44 Report of the Meetings for 1892. 



[With reference to Goblin' Ha' and its history, see Chambers^ 

 Picture of Scotland ; Sir Walter Scott's Marmion, Canto in., and 

 Notes ; McGibbon and Eoss's Castellated and Domestic Architecture 

 of Scotland ; Dr Small's Castles and Mansions of the Lothians ; 

 Sketches of East Lothian by David Croal, etc.] 



Yestbr. 



Thus far Mr Wilson deals with the main body of visitors 

 coming by Haddington, but there were detachments from the 

 centre of Berwickshire expected by the Whitadder and Danskine 

 road, and a party from Lauder crossing by Soutra Hill, also to 

 be attended to, and some new arrangements to be made to suit 

 the condition of the weather, and the comfort of all concerned. 

 To effect this, the first carriage, in which was the Secretary, 

 made no stay at Bolton, but hastened on to Tester to commu- 

 nicate with the authorities there. At Gi:fford they were joined 

 by Mr Stephenson and friends, and they were the first to arrive 

 at Tester House, where all the doubtful items were speedily 

 adjusted. 



The carriage turned up between lines of goodly Lime trees, 

 with green spaces between in front of ornamental cottages, to 

 the gates, after passing which the verdant space between the 

 drive and the trees widened, with a bank of magnificent old 

 trees on the left, and on the right the Hopes Burn, swollen and 

 reddened with the downpour of rain, dashing along wildly 

 beneath slopes sprinkled with wild ferns and native bushes, 

 unintentionally "unadorned," but still "adorned the most." 

 The open green space grew wider and wider till it expanded 

 into a great platform, with the stately Mansion House (built by 

 Adams) in the centre ; not showy, but spacious and most 

 commodious. Banks of trees occupied the east margin ; grand 

 Oaks and other well-grown timber, singly or in clumps, were 

 dispersed throughout the grounds ; a screen of trees again 

 sheltered the west, and a winding wooded dean closed in the 

 head of the Park. 



The party were cordially welcomed in the vestibule by the 

 Marquis and Marchioness. As there was no living out of doors 

 until the rain moderated, it was resolved to show the interior of 

 the house, and to prevent crowding, this was done without 

 delay. The Marchioness led up the early arrivals, and Lord 



