Transactions. 135 



Town Council, and on the election of the magistrates for the 

 burgh. It has not for a long time been the custom to ring the 

 bells at funerals, except in the case of public men, but at one 

 time the practice was to ring once or oftener on payment of a 

 small fee, as the following extract shows : — April 25, 1695 — 

 " This day the Session appoints that all persons that have . 

 buriiils to pay for shall come to the Precentor of the Church of 

 Dumfries (svho, being also clerk to the Session, keeps the register 

 of these) before the bell go for the dead, and enrol their names 

 and pay their money according to the several times they will have 

 the bell to go ; and ordains the Clerk to give them a certificate 

 to deliver to the bellman." In connection with funerals, mention 

 is made in the Town Council minutes of the hand-bell — " The 

 officer and ringer of ye bells in the steeple and old Church, and 

 ringer of ye hand-bell for burials." Greater significance attaches 

 to the bells when used to sound alarm or celebrate joyful events 

 just transpired, or give expression to such as are of moui-nful 

 import. Instances of their use in summoning the lieges to arms 

 for the defence of the town are on record. Rae, describing the 

 events of the Jacobite rising in 1715, says that on the last day of 

 October a detachment of the enemy arrived at Ecclefechan with 

 orders to go and block up Dumfries. " His Majesty's friends at 

 Drumfries having received intelligence hereof that morning early, 

 by an express from Ecclefechan, an alarm was given by beating 

 of drums and ringing of bells (the signal concerted to be given on 

 the enemy's approach), and intimation was made to all, both 

 townsmen and strangers, to appear instantly in arms at the 

 Moat." Further, he says, " An express came from Roucand 

 affirming that the rebels were advanced to Torthorwald, when she 

 came oflP, and by that time would be within three miles of the 

 town. This being intimated the town was again alarmed as 

 formerly, and every man stood to his post." 



During the French war the town was patriotic and loyal, and 

 the bells were in request to give expression thereto. William 

 Grierson's diary furnishes examples : — 



S5th April, 1794- — This morning was ushered in with ringing of the bells. 

 They were rung at six in the morning, at twelve, and at six in the evening, 

 on account of the taking ot Martinico. The prospect of peace was more 

 welcome even than victory, for on the arrival of the news of preliminaries 

 of peace being ratified in 1801, the usual order of the magistrates was not 

 waited for, but the door of the Ijell house was broken open, and ringing 



