14 Report of Meetings for 1879, by James Hardy. 



On being invited to enter, the company were received with, 

 great kindness by Mrs Coulson, wbo, thougb in ber 84th year, is 

 still hale and hearty ; and by Miss Coulson, who gave herself an 

 amount of trouble to shew the visitors everything. Some 

 tapestry from Italy (subject— a shepherd, sheep, and trees) was 

 to be seen in the entry hall ; also some curiosities found on the 

 estate, including a ball the size of one's fist, of iron coated with 

 lead, attributed to the Cromwellian period, although probably 

 older. There was also a plain massive gold wedding-ring, with 

 the inscription : lvve is the bond of peace, which had 

 been found in the neighbourhood. Another of corresponding 

 appearance was said to have also been picked up, but trace of 

 it had been lost. The company was then conducted up the 

 narrow stone stairs to an upper landing place, where some 

 more tapestry, belonging to the house, representing a wed- 

 ding scene, was preserved. Descending the stairs, the vaults 

 were visited, where the cattle were kept in ancient times when 

 invasion was threatened ; these being now utilised for domestic 

 purposes. In one small side apartment two shoulder blades of a 

 sheep were fixed in the walls for pins. There was a recess at 

 the south end wherein the calves had been kept separate from 

 the older cattle. A servant's hall has been made out of the half 

 of it. The vaults were lighted by upright arrow slits, which 

 open wide inwards. The family rooms were inspected, including 

 a bed-room wherein, according to tradition, Queen Mary once 

 slept, which contains, along with other paintings, a very pretty 

 youthful portrait of that unfortunate princess. This was a cir- 

 cumscribed narrow room. The- visitants were greatly pleased to 

 see the very agreeable adaptation of the ancient apartments to 

 modern requirements. Before leaving, the company partook of 

 Mrs Coulson's hospitality. 



On leaving Houndwood the end of the road leading to Auchen- 

 crow and Ohirnside was passed. A little way down, on the 

 upperside of the railway, is an extensive deposit of sand over- 

 topped by gravel and rolled stones, mostly of greywacke. There 

 are many such mounds along this part of the Eye valley. The 

 sand, of which an unlimited supply for building purposes can be 

 here obtained, is sometimes fifteen feet deep, the intermixture 

 with narrow streams of gravel being very small. It was while 

 excavating gravel, hereabouts, in a position still nearer the 



