(Vol. ii., p. 151.)

Your correspondent J.M.G. has brought forward a curious subject, and one
well deserving attention and illustration. A fair is said to have been
held at the meeting of the Black and White Esks, at the foot of
Eskdalemuir, in Dumfriesshire, when the singular custom of _Handfasting_
was observed. The old statistical account of the parish says:

"At that fair it was the custom for unmarried persons of both
sexes to choose a companion according to their liking, whom they
were to live with till _that time next year_. This was called
_handfasting_, or hand-in-fist. If they were pleased with each
other at that time, then they continued together for life; if
not, they separated, and were free to make another choice as at
the first."

John Maxwell, Esq., of Broomholm, in a letter (dated April 15th, 1796)
to the Rev. Wm. Brown, D.D., of Eskdalemuir, says, in reference to this
custom:

"No account can be given of the period at which the custom of
_handfasting_ commenced; but I was told by an old man, John
Murray, who died at the farm of Irvine (as you go from Langholm
to Canobie), and had formerly been a proprietor in Eskdaldemuir,
that he was acquainted with, or at least had seen an old man, I
think his name was Beattie, who was grandson to a couple who had
been handfasted. You perhaps know that _the children born under
the handfasting engagement were reckoned lawful children, and
not bastards_, though the parents did afterwards resile. This
custom of handfasting does not seem to have been peculiar to