Peebles Privileges.

(REFERRED TO IN PRECEDING ARTICLE.)

Municipal Corporations was issued in 1835, and in the section referring to Peebles the very first sentence reads:-" It is not known when Peebles was first erected into a royal burgh.' Again, in his standard work, "The History of Peeblesshire," Dr Chambers put forward the suggestion that Peebles was constituted a royal burgh by charter from David II. in 1367. That charter is still preserved, and a translation has been printed. It contains a grant in favour of St Mary's Chapel and does not relate to the constitution of the burgh. But any dubiety as to the reign under which Peebles became a royal burgh is now at an end. That event took place in the reign of David I., more than 700 years ago, and Peebles is thus placed in the front rank of burghs so far as antiquity is concerned. No Scottish burgh can trace its origin further back than the first David's reign. On account of its inland position, with no facilities for commerce such as seaport towns possessed, it was a necessity of its existence that Peebles should be dowered with extensive lands, and these could only have been obtained in the time of the first David or his immediate successors. Long before the time of the second David the Scottish Kings had few lands to dispose of. If the inhabitants of Peebles had not got an early grant of their hills and commons these, would undoubtedly have been conferred on Norman or Saxon set

EMBERS of the Peebles Town Council assembled in the Town Hall at their stated meetings, or occupied throughout the month in Committee work and other details, have usually enough of public work to do in attending to affairs of the present and the immediate future without troubling much about the remote past. Nor in their private capacities can it be supposed that any considerable portion of leisure time is devoted to the study of ancient history. This year (1897) has, however, witnessed a notable departure from the usual routine. There was a desire to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in а becoming manner; and the happy thought was suggested that, as part of the commemorative proceedings, there might be inspected what still remains. of the patrimony derived from her royal predecessors This proposal brought about some little inquiry. The old records were perused by some and expounded by others, with the result that probably more knowledge regarding the history of the burgh and its possessions has been disseminated this year than had previously been dispensed since the systematic publication of the records began. For the share which I have been privileged to take in making these records available, the Town Council have designed for me a reward, the bestowal of which abundantly shows that for one thing they are not lacking in generosity. But, truly, one need not be surprised that those who have studied the burgh's rights and privileges are impressed with the value of its records and charters. It is safe to say that if the knowledge which your Town Clerk possesses to-day had been patent to his predecessors when the litigations took place, the law courts would never have deprived the burgh of the exclusive right to Hamilton Hill. Such privileges as the inhabitants still retain in the hill have every chance of being preserved, now that the facts regarding these are known. Apart, however, from the value attaching to the charters and records as establishing rights to property, they possess special interest from an historical point of view. With these records and the aid derived from other sources, many points of interest formerly obscure have been cleared up. How vague, for example, has been, till quite recently, the conception as to the origin of the burgh. A Government report on Scottish

tlers or on some favoured monastery. The Peebleans, however, were first in the field, and secured the territory. The building of the town wall, the erection of Tweed Bridge, the changes introduced at the time of the Reformation, and the constitution of the Town Council are a few of the other matters on which the

records afford specific information. One point -the mode of electing the magistracy-is somewhat interesting. It is a prevalent notion that household suffrage-or what at all events is a near approach to it-is an invention of our own time. Yet one of the earliest requirements in the burghal legislation was to the effect that the bailies should be chosen by the good men of the town, which just meant the householders of the period. Such was the original system of election in Peebles as in other burghs. An act of the Scottish Parliament, passed in 1469, attempted to stop the practice on account of the multitude and clamour caused at the elections by what was termed common simple persons, and the old Councils were directed to choose the new. But in Peebles the system of the whole community electing the bailies continued till nearly the

this century. I allude to the Letters of Protection, granted by Queen Mary, and subscribed with her own hand at Peebles on 28th August, 1563. The Queen had been at Dumfries on 19th and 20th August, at Drumlanrig on 21st, at Skirling on 26th, where she was probably the guest of her faithful adherent, Sir James Cockburne of Skirling, and she reached Peebles on the 27th. William, lord Hay of Yester, who loyally supported the cause of the Queen during her subsequent troubles, was Provost at the time, and it is likely that during the visit Mary would be entertained at Neidpath Castle. On 29th August she was at Borthwick, and arrived in Edinburgh a day or two later. The missing document was transcribed by General Hutton, who gives a tracing of the Queen's signature, and it is from that source that the Letters of Protection are printed. There is, however, among the other parchments and papers, ample material to pick and choose from, and we may anticipate that a collection of photo-lithographs such as is contemplated would be welcomed by all who claim an interest in Peebles and its history.

Border Notes and Queries.

THE "LIBERALIS STONE" AT YARROW. Could the writer of the article on the "Restoration of Yarrow Kirk" in the last number of the "B. M.," or any of your readers, kindly give me an exact transcription of this famous stone, as made out recently by Prof. Rhys? I have seen various readings by Mr Craig-Brown, Miss Russell of Ashiestiel, and Prof. Rhys, who examined the stone in 1891. But I understand he examined the stone more recently (in 1901), and I should like to know the result of his latest examination. Prof. Cooper of Glasgow, in a letter (dated August 26, 1905) in the "Scotsman," speaks of a fragment of the stone which has broken off and disappeared, thus causing a blank in the inscription. Were the readings of Mr Craig-Brown and Miss Russell obtained before this happened, as they give no hint of a blank?

A. G.

"LOCK THE DOOR LARISTON." The late Mr Riddell Carre, in his "Border Memories" (1876), speaks of the poem in question as an "imitation of an ancient ballad,

from the pen of a learned and honoured friend of mine, the Rev. James Gray of Dumfries and Edinburgh," but immediately adds that "another authority states the author was the Ettrick Shepherd." He then gives in a foot-note Hogg's statement and claim from the collected edition of his songs, published in 1831, which has already appeared in the "B. M." for March, and adds: "Mr W. Scott, schoolmaster at Burnmouth, in Liddesdale, printed the ballad in the "Border Exploits," published in 1832, giving it as "from the forcible and energetic pen of Mr Gray, master of the High School of Edinburgh." Thomas Grey, Esq., Melrose, nephew of Mr James Gray, has no doubt Hogg was the author, and says the ballad is utterly unlike anything ever written by his uncle. The ballad has been set to music by T. S. Gleadhill, with symphonies and accompaniment for the pianoforte, and published by Ker and Richardson, 89 Queen Street, Glasgow."

Mr Riddell-Carre, it will thus be seen, gives us but little help in settling the authorship either way. Hogg states distinctly that the song was published in his weekly paper, "The Spy," 30th March, 1811, while the editor of the "Dumfries and Galloway Courier" gives it (3rd Sept., 1811) as the production of Mr Gray, as has been pointed out by your correspondent. W. Scott, in his "Border Exploits," probably obtained his authority from the Dumfries editor, but, in the absence of direct proof, I cannot see how we can very well set aside the claim of Hogg, which is certainly explicit and emphatic enough "mine only, mine solely, and mine for ever!"

ers.

A few particulars regarding Mr James Gray may, perhaps, prove of interest to your readHe was a native of Duns, and was appointed rector of the Grammar School of Dumfries about 1794, where he became acquainted with Burns, some of whose sons were educated under him. He remained the steadfast friend of Burns till the end, and afterwards wrote a letter to Gilbert Burns, in which he defends the memory of the poet. He afterwards became one of the masters in the High School of Edinburgh, and subsequently Rector of the Belfast Academy. He married Mary Philips, sister-inlaw of the Ettrick Shepherd, who had a high opinion of him. In the "Queen's Wake" he appears as the fifteenth bard who sung the ballad of "King Edward's Dream"

"The next was bred on southern shore,
Beneath the mists of Lammermore,
And long by Nith and crystal Tweed,
Had taught the Border youth to read.

The strains of Greece, the bard of Troy,
Were all his theme and all his joy;
Well-toned his voice of wars to sing;
His hair was dark as raven's wing,
His eye an intellectual glance;

But every bard to him was dear,

His heart was kind, his soul sincere."

Gray afterwards took orders in the Episcopal Church, and went to India as chaplain in the service of the East India Company. He died at Cutch in 1830.

He was a good Greek scholar and was the author of "Cana" and a "Sabbath among the Mountains," and left in manuscript a poem entitled "India." He also edited the works of Robert Ferguson and wrote a memoir of the poet. For these particulars I am chiefly indebted to "Border Memoirs."

A. GRAHAM.

The disputed authorship of this ballad has been the means of bringing some very interesting matter into the pages of your magazine, but the production signed "Lockerbie Lick" may well put controversy out of the question, unless we write down the Ettrick Shepherd as a character very different from what his Border friends believe him to have been. No doubt, as L. L. suggests, we are indebted to Mr Sandison for bringing forward a subject which has called forth excellent and interesting replies in your March and April numbers. I read the "Border Exploits," which I had from Hobkirk library in 1855, where I first saw the ballad referred to given, as stated, by Mr Gray of the High School, Edinburgh. It took my fancy at the time, and has been retained in my memory since. I have only once seen William Scott's book since-when or where I can't recollect but I then noticed in the list of subscribers the names of my maternal grandfather, James Elliot, Sundhope, and also that of a grand-uncle, James Riddell, schoolmaster, Ednam. The thanks of your readers are due to yourself for the insertion of the lines by J. D., inspired by the reading of "Lock the door, Lariston." It might also have been inspired by the text from the great minstrel :

·

Sweet Teviot, on thy silvery tide,
The glaring bale fires blaze no more," etc.
W. R. H.

James Sinton, writing in the BORDER MAGAZINE for April, says that he had not a copy of "The Border Exploits" from which to find whether the author "gives his authority" for

stating that Mr Gray was the author of this Border song.

My copy of "The Border Exploits" was published at "Carlisle, printed for the author by Charles Thurnam, 1832."

In the preface to the song, writing to the Elliots, Mr Scott says:-The hero of the following spirited imitation of the ancient Border ballads, from the forcible and energetic pen of Mr Gray, master of the High School of Edinburgh, was one of these chieftains." This is all! But at the end of the volume there appears the following:-"Note.-The poem at page 212 of "Lock the door, Larriston" is erroneously stated to have been written by Mr Gray of the High School, Edinburgh; Mr Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, is the author of the spirited composition."

GEORGE TAIT.

M

Y ordinary place of residence is at Winnipeg, Manitoba, but that is only a half-way house on the road to the real West, the Pacific Coast. I have recently spent a few weeks at the coast, mostly at Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, which stands at the south end of the big island of Vancouver. The city of Vancouver is a recent creation, built on the mainland as the ocean terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Vancouver, though only some 15 years old, is a large and bustling city, its

expansion due, as is the case with many western towns, to the efforts of the real estate men, who seem to have half the town on their books for sale on easy terms. Somehow these "boosters" do very much to increase the size of all our towns. Victoria is the most English city on this continent. The people are mostly English, the climate like Devonshire, but there is still a fair sprinkling of Scotchmen, and certainly more "whins" and broom on every vacant spot than I ever saw on the Cowdenknowes or anywhere else.

Of course, being a dyed-in-the-wool newspaper scribbler, I could not go anywhere without gleaning information of all sorts, and, fruit-growing being a prospective industry of considerable importance there, I at once struck out for "sure" information along that line, mere froth don't go far with me. I soon got an introduction to a son of the Border, whose business is much like what my own was 30 years ago. He is a skilled builder and architect, well liked and trusted, and a very successful amateur fruit grower. He is a grandson of the Brydon of Ramsaycleuch with whom my uncle was a herd about 98 years ago, and got stranded at Victoria 20 years ago, being without funds to take him to New Zealand. He lives on an embryo fruit farm about 4 miles out of town, but still has a telephone. That farm, when all clear, will be 35 acres, and 25 is now planted in fruit, apples, pears, plums, cherries, and Italian prunes. In the first years on such farms strawberries are grown freely also, and all those fruits are very profitable, bringing good prices for export if of first-rate quality. Mr Brydon's oldest trees are about 5 years planted and already bear loads of fruit. I know no place in the world to beat the West Coast for trees, all the way from California, 1000 miles north, and have seen shoots 7 or 8 feet long in one season, sometimes as thick as my finger. Mr Brydon and his boys are already model fruit-growers, for a man who fails to spray against insect pests and fungus growths has no show. He leads as a prize-taker now, and will be stronger later on when these boys are older.

One day I chanced to meet him at a street corner and introduced him to Wattie Scott, who was raised in Roberton Parish, and they had a spate of talk about Redfordgreen and its past inhabitants. Wattie and some other elderly people from Manitoba are now making Victoria their home, the winter climate being perfect. I saw an extra fine sample of it. For six weeks I only saw one wet day and not a sign of ice,

and when I get old and feeble I think I must retire to Victoria myself.

Mrs Cleaver of Melrose had two daughters go out to Victoria 40 years ago. One of them has a large and capable family. Her husband is a marked specimen of the Scot abroad, wellinformed, and a keen Liberal. Another woman with a marked Border accent left Jedburgh when only three years old, a niece of Huggan the millwright. Mrs Loward, late of Galashiels and Melrose, has two daughters at Cordova Bay, just out of Victoria.

It is no joke to clear land in the far west. It takes 20 dollars to clear a good big stump on a city let in Vancouver, and I spent half a day in a farmers' parliament where the principal topic was "stump powder." It costs from £10 to £30 to clear an acre of stumps of mediumsized trees. These stumps are crowded and usually left 2 or 3 feet high. Big fellows are usually cut 5 to 10 feet from the ground. I penetrated 70 miles into the interior, and next morning a Glasgow man called down the stair, "What are ye daein' here. That was at the Tzouhalem Hotel. Perhaps the name is new to most of you.

The Linties on the Braes of Yarrow.

(By FRANCES W. GIBSON.)

(When Dr Norman McLeod was travelling in Canada, he met a Scottish farmer who told of his prosperity and happiness in his new home. "But," he exclaimed, "there's nae linties in the woods, and nae braes like the Braes of Yarrow.")

My hame in Canada I loe;

Ye'll gae far to find its marrowBut in the woods nae linties sing, An' the braes are nae like Yarrow.

The sun shines bright o'er this fair land,
But I miss wi' heartfelt sorrow
The linties singin' in the woods
On the bonnie Braes of Yarrow.

My thankfu' heart makes willing hand As my fields I plough and harrow, But still I miss the linties' sang

On the far-famed Braes of Yarrow.

In Scotland, mist creeps o'er the hills
An' fills the glens sae narrow,
But sweetly still the lintie sings
On the bonnie Braes of Yarrow.

"Canadian Magazine."

Triumph and Sorrow border near,
And Joy oft melts into a tear.

"Field of Waterloo."