36 WILLIAM CUMING, M.D. 



(dated July 24th, 1775), Cuming gives the following report of 

 this casualty: — "We had indeed a very narrow escape in this 

 plase {s/c). The first Appearance of the Fire was very alarming, 

 and it spread imdequaqiie amongst the thatched houses in the 

 Lower Parish, from One till Six in the Morning. At which 

 time it was most providentially and unexpectedly mastered. We 

 have made a Collection amongst (the) Parishes in the Town, 

 and with the Assistance We have received and expect from the 

 benevolent in the County, We hope to pay the poor Sufferers 

 above half their Loss." 



The postscript of a letter to Gough (dated September 9th, 

 177S) conveys similar tidings: — "About three Weeks ago we 

 were greatly alarmed by a Cry of Fire at Midnight, but it was 

 most providentially extinguished in about 2 hours after burning 

 only an old house of small value opposite to the Antelope 

 Inn." 



Records of fire and pestilence may be fitly linked with a grim 

 memorandum in a pocket book of Dr. Cuming for 1766. Under 

 Tuesday, December 2nd, he notes: "This Day the Gallows 

 removed f"" JMaumbury and a new One erected on Fordington 

 Down at Expence of ye County Cost of £\r Speed's plan of 

 Dorchester shows that, in 16 10, the gallows stood upon or close 

 to the Roman wall at the end of the South Walks. When 

 Mrs. Channing was executed, in 1706, it had been shifted to 

 Maumbury ; which, maugre its direful presence, was, according 

 to Stukeley, who visited Dorchester in 1723, "a common walk 

 for the inhabitants and the parapet or terras at top is a noted 

 place of rendezvous, as affording a pleasant circular walk, 

 whence you see the town and wide plain of cornfields all around, 

 much boasted of by the inhabitants for most excellent grain." 



From Cuming's correspondence we get a glimpse of Dor- 

 chester stirred by a wave of popular emotion. In February, 

 1779, there was widespread rejoicing over the acquittal of 

 Admiral Keppel, who had been tried by court martial for 

 misconduct and neglect of duty during the indecisive action 

 with the French fleet off Ushant on July 27, 1778. His accuser 



