Annan (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Anainn) is a town and former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. Its public buildings include Annan Academy, of which the writer Thomas Carlyle was a pupil, and a Georgian building now known as "Bridge House". Each year on the first Saturday in July, Annan celebrates the Royal Charter and the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a procession, sports, field displays and massed pipe bands.

Edinburgh 7th Augt 1824
My Dear Wife,
Prepare for intelligence of no ordinary nature but forget not to join trembling with your joy. We may now regard the transfer of the school to the Excise grounds as certain. I was informed two days ago that the Lord Register the Honble. Wm. Dundas, (Note 1 ) member of Parliament for the City was to attend the examination of my class and was to deliver a speech. He came accordingly pretty early and told me in a whisper what he had to communicate but continued to attend to the business of the class to join in the plaudits bestowed upon the boys till the teaching or examining was closed - when he made a flaming speech in praise of the High School, your husband and what not - proceeding at last to state that he was happy to have it in his power thus publickly to announce that in a meeting between the Lord Provost (Note 2) and his Majesty's Ministers the matter was so entirely arranged that he might with safety congratulate the public that the ground best suited of all others for the purpose intended would be granted and that he hoped by this day twelve month or soon after, we would occupy a building worthy of the high reputation which the High School at this moment enjoyed, and which this day's appearance justified him in believing it would long continue to enjoy - a building that would prove another ornament in addition to the many of which this extended and splendid city could so justly boast.

His speech was received with thunders of applause from the greatest multitude I ever saw in the High School. Not a few of the Subscribers were present, their faces, when I could steal a glance, were marvellous: but I could not look often, for the speaker addressed himself to me. We dined together - we five I mean - afterwards, and for once I swallowed at least one bottle of claret with various et ceteras, so excessively foolish is excessive joy. I am told, we are all lauded to-day over the town beyond bounds.

This is my only important news, and more important I could scarcely send you. The Lord Provost had insisted that Mr Dundas should attend the examination and make this communication before the latter left London. The Provost himself was not present, he left London yesterday. Great efforts are making in his absence to gain votes for Dr Gordon in preference to Dr Lee, and doubts are entertained of the result. I propose, if the morning be good to leave this on Tuesday morning and be with Mr. Sloan all night. On Wednesday I meet Mr Henning at St. Mary's Lock and hope to reach Moffat: what may be our ulterior plans I cannot yet tell, and as the Dr is at Skinburness (Note 3 ) my hurrying down to Annan becomes the less necessary

Mrs Pyper and the Scotsman (Note 4) are at it - but everyone seems to admit that the Scotsman is mere palaver, and our worthy colleague is in the right. Our good old friend Dr Duncan too has published a letter denouncing vengeance if the magistrates sell the present school - all that now goes for nothing or snuff paper.

Mr Scot is come in and will take William with him. He too sets out on Tuesday. I had a few days ago a letter from Mr Henning who gives me a most flattering account of you all, and the good news this brings will. I am sure, smooth one or two wrinkles from your brow. We had today our great annual breakfast, which went off very well under Mrs Charles' and Jane's management. All other news I reserve till I see you. The Doctor, I am glad to learn, derives advantage from his trip to Saturness

Yours ever
A. R. Carson

The office of Lord Clerk Register is the oldest surviving Great Officer of State in Scotland, with origins in the 13th century. The Clerk-Register was from ancient times the principal Clerk in the kingdom, from whom all other clerks, whatever their government positions, and who were essentially his deputies, derived their immediate authority. He acted also as Clerk to the parliament and Privy Council, where in the old registers and proceedings of parliament he is referred to as Clericus Rotulorum, because the ancient scripts were in rolls of paper (as opposed to codices). These later became termed Rotuli parliamenti, the rolls of court, but were thereafter ordered to be made up into Register books and the respective clerks instructed to transmit those books to the Clerk-Register to be preserved by him in the public archives.

The office formerly had other functions also: as well as the responsibility for public registers and records, the Clerk-register was a Commissioner for the Regalia and Keeper of the Signet. Only these last two functions remain and the office is now largely ceremonial in nature and carries no salary or special privileges.

The role of Lord Clerk Register is combined with the role of Keeper of the Signet, and William Dundas held this position from 1821.
The role has been largely honorific since 1806, when a Deputy Clerk Register was appointed.
The Lord Clerk Register is one of the Commissioners of the Regalia, under a Royal Warrant of 1818, responsible for the Honours of Scotland. In practice this responsibility was delegated to a deputy, then to the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, and now to Historic Scotland.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh is ex officio Admiral of the Firth of Forth, the Provost of Leith is Admiral of the port thereof. In total, there have been 256 provosts and lord provosts. The List of Lords Provost in Edinburgh City Chambers shows that the person holding this position at the time of this letter was Alexander Henderson of Press (1823)

The website for Skinburness has this information.

Skinburness is a small hamlet a mile north of Silloth, in Cumbria, consisting of houses and a hotel. There are wonderful extensive views over the sea to Dumfries and Galloway beyond. The surrounding area is one of Special Scientific Interest, with miles of unspoilt coastline affording wonderful opportunities for walking and bird watching.

Their premises were originally at 257 High Street on the Royal Mile.

I was unable to access the archives on the site to track down the correspondence from Mrs Pyper mentioned in this letter.