The

ing, from our cottage window, this equipage was seen passing up the road for Clintmains, and round by St. Boswell's-where it was as well known-towards Bowden Parish Church, where the family worshipped, and where "The Major" and "Lady Grisell," taught in the Sabbath School, and did other Christian work.* movements of the phaeton were so regular and punctual that people might easily have timed their clocks and watches by its passage. On Sabbath "The Admiral" was generally seen by himself; and when at Bowden Church discarded wheels, crossed Tweed in the ferry-boat, and used the locomotive power provided by nature. At Dryburgh the family lived in a very quiet way, and undoubtedly in the bonds of peace. There was none of that pride or stand-offishness about them which so frequently mars the intercourse of the upper classes with their neighbours; on the contrary they visited the people in their cottages, and took an interest in their welfare. Of "The Major" and "Lady Grisell," it might be said that they were as well known inside many of the houses of Dryburgh, St. Boswell's, and Newtown, as they were known outside. Especially were they interested when city children visited Dryburgh, and such an arrival was sure to evoke a special visit from "The Abbey House." Bemersyde House-the home of "The Haigs"

-on the heights above Dryburgh, was for some years the country residence of Lord Jerviswood. From there he removed to Dryburgh House, † where he died in 1879. The Misses Baillie still reside there.

It now only remains that we note some of the good deeds performed by "Lady Grisell." Her Ladyship was the first Deaconess set apart for service in the Church of Scotland. This took place in December 1888, and gave her a position quite in keeping with the bent of her mind. After Major Baillie's death, a Memorial Hall was erected at Newtown by his friends, and opened in 1890. On the building is a suitable inscrip

Major Baillie was an elder in Bowden Parish Church, and was usually sent up by the Presbytery as a representative to the General Assembly.

There are two mansions at Dryburgh; the one is named Dry. burgh Abbey, the other Dryburgh House.

tion. "Lady Grisell" left a sum of money to endow this Hall, and within is a Tablet to her memory. The clock which adorns the front of the Hall, and seen by the traveller by night as well as by day, was a gift from her Ladyship to the memory of "The Admiral." But, perhaps, not the least beneficent act of this good Lady was the repairing of Dryburgh Suspension Bridge. In the olden time Dryburgh was reached from the Roxburghshire side by a ferry boat. In 1817 the passage was improved by the eleventh Earl of Buchan erecting "an elegant wire suspension bridge over the Tweed, 260 feet in length, and 4 feet 7 inches between the rails." During a great storm of wind on the evening of 6th January, 1840, this bridge was blown away to such an extent as to leave only the main stretches. For 32 years after that date the ferry

DRYBURGH ABBEY HOUSE.

boat remained on duty; and those, who like ourselves, had to cross the Tweed when the river was in flood, knew something of the difficulties and dangers of the passage. To Lady Grisell Baillie are the public indebted for the resumption of traffic by the bridge; for she expended about £100 on the work of reconstruction, and the bridge was reopened in August, 1872. Long may the bridge remain as a monument to the memory of the Noble Lady, and in use by the community around, and for the thousands, who, from all quarters of the globe, come to visit "Beautiful Dryburgh," and see "Sir Walter's Tomb."+

The writer has to acknowledge his indebtedness to Lady Ashburnham's volume on Lady Grisell Baillie for some of the facts noted in this article; and to several Border friends for help in procuring other items of information.

Association sat down to dinner-Lord Tweed mouth in the chair. In the course of the evening an interesting incident occurred in the presentation to Mr. Usher of a cheque for £170 from the members of the Association, in token of their friendship and regard, and estimation of the services he had rendered as Secretary. In his reply, Mr. Usher warmly expressed his sincere and earnest thanks for the gift, and stated that through the Association he had become acquainted with a large number of Borderers whose warm, pure and generous

most interesting item of which is that connected with the inauguration of the Ettrick Shepherd Memorial at Ettrick Hall, on the 29th July last year. The Right Hon. Lord Napier and Ettrick presided. That occasion was a memorable one, and must always possess a special interest of its own for it was the last time on which the much-loved and respected Border chief appeared in public. Shortly afterwards, Lord Napier went to the continent, where he died at Florence on the 19th December last.

After the reading of the report at the annual meeting in Edinburgh, the members of the

Kindly lent by Borderers' Union.

friendship was one of the greatest blessings of his life.

In our Supplement to the present number we have the pleasure of presenting to our readers the latest portraits of Lord Napier and Mr. Usher.

In looking over the twenty-fourth annual report of THE EDINBURGH BORDERERS' UNION, we cannot help feeling greatly impressed by the life, vigour, and thorough character of all its operations and movements. Both Association and Union seek to promote friendly intercourse among natives of the Border Counties, annual excursions, the advancement of educational interests, helps.

to members needing assistance or employment. The Borderers' Union, however, creates a deeper impression by getting a better hold of young men and women who come to reside in Edinburgh, and in making "such friendships as shall be conducive to both their temporal and spiritual interests." With this most desirable object ever in view, the Union lays itself out in every possible way to attract young people from the Borders by monthly meetings, social evenings, pic-nics, whist, choirs, literary society, cycling club, juvenile prize scheme, and many other attractions. The annual excursion last summer was to Ayton and Berwick, an interesting account of which is given in the annual report now under notice. In this connection we have the pleasure of placing before our readers the view of St. Abb's Head which was visited during the excursion. We had the honour and the pleasure of placing before our readers, in January last, the portrait, with accompanying paper, of the much esteemed Secretary of the Edinburgh Borderers' Union, Mr. Stuart Douglas Elliot, S.S.C.

A False Alarm: A Tale of 1804. By ROBERT HALL, GALASHIELS.

J

PART II.

N the list of promotions published by the War Office on the 10th October, 1803, occur the names of the officers in connection with the "Selkirk and Galashiels Volunteer Infantry." These were William Scott, Esq., of Woll, Captain; Alexander Park and George Craig, Lieutenants; and John Lang, Ensign.

In common with their neighbours, the Galashiels section, under Lieutenant Craig, had been holding themselves in readiness to march at the appointed signal, to their rendezvous at Dalkeith. Night after night anxious eyes scanned the eastern horizon, and at length the ruddy gleam on the top of the Eildons gave warning far and wide that the enemy had been sighted. The clang of the alarm bell on the old Tolbooth soon broke on the startled ear of night, and the shrill pipe and spirit-stirring drum, sounded the call to arms which was at once obeyed. The volunteers fell in at the Cross, where by the light of a blazing fire, an eye-witness has left on record, that "Women were to be seen helping their men wi' their accoutrements, some rinnin' wi' ae thing an' some wi' anither, sabbin' an' greetin' a' the time, while the bairns were haudin' by their goun tails cryin' for their faithers no' to leave them." At length the command to march was given, and from amid the weeping crowd of wives, children and sweethearts, the men stepped off into the darkness of the early winter morning. On

reaching Middleton Inn, where a halt was made for rest and refreshment, they heard a rumour that the alarm was premature, and at mid-day, on their arrival at Dalkeith, after a march of twenty-eight miles the report was confirmed. firmed. After obtaining rest and refreshment, their faces were turned homeward, and the following night they were welcomed home, amid general rejoicing, the village being illuminated in honour of the occasion. Some nameless local rhymer commemorated the occurrence in a series of verses entitled "The Volunteers of Galashiels," which thus concluded

"But when they came unto Dalkeith, their journey proved in vain,

And by their Captain's orders they were marched home again;

They were all marched home again, and in a sweet surprise,

They were kindly welcomed back by their sweethearts and their wives."

When the preparations for the march were completed, it was found that "Susie Ha'" the sergeant's wife had taken up her position upon one of the baggage carts. Lieutenant Craig remonstrated, informing her that their destination was no place for women. She retorted by informing him that it would not be the first time she had faced the French, and nothing he could say could shake her resolution. Her husband, William Hall, grandfather of the writer, had served against the French a few years previously in the Irish Rebellion, and "Susie," then a girl of sixteen, attracted by a red coat, left her home and kindred, to follow the drum. When the rebellion was suppressed, her husband obtained his discharge, and accompanied by his young wife, returned to his native village. When volunteers were called for he again offered his services, and, on account of his previous training, was appointed drill sergeant to the local company. The total strength of the Company was forty, and when the roll was called previous to marching, thirty-nine answered to their names. The absent member whose name was Aimers, had been from home when the alarm was given, but returning in all haste he found his comrades had departed over an hour previously, and securing a conveyance he overtook them at Middleton Inn. The uniform worn on that occasion consisted of a scarlet coat and white trousers, the cloth being manufactured in the village by Richard and John Lees. Lieutenant Craig was a well known banker in Galashiels, of whom many characteristic anecdotes are yet extant. His patriotism appeared to be far in advance of his military knowledge. When engaged in drilling his company in Gala park, he sometimes got it into a state of extraordinary confusion, when in