Stirling has its affairs administered by a town-council, consisting of fourteen merchants or guild brethren, and seven trades councillors or deacons, who are all annually chosen. The office-bearers in the council are, a provost, four bailies, a dean-of-guild, treasurer, and convener. The present _set_, or burgal constitution, was granted by his late Majesty, with advice of his privy council, on the 23d of May 1781. It is characterised as one of the most _liberal_ in Scotland; but, in the opinion of the intelligent and respectable men of all parties in the burgh, few if any beneficial consequences have resulted from it, and it still calls loudly for amendment. The provost and bailies have a very extensive civil and criminal jurisdiction, in virtue of a charter granted to the town by King James IV., which erected the burgh into a separate sheriffship: they had previously gratified the hereditary sheriff of the county, for the cession of this part of his right. The jurisdiction of the dean-of-guild has latterly been much circumscribed. His being called, along with the bailie of the quarter, and the convener of the trades, to inspect and report, in disputes between conterminous proprietors, relative to their properties, is almost the only remnant of his former authority. Anciently, the provost wore a black gown and bands; now, his only mark of distinction is a gold chain, which is only of modern date (2). The dean-of-guild, when installed into office in the guild-hall, has a ribbon thrown round his neck, at which is suspended a very ancient gold ring, set in precious stones, with the inscription, ‘Yis for ye Deine of ye Geild of Stirling.’ Of late years, the guildry have presented him with a splendid gold chain, to which is attached a medal, bearing the more modern arms of the town. The costume of the town-officers or sergeants, who are four in number, is evidently very ancient. It consists of a cocked hat, turned up with broad silver lace; a long scarlet coat, richly decorated, and having a white button, on which are engraved the town’s arms; scarlet breeches, buckled at the knee; white stockings; a basket-hilted sword, and the ancient Scottish halbard (3).