Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 225 



to her pen, to eke out a precarious subsistence for herself and 

 family." She attended the debates in the House of Commons as 

 a reporter, clothed in apparel she had borrowed from a pawn 

 shop. She translated several works from continental languages, 

 one being '' The Exiles of Siberia." She died in London, in the 

 end of the year 1846. Nothing is known of the fortunes of her 

 family. 



To return to the Covenanting Banner, which has occasioned 

 these remarks — after the death of the Eaeburns, it passed to Mr 

 "William Sinclair, Hartfell House, Moffat, who is also the 

 possessor of the sword of Col. Cleland, another national hero, 

 who was an officer both at Drumclog and BothweU Bridge ; and 

 fell 21st August, 1689, at the head of the Cameronian regiment, 

 manfully defending the churchyard of Dundee against a superior 

 force of Highlanders, the remains of Dundee's army, who were 

 defeated and never rallied again. Mr Sinclair, who is a skilful 

 draughtsman of birds, is a native of Dunbar, or its neighbour- 

 hood, and he obligingly forwarded the trophy from Moffat on 

 the occasion of the Club's visit. An old long-barrelled musket, 

 a pistol or carbine barrel, and a sword blade, which were con- 

 nected with the flag, were also shewn. Mr Graham, Dunbar, 

 sent for the inspection of members an old Geneva Bible of date 

 1561. Mr Loney brought from Marchmont, Galeohdolon luteum, 

 and a Geranium, of which ihere were doubts as to the species ; 

 the first was growing there in a half-wild state. Mr Thos. Dar- 

 ling mentioned having shot on the Tweed, near Berwick, during 

 the winter, a very small gull, which had occasioned some con- 

 troversy. It kept itself apart from other gulls. Professor New- 

 ton, to whom it had been submitted, considered it to be a dwarf 

 of the black-headed species, Larus ridihundus. It is noticed by 

 Mr Brotherston in the present vol. p. 177, under the head of 

 *' Masked Gull" (Larus capistratus). 



The second meeting was at Gordon, on the 30th of June ; and 

 although held in a rural situation, it was very successful and 

 numerously attended. A loft or granary behind one of the vil- 

 lage inns was fitted up, and a licence procured, and the company 

 dined there with every comfort. The weather was not the most 

 favourable, as heavy blasts of rain occurred repeatedly, but the 

 spirit of adventure set at defiance the fickleness of the elements ; 

 and the mind, amidst researches of an encouraging character, 



