24 Transactions. 



the Lower or Whitesaiidbeds, and was then familiarly known as 

 " the Galloway-gait." It seems to us that the Dock Park was 

 formerly designed, generally speaking, as " The Willies." As 

 the safest guide for the natural level of old times we presume the 

 Nith and its course are the true standard, amid so much modern 

 improvement and artificial increase in bulk. In the year 1681 

 the Bridge of Dumfries the town, in their legal defence, then 

 officially describe as " one of the best and largest Bridges in the 

 Kingdom, and at this time now consists of Nine several Arches." 

 Two years afterwards the ravages of winter had been more than 

 usually serious, the masses of floating ice adhering to the but- 

 tresses, collecting until the accumulation, or " gadds of ice," as 

 the record explains, required to be relieved and broken by great 

 stones thrown upon it from above. " The Brig Petition " to 

 King James the Sixth on the part of the town of Dumfries, has, 

 in the Privy Council records and other publications, been in part 

 repi'oduced. But nowhere have we seen a true literal copy, such 

 as is here presented from a certified and signed duplicate of the 

 original of the day and time of presentation. The petition as a 

 curious sample of an address to his " Sacred Majesty King James 

 the Sixth," in his own rounded and sublimely classic style, as to 

 " the soverane fontane and livelie spring quhairwith the politic 

 bodie of this estait and everie particular member thairof is 

 cherished and nurished," inherently possesses an historical, 

 literary, and antiquarian interest as a work of art. The bridge 

 had, it seems, been its own tomb, resolving to itself in its fall the 

 whole results of the Royal gift, of the temporalities of the Friars 

 Minors, and the whole patrimony of the toune, (fee. " The Brig 

 Petition " to King James the Sixth, as copied from the signed 

 and formal duplicate of the original itself, in the holograph of 

 Albert Cunynghame, clerk, as certified therein by himself in his 

 own hand, circa 1620 — 



" Most gracious and sacred Soverane,^^ — The greate calamitie 

 and wrak which befell to Your Maties. ancient Burgh of Drum- 

 freis in the moneth of (1620) by the overthrow of the bridge 

 thairof through the force and violence of Wattir of Nith, being 

 on our behalf regretted unto Your Mie. by the lordis of your 

 hienesse privy counsell. And your Mie. oute of your moste 

 excellente wisdome apprehending that a voluntarie contributione 

 amongis your M.'s good subjectis would prove the most sure and 

 readdie way for preventing of the wrak and overthrow of the said 



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