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that part of the ruin was fitted up for a Presbyterian 

 place of worship. It continued to be used as such, 

 until 1810. The first six of the chapels in the south 

 aisle have been used since the Eeformation as places of 

 sepulture by families of note in the neighbourhood. In 

 the seventh, are carved representations of the heads of 

 David I, and of his Queen Matilda. Standing upright 

 in the eighth, is an ancient kneeling stone, on one side 

 of which is the likeness of four horse-shoes : and on 

 the top an inscription in Saxon characters. It reads 

 thus — 



Orate Pro 

 Anima Frat. 

 Petre AERaKii. 

 " Pray for the soul of brother Peter, the treasurer." 



The charm of Melrose Abbey lies as much in the 

 exquisite delicacy of the carving, and the beauty of the 

 various parts, as in the graceful symmetry and united 

 grandeur of the entire structure. The most perfect 

 specimen of carving is pronounced by connaisseurs to 

 be that on the capital of the pillar which bounds the 

 south aisle on the east, separating the aile from the 

 nave. This carving represents the leaf of the curly 

 greens, or kale ; and is so delicate and beautiful as to 

 resemble the finest lace. The pillar on which appears 

 this specimen of monastic taste and skill, rises ou the 

 north side to another capital, at the spring of the lofty 

 and beautiful arch, which, with three others, supported 

 the central tower. From the south transept, where 

 this carving is generally best seen, can also be observed 

 a small round window, high in the wall of the north 

 transept. This window, of which the tracery is quite 

 entire, is said to represent the Crown of Thorns," but 

 we must interrupt our glib cicerone. It is supposed 

 that there were originally sixteen altars in the Abbey. 

 In this corner lies, according to the " Lay of the Last 

 Minstrel," the grave of the famous Wizard Michael 



