1909-1910-] ^^ Account of the Excursions (1910). 271 



{Silaus pratensis), whose locality lay a short distance off the 

 road to the right before Blackshiels is reached. A long 

 search was made, and only one specimen was found. The 

 drive to Juniper Lee, at the foot of Soutra Hill, was enjoyable, 

 the views on the route being very fine, especially that from 

 the top of the incline approaching the woods of Oxenford, 

 when the cultivated fields of Mid-Lothian, with Edinburgh 

 and Arthur's Seat, the Firth of Forth, and the coast of Fife, 

 come into sight. During the walk from Juniper Lee to 

 Soutra Moor, Mr Cleland pointed out the spot where John 

 Logan, the author of ' Elements of the Philosophy of History,' 

 and of a variety of lyric and elegiac poems, was born in 1748. 

 It was incorrectly stated in ' The Scotsman ' that Logan was 

 the author of the well-known paraphrase, *' God of Bethel," 

 for it has been proved that to Doddridge belongs this honour. 

 Very few plants were found on the moor. But on the summit 

 of Soutra Hill was seen the remains of the Hospital founded 

 by Malcolm IV. in 1164 for the relief of pilgrims. A path- 

 way leading from the Tweed to Soutra is still traceable. It 

 is called Girthgate, meaning the sanctuary road, and on this 

 road within the parish lies a small spot called the King's 

 Inch. It belongs to no one, and has long been used as a 

 resting-place by drovers for their cattle. The party then 

 walked back to Juniper Lee Inn, and after tea, botanised the 

 glen and banks of the Cakemuir burn, where a number of 

 good plants were gathered, — Pyrola media, Geranium sylvati- 

 cum, Sanicula europcea, and Solamtm dulcamara. A magnifi- 

 cent Alder tree (Alnus glutinosa) was very much admired for 

 its size and beauty. Mr Cleland photographed the illustra- 

 tion of it here reproduced (see Plate XX.) 



On July 16 the members visited the old camp at North- 

 shield and the loch of Portmore, about two and a half miles 

 distant from Eddleston Station. On arriving at Portmore 

 House, the party were received by Mr and Mrs Eobertson. 

 They were shown some fine specimens of the Hemlock spruce 

 and the Douglas and Silver firs, and the largest Bird cherry 

 {Prunits Padus) and Service tree {Pijrus Aria) in Scotland. A 

 walk of a little more than a mile brought the party to an old 

 British or Danish encampment at Northshield. Mr Douglas, 



