226 Transactions. 



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of £10 to which he was entitled as successful competitor, and 



agreed to furnish working drawings free of expense. His working 

 plans and drawings are still preserved in the Museum in Thornliill. 

 Builders' estimates were advertised for, and that of John Milligan, 

 Dumfries, amounting to £331 8s 6d, was accepted, and Mr James 

 Thomson was appointed superintendent of works. On 30th May 

 following the Committee " having walked down to the Church- 

 yard and inspected the burial place of Burns, are of opinion that 

 it is so much encumbered with monuments and tombstones sur- 

 rounding it and a risk that it may still be more obscured by other 

 erections, have therefore resolved, with the consent of Mrs Burns, 

 to remove the whole remains of the family to another and more 

 eligible situation in the new burial ground, and the mausoleum 

 erected over the remains is agreed on, the remains to be removed 

 in as delicate and proper a manner as possible." This resolution 

 was carried into effect, and on the King's birthday, 5th June, 

 1815, a grand procession took place, and the foundation stone of 

 the mausoleum was laid with masonic honours, and the usual docu 

 ments and coins deposited therein. On the same day the Com- 

 mittee, architect, Mr Turnerelli, sculptor, London, and others 

 dined in the King's Arms, and at a subsequent Committee meet- 

 ing the Apollo's head, for the centre of the dome, designed by 

 Mr Hunt, and also the designs for the daisy and thistle to 

 surround it, were approved. Mr Hunt at the same time marked 

 off the ground in the new burial-ground. Previous to this Mr 

 Turnerelli had sent in a design for the sculpture. On 6th June 

 the Committee met with Mr Tui-nerelli, and it was agreed to 

 adopt his design provided the necessary sum could be procured 

 either to erect it in marble or Eoach Abbey stone. His estimate 

 for marble and figures of life-size was 750 guineas, and if the 

 figures were a quarter less 600 guineas. On 8th June the Com- 

 mittee, architect, and others were entertained to dinner in the 

 King's Arms Hotel by the magistrates of Dumfries, when the free- 

 dom of the burgh was conferred on Messrs Hunt, Turnerelli, 

 Walter, and Captain Hehl. At this stage many difficulties began. 

 The contractor for the mausoleum was troublesome, and tore 

 in pieces the committee's written remonstrances as to the insuffi- 

 cient jointing of the granite steps. He placed stones in the dome 

 disconform to contract botli as regards thickness and quality, 

 and Mr Hunt had to step in and see his directions carried out. 

 The Committee inspected the model of the plough for the sculpture 



