Re'port of the Meetings for 1893. 231 



and to the propensity of some of the later representatives for 

 spending money — spending so lavishly and gambling in such a 

 way as to render it necessary to sell considerable portions of the 

 extensive estate, even that not being sufficient in the end to 

 save the family from ruin. Sir Walter Scott greatly bewailed 

 the death in 1826 of his ''old friend, Sir Alexander Don," with 

 whom he had "lived in much friendship." "His habits," 

 says Sir Walter, "were those of a gay man, much coiinected 

 with the turf ; but he possessed strong natural parts, and in 

 particular few men could speak better in public when he chose. 

 He had tact, wit, power of sarcasm, and that indescribable 

 something which marks the gentleman. His manners in society 

 were extremely pleasing, and as he had a taste for literaturo 

 and the fine arts, there were few more pleasant companions, 

 besides being a highly spirited, steady, and honourable man." 

 At the time of his death (which took place about his 47th year) 

 Sir Alexander represented Roxburghshire in the House of 

 Commons. Some thirty years ago the last direct representative 

 of the family, who was making a livelihood and reputation on 

 the stage, died while still comparatively young. 



Mr Balfour also referred to the ecclesiastical history of the 

 place, tracing its connection with the Abbey of Kelso, and 

 mentioning the visit of the active consecrating ecclesiastic, David 

 de Bernham, in his official capacity to Naynthorn. Reference was 

 also made to the sad drowning case in which a heavy blow fell 

 upon the house of Don and a family in Kelso, the exact spot, so 

 far as could be learned, being pointed out from the window.* 

 In another room Mr Balfour showed a number of curios picked 

 up during his recent visit to Egypt, among these being a small 

 but neatly-carved representation of the cat deity. 



As a kind of set-off to this embodiment of mental and spiritual 

 darkness, the visitors were shown the means of dispellin).j- dark- 

 ness just introduced into the mansion — namely, the electric 

 light. The dynamo is placed in a specially-constructed house at 

 the linn (which was afterwards visited), and the power is 

 obtained at the water-fall through means of a turbine. Being 

 day-light, the electric illumination could not be seen to advantage ; 

 but Mr Balfour had thoughtfully caused the mechanism to be 



* These notes Mr Balfour has kindly promised to f arnish in a I'evised 

 and extended shape for the Proceedings of the Club. 



