230 Fretp MEETINGS. 
out almost its whole length the house is intersected by a broad 
corridor, the walls of which are covered with oil paintings, as are 
also those of a spacious apartment opening off it. There are 
examples of the most distinguished British artists, one that arrests 
popular attention most readily being Landseer’s large canvas, 
“Taking the Buck ;’? and Dutch, Italian, and French masters are 
also largely represented. Many of the paintings have a history 
which invests them also with an extrinsic interest. Many family 
portraits have a place in the collection, including one of Lady 
Johnson-Ferguson, painted since she came to Springkell by Sir 
Luke Fildes, R.A. The drawing-room is devoted to water- 
colours, of which the collection is at once choice and extensive. 
Here also is the marble bust of Queen Victoria by Mr Brock, 
R.A., the last for which her Majesty gave sittings, and the great 
merit of which has secured for the sculptor the commission for 
the statue which is to be placed in front of Buckingham Palace. 
Many other beautiful pieces of statuary adorn the house. One 
of these is a marble bust of Sir Edward’s father, which was pre- 
sented to the family by the employees of the firm which he 
founded in Manchester and Bolton. In the morning-room there 
is a superb collection of Turner prints, embracing the whole of 
the early issue of reproductions of the work of Ruskin’s idol, 
engraved with exquisite finish. In the library again is an exten- 
sive portrait gallery of Sir Joshua Reynolds’ prints ; and another 
apartment contains a large collection of prints of Landseer’s 
works. The family have travelled largely and have brought from 
many lands articles curious and rare, illustrative of modern life 
and ancient art. India, Egypt, the Soudan, Japan, Persia, 
Palestine, Italy, Greece have all been laid under contribution, 
and other countries as well. These curios, as well as the 
pictures, were displayed and explained to the party as they were 
piloted through the house by Sir Edward and Lady Johnson- 
Ferguson and a lady relative. 
Springkell estate comprehends the whole of the ancient 
parish of Kirkconnel, which is now incorporated in Kirkpatrick- 
Fleming. Kirkconnel was indeed the old name of the estate, as 
of the parish, and a village as well as a residence of old date 
existed near the spot where the modern mansion stands. The 
little “God’s acre’’ of the parish stands on a rising ground on 
the left bank of the Kirtle, approached by a pretty glade through 
