18 Address of the Vice-President. 



In our Transactions we are favoured with two papers on 

 the stone circles : one by Dr Dickson respecting the mark- 

 ings on the Holywood circle ; and this paper is followed by 

 one from Dr Gilchrist on the Druid circles visited by him 

 near Inverness. 



In some supposed connexion with the stone circles, are 

 the " Rocking Stones," which are boulders or blocks of stone 

 so nicely poised that a slight pressure with the hand will move 

 the stone, although the united strength of many men would 

 be required to displace it, or convey it to a distance. These 

 Eocking Stones are said to have been effected by the Druid 

 priests to deepen the awe of the people in their power — 

 thus taking advantage of their sacred character and of the 

 easy credulity of an ignorant age. 



In a late excursion our Society had an opportunity of 

 inspecting the Rocking Stones on the Kells range. But on 

 examining them they do not appear to be the work of man, 

 but formed by the operation of natural causes only. If this 

 be so, and if other examples in the district be of the same 

 description, our Rocking Stones are not antiquities, but 

 natural curiosities ; and, in point of interest, they are infe- 

 rior to the slabs with foot prints at Corncockle. These bear 

 traces of animal life ; but neither of them fall within the 

 range of the Antiquary. 



Among the ecclesiastical structures of a Christian character 



The Abbeys 



founded by the princes of Galloway must have formed a 

 noble series — not on account of any sculptured devices or 

 architectural decorations, but as magnificent piles. The 

 earliest was the Abbey of Drunderman, founded in 1142 by 

 Fergus, Lord of Galloway. It was erected for the White 

 Monks of St. Bernard, and they were brought, like the 

 Monks of Mekose, fi-om the Abbey of Rieval in England. 

 The foundation charter of Melrose was dated iu June, 



