prising the fortified islet of Inchgarvie, North Queensferry, and coast of Fife.

Leaving Queensferry, we proceed westwards along the coast for a short way, and soon reach the gate to the grounds of HOPETOUN HOUSE, the seat of the Earl of Hopetoun, to which there is free admission. The mansion is palatial in its extent and general aspect. It was begun by a well-known architect, Sir William Bruce of Kinross, during the lifetime of the first Earl, and completed by Mr. Adam after the lapse of nearly a century. It contains some fine paintings, but the interior is not generally shown. The policies are laid out with much taste, and the garden is noted for the manner in which it is kept. The views from some of the high terrace-walks are very beautiful. On a peninsula to the westward may be seen Blackness Castle, which has recently been converted into a powder magazine for Scotland; and on the opposite coast, close by the village of Charleston, is Broomhall, the seat of the Earl of Elgin.

The route may be continued to Dunfermline by crossing the Firth, from South to North Queensferry, from which Dunfermline is about five miles distant.*

Besides the environs already described, there is a fine stretch of country to the south-west of Edinburgh traversed by the Caledonian Railway on its way to Carstairs. On this route, within 2 miles, are Slateford and the village of Colinton, situated in a deep dell, at the foot of which runs the Water of Leith. Colinton House is the seat of Lord Dunfermline. Near Currie Station, 5 miles from Edinburgh, are Riccarton

*FORTH BRIDGE.-For a long time back there has existed a desire to supersede the inconvenience of the ferry across the Forth by the construction of a bridge at Queensferry, where there is the greatest facility for its accomplishment, and the idea has taken a primary shape in a plan, by Mr. Thomas Bouch, C. E., in connection with the North British Railway. The undertaking is of great magnitude, and illustrates on a large scale the application of the suspension principle to railway engineering. According to the plan, the structure is made to rest upon the island of Inchgarvie, the width on the south side of that island being 2200 feet, and on the north 1550 feet. This space is further reduced on the south side by bridging the shallow water on a series of columns, thereby equalising the deep channels on both sides to 1550 feet. The height of the bridge above high water is 150 feet. The works at present are in abeyance.

EDINBURGH TO PEEBLES.

95

(Sir William Gibson-Craig, Bart.), and Dalmahoy, the seat of the Earl of Morton, who represents the great family of Douglas. The house contains valuable charters, selections from which have been printed by the Bannatyne Club. The present family being in descent from the Loehleven branch of the Douglas family, there are numerous interesting papers regarding Queen Mary, including the warrant for committing her to Lochleven Castle, dated June 16, 1567. There are also preserved the keys that were thrown into the loch on Queen Mary's escape from the castle.

Near Midcalder Station, 5 miles farther, is Calder House, the seat of Lord Torphichen, who represents the ancient family of Sandilands, connected through the female line with the house of Douglas, whose arms are accordingly quartered with their own. The family is also connected with the Knights Templars in Scotland, in whose estates it became vested at the time of the Reformation, and the Baron of the period (James Sandilands) was created preceptor of this ancient order. There is a valuable collection of papers in the house illustrative of the history of the preceptory. The same member of the family was an ardent and sympathising associate of John Knox, and among the first to embrace the reformed opinions.

EDINBURGH TO PEEBLES BY ESKBANK, HAWTHORNDEN, ROSLIN-LEE, PENICUIK, AND LEADBURN. (Vale of Tweed.)

Trains from Waverley Bridge. Peebles is 27 miles from Edinburgh, and reached in an hour and a half.

By this route we are conveyed southwards from Edinburgh to the neighbouring county of Peebles, a fine pastoral country containing some beautiful scenes of wood and dale, and especially river scenery along the banks of the Tweed and its tributaries. The railway is a branch of the North British system, and leaves the main line near Eskbank, the station for Dalkeith. Beyond this are Bonnyrigg and Hawthornden stations, the latter being 11 miles from Edinburgh, and the point from which the house and grounds of Hawthornden, as already described, are most easily reached. Between this and Roslin-Lee a fine view is afforded of the Pentland Hills, on the southern

slope of which is WOODHOUSELEE, the property of George M. Tytler, Esq., and which at one time belonged to Bothwellhaugh, the assassin of the Regent Murray. Near this is Glencorse House, an ancient seat of the Earls of Bothwell, now the property of Lord President Inglis. The vale of Glencorse is watered by the Logan Water, more commonly called Glencorse Burn, at the head of which is Habbie's Howe, one of the scenes of The Gentle Shepherd, and a favourite resort of picnic parties from Edinburgh. At a place called Rullion Green, on the Pentland Hills, in this neighbourhood, the Covenanters were defeated, 28th November 1666, by General Dalziel of Binns. Near Penicuik Station are PENICUIK HOUSE, the seat of Sir James Clerk, Bart., and the extensive paper-mills of Messrs. Cowan and Company. At Leadburn a branch line of railway diverges south-westwards by Linton and Dolphinton, joining the Caledonian at Carstairs. Beyond this a view is obtained towards the east of the Moorfoot hills. The rail descends by the banks of the Eddleston burn to Peebles, passing in succession Portmore (Colin J. Mackenzie, Esq.), Darnhall (Lord Elibank), and Cringletie (Wolf Murray, Esq.)

PEEBLES

[Hotels: The Tontine; Commercial. by road).

27 miles from Edinburgh by rail (22 miles Population 2600.]

is situated on the banks of the river Tweed, and is a favourite fishing station. It became at an early period the occasional residence of the Kings of Scotland, and it is the scene of the celebrated poem of James I., Peblis to the Play. The principal building is a castellated edifice in the High Street, formerly a residence of the Queensberry family," which has

* Sir Walter Scott relates the following romantic incident, in connection with this house :-There is a tradition in Tweeddale, that when Neidpath Castle, near Peebles, was inhabited by the Earls of March, a mutual passion subsisted between a daughter of that noble family and a son of the Laird of Tushielaw, in Ettrick Forest. As the alliance was thought unsuitable by her parents, the young man went abroad. During his absence the young lady fell into a consumption, and at length, as the only means of saving her life, her father consented that her lover should be recalled. On the day when he was expected to pass through Peebles, on the road to Tushielaw, the young lady, though much exhausted, caused herself to be carried to the balcony of a house in Peebles, belonging to the family, that she might see him as he rode past. Her

been converted into a public institution containing a museum, reading room, and lecture hall. This has been done by Dr. William Chambers, the well-known publisher, who with his brother, the late Dr. Robert Chambers, was a native of Peebles, and who has generously presented it as a free gift to the town.

In the neighbourhood of Peebles the following gentlemen's seats may be mentioned in the route in addition to those passed on the way :-Stobo Castle (Sir Graham Montgomery, Bart.), Dalwick or Posso (Sir J. M. Nasmyth, Bart.), Haystoun (Sir Robt. Hay, Bart.), Cailzie (Wm. Black, Esq.), Drummelzier

anxiety and eagerness gave such force to her organs, that she is said to have distinguished his horse's footsteps at an incredible distance. But Tushielaw, unprepared for the change in her appearance, and not expecting to see her in that place, rode on without recognising her, or even slackening his pace. The lady was unable to support the shock, and, after a short struggle, died in the arms of her attendants.

H

(John White, Esq.), Rachan House (J. Tweedie, Esq.), Castle Craig (Rev. Sir Wm. Gibson Carmichael, Bart.), and Spittalhaugh (Sir Wm. Ferguson).

The vale of the Tweed, both above and below Peebles, contained a chain of strong castles to serve as a defence against the incursions of English marauders. Neidpath Castle, one of the most entire of these, is situated about a mile west from Peebles, on a rock projecting over the north bank of the Tweed, which here runs through a deep narrow glen. The castle was formerly approached by an avenue of fine trees, all of which were cut down by the last Duke of Queensberry to impoverish the estate before it descended to the heir of entail, the Earl of Wemyss. This proceeding drew forth an indignant sonnet from the poet Wordsworth. The late Earl of Wemyss replanted the demesne, and there are now few districts in Scotland more beautifully wooded than the country about Peebles. The remains of a Roman camp at Lyne, four miles distant, are worthy of a visit, as is also the vale of Manor, about the same distance, where may still be seen the cottage and grave of David Ritchie, the original of Sir Walter Scott's Black Dwarf.

*

INNERLEITHEN TO GALASHIELS.

A line of rail connects Peebles with Galashiels, by which means the tourist may follow the banks of the Tweed to its junction with the Gala. Thence he may continue his journey to Melrose. By this route, shortly after leaving Peebles, we pass Haystoun, the seat of Sir Robert Hay, Bart., and about two miles farther on the ruins of Horsburgh Castle-one of those old peel-houses of which there are so many in Peeblesshire. On the other side are the ruins of the old church of Kailzie, where there is an old burying place, containing the family aisle of the Horsburghs--the oldest family in

Some of the finest wood in Scotland has been raised on the estate of Posso (before named), situated close to Stobo station, a little above Peebles, on a beautiful part of the Tweed. The horse-chestnuts are not only among the first introduced into Scotland, but among the largest are the oaks, sycamores, and larches, the latter having been introduced into the country in 1725 by an ancestor of the present proprietor, one of the earliest and most spirited improvers in Scotland.