24 Address of the Vlce-Presldeni. 



The castlo of the Bruce at Lochmaben was the stronghold 

 of the Lords of Annandale ; and, on the borders, Caerlaverock 

 Castle was the stronghold of the Lords Maxwell. 



The walls of all these castles were of enormous thickness, 

 and by their natural situation they were defended by rivers, 

 lochs, and morasses, and generally also by artificial trenches 

 and ditches. The state of the district in old times favoured 

 such castellated mansions, — so many mountain rivers, so 

 many lochs, so many bogs and quaggs, — all coinciding with 

 the notions and habits which then prevailed. 



Caerlaverock Castle was a type and specimen of the 

 castellated mansion in its form, in its front, in its gateways, 

 in its machicoUated towers at the angles, and in its fosses 

 a,nd ditches ; with the Solway on one side, and the swamps 

 of the Lochar on the other. 



These great castles which I have named were, no doubt, 

 the great strongholds of the district. But great also, though 

 subordinate, were the Castles of 



Morton, 



originally the seat of the great Anglo Norman family De 

 Morville, a name which has been unknown and lost in Scot- 

 land for 500 years and more, 



Lochwood's lofty towers, 



torthorwald, 



Sanquhar, 



durrisdeer, 



Dalswinton, 



TiBBERS. 



With the smaller castles of 



Closeburn, 



Amisfield, 



comlongan, 



And the Orchardton Tower. 



