68 Transactions. 
seem to think they may as well endeavour to better their bargain. 
They petition the Council, and complain of the unsatisfactory 
condition the mills are in, the disadvantages of a horse mill, and 
that the multures have not been fixed—pointing out the necessity 
of doing something “ for the removal of clamour,” and they ask 
the Council to give them the Dock grass instead of the Kingholm. 
As the petition helps out the picture of the Mills, the text is 
given here as it appears in the Minute Book :— 
“1st Novr., 1687.—The said day the Councill having con- 
sidered the Petition given be Thomas Irving and George Carlyle, 
Tacksmen of the Milns of Dumfreis, making mention, That, 
whereas your petitioners being Tacksmen of the Milns of the 
Burgh of Dumfris for three years after Martinmass, at which 
time we are to enter, and it being at present notourly known 
that the Horse-miln wants ane wheel and other Timber work 
necessary to her, and also sufficient Stable, with a Loft, at the 
end of the said Miln, for keeping the miln horses and fodder, and 
that the water wall and dams of the Milnhole-miln are altogether 
Insufficient, and will goe away with the very first glush of water, 
if it be not speedily help’d, and seeing as yet there are no true 
measures condescended upon what multure each Boll of the malt 
pays, May it therefore please your Wisdoms either to take some 
speedy course for the reparation of the said Milns, and building 
of the said Stable and Loft, and put them in an sufficient case as 
Tacksmen can enter to them, Together with measures for lifting 
and receiving the multure of ilk Boll of malt for the removing of 
clamour for the time to come, always considering the vast differ- 
ence and expenses betwixt grinding with horses and water, and 
servants for attending, and allow the Dock grass in lieu of the 
Kingholm, in respect of the vast difference, or else to frie us of 
our Tack, which we are willing to deliver up.” Their ‘““Wisdoms” 
remitted this pawky petition to a committee, who reported in 
favour of a course with which we are familiar in our own day— 
“They thought it proper, in consideration of the great expenses 
the Toun hes been at in building the horse-milne, and the con- 
tinual expenses the Tacksmen will be at in mentaining the horses, 
That the Tacksmen be allowed to take half a peck of ilk ten 
pecks of matt, and if the load consists of more pecks, that they 
cause measure the same, and that in leu of both the multure 
and miller’s dues, and leaves the rest of the articles to the Toun’s 
consideration.” 
