354 THE CROSS OF BANFF. CHAP. xvn. 



"Banff, like every other town, had its 'Cross.' 

 Where this ancient relic of ours had stood during the 

 various revolutions of the burgh, we are not aware. 

 We are told, however, that its last stance was on the 

 Low Street, nearly opposite the foot of the Strait 

 Path. From this we believe it was suffered to be re- 

 moved (to our praise as a community be it spoken) 

 to adorn the top of a dovecot about a mile from the 

 town, and on ground with which the public have 

 nothing to do. On inquiry, we learn that it is still 

 the property of the town. If this is correct, then we 

 say, Get it back. Yes, we say get back our venerable 

 and time-honoured Cross. No one can fail to observe 

 the almost universal restoration of the old works of 

 antiquity which is going on throughout the country. 

 Although nothing of this kind has yet taken place 

 here, our ancient Cross must be redeemed, and the 

 sooner it is done, the greater will be the credit due 

 to those who accomplish it. 



" Our charitable bequests, as is well known, are 

 many and valuable. Still, we lack at least one one 

 which would cost but little, and at the same time be 

 a universal good. There are many very wealthy in- 

 dividuals in and belonging to the burgh, some of 

 whom may yet be persuaded to give us this deside- 

 ratum. We allude to a Drinking Fountain. These 

 things, too, be it remembered, are becoming universal, 

 although we have none of them. We maintain that it 

 would be a great and an inestimable boon to the place 



