238 Report of the Meetings jor 1893. 



Mr James Dodds, who was destined to attain considerable rank 

 in London as a Parliamentary solicitor, and who is well known 

 in literature as the author of " The Fifty Years' Struggle of the 

 Scottish Covenanters " and a " Life of Dr Chalmers." Mr Dodds 

 belonged to the peasant rank of life, but early gave indications 

 of the possession of considerable talent. He was patronised by 

 the contemporary Duke of Roxburghe, on whose home farm his 

 relatives worked ; but an early waywardness of temper led to 

 the withdrawal of previous favours, and the lad forsook the halls 

 of Edinburgh University for the life of a strolling player ; but, 

 luckily, this calling did not last long with him. He found an 

 opening for his talents in the small school at Sandyknowe, where 

 he read much useful literature and found some employment for 

 his pen. He then spent some time in the law oflS.ce of Mr Scott 

 of Abbotsmeadow, and after a time found his way to London, 

 He had some correspondence about this period with Thomas 

 Carlyle, whose letters to him are preserved in a biographical 

 sketch which his relative, the late Rev. James Dodds, Dunbar, 

 prefixed to his posthumously-published " Lays of the Scottish 

 Covenanters." Mr Dodds, who was also most popular as a 

 lecturer, died very suddenly at Broughty Ferry, on September 

 12th 1874. 



Much time had been pleasantly spent in endeavouring to view 

 all that was worth seeing, and programme time was being ex- 

 ceeded. However, the drive to Kelso was mostly down-hill, and 

 the Queen's Head was reached about 4.30. The company were 

 soon seated, and Mr Hill's tempting fare was fast disappearing. 

 Mr J. R. Carr-EUison occupied the chair, and near him were Rev. 

 Mr Gunn and Mr R. Middlemas, Treasurer of the Club. Among 

 those present were — Mr J. L. Newbigin; Mr W. T. Hindmarsh, 

 F.L.S. ; Rev. James A. Sharrock ; Rev. J. Walker, Newcastle; 

 Mr Edward Shaw ; Mr J. P. Simpson ; Mr D. Hume (visitor) ; 

 Rev. Edward Thornton ; Rev. M. H. Graham, Maxton ; Mr 

 Robert Langwill ; Rev. Dr Hunter, Galashiels ; Rev. W. L. 

 Sime ; Rev. P. Hay Hunter (visitor) ; Mr John Dunlop, Lanark; 

 Mr A. M. Dunlop, Ashkirk ; Mr George Wood, Exchange 

 Buildings, Jedburgh ; Major-Gen. John James Boswall, Darnick, 

 Melrose ; Rev. Dr Snodgrass, Canonbie ; Mr James Thomson, 

 Shawdon ; Mr James Wood, Galashiels ; Mr Alex. F. Roberts, 

 Selkirk ; Mr Adam Laing, Hawick ; Mr William Laing, London 

 (visitor) ; Mr J. 0. Hodgson, Warkworth ; Mr 0. E. Oarr, 



