RECORDS OF THE BuRGH OF LOCHMABEN. 109 
Marches to be ridden upon the 30th day of October next. This 
entry is interesting as being the first intimation in the existing 
burgh records of this ancient ceremony being carried out. It 
does not appear to have been made an annual event in Loch- 
maben, as is the case in a few other burghs, but was revived at 
intervals of a few years. In the minute of 18th August, 1733, 
Lord Hope’s resignation as a Councillor is inserted as follows :— 
“T, Lord John Hope, one of the Town Council of the Burgh of 
Lochmaben, considering that I cannot attend the consultations 
about the affairs of the said burgh or the elections thereof, there- 
fore I hereby resign and renounce my place and office as one of 
the Council of the town of Lochmaben with all the privileges 
thereto belonging, and that in the hands of the Magistrates and 
Town Council of the said Burgh of Lochmaben, with power to 
them to elect and choose another Councillor in my place with 
the same privileges that belonged to me.”’ 
At a meeting held on 17th May following, in reply to a 
protest made by Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall as to certain 
illegalities at the meeting which accepted of Lord Hope’s resigna- 
tion, it is mentioned that the Council “shall be extremely glad 
that all culpable and underhand dealing be brought to light before 
a competent judge that it may appear who were the authors and 
promoters of them.’’ 
In explanation of the following minute it may be stated that 
under the Scottish Parliament the burgh returned one member 
elected by the Council. From the Union to 1832 the Town 
Councils of each burgh chose a delegate, with whom the election 
rested. The election of a delegate often gave rise to scenes of 
riot and disorder, as we shall afterwards see, as the Lochmaben 
representative was understood to have the casting vote and con- 
siderable responsibility was attached to the appointment. 
“25th April, 1735.—The which day the Provost, Magis- 
trates, and Council of the Burgh being met in common council 
assembled there, Mr William Kirkpatrick of Ellisland, advocate, 
one of the present Council, proposed to the Council that he was 
willing to serve the Burgh with the other Burghs of this district 
as their Burgess in the present current Parliament of Great Britain 
if they should think fit to judge him a fit person for that purpose, 
and then he withdrew: which proposition being considered by the 
Magistrates and Council, they do unanimously accept of the pro- 
