Maxwelltown

   MAXWELLTOWN, a burgh of barony, and lately a quoad sacra parish, in the parish of Troqueer, stewartry of Kirkcudbright; adjoining the town of Dumfries, and containing 3230 inhabitants. This place, originally the small village of Bridge-End, was erected into a burgh of barony in 1810, in favour of its superior, Marmaduke Constable Maxwell, Esq., of Nithsdale, in honour of whom, upon that occasion, it assumed its present name. The town, which since that time has greatly increased in extent and population, is pleasantly situated on an eminence on the western bank of the Nith, opposite to the royal burgh of Dumfries, to which it forms an interesting suburb, and with which it is connected by two bridges over the river. The more ancient portion of the town is irregularly built, consisting of indifferently-formed and narrow streets, of which the houses possess neither uniformity of character nor pretension to neatness; but the more modern portion is handsome, its streets regular and spacious, and the houses of very superior appearance. The inhabitants, in the year 1833, adopted the general police act, for paving, lighting, and cleansing the streets; and the aspect of the town has thus been greatly improved, and the comfort of the population enhanced. In the environs, which are very pleasant, are four nurseries, two of them having hot-houses for raising grapes and other fruits, which are produced in great perfection.

   A manufactory for damask which is celebrated for the beauty of its texture, and the elegance of its patterns, gives employment to several of the inhabitants; and a waulk-mill, a dye-house, a considerable brewery, and two rope-walks, have long been established. Two iron-foundries, also, have been lately erected, but though both are in full operation, they scarcely afford a supply of articles adequate to the demand. The market for butchers' meat is amply furnished with every variety, and for some time it took precedence of that of Dumfries. A branch post-office under that of Dumfries has been established; and facility of communication is maintained by the public road from London to Portpatrick, and that to Glasgow and Edinburgh by Thornhill and Elvanfoot, both of which pass through the town. The government is vested in a provost, two bailies, and four councillors, all of them elected annually; and the magistrates hold courts for the determination of civil actions to a limited extent, and for criminal cases as occasion may require, in both of which they are assisted by the town-clerk, who acts as assessor. The civil jurisdiction of the magistrates is, however, much lessened by the small-debt courts held here by the sheriff; and their criminal jurisdiction is confined chiefly to offences punishable by fine or imprisonment. The court-house is a plain building, but has sufficient accommodation for transacting the public business of the burgh, and for holding the several courts; and below it is a gaol for the confinement of delinquents till their committal to the gaol of Kirkcudbright. A chapel of ease, to which an ecclesiastical district having a population of 1932 was till lately annexed, was erected here within the last few years; it is a neat building containing 1000 sittings, of which thirty-six are free; and the minister has a stipend of £150, arising solely from seatrents, but neither manse nor glebe. The members of the Free Church have a place of worship. A school has also been erected of which the master has a salary of £9. 12. from an endowment by the heritors, and £4, the interest of a bequest, in addition to the fees; and there are two other schools, supported wholly by the fees. In all of these, about 250 children are taught.