of Shetland; the Noss, a small high island, with a flat summit, girt on all sides by perpendicular walls of rock."* It is only 500 feet in length, and 170 broad, and rises abruptly from the sea to the height of 160 feet. The communication with the coast of Bressay is maintained by strong ropes stretched across, along which a cradle or wooden chair is run, in which the passenger is seated. It is of a size sufficient for conveying across a man and a sheep at a time. The purpose of this strange contrivance is to give the tenant the benefit of putting a few sheep upon the Holm, the top of which is level, and affords good pasture. The animals are transported in the cradle, one at a time, a shepherd holding them upon his knees in crossing.

"The temptation of getting access to the numberless eggs and young of the sea-fowl which whiten the surface of the Holm, joined to the promised reward of a cow, induced a hardy and adventurous fowler, about two centuries ago, to scale the cliff of the Holm, and establish a connection by ropes with the neighbouring main island. Having driven two stakes into the rock, and fastened his * Murray's Encyclopædia of Geography. Lond. 1834.

ropes, the desperate man was entreated to avail himself of the communication thus established in returning across the gulf. But this he refused to do, and, in attempting to descend the way he had climbed, he fell, and perished by his fool-hardiness." *

There are scarcely any roads in Shetland, and travelling is usually performed on those hardy, spirited little horses known by the name of shelties, which are bred in Shetland, and are exported in considerable numbers.

The trade and exports of Shetland are much the same as those of Orkney. These islands formerly belonged to the kingdom of Denmark, but, in 1468, on the marriage of James III. with the Princess Margaret of Denmark, they were given in pledge for the payment of her dowry, and have never since been disjoined from Scotland. They were at various times bestowed by the Crown on different persons, some of whom subjected the inhabitants to great oppressions. At length, in 1707, James Earl of

Morton obtained them from the Crown in mortgage, which was rendered irredeemable in 1742, and in 1766 he sold the estate for £60,000 to Sir Lawrence Dundas. the ancestor of the Earl of Zetland, their present proprietor.

ITINERARY.

1. EDINBURGH.-GALASHIELS.-MELROSE.-JEDBURGH.-51 MILES.

Jedburgh is situated on the west bank of the Jed, in the midst of a country beautifully Wooded. It is a royal burgh of very ancient erection, and was one of the chief Border towns, nd a place of considerable importance before the Union. After that period its trade was, n a great measure, destroyed; it has now, however, greatly revived. The remains of the Abbey form the principal object of curiosity in Jedburgh. It was founded either in 1118 or 147, and, after various damages in the course of the Border wars, was burnt by the Earl of Hertford in 1545. It is a magnificent ruin, and is considered the most perfect and beauiful specimen of the Saxon and early Gothic in Scotland. Part of the west end is fitted up s a parish church. The Castle of Jedburgh, situated on an eminence at the town head, was fortress of very great strength. The ground is now occupied by a Jail. The environs of edburgh abound in rich woodland scenes. Some remains of the famous ancient forest are o be seen in the neighbourhood of the half ruined castle of Ferniehirst, belonging to the Marquis of Lothian, and the original seat of his ancestors, the Kers. Jedburgh contains bove 4000 inhabitants, and joins with Haddington, North Berwick, Dunbar, and Lauder, in electing a member of Parliament.

470

II. EDINBURGH.-DALKEITH.-LAUDER.-KELSO.-42 MILES.

Kelso is a handsome town, containing a spacious square or market-place, in which stand th town-house, and many elegant houses and shops. The Tweed is here crossed by a handsom bridge of Rennie's construction, from which the view, looking westward, and taking in Fleurs the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe, is extremely beautiful. Kelso Abbey is well deserving d attention for its venerable antiquity, and the purity of its Saxon architecture. It was founded in 1128 by David I. who dedicated it to the Virgin Mary and St. John, and endowed it with immense possessions and privileges. In this Abbey James III. was crowned in 1460. The ruins of Roxburgh Castle, so celebrated in Scottish history, are situated about a mile from Kelso, near the junction of the Tweed and Teviot. Kelso contains above 4000 inhabitants it votes with the county for M.P.