6 Oxtp Friars’ CarRse. 
Grose states in his notice of Friars’ Carse that the old house, of 
which he gives a print, was pulled down in 1773 ‘‘to make way for 
the present one ”-—that is, the one which existed at the time of his 
visit. He states, also, that the old house was pulled down because 
it had become ruinous, and that the wall of the refectory or dining- 
room was eight feet thick, and the chimney twelve feet wide. These 
facts and the whole style of the building indicate great antiquity ; 
and I think there can be no doubt the sketch now produced is a 
correct representation of the house as it existed prior to 1775. It 
is true that it was not seen by Capt. Gorse, but we cannot suppose 
for a moment that he drew upon his imagination for the represen- 
tation which he gives. He was in circumstances to get reliable 
information as to its character from the proprietor at the time of 
his visit, and in all probability a drawing of it had been taken 
before it was demolished, which he reproduced in his work. I 
therefore think there can be no doubt that the pen-and-ink sketch 
on the table is a correct representation of the ancient house of 
Friars’ Carse as it existed prior to the year 1773. 
Mr Andson further mentioned that the estate passed from the 
Riddells to Dr Crichton, founder of the Crichton Institution, who 
purchased it in 1809. We may add that the quaint old battle- 
mented building figured above has had two successors—the house 
that was built by Capt. Riddell, and the modern mansion that 
was built by the late Mr Thomas Nelson, who bought the pro- 
perty from Dr Crichton’s heir. In the new house is incorporated 
the dining hall of the intermediate building that was the scene of 
the ‘“‘ the whistle ” contest. The estate, as our readers have of late 
been frequently reminded, was acquired by the trustees and direc- 
tors of the Crichton Institution within the last five months. The 
sketch was found among the papers of a gentleman who was at 
one time land-steward on the estate, and there is some reason to 
believe that it is the work of Alexander Reid of Kirkinner, who 
painted a portrait of Burns. 
