Transactions. 57 



years. He is said to have travelled for some time on the 

 Continent, probably with some vv^ealthy family in the capacity of 

 a private tutor, when his taste for the study of antiquities may 

 have been fostered, if not developed. To his other accomplish- 

 ments he added a knowledge of painting and music. Returning 

 to his native country, he spent three years, as he himself informs 

 us, in visiting difierent parts of the kingdom, " exploring, 

 drawing, and measuring ancient remains." But the straitened 

 pecuniary circumstances under which he prosecuted his researches 

 were not favourable to their completeness. 



It was while thus engaged that Gordon became known to 

 " Baron " Clerk, who then owned Drumcrieft', near Moffat, in 

 addition to his ancestral estate of Pennicuik. By Clerk he was 

 introduced to the English antiquary, Roger Gale. Frequent 

 references to Gordon, not always complimentary, are made in the 

 correspondence between Gale and Clerk, published in the 

 " Reliquiae Galeanae." The first and by far the most important 

 result of Gordon's studies in the antiquities of Scotland was the 

 " Itinerarium Septentrionale," published in 1726, followed six 

 years later by "Additions and Corrections by way of Supplement." 

 This, it may be remembered, was the folio volume, the inspection 

 of which by Jonathan Oldbuck, as he journeyed with Lovel in 

 the Queensberry diligence, helped to soothe his irritation at the 

 delay that had taken place ere the vehicle left Mrs Macleuchar's 

 " laigh shop." After a somewhat chequered career at home, 

 Gordon emigrated to South Carolina. Here fortune at last 

 smiled upon him ; for at his death about the year 1754 he seems 

 to have been possessed of coiLsiderale means. 



From the manner in which the Fort of Birrens or Middlebie 

 and the camps on Birrenswark Hill are introduced in the 

 " Itinerarium " to the notice of its readers, one would hardly 

 infer that they were new discoveries. Not the slightest hint is 

 given as to how the author's attention was drawn to them. They 

 make their appearance in his pages as if it was to be expected as 

 a matter of course that they should. Without the slightest 

 hesitation, all of them are at once put down as Roman. It 

 is fair, however, to say as regards Birrens tliat in doing so 

 Gordon had likely the mounds of Ardoch in view. These 

 had been classed as Roman by Sibbald ; and he must 

 have been struck with the resemblance they present to 

 those at Birrens. His impression that Birrens was Roman 



