Gazetteer of Scotland

UUM 8
DUMFRIES, a royal burgb, and the
county town of the shire, is distant 26 miles
N. E. of Kirkcudbright, and 75 S. W. of
Edinburgh. Itis situated on the left bank
of the river Nith, about Smiles above where
it discharges itself into the Solway Frith.
In the 12th century, it was a place of some
consideration. It was in the church of this
town, that Robert Bruce killed the traitor
Cumiue, who bad betrayed his secrets to
the English. A bridgeoverthe Nith, some
religious houses, and a castle, with the fish-
ings of the river, contributed to form it in-
to a town- While England and Scotland
were separate kingdoms, Dumfries was a
place of strength, where the Scots border-
ers retired from the hostile incursions of
the English. Since the beginning of the
last century, it has made gradual advances
in wealth and population. The principal
street extends full three quarters of a mile,
The whole length of the town, in a direction
parallel to the Nith. Towards the middle
of the town it is nearly 100 feet in width.
Besides this, there are 8 other streets, with
bye-lanes, making the breadth of the town
from a quarter to a third of a mile. Dum-
fries has two handsome churches, with
spires ^ind clocks, a large Catholic, an Epis-
copal, -a. Relief, a United Secession, a Me-
thodist, and a Missionary meeting-house. It
has a tine town-house and guild-ball, a new
prison on an improved plan, an infirmary,
arid house of correction. Here are two
bridges-over the Nith. The lower consists
of 9 arches, and is said to be 500 years old ;
the other is an elegant structure, erected a
lew years ago. The industry of the place
isemployed chiefly for the accommodation
of the inhabitants and the circumjacent
country. It possesses no considerable ma-
nufacture, nor extensive commercial tran-
sactions, though almost every branch of
mechanical and commercial industry is
practised. On the other side of the Nith is
a large village called Bridgend, which is
connected with the town by two bridges.
Dumfries is governed by a provost, 3 bailies,
a dean of guild, a treasurer, and la mer-
chants and 7 trades councillors; and joins
with Lochmaben, Annan, Sanquhar, and
Kirkcudbright, in sending a member to
parliament. Its revenue is about L.1C00
annually. The Circuit Court of Justiciary
for the county of Dumfries and the Stew-
artry of Kirkcudbright is held in the town
twice a year. Dumfries is perhaps a place
of higher gaiety and elegance than any
other town of its size in Scotland. The
•citizen* of Dumfries are fond of polite a-
D U N
musements. They have a well attended
theatre, and regular assemblies. The a-
musements of the town, the advantages
which its excellent schools afford for edu-
cation, and Its convenient and healthy si-
tuation, invite many of the inferior gentry
from the neighbouring counties, to spend
in it a great part of the year. The Dum-
fries and tiall.iw.iy hunt meet here annu-
ally, and the Caledonian hunt occasionally.
King James presented to the trades of Dum-
fries a small silver tube, like a pistol bar-
rel, called the silver gun, with his royal li-
cense to shoot for it eTery year. At that
festival they are mustered in bands, under
the colours of their respective corporations,
and the day concludes with a social enter-
tainment. Dumfries gives the title of Earl
to the chief of the family of Crichton. la
the N. W. comer of the church-yaid is in-
terred the celebrated Robert Burns, to
whose memory there is now erected a splen-
did monument. Population 7120.
DUN, a parish in the county of Angus. It
is situated on the road from Brechin to Mon-
trose, from which towns it is nearly equi-
distant. Its extent in length and breadth
is about 4 miles.— The surface is level, and
the soil rich and fertile. The river South-
esk runs through it, over which there is a
handsome bridge of three arches, erected
in the year 17S7. Population 6H0.
DUNAN POINT, a promontory ou the
S. VV. coast of the isre of Skye.
DUNBAR, a parish in "the county of
Haddington, extending 9 miles along the
coast, and a medksm nearly 2 miles in
breadth. The face of the country is very
pleasant, rising gradually from the coast,
which is generally low and sandy. The
soil is rich and fertile, partly a deep loam,
partly clay, and partly a light motsld. Most
of the fields are enclosed with stone dikes
or thorn hedges. The farmers are generally
opulent and respectable, and are always,
ready to adopt any plan which tends to im-
provements. The parish is watered by two
small rivers, the Tyne and the Biel, which
fall into the sea near the town. Besides
the town and its suburbs Belhaven, there
are two considerable villages, West Bams,
and East Bams. There is plenty of lime-
stone in theparish. On the shore peetiles
are frequently found, and near the harbour
is a fine specimen of martial jasper, which
takes a very fine polish. Here are frequent-
ly found those beautiful specimens of geodes
or septaria, (iron ore,) generally termed the
geodes of Dunbar. Population of the town
and parish 3982.-- The BURGH OF DU N-