The set of the burgh is nearly the same as that of Edin burg, consisting of a provost, four bailies, dean of guild, and treasurer ; eight deacons of the trades ; and fourteen merchant counsellors. The revenue of the burg arises entirely from the rent of the mills, to which the inhabitants of the town are thirled, and from the customs upon meal, barley, Ste. imported into the town for sale. The magis trates of Jedburgh prLside, together with the chamberlain of the Duke of Roxburgh, at St. James's fair in the vicinity of Kelso, and enjoy the half of the customs ; privileges which redound more to their honour than profit, as they are supposed to have been conferred as a reward for meritorious services during the period of the Border wars, but are not productive of any solid emolument. There are four fairs held annually in the town of Jedburgh. The whole revenue of the town does not exceed 5001. per an num, of which a large part is expended annually for the interest of debt. The mills were formerly included in the lordship of Jedhurgh, conferred on Sir Andrew Kerr ; but were afterwards transferred, either gatuitously or for a small sum, to the burgh, and confirmed by a charter of James the First.
The poor of the town are maintained by an assessment, laid upon the inhabitants in proportion to the value of their houses and landed property within the royalty. The num ber of poor now in the list of supply amounts to 67, and the assessment granted for the last half year, (July 1817) to the sum of 1351. The annual rent of the houses and gar dens within the royalty is estimated at 40001. A parish bank was established July 1815 in the town of Jedburgh, in partnership with the country parish, and six neighbour ing parishes, which has fully answered the hopes of its patrons ; the small sums deposited now amounting, July 1817, to 19961. An auxiliary bible society was established
two years ago, under the direction of the most respecta ble neighbouring gentlemen, and the ministers of the town. A branch of the British Linen Company was es tablished at Jedburgh in the year 1791, and carries on bu siness to a great extent.
There is a good butcher market in the town of Jed burgh ; the bread has been long excellent ; and in the summer months, and in winter when the weather is mild, the town is well supplied with fish, brought from the dis tance of thirty miles. A stage-coach runs from Jedburgh three days in the week, and returns in the alternate days. A coach also runs from Hawick to Berwick, which passes through Jedburgh and returns the same day. The great est grievance to which the town and neighbourhood are subjected arises from the dearness of fuel, consisting chiefly of coals brought from Northumberland. The average price may be stated at 18. 7d. per cwt.
The diversity of surface, and the adjacent woods and brooks, afford a variety of beautiful picturesque scenes. The soil is deep and fertile even to the top of the hills, and peculiarly favourable to horticulture and orchards, for which Jedburgh has been long celebrated. Some of the pear-trees, which bear the marks of great antiquity, are supposed to have been planted by the hands of ecclesi astical proprietors before the Reformation.*