68 Transactions. 



seem to think they may as well endeavour to better their bargain. 

 They petition the Council, and complain of the unsatisfactory 

 condition the mills are in, the disadvantages of a horse mill, and 

 that the multures have not been fixed — pointing out the necessity 

 of doing something " for the removal of clamour," and they ask 

 the Council to give tliem the Dock grass instead of the Kingholm. 

 As the petition helps out the picture of tiie Mills, the text is 

 given here as it appears in the JNIinute Book : — 



" 1st Novr., 1687. — The said day the Councill having con- 

 sidered the Petition given be Thomas Irving and George Carlyle, 

 Tacksmen of the Milns of Dumfreis, making mention. That, 

 whereas your petitioners being Tacksmen of the Milns of the 

 Burgli of Dumfris for three years after INIartinmass, at which 

 time we are to enter, and it being at present notourly known 

 that the Horse-miln wants ane wheel and other Timber work 

 necessaiy to her, and also sufficient Stable, with a Loft, at tlie 

 end of the said Miln, for keeping the miln horses and fodder, and 

 that the water wall and dams of the Milnhole-miln are altogether 

 Insufficient, and will goe away with the very first glusli of water, 

 if it be not speedily help'd, and seeing as yet there are no true 

 measures condescended upon what multure each Boll of the malt 

 pays. May it therefore please your Wisdoms either to take some 

 speedy course for the reparation of the said Milns, and building 

 of the said Stable and Loft, and put them in an sufficient case as 

 Tacksmen can enter to tliem, Together with measures for lifting 

 and receiving tlie multure of ilk Boll of malt for the removing of 

 clamour for the time to come, always considering the vast differ- 

 ence and expenses betwixt grinding with hoises and water, and 

 servants for attending, and allow the Dock grass in lieu of the 

 Kingholm, in respect of the vast difference, or else to frie us of 

 our Tack, which we are willing to deliver up." Their "Wisdoms" 

 remitted this pawky petition to a committee, who reported in 

 favour of a course with which we are familiar in our own day — 

 " They thouglit it proper, \i\ consideration of the great expenses 

 the Toun lies been at in building the horse-milne, and the con- 

 tinxial expenses the Tacksmen will be at in mentaining tlie liorses. 

 That the Tacksmen be allowed to take iialf a peck of ilk ten 

 pecks of matt, and if tlie load consists of more pecks, that they 

 cause measure the same, and that in lieu of both the multure 

 and miller's dues, and leaves the i^est of the articles to the Toun's 

 consideration." 



