HUME OK POLWARTH — CHURCH — THORN. 



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turf. Several cairns are observed in the upper division of the paiish, one of 

 whicli, being lately removed, a human skeleton was found so placed as to lead to 

 a belief that the body had been cut through the middle, and the one half placed 

 over or above the other. An old vyall, or earthen mound, long known by the 

 name of Harit's or Herriot's Dike, crosses the parish, and covld once have 

 been traced fourteen miles eastward, and proceeded, according to tradition, as 

 far as Berwick. The tract is still visible to the north of Westruther. 



Marchmont House, built by the last earl, and embosomed in rich plantations, 

 is a plain but stately mansion, and is approached by one of the noblest avenues in 

 the kingdom. An anecdote is recorded of the noble founder, who, in answer to 

 some critical friend who objected to the exterior ruble-work as unworthy of so fine 

 an edifice, replied, that he intended to Uve in the inside, and not the outside of 

 his house — a consideration, says Mr. Chambers, which is perhaps too little 

 attended to in Scotland. The rooms contain an extensive collection of family and 

 historical pictures ; a fine portrait of Charles XII. ; a relic of some furniture 

 presented to the family by William III. ; a holograph of Queen Elizabeth, 

 addressed to the earl, and expressing her satisfaction with his services in 

 promoting the union. 



There is a family tradition,* which relates that Sir Patrick Hume of Pol- 

 ■warth, f afterwards earl of Marchmont, being obliged, in consequence of political 

 persecution, to quit Redbraes-house — the original name of the above mansion^ 

 and cross the country a little above Greenlaw, met with a man of the name of 

 Broomfield, the miller of Greenlaw-mill, who was repairing a slap or breach in 

 the mill caul. Sir Patrick, addressing him by the occupation in which he was 

 engaged, said, — " Slap, have you any money ?" upon which Broomfield supplied 

 Viim with what was considered necessary for his present exigency. Sir Patrick, 

 it is added, was obliged to pass over into Holland, but when he came back 

 with King William, did not forget his former benefactor in need. It is not 

 stated what return he made him, but the family were settled in a free house 

 as long as they lived, and ever after retained the name of Slap. 



Polwarth is one of those poetical localities which so frequently arrest the 

 traveller's attention on the frontiers, and exert such pleasing or impressive 

 influence on the fancy— the effect of past association rather than the force of 

 existing circumstances or scenery. Polwarth church, and Polwarth " Thorn," pre- 

 sent very different pictures in their legendary connexions : the first by portraying, 



* Stat. Civil Hist, of Greenlaw, p. 42. note. 



f Polwart, the antagonist in Flj/ting of Montgomery, was, according to Dempster, Sir Patrick Hume, 

 of Polwarth. 



H 



