134 Transactions. 



The figures represent Scots ti'oise weight. The second bell has 

 evidently been re-cast in the year it bears. George Barclay, 

 founder, Edinburgh, contracted to furnish the bells for 17s 6d 

 Scots per pound ; they weie to be brought, hanged, and tongued 

 by the conti-actor at his risk, the town paying the carriage, and 

 if the town choose not the bells after ringing, the bargain was to 

 be m^ ; Barclay's account amounted to £1698 14s 6d Scots for 

 stocking, tagging, tonguing, transporting, and hanging the said 

 three bells. In regard to the uses of the bells, the Town Council 

 minute of date 13th December, 1708, bears — " The Council thinks 

 fit for letting the town know the time of day and night the better, 

 that the second bell of the Steeple be rung every day at six o'clock 

 afternoon, and every morning at six o'clock ; and that the large 

 bell of the Steeple be rung every night at ten o'clock ; and that 

 the said largest bell be rung every Sabbath before the latter bell 

 instead of the Tolbooth bell, and the second or third bell rung 

 therewith at the same time ; and that the said largest Steeple 

 bell in case of fire be kn oiled ; and, lastly, that the second Steeple 

 bell be rung on week days when there are to be sermons in the 

 church instead of the Tolbooth bell." On the 10th January 

 following the Council "appointed William Pickersgill to be 

 ringer of all the bells of the Steeple and kirk during their pleasure? 

 and that for payment of forty-two pounds Scots of yearly salary, 

 to be paid quarterly, and the Council ordains the said bell-ringer 

 to ring the second bell of the Steeple on the Sabbath mornings with 

 the first kirk bell ; and to ring the bells for fifteen minutes space at 

 the time mentioned in the Council's former act, and appoints the 

 Treasurer to furnish the bell-ringer with half-a-stone of candle 

 yearly, at the 1st of January, to let him see to ring the 

 bells in the night time." The regulations are utilitarian, 

 except in the case of the six o'clock bell on Sunday 

 morning, which does not fit in with any purpose of the 

 kind. The Kirk-Session records of early date show that three 

 bells were rung before service, the first being at six o'clock in 

 the morning, which is therefore an old custom, and considering the 

 hour, it is probably a continuation of the ancient "Ave Maria" 

 bell, at the hearing wliereof all betook themselves to prayer. 

 There are other occasions on which, according to custom, the bells 

 are in use to be rung — the birthday of the Sovereign, tlie sitting 

 of the Circuit Court, the meeting of the Synod, Presbytery, and 



