The Blacklock Manuscripts at Annan. 1<33 



complete text of Dr Blacklock's hymn is given in " The Poets of 

 Dumfriesshire ;" but I may read the two stanzas which were used 

 as a paraphrase, after a little needful revision — possibly by John 

 Logan or William Cameron : — 



A Poem from Eccles., Chap, xii., Verse 1. 



" In life's gay dawn, when sprightly youth 



With vital ardour glows, 

 When beauteous innocence and truth 



Their loveliest charms disclose, 

 Deep on thy spirit's ductile frame, 



Ere wholly prepossess'd, 

 Be thy Creator's glorious name 



And character impress'd. 



For soon the shades of grief and pain 



Shall tinge thy brightest days ; 

 And poignant ills, a nameless train. 



Encompass all thy ways. 

 Soon shall thy heart the woes of age 



In piercing groans deplore; 

 And, with sad retrospect, presage 



Returns of joy no more !" 



The Carlyle Farm and Dwelling-Place at Birrens; 

 Agricola's Well on Birrenswark Hill; and a German 

 Company's Copper Mine at Torbeckhill — All in the 

 Parish of Middlebie. By Mr James Barbour, F.S.A. 

 (Scot.). 



The Carlyle Farm and Dwelling at Birrens. 



The old Roman Station at Birrens, examined by spadework 

 some years ago, revealed interesting material bearing on the 

 military life of the Romans during their occupation in Scotland; 

 the Station derives interest also, in connection with less distant 

 times, from its association as the abode of the ancestors of one 

 who rose to conspicuous literary fame. " Our humble fore- 

 fathers," says Carlyle, "dwelt long as farmers at Birrens, the 

 old Roman Station in Middlebie," adding that the Birrens 



