

D U M F HIES. 



In the centre o( the square, fronted by this edifice, 

 **~~i~^*' stands a Dorir pillar, intended as an expre->ion of tile 

 respect in whirl) the public lie-Id tlie \irtues of Chariot, 

 cinphatiealh designated the Good Duke of Qucciishi. rr\ . 

 Thi> i-cihiini) was reared about the year 17 S <>. by the 

 gentlemen of the county, who certainly did not antici- 

 pate, tluit in less than thirty years, it would he j far 

 dilapidated by neglect, that not a trace of the iiiM rip- 

 tion should remain. 



( hurchts. It has already been stated, that there are two churcho. 

 The original parish church, St Michael's, which stands 

 at the south-east end of the town, was rebuilt in 17^">. 

 with a tall and handsome spire. It is surrounded by a 

 a crowded burying-ground, which contains several re- 

 inarkable monuments. Here rest the ashes of Burns, 

 over whose grave a splendid mausoleum is alxmt to be 

 reared as a tribute to his genius. The New Church, 

 for it still preposterously retains that designation, oc- 

 cupies the site of the castle which the Lord Maxwell 

 iTtcti .1 ..at of the ruins of the friary, and its walls are 

 partly built of the materials which tliat once magnifi- 

 cent fortification afforded. This church is also furnish- 

 ed with a steeple. A third steeple, attached to what 

 was formerly the court-house, obtrudes itself rather 

 awkwardly upon the high-street, that it may take its 

 station directly in a line betwixt the two first, 

 hr ....;, . We have already mentioned the bridge built by the 



Lady Dervongillon over the Nith. That venerable fa- 

 bric, after having withstood the floods of nearly six 

 centuries, though still fit for service, yet having been 

 built before the common use of wheel carriages, was 

 found from its narrowness to be extremely incommodi- 

 ous. Accordingly, in 1792, the foundation stone of a 

 new bridge, to consist of five wide arches, was laid 

 a little higher up the river; and, in 179.5, this new com- 

 munication with Galloway was opened. The structure 

 impresses the mind with the idea of strength rather 

 than elegance ; nevertheless it is handsome. 



A.-jilemy The academy is a splendid building, in a fine airy si- 

 aiid libra- tuation, erected several years ago by subscription, but 

 for want of funds, left in an unfinished state. It is sup- 

 plied with masters of eminence for teaching English, 

 writing, arithmetic, and mathematics ; French, Latin, 

 and Greek. There is an evident taste in the place for 

 literary information. There are two public subscription 

 libraries, each of which is well furnished ; and in 1812, 

 public reading rooms were opened for about 80 sub- 

 scribers, where there is also an infant library, and where 

 the most esteemed periodical works are taken in. 

 llorticultu- Among other useful establishments, is the Dumfries 

 ial Society. a i 1 j Galloway Horticultural Society, which was formed 

 in this town in 181v!, for the purpose of encouraging 

 industry, improvements, and useful discoveries, con- 

 nected with gardening, by a judicious distribution of 

 prizes. In the immediate neighbourhood of Dumfries, 

 not less than one hundred acres are occupied by gar- 

 dens and nurseries. 



*i i ill II I ^ or are ^ e inhabitants less distinguished for their 

 iMtmraoo. benevolence to the afflicted. They have an infirmary, 

 including a lunatic asylum, and a dispensary ; and there 

 u also an hospital for the superannuated, widowed, and 

 orphan poor. Both of these institutions are under ex- 

 cellent management. There is also a female society fur 

 < ilucating the children of the poor on the plan of Dr 

 Bell. 



Mufceu. The town is well supplied with provisions. The 

 weekly market is held every Wednesday, but there are 

 extraordinary markets for black cattle, of which m- 

 prising numbers are sold about Whitsunday and Mar- 



tinmas. There arc also fairs for horses in October and 

 February. At this latter fair, a larger quantity of haiv- " ~ ' 

 skins is annually disposed n in any othrr town 



in Scotland ; not fewer, on an average, than thirty 

 thousand .' Very great quantities of pork are br<> 



liie fanners at the proper season, and sent otf by 

 ircd, ihiefly to F.ngland. The town 

 carries on no manufacture on a large scale. The ma- 

 nufacture of hats and stockings is the mo-t flourishing. 

 That the commerce of Dumfries, however, is rapidly Commerce, 

 increasing, will l>e seen by the following table of the 

 average imtul)er of vessels entered and cleared at the 

 port of Dumfries, (which includes Annan), with their 

 burthen, and the sum total of the hands employ ed, for 

 periods of five years inclusive. 



The chief articles of export are grain, potatoes, and Expoiuiuid 

 wood; the latter, however, not in large quantities. The In'po" 8 - 

 articles imported are wine, cork, groceries, iron, fo- 

 reign timber, slates, lime, and coals. The two latter 

 come from the coast of Cumberland. 



L'nder the authority of an act of Parliament obtain- Navigation 

 ed in 1811, the navigation of the Nith has been great- of the Nitli. 

 ly improved already ; and as the plan is far from being 

 completed, is likely soon to be much more so. Formerly, 

 few vessels of more than 40 tons ever reached the town, 

 andthese onlyat high tides. All al>ovc that burthen were 

 obliged to unload either at the New Quay, three miles 

 down the river, or at Glencaple, which is twice that 

 distance. Now, however, in consequence of the re- 

 moval of obstructions, improving the direction of the 

 channel, and confining the water, vessels of 150 tons can. 

 under favourable circumstances, bring their cargoes al- 

 most to the very doors of those to whom they are con- 

 signed; and it is expected, by some sanguine ship own- 

 ers, that ere long, vessels will be seen there of a much 

 higher burthen still. 



From the date of the earliest documents, the popu- 

 lation of Dumfries has been uniformly on the increase. 

 Previous to 1695, one church and one minister were 

 sufficient for the parish. In that year, owing to the 

 augmented numbers of the inhabitants, it was found 

 necessary to make the charge collegiate ; and, in 1 726, 

 the foundation stone was laid of a new c/mrc/i, at the 

 north end of the town, which was then more than three- 

 quarters of a mile in length. 



The population of the town, 



In 1796, was only 5860 



1801, there were 2507 males, & 3421 females =592 8 



1806, ..... <;_':!> 



1811, there were 3097 males, & 402Sfemales=7120 



For most of the historical information contained in 

 this article, the writer is indebted to a manuscript of the 

 late Hev. Dr Burnside, minister of St Michael's church 

 in Dumfries, a copy of which valuable document is lod- 

 ged in the Gentlemen's Library there. See also Statis- 

 tical Account nf Scot/and ; Hist, of Scotland, by 1'itscot- 

 tie, Keith, \ Robertson ; Peter Kac's Hist of the Rtbtl- 

 lion ; and Stowe's Hist, of England. (0. T. A.) 



Popuh; 





