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exquisitly finished, that a straw can be put through and through the minutest parts of the carving. From this door to the west is a principal stall for some superior dignitary, the rest of the stalls (sixteen),being of an inferior order, but still they are handsome, though more plain; at the farther end is another superior stall, which is thought to have been the centre of the cloister, the building appearing to have run as far west as would make up the uniformity of this side; when turning to the north, it forms a complete quadrangular cloister.

The pillared arches were over their head,

And beneath their feet were the bones of the dead.
SIR W. SCOTT, Bart.

Above all this work are three beautiful windows with one bar, finishing at the top with a diamond; and above these are three foundations of pinnacles, having flying buttresses from them to a wall, ornamented with six small Gothic windows.

There are on the external part of the building fifty windows, large and small, four doors,

fifty-four niches, above thirty-seven buttresses, and thirteen flying buttresses.

History.

There were also on this north side a number of very fine buildings within the convent, for the residence of the abbot, monks, and others connected with the monastery, with gardens and other conveniences, all inclosed within a high wall about a mile in circuit. Besides this high Milne's church there has been a large chapel to the north-east of the building, and another house adjoining to it. The foundation of the pillars of the former were seen about the year 1730. On the north side of this house there had been an oratory, or private chapel, the foundation of which was discovered about the same year, and a large cistern of stone, with a leaden pipe to convey the water to it.

To the north of this there is a dam which runs from the Tweed this way, having bridges over it, (the foundations of some of which are yet to be seen, and two of them are entire). Many of the houses were built on the north side of the dam. At a place called the bake-house

G

Milne

History

yard, near our modern mill, was a building of excellent architecture, having several stories of ovens, one above another, as high as the steeple in the church, and built with fine hewn stone; this was taken down somewhat more than an hundred years ago, by some tasteless, greedy, or superstitious fools. In digging this bakehouse yard, about the year 1724, there was found a large kettle for brewing, which was sold for five pounds sterling. From this bakehouse there was a passage below ground to the monastery, so high and large, that two or three persons could walk abreast in it. In digging any place within the convent, particularly near the church, the foundations of houses are discovered, as not only the monks had their houses here, but several gentlemen, who had retired from the world, built for themselves convenient lodgings. The remains of one of these is only to be seen, which is called Chisholm's Tower, Several Roman medals, or coins, have been found about this place, some of gold, others of silver and brass, viz. of Vespasian, Trajan, Adrian, Antoninus Pius, M. Aurelius, and Constantine; likewise several of the old Eng

lish coins in silver, particularly of the Edwards, of which the author has two, that were found about the gardens adjoining to the building, having on the one side a head of Edward King of England, and on the reverse London Civitas; the author has one of our own coins found nigh the building, having on one side Alexander's head looking to the cross, with the inscription of Alexander around; on the other Scotorum Rex, and four mullets, with a cross betwixt the four, in the centre of the coin. Also was found an abbot's ring, in one of the gardens 1810, having a rude inscription upon it; on the one side is í. b. s. and on the other Mary. I am in possession of another coin, that was found two years ago, with an inscription round it, in black letters,

Hal Mary, Star of Heaven, Mother of God.

Having given a full description of what remains in the outer part of the building, I now proceed to the interior, and shall begin at the west, in the same manner as I did with the outer part of the building, advancing regularly through it.

Now, through this way-worn Gothic porch I lead, Where loosen'd stones hang threat'ning over head; And here, with a reverential awe

Was the beholder struck, who entering saw

The body of the church extended wide,
With rows of lofty columns on each side;
By triple range of spacious lights illum'd,
Superbly arch'd extended all around.
The crusted walls, with living sculpture grac❜d,
And statues all in beauteous order plac'd :
Those walls which sainted imag❜ry decor'd;
Idols by superstitious monks ador'd;
The tinged payment, with each silent tomb,
The lofty roof, the still more lofty dome;
And, when the view no farther could extend,
The holy altar at the farther end.
The grand prospective, how well form'd to raise
The soul to heaven upon the wings of praise!
Great in idea! words can not extol

The strength, the august grandeur of the whole.

Alas! how is the glorious scene revers'd ;
Behold it now,
in ruins all immers'd;

A most lamented spectacle of woe;
Nor even those ruins left; but long ago,
Soon as destruction shook her iron rod,
And aim'd the level at the house of God;
Abstracted thence by sacrilegious hands
To every common use; and hardly stands
From violation free this sumptuous gate;
These poor renains of what was truly great.

J. COPLAND,