NOVEMBER 211 



ash-trees close at hand. Kuthwell (you must pronounce 

 it Rivvel if you would have people understand you) is 

 associated for ever with the comical, as well as with the 

 romantic, side of archaeology. The name reminds us how 

 far incautious disciples of Monkbarns may go astray, but 

 also how surely scientific system will prevail in the end. 

 In spite of the deplorable zeal with which Scottish 

 reformers of the sixteenth century had carried out 

 the defacement or demolition of memorials of the old 

 religion, there remained until 1642, within the parish 

 kirk of Ruthwell, a lofty cross of stone, slender, richly 

 carved in every part, and bearing inscriptions in Runic 

 and Roman characters. In that year the General 

 Assembly suddenly awoke to the scandal of permitting 

 this monument of idolatry to exist, and decreed its 

 immediate destruction. But the Westlan' Whigs had 

 bowels, even in matters of religion ; the cross was cast 

 down indeed, and its shapely shaft and nimbed head 

 were broken into several pieces ; but it was suffered to 

 remain in the church, where Pennant viewed it one 

 hundred and thirty years later, in 1772. Subsequently, 

 even that remnant of reverence was withdrawn, and the 

 broken cross was thrown out into the kirkyard, where 

 wind, weather, and wanton mischief began to do their 

 work on it, until, by a happy disposition of lay patronage, 

 Dr. Duncan, the father of savings banks, was appointed 

 to the parish, and, having views beyond the Shorter 

 Catechism, rescued the fragments, pieced them to- 

 gether, and set them up in the manse garden. There 

 the venerable cross stood till, five or six years ago, some 



