78 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



praying a grant to erect a Post Office, Custom House, Stamp and 

 Excise Office, it being well known that the Crown at present pays 

 large rents for several of these offices, but he was convinced that 

 if properly laid before the Treasury a saving miglit be proved 

 to be effected by combining all these offices in one." 



The Council signed the Petition, and agreed to carry out the 

 suggestion of Mr Lookup by signing a Petition presenting the 

 same to the Treasury, and named Messrs Lookup, Thomson, 

 Kemp, Hamilton, and the clerk to prepare the Petition and get 

 it signed and transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury. 



The matter was again referred to at the Council meeting 

 held on 11th February, 1841, but consideration of the corre- 

 spondence was delayed until the following meeting on 5th March, 

 1841, when the Council was informed that the Post Office authori- 

 ties desired to be informed what sum the Council or Burgh would 

 contribute towards the expense of erecting a new office. After 

 much discussion Mr Lookup moved that an application be made 

 in name of the Council to the Treasury praying that a grant may 

 be made from the public funds for erecting a building sufficient to 

 contain the different public offices of the burgh. This was 

 seconded by Mr W. Smith, and agreed to, the following gentlemen 

 being named a Committee to frame the Memorial, viz. : — The 

 Magistrates, Dean, and Treasurer, Messrs Lookup, Kemp, 

 Hamilton, and W. Smith — Mr Lookup convener. 



On 18th March, 1841, the Petition, drawn up by these 

 gentlemen, was read and approved of, signed, and directed to be 

 sent to the local representatives in Parliament for presentation to 

 the Treasury. 



Thereafter much correspondence in regard to the matter 

 passed between the Council and their representatives in Parlia- 

 ment, but the only additional fact that emerges in the course of 

 this correspondence is that, " Failing the Treasury entertaining 

 this Memorial, the Council entreat that you will urge forward the 

 application for the Post Office alone. "^^ 



38. Letter to General Sharpe, M.P. 



I 



