324 Sir W. Elliot on Denholm and its Vicinity. 



investigation into the causes of the turnip disease, and the 

 third for his description of the pinetum at Minto. One of 

 his most laborious as it was the latest of his performances, 

 was the preparation of the index for the last edition of the 

 "Encyclopsedia Brittanica," to the successful completion of 

 which the Messrs. Black bear the most flattering testimony, 

 whilst they regret that death had deprived them of his farther 

 services. The same cause prevented the preparation of a 

 local flora for Jeffrey's History of Roxburghshire, but he 

 contributed the chapter on the geology of the county. He 

 was also engaged on a complete edition of Leyden's Works 

 which was nevei finished, and it was chiefly owing to his 

 enthusiasm for the fame of his fellow-townsman, that the 

 monument which he just lived to see inaugurated, Avas brought 

 to a successful completion. 



I cannot close this notice without adverting to another 

 worthy son of Denholm, a member of the club, whose descrip- 

 tion of the physical characters of the neighbourhood I read after 

 breakfast this morning. Mr. J. A. H. Murray's knowledge of 

 the natural features and products of the district as well as of 

 its ancient history and antiquities is unrivalled. Some of this 

 lore has been communicated in a series of valuable papers to 

 the Archseological Society of HaAvick, and I hope a fitting 

 career may be opened to him for the exercise of talents which 

 are capable of adding largely not only to our stores of local 

 information but to those of society at large. I am indebted 

 to him for many of the facts embodied in this paper, and I 

 must express my regret that he has not been able to be present 

 to-day to have elucidated them himself, more fully than I have 

 been able to do. 



For the following statistics of the village I am indebted to 

 the kindness of Mr. Douglas of Cavers : — 



1. Area. — 1. The original feus (or auld yairds) were granted 

 by Sir Archibald Douglas, about 1664, to 47 persons, and com- 

 prised a space of about 8f acres. By subsequent alterations and 

 subdivisions the feus are now held by 60 persons, exclusive of 

 2 feus appropriated to the school and schoolmaster's house and 

 to the Hassendean road. 



2. The land given in exchange for the right of easting peat,* 

 in 1836, (called the new yairds), is about 6 acres, in all accoi'd- 

 ing to the ordnance survey . . acres 16' 133 



* It seems doubtful wlietber there was ever any common pasture properly so 

 called. When the peat moss was parcelled out among the feuars, the lots were 

 marked by heaps of stones, some of which still remain. 



