'Is there an eye that tearless could behold This lov'd retreat of beauty's fairest flower?' About three years ago a large fragment fell from the south wing of this ruin, despite of all the attention Sir John Maywell paid to keep it up. The founder of this castle was one De Croc; hence the name Crockston, Crocston, or Cruikston. This family (says Crawfurd), failing in ane heiress, she was married to Sir Alexander Stewart of Torbolton, second son to Walter, the second of that name, Great Stewart of Scotland, and of this marriage are descended the families of Darnly and Lorn." Cruikston is now the property of Sir John Maywell of Nether Pollock. Of the trunk of the once-- " . . . . . green yew, The first that met the royal Mary's view; When bright in charms the youthful princess led The graceful Darnly to her throne and bed."-- Lady Maywell ordered to be made by an ingenious individual, at Pollockshaws, an exact model of the castle, and some table and other utensils, which are still in preservation at Pollock. Before its removal, many are the snuff-boxes, toddy ladles, &c. that have been made of it, and are still in preservation by the curious. The following couplet, composed by the late Mr. W. Craig, surgeon, is inscribed on one of these ladles, which has seen no little service: "Near Cruikston Castle's stately tower, For many a year I stood; My shade was of the hallow'd bower; Where Scotland's queen was woo'd." Another medal of Queen Mary's, of considerable size, of which I have seen a cast many years since, contained the following inscriptions: "O God graunt patience in that I suffer vrang." The reverse has in the centre: "Quho can compare with me in grief, I die and dar nocht seek relief." With this legend around: "Hourt not the [heart symbol] quhais [heart whose] joy thou art." "They all appear [says Mr. Pinkerton] to have been done in France by Mary's directions, who was fond of devices. Her cruel captivity could not debar her from intercourse with her friends in France; who must with pleasure have executed her orders as affording her a little consolation." G. N. MR. FRASER'S supposed medal is a ryal (or possibly a 3/4 ryal) of Mary and Henry, commonly known as a Cruickstown dollar; from the idea that the tree upon them is a representation of the famous yew-tree at Cruickstown Castle. It appears, however, from the ordinance for coining these pieces, that the tree is a "palm-tree crowned with a shell paddock (lizard) creeping up the stem of the same." The motto across the tree is "DAT GLORIA VIRES." (See Lindsay's _Scotch Coinage_, p. 51.) JOHN EVANS. * * * * * EARLY USE OF TIN.--DERIVATION OF THE NAME OF BRITAIN. (Vol. viii., p. 344.)