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The picturesque ruins of the ancient Priory burst into view 
as a sharp corner of the road was turned, standing in the 
middle of a spacious haugh, round which the road sweeps on 
the way to the Priory. The approach to the ruins was exceed- 
ingly pretty, along a fine drive between neatly kept hedges, 
and, crossing the Black Burn, the party dismounted from 
the carriages, and quickly found shelter from the deluge 
which was now coming down, in the roofed portions of the 
venerable pile. 
In one of the spacious roofed compartments, refreshments were 
, provided for the company by His Grace the Duke of Fife, and 
after the long walk and drive they were much enjoyed. Mr 
GILCHRIST presided, and in the name of the Duke of Fife heartily 
welcomed the Society to His Grace’s domains. The toast of the 
Lord of the Manor was given by Mr ANDREW SLATER, who 
expressed the cordial thanks and gratitude of the Members for 
the kindness shown to them by the Duke of Fife, in granting 
permission to inspect his woodlands, and the beautiful historic 
Priory, where they had been so graciously entertained. The 
toast was enthusiastically received. Several other toasts were 
cordially proposed and responded to; among them the health 
of the Secretary, Mr W. J. Morrat, to whom the Members 
were so much indebted for the unflagging zeal with which 
he had worked to make everyone comfortable, and which had 
contributed so much to secure the success of the Excursion. 
The toast of the Chairman, Mr Gilchrist, being heartily 
received, the Members proceeded to view the remains of the- 
Priory and the beautiful grounds in which they are situated. 
The Priory stands in a charming spot in the lovely Vale of St 
Andrew, as it was called in ancient times, and is snugly sheltered 
on the north by the Heldon Hill, while to the south and west 
rise the slopes of the hill of Wangie to a height of 1020 feet, all 
encircled with rich woodlands. It is one of three Cistercian 
priories—the other two being Ardchattan in Argyle, and Beauly in 
Ross—in Scotland, founded by Alexander II. in the year 1230. A 
considerable portion of the Priory still exists in stately picturesque 
ruin, while the chapter-house, calefactory, and dormitories are 
almost entire. The latter were re-roofed by the Earl of Fife in 
1821, and the dormitories, which occupy the upper story, are now 
used by the inhabitants of the district for a ball-room and other 
mundane purposes on festive occasions, The handsome square 
