90 Transactions. 



XII. That the corps request to he allowed to assume the name of " The 

 Royal Dumfries Volunteers ; " and, for their uniform, to wear a blue coat 

 half lapellcd with red cape and cuffs, and gilt buttons, with the letters 

 R.D.V. engraved on them ; a plain, white Cassimere vest, with small gilt 

 buttons ; white trousers, made of Russia tweeliug, tied at the ankle ; 

 white stockings ; a black velvet stock ; hair to he worn short, or turned up 

 behind ; a round hat turned up on the left side, with a gilt button, a 

 cockade, and a black feather ; their shoes to be tied with a black ribbon ; 

 and the only distinction between the officers and privates, in point of 

 dress, is that the Major Commandant and two Captains are to wear each 

 two epaulets, and the other commissioned officers one. 



Among those who were enrolled in the Royal Dumfries 

 Volunteers was Robert Burns. The poet did service by the pen 

 as well as the sword, and the well-known poem, " Doth Haughty 

 Gaul," expressed the feeling of the loyal inhabitants. On the 

 21st April, 1795, the letter was received accepting their offer, 

 and the Volunteers wei'e afterwards duly enrolled. The officers 

 were A. S. De Peyster, Major-Commandant ; John Hamilton and 

 John Ferguson, Captains ; David Newall and Wellwood Max- 

 well, Lieuts. ; Francis Shortt and Thomas White, Second Lieuts. 

 On the King's birthday following, June 4th, colours were pre- 

 sented to the Volunteers in Queensberry Square by Mrs De 

 Peyster, wife of the Colonel, who was attended by eighteen 

 ladies. Di- Burnside consecrated the colours. Mrs De Peyster 

 when presenting the colours, said : — " I beg leave to observe that 

 our device is St. Michael, the tutelary Saint of the town, and as 

 that Saint is here portrayed trampling the serpent under his foot, 

 so the R.D.V. will, in support of the civil power, trample on all 

 who shall offer to disturb tiie peace and good order of this town 

 and its neighbourhood, and sliall dare to raise their hands against 

 the King and constitution." Colonel De Peyster and Dr Burn- 

 side both made speeches. The Grant Regiment of Fencibles, 

 which were then quartered in Dumfries, wore present at the 

 ceremony. The Volunteers afterwai'ds dined together in the 

 King's Arms, and at six o'clock they went with the Magistracy 

 to the Court-house to drink the King's health. Wliat was thus 

 done in Dumfries was probably done in other parts of Dumfries- 

 shire, but of this I have not been able to find any record. In 

 1797 the Government appear to have been seriously alaa-med by 

 the prospect of an invasion, and early that year a communication 

 was made to the Deputy-Lieutenants of Dumfries.shire by the 

 Lord-Lieutenant asking them to suggest what measures should 



