Transactions. 59 
sombre and unpicturesque buildings, but their principal accessory, 
the mill-dam, adds much to the beauty of the river. It forms 
a broad waterfall, and gives depth and a lake-like appearance 
to a reach of the river, which bends round the north-west por- 
tion of the town, and extends as far as Lincluden, reflecting 
at once on its smooth surface the ruins of that ancient Church 
and Devorgilla’s venerable bridge. 
These Mills occupy the site of older buildings of the same kind, 
which were erected there in the year 1705, when Matthew Frew, 
according to the terms of the contract between the parties, 
undertook ‘‘ to construct and build ane good and sufficient com- 
_plete and well-going water-miln, for grinding of malt, meal, and 
flour, or anie grain whatsomever, with dams, wearis, sluices, 
watergangs, taledams, and hail othir pertinents.” The Caul is 
specified to extend “from that part of the rock on the Galloway 
or Troqueer side, opposite to Baillie Fingusse’s barn, in the 
Whitesandbeds, up to the Dumfries side of the Nith opposite to 
the entry or passage to the Water of Nith at the foot of ye 
Freesvennell, or opposite ye back of the house pertaining to 
James Boyd, merchant ;” and it is designed to be constructed of 
wood: “ Which Caal or Dam is to be made of staicks of red oak, 
fixed into the rock through the Water of Nyth, at two foot 
distance one from another, or thairby, and holes to be digged 
into the rock fit for beating down and fixing each stake, or stoup 
thairin ; and which staickes are to be supported by stoupis of oak 
fastened into ane oaken soale, throw the Water of Nith, at the 
back of the said staiks or stoups; and the said staiks or stoups 
are to be lyned with good full firrdales, close plain-seamed on the 
upper syde and nailed to ye said stoupes.” The water-gang is to 
be 160 feet in length. The Mill is to be built upon “that rock 
opposite to the entry into Provost Irving’s yeard at the head of 
the Cunningham’s lands pertaining to the Toun of Dumfries.” 
The Tail-dam is to be “1200 foot in length or thairby, down 
from the said miln to that rock in the rack opposite the heid of 
ye Willies.” Frew binds himself to begin the work the 8th of 
April, 1705; to end the same at Martinmas next to come, 
under penalty of 1000 merks Scots; and to uphold the Mill, 
Dam, &c., seven years. The total contract price is 3000 merks 
Scots, payable by periodical instalments of 360 merks each. 
The contractor comes in the Town’s will for any further pay- 
ment, over and above the stipulated price of 3000 merks. He 
