Anniversary Address. 15 



Even the door is modern in shape, though the stones form- 

 ing the lintels are old. In the south-west wall is a stone 

 bearing the royal arms of Scotland, which may have been 

 placed there when the Outlaw Murray was Sheriff of the 

 County. Outside the gate is a huge ash with thick and 

 widely extended limbs, which was known as " the Hanging 

 Tree." 



The return road was by " the Duchess' Walk," embrac- 

 ing some of the finest scenery on the river. The path winds 

 among shady woods by the side of the rolling stream, which, 

 at intervals, frets itself among ledges of rocks, and elsewhere 

 flows past receding banks, affording space for those flats and 

 depressions which are so renowned as the "houms of Yar- 

 row." The famous " Birks " were only seen far off in the 

 ravines of Newark hill. Many rare wild blossoms adorned 

 the woodlands, but the " apples " that " hang from the 

 rock " are assuredly myths.* 



Forty-four assembled at dinner. The oldest volume of 

 the Burgh records was produced for inspection. Mr Wood 

 had brought a curious ecclesiastical seal of brass found near 

 Fairnalee ; but the inscription was obliterated. Mr James 

 Brown, manufacturer, exhibited a flag, said to have been 

 taken at Flodden by a member of the Corporation of 

 Weavers ; by whose successive deacons it has been preserved, 

 and exhibited annually at the ceremony called " Biding the 

 Marches." Originally of green silk, it was described by 

 Robert Chambers, more than 40 years ago, as having once 

 borne traces of an eagle and serpent as armorial bearings. 

 As seen by the Club it had been repaired, by pasting the 

 fragments on white cotton cloth. But it bore, instead of the 

 figures mentioned by Chambers, what appeared to be two 

 shuttles crossing one another. This suggested to some of the 



* " Fair hangs the apple frae the rock ; 

 Sweet the wave of Yarrow flowin'." 



Hamilton, of Bangour. 

 " Fair hangs the apple frae the rock, 

 But we will leave it growing." 



WOfiDSWOKTH 



