18 Transactions. 



3. Recollections of Dumfries 60 years ago. 



By Dr Robert Hibbert Taylor, Liverpool. 



One of my earliest recollections of Dumfries is in 1820, being 

 taken into the town to see the illuminations for Queen Caroline's 

 acquittal. The town must have been very loyal to the Queen, as 

 the illuminations and rejoicing were very general. Another early 

 recollection is having witnessed the procession of "King Crispin,' 

 when all the assembled trades, in gala attire, and bearing the 

 various emblems of their crafts, walked in procession through 

 the principal streets of the town. The royal crown was borne 

 upon a velvet cushion, and a champion in full armour rode 

 before his majesty, and defied the world to question his legal 

 rights. Bands of music, and gorgeous flags and banners of various 

 forms and devices, accompanied the triumphal march, and all 

 went " merrie as a marriage bell." The festival was a great 

 event for youthful spectators, and, indeed, it excited the curiosity 

 and awoke the sympathy of the entire civic population. I am 

 afraid that the conclusion of the spectacle was not always so 

 orderly and edifying as the commencement, and that the 

 enthusiasm with which the " king's " health was drank not 

 infrequently run to excess under the inspiring influence of 

 "John Barleycorn." The pageant of "King Crispin" was, I 

 believe, enacted at stated intervals of years, but has long since 

 passed away and been forgotten, except by those whose 

 memories are as far-reaching as my own. Mr Starke of 

 Troqueer Holm says that he saw the " Crispin " procession in 

 1863. 



On one occasion after the celebration of some civic festivity 

 and procession, a local poet is said to have given vent to his 

 feelings in the following lines, containing an arithmetical com- 

 putation which would puzzle even Cocker himself to unravel — 



Before the foremost walked with great respect 



Convener Deacon Alexander Affleck ; 



Next unto him walked the hammer-men, 



In twos and twos, twice four equal to tea. 



Another festival in which the Dumfriesians always took a 

 lively interest is what was known as shooting for the " Siller 

 Gun." This object was a small model in silver of a gun or pistol, 

 presented to the town by King James VI., to encourage the use 

 of firearms, and was awarded to the best shot at a target when 



