ATHELSTAXEFORD TO COLDSTREAM. 151 



It was^ in fact, " tlie great autumnal assize of the 

 Union Agricultural Society, held at Kelso, before 

 the most profound bucolic jurists of the age/^ 

 and Messrs. Donkin had "solicited the attention of the 

 elite of Border Society to this golden opportunity of 

 embellishing and enriching their Dairies with the 

 Poetry of Cream and Butter/^ from a consignment of 

 Alderney and Guernsey cows. When we add that 

 *^ symptomatical of superexcellence/^ "a jewel for 

 the lawn/^ " the Darling of the Dairy/^ were mere 

 " remarks" in the sale-bill, on the grey, smoky, and 

 mulberry fawns, we have given but a faint specimen 

 of the powerful stimulant which this Robins of the 

 North apphes weekly to his clients in " the little king- 

 dom of Scotland and Northumberland," 



The ram sale has outgrown its doorway ; but that 

 sturdy borderer, Tom Gibbons of Burnfoot, is a good 

 man to follow in a crowd, and joining sixpences we 

 shoved in together. The lots vary from a hundred 

 to five, and are divided among four rings. The 

 Messrs. Donkin have at present the lion^s share of the 

 business ; and Messrs. Fairbairn and Penny, Mr. 

 OHver of Hawick, Mr. Shiel, and Mr. Embleton duly 

 take their turns with lots, whose precedence of sale is 

 decided by ballot. Up to two o'clock business is brisk 

 enough; but, except it be Lojd Polwarth's, an 

 average will suffer severely if the lot is not put up 

 before that hour. Buyers begin to tire, and want to 

 be away, and some breeders from round Kelso have 

 sent their sheep to Edinburgh in consequence. The 



