Notes on Biel and Stenton. 207 



chain belonged to Mr Pitt, and the watch to which it was attached, 



was, I believe, presented by Mr Dundas to Mr Pitt's University. 



Athenian Chair, p. 434. 



The Athenian Chair on the upper terrace at Biel is not one of 

 the Elgin Marbles, but was bought by my great grandfather, Mr 

 Hamilton Nisbet, during his visit to Greece in the early part of 

 this century. 



William Hamilton Nisbet, Esq., p. 439. 



William Hamilton Nisbet of Belhaven and Dirleton, was born 

 in 1747 and died in 1822. [These dates could not be ascertained 

 at the time of visit.] 



Monument op the Eight Hon. E. C. Nisbet Hamilton 

 at Stenton, p. 439. 



I am able from a sketch written in ''Life and Work" for 

 1880, by the Eev. George Marjoribanks, to preserve in our 

 pages, the following description of the lona Cross, erected in 

 memory of the late Eight Hon. E. C. Nisbet Hamilton, in Stenton 

 Churchyard. 



This form of the Cross, so unique a specimen of which we have in this 

 parish, is distinctly national, being generally called that of lona, and is fre- 

 quently found amongst the old sculptured stones of Scotland. Its front faces 

 the east. Taking first, therefore, a front view of the structure, it will be 

 observed that in the centre of the circular head there appears the sacred 

 monogram, formed of the two first letters, in Greek, of the name Christ, the 

 circle itself being symbolical of eternity. If we now look from the circular 

 head of the cross, it wiU. be observed that on each of the four arms there are 

 emblematic figures, these being symbolical of one or other of the writers of 

 the Gospels. On the left arm is the Winged Man, emblematic of St Mat- 

 thew, who treats chiefly of the Human Nature of Christ. On the right arm, 

 looking toward the cross, is the "Winged Lion, emblematic of the Resurrec- 

 tion, of which the lion was in early times accepted as the symbol, and assigned 

 to St. Mark, because he dwells in his Gospel on the Resurrection. On the 

 lower limb we find the "Winged Bull, emblematic of the Passion of Christ, 

 and the symbol of St. Luke, who dwells on the Atonement and Priesthood of 

 our Lord, which is fitly set forth by the Ox, the beast of sacrifice. At the 

 top we have the Eagle, emblematic of St. John, because he dwells specially 

 on the Divine Nature of Christ, thereby soaring higher, as it were, than any 

 of the other sacred writers. On the shaft, and between these evangelistic 

 symbols and the thorns encircling the sacred monogram, there is lacing orna- 

 mental work, somewhat modified from old examples. The back of the cross 

 shows on the centre of the head the saored dove, symbol of the Holy Ghost 

 and emblem of purity, descending surrounded by winged cherubs ; while at 

 the bottom of the shaft are three fishes, placed triangularly, and denoting 

 baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity. The four limbs or arms have 

 groups formed of grapes or ears of wheat, emblematic of the Sacrament of 



