168 The German Mine at Torbeckhill. 



blue sky and warmth of sunshine ; and the howking for the hidden 

 treasure proceeded. Seen under cover, the storm was impressive 

 and grand. 



The German Mine at Torbeckhill. 



A chapter of Horrebow's "Natural Historv of Iceland," 

 -entitled '' Concerning Snakes," is sufficiently brief, being summed 

 up in the words: — "There are no snakes in the Island." The 

 present communication would seem likely, on account of the 

 absence of available information, to be somewhat similarly char- 

 acteristic. Here, howe\er, we have at least something positive. 

 The mine exists, and there is documentary evidence relating to 

 it, although extending to onlv one sentence. 



The mine, which is sufficiently characteristic of the effects of 

 mining operations, is situated on the north face of the high 

 ground overlooking at a little distance the Mein Water. The 

 external opening is large, but it immediately branches into two 

 leads, diverging in the form of the letter V. How far these have 

 been carried underground is not known, l)eing rendered inacces- 

 sible by accumulations of debris fallen from the roof. The work- 

 ing is in a rock of splintery, ragged whin, to appearance of a 

 rusty colour. That the mine was worked for copper by a German 

 company appears from a MS. " Description of the Stewartrie 

 of Annandale," by Mi William Garrioch, 1723, included in 

 Macfarlane's Geographical Collections. " Xear Albie," it reads, 

 "(E. from Middlebie Kirk H mile) is a copper niilne (mine) which 

 the German Company is just now working at." Albie, it may be 

 noted, is adjacent to Torbeckhill. What the influences were 

 which had induced the German company to come to Scotland 

 and enter on such an enterprise we do not know. The army of 

 continentals which accompanied the Prince of Orange to England 

 may perhaps have been in some way accountable. The Prince 

 came over 171-1; the Jacobite rising followed 1715; and the 

 German company were at work 1723. During the 1715 affair 

 the proprietor of Torbeckhill and Minsca was a thorough-going 

 Jacobite. Mr Peter Rae's " History of the Late Rebellion," page 

 184, reads: — " And one — . Bell of Minsca, a Jacobite gentleman, 

 having insulted the Guards at Penpont, and refused to stand when 

 the Gentries requir'd him, was .shot by one of 'em thro the Leg; 

 which I the rather take Notice of, because it was the first blood 



