Series 1 > Tours in Scotland 1747, 1750, 1760

DALKEITH, NEWBATTLE, ARNISTON. 313
in 1140. Their Charters were writ into a Chartulary which is
in the Advocates Library. It was erected into a Lordship in
1591 in favor of Mark Ker son of Sir Walter Ker of Cessford
Ancestor to the Marquis of Lothian; it is a fine enclosed well
improved Country.
I came to the Castle of . . A where we crossed the Esk
over a bridge, and travelling southward passed by Coal Mines
and crossing a rivulet which falls into the Esk, came in a mile
to Armiston the seat of the Lord President Dundass, whose
Father succeeded President Forbes, who was succeeded by this
Gentleman’s immediate Predecessor President Craigie. His
father built here a fine house, the ornamental parts of hewn
freestone, and a pediment in the middle, supported by four
Ionic pillars. The offices are very large, & convenient and
joyned to the house by a closed Colonade. The park fields &c.
are between that rivulet I passed, and South Esk, which form
beautifull glyns on each side covered with wood ; Before the
house is a fine lawn adorned with single trees and Clumps;
behind it is the farm—it consists of eleven hundred Scotch
Acres, and there are ridings round the whole, which wind in
such a manner round the glyns as to make the circuit thirteen
miles: Near the house are beautifull winding walks round some
uneven grounds over glyns beautified by the prospect of Chinese
and other bridges that make it a most delightfull place. The
park also glories in many large timber trees. There is an ash
tree near the house which is about 25 feet in circumference, the
branches shooting out a very little way above the ground:
There is an old ruin in the circuit, called the Temple and a
small Gothic Church a little below it. These were Templars
founded by King David, in whose time they first came into
Scotland. At the north end of this Demesne we saw the old
house of Shank where Sr. George Mackenzie lived who writ the
Institutes of the Laws of Scotland. And from one part we saw
the famous Castle of Brothwick to the East. Armiston house
is very well finished and furnished, and there is a large room
up two pair of Stairs for a Library, taking up one half of the
house; In it are some rare books of the first printing; and
here I saw an Original of the Solemn League and Covenant
1 Dalhousie.