222 FIELD MEETINGS. 
Mr Penman kindly placing at their disposal a handsome touring 
car which he had just built, and which is seated for twelve. 
Several journeyed from Lockerbie and Moffat. | When fully 
mustered the company numbered 46. Bonshaw Tower stands 
on the right bank of the Kirtle, which at this point rises as an 
almost sheer rocky precipice to a height of about a hundred 
feet; and it is screened by umbrageous wood, much of it of 
venerable age. Beside it also is a bosky glen, with a succes- 
sion of small waterfalls, and made accessible by pleasant paths 
and rustic bridges. The tower itself is a venerable battle- 
mented structure, of the square pattern common on the borders, 
occupying the site and embodying probably part of the masonry 
of a baronial residence which is believed to have existed there 
from the early part of the eleventh century. Attached to it by 
a long hall, which might be described as a museum of arms and 
trophies of the chase, is the modern residence, the date of 
which is attested by the following lettering on a memorial 
stone: “1770. W. Irving J. Douglas.’’ The names are 
those of the Irving chieftain of that day and his wife, a daughter 
of the ducal house of Queensberry. The inscription is placed 
over the main doorway, but that has been closed up, and tower 
and mansion have now a common entrance. The terrace over- 
looking the Kirtle is protected by low ramparts, on which are 
mounted six old cannon, and at one angle are remains of a 
smaller detached tower of ancient date. The flag of the Irvings, 
bearing their badge of three holly leaves, floated from the tower. 
Another Irving flag and the Scottish standard were displayed 
from the ramparts; and a piper in full Highland costume 
paraded the lawn playing a welcome to the visitors. They were 
most kindly received and hospitably entertained by Colonel and 
Mrs Irving and their daughters, and spent a most interesting 
day in inspecting the old tower, of which the original character 
has been preserved practically intact; in examining the many 
interesting mementos which have been collected within it; and 
listening to the Colonel’s breezy narrative regarding the annals 
of the Irving clan, the stirring border scenes in which they 
figured, and more recent events of a warlike character in which 
individual members of it have taken part. “ Bonshaw’’ is 
strongly possessed by pride of race and pride of country, and 
has a well-grounded aspiration to be the historian as well as the 
