90 Transactions. 
XII. That the corps request to be allowed to assume the name of ‘‘’The 
Royal Dumfries Volunteers ;” and, for their uniform, to wear a blue coat 
half lapelled with red cape and cuffs, and gilt buttons, with the letters 
R.D.V. engraved on them ; a plain, white Cassimere vest, with small gilt 
buttons ; white trousers, made of Russia tweeling, tied at the ankle; 
white stockings ; a black velvet stock ; hair to be worn short, or turned up 
behind ; a round hat turned up on the left side, with a gilt button, a 
cockade, and a black feather ; their shoes to be tied with a black ribbon ; 
and the only distinction between the officers and privates, in point of 
dress, is that the Major Commandant and two Captains are to wear each 
two epaulets, and the other commissioned officers one. 
Among those who were enrolled in the Royal Dumfries 
Volunteers was Robert Burns. The poet did service by the pen 
as well as the sword, and the well-known poem, “ Doth Haughty 
Gaul,” expressed the feeling of the loyal inhabitants. On the 
21st April, 1795, the letter was received accepting their offer, 
and the Volunteers were afterwards duly enrolled. The officers 
were A. 8. De Peyster, Major-Commandant ; John Hamilton and 
John Ferguson, Captains ; David Newall and Wellwood Max- 
well, Lieuts. ; Francis Shortt and Thomas White, Second Lieuts. 
On the King’s birthday following, June 4th, colours were pre- 
sented to the Volunteers in Queensberry Square by Mrs De 
Peyster, wife of the Colonel, who was attended by eighteen 
ladies. Dr Burnside consecrated the colours. Mrs De: Peyster 
when presenting the colours, said :—“ I beg leave to observe that 
our device is St. Michael, the tutelary Saint of the town, and as 
that Saint is here portrayed trampling the serpent under his foot, 
so the R.D.V. will, in support of the civil power, trample on all 
who shall offer to disturb the peace and good order of this: town 
and its neighbourhood, and shall dare to raise their hands against 
the King and constitution.” Colonel De Peyster and Dr Burn- 
side both made speeches. The Grant Regiment of Fencibles, 
which were then quartered in Dumfries, were present at the 
ceremony. The Volunteers afterwards dined together in the 
King’s Arms, and at six o’clock they went with the Magistraey 
to the Court-house to drink the King’s health. What was thus 
done in Dumfries was probably done in other parts of Dumfries- 
shire, but of this | have not been able to find any record. In 
1797 the Government appear to have been seriously alarmed. by 
the prospect of an invasion, and early that year a communication 
was made to the Deputy-Lieutenants of Dumfriesshire by the 
Lord-Lieutenant asking them to suggest what measures should 
