oe 
= a 
FIELD MEETINGS. 183 
preserved in the Observatory. The title fell into abeyance in 
1579. It was revived by a new creation in favour of Sir James 
Douglas of Parkhead, who had married a grand-daughter of the 
last of the Carlyle barons. This Sir James it was who assassi- 
nated the Earl of Arran, ex-Regent, and set his head on a lance 
on the battlements of Torthorwald, in revenge for the death of 
his father, the Regent Morton, whom Arran had brought to the 
block. About 1640 the estate was sold to the first Viscount 
Dalrymple, and it continued in the Queensberry family until the 
time of the eighth Marquis, by whom it was sold to the late Mr 
Jardine of Dryfeholm. The title of Lord Torthorwald was re- 
vived in 1793 by the Carlyle family, whose last male descendant 
died in London several years ago. 
During the Carlyle regime a royal charter was granted to 
John, Lord Torthorwald, in 1743, erecting the town of Torthor- 
wald into a free burgh of barony, to be called “ Carleill,’’ with 
a weekly market and right to have “ baxters, brousters, fleshers,’’ 
and workmen in arts and trades; but a thinly-sown wayside line 
of cottages, dwindled in numbers of recent years, attests the 
failure to realise the project. 
20th June, 1907. 
(From the Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser.) 
ORCHARDTON. 
On Saturday afternoon, through the kindness of Mr and Mrs 
W. D. Robinson-Douglas, a company of over thirty members of 
the Society were privileged to visit the beautiful grounds of 
Orchardton. The company journeyed by rail to Dalbeattie, 
where they were joined by a few of the Galloway members of 
the Society. Brakes were in waiting at the station to drive the 
party to Orchardton. The day was all that could be desired, 
and, the sun shining brightly, the country was looking its love- 
liest. The drive was by way of Munches, Kirkennan, and Pal- 
nackie, and the company were loud in their praises of the 
romantic and beautiful scenery. On arrival at Orchardton 
House, the visitors were most courteously received by Mr and 
