recognizes in no stinted way the claims of the poor and the destitute, the ignorant and the depraved. Dumfries is in these respects, however deficient in others, progressing as much as in material wealth; and the knowledge of this circumstance makes us pray all the more heartily, with John Home— "Flourish, Dumfries! may Heaven increase thy store, a prayer which will be echoed by all our indulgent readers, "hereabouts or far away:" and with this benison upon the good old Burgh, we close our labour of love, and bid them respectfully farewell! APPENDIX. A, p. 56. ANCIENT BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS. Tytler, in his "History of Scotland," expresses his decided opinion that the magnificent ecclesiastical structures that rose up in the kingdom during the thirteenth century, were built by associations of French and Italian workmen acting under the auspices of the Papal Church. As connected with this subject, we may quote the following curious inscription cut on a tablet in Melrose Abbey: "John Murdo some time callit was I, And sweet Sanct John, to keep this haly kirk fra scaith." It has been thought by some antiquarians that Murdo was the agent of one of the French or Italian building associations noticed in the text; but Mr. Billings is of opinion that the Melrose inscription cannot well be older than the sixteenth century, and that Murdo, whose name indicates a Scottish origin, performed no work beyond repairs and restorations. B, p. 58.-DEVORGILLA'S BRIDGE. There is a prevalent belief that this bridge consisted at one time of thirteen arches; and guide books and gazetteers combine in saying that such was the case. The only authority that we have seen in support of this idea, is a statement quoted into the "Picture of Dumfries" from Pemberton's "Journey through Scotland," published in 1723, in which the author says: "I passed the river Nith from Galloway to Dumfries over a fair stone bridge of thirteen large arches, the finest I saw in Britain, next to London and Rochester.” Nothing can be more explicit than this declaration; but we know from documents that are undoubtedly genuine, that the bridge in 1681 (that is, forty-two years or thereby before Pemberton saw it) had only nine arches; and that in 1747, twenty-four years after 1723, it had still only nine-a picture and description of the bridge given by Grose, leaving this point beyond the reach of cavil. The author of "A Tour thro' the whole Island of Great Britain," the sixth edition of which was published in 1761-the tour to which it relates having been made several years sooner-says (vol. iv., p. 115):-"Dumfries was always a good town, with large streets. Over the river Nith is a very fine stone bridge at this place, with nine arches, and so broad that two coaches may go abreast on it." If these varying statements be all correct, then we must come to the strange conclusion that, some time after 1681, four new arches were added to the bridge in order to answer Mr. Pemberton's description; and that some time after 1723, and prior to 1747, these four arches were removed, and the bridge reduced till it had only nine arches, as in 1681. The supposition is so incredible that it need not be argued against; and the only right solution of the difficulty that we can see is, to look upon Pemberton's statement about the thirteen arches as one of those mistakes which some travellers-trusting, it may be, to treacherous memories, instead of written notes-are liable. With the view of setting the matter at rest, the street, at the gable of Mr. Adam Lindsay's wine and spirit establishment, was opened at our instance in April, 1866, where the pier of the tenth arch must have been put down, if any tenth arch had ever been in existence. The operation was carefully performed under the direction of an experienced local engineer, who, taking Grose's dimensions of the nine-arch bridge-four hundred feet-added the length of an additional arch, and caused the spot and all around it for a long way to be excavated six feet deep, and probed to a further depth, without finding a trace of any thing resembling the heavy masonic pile of which the other piers consist. The conclusion come to was, that there never had been a tenth pier; and the inference seems to follow, that the bridge never numbered more than nine arches. This experiment, coupled with the other testimony already adduced, has convinced us that the foundation of the other four arches has been laid in the realms of fancy, and not in the solid earth, or shifting sands of the Vennel. C, p. 59.-STATUTES OF DEVORGULLA RELATING TO THE ENDOWMENT OF BALLIOL COLLEGE, Oxford. "Devorgulla de Galweda domina de Balliolo, dilectis in Christo, fratri Hugoni de Hertilpoll et Magistro Wilhelmo de Menyl, salutem in Domino sempiternam. Utilitati filiorum et scholarium nostrorum Oxoniæ commorantium, affectu materno providere cupientes, omnia inferius annotata volumus, mandamus et præcipimus, ab eis inviolabiliter observari; ad honorem scilicet Domini nostri Jesu Christi et Gloriosæ matris suæ Mariæ, necnon et sanctorum omnium. Imprimis, volumus et ordinamus quod scholares nostri omnes et singuli teneantur diebus Dominicis et festis principalioribus, divino interesse officio necnon sermonibus seu prædicationibus in eisdem fastis et diebus; nisi contigerit aliquem ex iis impediri propter urgentem necessitatem vel evidentem utilitatem: cæteris vero diebus diligenter scholas exerceant et studio intendant, secundum statuta Universitatis Oxoniæ, et secundum formam inferius annotatam. Ordinamus etiam quod Scholares nostri teneantur nostris Procuratoribus obedire in omnibus quae ex nostra ordinatione, concessione, commissione ad eorum Regimen et Utilitatem pertinere noscuntur. Item, volumus quod scholares nostri ex semetipsis eligant unum Principalem, cui cæteri omnes humiliter obediant in his quæ officium Principalis contingunt, secundum statuta et consuetudines inter ipsos usitata et approbata; Praedictus autem Principalis, postquam legitime fuerit electus, nostris Procuratoribus præsentetur nec aliquid de suo officio exerceat, antequam ab eis auctoritate nostra in præfato officio fuerit institutus. Cæterum statuimus quod scholares nostri procurent tres missas celebrari singulis annis solenniter pro anima dilecti mariti nostri domini Johannis de Balliol et pro animabus prædecessorum nostrorum omniumque fidelium defunctorum, necnon et pro nostra salute et incolumitate; ita quod prima missa celebratur in prima hebdomada Adventus Domini, et secunda in Hebdomada Septuagesima, et tertia in prima hebdomada post octavas Paschæ et fiant prædictæ missæ de Sancto Spiritu, vel de Beata Virgine, vel pro defunctis, secundum dispositionem Procuratorum. Singulis etiam diebus, tam in prandio quam in cœna dicant benedictionem antequam comedant et post refectionem gratias agant; et orent specialiter pro anima dilecti mariti nostri superius nominati, et pro animabus omnium prædecessorum nostrorum necnon et liberorum defunctorum, pro incolumitate etiam nostra et liberorum, cæterorumque amicorum nostrorum vivorum; item et pro nostris Procuratoribus secundam formam antiquitus usitatam. Et ut melius provideatur sustentationi pauperum, ad quorum utilitatem intendimus laborare, volumus quod ditiories in societate scholarium nostrorum ita temperate studeant vivere, ut pauperes nullo modo graventur propter expensas onerosas; et si contigerit totam communitatem scholarium nostrorum in expensis communibus aliqua septimana excedere portionem a nobis eis impensam, volumus et præcipimus districte quod, ad solutionem illarum expensarum excedentium, nihil omnino recipiatur ultra unum denarium in una septimana ab eis qui, secundum dis cretionem et arbitrium Procuratorum nostrorum, judicantur impotentes et insufficienties ad totalem illarum expensarum solutionem faciendam.” Si æqualis portio deberet ab omnibus sociis exhiberi, prædicta tamen nolumus extendi ad magnam vacationem quæ durat a Translatione Beati Thomæ Martyris, usque ad festum Beati Lucæ, nec etiam ad septimanas in quibus occurrunt festi Nativitatis Dominicæ, Circumcisionis, Epiphaniæ, Pascha, et Pentecostes nec in aliis casibus in quibus Procuratores nostri judicaverint illud omittendum: Volumus etiam Procuratores nostros diligentem habere examinationem super præfata Scholarium nostrorum impotentia, et quod scholares ipsi ad Procuratores accedant cum omni confidentia, pro eorum necessitate intimanda. Et si contigerit aliquem vel aliquos de Scholaribus nostris contra ordinationem illam murmurare, aut occasione istius ordinationis pauperiores verbo vel signo aliquo provocare, volumus quod scholares nostri teneantur sub juramento nobis præstito nomina taliter murmurantium aut provocantium nostris Procuratoribus revelare: qui quidem Procuratores, habita super hoc sufficienti probatione, auctoritate præsentium, sine spe redeundi, ipsum vel ipsos ejiciant indilate. Statuimus etiam quod Scholares nostri communiter loquantur Latinum, et qui passim contra fecerit, a Principali corripiatur; et si, bis aut ter correptus, se non emendaverit, a communione mensæ separetur, per se comedens, et ultimus omnium serviatur: et, si incorrigibilis manserit per hebdomadam, a Procuratoribus nostris ejiciatur. Volumus etiam quod qualibet altera hebdomada inter Scholares nostros in eorum domo disputetur unum sophisma et determinetur; et hoc fiat circulariter, ita ut sophistæ opponant et respondeant, et qui in Scholis determinaverint determinent. Si vero aliquis sophista ita provectus fuerit quod merito possit in brevi in Scholis determinare, tunc ei dictatur a Principali quod prius determinet domi inter socios suos. In fine autem cujuslibet disputationis præfigat Principalis diem disputationis sequentis, et disputationem regat et garrulos cohibeat, et assignet sophisma proxime disputandum, opponentem, respondentem et determinatorem, ut sic melius valeant providere. Consimili modo fiat qualibet altera hebdomada de quæstione. Præcipimus etiam Scholaribus nostris, firmiter injungentes, ut portatorium, quod eis pro anima dilecti mariti nostri concessimus, diligenter custodiant, nec aliquo modo permittant illud impignorari, vel quocunque titulo alienari. Habeant etiam Scholares nostri unum pauperem Scholarem per Procuratores nostros assignatum, cui singulis diebus reliquias mensæ suæ teneantur erogare, nisi Procuratores nostri illud decreverint omittendum. Ut autem omnia et singula prædicta a nostris Scholaribus in tempore Procuratorum quorumcumque inviolabiliter observentur, præsens scriptum sigilli nostri munimine roboravimus. Datum apud Botel, in Octavis Assumptionis gloriosæ Virginis Mariæ, anno Gratiæ MCC. octogesimo secundo." We are indebted for the following translation of the statutes to a young Oxonian, Mr. Robert James Muir, Dumfries: Devorgulla of Galloway, Lady of Balliol, to our brother Hugh of Hertilpool, and Master Wilhelm of Menyl, beloved in Christ, eternal salvation in the Lord. Desiring with maternal affection to provide for the advantage of our sons and scholars resident at Oxford, we will, command, and enjoin all things to be mentioned hereafter, to be by them inviolably observed, to the honour, to wit, of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and His glorious Mother Mary, and eke of all Saints. Firstly, we will and ordain that our scholars, all and singly, be bound on Lord's days and on the greater Feasts to be present at the Divine Office, as well as the sermons or preachings on the same feasts and days, unless any of them shall happen to be let by urgent necessity or evident utility; but on other days they shall diligently perform their tasks, and apply themselves to study, according to the Statutes of the University of Oxford, and according to the scheme hereafter mentioned. We also ordain that our scholars be bound to obey our procurators in all things which, according to our ordinances, grant, and commission, are known to belong to their rule and advantage. We also will that our scholars from among themselves elect a principal, whom all the rest shall humbly obey in those matters which belong to the office of principal, according to the ordinary and approved statutes and customs observed among them. But let the aforesaid principal, after he has been lawfully elected, be presented to our procurators, nor exercise aught of his office before he has been by them instituted, by our authority, in the office aforesaid. Furthermore, we decree that our scholars cause three Masses to be duly celebrated every year for the soul of our beloved husband, John, Lord of Balliol, and for the souls of our predecessors, and all the faithful departed, as also for our own weal and salvation, so that the first Mass be celebrated in the first week of the Advent of our Lord, the second in the week of Septuagesima, and the third in the first week after the octave of Easter; and let these aforesaid be Masses of the Holy Ghost, Masses of the Blessed Virgin, or Masses for the departed, according to the arrangement of our procurators. Also, on every day, both at dinner and supper, let them say a blessing before eating, and after meat let them return thanks, and pray specially for the soul of our beloved husband above mentioned, and for the souls of all our predecessors, as also for those of our departed children, for our own salvation and that of our children, and for that of our other living friends, also for our procurators, according to the form of ancient use. And the better to provide for the maintenance of the poor scholars, whose advantage we intend to study, it is our will, that the richer ones in the society of our scholars study to live in such moderation that the poorer ones be not burdened in any way by heavy expenses; and if it shall happen that the common expenses of the whole community, in any one week, exceed the portion by us allowed to them, we will and strictly ordain that for the settling of those extra expenses nothing be received beyond the sum of one penny per week from those who, according to the discretionary choice of our procurators, are deemed straitened and unable to bear total payment of those expenses. If an equal portion should be furnished by all the fellows, nevertheless we are unwilling that the above be extended to the long vacation, lasting from the Translation of Saint Thomas the Martyr to the Feast of Saint Luke, nor again to the weeks in which occur the Feasts of the Nativity of our Lord, Circumcision, Epiphany, Easter, and Pentecost, nor other cases where our procurators think it should be omitted. We will also that our procurators carefully enquire into the above-mentioned poverty of our scholars, and that the scholars themselves come to our procurators in all confidence to intimate their necessities. And if it shall happen that any one or more of our scholars murmur against the above ordinance, or on account of that ordinance mock the poor scholars by word or sign of any kind, we will that our scholars be held bound under oath fixed by us to reveal the names of those so murmuring and mocking to our procurators; and the latter shall, on sufficient proof of this being given, without delay expel him or them without hope of return, and this by authority of these presents. "We also ordain that our scholars generally talk Latin, and let him who once and again does otherwise be corrected by the principal; if, after being twice or thrice corrected, he does not amend, let him be separated from the common table, to eat by himself and be served last of all, and if he remain incorrigible for a week, let him be expelled by our procurators. We will also that on every alternate week one sophism be disputed and determined by our scholars in their own hall; and let this be done in course, so that the disputants may alternately oppose and reply; and let those who shall determine in the Schools determine the argument. But if any disputant be so advanced in merit that he will shortly be able to determine in the Schools, then let the principal make him first determine in the hall among his fellows. At the end of each debate let the principal fix the day for the next debate, let him regulate the debate and restrain the talkative, and let him appoint the question to be next disputed, the proposer, the answerer, and the judge, so that they may the better be able to provide for it. In such manner let the dispute every alternate week be managed. We also command our scholars, with firm injunctions, diligently to preserve the Portatory which we have granted them for the soul of our beloved husband, and neither to suffer it to be impledged nor alienated in any manner. Let our scholars also have one poor scholar appointed by our procu rators, for whom on every day they shall be bound to set aside the remains of their table, unless our procurators judge that this may be omitted. And that all and every thing aforesaid may be by our scholars inviolably observed in |