484 Report of Meetings for 1S81. By Jas. Hardy. 



Chronicle," (a history of the world) in German, printed at Nurem- 

 berg, 23rd December, 1493, by Anth. Koberger, in folio. The 

 original was in Latin, and was printed by the same printer at 

 the same date and place. This Chronicle was written by Hart- 

 man Schedel, and is remarkable for the number and peculiarity 

 and the beauty of its woodcuts, of which there are more than 

 2000, reckoning those which have been many times repeated. 

 The wood-cuts were by Michael Wolgenmuth (master of Albert 

 Durer) and Wilhelm PleydenwurfPs, According to Brunet 

 " Manuel du Libraire," there is another edition of the Latin text, 

 with the same figures, printed at A.ugsburg by John Schersperger, 

 1497, in fol. The highest price known to be given for a copy, 

 was 180 francs, but it had the frontispiece painted in gold. 



Previous to entering the mansion, some notanda about Tra- 

 quair house, for which I was obliged to Miss Eussell of Ashiesteel, 

 were read, and I shall finish the account of this historical place 

 by giving them here. 



' ' The new entrance from the south, gives a picturesque view of the house. 

 The very wide avenue, the original entrance from the west, is very imposing, 

 and would have heen more so, if the trees had been gradually thinned out. 

 It is to be supposed that it was originally a road, but has long been entirely 

 covered with turf. The old iron railing across the front of the house, form- 

 ing a quadrangle, is very ornamental ; I forget exactly what the coat of arms 

 above the gate is ; Stuart and the Earldom of Buchan, and some other quar- 

 terings. It is always quite bright, as if enamelled, but I suppose it is 

 repainted sometimes. 



It will be observed, that the principal part of the house, the great building 

 to the east, is in two parts, the roofs being of quite different slope. The 

 northern part is believed to be very old, and indeed I quite believe it to be, 

 as is said, one of the oldest inhabited houses in Scotland. I have heard it 

 said that the lowest story of this oldest part might quite probably be part of 

 a house inhabited in the time of Robert Bruce ; but I do not know that there 

 were any particular reasons for this date being assigned, and if it is as old as 

 that, it is quite as likely to be older ; for it was in the two hundred years be- 

 tween the Norman Conquest and the Wars of Independence, that the more 

 or less Celtic kings of Scotland made Traquair a regular royal residence ; 

 while the necessity of building towers or houses of some strength would be 

 found before this time. Indeed it was only with Eobert Bruce that the pecu- 

 liar and successful system of leaving the country undefended, in a general 

 invasion, originated. The later kings, whose capital was as near as Edin- 

 burgh, did not require any special establishment to enable them to hunt in 

 this country. 



On the southern part of the main building, which projects a little in front, 

 has not such a steep roof as the other, and is not so entirely without windows 

 in the lower part, is the date 1642, showing it must have been built by the 



