sect, the bombyx, or silk-worm, and others.

:-

Of bees and ants it is sufficient to say, we are presented with a condensed view of the observations of the celebrated Hubers, father and son. With one extract from the latter we shall conclude, again thanking the gentlemen concerned in this work for the rich treat they have afforded the English readers of Natural History "On the 17th June, 1804, walking in the environs of Geneva, between four and five o'clock, in the afternoon, I saw at my feet a legion of tolerably large ants, red, or reddish, which were travelling the road; they were marching in a body with rapidity; their troop occupied a space of from eight to ten feet in length, and about three or four inches in breadth; in a few minutes they had entirely evacuated the road; they penetrated through a very thick hedge, and repaired into a meadow, whither I followed them; they took a serpertine direction over the turf without losing themselves, and their column always remained unbroken in spite of the obstacles which it had to surmount,

"Soon they arrived near a nest of ashcoloured ants, the dome of which was raised in the grass, at about twenty paces the hedge. Some ants of this species were at the door of their habitation; as soon as they discovered the army, which was approaching, they darted forth on those which were at the head of the cohort. The alarm was spread at the same instant in the interior of the nest, and their companies sallied forth in crowds from all their subterraneous caverns. The rufescent ants, the bulk of whose army was but two paces distant, hastened to arrive at the foot of the ant-hill; the entire troop precipitated itself thither at once, and

overturned the ash-coloured ants, which, after a very short, but very sharp combat, retired to the bottom of their habitation. The rufescent ants clambered up the sides of the hillock, collected on its summit, and introduced themselves in great numbers into its avenues. Other groups of these insects were working with their teeth, to procure themselves an opening in the lateral part of the ant-hill. This enterprize succeeded, and the rest of the army penetrated through the breach into the besieged citadel, they made no long stop there; three or four minutes afterwards, the rufescent ants issued through the same passages, each holding in his mouth a larva or a nymph, belonging to the invaded anthill. They resumed precisely the route by which they had come, and proceeded, without order, one after the other. Their troop was easily distinguished on the turf, by the peculiar aspect of this multitude of cocoons and white nymphs carried by so many red ants. These last a second time traversed the hedge and road in the same place where they had passed at first, aud finally directed their course into grass fields in full maturity, whither I regretted I had not the power of following them."-(Vol. II. p. 492.)

We regret we have not the power of following Mr. Huber any further in his interesting discoveries; suffice it to say, some of them were so very singular as to be considered the mere reveries of an excited imagination, until they were fully verified by M. Jurine. M. Latreille, M. M. Bose, Monge, and Olivier, as well as by our own distinguished countryman, Mr. Kirby, who, in company with M. Latreille, was a witness of one of the military campaigns of these singular animals.

"The sept or clan of Græmes, which at one time was so numerous and pow erful on the west border, are said to have claimed their descent from Mahse with the bright sword, a younger brother of one of the Scottish Earls of Stratherne, of the name of Graham. This seems uncertain, but they were hardy men, of great power on the borders, and originally of Scottish extraction, though latterly they usually embraced the English interest. Indeed, as they were situated on the debateable land, which was claimed by both kingdoms, each country refused to acknowledge them as the subjects of the rival nation, or to demand from the other, satisfacfaction for the wrongs they inflicted, and as neither country would permit the other to punish them as subjects, the consequence was, that their depredations went frequently altogether unrepressed. They lived like other borderers, almost entirely upon spoil, and it is said that when the last piece of beef was put into the pot, the mother used to say to the son, " Rise Rowley, houghs in the pot." They had also like other borderers repeated quarrels with their neighbours, and most probably with the Maxwells and the Johnstons, and as when blood was spilt, it was a point of conscience in that lawless country never to let it pass unrevenged

"the heathenish aud savage custom of deadly feud," as it is termed in our law books, must often have given rise to lasting and cruel wars.

I do not find any particular mention of their quarrel with the Johnstons (the family tradition) but I observe that in 1550, the Johnstons and Maxwells, and other west borderers, to the number of two thousand men, entered the debateable land, and burned the house of one Armstrong, on which occasion the Grames and other borderers there skir mished with them, and slew some men, Lord Dacre, then warden of the west marches of England, having his forces drawn up to support them, but not crossing the border, to avoid a violation of the peace ;* and the resentment of the Scotch was so great, that many of the debateable land threatened to become liege men of Scotland, to avoid the effects of the vengeance of the Scots, unless the English warden would agree to protect them effectually.

The end of the dispute was, that the debateable land was divided between the kingdoms, by Commissioners, assigning the upper part of it to Scotland, and the lower, where most of the Grahams dwelt, to England.

In the above-mentioned introduction there is a list of names containing many of the clan of Grame who are accused

of incursions, murders, burnings, &c. committed about 1552. I do not observe any designed as being of Whitehouse. In 1593 it is proposed as a question for consideration," Because the Grame's have no commander under the Lord Warden, what course shall be taken to keep good order among them and their branches?" from which it appears that the name had no acknowledged head or chief, who according to border-custom, was answerable for the misdeeds of those of his name, whom he was always supposed to possess the means of restraining or punishing.

The resolution taken by the Warden Lord Scroop, with the advice of the Border Council was, that until he should name an officer over them, the principal men of the name should be held responsible for themselves and those under them. Soon after it would seem that William Bill, of Rosetrees, and Rob, of the Fald, had been compelled to enter pledges for the good behaviour of their retainers, and that the Warden intended to proceed in the same manner with the several branches of the Grames, Armstrongs, Fosters, &c. who are described as having very insolent members belonging to them.

In 1600 many of the Grames petition the Lord Warden, setting forth their willingness to be amenable to good order in various particulars, and complaining, that the gentlemen of the country were joined together in a league against them, and sate upon the bench and jail delivery as their judges, although they were known to thirst for their blood, and would cut their throats with their own hands if they dared. There is a reply of the gentlemen, who assert that the Grames and their clans were the chiefest actors of the spoil and decay of the country, and maintain their own league to have for its object only the suppress of their depredations. These proceedings are followed by a note of the names of the clans of all the Grames, with those of the persons for whom each leader held himself responsible to Lord Scroop the Warden. The leaders are- -Walter Græme, the good man of Netherby; John Græme, of Aughouse Well; Fergus Græme, of Sowport; David Græme, of the Millens; John Græme, of the Peartree; The Goodman of the Moat. Young Hutchin's clan or gang, answered

for by Geordie Hutchins' brother, William Græme, another brother of Young Hutchins, William Græme, son of Robbie, Socks Johnnie, Robert Græme son to Hutchins, Davie and his brother Andrew; Hutchins Arthur, William Græme of the Fold, William Græme of the Rosetrees, (these two appear to have had great followers); Daves of Bankhead, Jock of the Lake, Dicks Davis and William Græme Goodman of Meclop.

The number of names for whom these leaders gave assurance, amounts to four hundred and thirty-nine, being probably the strength of the clan with their dependents in 1602.

James II., on his accession to the Crown of England banished the Grames to the North of Ireland, upon their own petition, as his proclamation alleges, confessing themselves to be no meet persons to live in these countries. This measure was a political rather than an arbitrary one, but I suspect, much of James's animosity against the Græmes arose from their constant adherence to English interest.

There was a tax imposed on Cumberland for the expense of transporting them, the total of which amounts to £408. 10s. 9d. sterling. They appear to have been transported at three several times, the money being divided among them at the rate of about one or two pounds each. Nicholson has published the names of those who were removed at the second and third transportations, but I do not find the designation of Whitehouse. This however is not conclusive, for many of the exiles are described by patronymics, or by nick-names according to the border fashion.

Most of the particulars I have mentioned are extracted from the introduction to the Border History, and are taken by the authors from a folio manuscript, written by Richard Bell, Warden Clerk of the Marches, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

If this could be consulted, it might throw light on the subject of your inquiries, but I could never learn where it is now deposited, or if it be in exist

ence.

The deportation of the Grames seems to have been very perfectly executed, for there is not now a man of consequence of that name in Cumberland, save Sir James Graham, of Netherby, whose family arose “tem

pore Caroli primi.” *** It was no uncommon thing for the Scottish Borderers to fly to Ireland. In the "Memoirs of Captain Creighton," published by Swift, that gentleman says, his ancestor fled to Ireland in consequence of having killed a Maxwell, and that two of the offended Clan followed him thither, waylaid and shot him as he went to church. It is, therefore, probable, that your ancestors cause of expatriation may have been altogether distinct from the general transportation of the Grames in 1603. I have often wished to know if there are any traditions preserved concerning that event in Ireland, and what became of the exiles.*

If you consider this information as deserving the fulfilment of the promise you have had the goodness to make me regarding the Minstrelsy of the Ulster Settlers, I will be much gratified; and should your collection extend beyond the size of an ordinary letter, it will reach me safe, and post-free, if addressed to me, under the cover of Francis Freeling, Esq., Post-Office General, London.

* If you send me a drawing, or heraldric description, of the Coats of Arms you mention, (the crest a falcon-proper-with escallop shells on the shield), I will compare them with those of the families of Graham here.

I have no connection with the Scottish Monthly Magazine, farther than wishing well to it, and sending it some scraps of information.

*

*

I omitted to say, that the song of "The gallant Grahams," which you mention, seems to have been originally written upon their deportation in 1603; but afterwards, from a similarity of the name, and popularity perhaps of the time, it was re-written, and applied to the banishment of Montrose. The last edition, I believe, is the "Border Minstrelsy." Of the earlier song, I have only a flying line or two, such as

"They all were dress'd in armour fine. Upon the pleasant banks of Tyne," Which must have applied to the Border Græmes, not to those of Mentieth. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

WALTER SCOTT. To the Rev. John Graham, Glanone, County of Londonderry, Ireland.