KIRTLEBRIDGE STATION, the line for a considerable distance skirting the river Kirtle, the scene of the pathetic and tragic story of "Fair Helen of Kirkconnel," which has been told by so many poets:

"Where Kirtle waters gently wind,

As Helen on my arm reclined,

A rival with a ruthless mind,

Took deadly aim at me:

My love, to disappoint the foe,

Rushed in between me and the blow,
And now her corse is lying low

On fair Kirkconnel Lea."

The hero is said to have been of the family of the Bells of Blackett Ilouse, in the parish of Middlebie. Kirtlebridge is a fine agricultural district. Sir John Maxwell, Bart., of Springfield, resides in this neighbourhood: he belongs to a very ancient family.

Quitting Kirtlebridge, the train dashes on, and a high embankment, and extensive cutting of 217,000 cubic yards, are the next features of interest on the line. The Mein Water and West Gillburn are next crossed. The viaduct across the Mein is 150 feet in length, in five arches, each of 30 feet, with stone piers and brick arches. The line next skirts Kirkconnel, and passes Graham's Hall, reaching

"Far

ECCLEFECHAN STATION, four miles from Kirtlebridge. The little town is in the parish of Hoddam, Dumfriesshire, sixteen miles east of Dumfries. It is becoming celebrated for its gingham manufactures, and is in a thriving condition, to which the branch line to Annan, which diverges here, will doubtless contribute. The remarkable beauty of the scenery here will be appreciated from a point of view seen on a curve of the railway, near the station on the outward route. away on the right," observes Mr. Hardie, in his useful and interesting "Rides upon Railways," published by Mr. John Menzies, of Edinburgh (and to the pages of which we are greatly indebted for information)," is seen the noble expanse of the Solway Firth, and beyond it the mountains of Cumberland, with the giants Helvellyn Sca' Fell and Skiddaw rising to the height of upwards of 3000 feet above the level of the sea, and towering over all in majestic grandeur; in the foreground is the rich and fertile country watered by the river Annan, and near its mouth lies the town of the same name. Mount Annan occupies the middle distance, and a little to the right, nearer the station, may be

perceived the antique towers of Hoddam Castle, the residence of Colonel Sharp, forming altogether a scene of great interest and beauty."

Two brothers named Peel were born at Ecclefechan, one, the grandfather of the present Sir Robert Peel. They were both weavers, and went to Manchester, where they succeeded in business, and laid the foundation of the family greatness.

This town is also the birth-place of Thomas Carlyle, the celebrated author. His father was a working stone-mason, but being of careful habits, he was at length enabled to take a farm about three miles from Ecclefechan, where his son (the brother of Thomas) resides at present.

On leaving Ecclefechan, the rail soon after skirts Brakenhill through a cutting a mile and a-half long, and passes Knock-hill and Castlemilk on either side of the line. The river Milk, famous in Scottish song, is crossed by a viaduct of six arches, of 40 feet span.

The hills, which bound the views towards the south-west, are those separating Annandale from Nithsdale. Soon we observe also Tandergarth and Birrenswart hills; the latter, 740 feet above the level of the sea, being considerably higher than any other within many miles, and commanding one of the most beautiful, and at the same time most extensive views in the country.

The scenery on approaching Lockerbie is remarkably picturesque. Between this place and Lochmaben is situated the tower of Spedlins, a ruin of great strength, situated in the northern part of the parish of Lochmaben. This is an ancient seat of the Jardines of Applegirth. It was said to be haunted by the ghost of a miller named Porteous, who, in the reign of Charles the Second, died of hunger in its vaults, where he had been confined for wilful fire-raising.*

The ground between Spedlins and the town of Lockerby was the scene of the bloody conflict of Dryfe Sands, fought at the end of the sixteenth century by the two great rival barons of this district, Johnston

* Forgetting this poor prisoner, Sir Alexander Jardine went to Edinburgh with the key of the vaults in his pocket, and, before he recollected and could send back the key, the man had died, after eating one of his hands. Finding the house afterwards tormented by the miller's ghost, the knight summoned a divan of godly ministers, who consigned the unruly spirit to everlasting bondage, leaving a spell to that effect, with a large Bible, which was deposited in a stone niche in the staircase. On this Bible being sent to Edinburgh to be re-bound, the spirit, it is said, regained its freedom, and gave so much annoyance to the family, then removed to Jardine Hall, that they were glad to bring back the sacred volume with all speed, and replace it in its wonted niche. The Bible is now kept at Jardine Hall.

and Maxwell, each with at least 2000 men. Lord Maxwell was defeated with great slaughter, and he himself killed under very cruel circumstances. Many of his followers were severely wounded, especially by slashes in the face, which species of wound was thence termed “ A Lockerby Lick."

Lockerby is a neat little town, situated in a fertile and inviting part of the country midway between the rivers Annan and Miell, along the banks of which latter stream there is to be seen some of the most lovely scenery in the whole of Annandale. The town, for several years, has been a lamb and wool-market: at these fairs 100,000 lambs are sometimes seen together. The lamb fair of Lockerby, as Mr. Robert Chambers observes, may be considered as the Olympic games of the south-western province of Scotland. The town is nearly on a level with the line. On the east is Lockerby Hill, from whence is a fine series of views. This station is the nearest point on the line to Lochmaben, which, poetically, signifies the "Loch of the Maidens," or "Loch of the Fair." It is beautifully situated on the banks of the Annan, verifying the old Scottish rhyme,

"Lochmaben stands most beautiful,

Near unto Annan side;

In old times kings and princes there
For safety did abide."

It is also celebrated by Burns as the "Maggie wi' the mony lochs." Spedlins is situated between the two towns.

In the immediate neighbourhood of Lochmaben are several very beautiful pieces of water. On the point of a promontory are the remains of Lochmaben Castle, erected by King Robert Bruce, and, as tradition avers, partly from the materials of the older castle close beside the town, which was by far the largest, strongest, and most important fortress on the border. Three ditches and an enormous rampart-wall protected it on the side towards the land, and the waters of the loch on all other sides. The remaining walls are of vast height and strength. The royal founder seems to have had a great affection for this place; he established all his domestics and retainers on pieces of land in the neighbourhood, where many of their descendants still continue, under the denomination of the "King's kindly tenants."

Leaving Lockerby, the train passes, for a considerable distance, through the estates of Robert Johnstone Douglas, Esq., one of the

Directors of this Company, and enters a cutting, after crossing the river Dryfe,* through blue whinstone, about two miles. This was one of the heaviest sections of the excavators' work that occurs on the line. The railway crosses the Dryfe Water on a viaduct of five arches, thirtysix feet in height, and each thirty feet in span, built of fine white freestone. Applegarth, memorable as the scene of a royal visit, in 1300, from the First Edward, is afterwards passed, and Jardine Hall, the residence of Sir William Jardine. The wealth of this family, which is boundless, came principally from the great firm of that name, opium merchants in China, and ship-owners. NETHERCLEUGH STATION is at length reached, twenty-nine miles from Carlisle, and 71 miles from Edinburgh. Passing DINWOODIE STATION, where are the fine estates of the Jardines, we arrive, five miles distant from Nethercleugh, at WAMPHRAY STATION. Nearly opposite is the Rae Hills, with its fine mansion and beautiful grounds, the property of John James Hope Johnstone, Esq., of Annandale, Chairman of the Board of Directors of this railway. This gentleman is a claimant to the title of Earl of Hopetoun, and also the Earldom of Annandale, in the peerage of Scotland. There are many picturesque scenes in this locality. Wamphray Water, in particular, will find admirers, as also the cascades called inharmoniously the Pot, the Washing-tub, and Dab's Caldron. Five miles from Wamphray, we arrive at

BEATTOCK STATION, whence tourists will have easy access to MOFFAT, two miles distant, and the picturesque localities of the Grey Mare's Tail, Loch Skene, St. Mary's Loch, and Craigieburn-wood, the subject of a song by Burns, beginning,

The station at

"Sweet fa's the eve on Craigieburn,

And blythe awakes the morrow."

Beattock is handsome: it is built in the rustic style (harmonising admirably with its position), in dark ashler, with facings of a reddish stone. There is also an excellent inn near, at the junction of the post roads from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Carlisle.

* This river is a small accessory to the Annan, which it joins near this spot, after forming the minor vale and parish called Dryfesdale. Though a small river, the Dryfe is one of some consequence, and of a highly peculiar character. Having innumerable resources in the mountains, it is subject to the most sudden and violent speats of any river in the south of Scotland. Sometimes raging like an impetuous sea, and bearing away all the rustic produce that comes in its way, it is at other times so small that a person might pass over it dryshod.