FIeELD MEETINGS. 225 
his clan on horseback at Dryfesands, and turned a threatened 
defeat into victory for the Johnstones and Irvings. Cows and 
other bestial figured in the dowry of which the marriage contract 
made mention. Another possession of the family which attracted 
attention was an old chap-book containing an account of the 
capture of Donald Cargill, the Cameronian leader, by Christopher 
Irving of Bonshaw, at Covington Mill, and picturing his unholy 
glee at thus securing a reward of five thousand merks which had 
been offered by the Government of the day. 
The visitors were entertained to luncheon and tea; and in 
course of the afternoon a meeting of the society was held in the 
library, at which the following new members were proposed by 
Mr Arnott, seconded by Dr Semple, and admitted :—Mr and Mrs 
W. Matthews, Dunelm, Maxwelltown ; Mr and Mrs White, Noble- 
hill Schoolhouse ; Mr George Will, Crichton Royal Institution ; 
and Miss Graham, Kilbarchan. Mr Dickie, who presided, 
tendered the thanks of the society to Colonel Irving for his kind 
invitation to visit Bonshaw and for the generous hospitality ex- 
tended to them, and asked him to convey their thanks also to Mrs 
Irving and the members of their family. It was a privilege, he 
said, to have the opportunity of examining a typical border tower 
so well preserved as Bonshaw was, and entwined as it was with 
the story of old romance and warlike foray ; and it was even more 
interesting to meet in their host a survival of the border chieftain. 
They had experience of his kindly nature; and might say of him 
that the gentle heart of a knight of chivalry beat under the rough 
armour of a border chief. Dr M‘Lachlan, Lockerbie, seconded 
the vote of thanks, and observed that, notwithstanding the rather 
unfavourable weather, they had spent a most interesting and 
pleasant day. Colonel Irving assured them it had been a great 
pleasure to welcome the society to Bonshaw, and confessed that 
he loved the old tower like a living creature. 
