his survey of the old wall prior to his becoming acquainted with Mr. Chalmers, and it was nearly finished when he communicated the particulars to that gentleman who had never heard of it before. A number of communications passed between them on the subject. In one of his

letters, Mr. Chalmers says:

"All the late antiquarian discoveries in the south of Scotland sink into insignificance when compared with the Deil's Dyke' But I wish you to understand, my good sir, that there are queries arising out of your communications which justify the observation of Mr. Hume, that there are questions in history as difficult of solution as any in the sciences,-such is the Deil's Dyke! Considering all the circumstances, it is extremely difficult to assign its age, its object, or its builders. In Ireland, there is nothing like the Deil's Dyke, the Catrael, and other works of that nature in Scotland. The inference is, that the Deil's Dyke was not built by Irish hands; and I am disposed to think it is several centuries older than the arrival of the Irish Cruithne or Picts in Galloway.

"The history of Galloway would of itself, in your hands, supply sufficient materials for the curious pen of history, though it would be subject to the objections which may be formed to all history, that it is less captivating than poetry, and less amusing than the romance, which is so attractive in the hands of our friend Walter Scott, and for which, I am informed, you have supplied many materials. 1

"Whitehall, 22d August, 1819."

This allusion to his correspondence with Sir Walter, Mr. Train conceived to be one of the many stratagems adopted to unveil the author of the Waverley Novels, then only known to a very limited circle. In his reply, he of course left the concluding part of the antiquary's letter unanswered. Though his communications to Chalmers were numerous, and some of them very lengthy, it did not interrupt his correspondence with Sir Walter, who, in a letter dated January 14, 1817, thanks Mr. Train for his "communications, past, present, and to come," and intimates that as a change had taken place in the crown council, a particular friend of his having been appointed lord advocate, he had great hopes of securing his immediate promotion. The necessary information, as to length of service and other particulars, was forwarded according to the request of Sir Walter; but, though no exertion was spared on his part, it was not for some time afterwards that his repeated applications were successful.

Amongst other communications to which Sir Walter refers in his letter, was the story of "Sir Ulrick Macwhirter”—a tradition relative to the estate of Blairquhan, afterwards published, as originally written by Mr. Train, in Chambers's Pictures of Scotland. A copy of this tradition having been sent to Sir David Hunter Blair, the early patron of the author, to whom, as possessor of the estate, it would be no doubt interesting, Sir Walter, apprised of the circumstance, made no use of the tradition, as he said-merely that Sir David might publish it the way most agreeable to himself, who accordingly caused the story to be sent to Mr. Robert Chambers.

1 In Caledonia, vol. iii, p. 237. Mr. Chambers referring to the same subject says:-"It is obviously a very ancient work, and was probably formed by the Romanized Britons after the departure of the Roman armies."

2 Mr. A. Maconochie, afterwards Lord Meadowbank.

Another interesting document forwarded to Sir Walter about this period, was an old manuscript history of the Stewart family of Invernahyle, which had been picked up by Dr. Thomson, of Newton Stewart, while practising as a surgeon in the district of Appin. It contained an account of "Donald Na Nord, the Hammerer," with which Sir Walter was greatly pleased. In Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland to his Friend in London, edited by R. Jamieson, and published in 1822, it appeared for the first time as a contribution from Sir Walter Scott; and, subsequently, in the second series of Tales of a Grandfather,' the life of Donald the Hammerer was given in a condensed form. Writing to Mr. Train on the 22d February, 1817, Sir Walter says:-" I am much obliged by your continued and kind communications. That on the subject of the Invernahy le family, I am particularly interested in; for Alexander Stewart, with whom the pedigree concludes, was my father's intimate friend; and, as I was very fond of his society while a boy, and of listening to his old stories, I have still in my recollection no small stock of legendary lore, derived from that source, and always think of his memory with peculiar foudness. Pray, secure me as many Galloway traditions as you can, for they are most interesting. Were I as poetical as I have been, I would certainly weave the tale of Plunton into verse." Sir Walter afterwards founded the melodrama of The Doom of Devorgoil on this story, which was originally obtained from Captain Denniston, and forwarded in the handwriting of that gentleman.

*

* *

Another remnant of antiquity afterwards fell into the hands of Mr. Train, which was greatly prized by Sir Walter Scott. This was the ancient granite weapon called a celt.3 It was found in the Moor of Knockbrax, in the parish of Peningham, about eight feet below the surface. On acquainting the author of Caledonia with the particulars of the discovery, he wrote as follows in reply :-- I have seen only one celt discovered in Ireland; but there have been several found in England, and even in Scotland. From this and other circumstances, I am inclined to infer that the settlement in Ireland is much later than that in Britain, whatever General Vallancy may say."

66

Mr. Train's next visit to Edinburgh occurred in 1817, at which period he remained about a week, and was almost a constant guest at " Old 39," North Castle-street. On meeting, Sir Walter, not having seen him subsequently to the publication of Old Mortality, spoke freely on the subject

1 Cap. xxxix.

2 See Lockhart's Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, vol. iv. cap. ii. In a letter to Terry, there inserted, Sir Walter says:-"This is a noble and very dramatic tradition preserved in Galloway. The story admits of the highest degree of decoration, both by poetry, music, and scenery." The scene of the tale is laid at Lennox Planton, the property of A. Murray, Esq., of Broughton, member of parliament for Kirkcudbright.

Caledonia, vol. iii.

of that novel, and of the fate of Supervisor Kennedy, as recorded in Guy Mannering. Amongst other guests at the table, he one day met the late Sir Alexander Boswell, who, on that occasion, presented Sir Walter with a thin quarto volume, which he said had been "written, printed, and bound by himself." The poem was entitled the Flitting of the Sow, founded on an Ayrshire tradition.

In the spring of 1818, Mr. Train sent Sir Walter the ladle of the last resident hangman in Dumfries, with an account of the manner of using it, as described in the 13th volume of the Waverley Novels; and shortly afterwards he furnished a sketch of "Feckless Fanny," the prototype of Madge Wildfire, gleaned from the recollection of old people in various parts of the country, which Sir Walter published in his notes to the Heart of Mid-Lothian. Having learned, also, from an excise friend in Morayshire, a great many particulars regarding the superstitions and customs of the Norlings-a colony of fishermen who at an early period took up their residence at Findhorn, similar to those of Buckhaven, in Fifeshire-he drew up an account of them, which he sent to Sir Walter. About this time he likewise forwarded several interesting communications on antiquarian subjects, furnished by his friend Mr. Robert Malcolmson, of Kirkcudbright, author of some beautiful poetical pieces, written chiefly in a plaintive strain. The merits of these exquisite productions have been warmly acknowledged by the public.

The next relic which he transmitted to Abbotsford was a very large horn, supposed to be that of an elk, found nearly twelve feet below the surface in the bed of the Water of Cree, during the dry summer of 1819.' Though specimens of natural history were rather out of his way, the fossil was nevertheless greatly prized by Sir Walter, and he acknowledged the receipt of it in the following facetious terms:

"I had not time to put my friend the Lord Advocate to the Horn, he came to it himself yesterday. I do not mean, my dear sir, as you will no doubt readily perceive, a 'horning from the Court of Session,' but to see your fossil. I have assured him most sincerely that upon his fulfiling his promise made in your behalf, I will feel great pleasure in presenting him with it, not to place on his brow, because I do not think he requires such an unwieldy ornament; but, when he is raised to the bench, an appointment which I understand is soon to take place, to hang it with a broad blue ribbon round his neck, as emblematic of the 'Hornings' so frequently used by their lordships."

The promotion of Mr. Maconochie to the bench followed soon after the date of the foregoing letter. He was succeeded by Sir William Rae, to whom Sir Walter lost no time in applying in behalf of his protege; and, in a letter of the 27th January, 1820, joyfully intimates that the board, at the request of the lord advocate, had appointed him to attend with a view to his promotion. By the next post, Mr. Train received a letter from the board, calling him to Edinburgh, but for what purpose he could never rightly understand, having been only asked a few trifling 1 New Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. vii, p. 52.

questions by Mr. Parish, the chairman of the board, who told him to return again to his charge, and his promotion would take place in due

course.

In the course of ten months afterwards, he had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Sir Walter, announcing his appointment as supervisor, which was speedily confirmed by an official intimation on the subject. Sir Walter wrote as follows:

"DEAR MR. TRAIN,

"You know I am a negligent correspondent; but I have not been an idle or an ineffectual solicitor. I went with your last letter in my hand, to upbraid my friend the lord advocate with the delay of the only promise he had ever made me, and he stopped my mouth in the most agreeable manner, by saying Mr. Parish, the chairman of the excise board, had acquainted him that my friend Mr. Train was named a surveyor. I think, therefore, I may safely wish you joy; and I assure you it was not my fault I have not had that pleasure long ago.

"I wish you hearty joy of your appointment, which you must soon hear of officially. I assure you it will give me pleasure any time to give you a further lift. "I am, dear Mr. Supervisor Train,

"Yours, &c.,

"WALTER SCOTT."

Mr. Train was now removed to officiate as supervisor at Cupar-Fife, where he had a wide district under his charge. Carrying the spirit of antiquarian inquiry into this new county, he speedily had all the excise officers within his bounds impressed with similar curiosity, and eager to search out old relics and pick up traditionary stories. In his zeal, one of them, then stationed at Auchtermuchty, not only stripped the state chair of James IV, in the palace of Falkland, of nearly all the cloth that covered it, but broke down the greater part of the carving, which he forwarded to Mr. Train at Cupar! This gave the antiquary much uneasiness; for, however greatly he valued such "fragments of time gone by," he never coveted anything that could not be procured in an honourable way. He was successful in collecting some curious traditions respecting the famous crosses of M'Duff and Mugdrum, which so interested Sir Walter that he visited the place in the course of the following summer, and shortly afterwards published the drama of " M'Duff's Cross."

From Cupar he was soon removed to Kirkintilloch, to officiate in room of the supervisor of that district, who was indisposed. Here he resumed his antiquarian pursuits with unabated zeal. Among the first fruits of his labour were several valuable Roman relics—a sword, a tripod, and a brass plate-the latter found in the ruins of Castle Carey about 1775. He also transmitted to Sir Walter a very interesting account of the image of St. Flanning, which, prior to the reformation, had adorned a chapel bearing the name of the saint, the ruins of which still stand, a few miles distant from Kirkintilloch. The peculiar virtues of St. Flanning adhered to him long after the reverse of his fortunes.*

* Appendix, Not iii, "Image of St. Flanning."

From Kirkintilloch, Mr. Train was removed to Queensferry in June 1822. Here he was equally alert in the service of Sir Walter, having, besides several remains of antiquity, transmitted him a very amusing account of the annual "riding of the marches" by the freemen of Linlithgow. While in this district, he became possessed of a curious object of natural history. Mr. Struthers, proprietor of a brick manufactory at Blackness, but who lived at Linlithgow, happening to be astir one summer morning pretty early, met a drum-boy proceeding from the palace towards the guard-house, with what appeared to him to be a bird's nest in his hand. Stepping up to see what it contained, he found six eggs in it, one of which was broken. To his surprise, the nest and eggs appeared to be all of marble, but retaining their original shape and colour. The drummer said, that being on guard, and feeling himself drowsy at daybreak, he went to the palace to amuse himself; and finding his way in, he discovered the nest in one of the recesses of the wall, in that part of the palace called "Queen Mary's Chambers." Mr. Struthers made a purchase of the curisoity for a trifle, and the "palace nest," as it was afterwards termed, soon became an object of much investigation. It was not, as at first supposed, a petrifaction, but an encrustation of calcareous earth and sand, and deemed most likely to have been brought to the palace as a curiosity, where it had evidently escaped the conflagration of the building by the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell. This conjecture was strengthened by the circumstance of the one side of it being blackened apparently by smoke.

As the district of South Queensferry extended to within three miles of Edinburgh, Mr. Train had frequent opportunities of calling on Sir Walter. At his request, he set about collecting information respecting the manners, customs, traditions, and superstitions of the fishermen of Buckhaven, and, in doing so, first gave Sir Walter a description of the Hailly Hoo, a superstition alluded to in Quentin Durward.'

In consequence of the cessation of the duty on salt, Mr. Train was removed, in January 1823, to Falkirk, Here he became acquainted with Joseph Stainton, Esq., one of the proprietors and sole conductor of the great iron works at Carron, from whom, before his death, he obtained the stock-bow of Sir John the Graeme, who fell at the battle of Falkirk in 1298.2 From Mr Stainton he received various other interesting relics. These, together with two drinking quaighs-the one made of a portion of Wallace's Tree in the Torwood; the other, of the yew planted above the grave of the gallant Graeme-he presented to Sir Walter, who seemed highly gratified with this renewed instance of Mr Train's zeal.

Well aware that the business of supervisor is one of almost unremitting drudgery, Sir Walter endeavoured to procure the advance of Mr. Train

1 Waverley Novels, vol. xxxii, p. 284.

2 See MS. Catalogue of the Articles of Vertu at Abbotsford.