144 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1904 



Henry Rutherfurd, Fairnington; Rev. Evan Rutter, Spittal ; 

 Mr Wm. Sanderson, Glasgow; Mr T. B. Short, Berwick; 

 Miss Simpson, Ooldingham ; Mr Andrew Smith and Mrs 

 Smith, Whichester ; Mr Wm. Strang Steel and party, 

 Philiphaugh ; Mr W. M. Thorburn, Melrose ; Mr James 

 A. Terras, Edinburgh ; Mr John TurnbuU, Galashiels ; 

 Mr William Weatherhead, Berwick ; and Mr Thomas Wilson, 

 Roberton. 



The manufacturing centre whence the day's excursion was 



planned, is said to be the prototype of the 

 Inner= scene in which Sir Walter Scott laid the story 



leithen. of "St. Ronan's Well," of which a very 



sombre picture is sketched ' in its opening 

 chapter. The decaying village of St. Ronan's stood on a 

 site, he says, "singularly picturesque in a narrow vale, 

 through which a river of considerable magnitude pours its 

 streams," but "the greater part of its cottages had long 

 been deserted, and the fallen roofs, blackened gables, and 

 ruined walls showed desolation's triumph over poverty." 

 An altered and much improved aspect is worn by the 

 Innerleithen of to-day, which along with its neighbour, 

 Walkerburn, has assumed the appearance of a busy and 

 well-to-do provincial town, to whose restored prosperity 

 woollen manufactures have largely contributed. Traquair 

 Arms, where brakes were provided, stands at the out- 

 skirts of the town, within a few minutes' walk of the 

 Railway Station, and supplies good accomodation for a 

 large number. There several members foregathered on 

 the previous evening, and were made thoroughly comfortable. 

 The drive to Traquair lies across the Tweed, which is 



spanned by the Droonpouch Bridge about 

 Traquair half a mile from the town. At its South 

 House. end the road from Elibank and Ashiestiel is 



joined, which passes on the left a hill-track 

 over Minchmoor, by which the vanquished Montrose may 

 have retreated from Philiphaugh as he sought a place of 

 safety under the roof of his kinsman, the Earl of Traquair. 

 The entrance to the mansion-house lies on the right of 

 the road, along a carriage-drive which crosses the water 

 of Quair by a modern bridge, which has superseded the 



