454 Report of Meetings for 1889. By Dr. J. Hardy. 



Upper Liddesdale. 



The place of assemblage for Upper Liddesdale was at 

 Newcastleton on June 26 ; when twenty-four obeyed the call. 

 The Club had visited this classic vale on the same day in the 

 year, just twenty years ago, when they held a joint meeting with 

 the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History Society. On 

 that occasion they explored the vale of the Hermitage Water, 

 and the ruins of the famous castle of Hermitage, originally 

 connected with Lord Soulis, the wizard knight of Leyden's ballad, 

 and afterwards by the Douglases and other local potentates. 

 Of that company there was only one representative present — 

 Mr R. S. Murray, formerly of Hawick, now the chief of the staff 

 of the Newcastle Journal. I avail myself of his Report, but 

 chiefly follow, almost verbatim, the itinerary of Mr Edward J. 

 Wilson, then of Saughtree School, who had carefully studied 

 the typography of this interesting district. We had also as 

 guide, the Rev. Alexander Wilson, assistant minister in charge 

 of Saughtree Mission Church. The day was most favourable. 

 The balmy air, pastoral and literary associations, and the views 

 of the green and partially wooded valley, and the dark environ- 

 ing ridges, oblivious as every one was, of the lawlessness of its 

 past history, were of the most pleasing character. There was 

 nothing particular to draw out rapturous admiration, but a 

 " sober certainty of waking bliss,,'' prevailed to the close of a 

 memorable day. Looking back on the scene of the day's outing, 

 Liddesdale may be characterised as a mountain environed basin, 

 lying between the sloping sides of ridges or " rigs " of more or 

 less altitude ; the narrow main valley more or less cultivated, 

 cultivation occasionally broadening towards the hills on the 

 right hand in going up. Sheltering plantations add greatly to 

 the variety and amenity of the prospect. The river runs in this 

 its summer tenuity, with lenient flow, mostly on a level ; but its 

 channel is strown with mighty boulders, several of them of blue 

 trap, tokens of a much more turbulent career, when the winter 

 torrents unite and sweep all before them, including the ancient 

 glacial-borne rocks of the till. The marginal formations 

 appeared to be Tuedian sandstones and limestones, with marly 

 and clayey scaurs. 



About a score of gentlemen collected from the wide district 

 embraced by the Club, assembled by the morning trains, and 

 breakfasted at the Commercial Hotel (Mr John Scott's), after 



