126 Anniversary Address. 



assist and encourage, to explain what is obscure, and to point 

 out whatever is beautiful or interesting. 



In presiding over you, I have felt my duties to be honourable 

 and pleasant, rather than laborious ; and any difficulty I might 

 have had in presenting you with an account of our proceedings, 

 has been lessened by the valuable notes made at the several 

 meetings by the Secretary and other Members. 



The last Anniversary was held on September the 8th, 1852, 

 at Newtown St. Boswells ; and of this Meeting the Secretary has 

 furnished notes : — " The Members who attended were Mr. Home, 

 President, Dr. Johnston, the Rev. J. Baird, and Mr. Boyd. 

 Breakfast over, the party started for a walk, to which the fine- 

 ness of the day tempted them to give a pretty wide circuit. 

 They first followed the main road leading towards Melrose for 

 about two miles, when they diverged abruptly into a lane that 

 led up to the Eildon Hills, and reached the summit of the most 

 eastern. Silaus pratensis occurred repeatedly during the first 

 part of the walk ; and at the base of the hill Sanguisorba offici- 

 nalis occurred in three or four places. A large number of swal- 

 lows were coursing over the sward of the side of the hill, exer- 

 cising themselves, no doubt, to fit them for their approaching 

 departure. Descending the hill on its south side, the Allosorus 

 crispits was found abundantly. The party now retraced their 

 steps, and proceeded to visit Old Melrose. They threaded the 

 beautiful grounds around the old mansion, and gained the side 

 of the Tweed, whose banks here are very worthy of the beautiful 

 streams they overhang and adorn. The walk up the green 

 haugh was delightful. An efi'ort was made to reach Leadci* 

 Bridge ; but the distance being greater than was calculated upon, 

 the party were fain to be ferried across the river at Gledswood, 

 whence they began their homeward journey. About Old Mel- 

 rose some hemlocks were observed fully 10 feet in height. Cli- 

 nopodium vulgare and Myrrhis odorata were gathered opposite 

 Gledswood ; and on speeling the steep eastern bank of the river, 

 the front of which is precipitous and craggy, we found it almost 

 covered with Gnaphalium rectum. The walk was now directed 

 by the shortest route, without regard to road or admonitory 

 notices, to the huge and giant-like statue of Wallace, more fit to 

 frighten children than to honour the patriot ; whence a foot- 



