A Notable Catholic Gathering

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 44, 3 November 1904, Page 31

A Notable Catholic Gathering

Caerlaverofk Castle, the romantic old pile at the mouth ot the Nith, a few miles south of Dumfries, was recently the scene ot a ■s cry interesting celebration, \\ liL-n Loid llcrnes, the owner of the Castle, entertained v. l'run its walls a laigc gathering of his tenants, friends, .did neighbors at lun.heon The object of the gathering v\ as to welcome to the district his two married daughters, the Duchess of Norfolk and Vhej Hon.« Mrs. Eric Diimiinoud, who, with their husbands, were visiting their parents in Galloway i'or the first time since their inairiage. A tew hundred guests sat down to luncheon m a laige marquee which had been elected in the ruined bcUKiueting-hall of the Castle, the company including Lord and Lady Herries, the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, the I!on Enc and Mrs Drunimond, the Bishop of G allow ay (the Right Rev. Dr. Tumor), the Right Hon. Sir Ileibcit Maxwell. MP ; Mr. Maxwell of Munches, M I. , Colonel Maxwell-VYitham, C.M.G., of Kirkconnel ; Ihn Walter and Mrs. Maxwell, and many others. There has been a tortress of some kind on the site of Caeilaverock Castle from time immemorial ; but the pie-sent pile of buildings, which has been in a more or less ruinous condition tor fully two hundred and fifty's eais, was erected somewhere about the end of the fourteenth century. It was the present Baron Hernes' maternal ancestor who carried MaryQueen of Scots en his own horse, after the fatal battle of Langside, to his Castle Caerlav crock, whence she i 10-ised the Solwav on her last journey to England. Lord llcrnes is, through his great-grandmother, heirRpuerdl to the historic earldom of Nithdale ; but that title is at present dormant (if not extinct), as no evidence is lorthcomino; that the earldom was created with rema'ndcr to any b-it heirs-male.