124 REPORT OF MEETINGS POR 1904 



The party were met at Selkirk Railway Station on the 



arrival of the 8-30 a.m. train from Edinburgh 

 Selkirk. by the President and others, who had spent 



the night in the neighbourhood ; and being 

 provided with seats in commodious coaches, from which a 

 good view of the surrounding country might be obtained, 

 and headed by their former President, Mr T. Craig Brown, 

 cicerone for the day, and others in private carriages, they 

 left Selkirk at 11 o'clock, with the prospect of reaching 

 Eodono in time for two o'clock luncheon. The objects of 

 interest in the town were left unvisited on the present occasion, 

 attention being drawn only to the enclosure of a part of the 

 Common which had recently been dedicated to the memory 

 of the late Queen, and styled Victoria Park. The route lay 

 to the West of the town and across the Ettrick, whose course 

 from Capel Fell to its junction with Yarrow teems with 

 memories of many a* Border fray. A modern bridge, built to 

 replace an old one half a mile further down, which 

 was swept away in 1777, spans the river. On the right 

 of the roadway is situated Thirladean, sheltered by a belt 

 of trees, and enriched by a small lake in front, where the 

 late Mr Russell, editor of The Scotsman, spent several summers. 

 Near it stands the model farm-steading of Philiphaugh, 

 occupying a part of the extensive plain lying two miles in 

 length, and from a quarter to half a mile in breadth, along- 

 side of the river as it makes its way to join the Tweed, 

 and forming what has been regarded as the battlefield of 

 Philiphaugh. 



This historic site has passed into the possession of one of 



our members, Mr W. Strang Steel, who pur- 

 Philip- chased it from the representatives of Sir John 

 haugh. Forbes Pringle Murray, Bart., and has greatly 



embellished the mansion-house and surrounding 

 policies. To the East of the house, on an enclosure overgrown 

 with ivy and honeysuckle, stands a stone pyramid, erected 

 to commemorate the Covenanters who fell in the bloody 

 engagement which was fought between them and the Royalists 

 on 13th September 1645, and which is memorable as the 

 last historic encounter in the Forest of Ettrick. Whether 

 the battle was deliberately planned, or partook of the nature 



