Le Conte’s engraving 
The Painting
Allan’s High Street 
Allan’s painting
52] Town Officer with the Two Drummers do not appear together in Kay’s Portraits. The group is copied from David Allan’s painting of the High Street and is one of the indications of Allan’s involvement with the Painting. No specific information is given regarding these individuals but a town crier would have been a familiar figure, although he would usually have read his proclamations from the Mercat Cross. No doubt the drummers signalled the pending announcement. Two drummers were retained in the last remnant of the City Guard after the establishment of the Police force in 1805.[i]
[i] Kay’s Portraits 2 p188