its centre, where the bridge of Ancram is built over it. The junction of the Tiviot with the Tweed, a little southward of Kelso, forms a charming scene; and Fleurs, the elevated seat of the Duke of Roxburgh, no where appears to so much advantage as from the high bank above the point of their union.

The Tweed finds its distant origin in the mountaious district which unites the counties of Ayr, Dumfries, and Peebles, in Scotland, somewhat northward of the celebrated springs of Moffat; its course is northeast to Peebles, where it makes a compass to the south-east, receiving the Yarrow and Entrick Waters, soon after their junction, near Selkirk, uniting with the Tiviot at Kelso, and the Till at Cornhill, and falling into the sea below Berwick.

Nothing can be more wild and dreary than the early course of this great river, as it is fed by innumerable torrents from the bare hills it divides, and seems to collect its forces in the pleasant vale, in which its first town, Peebles, is situated, bearing the appropriate name of Tweedale. After this the country throughout continues rude and bleak, except on the immediate banks of the Tweed, that river forming here, for a great distance, the principal boundary between England and Scotland, and the surrounding tracts on each side having been for ages the theatre of disputes, national contests, and mutual hostilities. Marks of their ravages may still be traced, and much of the country contiguous to the river appears more neglected than the interior districts; yet it is now gradually emerging from this eclipse, and the Scottish side in particular, rises rapidly in cultivation, ornament, and improvement. A little below Selkirk, the beautiful remains of Melrose Abbey strongly arrest the attention of the traveller, and the Tweed is soon afterwards crossed by a handsome modern edifice of the Flybridge, leading from Jedburgh by a new road to Edinburgh. The Duke of Roxburgh's numerous plantations and superb mansion adorn the part of Tweedale above Kelso,

whose abbey and bridge are striking objects. Coldstream also is pleasantly situated on the Tweed somewhat lower, with a stately stone bridge; and an antient one of great length, connects the suburb of Tweedmouth, with the fortified town of Berwick, which graces the northern shore of this river at its exit to the sea.

The AYR, the IRVINE, the DOON, the GIRVAN and the STINCHER are rivers which discharge themselves on the long extended coast of Ayrshire,but neither of them have any remarkable features. The Ayr and the Irvine, (the former of which is joined by the Lugar) are in the northern part of that county, each communicating with the bay above descrihed. Both these streams take their names from towns near their mouths, of which Ayr is a considerable port, being also the capital of its large county; their course is very winding, but principally directed to the north-west.

The Doon finds its origin in a lake on the border of Dumfriesshire, flowing northward, a little inclined to the west, till it falls into the sea below the Ayr.

The Girvan is a small stream from the north-east, reaching the sea at the town which bears its name, nearly at the southern extremity of Ayr-shire, its course being mostly westward.

The Stincher, joined by the Dusk, is another inconsiderable stream, descending in nearly the same direction, with the small port of Ballantree at its mouth, and the short course of the little river Glemap terminates Ayrshire, falling into Loch Ryan at its extremity.

The SOUTH DEE is formed by the Deugh from the northern parts of Kirkudbright, and the Ken from the north-west of Dumfriesshire, both of which uniting bear the name of the Ken, till they reach the town of New Galloway. The river then, assuming the name of the Dee, it pursues a south-east course, forming the Loch of Kenmoor in its passage, after which it makes a compass from the east to the west, by the south,

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forming

forming a considerable æstuary before it reaches the town of Kirkudbright, and opening into the sea, in front of the small island, called the Ross of Balnagar, close to the point of the bay of Wigton, opposite to that of Burrow-head. This river has some fine features, and the surrounding country is wild, though inhabited. The towns of New Galloway and Kirkudbright make a handsome appearance on its banks; its lake also with its æstuary, are fine expanses of water.

The NITI is the most considerable river on the south-western side of Scotland, below the Clyde, rising from some small lakes near Cumnock in Ayrshire, not far from the source of the Luggar, one of the branches of the Ayr. It then traverses great part of Dumfriesshire, which county it at last divides from Kirkudbright, inclining chiefly to the south-east, but turning at last to the south.

This river is a very rapid and picturesque stream, forcing its way between deep banks, thickly fringed with wood, through a charming vale, bounded by lofty hills. The grand but deserted palace of Drumlanrig, now stripped of its plantations, makes a naked figure on its banks, yet is still to be admired as one of the finest specimens extant of an old Scottish castle. Dumfries is a large and opulent town, below which, the river, becoming navigable, widens considerably as it approaches the Solway Firth.

The ANNAN, rises above Queensberry Hill, westward of Moffat, a town famous for its medicinal springs, and pursues a south-eastern course, through a wild district, to the town of Annan, where it is crossed by a handsome bridge, just before it falls into the Firth of Solway, over which the great road to Port Patrick passes from Carlisle, that leading to Glasgow following its banks for a long way from Lockerby: it is a clear and rapid stream

The BEAULIEU finds its source in the Lakes of Assarig and Maddy, in the most northern part of Inverness-shire, winding frequently, and flowing chiefly to

the

the south-east, till it constitutes the Firth of Beaulieu, which turning to the north-east, contracts itself into a narrow strait, opposite to the mouth of the Ness. The junction of these waters forms the Murray Firth, which expands itself considerably, but at last appears almost laud-locked, as it turns by the north-west round the points of Fortrose and Fort George, dividing Rossshire from Inverness-shire.

The course of this river from its native mountains, is singularly wild and rugged, till it reaches the district of Straithglass, where cultivation, and population begin to shew themselves. These advantages encrease, as it approaches its little capital of Beaulieu, and the Firth, which bears its name, presents a fine oval basin, encompassed by strongly-featured banks, and backed with high mountains. The Murray Firth, formed by the junction of the two rivers, is not less distinguished by grand objects, perpetually varying as the traveller follows its curving shores, and opening views into the interior recesses of the mountains of Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, and Sutherland. The strait which attends its exit to the sea, is very narrow and winding, where the little town of Fortrose covers one eminence, while the magnificent and regular pile of Fort George occupies the opposite side of the bay.

The ORRON WATER rises in the mountains of Ross-shire, a little north of the Beaulieu, and meeting other streams flowing from Loch Gillon and Loch Luichart, forms the beautiful Firth of Cromartie, in its course to the north-east. Dingwall, the small capital of Ross-shire, lies at the head of this fine bay, which divides that county from the lesser one of Cromartie, covering its southern bank. This charming expanse of water is beautifully varied in form, being also decorated with a well cultivated and populous outline, and backed by high mountains. It narrows extremely at Invergordon Ferry, where the promontory of Kirk-Michael projects into it on the Cromartie shore, after which it swells again into a very grand

grand and spacious bay, extending far to the north, and turning to the south-east abruptly to make its exit. All the navies of Europe might ride in this delightful basin, which is well stored with good anchorage, and appears land-locked, except where one channel communicates with the upper lake, and another opens with a grand curve to the sea, beneath the town, and the two bold rocks, called the Sutters of Cromartie.

The FLEET, the BRORA, and the HELMSDALE, are rivers of Sutherland, all descending to the south-east from a wild and mountainous district, and neither of them remarkable for its features. On the coast, between the two former, is situated the noble but deserted castle of Dunrobin, the ancient seat of the earl of Sutherland; beyond the latter, the precipices of the rocky Ord of Caithness impend horribly over a stormy

ocean.

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Besides these rivers, Scotland contains a great number of lakes, called Lochs, some of which are of great extent, and afford a large variety of enchanting views; and the whole abounds with excellent and various kinds of fish indeed North Britain, may well boast of its waters; for so short a ride as thirty miles presents the traveller with a view of four most magnificent pieces. Loch-Au, Lock-Fine, Loch-Long, and Loch-Lomond; two indeed are of salt water, but by their narrowness give the idea of fresh-water lakes. It is an idle observation of travellers that seeing one is the same with seeing all of these superb waters; for almost every one has its peculiar characters.

Loch-Leven is a broad expanse, with isles and cultivated shores.

Loch-Tay makes three bold windings, has steep but sloping shores, cultivated in many parts, and bounded by vast hills.

Loch-Raynach is broad and straight, has more wildness about it, with a large natural pine wood on its southern banks.

Loch-Tumel