Anniversary Address. 187 



The third field meeting of the season was held at Cock- 

 burnspath, on Thursday, the 27th July. I was unfortu- 

 nately prevented from being present, and for the following 

 notes I am indebted to Mr Hardy of Oldcambus. A 

 fine day attracted the attendance of a large number of mem- 

 bers ; no fewer than twenty-one sat down to breakfast, and 

 the number was increased to twenty-six at dinner. After 

 breakfast Mr Hardy gave a narrative of the principal events 

 that had occurred in the history of the district, especially in 

 connection with Dunglass, which was the chief object of the 

 visit of the Club. Under his guidance the members then 

 passed through Cockburnspath, inspecting an ancient cross, 

 which stands in the midst of the village, sculptured with the 

 Scottish thistle ; Cockburnspath lordship having been a regal 

 appurtenance, and the dowry land of the Scottish queens. 

 Thence they proceeded to the shady recesses of Dunglass 

 dean, about half-a-mile distant, which had been opened to 

 the Club, by the permission of Sir James Hall. The dean 

 was traversed upwards for nearly a mile, the beauty of the 

 scenery, consisting of fine trees and noble rocks, with a clear 

 rivulet running at the bottom of the glen, being the subject 

 of general admiration. Walks have been judiciously made, 

 and shrubs planted to heighten the effect. The growth of 

 ferns was superb, many rivalling oriental forms in size and 

 beauty. A few plants of interest were observed, particularly 

 Neottia nidus-avis and Veronica montana, the latter dis- 

 covered here about seventy years ago by the celebrated 

 botanist, Dr Parsons. A hurried visit was then paid to the 

 grounds immediately round the mansion house, including the 

 Collegiate church. The ancient village of Dunglass stood in 

 the neighbourhood of the old church, but the only remnant 

 of the village consists of an ancient sycamore tree, which is 

 still known as the Tron" tree, i.e., the place where articles 

 bought and sold were weighed as in a public market. The 

 party then proceeded towards the pond, where the Anacharis 

 alsinastrum was gathered, having been introduced there, it 

 is thought, for the purpose of feeding tench ; and were then 



