Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 8, DIA-England

D U M
] mfries. this time it gradually increased in importance ; and in the
y.yw' year 1307, Edward the Second appointed the estates of
Scotland to assemble on the banks of the Nith. In cer¬
tain chronicles the ancient name of the town is said to
have been Cotiac, but this we suspect is mere fancy. It
seems much more probable that, like many other places,
it derived its name from its physical appearances and cha¬
racter. In remote times the Gaelic was spoken on both
sides of the Frith of Forth ; and we concur in the etymo¬
logy of Mr George Chalmers, who conceives the word to
be composed of dun a castle, and /Wes a ridge. Dumfries,
which may be regarded as the capital of the south of Scot¬
land, is beautifully situated on the left bank of the river
Nith, thirty-five miles below its source, and upwards of ten
above the point where its waters mingle with and are lost
in the Solway. The Nith in point of size ranks fifth among
the rivers of Scotland, and is navigable from Carsethorn
to Glencaple quay, even for vessels of considerable burthen.
In consequence of the extraordinary manner in which the
tides ebb and flow in the Solway during the winter months,
the river is similarly aifected.
The origin of the town appears to have been owing to
a strong castle, which flourished as a border fortress dur¬
ing the twelfth century, and frequently became an object
of contention, both prior and subsequent to the times
of Wallace and Bruce. Of this stronghold not a ves¬
tige remains ; but the street occupying the ground on
which it stood retains the name, and is likely to do so till
the latest ages. In razing what remained of this place of
strength, the local authorities, more than a century ago,
found materials for building the new church. The Gray
Friars, like the castle, attracted settlers; and, as early as
the thirteenth century, the old bridge was planned and
built at the expense of the Lady Devorgilla, third daugh¬
ter of Alan, lord of Galloway, and grandmother to John
Cumin, who was slain by Robert Bruce in the above-men¬
tioned cathedral in the beginning of the year 1305. Origi¬
nally it consisted of thirteen arches, and was guarded at
the middle by a gate or port, which was removed in 1709, to
lessen the central pressure when the structure became frail.
This bridge, which still remains, and is crossed every day
by foot passengers, was certainly a wonderful erection for
the time; and, accordingly, the writer of a work entitled
A Journey through Scotland, published by J. Pemberton,
London, in 1723, says, “ I passed the river Nith from
Galloway to Dumfries over a fair stone bridge of thirteen
arches, the finest I saw in Britain next to London and Ro¬
chester.” A right of toll was attached to the bridge, which
in 1789, according to Captain Grose, yielded a yearly
rental of three hundred pounds, and which at the present
day, a little higher up the river, produces to the town
five hundred pounds sterling. The new bridge was com¬
menced in 1793, and finished in 1795. The original con¬
tract price was L.4500, but as no rock could be found at
one point, the landstool on the Dumfries side was found¬
ed on piles of wood, and for this the commissioners of
supply allowed an additional sum of L.500.
After Bruce had committed the crime already mention¬
ed, and commenced that career which terminated at last
in the redemption of his country from a foreign yoke, he
became a mark for the vengeance of Edward of England.
His friends and adherents also suffered along with him.
Amongst these, Sir Christopher Seaton was betrayed by a
pretended friend of the name of Macnab, apprehended at
the Castle of Lochore in Fifeshire, marched to Dumfries,
and barbarously executed on the Gallows-Hill, a slight
eminence on the north-eastern side of the town, better
known by the name of the Christell Chapel. Bruce sin¬
cerely regretted his fate, and, in the words of Sir Richard
Maitland of Lethington, said, “ ‘ It is ane pity that sa noble
D U M 263
ane knight should die sa cruel ane dead.’ And inconti- Dumfries,
nent in the same place where he was standing when the
tidings came to him, garred found a chapel in honour of
tile Virgin Mary; and, in remembrance of the said Sir
Christell, founded a priest to devine service therein per¬
petually, and pray for the said Sir Christell; and gave to
the said priest and his successors the sum of L.5 sterling,
to be taken of the barony of Carlaverock, for their sustena-
tion. I he ruins of the Christell Chapel were visible in
the beginning of 1715; but when the Jacobite rebellion
broke out in Scotland, the inhabitants of Dumfries hastily
constructed a rampart, and during the operation the ruins
of the old chapel disappeared, the line of fortification
having passed close by their site. It is evident, from the
traces of the foundation, that the building must have been
very small. When Lord Scroop made an excursion in
1570 for the purpose of plunder, the chief magistrate of
Dumfries, at the head of the burgesses, joined Lord Max¬
well in opposing the invaders. They fought gallantly, but
were unfortunately defeated. Dumfries suffered consider¬
ably during the reigns of Charles the First and Second.
In 1617 it was visited by James the Sixth whilst returning
to England. It was at this period that the incorporated
trades received from James what is called the “ siller gun,”
which was ordered to be shot for at stated periods, with
the view of fostering their martial spirit, and skill in the
exercises performed at the wappinshaw. This relic is still
in existence, and the custom is yet observed at the dis¬
tance of seven or nine years, more as a holiday exercise
than for any other purpose. The trades muster in great
strength, borrow guns far and wide, spend three fourths
of the day in shooting, return to an entertainment in their
hall in the evening; and the “ siller gun,” after being won,
is worn for a short period by the best marksman. This
festival forms the subject of a poem, written by Mr John
Mayne, and which is praised for its humour and spirit in
the notes appended to the Lady of the Lake.
Almost no town in Scotland stood forward half so pro¬
minently as Dumfries did at the period of the union in
1707. On the 20th of November of the preceding year,
according to Chalmers, two hundred Cameronians entered
the burgh, issued a manifesto against the great pending
measure, and burnt the articles at the market-cross. The
last cofnmotion of any consequence occurred in 1715,
when the Viscount Kenmure hung on the heights of Ten-
waid, willing to do mischief, and yet timid as to the means
and manner of attack. By a well-managed stratagem he
was induced to depart; and this is believed to have been
the last occasion on which the ancient war-cry of the town,
“ Lereburn,” or “ A Lereburn,” was heard.
Dumfries is the seat of a presbytery, synod, sheriff’s
court, record of sasines, and four banks, branches of the
principal companies of Scotland. There are two churches
in connection with the establishment, an episcopalian, a
catholic, and a number of other chapels supported by dis¬
senters.
In 1745, the Pretender and his rebel army, whilst re¬
treating from England, paid a domiciliary visit to the town
of Dumfries; and for a misdemeanour committed against
some of his followers on their march southward, the town
was compelled to pay a fine, which amounted altogether
to L.4000 sterling. In 1750, however, the crown granted -
to Dumfries L.2800 out of a forfeited estate.
Hosiery, leather, hats, wooden shoes, and baskets, are
the only manufactures worth naming in Dumfries. Cot¬
ton checks at one time were woven on speculation in con¬
siderable quantities; but the trade has declined. The
stocking trade gives employment to about 300 persons, and
produces annually not less than L.20,000 sterling. The
tanning trade, as regards money, is also considerable. An