306 The Cross of Banff. [CHAP. XVII 
as to the obtaining and re-erecting in the town the Old 
Cross of the burgh; and the other as to the erection of a 
drinking-fountain.” 
What Edward said about the ancient cross of Banff and 
the proposed drinking -fountain may best be given in his 
own words: 
“ Banff, like every other town, had its ‘cross? Where 
this ancient relic of ours had stood during the various revo- 
lutions of the burgh, we are not aware. We are told, how- 
ever, that its last stance was on the Low Street, nearly op- 
posite the foot of the Strait Path. From this we believe 
it was suffered to be removed (to our praise as a communi- 
ty be it spoken) to adorn the top of a dove-cote 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-honored 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 individuals in and belonging 
to the burgh, some of whom may yet be persuaded to give 
us this desideratum. We allude to a drinking- fountain. 
These things, too, be it remembered, are becoming univers- 
al, although we have none of them. We maintain that it 
would be a great and an inestimable boon to the place. 
“But some may ask, What has this to do with antiqui- 
ties? Well, perhaps not much yet, but we trust it will 
soon have. We have said that a drinking-fountain would 
cost but little. Once erected, the interest of a small sum 
