4 Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway 



The Chairman drew attention to the duplicate copies of the 

 former Society's Transactions now in possession of this Society, 

 and moved — •" That complete sets (of six parts) be presented to 

 the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Mechanics' Institute, Kirkcud- 

 bright Public Library, Inverness Natural History Society, and 

 the Ayi'shire and "Wigtownshire Archeeological Society ; that the 

 two remaining sets be bound for the use of the Membex's ; and 

 that all the other duplicate copies be distiibuted to the Members 

 )?resent at next meeting, and to any other Members who may 

 apply for them." — The motion was seconded by the Rev. W. N. 

 Dodds, and agreed to. 



The Eev. W. LytteU, M.A., Kirkmahoe, gave a long address 

 on " Standing Stones," in the course of which he referred to the 

 local names in Scotch and Gaelic by which many of these rude, 

 upright pillars are designated. With regard to the testimony of 

 our forefathers, he alleged that they spoke of the ancient standing 

 stones as the work of the Peaghts or Picts, and as indicating the 

 graves of hei'oes and distinguished persons. Many of the names 

 of standing stones were in old Scotch, and the signification of 

 such names was generally intelligible. Other names were in the 

 Gaelic tongue, and by his study of that language he found that 

 these names usually spoke of the standing stones and circles of 

 rude pillar-stones as the burial places of heroes, warriors, and 

 distinguished persons. 



Mr J. Glover- Anderson read a paper on the " Provosts of 

 Lincluden," with special reference to the Provost whose coat-of- 

 arms was sculptured on the stone recently unearthed at Nithside. 



On the conclusion of Mr Glover-Anderson's paper, Mr Thomson 

 reminded the meeting that the gate aiul other protection at 

 Lincluden Abbey had been erected by Capt. Maxwell, as sug- 

 gested by the Society, and moved that the President be requested 

 to convey to Capt. Maxwell the thanks of the Society for so 

 kindly meeting its wishes. — The motion was seconded by Dr 

 Gilchrist, and unanimously agi-eed to. 



January 3rd, 1879. 



The Fourth Meeting of the Session was held in the Mechanics' 

 Institute — Mr J. Gibson Starke in the chair. 



Mr Henry Hutchison Lennox was elected an Ordinary Member. 



