1^ TransncticnK. 



they would have expected that the spring, and especially the 

 summer temperatures, would have been in excess of the I'ivers, 

 whereas it was in fact lower. 



II. Exhibit of Linncean Plants. 



Mr James Fingland, Thoi'iihill, sent for exhibition to the 

 Society an extensive and beautifully mounted collection of plants, 

 chiefly from continental countries and some from the northern 

 states of America, which he had obtained through the Linna?an 

 Exchange Club in return for specimens of the flora of this locality. 

 Along with them he sent a short communication, pointing out to 

 botanists who wished to pursue the study systematically that tliis 

 aflbrded an inexpensive method of perfecting their collections. 



III. Tlie Martyr Graves of Dumfriesshire. By the Rev. John 

 H. Thomson, of Hightae. 



Shortly after the Revolution of 1688 the Societies — -that is, 

 the confederation of the more strict Presbyterians that had been 

 organised in 1G81, and continued through all the years of perse- 

 cution to hold meetings at short intervals in spite of all the efforts 

 of Government to prevent them or put them down — took steps to 

 erect stones over the graves of those who had suffered death 

 dui'ing the reigns of the last of the Stuarts. At first it would 

 seem as if each district society had proceeded to erect a memorial 

 stone or stones to those who had been buried in their neighbour- 

 hood. The minutes of the general meetings of the societies still 

 exist, and the earliest notice in their pages of the martyr stones 

 is under date " Crawford] ohn, Oct. 29, 1701," but the language 

 of the minute implies something had already been done at an 

 earlier time. The minute is : — 



" Crawfordjohn, October 29, 1701. 



" First concluded that all the correspondences provide and make ready 

 stones as signs of honour to be set upon the graves of our late martyrs as 

 soon as possible ; and all the names of the foresaid martyrs with their 

 speeches and testimonies and by whom they were martyred or killed in 

 house or fields, country or city," as far as possible to be brought to the next 

 General Meeting in order for the epitaphs." 



No further notice of the stones appears in the minutes until ten 

 years afterwards, when their erection would seem to have been 



