The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 63 



Two years later (in 1793) the same author writes as follows 

 for Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland : — " The London 

 mail coach passes through Dumfries every day of the week, and 

 a daily post between Edinburgh and Port Patrick." (Vol. 5, 

 p. 126.) 



The two extracts appear to be at variance, but each of them 

 is correct for its own period. From the Old Statistical Account 

 of Scotland (1792), Moffat Parish, we learn that " a mail coach 

 from Dumfries to Edinburgh was lately set on foot, but has been 

 given up. When that road is completely repaired it will prob- 

 ably be re-established." That this was really done is evidenced 

 by the following notice of Provost Staig, published in the Dumfries 

 Magazine shortly after his death on the 21st of October, 1826 : — 

 " He was a main pillar in the building and organising of the 

 Dumfries Academy ;" and, " after unwearied exertions and corre- 

 spondence with the Postmaster-General," he established a mail 

 coach communication between Edinburgh, Dumfries, and Port 

 Patrick in 1805. 



A curious account of this coach is furnished in Will Caesar's 

 poetical description of "A Jaunt to Edinburgh." 



Ye neighbours a', wha e'er ye be, 

 That travel here or 'yont the sea, 

 Come hither now, give ear to me, 



I'll tell ye a' 

 That I mysell did lately see, 



When far awa'. 



I took the mail on Tuesday's morn, 



A blyther man was never born ; 



The horse were fleet — weel fed wi' corn — 



We scoured away ; 

 The guard employed his bugle horn 



Right oft that day. 



We got fresh horse at Bourance Rig, 

 Were soon in view o' Saint Ann's brig. 

 And saw Raehills, sae braw and trig, 

 f Stand up the glen ; 



And mony a tree and bonny twig 

 Adorn the fen. 



