Transactions. 95 
this Society should undertake the investigation of any one of 
these. 
The Rev. W. Graham remarked on this paper that he 
accidentally discovered the lake dwelling in the Castle Loch, Loch- 
maben, about 40 years ago. He said, “it lies south-west and 
north-east ; in length 50 or 60 yards, and in breadth from 30 to 
40 yards. The piles are of oak, and some are cut for upright 
standards, and others for cross beams. The rafters are cut to 
suit a roof at an angle of 45 degrees.” 
IV. Lovely Polly Stewart. By Mr James Barsour, 
Vice-President. 
A parcel of documents came recently into my hands, which, 
on looking over their backings, I found to be legal sweepings, 
and among them were several wills or copies; but as the 
name of this Society did not figure on any of the wills I 
put the parcel aside as being devoid of interest. I had 
been scanning Ramage’s “ Drumlanrig and the Douglases,” 
and after putting the papers aside I returned to it, when, 
after perusing less than a page, I came upon names of 
persons corresponding to those I had seen on the backs of the 
wills. I now opened the parcel and made a comparison, and not 
only did the names correspond, but the persons referred to were 
the same. There is a copy of the will of William Stewart, who, 
when residing at Closeburn Castle, and acting as factor for Dr 
Menteith, was an intimate friend of Burns and the subject of his 
song, “ Youre welcome, Willie Stewart,” the second stanza of 
which runs : 
“‘Come, bumpers high, express your joy, 
The bowl we maun renew it ; 
The tappit-hen, gae bring her ben, 
To welcome Willie Stewart.” 
There is the will of Miss Hannah Lee, William Stewart’s step- 
daughter, a young lady then 21 years of age, residing at Closeburn 
Castle with her mother and stepfather, and who died at the age 
of 23. There is also a copy of the will of Mrs Catherine Stewart, 
wife of Mr Bacon, landlord of Brownhill Inn, where Burns was 
wont to frequent, and who on one occasion, finding the landlord 
too fond of thrusting himself into the company of his guests, 
composed the epigram :— 
** At Brownhill we always get dainty good cheer, 
And plenty of bacon each day in the year ; 
We’ve all things that’s neat, and mostly in season ; 
But why always Bacon ?—come, give mea reason.” 
