Transactions. 67 



dollar for ilk loade tiiat sliall be discovered, off the fore-end of 

 the fine." Under the most favourable circumstances, restrictions 

 such as these would be likely to lead to inconvenience, but in 

 this instance the rigorous enforcement of them was severely 

 felt, owing to the inadequacy of the Mills to overtake the work 

 required of them. Spates and droughts are often recurring 

 causes of difficulty, but oftener still the condition of the Mills 

 themselves, the pleasant and refreshing sound of falling water as 

 it slides from the revolving water wheel, being often mingled 

 with discordant groaning and jolting noise of ill-fitting and 

 broken machinery. On the 21st January, 1656, " Robert Stewart 

 Tacksman of Mylnes, protestit that he wald give over the Tack 

 at this instant term of Candlemas in respect tiiey were not 

 keipit. The Council protested that tliey were leading stanes 

 to the Mill Dam and Caal, and were willing to do all 

 diligence for keeping the said Milns in good order." Tlie 

 incapacity of the Town's Mills appear at this time to 

 have reached an acute stage, and the Council found it neces- 

 sary to supplement them, and for this purpose they secured 

 from Maxwell of Broomholm a lease of Stakeford Mill, situated 

 on the Troqueer side of the river. The acquisition of tiiis Mill 

 was immediately followed by an Act of Council, ordaining that 

 all malt brought into the burgh must be ground at the " Touns 

 twa ConuDon Milns and Staikford Miln." All the three mills, 

 however, are occasionally in want of water, or otherwise unable 

 to woi'k, causing the iniiabitants much inconvenience, who are 

 nevertheless still " ordaint to bring their malt to be grindit 

 at the Common Milns," under the penalty of a fine, in 

 addition to their ordinary multure, " except the said inhabitants 

 first bring their said malt to remain at the Touns Milns, and let 

 it remain there for the space of 48 hours, after which space they 

 are to be frie to carrie their malt to other milns." 



In order to meet the difficulty so often experienced, the want 

 of water in connection with their water mills, and to put them- 

 selves into a position in which they can maintain in full all their 

 privileges, the Council now proceed to erect a horse mill on the 

 Upper Sandbed of Dumfries, some distance northward of the 

 Over Sandbed Water Mill, and in 1687 Thomas Irving and 

 George Carlyle secured a lease, to endure three years, of the 

 Town's Mills, including the horse-mill. The new tenants, shortly 

 Vjefore the term at which they are to take possession of the subjects. 



