Vol 6 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

Transactions. 23Communications.I. Dumfries 2^0 Years Ago. By Mr James S. Thomson.I intend in these few notes to call up a few of the characteristicsof society as it existed here 250 years ago. The features are.strongly akin in many particulars to those existing in our owntime—the same failings are here portrayed and the same virtues,and the names are often those of dwellers in our midst. Thenotes are mainly taken from past records of old session-books,the truth of which I have taken pains to ascertain.In reading overthe old records of the town—both municipal and sessional—one istaken back to the timeof intense religious feeling and hard fightingthat then existed in Scotland. Let me briefly recall theposition of affairs during the period from 1635 to 1654. TheNational Covenant was signed in 1638, and theGeneral Assemblyhad become rather than Parliament the power of the land, and, ashas been justly observed, " Church and State were not convertibleterms, but the former permeated the latter so thoroughly that theGovernment wore quite a Theocratic aspect. What the Assemblyresolved upon the estates readily assented to." The remembranceof this has to be borne in mind when the various penalties enforcedare mentioned here. Various matters are touched upon that havean aspect almost comic in the light of the present, showing historyto be repeating itself in small as well as great events. There isan impression that life at this time was painfully austere, but fromthese recoi'ds we gather that peo^ile's daily life was somewhat likewhat exists in the present. Concurrent with deep religious feelingthere existed amongst the better class the weak brother whose lifewas not all that the minister could have wished. Dealing firstwith the social habits of the town, we find a set of roysteringblades who carried their drinking to the extent of having the towndrummer to assist them in their orgies, and it is ordained ;" Nov.1, 1649. That the session, resenting the great dishonour done tothe liurd by sundry persons in this burgh in the height of theircups, not only abusing the creature to the excess of riot throughdrinking of healths, but likewise by calling the drummer to beatthe drum at every health, do therefore discharge the drummer toanswer any persons in such ungodly demand under pain ofinflicting upon him the sharpest measure of kirk discipline andextruding him from his place withal. Margaret D., spouse toJames L. D., to be rebuked in sackcloth for the sin of drunken-