The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 49 



the London posts horss that wes coming ryding through this toun 

 *vith the packit that efternoone which occasioned the man and 

 horss baith to fall upon the hie street And true it is your 

 Worships may easilie consider that if their petitioner had not 

 bene a drunken beast he had not medled with the post Wheiras he 

 is verie sensible that the doing thereoff was more nor the peti- 

 tioner dare answer for And he yet admires when your Worships 

 put him in prisone that ye did not loaden him with irons or made 

 him a spectackle to the haill toun for such a gross fact however 

 their petitioner is exceedinglie sorie for what he did and trusts 

 that he sail be more sober for the tyme to come. And wishes 

 that all good people wold take example be him And now the 

 truth is the petitioner has a great charge of a poor familie and 

 the bestiall at home are in a starving conditione And the crop 

 which hes sowen will undoubtedlie goe to ruine without he be 

 set at libertie to oversee it himself. 



May it tharefore please your 

 Worships in consideration of the 

 haill premisses to set the 

 petitioner att libertie and he 

 sail be very willing to 

 undergoe what punishment 

 your Worships shall be pleasit 

 to inflict upon him And hopes 

 that this shall be a rebeuk 

 for him to walk more soberlie 

 for the future And your Worships 

 anshr. 



John M'Gillter." 



In a marginal note, dated 7 Aprylle 1690, the document is 

 endorsed : — " The magistrats and counsall pnt continues to give 

 anshr till this day aught days." 



That the duties of the Town Council were, in other ways, 

 closely linked with the Post Office of this period is shown by 

 numerous entries in the Council Minutes and Treasurer's 

 Accounts, of which the following are typical examples : — 



" 2 June 1684. — The sd day the counsell thinks fitt that there 

 be correspondence for news keepit betwixt this burgh and the 

 cittie of Cairlyle weiklie They therefore appoint the bailzies to 



