to which the poetic temperament especially
is keenly sensitive. The pity is that in modern times, owing to a variety
of causes, the population in the rural districts has been steadily
decreasing. The fine hardy, thrifty, yeomen race is disappearing. Small
holdings have been consolidated, and the big farm--in too many cases--is
held by a non-resident tenant, who interests himself little, or not at
all, in the social and moral well-being of those whom he is under the
necessity of employing. This evil is one of long standing. In the
Statistical Account of Yarrow, published in 1833, Dr Russell remarks
that--"out of forty-five farms in the parish, twenty are _led_ farms. On
many of these were formerly large families, with servants and cottagers,
and there are five such lying adjacent,--a state of things the more to be
regretted, when its only advantage is a trifling addition of rent, and the
saving of outlay on farm buildings." Well may it be said--

"Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay:
Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade,
A breath can make them, as a breath has made:
But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,
When once destroyed, can never be supplied."

Footnotes:

[1] Tytler's History, vol. I., page 43.

[2] Tytler's History, vol. I., page 46.

[3] Border Papers, vol. II., page 130.

[4] Froissart, vol. II., p. 362.

[5] Ib.

[6] Godscroft, p. 98.

[7] Hide.

[8] Fend--Support.

[9] Godscroft, pp. 99-100.

[10] Froissart, Vol. II., p. 369.

[11] Godscroft, p. 100.

[12] Douglas was buried at Melrose beside his father.

[13] Hailes' Annals, p. 111.

[14] Maitland of Lethington, vol. I., pp. 69-71.

[15] History of James VI.

[16] Skene's Acts of Parliament.

[17] Skene's Acts of Parliament.

[18] Border Papers, vol. II., pp. 80-81.

[19] Intro. Border Minstrelsy, pp. cxc.-cxci.

[20] Armstrong's Liddisdale, p. 81.

[21] Froissart, vol. I., p. 18.

[22] Taylor's History, vol. I., p. 583.

[23] Ridpath's Border History, p. 550.

[24] Quoted by Sir Herbert Maxwell, Hist. Dumfries and Galloway, p. 958-9.

[25] Quoted by Sir Herbert Maxwell, Hist. Dumfries and Galloway, p.
159-60.

[26] Border Papers, vol. I., p. 131.

[27] Border Papers, vol. II., pp. 147-8.

[28] Border Papers, vol. II., p. 181.

[29] Ib., vol. I., p. 143.

[30] Ridpath's Border History, p. 651.

[31] _Vide_ Border Antiquities, vol.