62 Anniversary Address. 



ity of the members, under the guidance of the Rev. Mr. 

 Walker, the Minister of the Parish, proceeded np the valley 

 of the Blackadder, which divides the Parish into two parts, 

 the moor part, from the more cultivated land. They admired 

 the dark grove of fir trees on the opposite bank of the stream, 

 and the perpendicular cliffs above the river, called " Thomas's 

 Grave," the common name of the place, but the origin 

 lost in obscurity. Advancing forward, they came to a 

 large mound called the "King's Grave," about which there 

 is a legendary tale, which Mr. Walker has kindly undertaken 

 to make us acquainted with hereafter. On the opposite 

 side of the river, the spot was pointed out where, a few 

 years ago, some gold nobles of Edward 111. were found, now 

 in the possession of the Lord of Marchmont. An encamp- 

 ment, called the " Black Castle Ring," very perfect, situated 

 on the high grounds, was the next object of interest. On three 

 sides there is an outer ditch, then a high dyke of earth, then 

 a wide-fosse, and then again an inner dyke — a large flat piece 

 of rich- grass ground forming the centre. On the other side 

 is a broken bank, very precipitous, 100 feet and more above 

 the river, from which the camp was quite inaccessible. Here 

 the stream is formed of two branches, the Blackadder running 

 from the east, the Fawngrass more from the west and south. 

 The party followed the course of the latter, but diverging 

 across the moors to view the extraordinary mounds called the 

 Kames. Nine mounds are here found of porphyry gravel, 

 smoothed by the action of the water and laid up in a huge 

 ridge. They can be traced for eight miles in length. Mr. 

 Stevenson has kindly undertaken to give us a paper on the 

 origin of these mounds. Henolt's Dyke and some other places 

 of interest were left to be visited on a future occasion. 

 Another party crossed over the southern moor and passing 

 by old Greenlaw, and Howlaw Rigg, inspected the ruins of 

 Home Castle, the ancient stronghold of that powerful family. 

 Towards the hour appointed for dinner the members might be 

 seen straggling mto the town from various quarters. The 

 County-town was all alive, the courts being open, and with 

 diiRculty we procured a dinner at the Inn. The members 



