92 On Bonchester, Rate Water. By Walter Denny. 



the deepest feelings of regret, the great loss the Berwickshire 

 Naturalists' Club and the Scottish Alpine Botanical Club have 

 sustained, by the sudden death of Professor Alexander Dickson, 

 the President of the Scottish Alpine Botanical Club. In Norway 

 he was the genial companion and friend of all. Of a singularly 

 gentle nature, and modest demeanour, he was respected and 

 beloved by everyone, and it will be a loDg time till we see his 

 like again. I add the accoupanying lines. 



IN MEMOEIAM. 



" We ure survivors ; from the echoing street 

 One more familiar footstep dies away 

 Into eternal silence. Day by day 



Some eye that brightened, some brave heart that beat 

 Is closed and stilled. Alas! those harrying feet 

 Where are they tied, bearing the bright array of 

 Wisdom, beauty, youth ! and where are they ? 

 Whose living love, made life and leisure sweet ? 

 I cannot deem they are departed quite, 

 Transfigured, changed, and vanished from our eyes, 

 But living to us still, tho' lost to sight, 

 And surely sharing still, our smiles and sighs ; 

 A self-made creed, begot of memories ! 

 Yet, if I err, whose voice shall set me right ?" 



On Bonchester, Ride Water. By Walter Deans, Hobkirk. 



It is unnecessary to discuss the etymology of Bonchester, 

 locally named Bunstir. The camp on the hill supplies its appel- 

 lation to the lands. 



The lands of Bonchester appear in former times to have formed 

 one estate or farm, but had latterly been divided into Upper and 

 Nether Bonchester. Both estates were in the parish of Abbot- 

 rule ; and at the Reformation, Bonchester was valued at 30 

 shillings, and was rented from the monks of Jedburgh, by a 

 branch of the Turnbull family. The old place of Bonchester was 

 situated on the north shoulder of Bonchester hill, at the head of 

 the hollow called Rob's Cleugh, a possible corruption of Bobbers' 

 Cleugh, a name which would once be very appropriate to the 

 tenants of Bonchester. 



