Anniversary Address. 101 



the cross in the centre of the village, a very interesting relic, 

 evidently of great antiquity ; after which, under the guid- 

 ance of Mr Jeffrey, they examined the celebrated caves, ex- 

 cavated in the precipitous banks of the Ale. Following the 

 north bank of the river, the first cave seen is that called 

 Thomson's cave, after the poet of the Seasons, in which it 

 has been supposed that he used to study, though now it is 

 said that he only once entered it, when he became so nerv- 

 ous that he had to be drawn up to the top of the bank in a 

 chair, a work, considering his corpulence, of no small diffi- 

 culty. The entrance is now quite easy and secure. The 

 scenery here was very much admired. The brilliant sun- 

 shine after the refreshing rain, brought out the beautiful 

 green of the wooded banks to great advantage, contrasting 

 finely with the bright red of the sandstone scaurs. Con- 

 spicuous on the top of the south bank stands the manse, 

 where once dwelt the pious Livingstone, and in which the 

 poet Thomson spent some time when a youth. Further up 

 the glen is the parish church, and on the bank above, em- 

 bowered among luxuriant trees, is the mansion house of 

 Kirklands. 



Turning now to the right the company ascended the castle 

 hill, an eminence of basaltic greenstone, on the top of which 

 are the remains of an ancient circular fortress of great extent, 

 the outlines of which are still very complete. Proceeding- 

 through Ancrum Park, the garden was first visited. It lies 

 in a snugly sheltered situation, and has recently been en- 

 riched with a fine orchard house. A little to the north, on a 

 prominent elevation, surrounded by magnificent trees, several 

 of which are of gigantic dimensions, is Ancrum House, the 

 seat of Sir Wm. Scott, Bart., M.P. for Roxburghshire. Here 

 the members of the club had been invited to lunch at two 

 o'clock, but the arrangements of the day prevented their 

 acceptance of this kind invitation. They were, however, 

 most hospitably entertained by Lady Scott and her sons. 

 Captain William and Mr Henry Scott. The courtesy dis- 

 played by the Ancrum family in allowing all respectable 



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