The population of the town was, in 1793, 3557 ; and in 1806, 3962.
In the beautiful peninsula immediately opposite to Kelso, to the west, and at the extremity of the parish, stands the very last crumbling fragments of what was once Roxburgh Castle, so much celebrated in Scottish history. It was built on the north bank of the Teviot, on a mount rising about sixty feet above its level. The castle was defended by a deep moat, supplied with water from the river, in con nection with which it would at any time have been easily insulated. Indeed, the streams of Tweed and Teviot ap proach so near above the castle, and then diverge, that it might be easy to convert it, and the whole adjoining ground, into an island ; and this probably was sometimes done, for the defence both of the castle, and of the ancient town of Roxburgh, which stood near it. Camden says " This castle was anciently called Marchidun, from its standing on the marshes; and, for its natural situation, and outward fortifications, was exceedingly strong." Early in the twelfth century, we find it mentioned as a place of na tional importance; and it is at various intervals recorded as the arena of bitter and extensive hostility—as having often changed masters—and as the scene of the birth, im prisonment, marriage festival, and death of kings. James . II. of Scotland lost his life while besieging this fortress, then in possession of the English. His forces and artillery were drawn up on the north side of the Tweed, opposite to the castle, in a part of what is now the Park of Fleurs ; and while trying a piece of wooden ordnance, it burst and killed him. A holly tree still marks the place where this disaster is said to have happened ; and some of the older inhabitants remember the vestiges of a village which stood near the place, and was called Fair-Cross. The name is supposed by some to have originated in an exclamation of James' widowed queen, on seeing the body of the fallen monarch, " There lies his Fair corpse ;" which, approach ing in sound to the other name, and falling in with a favour ite religious association, might easily give rise to the al tered name. On the following day, James III. then only seven or eight years of age, was crowned at Kelso; and his gallant mother, animating the drooping spirits of the chiefs, by' telling them they had still a king, and sheaving him to the army, roused them to new and more vigorous exertion. In a few days the castle was taken, and in a great measure destroyed. It underwent, however, a par tial repair ; and was again put into a fortified state by the lord protector Somerset, in the reign of Edward VI. It finally fell into decay, after the happy union of Scotland and England, which rendered such strong-holds unnecefi nary. Yet it is to be regretted, that the very spot where it stood should retain no mat k of its former existence ; and perhaps something might yet be done, at a moderate ex pense, to prevent the last lingering vestiges of its ruins from utterly disappearing.
The ancient town of Roxburgh, which stood in a situ ation of Much peril, on a part of the sloping ground be tween the castle and the junction of the rivers, is recorded to have been a place of considerable extent and population, where courts of justice were held, at which the king sometimes presided. It was one of the four most ancient
royal burghs of Scotland ; and, though fragments of the foundation are sometimes turned up by the plough or spade, not the slightest external trace of it is visible. The church of St. James, which was in or adjoining to the city, was founded, according to the Chronicle of Mailross, (Melrose) in 1134. In attempting to trace its foundation, upwards of thirty years ago, a considerable quantity of wheat and bar ley were found in a charred state, on a tiled pavement ; also some pieces of glass and brick, which exhibited marks of fire: On the meadow still called St. James' Green, one of the greatest fairs, and most ancient, in the south of Scotland, is annually held on the 5th of August. Of this fair, one half of the customs is drawn by the magistrates of Jed burgh ; the other by the Duke of Roxburgh ; and the jea lousy of the inhabitants of Kelso for the honour of their superior, gave rise frequently, when the former came to maintain their privilege by " riding the fair," to tragi-co mical squabbles, which are now succeeded by perfect har mony and peace. A part of the old church of Maxwell, which, as well as St. James', is in Kelso parish, was stand ing a few years ago ; and, till lately, the ground adjoining the place where it stood was used as a place of sepulture. Several tombstones are still to be seen; but the plough desecrating the spot, and, if not protected, they will speedily vanish.
Our limits permit us to add but little respecting the scenery of Kelso, which renders it an object of high at traction to travellers. The town, viewed from the neigh bouring heights, seems the centre of an amphitheatre form ed by finely wooded rising grounds ; and the lovely streams, (with their pretty islets,) having united their waters, flow powerfully, with many noble windings, through a richly cultivated vale. The princely mansion of Fleurs, which was built by Sir John Vanbrugh about the year 1718, with its fine terrace and park, command varying prospects of ! beauty and magnificence. But it is scarcely possible for language to describe the charms of the scene which opens on the traveller, as he approaches Kelso on the west, by the road passing Roxburgh castle. Mr. W. Wilson, a re spectable artist of London, a native of this place, has made it the subject of some justly admired pictures. The ap proach also from the south, by AIaxwelllieugh, is exqui sitely diversified with objects of rural beauty, and posses ses, indeed, all the softness and grace of an Italian land . scape. The view from the library is also very fine ; and the prospect from Kelso bridke of Ednam house, the ab bey, and town; at a greater distance, Fleurs, Springwood Park, Wooden, Hendersyde, and, in the back ground, the romantic Eildon hills, &c. is most justly admired. (1)