Transactions. 37 



its mediajval origin all around — an ideal place for studious 

 meditation. 



When the late Mr Thomas Nelson came into possession of 

 Friars' Carse, he found the Hermitage in ruins. The window 

 was gone, the roof had fallen in, and the walls were 

 crumbling to pieces. With great good taste lie restored the 

 little building, and placed in it a new window similar to the old, 

 on which the same verses are inscribed in facsimile of the poet's 

 singularly clear and beautiful handwriting. 



The mansion-house of Friars' Carse occupies a lovely situation 

 on the banks of the Nitli. The house as Burns knew it was 

 built in 1772, and still stands; but the additions made by the 

 late Mr Nelson have improved and beautified it almost beyond 

 recognition. Its dining-room was the scene of the ignoble 

 contest celebrated in " The Whistle." Its hall contains a 

 singularly beautiful piece of sculpture — the original cast for the 

 monument by Watson erected in the Savoy Chapel, in memory of 

 Dr Archibald Cameron, who acted as a surgeon at Culloden on 

 the side of " Bonnie Prince Charlie." After seven years of 

 exile Cameron returned to Scotland. He was arrested, taken to 

 London, tried, and, although a non-combatant, executed for the 

 part he had taken on the fatal day of Drummossie. The work, 

 which is quite worthy of the subject, was carved on Caen stone, 

 and placed in the Savoy Chapel in 1847, but unfortunately fell 

 amongst the ruins of the fire that destroyed the Chapel in 1864. 

 Around the mansion and within it are many memorials of its 

 history, and not far away is the circle of stones set up by 

 Riddel, Burns's patron, in imitation of a Druidical Temple. 



To mark the new departure in his life, the farmer of Ellisland 

 began to go regularly to church. This exemplary conduct 

 continued until differences of opinion with the Rev. Joseph 

 Kirkpatrick led — first to hard words between them, both in 

 speech and writing, and finally to their utter estrangement. 

 Mr Kirkpatrick was minister of Dunscore from 1777 till 1806, 

 when he was translated to Wamphray. From December 11th, 

 1780, down to 1806, there is a complete blank in the Session 

 Records, which fact is apt to prejudice one against the minister 

 and in favour of the poet. We regret that at such an interesting 

 period in the history of the parish no account of it should have 

 been kept by those whose duty it was to do so. 



One more memorial of Burns exists in the tombstone of James 



