FieLtp MEETINGS. 213 
—dated 1620—is that commemorating William Copland of 
Colliston, and two of the family were prominent Provosts of 
Dumfries, one playing a leading part in the building of the 
Midsteeple, the Caul, and the town mills. He also appears 
to have built the house in Queensberry Street, now a grocer’s 
shop, through from Union Street, and bearing his coat of 
arms, with that of the Cunninghams, on the wali. It was he 
who acquired Blackwood from Sir John A. Anstruther of 
Newark in 1704, and he disponed it to his second son, Thomas. 
It passed on in the family until the last survivor of the family, 
Miss Copland, of Colliston, now of Newabbey, sold it recently. 
The present house was built between 1750 and 1780, and 
has had various additions since. The walls at the back are 
six to seven feet thick, not for defensive purposes, but because 
they once were destroyed by fire while being built. 
The grounds of the house were next viewed, and before 
departing the party awarded Mr Thomas a hearty vote of 
thanks on the call of Mr Reid for his kindness. 
Hightownhead Fort. 
Over Auldgirth Bridge, which Carlyle’s father helped to 
build, the party passed to the old British fort situated about 
z00 yards south-east of Hightownhead Farm, near Dalswin- 
ton. The fort is an oval of stones, 163 feet by 109 feet. On 
the south side there have been three walls, the middle one 
being best preserved. Inside the oval are smaller circles of 
stones, one of 20 and two others of 15 feet diameter, sugges- 
tive of hut circles. The fort was approached by a’ passage 
still clearly evident through the wood. 
From the Fort to Dalswinton House was not a long 
journey, and there the party were invited to tea by Mr and 
Mrs Landale. After tea, the company gathered on the lawn, 
and Mr A. Cameron Smith read the following paper on 
The Estate of Dalswinton. 
' By A. Cameron Smith. 
[In transmitting his MSS. to the Secretary, he expresses 
an earnest hope that any whose eyes this paper may reach, 
and who may possess or know of family or other papers bear- 
