THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 299 



old armour, tattered colours of the Inniskil lings, and great open 

 hearth upon which a log fire crackled. 



At one o'clock the Duke entertained the visitors to a 

 sumptuous luncheon, served in the spacious dining-rooms. The 

 Duke of Abercorn presided, and was supported by Mr Munro 

 Ferguson, M.P.; Col. Porteous, Turf hills ; Mr D. P. Laird, 

 Convener of the Excursion Committee ; Mr Alex. Milne, Edin- 

 burgh ; Mr Robert Galloway, S.S.C., Secretary to the Society; 

 Mr Charles Buchanan, Penicuik; Mr Jas. Cook, Arniston; and 

 the llev. F. W. Hamilton, Rector of Baronscourt. Lord John 

 Hamilton and Mr Bell were the croupiers. In proposing the 

 health of the Queen, his Grace said they all rejoiced when Her 

 Majesty was in good health, and everything prospered with her. 

 They rejoiced in the early part of the year when she so courage- 

 ously and so nobly came over to Ireland, and now they all 

 sorrowed with her at the loss of a Royal Prince. As Scotsmen, 

 they all looked with pleasure to the time when, after the hard 

 work of the session, Her Majesty would be able to enjoy the 

 bracing air of the hills around Balmoral, and the more temperate 

 zone and soft-breathing air which was wafted through the pine 

 woods of Abergeldie and the surrounding district. 



Mr Munro Ferguson said it was a matter of regret that their 

 president, Lord Mansfield, was not there to propose the Duke of 

 Abercorn's health. In coming to Ireland, the Society saw what 

 a great place it might be. They saw that wonderful luxuriance, 

 and they felt there was plenty of elbow-room, and they found 

 that so much was done by nature that a great deal was leai'ned 

 during their visits to Ireland. There was no more beautiful 

 place in the world than one of these great Irish homes. It was 

 a great privilege to them to be enabled to visit Ireland, but a 

 greater privilege to come there and be entertained by one of the 

 heads of the great house of Hamilton. In listening to the strains 

 of the bagpipes outside, he felt almost like an ambassador in 

 another land, who sat by right upon his native soil. He asked 

 them to drink prosperity to the House of Hamilton. 



The Duke of Abercorn, in responding, said it was a great 

 pleasure to both himself and the Duchess to give them a hearty 

 welcome to Baronscourt, and he regarded it as a privilege to be 

 allowed to entertain so many experienced gentlemen connected 

 with the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society. He need not 

 say that he was very proud of that place, although the weather 



