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C

Charles B. Balfour, Esq.,

OF NEWTON DON, KELSO.

BY JAMES HERRIOT, DUNS.

HARLES BARRINGTON BALFOUR, the son of Charles Balfour of Balgonie and Newton Don, and the Hon. Adelaide Barrington, daughter of the sixth Viscount Barrington, was born at Newton Don on February 20, 1862. His boyhood was spent mainly at Newton Don; but his acquaintance with other countries than his own began early, as his father's health compelled the family to spend the winter abroad. Mr. Balfour's mother died on February 23, 1862. His father married again, his second wife being Minnie Georgiana, daughter of the Hon. Augustus Liddell, of Holly Grove, which residence he occupied as Deputy Ranger of Windsor Park. Here Charles Balfour died in 1872, and here Mr. Balfour lived during the intervals of his school life..

In 1870 Mr. Balfour entered the preparatory school of the Rev. J. Hawtrey, near Slough, where he remained for five years. In 1875 he went to Eton College, where he spent five years, and underwent the training required for the military examination. In 1880 he gave proof of his diligence and abilities by passing second in this examination. At the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he maintained his high place, and passed out in 1881 third of all competitors. He was gazetted to the Scots Guards, and joined that regiment in Dublin at Christmas 1881. He served with his regiment in the Egyptian campaign in 1882. He was present

at the taking of Tel-el-Kebir, and obtained the medal and clasp and the Khedive's bronze star.

Mr. Balfour's health had suffered in Egypt, and in November 1886, he obtained six months' leave of absence, in order to visit the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. He spent some time in Adelaide and Melbourne, and travelled with the Governor, Sir Henry Loch, through parts of Victoria. He travelled through New Zealand with the Chief-Justice of South Australia, and, after a visit to New South Wales, he returned home in May 1887. Mr. Balfour's travels were thus not only extensive, but they were conducted in circumstances which afforded the highest opportunities of seeing all that is best, and learning all that is most deserving of study, in these great Colonies..

Mr. Balfour's political life began in 1885. In that year, owing to the sudden death of Sir George Douglas, Bart, of Springwood Park, the Conservative party in Roxburghshire had to find a representative; and Mr. Balfour accepted their invitation to contest the county. He entered upon the work with vigour, and met with a large measure of success. He spoke often, and boldly, and well; he grudged no trouble, and spared no pains; he won the respect of his opponents, and he laid his supporters under a debt of gratitude which they will never forget.

Mr. Balfour's value as a politician had been so well proved that in 1889 he was gladly

adopted as Unionist candidate for Berwickshire. In 1890 he was elected to the Berwickshire County Council for Nenthorn and Hume. He found the duties of these positions so engrossing that he considered it right to resign his commission in the Scots Guards, thus sacrificing, in the interests of the public life of the country, his part in a profession to which he was suited, and in which his advancement was certain.

Mr. Balfour is widely known to the electors of his county as a man of high ability and strong commonsense; a speaker of bold address and clear and convincing argument; a source of strength and confidence to his supporters, and a fair and generous adversary to his political

parts of Scotland unanimously chose Mr. Balfour President for the year 1894-95, and his term of office having expired he has since been unanimously appointed Chairman of the Eastern Divisional Council of the Union.

Mr. Balfour takes his full share of county work. In 1890 he was apointed chairman of the Finance Committee of the County Council, and was re-elected without opposition in 1892. He was besides, for a considerable period, captain of the Earlston Company of the Berwickshire Volunteers, his commission in which he resigned in 1895. He is also a J.P. for Roxburghshire, and Berwickshire, and D.L. for Berwickshire. He is also this year, Master of the Kelso (No.

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opponents. This popularity is in proportion to his personal qualities. In 1885 the Liberal majority in Berwickshire was 2,533. In 1886 it was reduced to 1,601. In 1892 when Mr. Balfour first contested the Seat it was reduced to 748, and he further reduced it in 1894 to 565, and in 1895 to 507. The Unionists of the county are now taking the necessary steps for presenting him with a testimonial in recognition of his services.

At the Annual Conference of the National Union of Conservative Associations of Scotland, in Edinburgh, November 1894, a large and representative gathering of delegates from all

58) Lodge of Free Masons, and substitute P.G. M. of Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles provinces.

In 1888 Mr. Balfour married Lady Nina M'Donnell, youngest daughter of the late Earl of Antrim. There are three sons of this marriage -Charles-James, born February, 1889: Duncan, born April, 1891: and John, born May, 1894.

Popular as Mr. Balfour is in Berwickshire and Roxburghshire, his popularity does not surpass that of Lady Nina in these Counties particularly in Berwickshire where she is well known to the whole Constituency, every part of which she had repeatedly visited with her husband during Election Contests.

Since 1890 Mr. Balfour has resided at Newton Don, where considerable improvements have since been carried out. The mansion-house has been added to, and electric light installed. Cottages have been rebuilt, the gardeners' accommodation and the stables have been remodelled. In 1887, there was a considerable development of the coal-field on Balgonie Estate, and the remodelling of most of the farm-houses, and a large scheme of water-supply to the farms in need of this, have also been carried out.

It is interesting to know that in 1893 Mr. Balfour reacquired for his family the estate and mansion-house of Balfour, which Estate was surrounded on three sides by his Estate of Balgonie. This was the original birthplace of the family, and had passed by intermarriage, in 1370, to the family of Bethune, during whose possession it was the birthplace of Cardinal Bethune. The mansion-house of Balfour now forms a mansion house for both Estates.

It is well known that Mr. Balfour is a near relation of the distinguished statesman of his name. His father, Charles Balfour, was brother of James Maitland Balfour, of Whittinghame, the father of the Right Hon. Arthur James Balfour.

Mr. Balfour is a keen sportsman, and his ideal of happiness is not a political platform but a good gallop on a good horse with a good fox in front, and a good scent, with a good pack on his line. But he considers, perhaps, equal to this is a stalk on the Highland hills on some of these perfect days we had last Autumn, and the previous season, although, even in the worst of weather that particular form of sport is most acceptable if there is a chance of a shot. He is an excellent shot both with the rifle and fowling piece, as well as a keen Angler and Curler, and both he and Lady Nina are expert Cyclists, and have enjoyed many a good run together.

A subject of great interest to Mr. Balfour is Archæology and its kindred subjects of local and family interest, and old manners and customs generally, and he confesses that he often finds these more interesting than contemporary politics.

Border Battles and Battlefields:

BY JAMES ROBSON,
Author of "Churches and Churchyards of Teviotdale," etc.
NO. I.-BATTLE OF HALIDON HILL.

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be otherwise; the English had ample time to take steady aim, while the Scots were there simply as targets to the foe, and having no archers, were slaughtered without resistance. The English trumpets and nakers, sounding vigorously, mingled strangely with the groans of their suffering and dying opponents. Struggling and plunging in the marsh, with their comrades falling on every side, the task of reaching the enemy seemed so forlorn and hopeless that many of the Scots began to flee. The greater part of the army, led by the nobility, at length extricated themselves from the marsh. Tired

and breathless, with a trail of dead behind, and a compact mass of English steel above, they climbed the steep and rugged hill and assailed the English spearmen and men-at-arms with great fury. Once within sword's length of their Southern opponents, the Scots, with all their native courage and daring, rushed madly against the solid front of Edward's host. Soon the English line was broken and big gaps appeared in their ranks. The rallying cry of "Douglas!" "Douglas!" gave strength to every arm, and inspired with fresh courage the noble fellows who had already struggled against overwhelming difficulties. They were placed at great disadvantage, however, compared with their opponents, who were fresh, well posted, and under excellent discipline.

Exhausted and thinned by the English arrows, their cause was rendered almost hopeless ere they had well begun the fight. Still they rallied and fiercely maintained the contest in face of perhaps the most fearful difficulties that ever Scottish host encountered. Those who were foremost were borne back and thrown against their struggling comrades behind so that further advance was almost impossible. With courage and tenacity of purpose they resolutely continued the fight, though their efforts were unconnected owing to the confusion which prevailed in their ranks.

Baliol had command of one division of the English army, and this the Earl of Ross, at the head of the Scottish reserve, attacked with such spirit and vigour that, at the first shock, the enemy wavered. Ultimately, however, he was driven back and slain. Soon after this, Douglas fighting bravely, and seeking to inspire his men with like courage receive a mortal wound, being struck through with a spear, and was made prisoner. Other Scottish nobles, amongst them the Earls of Lennox, Athole, Carrick and Sutherland, together with James and Simon Fraser, were struck down in the unequal strife. Such fatalities were but the precursor to a general rout. The English with their long spears,

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