Search just our sites by using our customised search engine

Unique Cottages | Electric Scotland's Classified Directory

Click here to get a Printer Friendly PageSmiley

Annals of Dunfermline
A.D. 1801 - 1901 - Part 4


1812.—DUNFERMLINE BURNS CLUB FORMED.—"On 25th January, 1812, the members met, and did justice to their "chieftain of the Pudding race," and to Scotland's chieftain in song. (MS. Note.)

 

FIRST ELECTION OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS.—The first election of Police Commissioners for districts in Dunfermline, conformable to the new Police Act of 1811, took place in the Town House on 12th May, 1812. (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. p. 150.)

 

THE POPULATION OF LIMERKILNS in 1812 was 921;  and of Charleston, 787. (MS. Note; see also Fernie's Hist. Dunf. p. 63-63.)

 

PITTENCRIEFF ESTATE. — William Hunt, Esq., proprietor of Pittencrieff Estate, died early in 1812, succeeded by his brother, James Hunt, Esq.

 

VENTURE-FAIR COAL RAILROAD.—Early in the year 1812, Mr. Syme completed a railway between his colliery at Venture-Fair, one mile north-east of the town, and Knabbie Street, where his town coal depot was situated. (MS. Note.) This coal depot, which was situated about the middle of Knabbie Street, north-side, at back of the houses, has been disused for about fifty years.

 

ELGIN COAL RAILROAD.—During the summer of the year 1812, the Earl of Elgin completed a railway between the Nethertown, Dunfermline, and his works at Charleston.  It was also used for conveying coal to the shipping there for exportation. (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. pp. 17, 18.)

 

DUNFERMLINE MANSE CASE—House of Peers' Decision—On the 9th March, 1812, the House of Peers decided that the Minister of the First Charge of the Abbey Church was entitled to have a manse and glebe. (Newspapers of 1812; see also "Abbey Church Manse," in An. Dunf. date 1816.)

 

BLACK'S TOWER IN THE HIGH STREET BUILT.—Mr. David Black, town-clerk of Dunfermline, gained his political law plea with General Campbell this year, 1812, and as a memento of his victory, erected a square tower on the roof of his house, in the High Street; at first it was called Black's Folly, afterwards Black's Tower. (MS. note.)

 

FRIENDLY SOCIETY.—Dunfermline Shoemakers' Friendly Society instituted, (Ferni's Hist. Dunf. p. 52.)

 

PALACE RUINS REPAIRED.—The palace ruins were thoroughly overhauled and repaired during the spring and summer of 1812, by the then new proprietor of Pittencrieff, James Hunt, Esq.

 

While the repairs were in, progress, one of the workmen made an interesting discovery, viz., in striking with his trowel the decayed plaster covering the inside of the roof of the fine bay window, upper storey, at the south-east end of the palace wall, the whole of the plaster cracked, gave way, and fell

 

 

to the ground, when immediately there was revealed to view a finely sculptured stone, covered with carved emblems, and having, apparently, in Saxon characters, the date1100. Shortly after this discovery, on a close inspection of the stone, the sculpture was found to be a graphic illustration of Luke i. 28-38, and hence it was afterwards known as the "ANNUNCIATION STONE." The above an exact representation of this celebrated stone, which may be described thus;—On the right is a representation of the Angel Gabriel, with outspread wings, holding in his right hand a sceptre, and in his left a scroll, proceeding towards the beams on which the emblem of the Holy Ghost is descending toward the Virgin. On this scroll or ribbon, in old capitals, are the words—AVE GRATIA PLENA DNS TEC  [Dominus Tecum]—that is, Hail, full of favour, the Lord be with you. Before the Virgin Mary, on the left, there is a pillar-table, on which a book rests, having on it in Latin, with some abbreviations, Mary's answer, in small Roman capitals, viz,, ECCE •ANCILLA DI • FIAT • MICHI •S •V •T—that is, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, Be it unto me according to thy word; the abbreviation SVT. means, Secundum verbum tuum. At the lop appears the emblem of GOD the FATHER, and to the left- descends in rays of light or glory, the symbol of the Holy Ghost, as already mentioned, on the head of Mary; in front of the little table is a two-handed pot, with a lily in it, the supposed emblem of purity; and on the right of it, in the lower centre of the stone, is a shield with the arms of George Dury, the last Abbot of Dunfermline on it, all in alto relievo, therefore the sculpture and the arms must have been cut in Dury's time, vis., 1538-1560. Below the Dury arms is the great puzzle date, 1100. From 1812 till 1859, these supposed figures gave rise to much controversy among antiquaries. (See An. Dunf. 1859, and "Annunciation Stone.") The Arabic numerals were introduced into Europe about the year 1253. It was this fact, when being compared with this date, 1100, that perplexed and puzzled archaeologists.

 

COMMERCIAL BANK.—A Branch of the Commercial Bank of Scotland was established in Dunfermline in 1812. (MS.)

 

LITERATURE.--Religious Catechism, with Forms of Prayer.  For the use of Children. Printed and sold by John Millar, 20th Oct., 1812,"This is a l6mo of thirty-six pages—an excellent little work. The printer was the author. It has been long out of print. The writer has a copy; probably the only one extant.

 

A small work, entitled, On the Advantages of a General Peace. Extracted by Permission from the Edinburgh Review; printed and published by John Miller, Dunfermline, 12mo,42 pp. Very scarce. (MS.)

 

PRINTING PRESSES.—Mr. James Lothian, teacher, Charleston, near Dunfermline, invented and constructed a small printing press, which had a peculiarly powerful motion. The press was used privately for printing elementary school-books, hymns, Scripture-texts, and geographical questions for the general use of the school and the village of Charleston. Mr. Lotlian left Charleston for Alloa in 1813. He died in 1862, in the 82nd year of his age, greatly respected and regretted by a wide circle of friends. He was editor and proprietor of the Alloa Advertiser. At this period, in Dunfermline and vicinity, two printing presses were owned by John Miller and Andrew Angus. Theirs were public presses. There were likewise two private presses, belonging to David Paton and James Lothian. (See also An, Dunf. 1813.)

 

POST AND STAMP REVENUES.—In Dunfermline, for 1812, the Post-Office revenue was £1000, Stamp-Office, £1840. (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. pp. 52, 53.)

 

PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Major David Wilson, Dunfermlrne, was re-elected Provost, September, 1812, (Burgh Records.)

 

MONEY DISTRIBUTED IN CHARITY.—During the year 1812, the moneys distributed in charity to the poor of the parish of Dunfermline, the Kirk Session, the Town Council, the Fraternity of Guildry, the eight Incorporated Trades, the Burgher, Anti-Burgher, and Relief Sessions, and the Friendly Societies, amounted to £1343 2s. 3d. Fernie's Hist. Dunf. pp. 50, 51.)

 

1813.—DUNFERMLINE CORN MARKET.—This market was established in January, 1813. The farmers meet at the Cross, every Tuesday, at one o'clock, and dispose of their grain by sample. (MS.)

 

THE LIMEKILNS FEMALE FRIENDLY SOCIETY was formed on 9th April, 1813. (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. p. 51.)

 

LITERATURE.—" The History of Dunfermline, gather'd from good Autority, personal knoledge, AND hear-say. Printed by the Author; D. patton 1813." This history consists of thirty-six pages "16mo-quarto ;" it is in "limping verse," and descriptive of a few particulars regarding Dunfermline. It is embellished with seven rough woodcut illustrations, engraved by the author—1st, the frontispiece, representing the Town-house from the north ; 2nd, the Tower Bridge (with two arches too many); 3rd, north-west view of the Monastery; 4th, north view of the Parish Kirk; 5th, south-back of houses in Bridge Street, and Arch of the Bridge , 6th, north view of the Guild Hall; and 7th, east view of the Old Town-house, or Tolbooth. The following is a copy of the rhyming Preface :—

 

" To the Reader.

Now reader ye may read this rime,                    I thought to let it gett the air

and cairefuly consider'd                                     and not in my pocket Smother'd

It's the history of Dunfermline town                  Some will treat it with a sneer

from different quarters gather'd                         and say what nonesence is it

As my materials was not good    '                      But says another ye need. not spear,

I've given you'd as I had it                                 it's Just like him that made it

Consider the towels wherewith I wrought         I think this is the worst that can be said

                                       

Who cou'd have better made it                          For I mean no man to anger

I sought and screaped. heer and there               I hop to see a history of this town

and fowght to gett it gather'd                            with print a good dale thranger"

 

 

Several extracts from this little history are inserted in The Annals at appropriate places. It is now excessively rare. Only two copies are known to be extant. >From one of them the writer made a facsimile some short time ago. The woodcuts of this work are still extant, and in good condition.

 

PRINTING.—William Meldrum, teacher, Brucefield, near Dunfermline, "got a heart-motion printing-press made by a smith, purchased a lot of old types, and commenced printing on a small scale in 1813. His work was chiefly confined, in his bye-hours, to the printing of handbills, texts from the Scriptures on small cards for Sunday schools, and sic-like." Mr. Meldrum ceased printing in 1844.  (MS. Note.)

 

LITERATURE.—"Proceedings of a Craw Club, Held in Fife on the Fourth of June. As Reported by Peter the Plowman. Printed for a Craw Club, By D. Patton Dunfermline. 1813." This small " 16mo-quarto," consists of twenty-two pages. There is a vignette of the Monastery of Dunfermline from the north-west on the title-page, and a "howlet on the wing" above the finis. The following lines extracted from the production will suffice to show the tenor of the work :—

 

"A Craw Club in Fife held a meeting this day

For the purpose of taking (now mark what I say)

Into their most serious consideration

The harm that's done by the Craws of the nation

And more especially the Craws that's in Fife

Because that of late they've grown so rife

And to devise some new plan or other

To extirpate them—Fife altogether

Mr. B . . . near Dunfermline of talents most rare

By the whole meeting was call'd to the chair

Then a member whose name is unknown, to us

Was the first who rose up, and nearly spoke thus

Preses I rise for the purpose of stating

As brief as I can to this worthy meeting

How that I'm rob'd every day in my life

By these wicked craws, that are harboar'd in Fife

For instance last week I sew some oat seed

But how these black vermine upon it did feed

I believe they have scarcely left ony ava

But what they've devoured and carried awa;

Beside' they have eaten some bolls of barley;

So if they continue they'll ruin me fairly " &c.

 

Other members are made to speak in much about the same strain. Then comes "a string of prosaic resolutions," viz, (1), That every one who has land should shoot the black robbers. (2), A penny to be offered for " every dead craw." (3), To keep in store " a twa barrl'd gun and plenty of powder," (4), That a charge be given to the Laird of L———die to attack them on flank and rear. (5), That a " tun of bird-lime be secured." (6), That the resolutions be inserted in the Edinburgh papers. (7), That thanks be given to " the Squire for his conduct in the chair." This small production is also very rare. The writer has the only copy known to be extant.

 

WEAVING—Number of Looms.—The number of weavers' looms in 1813 was 1000, of which 930 were within the limits of the parish, (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. pp.55, 56,)

 

LITERATURE.—"Proceedings of a Craw Court, held in the Woods of Pittencrieff on Sunday, April 18th; As Reported by an Ancient Howlet, Portioner in the Abbey-Steeple of Dunfermline, and carefully Edited by a Friend to the Feathered Tribes. Dunfermline: Printed for the Craw-Court by John Miller. 1813." This is an 8vo pamphlet of 12 pages; vignette of north-west view of the Monastery on title-page. The work is in rhyme, and is based on fourteen " suppossitionary resolutions." It is an amusing production, and is the composition of the late Andrew Mercer, Dunfermline. The following is an extract from the 1st and 14th Resolutions, which will suffice as a specimen of the work:—

 

"l, Resolved—

That, from days of King David, that priest-loving saunt,

The old Abbey grounds were our privileged, haUnt,

Where, as either tradition, or memory proves,

We managed our business, and followed our loves ;

While our neighbours in peace wove their cloutin and diaper,

We unplagued ftilh Craw Bounties, and they with Bank-Paper."

 

"14. Resolved—

That if this our proceeding no tenderness teaches,

Next week we do publish Addresses and Speeches;

For we, freeborn Craws, claim the rights of the press,

And our Whitbreads and Erskines shall get us redress ;

Or our friends from Blair-Adam can up in a trice

To London, and fetch us the best of advice ;

Thus, one way or other, we'll work our relief—

So a fig for the Craw-Club—Long Live Pittencrieff."

 

This pamphlet has been long out of print. The writer has a copy of the few that remain. Mr. Mercer composed, and published a similar production in 1816.

 

REID'S MORTIFICATION.—"The rental for crop, for 1813, derived from this mortification, amounted to £129." (Fentie's Hist, Dunf. p. 50.)

 

THE BURGH REVENUE this year from coal, town-customs, &c., was about .£1500.

 

PUBLIC LAMPS IN THE BURGH.—There were 115 public lamps in Dunfermline in 1813. (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. p. 13.)

 

POST AND STAMP REVENUE FOR 1813.—From the Post-Office, £1050; from the Stamp-Office, £1515. (Fernie's Hist.Dunf. p. 52, 53.)

 

LITERATURE.—" The Dialogue Between the Old and New Light Burghar Kirks of Dunfermline—the second edition, with aditions and impruvments. Printed and sold by D. P., the author: June, 1813."

 

REMARKABLE FEAT IN WEAVING.—A Man's Shirt Woven in the Loom.—Mr. Henry Meldrum, Nethertown, who, in the year 1808, wove a woman's shirt in his loom, this year " surpassed that feat," for he wrought in his loom a man's shirt. The breast consisted of a piece of double-damask woven into the shirt, and had on it the figure of a lion, with "Britannia, 1813." "An ingenious part of the work is the contracting of the body of the shirt at the neck-collar, and of the sleeves at the shoulder and wrist-bands, so as to leave the usual quantity of surfling or fulness, while the collar, shoulder, and wristbands are, as in ordinary cases, perfectly plain. All this was done without any aid from the needle! There are button-holes in the neck and sleeves, and buttons on the neck of the shirt, seemingly done in the same way. There is also an imitation of two rows of stitching on the wrist-bands." (MS. Note.)

 

LITERATURE.—" The Good Old Way Defended. By William Smith, teacher. Crossford.  Printed by John Miller, Dunfermline, 1813."  This work is a rhyming defence of the Old Licht Kirk (the good old way!) and appears to be a reply to some of the " improvements " introduced by David Paton in his Dialogue (second edition), published in June this year. No copy of Smith's book is known to be extant.

 

THE UNION MASONIC LODGE (250) FOUNDED.—In consequence of "misunderstandings and dissensions among the members of St. John's Lodge, No. 26," a great many of them this year severed themselves from it, and formed a new lodge, under the designation of "The Union Masonic Lodge of Dunfermline." Their place of meeting was then, as now, in the Mason's Lodge, Maygate. (MS. Note.)

 

PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Major David Wilson, of Dunfermline, re-elected Provost, Sept., 1813. ( Burgh Records.)

 

CHAPEL KIRK.—The Rev. David Murray was inducted minister of the Chapel Kirk, Dunfermline, on 23rd December, 1813, as successor to the Rev. John M'Whir, who was on 20th September of this year translated to Urr, Dumfriesshire.

 

PAUPER'S ROLL.—The number of poor on roll of Kirk-Session during 1813, 136; sum disbursed to them, £519 12s. 81/2d .  (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. p. 46.)

 

1814.—POST-OFFICE AND STAMP REVENUES IN 1814.—Postal Revenue, £1080; Stamp Revenue, .£1536 10s.

 

ST. MARY'S CHAPEL.—The last vestige of the ruin of the Chapel of St. Mary, which stood near the north end of Elgin Street, opposite foot of Moodie Street, was removed in 1814. (MS. Note.)

 

BRUCEFIELD SPINNING MILL.—This year, 1814, it was ascertained that there were 179 persons employed in this milt, (See An. Dunf. date 1792; Fernie's Hist. Dunf. p. 124.)

 

STATISTICAL TABLE, DUNFERMLINE.—The following is a list of professions and trades in 1814:—

 

Clergymen (Established Church

   and Chapel Kirk),...   3

Clergymen (Dissenting),  .    .   6

Physicians,    ....   3

Surgeons, .....   6

Writers,  .....   8

Manufacturers, .    .    .    . 32

Brewers, .....   5

Schoolmasters, .    .    .    . 19

Schoolmistresses who teach English,    .....   5

Officers of Excise,   ...   4

Officers of Customs, .    .    .  1

Messengers-at-Arms, ...   4

Smiths, including Journeymen, but not Apprentices,   .    . 64

Weavers, ..... 873

Wrights, .    .    .    .   111

Tailors,   .    .    .    .    .52

Shoemakers,   .    .    .    .68

Barbers, ..... 23

Masons, .    .    .   (about) 48

Fleshers, .    .    .    .   11

 

Average Value of Table Linen Manufactured in 1814

   from..........................................................£90,000 to ,£100,000

Iron-Stone ................................................(tons) 4,000 to    5,000

Coals, Wrought, .................................................(about) 120,000

   Exported..........................................................................90,000

Acres in the Parish............................................................15,500

   Arable..............................................................................12,800

   in pasture and under water..............................................2,000

   in plantations........................................................................700

Real Rent, .......................................................................£24,000

Landed Property belonging to the Burgh................(acres) 900

Annual Revenue,...............................................................£1,500

Public Fairs in the year,..............................................................8

 

LIMEKILNS SHIPPING.—In the year 1814 there were four brigs, one schooner, and about 137 sloops belonging to Limekilns. (Fernie's Hist. Dunf, p. 63.)

 

CHARLESTOWN SHIPPING in 1814 consisted of one brig and sixteen sloops. (Fernie's Hist. Dunf. p. 65.)

 

LITERATURE.—"Sacred Poetry for Children, on the Greatness, Wisdom, and Goodness of God as manifested in the works of Creation, Providence, and Redemption, &c., by J. Miller, Dunfermline; printed and sold by John Miller. 1814." This small 16mo consists of seventy-eight very excellent hymns, pp. 98; long since out of print. A copy is in our possession.

 

CIARNEYHILL CHURCH ORDINATION.—The Rev. John Moir, from Bucklyvie, ordained Minister of this Church, on 13th September, 1814 [Successor to Mr. Blair]. (Mackelvie's Annals and Statistics, p. 183; see also An. Dunf. date 1868,)

 

POPULATION NOTES.—Crossford in 1814 had 388 of a population; Mastertown,110; Crossgates, 304. (Fernies Hist. Dunf, pp. 66-68.)

 

PROVOST OF DUNFEMRLINE.—Major Wilson, of Dunfermline, re-elected Provost. (Burgh, Records, Sept., 1814.)

 

FLAX SPINNING MILL.—A Flax Spinning Mill was established in the old Poor's-House, at the junction of Viewfield Place with East Queen Ann Street, by M'lntosh & Inglis. The machinery was driven by hand. It was lighted by gas—the first so lighted in town; the burners were thimbles with small holes in the top. Many turned out to see the "new-fangled light." This mill continued at work for a short time only. (MS. Note.)

 

LITERATURE.—" The Saxon and the Gael; or, the Northern Metropolis, including a View of the Lowland and Highland Character,"  4 vols-12mo. Mrs, Johnston, the talented wife of Mr. Johnston, teacher in Dunfermline, was the authoress of this work. It was composed in the Newrow, in a house opposite the end of Canmore Street during 1813, and published in Edinburgh in 1814.

 

1815.—THE DUNFERMLINE PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY  was established l/th March, 1815. Its articles were revised in 1817 and 1833. 

 

IRON FOUNDRY.—Mr. Campbell "commenced Ironfounding on a small scale in the smithy premises of Tam Thomson, smith, Maygate." (MS. Note.)

 

THE DUNFERMLINE SAVINGS' BANK was established in 1815 ; and in 1838 was connected with the National Security Savings' Bank. (For full particulars see Chal. Hist. Dunf., vol. i. pp. 386-388.)

 

BATTLE OF WATERLOO.—"Great public rejoicings on the arrival of the news, on the 24th June, that we had gained the fight, and had silenced Bonaparte," (MS.)

 

"METHODIST KIRK," MAYGATE.—This church was founded in 1815, and opened for worship in 1816; the Rev. Abraham Crabtree, minister. This congregation assembled for worship in the Masons' Lodge, Maygate, for two years before their church was built. By the year 1823, the members of this persuasion had so much dwindled away that the kirk had to be shut up; afterwards it was let for public purposes, &c.

 

THE "AULD LICHT KIRK" (Original Burghers).—The Rev. Wm. Dalziel was inducted minister of this church in 1815. (MS. Note.)

 

PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Major David Wilson, of Dunfermline, was re-elected Provost, Sept., 1815. (Burgh Records.)

 

LITERATURE.—"A History of the Town and Parish of Dunfermline. By John Fernie, one of the Ministers. Dunfermline: Printed and sold by John Miller, 1815." This "History" consists of 199 8vo pages, and is embellished with eight copper-plate engravings, viz.—i. (Frontispiece) View of Dunfermline Abbey from the South ; 2. View of the Town-House from the North ; 3. North View of the Guildhall; 4. View of Dunfermline from the West Park of Pittencrieff; 4. Seal of the Burgh; and four Seals of the Abbey of Dunfermline. The History is divided into 12 chapters, and concludes with an Appendix of interesting matter. This is an excellent History so far as it goes. It is, however, to be regretted that it did not embrace a more extended range. The selling price to subscribers was 10s. 6d. It has been out of print for the past 50 years, and has in consequence become very scarce. The writer has one of the few copies now remaining. It may be noted here that the Rev. Mr. Fernie wrote his History of Dunfermline in the year 1814, in Canmore Street—the last house at the east end of the street (south-side comer).

 

INSURANCE.—Limekilns and Chariestown shipmasters established an insurance society amongst themselves, by which all accidents at sea are repaid under certain regulations. (Mercer's History of Dunfermline, p. 203.)

 

LITERATURE.—"A Dialogue Betueen the Old & New Light Burghar Kirks of Dunfermline, over-heard By a benighted travler. The third edition, enlarged and improuv'd; To which are Added Savrl Answers And Epistles to Willy, Concluding in a most serious Battle. Printed by (the author) D. patron Dunfermline 1815.—price eightpence." Such is the wording on the title-page of this " i6mo-quarto." It has 116 pp.; and six rude woodcut engravings by the author—1. A Mailed Warrior (frontispiece); 2. Wully Smith (teacher of Crossford) hawking his works, in a bending position; 3. Two Men—an old priest-like sage, with sword uplifted towards the man in front of him ; 4. A Mailed Warrior—target in left hand, and a sword in the right; 5. An Old Castle ; 6. The figure of a Sailor before a Steeple, hat in hand, and pointing upwards with his left. The first 16 pages of this small book are in prose, detailing the author's opinion of the relative merits of the Old and New Burgher Churches; then follows a reproduction of his first work (see " Literature," in ah. Dun/. date 1811); then comes, in prose, his most serious battle with " Wully," &c. The composition of the rhyme is similar to specimens already given, consequently extracts need not be given here, but the short preface prefixed may be reproduced ; it is as follows :—

 

                                                     " TO THE READER.

'* I hop my matrer ye'll consult                                  '' Read me fair, employ your thought

     While the manner ye lat pass                                   ye'll soon know what I mean,

  Turn'd up letterers and woris miss-spell'd                When ye see a word thut -will not fit

     I hop you will excuse.                                                  pray mend it with your pen"

 

The writer is in possession of a copy of this curious little work, perhaps now the only one extant.

 

1816.—"A LANCASTERIAN SCHOOL " was instituted in the old Cameronian Meeting-house, Priory Lane (Reid's Park), Mr. John Beecher, master. There were 285 pupils. (MS. Note.)

 

A NEW GRAMMAR (OR HIGH) SCHOOL was founded in March, 1816. (See date An. Dunf. 1817.) "The scholars, during the building of the new school, were accommodated in the west room of the lower flat of the Town-house."

 

GREAT AND SUDDEN FALL OF RAIN.— One of our Notes states that on 18th June, 1816, "there was a sudden and very heavy fall of rain. It came on a little after mid-day, and rained an even-doon-pour until five o'clock. The streets were strewed with the wreck of shop-keepers' barrels, boxes, stools, chairs, &c. The lower part of the town, south of the Netherton, seemed as if it had become a large loch, and Dry-mills appeared as if standing on an island at the end of the loch." As this spate, occurred on 18th June (Waterloo-Day), it was long locally known as "the Waterloo Spate."

 

THE GUILD HALL—The Spire Inn and Hotel.—"This building, which had turned out a great failure, and which had since 1808 stood unfloored, without doors, windows, &c., was in 1816 purchased from the Guild brethren, for a comparatively small sum, by Mr. Alexander Robertson, manufacturer. It was by him shortly afterwards floored and otherwise properly finished, and then let on lease as an hotel to Mr. Robert Laidlaw, who named it ' The Spire Inn and Hotel,' and for a long series of years carried on business in it." (MS. Note; An. Dunf, dates 1849 and 1850.)

 

LETERATURE.—"Proceedings of a Craw Court, held in the Woods of Pittencrieff, on Sunday, the Tenth of March, 1815. Viva la Bagatelle.  Dunfermline: Printed for the Craw Court by John Miller." This is an 8vo pamphlet of thirty-two pages. A north-west view of the Monastery is on the title-page. The work is in rhyme, and under the following sections;—The Exordium, The Proclamation, The Gathering, The Convocation, The Deliberation, The Digression, The Orations. The Libel, The Reply, The Reports, &c; concluding with Notes. As this work is somewhat similar in its outcome to that of 1813, it will be useless to give quotations. Let the Preface suffice:—

 

                                                                  Preface.

Just when I thought my work was o'er,          'Twould be like meat without a grace;

And that I had to pen no more.                          Or whit is worse, a noseless face :

Comes MILLER down to our Old Palace        Brides, I want a. page or so,

(These Printers are most teasing fellows,)       To fill up a blank leaf, you know.

And much. he spoke, and loud he bawi'd,       Come on—fall to't—the boy is wailing."

For something he a Preface called :                 Says I, " Dear Miller, cease your prating—

" Why,MILLER, now I thought," says I,         The thing's impossible—can't be ;

"That all was done." Says he, "0 fie:                Besides, its use I cannot see;

We want a PREFACE,—roust be had,             I've said. all that I meant to say,

And that directly." I look'd sad,                        So don't insist upon't I pray."

Because I had got nought to say                  "I must insist upon't," he said ;

In shape of  Preface, any way ;                       A page or two will soon be made ;

And. tho' the matter may be small;                 Don't eat the cow, and leave the tail."

It can't consist of nought at all:                       But all he said could not avail-

Says he, " A book I never saw                        I will not pen a Preface now ;"

Without a Preface (I cried, Pshaw !)              So said "Good bye !" and made my bow.

 

Mr. Andrew Mercer was the author of the work; Mr. John Miller, the printer and publisher of it. The writer was long on intimate terms of friendship with Mr. Mercer. He was a gentle, amiable, and kind man, abounding in racy humour. (For the other works by Mr. Mercer, see An. Dunf. dates 1813, 1819, 1828, 1838.)

 

LITERATURE.—" The Republished Dunfermline Psalmody. By John Malcolm. 1816." This music-book, a thin 4to, was highly popular in its day, and had a large sale. It has been long out of print. (An. Dunf. 1809.)

 

WEAVING,—The annual value of table-linen manufactured in Dunfermline, from June, 1815, to June, 1816, was ascertained to amount to £103,020. (MS.)

 

THE ABBEY CHURCH MANSE, built for the minister of the First Charge, July, 1816. (MS. Note.)

 

FOUNDRY.—Mr. Campbell abandoned his founding premises in the Maygate, and commenced "the Dunfermline Foundry, in Clay-Acres, on a large scale. Fifteen hands were employed." (MS.)

 

LITERATURE.—" An Introduction to the French Language. By John Johnston, Teacher, Dunfermline." This is a work of 145 pages 12mo, published in 1816 by John Miller, Dunfermline; price 3s.

 

COMMERCIAL SCHOOL FOUNDED.—In the summer of 1816 the Commercial School was founded. It is situated south of the east end of Viewfield, and consists of three storeys. It was erected by the Guildry.  (MS. Note.)

 

POSTAL AND STAMP REVENUES.—Amount of Revenue from Post-Office, £1141 8s. 10d.; from Stamp-Office, £1577 17s. 2d.

 

PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Major David Wilson, Dunfermline. re-elected Provost, Sept., 1816. (Burgh Records.)

 

THE "DON" CLUB.—This agricultural club, met twice a-year in the Spire Inn and Hotel. (Regist. Dunf. for 1829.)

 

DEATH OF THE REV. JOHN FERNIE.—The Rev. John Fernie, minister of the Second Charge of the Parish Church, Dunfermline, died in his house, east end of Canmore Street, on Nov. 2nd, 1816.

 

CHAPEL KIRK.—The Rev. David Murray, minister of the Chapel Kirk, Dunfermline, was translated to the Second Charge of Dysart Parish on 27th November, 1816. (Parish Records.)

 

DEATH OF JOHN RIED, TEACHER.—John Reid, teacher. Rotten Row, Dunfermline, died on 23rd December, 1816, aged 70 years. He was a very successful private teacher for nearly fifty years in the burgh, and "turned out many excellent scholars."  He was a self-taught Mathematician, was learned in the sciences of Astronomy, Optics, and Mechanics, and constructed many curious sun-dials and tide-rotulas. Between the years 1790 and 1812 he taught with great repute a navigation class in his school, which was well attended by sailors, old and young, from Inverkeithing, Limekilns, Torryburn, &c. For a long period he was the precentor in Queen Ann Street Church. He died in the high esteem of all who knew his high intellectual worth. He was interred in the North Churchyard, Dunfermline, where, in 1817, a monumental tomb was erected to his memory, having on its white marble slab the following inscription :—

 

" To the Memory of John Reid, nearly fifty years Teacher in Dunfermline, who died 323rd December, 1816, in the 70th year of his age. His Scholars, as a testimony of their high sense of his abilities and moral worth have erected this Monument."

 

Mr. Reid's school and house was at the top of the Rotten Row, north. side of the street now called West Queen Ann Street.


Return to Book Index


 


This comment system requires you to be logged in through either a Disqus account or an account you already have with Google, Twitter, Facebook or Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account with any of these companies then you can create an account with Disqus. All comments are moderated so they won't display until the moderator has approved your comment.

comments powered by Disqus

Quantcast