?>S Transactions. 



Whyte, set on its side close beside the church tower. This was 

 the retired Jamaica planter, whose advice brought about a change 

 in the poet's plana regarding his passage to the West Indies, else 

 he would have sailed before the success of his book decided him 

 against seeking his fortune beyond the sea. Mr Whyte was 

 residing at Glaisnock House, near Cumnock, when he met the 

 prospective overseer of slaves. But not long after, he purchased 

 the estate of Over Stroquhan^ in Dunscore, where he died in 

 1822 at the age of 90. 



Twelve miles distant from Ellisland, but still within the 

 parish of Dunscore, is Craigenputtock, the home of Carlyle from 

 1828 till 1833. Froude calls it "the dreariest spot in all the 

 British dominions," but his description is by no means accurate. 

 Dreary enough it may be in winter, when the snow-drifts lie 

 piled across the mountain I'oads, and communication with the 

 outer world is barred. In these mild latitudes, however, that is 

 at the worst only for a day or two, while in summer it is a 

 delightful inland home, with wide billowy stretches of pasture 

 all around, extending to the dark Rhinns of Kells and the 

 Solway Hills, the " inestimable silence " broken only by the 

 bleating of sheep. The house is much as the philosopher left it. 

 There is the little room he used as a study, containing a book- 

 case with many of his own writings, and many volumes that 

 belonged to him. Very noticeable is a set of Shakespeare with 

 the inscription — " To my kind nephew, James Carlyle, for the 

 winter nights at Craigenputtock, with best wishes. T. C. 

 Chelsea, 12th October, 1890," and Carlyle's "Life of Schiller," 

 on the title-page of which the frail old man had inscribed his 

 nephew's name in pencil, and then attempted to trace it over in 

 ink. Tlie walls are rich in portraits of the Sage and his h(!roes, 

 of Frederick, and Cromwell, and Knox ; and far out on the hill 

 a cairn marks the spot to which Carlyle led Emerson on the day 

 of his memorable visit. 



2. Culvend as it was fifty years ago and as it is now. 

 By the Rev. James Fraser, D.D. 



In Colvend I include Southwick, which is still an integral 

 part of the parish civilly. Ecclesiastically it was disjoined from 

 Colvend in the course of the present year (1894), and erected 

 into a church and parish, quoad sacra. 



