore.”’ “6 Sept. 1697. The qlk day the Counsell having received in and considered ane accompt of the post Letters dew to Robert Johnstoune post- master for the soume of one pond sixteen shillings and four pence sterling money ffinds the same just and dew.” “27 Janry, 1701. The qlk day the counsell considering the lose they are at throw not getting forraigne and domestick news dewlie and tyme- ouslie sent ym and considering yr provost being at Edr can best settle the same for the behoove of the burgh. Thairfore they all in on voice recommend to the provost to agree wt the generall post master for news lers forraign and domestick for ane year after Candlemas nixt. Wheranent this act shall be ane sufficient warrand and commissione as also to endeavour to get the post dayes altered. And if possible to get the post to com of Edr upon Saturday and be hear upon Munday so as he may goe away upon Tuesday efternoon and what agreement the sd provost may make that he gett in the bargain the newes packet free of postage heir.” The council’s instructions were duly carried out and the result of the negotiations is recorded in the Town Council Minutes as follows :— “17 March, 1701. The qlk day the provost reported to the counsell that whyle he was at Edr attending the parliat He had agreed with the <— Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 51 generall postmr for forrayne and domestick news from candle- mass last to candlemes nixt weeklie for ffive ginneis free of postage whereof the counsell approves and by this present act declair the sam the tounes debt and disburdeins the provost yrof.” In further illustration of the Council’s dealings with the Post Office in regard to the supply of News Letters and Newspapers “for the touns behoove” we quote the following additional ~ extracts from the Council Minutes :— “16 March, 1702. And the provost further reported That in respect the postmr was deed he knew not who represented him and therefore could not pay the composition made for news letters for the last year but withall reported that he has agreed with Mr Simpson deput postmaster to Mr George Main} for the news letters for a year after the first of Febry last for six pound sterling. Whereof the Council likewise approves and which is payable quarterly And because the sd post Mr deput charges ane exorbitant rate for the English votes of parliament The Councell recommends to the Provost to write to the sd Mr Simpson discharging the same. The aforsd Discharge and Recept and accompt all mentioned in this act is delivered to John Brown present thessr to be keeped by him until they be called for to be put up in the charter chest.”’ “20th Apr. 1702. Accompt due by the Toun to George Main Postmr Generall _ of Two pounds Twelve shillings and one pence sterline for news furnished by him to ym with ane bill subjoin’d to the sd accompt Desiring peyt of the accompt to Rob. Johnstoun postmr in this burgh.” “Monday last of May, 1703. The Councill considering yt the news sent by George Main to the Magistrats are not so satisfying to the toun as might been expected Therefore they think fitt to give precept for what is resting him and to discharge the sending ym in time coming and Recommends to the Provost to write to Provost Johnston to settle wt some carefull man to send in the Scots Gazetts and minute of _ Parliament and Recomends to Bailie Robert Corbett to write to 13. Farmer of the Post Office in Scotland. 52 Tue Dumrriges Post Orrice, 1642-1910. Carlile for settling ane Correspondence yr for the news or to Samuel Gordon surveyor at Allasonbank"4 as he thinks fitt.” Notwithstanding the Council’s finding in regard to Mr Main’s supply and the instructions to Baillie Corbet as to a new arrange- ment it is curious to find the first system reverted to. “25 Oct. 1703. The weh day John Crosbie Bailie reported to the Councell that conform to their direction when last at Edr he had agreed with George Main, generall postmaster for the news viz two’ London Gazetts, three flying posts and Postscripts and two Edr gazets weekly for six pound sterling for the ensuing year after Hallow day nixt to be payed quarterly being thirty shillings each eariers .. ~' fs” Entries in the Dumfries Burgh Treasurer’s Accounts for 1708-9 and later, under the heading “ Accompt of John Gilhaggies Disbursements for the Burgh of Drumfries from Michaelmas 1710 to Michaelmas 1711” show that this arrangement was adhered to for a considerable time and even after the control of the local service had passed into the hands of John Johnston as successor to the aforementioned Robert Johnstoune in the office of Post- master. Novr 8, 1708. Itt payed to George Main by Councels apoyntment signed by the provost for 18 00 00 Feb. 21, 1709. Itt payed to Jo. Johnston upon accompt of George Main by the Councells apoyntment signed by Ball. Barkley for 29 04 06 May 16, 1709. Itt payed to Jo. Johnston upon the accompt of George Main by the Councells apoyntment signed by Ball. Barkley for 18 00 00 Nov. 27, 1709. To John Johnston for a quarters news preceeding the first of Novr. etc. £18. 0 0 14. An Inn in the parish of Graitney, about half-a-mile south of the church where the King’s Custome was of use to be uplifted before — the Union.—Macfarlane’s Geo. Coll., Vol. I., p. 384. THE Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 53 May 8, 1710. To Mrs Johnston, Robert Johnstone postmr Relict for a _ quarters news due the first of May 1710 p Mr Mains precept—the Councils precept and her recept £18 0 0 August Ist, 1710. To John Johnston postmr for a quarters news due at Lambas 1710 p. Mr Mains precept, the Councils Precept and John John- stons recept. £18 0 0 Nov. 13, 1710. To John Johnston Postmaster for a quarters newspapers _ furnished by Mr Main to the Town viz. from August 1, 1710, to 1 Nov., 1710, per the Councils precept upon the back of Mr Main’s recept yrof to John Johnston and the sd John Johnstons Recept. 18lib. Os Od Nov. 29, 1710. To John Johnston postmaster for 3 weeks newspapers fur- _ nished by Mr Main to the Town viz. from 1 Novr to 21 ditto per the provosts precept on Mr Mains Recept yrof to John John- ston 4lib. 10s Od About this time, dissatisfaction appears to have again arisen _ and the supply of news was therefore obtained from Carlisle. _ The entry in the Treasurer’s Accounts in reference to this is as follows :-— Feb. 8, 1711. By the provosts order to Mr Parker of Carlisle for new:- papers sent formerly by him to the Town 6lib. Os Od Under date June 20, 1711, we find the following entry, which ' seems to indicate that the original arrangement had again been _ Teverted to :— To John Johnston postmaster for news p- the Councells precept and his recept 1llib. 10s Od 4 At the Union of 1707 the Post Office in Scotland was united with that of England and it appears to have been found necessary to discontinue the post between Carlisle and Dumfries. Much correspondence in regard to this matter passed between the Magistrates and Council of Dumfries and the authorities in London, and the following letters, preserved among the Records of Dumfries Town Council, enable us to ascertain the steps taken _to meet the difficulty. 54 THe Dumfries Post OFFice, 1642-1910. (1) “Scroll Letter sent to Doctor Hutton. 1709. Sir Yours to the Rd Mr Vetch our minister hes been com- municated to the Magistrats and councill we all have a very grate- full sense of this token amongst others of your favour and respect to this toun and its wellfare and wish we may have occassione to show our gratitude to you. After deliberation on your letter anent this matter of a post from Carlile to this toun the Magis- trats and Councill having agreed to the draught of the letter to Sir Thomas Frankland have sent to him the inclosed letter and left it open for your own perusall efter which we desire you to seall and deliver it. We have recommended one John Johnstone who is deputy postmr heir for the postmr Generall of North Brittane as fitt and qualified for this Imploy to whom we desire you will give your assistance and favourable commendation with Sir Thomas Frankland for we know him to be very honest and carefull in whats entrusted to him as you have offered your good ofices in this affair so we desire ye will continue the sam which with our humble dutie and respects to you is all in name of the Magistrats and councill from.”’ {2) Letter from Sir Thomas Frankland Generall-postmaster of Great-Britain. 1709. London, Mar. 24th, 1708/9. Gentlemen My very good friend Dr Hutton having given me your letter of the 9th instant, relating to the continuing the Post from Carlisle to Drumfries, I take the liberty in answer thereto to acquaint you that at present wee are not sufficiently impowered to make any settlement of Posts in North Brittain but hope before the end of this sessions of Parlint to pass such an act to con- solidate the Offices in both parts of the United Kingdome under one directione as will enable us to make such regulations as may be most for the benefit of the Trade and correspondence of the whole Iseland. I am very sensible that your letters to and from this place passing throu Edinburg must render your intercourse 15. Founder of the Hutton Trust. Physician to William and Mary. Tue DumrrRiges Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 55 very delatory, and that it may be very fit to redress this inconveni- ence when we can enter upon the consideration of those affairs. I am, Gentlemen, Your most humble servant, Tho. ffrankland. (3) Letter from Dr Hutton to Provost John Crosbie Att Drumfriese. Whitehall, May 21st, 1709. Honoured Sr. I take this opportunity to assure you that I shall not neglect any occasion, whereby I shall find myself capable to serve your good town in generall or your own interests in par- ticular. The inclosed will inform your friends and you what was indeavoured to be don, and what is intended shall be don in time convenient; I Hope before this time Mr Somervell Has laid before you the summe of that affair. our freshest publick news, are contained in ye inclosed print. Sr Thomas franckland says you nead not writ to nor trouble any man about the post, because it is soly and only His proper business and He most Have the powers neadfull by an act of parliament: if you can agree to employ a carrier for ye summer time, you will in a few mothes be able to judge off the advantage, please yr command with free- dome att any time what may be in the power off Honored Sr Your most fathfull Humble Srt. Jo. Hutton. (4) Letter from Dr Hutton For The Much Honoured Provost John Crosbie, Baylie Alexr Barkly, And Baylie John Martin present Magestrats of Drumfriess. Whitehall, May 21st, 1709. Gentlemen I Had Last night the favour off your Letter from Drum- fries, but without date. Att the Riseing of the parliament near a month agoe I was carefull to send for you a particular account off what Had past, and How, with Relation to your affair, and lest it Has not been Laid before you, it was in substance viz: {n a few dayes After That Sr Thomas Franckland Had Recived and answered your Letter, Haveing His clause Ready He fell sick off a Fever, joynd with gout, and a mighty cold which tyd Him to _ His bed and chamber all ye whyle the parliament satt. His son, with other frinds, members of the House who He employed to 56 Tue Dumrriges Post OrFice, 1642-1910. perform what He intended in our affair finding That the debates ware Long, and very warm for three or four weeks, on the subject of the Act of Traison which is the Act, called the Act for improve- ing of the union &c. (in which was intended to Have the clause inserted) was Like to be Thrown by, for this seasson; it was Thought fitt to prepare and offer a short Act by itself to impower the post masters To Transact whatever should be for the interest off the Crown and the ease of Her Majestyes good subjects. This was made Ready but the Heats between partyes, and par- ticularly betwixt the Scoth and English on the said bill of Traison, and all publick bussiness being finished, it was with deliberation thought better to defferr Sr Thomass bill Than offer it to the house, when Her Majesty was to prorogue it As she thought fitt to doe in a weeks time After. I waited on Sr Thomas nixt day after the parlmt was up who told me He was as sorry as I was for our disapointment, but that the Heats and angry debates in parliament and his own great and dangerous illness ware unfore- seen accidents; these were indeed our misfortun, but not our fault. He gave me Leave to tell you that you may be assured and Rest satisfied that if it please god He Live till nixt sessione off parliament He will take care to serve the Quen and ease and please you in this matter And therefore nead give yourselves no trouble on the subject till the begining of nixt winter when you may Renew your Regist to put Him in mind of what He said in His letter to you. in the mean time He owns and allowes, that He nor no man, can or will Reasonably be displeased, if you your selves will think fitt, to employ your own carrier for serveing your own good Town, and nighbours, for goeing to, and Returning from Carleisle till such time as the post be settled. by this method you may save time and charges, and by so doeing you will form the best Argument can be adduced to settle the Affair; this is the summe of what I wrot before And please perswad your selves That I continue with great Respect. Gentlemen, Your most fathfull Humble Srt., Jo. Hutton. By the Act of 1711 the Post Office, all over the country, was placed on a somewhat better footing, and Dumfries in com- mon with other districts of Scotland shared in the benefits of the new administration. Tue Dumrriges Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 57 Of the thirty-four Postmasters, who at this period existed in Scotland, twelve only were paid by salary, the remaining twenty- two being allowed, as their remuneration, a certain portion of the postage on inland letters. The Postmaster of Dumfries was one of the twelve who were paid by salary, the amount of which was £12 per annum.’ Runners, who performed the full journey from town to town, were maintained at fixed charges, and it may be of interest to record that the earliest “ Runners ” of this class known to us, are Archibald Frazer, Post,!®* Dumfries (1740), and Robert Slowan, the Drumfries to Sanquhar and Kirkconnell post (1741- 1745).17 In addition to these appointed “ Runners ” we find numerous instances of special messengers being used in cases of urgency and importance. At a time when the facilities of the post were limited such instances must have been of frequent occurrence, and the following records of “ Expresses” from the Dumfries Burgh Treasurer’s Accounts are of peculiar interest. UEC RNCT: ae € 1641-42.—Itm. to Jon Edger officr for carieing of tua paketis of lres to Lochmaben af, po OO LAT 00 6 Mairch, 1655.—Itm for ane poist to Wigtoun ... 02 08 00 23 May, 1655.—Itm to Thoas ve to go to portpaytrek see 03 00 00 5 day of Jannuar, 1657. Sen to wae Cannidhers for carring of ane letter to saunt BBs to try about the sikness i 00 12 00 Dec. 26, 1688.—Itt to Thomas Raney a two posts to Carlyle ve 16 04 00 Aprile 18, 1708.—Itt payed to W il Seiesine oa caring a letter to Apellgirth ... 00 06 00 Oct. 29, 1709.—Itt payed to William Creare fa going twise to Carlyle to times to fetch news by Ballie Gilcrists order ... 03 00 00 Noyr. 8, 1710.—To Thomas ee by ie Pie. vost’s order for going to Carlile express about the toun’s affairs sie zt sks RRS TAN) GE SD 16. Joyce’s History, p. 118. 16*. Register of Baptisms (Dumfries), in H.M. Reg. House, Edinburgh. 17. Ardwall House papers. 58 Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. lib, «ies tecs Aug. 21, 1711.—To Robert Selchrig for going express for the Toun to Edr with Letters anent Carnsalloch’s plea oe ie ee 17th Oct., 1715.—To Bailley Baterson ween He gave to Wm Weems for going to Drumlanrik for the bagg of ye post.. ; 0: aie at) 25th Oct., 1715.—To Hadley Paterson: iar two expresses to hayik and to the Langham... .... O 12 O To dito for ane express to the Sanquor io + OR RRoe aaa Noy. 7th, 1715.—To James Davison express from Edinburgh that was stript et the Cea the provosts order ... act : OR Ce oie 14th Nov., 1715.—To ane express aes ae cubrik by the provost’s order . : 0. uO Sept. llth, 1745.—To Cash pd W ‘it Mi Pele goeing Express to Edinr p. order of the Councill a 0° 60 THE Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. General Postmasters Recomending the sd James Gilchrist to the forsd office of Postmaster of this Burgh.’’ No further mention of the matter appears in the Council Minutes, but trom the following extract from the Burgh Trea- surer’s Accounts and the subsequent extract from the Council Minutes regarding local postal facilities in 1745, we obtain strong presumptive evidence of the confirmation of the appointment :— Nov. 28th, 1745.—To Cash pd Baillie James Gilchrist An Accott of Newspapers p. precipt 29th Augt. dit ae a at an SE Ok In the autumn of 1745 local postal arrangements again engaged the attention of the Council. Under date 5th Augt. of that year we read— “The said Day the Magistrats and Councell Recommend to and appoynt the Magistrats with Provost Crosbie and Provost Ewart and Baily James Gilchrist to meet and concurr with the Justices of Peace of this Shyre in applying to the Postmaster Generall to have the Post comeing from Carlisle to come by Mousewall instead of Bankend and to have the Post to go from this upon tuesday night instead of wednesday, and to come in upon wednesday night instead of thursday.’’?° As far as we have been able to ascertain no report as to the result of these deliberations was given. It is not improbable that the rebellion of 1745 interfered with the proposed arrangements. Although the rebellions of 1715 and 1745 seem, for a time at least, to have retarded postal progress in some respects they were the means of considerable improvements in the roads and conse- quent extension of the posts. Thus the mails began to be carried from stage to stage by different post-boys, and in 1765 the posts between Edinburgh and the chief towns of Scotland were extended in frequency from three to six days a week, Dumfries being described as on the G.M. (i.e., The Galloway and Moffat) post. At this time one of the principal post offices between Edin- burgh and Dumfries was at Annanholm in Wamphray. From that office two riders or postboys were despatched, each with pistols in his belt, the one carrying the letters to and from Dum- 20. The existing arrangements were still in force on 2nd Sept., 1745. Vide Corrie’s ‘‘ Annals of Glencairn,’’ p. 96. Fy ‘THe Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 61 fries ; the other journeying to Bield 0’ Tweed with the Edinburgh letters and receiving the south country letters in return.?4 This interesting picture of early postal methods recalls the well-known lines by the poet Cowper :— Hark! ’tis the twanging horn o’er yonder bridge That with its wearisome but needful length Bestrides the wintry flood in which the moon Sees her unwrinkled face reflected bright : He comes, the herald of a noisy world, With spattered boots, strapped waist, and frozen locks ; News from all nations lumbering at his back. True to his charge, the close-packed load behind: Yet careless what he brings, his one concern Is to conduct it to the destined inn ; And having dropt the expected bag, pass on. He whistles as he goes, light-hearted wretch! Cold and yet cheerful ; messenger of grief Perhaps to thousands, and of joy to some: To him indifferent whether grief or joy. Houses in ashes and the fall of stocks, Births, deaths, and marriages, epistles wet With tears that trickled down the writer’s cheeks Fast as the periods from his fluent quill, Or charged with amorous sighs of absent swains Or nyrnphs responsive, equally affect His horse and him, unconscious of them all. ; IIl.—Tue Dumrries Post OFFICE—THE PERIOD OF THE MAIL COACH. The introduction of the mail coach by John Palmer in 1784 _ marks one of the most important events in the history of the Post Office. Until that time the mails had been carried either on foot or by post-boys on horseback, at an average speed, including stoppages, of from three to four miles an hour. Palmer’s own description, submitted to Mr Pitt in 1783 when making claim to _ the advantages of a mail coach system, conveys perhaps the truest conception of the condition of postal facilities at that period. 21. Paterson’s ‘‘ Wamphray.”’’ 62 THE DumFriEs Post OFFICE, 1642-1910. He says: “ The Post at present, instead of being the swiftest, is almost the slowest, conveyance in the country; and though, from the great improvement in our roads, other carriers have pro- portionately mended their speed, the post is as slow as ever. It is likewise very unsafe, as the frequent robberies of it testify, and to avoid a loss of this nature people generally cut bank bills or bills at sight in two and send the bills by different posts. The mails are generally intrusted to some idle boy, without character, mounted on a worn-out hack, and who, so far from being able to defend himself or escape from a robber, is much more likely to be in league with him.” Although the advantages accruing to such a’system as Palmer suggested must have been apparent to many it met with consider- able opposition from the postal authorities, and had it not been that its merits were recognised by Mr Pitt, under whose guidance the Act of Parliament authorising its adoption was passed, it is doubtful if Palmer, at that time, would have succeeded in his efforts. The success that attended the new system exceeded the most sanguine expectations. The speed of the mails was almost doubled, still greater acceleration being subsequently effected. It was not, however, until the summer of 1786 that a mail- coach was established in Scotland on what was known as the Great North Road. Two years later (7th July, 1788) direct mail- coach connection was established between London and Glasgow, and additional coaches were shortly afterwards arranged for from Edinburgh and Carlisle to Dumfries and Port Patrick.” Dr Burnside, in his valuable MS. History of Dumfries, written in the year 1791, refers to the mail coaches in the follow- ing terms :—“ We have at present an English, Irish, and Edin- burgh mail coach out and in every day of the week. When our new bridge is built and a road open that is now framing by Muir- kirk we are in hopes of having the Glasgow mail coach this way likewise. The country in that direction is more populous, and the road more level and nearly as short as by the tract in which it at present runs.’’ (p. 72.) 22. The writer of the General Observations for the New Statis- tical Account of the County of Wigtown is in error when he states (p. 223) that the mail coach was first introduced into Galloway in 1804. Tue Dumrries Post OFFICE, 1642-1910. 63 Two years later (in 1793) the same author writes as follows for Sinclair’s Statistical Account of Scotland:—“ The London mail coach passes through Dumfries every day of the week, and a daily post between Edinburgh and Port Patrick.’’? (Vol. 5, p. 126.) The two extracts appear to be at variance, but each of them is correct for its own period. From the Old Statistical Account of Scotland (1792), Moffat Parish, we learn that “a mail coach from Dumfries to Edinburgh was lately set on foot, but has been given up. When that road is completely repaired it will prob- ably be re-established.” That this was really done is evidenced by the following notice of Provost Staig, published in the Dumfries Magazine shortly after his death on the 21st of October, 1826 :— “He was a main pillar in the building and organising of the Dumfries Academy ;” and, “ after unwearied exertions and corre- spondence with the Postmaster-General,” he established a mail coach communication between Edinburgh, Dumfries, and Port Patrick in 1805. A curious account of this coach is furnished in Will Caesar’s poetical description of “ A Jaunt to Edinburgh.”’ Ye neighbours a’, wha e’er ye be, That travel here or ’vont the sea, Come hither now, give ear to me, T’ll tell ye a’ That I mysell did lately see, When far awa’. I took the mail on Tuesday’s morn, A blyther man was never born ; The horse were fleet—weel fed wi’ corn— We scoured away ; The guard employed his bugle horn Right oft that day. We got fresh horse.at Bourance Rig, Were soon in view o’ Saint Ann’s brig, And saw Raehills, sae braw and trig, 4 Stand up the glen; And mony a tree and bonny twig Adorn the fen. 64 Tue Dumrriés Post Orrice, 1642-1910. The Craiglands next came in our sight— The Beattock inn is on the right, Where mony a weary travelling wight Has gotten rest And entertainment, day and night, O’ Wilson’s best. We hied us on to Moffat town, Saw Annan water rinnin’ down, And Granton standing up aboun Near the Beef-tub, Named for the devil, filthy loun, Vile Beelzebub. We now to M‘Intosh’s® went, Got meat and drink to our content, Then baith prepared to tak’ the bent. At Amisfield Town They had me safe, or e’er I ken’t, And set me down. Now to my kind friend, Mr Fraser, And the Contractors, I wi’ pleasure Give grateful thanks, while I’m Will Caesar ; IT shall not fail To wish them life, and health, and treasure, And mony a mail. ee eee But yet, I hope, they’ll understan’ The Dumfries still maun hae comman’, For she’s weel worth ’t in ony lan’, Where mails are seen. Yes, war’ there hundreds in a ban’, She wad be queen. We have already indicated that for a considerable time prior to the re-establishment of the Edinburgh, Dumfries, and Port Patrick line of communication a coach existed on the Dumfries and Port Patrick and Dumfries and Carlisle roads. Thus we are tab de ee 23. The mail coach guard. eee ey Ae ‘SIMAVT HV p iinae pie ¢ 4 ee e ES A os P10) : ] SOUTH a a Rai ries Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 65 able to determine in what way Dumfries was first brought into direct touch with the mail-coach system. A very precise account of the method of sending mails by the coaches is furnished by Mr Baines in his “ Forty Years at the Post Office.’? In that work the mail-coach arrangements from London to Dumfries and Port Patrick are described in the fol- lowing terms:—“ There was yet another route to the border. The Manchester coach, which ran through Barnet and Derby, was continued by a second coach to Carlisle, and by a third to Port Patrick, and carried the North of Ireland Mails. Leaving London at 8 p.m., it was at Manchester (187 miles) at three o’clock in the afternoon of the second day, only 7 minutes, by the way, before the coaches for Glasgow and Edinburgh were timed to leave, so that one would suppose that letters from Lancashire for Scotland generally, must more than once have missed the junction. It passed through Gretna Green at 6.35 a.m.—not too early probably for the blacksmith. “And while the 35 miles 5 furlongs from Carlisle to Dum- fries were cantered over at 9 miles an hour by four horses, there was a sad come-down for the Port Patrick mail from the south as soon as Dumfries was passed. A pair-horse coach struggled through Kirkcudbrightshire at 7 miles 4 furlongs an hour; and if for the 85 miles it was paid 5d a mile, or £646 a year in all, it certainly got as much as was fair. The coach was due at Port Patrick at 9.22 p.m. Thus the journey of 424 miles from London (the greatest distance, by the way, traversed by any mail coach) to the Irish Sea was accomplished in a little more than two days. The mails for Ireland passed on by packet to Donagh- adee.” In addition to the foregoing particulars, we have ascertained that the mail-coach called at the Queensberry Arms, Annan, every morning at seven, and reached the King’s Arms, Dumfries, at 9 a.m. ; while the return coach left the King’s Arms, Dumfries, at 1.30 p.m. and reached the Queensberry Arms, Annan, at 3.30 p.m. To return to the Edinburgh, Dumfries, and Port Patrick mail- coach, we learn that the Royal Mail for Dumfries left the Black Bull, Catherine Street, and 10 Princes Street (Edinburgh) at a quarter past nine every evening. It called at the Spur Inn, Moffat, at 4 a.m., and reached the King’s Arms, Dumfries, at 66 THE DumrrigEs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. twenty minutes past six. Here a halt was made to await the arrival of the Carlisle coach with the North of Ireland mails. Thence it proceeded to Portpatrick, leaving Dumfries at 9.15 a.m. every morning, and journeying by way of Castle-Douglas, Gatehouse, Newton-Stewart, Glenluce, and Stranraer.24 The return journey was performed by a second coach, leaving Port Patrick at six o’clock in the evening, reached the King’s Arms, Dumfries, at 26 minutes past five in the morning, and departed thence for Edinburgh at 26 minutes past six, calling at the Spur Inn, Moffat, shortly after 9 a.m., and proceeding by way of Noblehouse. The two coaches met at Gatehouse-of-Fleet, in the parish of Girthon. The foregoing hours of departure and arrival were, of course, subject to periodical alteration. The purpose of mentioning them is to show the time occupied on the various stages of the journey. It was at one time contemplated to run the Edinburgh to Dumfries mail-coach via Lochmaben, but the .road trustees objected on account of the expense of building a bridge across the A! and of making a few miles of new road. A proposal to discontinue the coach on the 6th June, 1828, was strenuously opposed by the inhabitants of the district, and the coach con- tinued to run for many years after. The incident has been cele- brated in verse by Will Caesar in an addendum to his “ Jaunt to Edinburgh.” A further attempt to discontinue this coach appears to have been made in the beginning of the year 1847, but the Town Council of Dumfries petitioned against its withdrawal, and they appear to have been successful. So much for the mail-coaches. What of the men who had charge of them? We are told that, on the whole, the guards and mail-coach drivers were extremely conscientious in the discharge of their duty. Those in charge of the various mail-coaches passing to and from Dumfries seem to have maintained the high reputation of their class. Exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and always, perhaps, setting out with a lurking fear of accident or robbery, 24. On the opening of the new road in 1800 the coach was trans- ferred to it and travelled backward and forward daily through that part, taking the villages of Crocketford and Springholm by the way. —Frew’s ‘‘ The Parish of Urr,’’ p. 61. Tue Dumrries Post Orricr, 1642-1910. 67 it can well be imagined that their duties were at times performed under most exacting circumstances. In a print of a local coach which, through the courtesy of the Editor of “ The Motor,’’ we are able to reproduce, the artist has depicted what must have been a common experience in early coaching days. From the Diary of William Grierson, father of Dr T. B. Grierson, of Thornhill, and from other sources of information we gather that delays were of frequent occurrence. Thus we read :— “Sunday, 10th Feb., 1799.—The mails have been very much past their usual time of coming in by reason of the snow. In many places the roads are totally blocked up. The London Mail that should have come in on Friday night only came in this day about one o’clock.’’ (p. 13.) “Thursday, 26th Jany., 1809.—Last night and this morning a heavy fall of snow. Partly frost and partly thaw during the day; the roads blocked up. The mail-coaches did not arrive, but the mail was brought in on horseback.’’ (p. 21.) Again, in a report of a storm on 7th January, 1839, it is recorded :—“ We learn from Mr Corson, guard of the mail on the Dumfries and Portpatrick line of road, that when he reached Castle-Douglas about one o’clock that morning matters looked most gloomy. From that hour till its arrival in Dumfries the storm raged with increased fury, accompanied with the terrific peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning, along with which torrents fell, while the winds continued greatly to increase. Altogether, Mr Corson says, in all his experience such a night of storm he never witnessed. Mr M‘Intosh, the Edinburgh mail guard, states to us that the storm commenced in Edinburgh on Fri- day. The snow began to fall as he left Moffat, and continued all the way to Edinburgh—within five miles of which it was so deep that the mail had to be dug out ; in consequence of which she was two hours behind her time. All the other mails were also late. On Mr M'‘Intosh’s return he had to leave the road at the same place, but with the assistance of additional leaders they reached Broughton, when the wind at eight o’clock continued to increase till his arrival in Dumfries an hour and a half behind the usual time. The night was truly gloomy and the storm appalling.”’ But even these instances are eclipsed. The heroic example 68 Tue Dumrrigs Post OrFice, 1642-1910. of James M‘George and John Goodfellow, the guard and driver of the Dumfries and Edinburgh Mail-coach, will long be remem- bered in the district. The story of the mail-coach disaster near Tweedshaws in the snowstorm of February, 1831, has been fully described in “ The Gallovidian.” Here we purpose giving na more than an epitome of the story detailing the circumstances - under which these loyal servants of the Post Office heroically sacrificed their lives through devotion to duty. On the morning of Tuesday, Ist February, 1831, they set out from Dumfries for Edinburgh at 7 a.m.,” and in spite of a blinding snowstorm manfully fought their way to Moffat, where they secured the services of two additional horses, and proceeded on their journey, accompanied by Marchbanks, the Moffat road- man, who had volunteered to help in case of accident. About a mile and a half from Moffat the coach stuck fast, and they were compelled to leave it. After directing the pas- sengers to return to Moffat they attempted to proceed with the mails on horseback, but in this they were unsuccessful, and the horses were set at liberty, M‘George, the guard, stating they must try what they could do on foot. Goodfellow and Marchbanks endeavoured to dissuade him, but his resolution was fixed. Goodfellow, seeing this, determined to accompany him, and, after persuading Marchbanks to return, M‘George and he set out together. It was their last journey. The following day the mails were discovered hanging on a snow-post about five miles M‘GEORGE’S HORN. Found beside him after the disaster. Now in the possession of Mr Kirk, Poolhouses, Lockerlie. 24*. No. 36, Vol. IX. 25. Another account says 10.30 a.m. Tue Dumrries Post Office, 1642-1910. 69 and three-quarters beyond Moffat. Five days later the bodies of the two men were found, and conveyed to Tweedshaws to await interment. Even in the face of death their thoughts had been of duty, their purpose having evidently been to leave the mails where they would readily be found. There were other sources of danger, viz., accident and robbery. Although the coaches to and from Dumfries seem to have escaped the attentions of the highwayman, they were by no means immune from accident. On one occasion, on the morning of the 14th April, 1806, the mail-coach was obstructed in coming out of Dumfries by some evil-disposed persons placing boughs or branches of trees across the turnpike road, by which the lives of the passengers were put in peril and the mail much delayed.” From the “ Dumfries Journal ’’ for September 17th, 1811, we learn that:—“ On Tuesday afternoon the mail-coach betwixt Port Patrick and this town was overset near Tarf Bridge. It seems that immediately after delivering the mail there the horses went off at full speed, and before they could be checked the accident happened. We are sorry to add that several of the passengers were severely hurt. Mr Gordon, innkeeper at Port Patrick, and his wife were considerably bruised and cut, and James Davidson, of the same place, had his leg broken; a gentleman from Whitehaven got his shoulder dislocated, and his daughter, who was in the inside, was much cut with glass. Both the guard and driver also received injury.’’ Again, from the “Dumfries Courier’’ of date November 13th, 1827, we extract the following :—“ An accident bad enough in itself, and which might have been attended with more serious consequences, happened to the Galloway mail on the night of Wednesday last at 7 o’clock. When about 4 miles to the west of Castle-Douglas, the horses took fright at something on the road, and rushed or rather leapt to the one side. By this sudden and unexpected movement the poor driver was pitched from his seat, and dashed with such violence on the stony ground that his arm was fractured and his body otherwise seriously bruised. When freed from all control the horses set off at full speed and 26. Hyde’s ‘‘ Royal Mail,” p. 35. 70 Tue Dumrrigs Post OrFice, 1642-1910. continued careering at the same pace until they had passed the village of Twynholm. Here the guard, Hunter, much to his credit, and at the imminent hazard, we believe, of his life, passed over the vehicle to the back of the wheelers, and both by restrain- ing and soothing these succeeded in checking the fury of the leaders. The Kirkcudbright postman, while waiting at Tarf Bridge, observed the coach pass without stopping, and not choosing to be cheated out of his usual burden, and suspecting moreover that all was not right, he immediately galloped after the truant mail. From the darkness of the night, no one could observe the absence of the driver, and it was fortunate the man possessed so much presence of mind; and from the state of the reins it required both the guard and the postman to pilot the horses to the burgh of Gatehouse. The high mettled steeds, before they were stopped, had galloped a distance of 4 miles, and passed in their course Red Lion Village, Meiklewood toll bar, and two bridges, one of which from its narrowness and the awkward way in which it angles with the road requires careful driving even in daylight. It so happened that there were no passengers either in or on the mail, and the only sufferer is the poor driver, who, on recovering from the stunning effects of his fall, got toa house, where he now lies in a critical, though not, it is hoped, in a dangerous way.’’27 “On Saturday, 25th January, 1840, the Dumfries Mail was upset when about eight miles on this side of Edinburgh. The axletree all of a sudden gave way, and pitched the coach on its beam ends to the great alarm, although very fortunately not to the serious detriment, of the passengers. The guard in particular was thrown from his seat to some little distance, and in falling sustained a few slight bruises. But wayfarers such as him care little for scratches, and although a relay might easily have been found he still continues in the performance of his duty. As no help happened to be at hand to repair the axletree the driver was despatched to Edinburgh for another coach, the passengers meanwhile locating themselves as they best could in the neigh- bouring houses; and the accident altogether detained the Mail fully six hours beyond the proper time.””8 27. ‘‘Courier,’’ Nov. 13th, 1827. 5 28. ‘‘ Dumfries Courier,’’ Wed., Jan. 29th, 1840. Tue Dumrrigs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 71 Another incident, illustrative of the trying experiences of the guards and drivers of the mail coaches, is recorded by M‘Diarmid in his “ Picture of Dumfries.’’ “We were roused from our beds on Friday morning, Febru- ary 6, 1829,” he says, “by a messenger who stated that the miscreant Hare had arrived in Dumfries. At first we could hardly credit the intelligence, . . . but on repairing to the coach office at the King’s Arms Inn, a little after eight o’clock, we discovered that the news was too true. By this time a con- siderable crowd had collected, and every moment added to its density. . . . Nearly the whole of the high-street was one continued mass of people, so closely wedged, that you might have almost walked over their heads, while Buccleuch-street was much in the same state; and, to express much in few words, the one, as far as numbers went, reminded us of a great fair, when the country empties itself of its population, and the other of what takes place at an execution. The numbers of the people are variously estimated, but the best judges are of opinion that they could not be under 8000. As it was known that Hare was bound to Portpatrick, the mob everywhere evinced the greatest anxiety to see him pass by, and pay their respects to him in their own way. But in the interim of more than four hours that elapses between the arrival of the Edinburgh and the departure of the Galloway or Portpatrick mail hundreds, if not thousands, were admitted to see him. . . . The Edinburgh mail arrived at about 20 minutes before seven, and as the crowd was soon on the gui vive, it became necessary to secrete Hare in the tap-room attached to the King’s Arms, . . . where crowds continued to visit him, almost up to the hour (eleven o’clock) when the Galloway mail was expected to start. With a view to this, the Inn yard was cleared not without difficulty, the horses yoked, and the coach brought out; but the mob, who, Argus-like, and with far more than fis eye, anxiously watched every operation, had previously formed their plans almost by instinct, and their aspect appeared so truly threatening that it was deemed impossible to drive the mail along the High-street, if Hare was either out or inside, with safety to any person connected with it. In these circumstances, and while two passengers were sent forward a few miles in gigs, the coach started perfectly empty, if we except the guard and driver, and one of Bailie Fraser’s sons, who seemed 72 Tue Dumrries Post OFFice, 1642-1910. anxious to protect his father’s property. The crowd opened and recoiled so far, and the tremendous rush—the appalling waves on waves of people—far exceeded in magnitude and intensity anything we ever witnessed in Dumfries before. When near the Post Office the coach was surrounded, the doors opened, and the interior exposed; and though this proceeding served to allay suspicion, the cry soon resounded far and wide that the mis- creant, who was known to be a small man, had managed to squeeze himself into the boot. We have said that the mob had concocted a plan, and from all we can learn, their resolution was to stop the mail at the middle of the bridge and precipitate Hare over its goodly parapet into the river. Failing this, they had fully determined to way-lay the coach at Cassylands toll-bar, and subject him to some other species of punishment ; and in proof of this we need only state that they had forcibly barricaded the gates. But when it became obvious that Hare was neither in nor on the mail, the guard and driver were allowed to proceed.” Hare was not allowed to go by the mail, and it was only by the strategy of the inmates of the King’s Arms that he was enabled to escape by a back entrance and obtain a temporary shelter within the walls of the old jail in Buccleuch Street. At the beginning of last century the conveyance of news was an important feature of our coaching system, and the interesting custom of discharging firearms, adopted by the guards of the various mail coaches to announce the arrival of important news, seems to have been observed in our district. “Thursday, 5th September, 1799.—This night the mail coach guard fired when the coach came in on account of the news of taking the Dutch fleet. Sunday, 4th September, 1808.—This night the news of an important victory having been gained by Sir.A. Wellesley in Portugal, the mail coach guard fired in consequence when he came in. Saturday, 17th September, 1808.—The news of the sur- render of Junott and the Russian fleet arrived this night. The guard of the mail coach fired.”29 29. Diary of William Grierson, father of Dr T. B. Grierson, Thornhill, pp. 18 and 21. Pe i. THE DumrrieEs Post OFFicr, 1642-1910. 73 We are indebted to the issue of the “ Dumfries Courier ’’ for May 10, 1841, for yet another reference to mail-coach arrange- ments in our district :— “We learn from good authority that an application was made within these few days to Mr Maberly, in London for an acceleration of the Galloway mail and that the application was met by an announcement of the intention of Government to give up both the Mail and the Port and send all the Irish bags by Glasgow. It is the further apprehension of our informant that Mails twice a day accelerated to the utmost are to be established and that, from that line as a trunk, branches with riders or gigs will be established to Dumfries, Annan, &c., and that we shall lose all our coaches.” The intentions of the Government would appear to have been reconsidered, and although the port at Port Patrick was afterwards given up we know that a mail coach continued to run between Dumfries and Port Patrick until the year 1861. In addition to the mail coaches, a number of other coaches plied to and from Dumfries for passenger traffic and in at least one instance a private coach was utilised also for the conveyance of the mails. Thus we learn, “ that the Dumfries and Kirkcudbright coach which carries the mail bags betwixt these towns and Dalbeattie and Castle-Douglas, will shortly run to Dalbeattie via Newabbey, Kirkbean, and Southwick in place of the direct route at present followed. In addition to its usual despatches the coach will carry bags for Newabbey, Kirkbean, etc., which are now conveyed by a foot post.”%? Consequent upon the introduction of mail coaches the work of the Dumfries Post Office appears to have increased to such an extent that it was found necessary to employ a clerk. Under date 19th September, 1786, we learn from the Council Minutes that one Charles Gordon, clerk in the post office, was admitted burgess and freeman of the Burgh. This is the first mention of a clerk, the said Charles Gordon being apparently a nephew of William Gordon, Postmaster, who had charge of the office in Friars’ Vennel. 30. ‘Courier,’ 15th Jan., 1844. 74 THE Dumrriks Post OFFIcE, 1642-1910. About this period also James M‘Clure (1763-1813), the friend and companion of the Poet Burns, filled the position of a letter-carrier, while at a later period David Johnstone (1795- 1810) performed the duties of a riding post between Dumfries, Thornhill, and Sanquhar. In 1804 Mr William Gordon was succeeded in the control of the office by Mr Robert Threshie, who appears to have had, for a few years, the assistance of a Miss Gilchrist, probably a grand- daughter of Bailie James Gilchrist, a previous holder of the office of Postmaster. Mr Threshie located the Post Office in Buccleuch Street, in premises which occupied a site adjoining the present Town Hall, but this step, as evidenced by the following communication from Mr Threshie to the Town Council through David Staig, Esq., the Provost, does not appear to have met with the approval of the inhabitants of the burgh. Dumfries, 23d Feby., 1805. Sir,— It has been complained to me that the present situation of the Post Office in Buccleuch Street, being distant from the center of the Town, is extremely inconvenient to the bulk of the Inhabitants—I should have felt happy in being able to obviate that inconvenience, but the Emoluments being limited, and having been at considerable expence fitting up the Office where it is, 1 had no inducement to remove it. Being anxious however to accommodate the public and understanding the Old Guard- house belonging to the Town will soon be unoccupied, I should be inclined even to sacrifice*the expense I have been put to, and with considerable personal inconvenience to myself, to remove the Office to that more centrical place, provided the Town would agree to fit it up, and set it me in lease at a moderate rent. I persuade myself, you and the whole other Magistrates and Town Council will feel equally disposed to encourage this pro- posal, and shall expect to be favoured with an early answer, meantime I have the honor to be Sir ; Your Most hum! Servt R. THRESHIE. Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 75 The application does not, however, appear to have com- mended itself to the Council. Under date 25th Feby., 1805, we read :—“ The said day the Magistrates and Council Authorized the Magistrates to sett the old Court House and Guard House at such rents as they shall think proper, to advertise for proposals to be given in to them.—If necessary to sett them by public roup for such a number of years after the term of Whitsunday next as they may think fit and to report.” Again, under date 22d April, of the same year, we read :— “The said day the Provost reported that he had lett the old Guard room and small apartment below the Steeple to Joseph Hinchcliffe, Cutler for the space of fifteen years after the term of Whitny next at the yearly rent of sixteen pounds Stg and the burden of repairing the room at his own expence; of which the Council approve and authorise the Magistrates or any two of them to enter into a Lease of the premises accordingly.”5! Some time prior to the year 1819 Mr Threshie removed the office to the shop, No. 12 Castle Street.”%2 During Mr Threshie’s tenure of office the salary attaching to the office of postmaster was £100 per annum.* In the year 1832 the Revenue of the Post Office in Dumfries amounted to almost £2500, after deductions for salaries.%4 Some interesting details of the business transacted at the office is furnished to us by the following tables of postal informa- tion :-— 1820-1-2.5 “Post Office. Robert Threshie, Post Master.—The Mails from Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Carlisle arrive at Dumfries at half-past eight, p.m., and the Mail from Port Patrick arrives at Dumfries at twelve at night. The Mails for Edinburgh and Glasgow are despatched from Dumfries at half past five a.m. ; the Mail for Port Patrick is 31. Town Council Minutes. 32. Wood’s Plan of Dumfries, 1819. 33. ‘‘ Dumfries Standard,’’ Oct. 27th, 1906. 34. New Statistical Account of Scotland. 35. From the Commercial Directory of Ireland, Scotland, and the Four Most Northern Counties of England for 1820-1-2. In the possession of Mr W. Allan, Chemist, Dumfries. 76 Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. despatched from Dumfries at about nine P.M. ; and the Mails for London and Carlisle are despatched from Dumfries at half-past twelve at night.” 1835.36 “Hour of Arrival and Despatch of the Mails to and from Dumfries. With the time for Delivery of Letters after arrival. Time of Delivery. MAILs. Arrival. Despatch. Summer.) Winter. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Moffat, & SECs ra alk we ... | past 6 a.m. |} past 6 a.m. | 7 A.M. | 8 A.M. London and whole of England. Office shut 1 hour after arrival for despatch of mail to Ireland, &e. 8.45 a.m. |4 past 1 p.m. | 104.M.| 10 a.m. Ireland, Por ‘pate ick, ‘and the whole of Gallow ay ... % past 5 A.M. 9 A.M. 7 A.M. | 8 A.M. Thornhill, Sanquhar, Moni- aive, &c. (Riding Post) . | 4 past 9 p.m. 9 A.M. 7 AM.|8 A.M Lochmaben, Torthor wald (Foot Post) ... ae 6 A.M. 10.30 A.M. | 7 A.M. | § A.M. Newabbey, Kirkbean, &e. (Foot Post) ... 28 am 7 P.M. 9 A.M. 7 AM. |S A.M. Hours of attendance in Office, except when shut for despatch of Mails—from 7 in the morning in summer and 8 in winter till 8 evening. Sunday—From the same hours in the morning till half-past 10, from quarter to 1 till half-past 1, from 4 till 5, and from half-past 7 til! 8.7’ From Pigot and Co.’s Directory for 1836 we obtain the fol- lowing additional reference to a post:—“ Post, Mouswald and Ruthwell—Letters arrive from and are despatched to Dumfries three days a week.”’ From Halliday’s issue of the same year (1836)57 we obtain the following particulars in regard to the staff at the Dumfries office of that period :— 36. From Halliday’s Dumfries and South of Scotland Almanac for the year 1835. In the possession of Mr W. Blackie, Postal Over- seer, Dumfries. 37. In the possession of Mr Wm. Allan, Chemist, Dumfries. THE Dumrrigs Post OFFIce, 1642-1910. 77 “Post Office—Castle Street. Robert Threshie, Esq., Postmaster. Robert Wallace, 1st Clerk ; William Mitchell, 2nd Clerk. Hugh Downie and James Kirkpatrick, Letter Carriers.” On his death on the 26th July, 1836, Robert Threshie was succeeded as postmaster by Mr John Armstrong. Mr Armstrong died in March of the following year, and Mr John Thorburn, solicitor, was appointed in his place. In Mr Armstrong’s time the office was removed from Castle Street to a little shop on the east side of the High Street, on part of the site now occupied by the shop of Messrs Cooper & Co., and on Mr Thorburn taking over the control of the office he temoved it to English Street, to a place known as “ the Doocot,” nearly Opposite to the head of Queen Street. INTRODUCTION OF PENNY Postrace. In 1840 uniform penny postage was established, and as was to be expected increased demands were made upon the local service. In consequence of this the attention of the Town Council was directed to the postal facilities in existence at that period, and for some years subsequent to the introduction of penny postage the Council minutes afford evidence of general dissatisfaction in regard to the local office. On Tuesday, 17th November, 1840, “The Council resolve that at next Ordinary meeting they would take into Considera- tion the propriety of petitioning the Lords of the Treasury as to having a permanent established, Post Office here built at the public expense in same way as had been done in Glasgow, Edin- burgh, Aberdeen, and other large Burghs. And the Draft of a petition to that effect was laid on the table.” Again on 11th December, 1840, “Mr Hamilton moved that the Petition laid on the table as to a grant from the Treasury for erecting a Post Office be signed by the Council, and that the Provost be desired to use his utmost influence in promoting the object by applying to the Representatives of the Burgh and County or otherwise, which Petition being read, it was suggested by Mr Lookup that a Petition might emanate from the Council 78 Tue Dumrries Post OrrFice, 1642-1910. praying a grant to erect a Post Office, Custom House, Stamp and Excise Office, it being well known that the Crown at present pays large rents for several of these offices, but he was convinced that if properly laid before the Treasury a saving might be proved to be effected by combining all these offices in one.” The Council signed the Petition, and agreed to carry out the suggestion of Mr Lookup by signing a Petition presenting the same to the Treasury, and named Messrs Lookup, Thomson, Kemp, Hamilton, and the clerk to prepare the Petition and get it signed and transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury. The matter was again referred to at the Council meeting held on 11th February, 1841, but consideration of the corre- spondence was delayed until the following meeting on 5th March, 1841, when the Council was informed that the Post Office authori- ties desired to be informed what sum the Council or Burgh would contribute towards the expense of erecting a new office. After much discussion Mr Lookup moved that an application be made in name of the Council to the Treasury praying that a grant may be made from the public funds for erecting a building sufficient to contain the different public offices of the burgh. This was seconded by Mr W. Smith, and agreed to, the following gentlemen being named a Committee to frame the Memorial, viz. :—The Magistrates, Dean, and Treasurer, Messrs Lookup, Kemp, Hamilton, and W. Smith—Mr Lookup convener. On 18th March, 1841, the Petition, drawn up by these gentlemen, was read and approved of, signed, and directed to be sent to the local representatives in Parliament for presentation to the Treasury. Thereafter much correspondence in regard to the matter passed between the Council and their representatives in Parlia- ment, but the only additional fact that emerges in the course of this correspondence is that, “ Failing the Treasury entertaining this Memorial, the Council entreat that you will urge forward the application for the Post Office alone.”58 38. Letter to General Sharpe, M.P. Tue Dumerrigs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 79 We subjoin a copy of the Memorial to the Treasury :— “Unto the Right Honourable The Lords of her Majesty’s treasury The Humble Petition of the Provost Magistrates and Town Council of Dumfries in common _ council assembled. Sheweth _ That the Petitioners have already preferred a Petition to Your Lordships praying a grant for erecting a Post office and it has been intimated to them that Your Lordships are desirous of being informed to what extent the Petitioners will contribute towards the expense of erecting it along with Your Lordships. That from the depressed state of the corporate property and the amount of the debts owing by that Burgh the Petitioners are not prepared to offer any sum from these funds and they are doubtful if the Inhabitants generally would contribute by volun- tary subscription but the (sic) crave permission to make the following statement in reference to the yearly expenditure incurred for the public offices in Dumfries and to suggest a plan whereby provision may be made for the accomodation of these offices without subjecting the Country to an expenditure much greater than at present and they venture to offer this plan upon the assumption that Dumfries from its importance in the South of Scotland is entitled to be provided with accomodation for the discharge of public business more suitable than hitherto has been. That at present the public offices are scattered throughout the Town and their situations have been chosen more to suit the convenience or taste of the officer under whose charge the depart- ment may be than to accommodate the public. The following are believed to be the rents payable for the different public offices :—- Custom House ... is ve bi rhs os 240) 20 0 Stamp Office... tha - re Le ee BOO 8 Post Office woe ip oa sn ws see oor OF oO Excise Office... noe ie SF Ae 2g MADIAOe 10 Bonded Stores ... ape Bie ae rie ee AOR OF a0 £160 0 0 80 Ture Dumrriés Post OFricr, 1642-1910. That were the Petitioners allowed to suggest the sum that might be necessary to provide accomodation which they contemplate they would suggest that a sum between three and four Thousand Pounds would be amply sufficient to defray the expense of the site and erecting the Buildings. That were Your Lordships pleased to order an inquiry into the preceding statement the Petitioners will prove the truth thereof. May it please Your Lordships to take the premises into your consideration and to grant the prayer of the Petition. And the Petitioners will ever Pray. (Signed) John Fraser Provost and Chief Magistrate.” No further reference to the Petition appears in the Council Minutes, but it is evident that the Postal authorities had the matter under consideration. At the Council meeting on 3rd March, 1843, “ The Provost laid before the Council two letters upon the subject of a New post office for the Town from Mr Reeves, Post Office Surveyor. Having considered these communications, it was decided that Mr Reeves should be informed that a New post office had been taken for five years, and that the Council were of opinion that a trial should be given to the New Office. And further procedure delayed as to the building of an office until a future period.” It seems clear that the expectations in regard to the new office cannot have been realised, for the subject was again brought under the notice of the Council on 4th June, 1847, when, on the motion of Mr Scott, they appointed the following Ccmmittee to meet with Mr Thorburn, the Postmaster, to confer with him as to a more convenient situation for a Post Office, viz. :—Bailie Newall, Bailie Hammond, Bailie Smyth, and Mr Scott—Mr Scott convener. Here, for the time being, the matter was allowed to rest. In the following year Dumfries was brought into direct touch with the railway systems of the country, and a new era was opened up for postal developments. *(CHOALAMOONO ‘UVA ALIN ANIN Lv) HOVOO TWIVW HOIMLVdLHOd GNV SHTHANOdG WH Tue Dumrrigs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 81 IV.—THE Dumrries Post OFFICE—LATER DEVELOPMENTS. The advantages of penny postage, combined with the safer and more expeditious mode of conveying the mails by rail, pre- pared the way for a marked expansion in post office business, and Dumfries, in common with other districts, can boast of a wonder- ful record of progress and development, especially during the last thirty or forty years. The town was first linked with the railway system in 1848, when a line to Carlisle was opened. Two years later the system was extended to Glasgow, and the line was established under its present title of “The Glasgow and South-Western Railway.” A branch line between Dumfries and Castle-Douglas was opened on 7th November, 1859, by The Castle-Douglas ‘and Dum- fries Railway Co. On 11th March, 1861, it was continued to Stranraer and Port Patrick by a joint company, designated The British and Irish Grand Junction Railway Co., and now known by the name of “ The Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Railway Co.” The Castle-Douglas and Dumfries Railway Co. ceased to exist on Sth July, 1865, when it became amalgamated with the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Co. In 1863 a branch line was opened by The Dumfries, Lochmaben, and Lockerbie Railway Co.*9 between Dumfries and Lockerbie, and in the following year another line was constructed by the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Co. between Castle-Douglas and Kirkcudbright. Among recent extensions we have the Cairn Valley Railway, a branch of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway, opened in .1905. Although this railway passes through a quiet rural district with only two villages of any considerable size it has already been taken advantage of for the conveyance of mails to and from Moniaive almost since the day it was opened. We have already mentioned that a coach continued to run between Dumfries and Portpatrick until 1861 for the conveyance of the mails. The reason for this is not far to seek. We learn from the foregoing references that it was not until that year that railway communication was established on that road between Castle-Douglas and Stranraer. The withdrawal of the mail 39. Amalgamated with the Caledonian Railway Co. in 1865. 82 Tue Dumrries Post Orricr, 1642-1910. coach is thus described in the “ Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser ” of date 8th March, 1861:— “EXIT THE Matt CoAcu. The opening of the Portpatrick Railway for passenger and goods traffic on Tuesday first will cause a considerable alteration in the modes of conveyance hitherto used in the Stewartry. For nearly fifty-one years the mail coach has run from Dumfries to Stranraer, but to-morrow is the last trip from Castle-Douglas of the mail coach. The arrangements made for the conveyance of mails in the meantime is that a small gig will run from Castle- Douglas to Stranraer each day at nearly the same hour as at present, contingent on the arrival of the mail from Dumfries. It is also contemplated to despatch the mail in the afternoon by the five o'clock train instead of half-past three—an arrangement which will be a great boon to the inhabitants south, east, and west of Castle-Douglas. It will allow the boxes in the various places to be kept open upwards of an hour longer than at present, and thus give an opportunity to reply to any communication by the same day’s post. The withdrawal of the mail coach will also change the route of passengers from Creetown and Newton-Stewart to Kirkcudbright. Instead of driving round by the coast, travellers will now come by train to Castle-Douglas, and go on by coach to Kirkcudbright—Mr Payne’s omnibus waiting the arrival of the train from Stranraer.” When the railway was first brought into direct touch with Dumfries Mr Thorburn was still in office as Postmaster of the Burgh. Upon him therefore fell the responsibility of carrying out the necessary alterations for the adoption of the new system and for the expeditious delivery of the increased volume of corre- spondence consequent upon the introduction of penny postage. Sub-offices began to spring up in rural districts, and runners were established on roads not previously touched by the post, while pillar and wall boxes began to be erected at convenient points . throughout the Burgh. Mr Thorburn’s tenure of office, as evidenced by the numerous references to the postal facilities of this period which are to be met with in the Records of Dumfries Town Council, must indeed have been one of strenuous activity. Thus on 14th Nov., 1850—“ Provost Nicholson laid before the dS haut ables ee rr eer ee eS a 2a aes THE DumrriEs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. So 3. Council a letter from the Post Office, Edinburgh, stating that an application having been made to the Postmaster-General desiring that a delivery of letters should be made from the Dumfries Post Office between 1 and 2 o’clock on Sundays and desiring that the Provost should inform the Post Office whether the inhabitants of Dumfries generally would prefer an afternoon to a morning delivery. The Council, having considered this subject, request the Provost by a majority to answer said communication and state that the feeling is for a delivery betwixt one and two.” Again on 7th Feb., 1851—*“ Mr M‘Gowan brought the subject of the postal arrangements in this quarter before the Council, and moved that a Committee be appointed to watch the proceedings in an action now in progress at the instance of the Lord Advocate against the Perth and Dundee Railway in regard to carrying the mails. [The meeting agreed to this motion, and named the following Committee, viz.—Provost Nicholson, Bailie Leighton, Messrs Dinwiddie, Blaind, Smyth, and M‘Gowan, 3 a quorum— Mr M‘Gowan convener. ] ” At the next Council meeting, on 7th March, 1851, Mr M‘Gowan intimated that the Committee upon Postal Arrangements in this quarter had not been called together, but he considered the subject so urgent that he begged to move the following resolu- tions :— “That the Burgh and District of Dumfries from their exten- sive and daily increasing population and extensive Mercantile and Shipping interest are entitled to the benefit of the most improved communication under the powers entrusted by Parliament to the Post Office. That the existing postal arrangements are defective, incon- venient, and exceedingly prejudicial to the interest of the Burgh. That although two Mails from London arrive in Dumfries within twenty-four hours one of these lies in the Post Office there till the following morning, and by this means the whole correspondence to Galloway and the upper district of Dumfriesshire is detained for eight or ten hours unnecessarily. That the Edinburgh and Glasgow Mails, which formerly arrived twice in twenty-four hours, now only arrive once, and, were these forwarded by the train from Glasgow direct, to and through Dumfries, two mails from each might readily be had and an end put to the absurdity of all the Dumfries Correspond- 84 : Tue Dumrries Post Orricr, 1642-1910. ence with the County of Ayr and the Towns and Villages along the line of Railway being transported round by Carlisle and Glasgow in place of directly to their place of address. That these obstacles and several others might be stated to a ready communication can very easily be cured at no great expense -and be a mighty boon to the population along and within the range of the South-Western Railway. And that a Memorial by the Council be presented to the Postmaster-General on the subject.” These resolutions were seconded by Bailie Leighton and unanimously adopted, and it was remitted to the former Com- mittee to prepare the memorial resolved upon. In August, 1852, the delivery of letters on Sundays was again brought under the notice of the Council, and we are informed in the minutes dated 6th August of that year, “ The Council then on the suggestion of Mr M‘Gowan took up the delivery of the letters at the Post Office on Sundays. Agree to memorialise and represent to the Post Office authorities the great inconvenience at present experienced from the irregular delivery on Sundays, in the middle of the day, and pray that the delivery be betwixt four anJ five in the afternoon in future.” At the Council meeting on 21st September, however, Mr M‘Gowan stated “ That from certain communications from the Post Office authorities to the Town Clerk that the Mails would be shortly accelerated, the Memorial as to the delivery of the letters on Sundays had not been sent off, and that no movement had been made in the meantime.” Earlier in the spring of the same year the old question of a new office had been re-opened, and in the Council Minutes of date 2nd April, 1852, it is recorded—* Mr Dunbar brought forward the great necessity there was for an alteration in the site of the Post Office which was at present very inconvenient. The Council remit the matter to the following Committee to consider the same and to report. [Viz., Bailie Leighton, Bailie Crombie, Dean Payne, Messrs Sloan, M‘Gowan, Dunbar, and Smyth—three a quorum. Mr Dunbar convener.] At the following meeting on 7th May, 1852, the above Committee recommended that the Meal Market and Granary above belonging to the Burgh be fitted up as a Post Office and let to the Post Master at the rent allowed to that gentleman for such an office. Thereafter much correspondence wactast Cima — ; Se ae, ++ eee ion on Steere ess distil nh, facia iin nate aed Aa Ef AB a Beet eb ten: eas. Tue Dumrrigs Post OFFice, 1642-1910. 35 ax in regard to this matter passed between the Council and Mr Western, the Post Office Surveyor. Plans of the premises and medical certificates as to the light, ventilation, and healthy situation of the site were submitted at the request of the postal authorities, and although the Town Council announced their intention of carrying out certain altera- tions that were deemed necessary, it was intimated to them by the Clerk at their meeting on 4th March, 1853,-that a letter had been received from the Postmaster-General stating that after inquiry the Post Office authorities did not think it would be advisable to take a lease of the premises offered for the purposes of a Post Office. The Council expressed regret at this decision, but being still of opinion that extended Post Office Accommodation in Dum- fries was much required the agitation for this purpose was con- tinued. In the Council Minutes of date 5th August, 1853, we are informed, “ The Member for the Burghs, Wm. Ewart, Esq., M.P., being present, Bailie Currie took occasion to point out the present existing Postal arrangements. Mr Ewart stated that were a Memorial prepared stating the grievance complained of he would do his utmost to press the same on the attention of the Govern- ment and get the same redressed. The Council then named Bailie Currie and Messrs M‘Gowan and Sloan a Committee to prepare a Memorial in terms of Mr Ewart’s recommendation. Bailie Currie convener.” On 2nd September the Provost read a letter from William Ewart acknowledging receipt of the Memorial and stating that he had used every exertion in order to get the grievance complained of redressed. Possibly as a result of this agitation the office was removed to 10 Queen Street, the same building which, after an interval of seventeen years, has again been brought into association with the service as a sub-office. Notwithstanding these improvements the Dumfries Office must have presented a striking contrast to the Office of to-day. In illustration of this it may be mentioned that the public were then served in the adjoining passage through a hole in the wall. In Johnstone’s “Guide to Dumfries and Galloway,’’ pub- lished in 1860, the Post Office in Queen Street is described as “a commodious building, in which is ample accommodation both for officials and the public.” 86 Tur Dumrriges Post Orrice, 1642-1910. This cannot have been the opinion of the general public. “On 2nd January, 1857, Provost Leighton brought before the meeting the subject of the great necessity that at present exists for a more convenient and comfortable Post Office, and on his suggestion the following Committee was appointed :—[Provost Leighton, Bailies Payne, Pagan, Watt, Dean Lawson, Messrs Dunbar, M‘Gowan, Herries, Sloan, and Corson—Three a quorum—Provost Leighton convener] to take the whole subject into consideration and to prepare and transmit to Government a memorial praying for a Grant for the erection or purchase of suit- able premises.”40 Plans of premises which the Council proposed to let to the postal authorities for the new office were afterwards submitted, but after correspondence in regard to the matter, the Provost intimated at the Council meeting on 24th April, 1857—“ That as directed at last Meeting he had communicated the resolution then come to as to the New Post Office to the Post Office authorities, and he produced an answer stating that they declined the premises under the Council Chamber as ineligible, being deficient in space, in height, and in general accommodation.”’ Thus for a second time the efforts of the Town Council were unavailing, and although the agitation for better accommodation was continued at intervals, it was not until the year 1889 that the inhabitants of the Burgh enjoyed the advantage of a newly erected and specially equipped Post Office. Some idea of the work transacted at the Dumfries Office at the time of its transfer to the Queen Street premises may be gathered from the following mail sheet*! :— 40. Dumfries Town Council Minutes. 41. From Slater’s Directory for 1852. Tue Dumrriés Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 87 “P.O., English Street, Dumfries. Mr John Thorburn, Post Master. Arrival Box. | Despatch Town, &e. of Mille Closes. of Mails, London and the South, Edinburgh, hetanadie A.M. P.M. P.M. &c., also Ireland (via Lockerbie) “ 2.30 7.45 8.0 A.M. P.M. P.M. London, &c., also Ireland (via Gretna) 9.55 215 2.40 P.M. A.M. A.M. Port Patrick, &c. ... es 1.0 9.45 10.25 Kirkeudbright, Castle-Douglas, Dalbeattie, | p.m. AM A.M. Be... he aa ope ae af wae 6.0 7.30 8.0 AM. A.M. A.M. Sanquhar, &c. 1.0 9.45 10.25 P.M. AM. AM. Parkgate, &c. 7.0 6.30 7.0 A.M. AM, AM. Dalswinton, &c. 9.30 9.45 10.25 PM. A.M. A.M. Glencaple, Newabbey, &c. 7.0 9.45 10.25 The office is open from the fourth of November to the fourth of March, at half-past seven in the morning ; and from the fourth of March to fourth of November at seven in the morning; and the office closes at nine at night (Sundays excepted). On Sundays the office is open from a quarter before one noon till a quarter before two. Late letters may be posted with an additional stamp through the late letter box until within five minutes of the despatch of mail. Money orders are granted and paid daily (Sundays excepted) from nine in the morning till six in the evening. * When the letter M occurs at the end of an address it Signifies Maxwelltown.”’ By way of contrast we append a mail list for the year 1854,42 which may, perhaps, be regarded as more authentic than the previous one, having been compiled and published by Mr William M‘Farlane, one of the Dumfries letter-carriers. It supplies us also with additional particulars as to the mode of conveyance of _ the different mails. 42. In the possession of Mr Wm. Blackie, Postal Overseer, Dum- fries. 88 THE Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. MAILS AT DUMFRIES. December, 1854. Arrival. |Delivery. Shuts spatch a P P 9.45 London, We., Irish Mails, Edinburgh, 3.20 3.50 “Glasgow and North of Scotland P.M. A.M. P P.M. 8.30 7.0 London, &e., Irish Mails, Edinburgh, 9.45 | 10.15 Glasgow, and North of Scotland A.M P.M. P.M. 10.0 — aes ... (On Sundays via Lockerby) 1.45 | 3.0 P.M. P.M. A.M. A.M, 3.25 | 4.0 Castle-Douglas, Kirkcudbright, Gate- 9.0 9.35 house, Stranraer, &c., per Mail Coach P.M. A.M. A A 6.0 7.0 Thornhill, Sanquhar, Kilmarnock, 8.20 8.50 Ayr, &e., per Railway (On Sundays no mail either sent or received.) P.M. A.M A.M. A.M. Tes0e il adeO Holywood and Closeburn Mounted 9.0 9.45 Messenger ; six days a week P.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. 7.0 7.0 Amisfield and Parkgate Runner 9.0 9.45 A.M, AM. AM. A.M. 8.45 | 9.45 Dalswinton Runner 9.0 9.45 P.M. AM. ; A.M. A.M, 7.0 7.0 Glencaple and Bankend Runner 9.0 9.45 P.M. AML. A.M. A.M. 6.40 | 7.0 Newabbey and Southwick, per Gig... 9.0 9.45 P.M, P.M. A.M. A.M. 7.0 7.0 Collin and Mouswald, six days a 9.0 9.45 week P.M, P.M, AM. AM. a) 7.0 Terregles and Shawhead, six days a 9.0 9.45 week Late Letters may be posted through the Late Letter Box, with an additional stamp affixed, up to 15 minutes before the despatch of each mail. Office Open.—At 7 a.m. from 5th March to 5th November, and at 8 a.m. from 5th November to 5th March. Shut.—At 10 p.m. and for 30 minutes after the arrival and before the Despatch of Mails. g@~ =—- After the arrival of the 8.30 p.m. Train (as soon as the Mail is sorted) there is a General Window Delivery for an hour. Open on Sundays from 12.45 to 1.45 p.m. When the Mail via Lockerbie arrives so as to admit of a delivery at that time; and, when late, to be opened for an hour so soon as the Mail can be sorted. + are a ee at om ~ ee ny EN eR U6 heads ets Pe : / By > Tue Dumrries Post OFFice, 1642-1910. 89 Money Orders are issued and paid between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (except from 3.20 till 4 p.m.) on week days only ; and on Saturday Evenings Money Order Business may be transacted up to 8 o’clock. In the year 1861 the Post Office Savings Bank was estab- lished, and in the following year Mr Thorburn retired from the office of Postmaster. He was succeeded by Mr Alexander Loudoun, from the Greenock Office. Mr Loudoun may be described as the first practical postmaster, for he had not only been trained in the service, but was required to devote his whole time to the duties of the office. The salary attached to the office was at this time fixed at about £130. On his retiral in 1889 it had been increased to almost £300 per annum. During Mr Loudoun’s term of office further changes, resulting in greatly increased facilities to the public, were made. For ex- ample, in 1870 the Telegraph service was transferred from private hands to the Government. Later in the same year a halfpenny postage rate for printed matter was introduced, and a few days later the first post-cards were on sale to the public. On the Ist of May, 1871, a sorting carriage, staffed by one clerk from the Dumfries Office, made its first journey between Dumfries and Stranraer, leaving Dumfries, with the Irish mails, at 5.40 a.m. The Postal Order system was commenced in 1881. In August, 1883, the inland “ Parcels Post ’’ was started, and two years later the parcel post was extended to foreign coun- tries and the colonies. In 1883 the Postal Authorities secured a lease of premises at the station to be utilised as a parcel depot. Here the work of receiving and despatching the parcel mails to and from Dumfries is still conducted. The continuous and rapid expansion of postal business fol- lowing on these improvements, combined with continued agitation by the people for still further facilities, led to the erection of the commodious and handsome Post Office in Buccleuch Street. The contract for the erection of the new building was given to Mr David Kirkland, Ayr, and the foundation-stone was laid with full Masonic honours. The office was first occupied at Whitsunday, 1889, when the late Mr Wm. G. Weir, a Greenock officer like his predecessor, was appointed to take charge, at an increased salary. 90 Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. In Mr Weir’s time numerous other improvements were introduced. Thus in 1889 Telegraph Money Orders were autho- rised, and the system was further extended on the Ist March, 1890. On the 25th March, 1891, Express services were in- stituted, and on the Ist January, 1895, free re-direction of letters, books, newspapers, etc., was conceded. More important still was the introduction of “ Imperial Penny Postage ” in 1898, as the outcome of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Mr Weir retired on pension in 1900, and was succeeded in office by Mr C. S. Chapman, from the Kendal Office. During the years in which Mr Chapman had charge of the Dumfries Office further concessions were granted to the public. Perhaps the most important was the extension of penny post- age to New Zealand and to the Chinese ports in 1902, to Aus- tralia in 1905, and to the United States in October, 1908. A noteworthy development was inaugurated on the 2nd of January, 1909. On that date payment was made for the first time of the weekly pension granted by the State to the aged poor of the British Isles. On his retiral in March, 1910, Mr Chapman was succeeded on 3lst May, 1910, by Mr William Carmichael, the present able and energetic postmaster. V.—RECEIVING OFFICES AND TOWN SuB-OFFICES. A branch office, known as the Maxwelltown Receiving Office, was established in 1843 for the greater convenience of the inhabi- tants of that burgh, and it is of interest to obtain some idea of the work transacted at the office shortly after it was first opened to the public. From the “ Dumfries Courier” of date January 29th, 1844, we learn that:—‘“ There passed through this office, in 94 days from its institution on 22nd July, 1843, 2512 letters and 5QT newspapers ; and during the second 94 days ending January 5th, 4033 of the former and 752 of the latter, showing an increase on the last quarter of 1521:letters and 225 newspapers. The Maxwelltown community are under great obligations to Her Majesty’s Post Office Commissioners for granting so seasonable a boon as the establishment of this branch, tending as it does so much to facilitate business.’’ THE Dumrries Post OrFicE, 1642-1910. 91 The first postmaster in Maxwelltown was a Mr Clark, and the office was located in the shop at No. 1 Glasgow Street, pre- sently occupied by Mr M‘Courtie. Mr Clark held office for only a brief period, and was succeeded by Mr John Bell. In 1853 the office was at the shop in Galloway Street now occupied by Mr Beattie, grocer. Mr Bell was succeeded by Mr John Davidson in May, 1855, and the office was then transferred to the shop now eccupied by Mr Kirk, tobacconist, at 45 Galloway Street. On his death in February, 1878, Mr Davidson was succeeded in office by a relative (probably his son), Mr John Davidson, in April, 1878. The second Mr Davidson was in turn succeeded by Mr John Moodie in December, 1884, and the latter again removed the office to the shop No. 32, further up the same street, pre- sently occupied by Mr Tait, cycle agent. On Mr Moodie’s resignation in July, 1886, the control of the office again passed, in August of the same year, to a member of the Davidson family, viz., Mr James Davidson. ‘Thereafter the office was located in the premises presently occupied by the Misses Aitken, confec- tioners, at 42 Galloway Street. On the Head Office being established in Buccleuch Street _ the Maxwelltown Receiving Office was abolished, and Mr James Davidson was appointed to take charge of a new “ Receiving Office” located in the shop No. 63 English Street, Dumfries. Mr Davidson was succeeded by Mrs E. Johnston in May, 1890, and she removed the office to her place of business at No. 9 English Street. On Mrs Johnston’s retiral in June, 1906, she was succeeded as sub-postmistress by Miss Jeanie T. Fergusson, the present holder. Miss Fergusson removed the office, now known as English Street T.S.O. (i.e., Town Sub Office), to the building previously occupied as the Head Office, at 10 Queen Street. At the present time the office transacts the usual postal duties, including Money Order, Savings Bank, Annuity and Insurance Business. It is also a collecting office for telegrams, a telephone installed in May, 1907, being utilised for trans- mitting the messages to the Head Office. The hours of business are8a.m.to8p.m. There is no Sunday attendance. The St. Michael Street Receiving Office was established in November, 1889, and Mrs Margaret Gibson was appointed Sub- postmistress. The office was located in the shop now occupied 92 Tue Dumrries Post OFFice, 1642-1910. by Mrs Kerr at 1 Lindsay Place. On Mrs Gibson’s death in August, 1896, the appointment was given to her daughter, Miss Sarah H. Gibson (afterwards Mrs Thoms) in October, 1896, Mrs Thoms resigned the position in July, 1898, and was suc- ceeded immediately afterwards by Mrs MacWhinnie, the present holder. Mrs MacWhinnie removed the office to her business premises at 16 St. Michael Street. At the present time the office transacts Money Order, Savings Bank, Annuity and Insurance business, in addition to the usual counter duties; but there is no telegraph work. The hours of business are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on week days, and there is no attendance on Sundays. ‘The office is now known as “ The St. Michael Street T.S.O.’’ (Town Sub Office). The Milldamhead T.S.O. was established in July, 1898, and the appointment of Sub-postmaster was given to Mr Samuel Fergusson, who conducted the business in the shop now occupied by Mrs Chesser, at the corner of Maxwell Street, Dumfries. Mr Fergusson resigned in September, 1901, and for a time the office was discontinued. In March, 1902, however, it was re-established at No. 3 Kirkowens Street, and Mrs Jane Jackson Dalziel was appointed to the office of Sub-Postmistress. Mrs Dalziel resigned in November, 1906, and was succeeded by Mr J. D. Little, the present Sub-Postmaster, who carries on the business at the same address. This office also transacts full duties in regard to Money Order, Savings Bank, Annuity and Insurance business, with the exception of telegraph work. There is no Sunday duty. The hours of business on week days were originally 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but on December 6th, 1909, these were altered to 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., and on the 2nd May, 1910, authority was given for closing the office at 2 p.m. on Thursdays of each we>k. Laurieknowe (Maxwelltown) T.S.O. was first opened for business on the 4th of January, 1909. Mr John W. Trotter was appointed Sub-Postmaster, and the office was located in his business premises at 64 Laurieknowe, Maxwelltown. The office transacts the usual counter duties, including Money Order, Savings Bank, Annuity and Insurance business, but has no tele- graph work. The office is not open on Sundays. The hours of attendance on week days were originally 8 a.m. to 8 p.m but Tue Dumrries Post OFFICE, 1642-1910. 93 these were altered to 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. on and from Ist November, 1909. Troqueer Road (Maxwelltown) T.S.O. was also opened on the 4th January, 1909; the office being established in the shop at 10 Troqueer Road, and Miss Brown being appointed Sub- Postmistress. No Money Order, Savings Bank, Annuity, or Insurance business, or telegraph work, is, as yet, transacted at this office, but Postal Orders are issued on a limited scale. There is no Sunday attendance. Originally open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the hours of duty were changed on Ist November, 1909, to 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. On the introduction of the label system for registered letters, packets, parcels, etc., numbers were allocated to these sub-offices as follows:—English Street T.S.O., Dumfries, 1; St Michael Street T.S.O., Dumfries, 2; Milldamhead T.S.O., Dumfries, 3 ; Laurieknowe, Maxwelltown, T.S.O., Dumfries, 4; and Troqueer Road, Maxwelltown, T.S.O., Dumfries, 5. In addition to these Town Receiving Offices and Sub-Offices, Dumfries had under its control a large number of Rural Receiving Offices and Sub-Offices. Very few of these, however, were in existence prior to the introduction of uniform penny postage. There can be little doubt that the developments in the establish- ment of these Rural Sub-Offices were largely the outcome of this far-reaching reform. The more important sub-offices were established at Auldgirth Bridge, Closeburn,*® Colvend,** Crocketford (previously a penny post office under Dumfries), Dalbeattie (constituted a Head Office on Ist February, 1869), Duncow, Dunscore (previously a penny post office under Dumfries), Haugh of Urr,‘* Isle Toll,*° Kirk- bean, Kirkgunzeon, Kirkmahoe, Kirkpatrick-Durham,*4 Mous- wald,** Newabbey (previously a penny post office under Dum- fries), Old Bridge of Urr,*4 Palnackie,“4 Parkgate (previously a penny post office under Moffat), Preston, Shawhead, Spring- holm,“ Southwick, and Torthorwald‘*® 43. Now under control of Thornhill Office. 44. Transferred to Dalbeattie, lst Feb., 1869. 45. Now non-existant. 46. Transterred from Lockerbie on and from Ist January, 1877. A runner from the Dumfries Office previously undertook the delivery to the Roucan. 94 Tue Dumrrigs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. VI.—POSTMARKS OF THE DUMFRIES POST OFFICE. In the year 1660 the system of postmarking was invented and first used by Henry Bisshopp, Esq., His Majesty’s farmer of the office of Postmaster-General, but it was not until about the year 1714 that the provincial or country Postmasters, then called “ deputies,” adopted this method of stamping or marking all the letters posted at or delivered from their respective offices. Hitherto the letters had been entered on what was termed “a labell” or waybill giving the time of arrival and despatch of the mails, and also the number of letters paid and unpaid. Poft opie Lm 2 Ili I 789 Bye Letters to oS oes — Unpaid , 79 at L. shryo Paid 72 that mee DUMFRIES AND SANQUHAR WAYBILL, 12th suny, 1789. In the year 1715 instructions were issued that each Post Town should use a stamp “so that a check may be kept on letters passing from one stage to another.” The instructions would appear to have been rigorously carried into effect, for one of the earliest orders issued to Post Office Surveyors or “ Agents to ryde ye severall rodes and find out abuses,” as they were then designated, was “to examine whether all letters are duly stamped.” The advantages of such a system can readily be understood. For a long time no important change is noticeable in the charac- ter of the stamps, but as the demands made upon the service increased defects became apparent and numerous improvements have from time to time been brought into operation. Thus it is of interest to notice that still more stringent regula- Tue Dumrries Post OFFICE, 1642-1910. 95 tions were laid down as to the work of stamping. Under date the 28th December, 1807, a “ Special Instruction” was issued to the various offices in the following terms:—“ Stamp all letters with wooden stamp, using common writing ink. On no account what- ever apply the smoke of candles for the purpose.”’ There can be little doubt, we think, that Dumfries, in common with other provincial offices, would use a stamp in 1715. The late J. G. Hendy states’? that the earliest Scottish postmark which had come under his notice was taken from a letter of 1774. _ It may therefore be of interest to record that we have secured markings from the Dumfries Office of dates 14th June, 1761, and 25th March, 1765; from the Annan Office of dates November 27th, 1738, and August 27th, 1744; and from the Moffat Office for the 28th December, 1761. Fig. 1 shows the Dumfries postmark for the 14th June, 1761. It possesses the peculiarity of having the letters M and F joined together so as to form what is called a ligature or nexus. This mark remained in use until about the year 1763 or 1764, when it seems to have been superseded by a larger mark (Fig. 2). The latter evidently continued to be used at the Dumfries Office for a considerable period. We find a similar postmark on a letter from the Poet Burns to his brother William, dated from Ellisland the 10th November, 1789, which is preserved in the Burns Museum of Mr John Thomson, Hole i’ the Wa’ Inn, Dumfries. In the year 1808 the marking of mileage (i.e., the distance from London) was authorised, but it is certain that the rule was not applied generally. Figs. 3 and 4 represent the Dumfries marks showing mileage in use from 1814 to 1820. J. G. Hendy says :—“ The Scotch stamps bearing mileage also bore the initial letters B, C, D, E, & G. These indicated the route by which the letters circulated, i.e., Berwick, Carlisle, Dumfries, Edin- burgh, and Glasgow. It appears, however, that there were ex- ceptions, thus we find Dumfries bearing route letter “G” and a different mileage (Fig. 4).4” In 1821 the character of the Dumfries postmark is somewhat different. The frame, as shown in the markings of 1814-20, has disappeared, while details as to the date of posting and hour of 47. History of the Early Postmarks of the British Isles, p. 127. 47*. History of the Early Postmarks of the British Isles, pp. 137-8. 96 Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. arrival have been added. Thus the specimen shown in Fig. 5 taken from a letter posted at the Castle Street P.P.O.*8 Edin- burgh, on the 13th July, 1821, tells us that the letter reached Dumfries on the morning (M.) of the 14th July, 1821. In this case also the mileage differs from that given on the earlier postmarks. Another marking of a similar character (Fig. 6), in use during the years 1825 and 1826, has no index letter to indicate the time of arrival at the Dumfries office. In 1830 the mileage and route marks gradually disappeared and a new mark (Fig. 7) was brought into use. Some specimens of this postmark bear an index letter “N.” Others again (Fig. 8) have no index letter. In 1834 the first circular stamp of type shown in Fig. 9 was introduced. In 1838 a question arose as to the supply of a more uniform type of stamps for use in Scottish post offices. “ Previous to this date,” says Hendy, “ postmasters in many instances supplied their own stamps. It was now decided that these officials should be supplied from London with steel instead of brass stamps.” Postmarks as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 then came into use at the Dumfries Office. In addition to these marks several others were in use at this period for special purposes. Thus Figs. 12 and 13 represent the marks endorsed on correspondence delivered through the medium of the local penny post, i.e., to Crocket- ford, Dunscore, Maxwelltown, or Newabbey, at the additional cost of ld. Again Fig. 14, taken from a letter of date 22nd September, 1837, shows the marking in use to denote that the postage was prepaid. Another type of the “ paid stamp,” intro- duced at a later date, is shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 16 represents the mark used to denote that the letter had been missent and was therefore exempt from a second postage. In the year 1813 an Act of Parliament was passed repealing, as far as Scotland was concerned, exemption from toll in the case of mail coaches with more than two wheels. The same Act, in order to indemnify the Post Office for the loss it would sustain, imposed an additional postage of 4d upon every letter conveyed by mail coach in Scotland. Figs. 17 to 21 represent “ additional halfpenny ” marks used at different dates in the Edinburgh Office 48. Penny Post Office. i | | os Spee tee ee edt oe Tue DumrrieEs Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 97 for marking correspondence conveyed by the Edinburgh to Dum- fries Mail Coach. On the 6th of May, 1840, the 1d adhesive postage label which had to be cut with scissors from a sheet or strip of the same and the artistically drawn cover of Mulready also came into use, and their introduction was immediately followed by the first obliterating stamp (Fig. 22). The earlier impressions of this mark were made in red ink, but this was changed to black on account of the ease with which the red could be removed from the stamps. These stamps were cut in wood, and cost Is each. “From want of a distinguishing mark,’’ says Hendy in his History, “it was found impossible to indicate the office where letters defaced by them were posted, so that in February, 1841, instructions were issued to all postmasters to date-stamp their letters with the office where posted. in front, and with the office of delivery on the back.” The State though making no charge for the transmission of newspapers by post had, since 1711, levied a Stamp Duty upon them. Fig. 23 represents the Government stamp of the “ Dum- fries Courier” for transmission through the post, while Fig. 24 shows a similar stamp for the “ Dumfries Weekly Journal.” The paper had to be so folded that the Government stamp was seen, otherwise it was marked with the stamp shown in Fig. 25 and sur- charged. Fig. 26 tells that the newspaper had been examined at the Dumfries office with a view to surcharge if it contained any unauthorised enclosure. On the introduction of uniform penny postage in 1840 another mark (Fig. 27) was adopted, and con- tinued in use until about the year 1848, when a further change was made to the type shown in Fig. 28. In 1850 another change appears to have been made to the type shown in Fig. 29. Specimens of this mark show that it remained in general use throughout at least the years 1850 and 1851. ; In the following year (1852) the first circular Dumfries stamp with an outer frame all round is met with (Fig. 30). We think it probable that this would be an experimental stamp, as it does not appear to have been kept in use for any length of time. Only a single specimen has come under our notice. In the year 1853 another stamp (Fig. 31) was introduced. In this instance an index letter has been added. We know from other specimens of this marking which have come under our notice 98 Tue DumrrigEs Post Office, 1642-1910. that it was still in use until the beginning of the year 1857. In that year two new marks (Figs. 32 and 33) are met with. From the position of the marks we ascertain that they were designed for distinctive purposes. Thus Fig. 32 was used for endorsing inward correspondence, while Fig. 33 was for obliterating the stamps and endorsing the covers of outward correspondence. The reason for the use of a double stamp was that while one impression fell on the label the other would appear on the letter, and, as each number was allocated to one particular office, it thus formed a sufficient check on Postmasters and clerks against substituting an obliterated for an unobliterated stamp. Fig. 33 has the further peculiarity of having the index letter in the under portion of the stamp. Another type of the double stamp (Fig. 34) appears to have been in use in 1858, while a slightly different mark of the same class (Fig. 35) seems to have been introduced a few years later. Fig. 36 shows yet another type with thick parallel lines. Other changes were made in regard to the marks for inward correspondence and the markings (Figs. 37, 38, 39, and 41) were afterwards brought into general use. Fig. 40 shows the small mark (Fig. 41) in use also on a com- bined stamp. We are indebted to the late J. G. Hendy for particulars in regard to the treatment of defaced stamps. He says, “ All letters bearing stamps which appeared to have been previously used were to be charged with double rates of postage, as in the case of unpaid letters, and to be marked ‘ Old Stamp.’” The suspected stamps, whether appearing to have been previously obliterated or defaced, or otherwise imperfect, were not to be again obliter- ated, but carefully marked across, thus, X with pen and ordinary ink, so that the mark should not be an obstacle to any subsequent inquiry. Prior to the abolition of the Maxwelltown Receiving Office in 1889 two markings (Figs. 42 and 43) were in use at different periods at that office. The latter marking (Fig. 43) is of interest as showing an error in the spelling of the name and on account of the use of the term R.O. for Receiving Office. Of the subsequent changes we do not purpose to speak further than to mention that the double or combined date and obliterator stamps were afterwards withdrawn, and that clock time THE Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 99 was substituted for “Index letters” about the end of the year 1894. Here we conclude our references to the Dumfries postmarks. We leave the reader to form his own opinion as to the merits of the respective designs which are here illustrated. VII.—Rates or PostaceE, INcLupING “ THE FRANKING SYSTEM.” The term “ postage,’’ as applied to the charge made for the conveyance and delivery of articles passing through the post, is comparatively modern. “The Act of 1764,’’ says Joyce,*? “is the first so to use it. The term is indeed used in the Act of 1660, but there it signifies the hire of a horse for travelling, i.e., “Each horse’s hire or postage.” As we have already seen, the tariff for postage or “ portage ”’ introduced by Thomas Witherings at the establishment of a regular postal service with Scotland was as follows :— Single Letter. Double. If bigger, Under 80 miles __.., x fos a ete 4d 6d an oz. 80 miles and not Saeeine. 140 . en ee 8d 9d an oz. Above 140 miles .., AME ae Gan Wal 12d 12d an oz. To and from Scotland _... Sos Pha! saad After two ozs. 6d the oz. This was the introduction of such charges, but it is of interest to note the various changes and concessions which have from time to time been introduced. Although it was to the Act passed in 1657 that the Post Office owed its establishment on a sound basis, another Act passed in 1660, as being unimpeachable, has come to be regarded as its charter. The rates of postage prescribed by the earlier Act were, however, only slightly altered by the Act of 1660. As finally introduced, the charges were as follows:— Single Double Per Letter. Letter. “0z. 80 miles and under ... na An oe ena 4d 8d Above 80 miles a oe sti ee ped 6d 12d To and from Berwick ee A Se Jat) “aks 6d 18d From Berwick within arctan.” 40 miles and under ... = Ne ee 20 4d 8d Above 40 miles be = He ee Md 8d 12d 49 Footnote Joyce’s ‘‘ History of the P.O.,”’ p. 29. 100 THE DumFrRIEs Post OFFice, 1642-1910. These charges were, in turn, superseded after the Union of 1707 by the following tariff from the Post Office Act of 1711:— From London. Single. Double. Ounce. 80 miles and under ... et Le Riel OL 6a 12d Above 80 miles ote Bs a aed «4d. 8d 16d To Edinburgh... ns ae rat OGL 12d 24d From Edinburgh within Boatland: 50 miles and under ... Ae 2d 4d 8d Above 50 miles and not exceeding ‘80 miles 3d 6d 12d Above 80 miles ee ae ie ie 4d 8d 16d By the same Act rates for correspondence passing between Dumfries and Edinburgh were prescribed as follows :— “ And for the Port of every Single Letter, or Piece of Paper, from the said General Post Office in Zondon unto the City of Edinburgh, in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, or from thence to the said General Post Office in the City of London, and to and from Dumfries, or Cockburnspath, and between either of those Places and the said City of Edinburgh, not coming from, or directed on Board any Ship, Six Pence; and for the like Port of every Double Letter, Twelve Pence ; and so proportionally unto the said Rates, for the Port of every Packet of Letters.” In the earliest years of postal administration it appears to have been a common practice for public bodies, such as the Town Council, to make only periodical payments for postages, etc. It may not therefore be out of place to quote here the following extracts from the Dumfries Burgh Treasurer’s Accounts :— hb, ss ems 1708-09.—Feb. 24. Itt payed to Jo. Johnston for Eleven two peny leters and five four peny leters upon ye towns accoumpt bie 02 02 00 July 4. Itt payed for postage of letters for ye town from ye first of Aprile to the 4th July instant... 03 14 00 Decr. 20, 1710. For two post letters from Bar — 4 — Febry. 16, 1711. To Torrery for postage of two letters from John Sibbald about ye toun’s affairs... ae =f ane ae a Septr. 8 (1711). To John Johnstone Postmaster for postage of Letters to and from ye Magis- trats about ye Touns affairs from 1 Decr. to 22 August last- ... Pe ae aS. 3 3 2 oe Tue Dumrries Post OFFice, 1642-1910. 101 D+) .5,S¢:" Oak July 7, 1712.—For postage of a letter from Edr to ye Magrats ... O16: 00 Sept. 15, 1712.—To John Tohnston postiiaste: fot postage of Letters and Gazetts to the Town p. the Councels precept at ye end of ye [partiar] accot and his Receipt .. iol S00 Feb. 23, 1728.-—Postage of 9 eee ae hive pool about the bell mettal .... . — — 8 Apr. 14, 1728.—Postage of a Letter ae Edr.. — — 2 May 4, 1728.—Postage of a Letter from Edr. wt the Act & Commission in John Irving’s affair —- — 6 For postage of a Letter from Prov. Irving at London — — 6 12 Aprile, 1742. = RG) posta pie a mDoible ene: to the provost from Glasgow anent the Linen Gianit: 4... ies aa ny he . — — 8 Such entries are of frequent occurrence, and many of them are of more than passing interest. In the year 1764 a concession in the rates of postage for distances not exceeding two post stages was granted, to take effect from and after 10th October, 1765; but the tariff for the longer distances remained unchanged. By the same Act (Section vii.) the Rates of Postage between England and Ireland through Carlisle, Dumfries, Port Patrick, and Donaghadee were arranged as follows :— “And whereas, for the more ready and extensive Convey- ance of Letters and Packets between that Part of Great Britain called England and Ireland, and for the Conveniency of Trade and Commerce between the said Kingdoms, it may be convenient and expedient to improve the Communication for the Convey- ance of such Letters and Packets by the Post through Carlisle, Dumfries, and Port Patrick, or some other convenient Port in Scotland; and through Donaghadee, or some other convenient Port in Zredand ; be it further declared and enacted by the Autho- tity aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Postmaster General, and his Deputy or Deputies by him thereunto sufficiently authorized, to demand, have, receive, and take, for the Port and Conveyance of all Letters and Packets 102 Tue Dumrriges Post OFFice, 1642-1910. passing and repassing by the Post between England and Ireland, through Carlisle, Dumfries, Port Patrick, and Donaghadee, or other convenient Ports in Scotland and Ireland, the same Rates or Sums for English Postage, according to the Number of Miles or Stages such Letters and Packets are carried by the Post in England, as also the same Rates or Sums for Scotch Postage, according to the Number of Miles or Stages such Letters and Packets are carried by the Post in Scotland ; and, moreover, the same Rates or Sums for Packet Postage between Port Patrick and Donaghadee, or other convenient Ports in Scotland and Ireland, as likewise the same Rates or Sums for /rish Postage, according to the Number of Miles or Stages such Letters are carried by the Post in Zreland, as are respectively settled, estab- lished, and ascertained, by the said Act, made in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Her said late Majesty Queen Ame, or by this present Act.’’ On the introduction of the mail coach in 1784 an increase became necessary, and new charges were imposed as follows :— Distance. Single. Double. Treble. Ounce Not exceeding one post stage wee rete 4d 6d 8d Above one but not two post stages en ou 6d 9d 1/- Above two stages but not exceeding 80 miles... Bee sa ore Ee con, 401 8d 1/- 1/4 Above 80 miles but not exceeding 150 miles 5d 10d 1/3 1/8 Above 150 miles te a a saa VO 1/- 1/6 2/- To or from Edinburgh and London sae gh 1/2 1/9 2/4 The extract from the Act (24 George III., C. 37, a.p. 1784) in regard to the increase of one penny on single letters passing to and from Dumfries and Edinburgh is as follows :— “And for the Port or Conveyance of every Single Letter conveyed or carried by the Post from the General Post Office in the City of Zondon unto the City of Edinburgh, in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, or from thence to the said General Post Office in the said City of Zondon, and to and from Dumfries and Cockburnspath, and between either of those Places and the said City of Edinburgh, the Sum of One Penny; For every Double Letter, Two Pence; For every Treble Letter, Three Pence ; And for every Ounce in Weight, Four Pence; and so in Proportion for every Packet of Writs, Deeds, or other Things.’’ A further increase was made in 1797, the rates within Scot- Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 103. land, i.e., “ to any town or district in Scotland from Edinburgh,”’ being again raised 1d for a single letter, 2d for a double, and so on. Nor was this the limit of such charges. Thus while in 1797 the charge for a single letter from Dumfries to Edinburgh was 5d, in 1802 the charge was raised to 6d. In 1803 the tariff was reduced, but in 1808 it was again increased, this time to 7d, and a further increase of 1d was imposed in 1813. The latter increase would appear to have met with consider- able opposition from the members of Dumfries Town Council. Under date Monday 22nd March, 1813, it is recorded in the Council Minutes—“ Which day Provost Staig laid before the Council a letter from Mr Douglas, the representative in Parlia- ment for this district of Burghs, dated the twelfth of March Current,covering a Printed Minute respecting the local hardship imposed on the Trustees of the High roads in Scotland by the exemption from Toll enjoyed by Mail Coaches, and suggesting that such exemption might be given up, taken an increase of 1d or 14d per letter of postage on all Letters passing in Scotland as a compensation for an expense which would thereby be occasioned to the revenue, and the Council, having reasoned upon and con- sidered the proposal contained in the said Minute, they are unani- mously of opinion that such increase of postage is not a fair prin- ciple of compensation and ought to be resisted, they therefore desire the Provost to instruct Mr Douglas to give his decided opposition to the measure.” Again, under dates 25th and 31st May, 1830, it is recorded _ that—“ Dr Symons brought before the Council a tax levied by the Post Office of a halfpenny at delivery of letters, and he read a return of the Burghs in Scotland that paid and the Burghs which are exempted. After consideration the Council determine this to be a grievous burden to the public and request the Provost with- - out delay to make the proper application to the Postmaster- _ General for redress.” We have been unable to ascertain the result of this applica- tion. An interesting reference to the repeal of the additional charge on letters conveyed by the Side Posts has, however, come under our notice :—“ Postage on Letters at Side Posts—A con- siderable portion of our readers will be as glad to learn as we are ourselves, that this obnoxious and anomalous duty will be 104 THE Dumrries Post OrrFicr, 1642-1910, repealed in the course of a few weeks. That the penny stamp which franks a newspaper from London to Dumfries and from Dumfries to Stranraer, should not afford the same protection at the Nine Mile Toll-bar, on the same line of road, is indeed an absurdity. It may be true that small side posts hardly pay ex- penses ; but they are a part of the general system—conduits which feed those larger cisterns of correspondence which contribute rather handsomely to the revenue of the country.”4™* In consequence of these high rates of postage the advantages of the postal service to the community in general were greatly restricted, and, as was to be expected, illicit means of com- munication was adopted in order to evade the payment of postage altogether. Thus one correspondent writing to a friend says :— “T send this by the blind carrier, so that it may be some time upon the journey.” In a later communication the same correspondent writes in regard to the foregoing :—‘* This anticipation proved but too true, as my learned correspondent did not receive my letter until a twelvemonth after it was written. I mention this circum- stance that a gentleman attached to the cause of learning who now holds the principal control of the Post Office may consider whether by some mitigation of the present enormous rates some favour might not be shown to the correspondents of the principal Literary and Antiquarian Societies. I understand, indeed, that this experiment was once tried, but that the mail coach having broke down under the weight of packages addressed to members of the Society of Antiquaries it was relinquished as a hazardous experiment.” This, however, was by no means the only evil from which the Post Office of that period suffered. The system of “ franking,” with its attendant abuses, is too well-known to call for special mention here. Originally designed to enable members of. Parlia- ment to keep in closer touch with their constituents, the system rapidly developed into an illicit means of communication, and it is recorded that in 1838 the number of franks which actually passed through the Post Office was estimated at about seven millions. Some idea of the loss thus occasioned may be gathered from the following interesting reference :—“I had a great postage to pay, my letter being weighty by the papers that were inclosed ; and by 49*. ‘Dumfries and Galloway Courier,’ Wednesday, March 29th, 1837. DUPMFRIES Fic. J. DUMFRIES Fig. 2. DUMFRIES IDUMERIES ‘[341-—D 344-—G | | Fig.d. Fia.4. i POUMERIES LA JUL 1821. M340- B= | Fic. 3d. DUMFRIES DUMFRIES 340—D M Fie 6, Fic. 7. DUMFRIES POSTMARKS. DUMFRIES aF Rp yn 26 APR 1837 ~ 1835 Fia. 8. Fic.9. i | (OUMFRIES |OUMFRIES \2S AU JY 16 | 1839 1640 Fig. 10. DUMFRIES ‘°*' PENNY POST Fig. 52. PUMFRIES. PENNY POST Fic. (3. DUMFRIES PAID DE 9 1846 Fia.Jg. DUMFRIES POSTMARKS, MISSENT TO DUMFRIES aa de we Add} Fic.19 | oe ¥ " | pf ¢ Fic-ai e | des = A 6b O0% Q | aa | (24551 Fin. 24 STAMP ACT VISIBLE Fic 2s. DUMFRIES POSTMARKS., DUMFRIES| AF Ry DE 30 @QNRI Sy 1840 Nee ~~ eS Fig. 335. SN I —— Fig. 35. DUMFRIES POSTMARKES. FR, : | A a 2) 108 Byu 17% a> — \1860 / Fic. 36 r 37 1G. . He ONO 14% 66 Fic 39, MAXWELLTOWN) Fic 42. DUMFRIES POSTMARKS. Tue Dumrriges Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 105 some omission my letter not being franked, I had 8s 9d to pay to Mr John M‘Nish, Postmaster of Dalbeattie, and then I had paid for letters one pound, from England, Ireland, and other places.”5° It will thus be acknowledged that the time was ripe for sweeping reform. It was not, however, until Rowland Hill had placed his scheme of Penny Postage before the public and gained their confidence and support that he was enabled, in spite of unflinching opposition on the part of the Government officials, to secure the adoption of his measure. At a meeting of Dumfries Town Council held on 2nd Novem- ber, 1837, a letter from Mr Wallace of Kelly accompanying a resolution of the Chamber of Commerce of Edinburgh as to adopting the plan proposed by Mr Rowland Hill for a uniform rate of postage was submitted. The Council agreed to petition both Houses of Parliament in favour of the measure. In this connection it is interesting to find that in 1827, that is ten years prior to the date on which Rowland Hill pub- lished his famous pamphlet advocating penny postage, the Town Council of Dumfries would seem to have had under consideration proposals of a similar character. Thus we read in a minute dated 1st April, 1839:—“ The Provost laid on the Table a Copy of the Newspaper Called Post Circular®* Containing a form of a petition praying for an equal rate of postage not exceeding one penny, and as he observed that the Council had petitioned on the same subject so far back as Nov., 1827, he would propose that another Petition be presented.” Unfortunately, on referring to the records for 1827, we find them incomplete, and no corrobora- tion is therefore forthcoming of this statement, which, it is obvious, has a most important bearing upon the history of penny postage. On the 10th of January, 1840, the uniform rate of One Penny for letters not exceeding half-an-ounce in weight was offi- cially introduced, and we can safely say that this marked a new era not only in the history of the postal service, but in the Annals of our national prosperity. That further concessions have from 50. ‘* The Gallovidian ’’ Summer number, 1906, p. 90. 50*. The ‘‘ Post Circular ’’ was a paper set up temporarily by the **Mercantile Committee’’ to advocate the reform. It was ably edited by Mr Cole, and had a wide circulation. 106 THe Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. time to time been introduced goes without saying, but these, it may be claimed, are just the outcome of the unqualified success of Penny Postage. In closing these references to the postages it is perhaps fitting that we should add a few particulars in regard to the Parcel Post, which although a comparatively modern institution, has developed into one of the largest and most important branches of our postal service. On the introduction of the service, in November, 1883, rates of postage were prescribed as follows :— S.2Ds Not exceeding 1 lb. in weight .. 3, ORTS Exceeding 1 lb. and not exceeding 3 Ibs. wa OA a bs. nn 8 5 lbs. agi LORY) 5 lbs. _ : lbs. 0 ” 1 No parcel can be sent exceeding 7 lbs. in weight. On the Ist May, 1886, the conditions of the Inland Parcel Post were altered. The maximum weight was increased to 11 lb., and the scale of postage was fixed as follows :— Ss. D. Not exceeding 1 lb.. i 0 3 Exceeding | lb. but not exceeding 2 Ibs. O 44 - 2 Ibs. o 5 3 lbs. 0 6 ‘ 3 lbs. bi 33 4 lbs. 0 8 Bs 4 lbs. 6 i 5 lbs. 0 9 A 5 lbs. Ms 35 6 lbs. 0 104 33 6 lbs. ie a5 7 lbs. 0 - 7 lbs. EA 5 8 lbs. 1 14 aA 8 lbs. *¢ An 9 lbs. IDS 9 lbs. as x 10 lbs. 1 44 - 10 lbs. 5 i 11 Ibs. ib At the Diamond Jubilee of the late Queen Victoria a further concession in the rates of postage was announced, and the follow- ing tariff then came into operation :— Ss. Di Not exceeding 1 lb.. re 0 3 Exceeding 1 lb. but not exceeding 2 2 Ibs. 0 4 ‘5 bs, 3 3 lbs. 0 5 x 3 lbs. BY 3 4 lbs. 0 6 5 4 lbs. 4 i & lbs. Oni ne 5 lbs. ne 59 6 lbs. 0 8 ie 6 lbs. a as 7 lbs. 0.9 ae 7 lbs. Pe a 8 lbs. 0 10 & 8 lbs. x or 9 lbs. 011 i 9 lbs. > 55 11 lbs. 1 0 These charges were in turn superseded by a further reduced tariff on 2nd July, 1906, when the present low and popular rates came into force. Tue Dumrries Post OFFICE, 1642-1910. 107 Viti TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE. Perhaps it was only to be expected that a department which had served the community so faithfully in the conveyance and delivery of letters and parcels should be called upon to undertake the transmission of messages by means of the electric telegraph and telephone, but like other great reforms of which we have already spoken the change only came in response to continued public agitation. An Act empowering the Postmaster-General to purchase existing electric telegraphs was passed on the 3rd July, 1868, and in the year 1870 the transfer was completed. Dumfries has had the advantage of the Telegraph since 1854, but at that time the business Was in the hands of private companies. “The first Dumfries Telegraph Office,” we believe, “was located at the unpretentious wooden structure which served as the original railway station, and which adjoined the Annan Road, on its north side. Mr William Wright was in charge of it: but owing to the high rates charged for messages his work consisted chiefly of signalling the departure of trains to stations north and south of Dumfries. Quite a number of stations were on the one wire, viz. : Carlisle, Annan, Dumfries, Thornhill, Sanquhar, the Cumnocks, Auchinleck, Hurlford, Mauchline, Kilmarnock, and Glasgow, and many a quarrel occurred as to who should get their message off first. A considerable reduction was made in the charges after the erection of the new station, and correspondingly greater advan- tage was taken of the telegraph by the general public, with the result that a second clerk was appointed. Then rival companies appeared in the field. The Electric opened an office in Bank Street. Thereupon the British and Irish Magnetic Company, which had its office at the railway station, opened another in High Street, in premises Opposite to Assembly Street, ”51 On the actual transfer of the telegraph lines to Government Control on 28th January, 1870, the business was consolidated in the Post Office in Queen Street, and an allowance of £10 a year Was granted to the Postmaster to provide the necessary accommo- dation for the work. : 51. “ Dumfries and Galloway Standard,” Oct. 27th, 1906 108 Tue Dumrries Post OrFice, 1642-1910. At that time the tariff imposed by the Post Office was 1s for twenty words, with threepence extra for every additional five words or fraction thereof, the names and addresses of both senders and addressees not being included. This payment covered delivery within a mile of any telegraph office or within the town postal delivery of any head office: outside those limits a charge was made of 6d per double mile for porterage. The charge for press telegrams was fixed at a much lower rate, being 1s for 100 words at night and for 75 words in the daytime, with an additional charge of 2d per 100 or 75 words for the transmis- sion of the message to every additional address, wherever situated. A sixpenny rate was indeed spoken of, but the authorities decided that it was too soon for so low a tariff, and it was not until the 1st October, 1885, that the present rate of 6d for twelve words or fraction thereof, with a halfpenny extra for each addi- tional word beyond twelve, was introduced, the free transmission of addresses being abolished. Porterage at the rate of 6d per mile was charged on all messages addressed to places beyond a mile radius from the office of delivery, but at the Diamond Jubilee in 1897 a large concession was granted and delivery free of charge undertaken to all places within a three-mile radius, and the porterage charges for the longer distances reduced to 3d per mile, reckoned from the office of delivery. These porterage charges were still further reduced on Ist January, 1906, the fee of 3d per mile being then reckoned from the boundary of the free delivery area, instead of from the office door. As regards technical improvements, the recently published “Historical Summary of the Post Office” says:—“ The most striking is perhaps the increase in the working capacity of the wires effected since the transfer. In 1870 each wire afforded only a single channel for communication. By the introduction of duplex working in 1871 it was rendered possible to use a wire for the simultaneous transmission of two messages ; quadruplex work- ing (introduced in 1878) raised the number of simultaneous trans- missions to four; and multiplex working (introduced in 1885) to six. Great advance has also been made in the speed of the Wheatstone automatic apparatus. In 1870 a speed of from 60 to 80 words per minute was the highest which could be attained, whereas at the present time a speed of 600 words per minute is possible, and a working speed of 400 words is the fixed standard pod 7 are PE | i 7 ae abet *Pe~ oo, yw; 2 i Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 109 for certain circuits. The duplex system has also been success- fully applied to the automatic apparatus.” The Dumfries Office is well-equipped with convenient apparatus for undertaking the usual telegraph work, but on special occasions, as for example important political demonstra- tions, or on the occasion of the Highland and Agricultural Society's Show, additional apparatus and special working arrangements are rendered necessary. At the time of writing telegraphic communication is maintained between Dumfries and the offices named by means of the following apparatus :—To Glasgow by means of a “ Quad ;” to Carlisle, Polarised Sounder B; to Stranraer, Newton-Stewart, Castle-Douglas, and Dalbeattie by a Double Current; to Auldgirth and Thornhill by a Double Current ; to Annan by a Double Current ; to Dumfries Rail by a Double Plate Sounder ; and to Crichton Royal Institution (Private Wire), Southwick, Kirkbean, and Newabbey by A.B.C. Com- municators. In September, 1876, the Telephone was first introduced by Sir William Thompson, and numerous companies sprang into existence. Becoming alive to the possibilities of the new system, the Government, on 20th December, 1880, decided that the Tele- phone Companies were an infraction of the State’s Electric Tele- graph Monopoly bought by Act of 1869, and legal arrangements with the Companies were completed on 11th April, 1881, a license being granted to them by the Postmaster-General on pay- ment of an annual royalty. A few years later public dissatisfaction at the want of development of the telephonic system forced the subject upon the attention of the Government, and as a result an Act was passed on 28th June, 1892, authorising the purchase by the Govern- ment of the Trunk Lines of the Telephone Union. The transfer was commenced on 4th April, 1896, and completed on 6th Feb- tuary, 1897, the only Telephone Company left in existence being the National, whose business was restricted within defined local areas. Dumfries has had the advantage of the telephone since 1888. On the 31st of August of that year the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Telephone Exchange was opened by the National Telephone Company at 113 High Street, under the management of Mr R. Bryson. In September of the same year the service was extended . 110 Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. to Glencaple, and in the following year a line was opened between Dumfries and Annan. Call offices were established at Car- rutherstown and in Annan, and from these the general public could speak for three minutes on payment of a fee of 6d. Sub- scribers were entitled to communicate with parties within a radius of six miles without any extra charge being made, but a fee of 4d for three minutes was charged when they desired to converse with individuals outside this area.®? In the annual schedule of the National Telephone Company for the year 1889 it is stated that in the Dumfries centre there are three exchange offices, one each at Dumfries, Annan, and Carrutherstown ; 7 call offices, 72 exchange, and 5 private lines, making a total cf 77. In April, 1890, a trunk line was opened between Dumfries and Carlisle, and from that time the service has been steadily increasing. It was not, however, until the year 1896 that the Telephone was introduced as part of the equipment of the Dumfries Post Office. 1X.—Tue Dumrries Post OFFIcE oF To-Day. The Dumfries Post Office, as we know it to-day, was opened in 1889. Situated in Buccleuch Street, it shows a two-storey ele- vation with deep basement. Admission to the building is gained by two entrances. One of these is a private entrance for the staff and for the despatch and receipt of mails, while the other, approached by means of a flight of steps, admits to the public office, which measures nearly 30 feet in length. The counter accommodates six clerks, and runs the entire length of the office. The telegraph desks for the convenience of those who desire to send telegrams are placed under two spacious windows facing Buccleuch Street, and there is a call box on the public side of the counter for those who desire the use of tele- phonic communication. A pneumatic apparatus conveys the tele- grams from the counter to the instrument room on the second floor. To the right of the public office and communicating with it is the private office of the Postmaster. A commodious sorting office measuring 40 feet by 49 feet 6 inches adjoins. It is ade- 52. ‘“‘ Dumfries Standard,’’ May 11th, 1889. DR aa ae aS NMA Ni tered ae AER Seb Tue Dumrriés Post OFrFice, 1642-1910. 111 quately fitted with sorting tables, stamping tables, bag racks, newspaper and parcel sorting divisions, lockers, etc., with special apartments for the Superintendent and Registered Letter Clerks. This room is well lighted from the roof as well as by windows back and front. ‘Gas with inverted incandescent burners is in use at night. Ventilation has likewise been amply provided for. Leaving the sorting office by the side entrance we pass in turn the postmen’s retiring room, and the male clerks’ retiring room, both fitted with convenient cooking apparatus for the use of those employed on lengthy duties. The present male clerks’ retiring room was originally set apart for the telegraph engineer’s office, but in May, 1908, the engineer’s headquarters were removed to Hamilton, and a re-arrangement was rendered neces- sary. In the basement provision is made for the heating apparatus, coal cellars, lavatories, engineers’ store room, postal store room, and caretaker’s room. The battery room, to which the wires, which run underground from the railway station, are conducted direct, is likewise accommodated here. On the second floor there are two large retiring rooms, one for male and the other for female clerks, the telegraph operating room of the same size as the public office, and an adjoining apart- ment, fitted with double switch board, for telephone exchange duty. To the rear of the main building wooden erections extend for a considerable distance along the boundary wall and afford shelter to the official cycles, while provision for a similar purpose is avail- able for the mail barrows and parcel delivery vans. With the exception of a short interval on Sundays the Head Office in Buccleuch Street is always open for the despatch and receipt of mails. At the Station Parcel Depot important alterations have recently been made. In the autumn of 1910 a large addition was built and the depot fitted throughout with electric light. The depot now measures 78 feet in length by 20 feet in breadth and it is connected with the Head Office in Buccleuch Street by tele- phone. In this department the parcel mails to and from Dumfries are opened and despatched, while parcels posted at the Head Office, collected from the Town Sub-Offices, and received from the tural districts or from offices sending combined letter and parcel despatches, are transferred to the depot by means of hand-carts. aly Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. Two sorting carriages staffed from the Dumfries Office and fitted with apparatus for despatching and receiving mails while the train is in motion, travel daily both ways between Carlisle and Stranraer in order to expedite the delivery of correspondence io and from the Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtownshire, and North of Ireland Offices. Working arrangements are tabulated in the Directory of the Burgh compiled and issued biennially by a few of the senior officials of the Dumfries Post Office staff. (CONCLUSION. Our task is done. The past with its record of achievement lies behind us; the future with its great possibilities opens before us. That the Post Office will continue to grow can scarcely be doubted. Even as we prepare for the press the Postal Authori- ties have assumed the control of the Service of the National Telephone Co., and we hear of proposals for the erection of a new and larger Head Post Office in Dumfries. This is as it ought to be. We are confident that the movement will be wel- comed by all who reflect on the Burgh’s long and honourable connection with the work of His Majesty’s Post Office in Scotland. APPENDIX A.—THE POSTMASTERS OF DUMFRIES. Robert Glencorse. In office 1642. Robert Glencorse, merchant and innkeeper, was the first Postmaster of the Burgh, being appointed to that office in February, 1642. He appears to have been prominently identified with the public life of the town and his name is frequently mentioned in the Council Records. The following extracts from the Burgh Treasurer’s Accounts are especially worthy of notice :— 1641-2.—Item peyit to Robert Glencors quhen he was in Edg. at the parliment with proveist Irving... i+ LOTthe ea soh March 8th, 1651.—Itt payed to Rot Glencorse when he went to Edgr to seik a comishand ffor the wiches a» 08> 0G sau 1 febry, 1655.—Itt in Rot. Glencors spint wt the baillies and qmnr ..: = me ai BB Ss ... 00. TaaLng The latest entry concerning him that we have observed occurs under date 16th March, 1663. Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. 113 ~ William Fingass. In office 1676. William Fingass may, perhaps, have been the second Post- master of the Burgh, but we have been unable to ascertain the exact year of succession. He appears to have been an innkeeper in Dumfries and he is specially deserving of notice on account of his lengthy and prominent public services. He was Dean of the Burgh in 1675-6 and afterwards served as Baillie from 1676-1685. He was appointed Commissioner to the Convention of Burghs in Parliament 2nd April, 1685. From the Burgh Treasurer’s Accounts for 1683-4 we obtain the following references. — “Decemr 24, 1683.—Spent wt baillie ffingas, baillie Roome, & James Cuthbertson massin when they went to sight the Bridge OOS Onr eGo)” “Octobr 2, 1684.—It. spent with baillie ffingas, baillie Roome, Corheid & Baillie Coupe the tyme of the Circuit Court for Ale, Brandie, tobacco & pyps... ao gs) U2 O27 000% He died 5th May, 1686.5 Robert Johnston. In office 1695, demitted 1709. Robert Johnston, also a merchant and innkeeper in Dum- fries, may possibly have succeeded William Fingass in the office of Postmaster. Our earliest mention of him as holder of that office is obtained from Dumfries Kirk-Session Records under date April, 1695. He appears to have been admitted a Burgess on 6th July, 1691. He retained office until his death in 1709. John Johnston, 1709-1737. John Johnston, merchant, succeeded to the office of Post- master on the death of the above-mentioned Robert Johnston in 1709. He rendered valuable service to the community as a coun- cillor, and was elected a Bailie in the year 1724, Stentmaster on _ 14th September of the same year, and Representative to the Con- vention of Burghs on 31st June, 1733. He was Postmaster of _ the Burgh during the rebellion of 1715, and seems to have taken a prominent part in the preparations for repelling the Pretender and his forces. As Rae, the historian of the Rebellion, puts it :-— “Hereupon they [the Pretender’s forces] retired to Loch- 53. “‘ Memorials of St. Michael’s Churchyard,” p. 290. 114 Tue DumrriEes Post OFFicEe, 1642-1910. maben, where they lodged that Night with Mr Paterson, one of the Bailies of Drumfries, Mr Hunter, Chierurgian and Mr John- ston, Postmaster there, who had been sent out to reconnoitre them. They treated their Prisoners civilly enough, and dismist *em next Day, when the Town had set at Liberty three of their Friends, who had been incarcerate there, as suspected Jaco- bites.”>4 He retained office until his death in 1737. James Gilchrist, 1737. James Gilchrist, merchant, would seem to have succeeded John Johnston. We know at least that he was highly recom- mended for the appointment, and, although we have been unable to find any record of him as Postmaster, we have reason, as ex- plained elsewhere, to believe that his appointment to that office was duly confirmed. , Like his predecessor in office, he also rendered valuable public services, acting as Stentmaster in 1749 and again in 1757, as well as several terms as Bailie. He was admitted a burgess of the Burgh on 13th June, 1717. He died 22nd April, 1772, and was interred in St. Michael’s Churchyard, Dumfries. William Gordon. Demitted 1804. William Gordon, probably a writer in Dumfries, appears to have been the next Postmaster of the Burgh. Our only record of him as holder of that office is obtained in the year in which he retired, but from the circumstance of his nephew being a clerk in the post office in 1789 it seems probable that at that period William Gordon would be in charge of the local office. Robert Threshie, 1804-1836. Robert Threshie succeeded William Gordon in the office of Postmaster. He was a man of humble birth and circumstances, but it is said of him that being naturally plodding, aspiring, and of more than average ability, he achieved a high position, rising alike in opulence and social rank. From being a lawyer’s 54. Rae’s History of the Rebellion, p. 252. WILLIAM WEIR, 1889-1900. ROBERT THRESHIE. 1804-1836. WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Appointed 1910. DUMFRIES POSTMASTERS, CHARLES 8S, CHAPMAN, 1900-1910. 116 Tue Dumrries Post Orrice, 1642-1910. Charles S. Chapman, 1900-1910. Charles S. Chapman, the next holder of the office of Post- master, was a native of Dumfries, being born there in 1849. He began his official career in the service of the Magnetic Telegraph - Company at Newton-Stewart in 1865, and was subsequently clerk at New-Galloway, Castle-Douglas, and Kilmarnock. While at the latter town he was in 1870 transferred to the Post Office service, and after holding the position of senior telegraph clerk until 1883 he was promoted Chief Clerk and acted in that capacity until appointed Postmaster of Galashiels in 1889. In 1897 he was transferred to the Postmastership of Kendal, and three years later—in 1900—he came to Dumfries, his native town. He retired from the Service on the 3lst March, 1910. William Carmichael, appointed 31st May, 1910. William Carmichael, the present able and energetic Post- master, was appointed to succeed Mr Chapman on 31st May, 1910. Shortly after the transfer of the telegraphs to the State he entered the School of Telegraphy in Edinburgh, and after under- going the usual training was appointed telegraphist at the Jed- burgh office. He afterwards proceeded to Hawick, where, after twelve years’ service, he attained the position of Chief Clerk. In 1888 he was appointed Postmaster of Wishaw, and from thence he was transferred to Stranraer in 1897. In 1905 he was pro- moted to the Postmastership of Keighley, and on Ist July, 1910, he took up his duties at Dumfries. } APPENDIX B.—DuMmFRIES OFFICIALS WHO Occupy oR HAVE OccuPIED PROMINENT POSITIONS IN THE SERVICE. *Mr John Mint 3..05..) Postmaster and Surveyor of Manchester, PM race WV AUS OW ance oer eG satianew nersege ce nmeate ete Postmaster of Leeds. WEA See sn NATUMOT 4b sce coca chee cece eee we aaee Postmaster of Grimsby. a Nir poh = Matcbelll » o....2.n00n