24 Transactions. 
the Lower or Whitesandbeds, and was then familiarly known as 
“the Galloway-gait.” It seems to us that the Dock Park was 
formerly designed, generally speaking, as “The Willies.” As 
the safest guide for the natural level of old times we presume the 
Nith and its course are the true standard, amid so much modern 
improvement and artificial increase in bulk. In the year 1681 
the Bridge of Dumfries the town, in their legal defence, then 
officially describe as ‘one of the best and largest Bridges in the 
Kingdom, and at this time now consists of Nine several Arches.” 
Two years afterwards the ravages of winter had been more than 
usually serious, the masses of floating ice adhering to the but- 
tresses, collecting until the accumulation, or “ gadds of ice,” as 
the record explains, required to be relieved and broken by great 
stones thrown upon it from above. ‘The Brig Petition” to 
King James the Sixth on the part of the town of Dumfries, has, 
in the Privy Council records and other publications, been in part 
reproduced. But nowhere have we seen a true literal copy, such 
as is here presented from a certified and signed duplicate of the 
original of the day and time of presentation. The petition as a 
curious sample of an address to his “ Sacred Majesty King James 
the Sixth,” in his own rounded and sublimely classic style, as to 
“the soverane fontane and livelie spring quhairwith the politic 
bodie of this estait and everie particular member thairof is 
cherished and nurished,” inherently possesses an_ historical, 
literary, and antiquarian interest as a work of art. The bridge 
had, it seems, been its own tomb, resolving to itself in its fall the 
whole results of the Royal gift, of the temporalities of the Friars 
Minors, and the whole patrimony of the toune, &c. “The Brig 
Petition” to King James the Sixth, as copied from the signed 
and formal duplicate of the original itself, in the holograph of 
Albert Cunynghame, clerk, as certified therein by himself in his 
own hand, circa 1620— 
“Most gracious and sacred Soverane,—The greate calamitie 
and wrak which befell to Your Maties. ancient Burgh of Drum- 
freis in the moneth of (1620) by the overthrow of the bridge 
thairof through the force and violence of Wattir of Nith, being 
on our behalf regretted unto Your Mie. by the lordis of your 
hienesse privy counsell. And your Mie. oute of your moste 
excellente wisdome apprehending that a voluntarie contributione 
amongis your M.’s good subjectis would prove the most sure and 
readdie way for preventing of the wrak and overthrow of the said 
