FIRST TOUR. EDINBURGH TO PEEBLES—INNERLEITHEN—SELKIRK—(VALES BERWICK. OF AND LEAVING Edinburgh by Nicolson Street, the tourist sees on an eminence, a short distance to the left, the ruins of Craigmillar Castle, an interesting edifice, of which a description is given on the preceding page. A little farther on, and nearer the road, stand the village and church of Libberton, pleasantly situated on a rising ground, and commanding a splendid view of Edinburgh and the surrounding scenery. Passing on the right, Morton Hall, (Richard Trotter, Esq.,) and upon the left, Gracemount, (Mrs. Hay,) and St. Catherine's (Sir William Rae,) we reach the small village of Burdiehouse, a corruption of Bourdeaux House, the name conferred on it by a native of that port in France. A little farther on is the village of Straiton, near which was fought the second of three conflicts which took place in one day, in 1303, styled the battle of Roslin. Six miles from Edinburgh we pass Bilston toll-bar, where a road strikes off on the left to Roslin. About a mile farther the tourist passes Greenlaw, built as a depot for French prisoners during the late war, and on the right, Glencorse House and church. A little beyond are Auchindinny House, once the residence of Henry Mackenzie, author of the Man of Feeling; and Auchindinny paper-mill. At the distance of other two miles the road enters Pennycuik Village, ten miles distant from Edinburgh. In the immediate vicinity are the extensive paper-mills of Messrs. Cowan and Sons. On the right stands Pennycuik House, the seat of Sir George Clerk, Bart., a fine specimen of modern architecture, surrounded by beautiful woods. At the top of the hill, south of Pennycuik, a new road has been opened, leading to Linton and Biggar. Three miles from Pennycuik the tourist enters Peebles-shire, where the direct road to Dumfries parts off on the right. The tract of country around is bleak and moorish. Three miles from Kingside Edge is The Cottage, (W. F. Mackenzie, Esq. of Portmore, M.P.,) and a mile beyond this, Eddlestone village. Passing in succession, Darnhall, (Lord Elibank,) Cringletie, (Murray, Esq.,) Winkstone, (M'Gowan, Esq.,) Rosetta, (Dr. Young,) and Venelaw, (Erskine, Esq.,) the tourist enters the royal burgh of PEEBLES, the county town, beautifully situated on the Tweed, twenty-two miles distant from Edinburgh. Peebles is a town of great antiquity, and must, from a very early period, have been a seat of population, as is indicated by its name, which, in British, signifies shielings or dwelling places; it is certain that at the end of the 11th century there were at this place, a village, a church, a mill, and a brewhouse. Owing to its situation in the midst of a fine hunting country, and on the direct road to the royal forest of Ettrick, it became at an early period the occasional residence of the Kings of Scotland, and is the scene of the celebrated poem of James I., entitled "Peblis to the Play." On account of its sequestered situation this town figures little in Scottish history, and seems to have taken no part in any great historical event. It was, however, burnt and laid waste oftener than once during the invasions of the English. Peebles is divided into two districts,—the old and new town. A bridge of great antiquity, consisting of five arches, connects the town with an extensive suburb on the opposite bank. The appearance of the whole is very pleasing, and the surrounding scenery is extremely beautiful. Peebles is a town possessed of very little commerce or manufacture. It has a weekly market, and seven annual fairs. At the end of the fifteenth century Peebles possessed no fewer than eleven places of worship, out of which the remains of only two are now visible. There is a large edifice of a castellated appearance still existing, known to have belonged to the Queensberry family, which is believed to be the scene of a highly romantic incident thus related by Sir Walter Scott. There is a tradition in Tweeddale, that when Nidpath 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. 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 anxiety and eagerness gave such force to her organs, that she is said to have distinguished his horse's footsteps at an incredible dis On |