Towns > Dundee > 1822 - Dundee delineated; or, A history and description of that town, its institutions, manufactures and commerce

5h
In the beginning of last century, when the num-
ber of inhabitants could not have exceeded 7,000,
there were four masters at least in the Grammar
School. From the number of divisions for the ac-
commodation of the different classes that remained
in the old school (previous to its being converted
into a guard-house, and the area into a meal-mar-
ket) being seven, the number of classes must have
been the same, to fill up those divisions ; and most
probably the period of attendance was seven years.
Whether from the diminution of the population,
or decay of trade, or both, about the middle of the
above century, the establishment was reduced to
three masters — a Rector and two assistants ; and
the period of attendance was shortened to five years.
The Grammar School at this time sent forth two
remarkable persons, — one was Mr Robert Fergu-
son, a well-known original but unfortunate Scots
poet, who fell a victim to penury, dissipation, and
at last insanity ; over whose neglected grave Robert
Burns, the illustrious and far-famed and almost e-
qually unfortunate brother of his art, erected a mo-
nument in the Canongate Church-yard, Edinburgh,
dedicated to his memory. The other was Robert
Stewart, Esq. who flourished long in his native
place as a most eminent surgeon, a promoter of li-
terature, and the delight of every society in which
he appeared.
At present there are only two masters in the
Grammar School — a Rector with a salary of £70,
and a second master with £50. The fees are now
10s. 6d. per quarter, and 5s. expected on Handsel
Monday, — which are divided in the proportion of
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