Transactions. 133 



7th-t>th. The fall here was confined to a comparatively limited 

 area, and was most felt in the valley of the Cairn, 18 inches 

 having been measured at MaxM'elton House. At Cargen it 

 measured 6^ inches, which with the exception of the fall on 29th 

 January, 1865, is the Iieaviest recorded in one day at this station. 

 (The meteorological station at Cargen may be takon as fairly 

 representing the average of tlie south-west district of Scotland. 

 Observations have been made at it uninterruptedly for 31 years.) 



IV. Dumfries Academy in 1801-3. By Edward J. 

 Chinnock, LL.D. 



The High School of Dumfries dates back to the pre-Reforma- 

 tion times. The first record in existence relating to it is dated 

 1481, in which mention is made of " Master John Turnbull, 

 rector of the school of Dumfries." Previous to 1803 there were 

 four separate scliools — the Grammar School, the Arithmetic and 

 Mathematical, the English, and the Writing Schools. In that 

 year these four schools were lodged under one roof, but there was 

 a lapse of eighty years before they were really amalgamated and 

 formed into one school, with a common curriculum and under one 

 management. 



In perusing the Dumfries Weekly Journal for 1801, I came 

 across the following advertisement — "Sept. 8. — The Grammar 

 School of the town of Dumfries liaving become vacant by the 

 resignation of Mr Gray, the Rector, all persons who wish to 

 become candidates for that office ai'e desired to signify the same 

 to any of the Magistrates, hy a letter, accompanied by proper 

 certificates of their moral characters. The Candidates are to 

 undergo a comparative trial before two of the Professors at Edin- 

 burgh — the time and place will be afterwards advertised." The 

 following advertisement appeared on September 22 — " Vacancy 

 in the High School of Dumfries. The office of Rector of the 

 Grammar School of Dumfries having become vacant by the 

 resignation of Mr Gray, appointed one of the masflfers of the High 

 School at Edinburgh, the Magistrates and Council have deter- 

 mined that such Candidates as wish to offer themselves for the 

 above office shall undergo a comparative examination before 

 Professors Hill and Dalzell, of Edinburgh, upon Tuesday, the 

 13th day of October, 1801, in the Royal Exchange Coffee-house, 



