Transactions. 57 
years. He is said to have travelled for some time on the 
Continent, probably with some wealthy family in the capacity of 
a private tutor, when his taste for the study of antiquities may 
have been fostered, if not developed. To his other accomplish- 
ments he added a knowledge of painting and music. Returning 
to his native country, he spent three years, as he himself informs 
us, in visiting different parts of the kingdom, “exploring, 
drawing, and measuring ancient remains.” But the straitened 
pecuniary circumstances under which he prosecuted his researches 
were not favourable to their completeness. 
It was while thus engaged that Gordon became known to 
* Baron” Clerk, who then owned Drumcrieff, near Moffat, in 
addition to his ancestral estate of Pennicuik. By Clerk he was 
introduced to the English antiquary, Roger Gale. Frequent 
references to Gordon, not always complimentary, are made in the 
correspondence between Gale and Clerk, published in the 
“ Reliquiae Galeanae.” The first and by far the most important 
result of Gordon’s studies in the antiquities of Scotland was the 
“‘Ttinerarium Septentrionale,” published in 1726, followed six 
years later by ‘“‘Additions and Corrections by way of Supplement.” 
This, it may be remembered, was the folio volume, the inspection 
of which by Jonathan Oldbuck, as he journeyed with Lovel in 
the Queensberry diligence, helped to soothe his irritation at the 
delay that had taken place ere the vehicle left Mrs Macleuchar’s 
“Jaigh shop.” After a somewhat chequered career at home, 
Gordon emigrated to South Carolina. Here fortune at last 
smiled upon him ; for at his death about the year 1754 he seems 
to have been possessed of considerale means. 
From the manner in which the Fort of Birrens or Middlebie 
and the camps on Birrenswark Hill are introduced in the 
“Ttinerarium ” to the notice of its readers, one would hardly 
infer that they were new discoveries. Not the slightest hint is 
_ given as to how the author’s attention was drawn tothem. They 
make their appearance in his pages as if it was to be expected as 
a matter of course that they should. Without the slightest 
hesitation, all of them are at once put down as Roman. It 
is fair, however, to say as regards Birrens that in doing so 
Gordon had likely the mounds of Ardoch in view. These 
had been classed as Roman by Sibbald; and he must 
have been struck with the resemblance they present to 
those at Birrens. His impression that Birrens was Roman 
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