388 Report of Meetings for 1886. By J. Hardy. 



There is an old breech-loader cannon of small calibre lying out- 

 side, which burst at the breech when last fired, and of which no 

 one can tell the history. At the top of the staircase in the 

 house there is a rich collection of horns and antlers, and spoils 

 of the chase from various countries. These drew a good share 

 of attention, while others were attracted to the engravings and 

 paintings in the principal rooms. A small archaeological collection 

 mostly from the district, had been disposed on one of the side 

 tables for inspection. This included an old shaped iron axe-head 

 from a drain at Earlside ; a second light axe-head from a ruin 

 at Howahill ; a brace of pistols finely damascened ; an elliptic 

 ovate polished stone celt, of hard Silurian or felsite, with a white 

 surface, from Hawthornside ; an old Border pike-head of iron, 

 imperfect, 14f inches long, shaft portion with three nail holes, 

 8 inches long ; head itself 4f inches — this was a rude three 

 edged weapon. A wooden busk for a woman's stays, elaborately 

 and artistically carved, a heart cut out at the top, length 12J in. 

 by 1^ and 1 in., inscribed " Agness Richardson, H.B." (Her 

 Busk) and " W.R.," said to be the workmanship of gypsies, and 

 a present from a lover to his sweetheart. These two were 

 brought by Mr Tancred ; a small bronze socketed and looped 

 celt from Essenside, Ashkirk, by Mr Dunlop ; and another of the 

 same sort and size, but of a different mould, by Mr W. G. 

 Guthrie, from vicinity of Hawick. 



The members of the Club were much pleased to meet Sir 

 Walter Elliot, so fresh and apparently vigorous looking. Sir 

 Walter presented a paper of which he gave the details viva voce, 

 on the subject of the duel of "Sweet Milk Willie," on New 

 mill-haugh in the immediate neighbourhood, which had drawn 

 his attention in previous years, and which he could now authen- 

 ticate with documentary statements. This paper he completed 

 for the Club. As we shook hands in parting, we fondly hoped 

 that we would meet him on Rule Water next summer, but alas ! 

 since then, "his lamp of varied lore" has been irreparably 

 quenched both to his friends and his country.* 



The garden possesses a good stock of herbaceous plants, always 

 a source of interest to those who are in quest of new forms of 

 vegetation, nor was the bedding-out decoration without its 

 charm. Perceiving the remarkable feature of some of the yews 



*Sir Walter Elliot, K.C.S.I., F.L.S., etc., died at Woli'elee, March 1st, 

 1887, in Lis 85th year. 



