(j Old FiaAus' L'ausjc. 



Grose states in his notice of Friars' Carsc tliat the old house, of 

 ■which he gives a print, was pulled down in 1773 " to make way for 

 the present one " — that is, the one which existed at the time of his 

 visit. He states, also, that the old house was pulled down because 

 it had become ruinous, and that the wall of the refectory or dining- 

 room was eight feet thick, and the chimney twelve feet wide. These 

 fiicts and the wliole style of the building indicate great antiquity ; 

 and I think there can be no doubt the sketch now produced is a 

 correct representation of the house as it existed prior to 177;j. It 

 is true that it was not seen by Capt. Gorse, but we cannot suppose 

 for a moment that he drew upon his imagination for the represen- 

 tation which he gives. He was in circumstances to get reliable 

 information as to its character from the proprietor at the time of 

 his visit, and in all probability a drawing of it had been taken 

 before it was demolished, which he reproduced in his work. I 

 tlierefore think there can be no doubt that the pen-and-ink sketch 

 on the table is a correct representation of the ancient house of 

 Friars' Carse as it existed prior to the year 1773. 



Mr Andson further mentioned that the estate passed from the 

 Iliddells to Dr Crichton, founder of the Crichton Institution, who 

 purchased it in 1809. AVe may add that the quaint old battle- 

 mented building figured above has had two successors — the house 

 that was built by Capt. Eiddell, and the modern mansion that 

 was built by the late Mr Thomas Nelson, who bought the pro- 

 perty from Dr Crichton's heir. In the new house is incorporated 

 the dining liall of the intermediate building that was the scene of 

 the " the whistle " contest. The estate, as our readers have of late 

 been frequently reminded, was acquired by the trustees and direc- 

 tors of the Crichton Institution within the last five months. The 

 sketch was found among the papers of a gentleman who was at 

 one time land-steward on the estate, and there is some reason to 

 believe that it is the work of Alexander Eeid of Kirkinner, who 

 painted a portrait of Burns. 



