Transactions. 65 



have seen was done by a weaver of the name of Copeland, 

 who lived in Newabbey. This displays not only nice cutting-, 

 but an amount of calculation that is not expected even at the 

 present time in his rank of life, provided the calculations were 

 made by himself, which I am assured was the case. He is 

 described in the language of one of the residents who knew him 

 as " an awful heady body," about as high praise for intellect as is 

 given. It stands now in front of Shambellie House. The 

 Gillieses, both the present engra^'er and his father, have had a 

 good deal to do with the various flat or table dials in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Dumfries, and some beautiful specimens of their skill 

 in this department are to be seen in various villas. The table dials 

 in this neighbourhood are all of a comparatively modern type, and 

 have no special characteristics, if I except one that stands upon 

 the low parapet of the Mipsteeple, next to Messrs Newbigging-'s 

 premises. On looking from the top of Bank Street the pointer can 

 be seen at the left-hand corner. It is made of bell metal or bronze. 

 There is, unfortunately, no date or maker's name visible, but from 

 the style of lettering and the weather-beaten appearance of the 

 dial I should say it is upwards of one hundred years of age. Mr 

 Gillies remembers it always as an old dial. It measures 17 inches 

 square, and there is nothing of an unusual character in its appear- 

 ance. It may have stood at one time in a different position. 

 There is also a flat dial at Amisfield House, bearing the motto — 

 " Day gives place to night ; life soon ends in death ; and time 

 will be swallowed up in vast eternity." It tells the hours at 

 various towns throughout the world. There is also a large dial 

 at Drumlanrig Castle, described to me as a table dial. The verti- 

 cal dials are few in number, and one alone is of outstanding 

 importance, that of Munches House. It stood at one time in the 

 garden of the old house, and dates back to the beginning- of last 

 century, 1730. When the old house was burned down a new site 

 was chosen to build the mansion, and the dial, instead of being- 

 in the garden, now stands on the lawn. It lay neglected until 

 lately, when Mr Maxwell determined to try and restore it as near 

 as possible to its original appearance ; but instead of having it 

 restored according to the usual practice — that is, three-quarter 

 made — the old pieces were carefully gathered, and, as far as 

 ' possible, put together. This dial stands nearly seven feet high, 

 and has dials inserted in nearly every part, from the square section 



