Anniversary Address. 809 



" No buildings, except the traces of some old folds, are 

 apparent, so far as examined, The ridge is the farthest out- 

 lying reef of that group of fantastic shaped hills, that render 

 the scenery of this portion of the Borders so peculiarly 

 romantic, apart from any association with history, literature, 

 or song ; and being isolated, and standing prominently for- 

 ward towards the far extended level lands around, is one of 

 the most conspicuous spots in the district. Hume Castle 

 occupies the last detached and highest boss of rock, at the 

 S.E. end of the ridge ; having been both a watch-tower and 

 a chieftain's eyrie. It is not sufficiently elevated in site ever 

 to have been impregnable ; and notwithstanding the vaunt 

 that it ' stood upon a rock,' it was vulnerable in almost every 

 attack : but it was sufficiently commanding during predatory 

 warfare, to maintain its hardy owners in their pride of place, 

 with the aid of the stalwart followers whom need of protec- 

 tion attached to this stronghold. It occupies nearly all the 

 space that can be built upon square ; standing above an 

 abrupt bank of rock on one side, while the other slopes away 

 green and grassy, deep into the lowland far beneath. There 

 is very little surviving of the ancient structure, and that only 

 in a mouldering condition. The present frame-work, repre- 

 sentative at a distance of an imposing fortress, was reared 

 about 1799, at the instance of the eldest son of the Earl of 

 Marchmont, who sat in the House of Lords as Lord Berwick 

 but predeceased his father. It includes a cottar's garden, 

 and a plot of grass, and the ruins of a hut which sheltered 

 those who had charge of the beacon, when the country was 

 alarmed by the threatening designs of Napoleon I. The 

 * fair well,' mentioned by Patten, in 1547, as a ' rare thing,' 

 is still there ; and at present contains some very muddy 

 water. A quantity of ground-ivy grows near the well mouth, 

 and the goat's-beard thrives there as if it had been a green 

 field. Outside, Tortula muralis produces fruit; Parmelia 

 parietina gives quite a saffron hue to the southern sunny 

 wall; and along with it at the base, the mealy white 



