Report of Meetings for 1881. By Jas. Hardy. 431 



terraces and the rivulet stretches a level haugh, where the grass 

 being kept cut retains a perpetual verdure. This is ornamented 

 with Coniferse of various sizes, tall and upright, or in dense 

 rounded or jagged masses, according as individual examples 

 have thriven, or have obtained the full development of their 

 natural shape. Yerdant or flowering shrubs combined with tall 

 trees flanking either end complete the environment of this charm- 

 ing piece of scenery, which pleases the more by the pervading 

 tranquillity. The rivulet here is nearly straight, shallow, gravelly 

 and clear, constantly flowing, but not roughly. The bridge that 

 we cross is over-run with ivy. Linaria cymhalaria occupies many 

 of the seams, and, as was observable afterwards, has established 

 itself on the walls of the mansion house. 



On the occasion of the Club's visit. Lady Mary Nisbet Hamil- 

 ton had kindly intimated her intention to throw the principal 

 rooms of her residence, with the family relics and treasures of 

 art, open for the inspection of members. Besides the paintings 

 and beautiful sculptures in the entrance hall, in the dining room 

 is a gallery of the pictorial art of rare excellence and value. After 

 viewing these, the members were received in the drawing room 

 by Miss Nisbet Hamilton. Among the curiosities exhibited, 

 which members were privileged to inspect here, were a pearl 

 necklace, presented by Queen Elizabeth to one of the Manners 

 family (an ancestress of the present family at Biel), when Her 

 Majesty visited Burleigh ; William Pitt's gold-chain, with a 

 locket containing a portion of his hair, which had been be- 

 queathed by that statesman to one of the Dundas family ; a 

 Bible of date 1 649 containing family registers ; a copy of Cran- 

 mer's Bible, published by Eichard Harrison, London, in 1562; 

 and a prayer book of 1 8th century date, in red velvet, which it is 

 accounted lucky to have at marriages, as they all turn out fortu- 

 nate when the service is read from it. It has been used at many 

 Eoyal marriages, and contains the record of each signed by the 

 archbishops of Canterbury. Several members having felt an in- 

 terest in this. Miss Nisbet Hamilton has most kindly supplied me 

 with the memoranda of the occasions on which her mother's 

 historical prayer book was used. 



"The Prayer Book belonged to Lady Eobert Manners (whose daughter 

 married my great grandfather William Hamilton Nisbet of Belhaven and 

 Dirleton), and was borrowed by the then Archbishop of Canterbury 

 (Seeker) whose sight was defective, simply on account of the distinctness 



2c 



