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TRANSACTIONS. 
Il. LZdgur’s MS. History of Dumfries. By Mr JAMES 
BARBOUR. 
Dr Burnside’s MS. History of Dumfries, written in the year 
1791, contains reference to an earlier MS. account of the town by 
Edgar. The original of this latter work is not knuwn to be 
extant, but a transcript of it is embraced in the Riddel MSS. 
preserved in the library of the Antiquarian Museum, Edinburgh. 
A copy has been obtained for this Society, and, as desired by the 
Secretary, I have prepared a brief notice of it. 
A note prefixed to his transcript by Riddel explains how it 
was obtained and who the author was. He says :—“ This account 
of Dumfries was wrote by ——- Edgar, a burgess of that burgh. 
He was father to the late Theodore Edgar of Elsishields, near 
Lochmaben. I had it copied from the original MS. in 
Edgar’s own handwriting, which, in 1790, was in the possession of 
John Clark, senr., writer (and late Provost) of Dumfries.” (In.) 
R.R. 1791. 
A monument to the memory of Theodore Edgar of Elsishields 
stands in St. Michael’s Churchyard, from which we learn that he 
died 5th February, 1784, aged 68. On another stone within the 
same enclosure we read: ‘“ Here lyes the body of Mr Robert 
Edgar, writer in Dumfries, who lived almost four score years and 
ten, and died an honest man. July 4th, 1759.” This was our 
author, of whom, although doubtless a prominent man in his day, 
little is now known. Many legal documents are extant in his 
handwriting, and the Seven Trades’ minute book shows that he 
acted as clerk to the Incorporations during the long period of 
forty-five years, from 1701 till 1746, when he resigned. 
The MS. appears to have been written at a period later than 
1745, the events of that year being referred to in it in terms 
indicating the lapse of some time since their occurrence. It is 
entitled : 
INTRODUCTION TO THE HisToRY OF THE TOWN OF DUMFRIES. 
In which the Origin, Situation, Length, Convenience, Royalizing, 
Buildings, Demolitions, Advances of Trade, are considered 
from the Earliest Accounts. 
2nd. The Government, Administration and Execution thereof, 
Crafts Increase, Industry and Manufactures are shown, with 
Reasonable Remarks and Advices on the Whole. 
By a Lover of Truth and of he Welfare of the Burgh. 
