their other son William, commission agent, Castle-Douglas, died 11th May 1873, aged 58: the wife of the latter, Ann Balieff; and Ann Halcot, mother of Mrs. Burnside, sen., are also named in the inscription.

On the next stone we observe a lengthened obituary, comprising the names of William Forsyth; his wife, Christina Shaw; and the whole of their children, seven in number. Mr. Forsyth was brother of the late Mr. Philip Forsyth of Nithside, and like him a gentleman of intelligence and worth. After spending his earlier years as a West India planter, he resided on his estate at Ladyfield, Dumfries, where he died 29th November 1846, aged 49: of his issue, Mary died at 16, Eliza at 27, Frances at 18, Philip at 17, Leonora at 7, Christina Jane at 22; the last survivor being Ambrose, a fine young man, who, dying in Jamaica, 28th February 1870, at the age of 30, lies buried there, remote from kindred dust. Joseph Forsyth of Raffles, died 25th December 1825, aged 80; and his wife, Jane Costine, are named on another portion of the edifice.

We must pause for a minute at the next monument, commemorating as it does a man who was in more senses than one a merchant prince in our little Burgh. It rises “Sacred to the memory of James M'Whir," who died on the 1st of June 1839, in his 62d year; of his relict, Helen Hannah; of their daughter Helen; and also of the husband of the latter, John M'Turk, formerly of Pennersaughs, who died at Melbourne, 10th February 1855, aged 58. Mr. M'Whir took an active part in town affairs and in all matters pertaining to the port and its commerce he was a leading authority while he lived. If the Nith is not now a great avenue of trade he is not to blame : greatly through his exertions the Act of 1811, for straightening, deepening, and conserving the river, was passed by Parliament; and he presided over the committee of merchants who superintended the operations required by the Act. So much were his free-will services in this capacity appreciated by the Navigation Commissioners that they voted him a sum of 250 guineas. As further illustrative of the high position occupied by Mr M'Whir, we

may mention that when our merchants met to celebrate the Reform Jubilee by a dinner on the 11th of Aug. 1832, he was called on to occupy the chair, and that his speech in proposing the toast of the evening vindicated the appointment, it being well worthy of the great occasion.

James Smith, long tenant of Nethertown, who belonged to a race of industrious farmers, lies in the next plot, died 19th February 1859, aged 69; the neat monument which commemorates him also recording the sad fate of his son, Thomas Maxwell, who, by the capsizing of a boat, was thrown into the river Nith near Kingholm Quay, and perished when in the " early youthful prime" of 17 years, 8th February 1840. Another son, George, who died in childhood, is also mentioned in the inscription.

Turning to the north side of the walk, we see two handsome monuments, raised respectively to commemorate Josephine Mundell Richardson and Mary Ann Richardson, daughters of Burns's friend, Provost Gabriel Richardson, of whom we shall have something to say on visiting the place where he lies buried, near the Mausoleum. The first named lady was the wife of Alexander Hannay, agent for the National Bank, long Treasurer of the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Education Society, first Chairman of the Dumfries School Board, and a gentleman of great worth and public usefulness, who, dying on the 2d of July 1874, aged 81, joined his partner in the tomb, after the long interval of 37 years. The other lady was married to John Burnet, wine merchant. She was thrown out of a gig, which mournful accident caused her death, when in the meridian of womanhood, on the 4th of October 1834: hence the quotation from Scripture which was placed on the monument by her sorrowing husband, "I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke." The Courier, in commenting upon the sad accident, says: "We are not aware of a single occurrence since the fearful pestilence (of cholera) visited our shores that has cast a deeper gloom over the town of Dumfries than the sudden, violent, and much-lamented death of Mrs. John Burnet."

Between these monuments stand other two: the first of them in memory of Jemima Grierson, aged 10 years, and Jane Grierson, aged 24, and their mother, Jean Barron, died at Liverpool, 26th October 1856, aged 55; the second commemorating George Manuel of the East India Company's Service, died 3d December 1843, aged 70, and Elizabeth Hamilton, his spouse.

Repeated reference has been made by us to the Seven Trades and their shooting saturnalia. Rich reminiscences of these are suggested by the next stone, which is raised above the remains of Alexander Howat, butcher, who, as Convener of the Guild, ruled over it right jovially. On the 24th of April 1828 the famous Siller Gun was shot for by the Trades under his popular convenership-that being the very last time in which the Merse of Kingholm was occupied by the craftsmen when competing for King James's tiny trinket. Mr. Howat died on the 2d of July 1834, aged 64. The stone also bears the names of his spouse, Elizabeth M'Guffog, "an affectionate wife, a tender mother, and a sincere friend ;" and of their children-Alexander, who died when 29; Charles Douglas, died at Kingston, Canada, when 28; Helen, when 44; Isabella, relict of Richard Jarrett, died at Hoboken when 57; Jessie, relict of John Connal, jun., died at the same age; also John, son of the latter, who died when 19. Fencing in the burial plot on the east side, stands a very handsome little monument, in memory of the worthy Convener's eldest son, William Howat, captain of the Royal Navy, who died on the 4th of December 1871, aged 73. The inscription states that he retired after nearly forty years of active service; "and by the undeviating rectitude of his conduct, both as a Christian and a gentleman, he gained the sincere esteem and friendship of all who knew him. He died universally respected and regretted.” The stone is richly carved with crowns and anchors, the workmanship of Mr. William Flint, to indicate the service of which Captain Howat was a respected member.

On the next stone we find the name of a devoted preacher of the gospel, James Brown, the first minister placed over the

Cameronians of the town and district, after their erection into a regular charge. Never very robust, he overtasked his strength when visiting sufferers from cholera, during the dreadful epidemic of 1832; and, a martyr to duty, he died of consumption about eighteen months afterwards. His bereaved flock built this handsome monument to shew how much they esteemed him on his own account and for his work's sake, when "building them up in our most holy faith." The epitaph is in the following terms :

"In memory of the Rev. James Brown, late pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian congregation, Dumfries, who died on the 26th of May 1834, in the 33d year of his age and the 3d year of his ministry. Conscientious and faithful in the discharge of all his duties; inflexible in his adherence to what he judged right; unsparing in his labours for the good of all around him; willingly subjecting himself to danger by his unremitting attentions to the afflicted during the fearful visitation of pestilence in 1832; and withal most gentle and amiable in his disposition; he was greatly beloved by all who knew him, and especially by his flock, who have erected this monument in token of the affection with which they cherish his memory."

The next monument marks an era in our municipal life, as well as the place among the dead occupied by a worthy and able man. Under the old pre-Reform system the rulers of the Burgh were to a large extent self-elected; but by a Bill which took effect on the first Tuesday of November 1833 the ten pound owners and occupiers were entrusted with the privilege of choosing the members of the Town Council, twenty-five in number. Among those returned on that memorable day was Mr. Robert Murray, writer. He and Mr. William Gordon, writer, received each 72 votes in their respective wards, none of the others obtaining so many. Of these, the first local representatives elected by popular suffrage, three still survive-Mr. W. Gordon, Mr. George Dunbar, and Mr. James Dinwiddie. When the Council met to distribute the honours of office, Mr. Robert Murray, whose tombstone we have now reached, was chosen as Chief-Magistrate by general acclamation. His rule was of very brief duration, lasting little more than six months, his life and career of public usefulness having been cut short when he was in the prime of manhood, to the great regret of the community. On the monument, which bears to have been erected by his

brother, the late Rev. Andrew B. Murray of Mouswald, there is the subjoined inscription :

"In memory of Robert Murray, Esq., first Provost of Dumfries under the Municipal Reform Act. Elected unanimously, and died in office, 25th May 1834, in the 50th year of his age-much regretted."

A respected burgess, George Corson, brewer, is commemorated by the next stone, died 26th July 1841, aged 41; together with two of his children who were cut off in infancy, and a third, William, who died at 31.

Another man who was eminent in many diverse ways occupies the grave adjoining : his monument bears the following epitaph:

"In memory of John Commelin of King's Grange (Urr), for twenty-three years agent at Dumfries for the British Linen Company, who died in Dumfries on the 21st of March 1836, aged 67 years. Distinguished for his attainments as a classical scholar, a profound knowledge of the laws of his country, eloquence as a public speaker, sound judgment,' and inflexible integrity, he lived esteemed and died lamented by all."

Mr. Commelin was a native of Kirkcudbright. "As a lawyer,” says the Courier, "he was considered searching and sound; as a pleader terse, sagacious, minute, with a richer vein of fancy than he chose to indulge; while as a referee he redeemed the confidence so generally reposed in him by awards that did honour to his head and heart."

The twin tribes of Celts, Hibernian and Scottish, have representatives buried near by; the stone over them commemorating Major William Davis, of the 7th Regiment of Dragoons, died July 30th 1855, aged 85, the cadet of an old Irish family, and his wife, Mary Hill Bisset, descended from an ancient Highland house, of which, we believe, Sir Robert Bisset, the celebrated antiquary, was a member.

At Terraughty, when its possessor was the veteran John Maxwell, whose name we have had frequently to mention in connection with that of Burns, the gardener employed was Mr. James Bogie, a worthy man, who during his latter years occupied St. Michael's Cottage, Dumfries, in the grounds of which he might often have been seen—a fine embodiment of "retired leisure that in trim gardens takes its pleasure." His long rest in the place where no work is done dates from