202 Fretp MEETINGS, 
dale. The weather, fortunately, was of an ideal description for 
such an outing. The party from Dumfries and Maxwelltown, 
which numbered twenty, assembled at Burns’ Statue at one 
o’clock and drove in a char-a-banc provided by Mr Irving, 
King’s Arms Hotel, the route being along the Moffat road, 
passing Locharbriggs and Amisfield, then across “the moor,’’ 
over the AZ water, and onwards to St Ann’s Bridge, where a turn 
to the left was made to Raehills, the distance in all being about 
fourteen miles. The drive was a very pleasant one, passing as 
it did through undulating and nicely-wooded country, with the 
fast-ripening crops making pleasing contrast with the still fresh 
green of the trees. A smaller contingent of visitors from Moffat 
and Lockerbie drove from the latter town, and arrived at Rae- 
hills some short time before their Dumfries friends. The party 
was cordially received by Mr Hope-Johnstone, who, after show- 
ing his visitors a number of fine family portraits in the hall and 
dining-room, also conducting them through the library, invited 
them to view the policies, which they did after partaking of tea 
on the lawn. The architectural beauties of the house received 
attention, while the extensive ground’ which surround the house 
were the object of much admiration. The party, however, did 
not go any further afield, as their drive was a long one, and 
there was not much more than a couple of hours to spare. Had 
time permitted a visit to Raehills Glen or to the ruined tower 
of Lochwood, which is some two miles distant, would no doubt 
have been very interesting. 
The mansion of Raehills was built in 1786 by James, third 
Earl of Hopetoun, and received a large addition in 1834. The 
Earl and his Countess, in the course of their visits abroad, were 
so pleased with a mansion house which they found there that 
they formed the idea of having a similar mansion on the lands 
of Raehills. Many plans were made of the proposed mansion, 
and much consideration was given to the subject between the 
years 1782 and 1786, during which portions of the building were 
proceeded with annually. The designers were Robert and James 
Adam, who studied in Italy and were prominent architects in 
their day. The Edinburgh University and the Register House 
at the east end of Princes Street, Edinburgh, are perhaps the 
best-known examples of their work. At one time it was pro- 
posed that the mansion at Raehills should be completed by a 
