FIELD MEETINGs. 203 
great dome like that of the Register House, which had recently 
before been built. This scheme was, however, abandoned, as 
there was a belief that the dome of the Register House was the 
cause of so much smoke as to hinder tHe clerks in their work. 
The old part of Raehills mansion is of the Italian style of 
architecture, and includes two fine balconies supported by pillars 
of white stone believed to be quarried at Cove, near Annan. 
The modern part of the building is in a style resembling the 
Scottish baronial, but there is a freedom in the architecture which 
gives it charm. It is built of red Corncockle stone, and the 
architect was Burn, of Burn & Billings, Edinburgh. This 
addition added greatly to the accommodation of the house and 
made it one of the most imposing mansions in the south of 
Scotland. 
Raehills is very prominently and picturesquely situated in 
the valley of the Kinnel, which it dominates from its command- 
ing position. The lands of Raehills, as the name indicates, 
lay in a bleak, hilly country, and the higher portions of it were 
frequently used as sporting ground for wild fowl. The Earl of 
Hopetoun, who in 1792 inherited the estates from his grand- 
uncle, the third Marquis of Annandale, made great improvements 
on them. He planted extensive woods, including some very fine 
trees on Gallowhill, while the policies of Raehills were laid out 
on an extensive scale, and were adorned by gardens, conserva- 
tories, and lakes. Previous to the time that the Earl of Hope- 
toun undertook the formation of Raehills a popular idea pre- 
vailed that the whole district did not contain a single tree in 
which even a “cat could have been hanged.’’ The scene that 
now meets the eye is entirely different. The whole valley is laid 
out to the greatest advantage with numerous kinds of trees and 
shrubs, which include many fine specimens of firs, beeches, and 
oaks. Round about the mansion one of the most striking 
features is the fine display of rhododendron shrubs. These are 
very large and densely-foliaged, and when in bloom must pre- 
sent a very imposing appearance. The visitors on Saturday, who 
strolled along the walks in groups, found much to admire in the 
grounds. After passing a lake in which a pair of swans and 
their brood were disporting themselves, they went on to the 
garden, which is situated in a sheltered position on the lower 
ground, and is surrounded by walls. It is not extensive, and 
