The length of the Ettrick to its highest source is about 30 miles. For the first ten or twelve, the banks of the water are partially covered with natural wood, mixed with plantations, and now and then even scat tered remains extend to the sides of the hills. This alternation of wood and pasture, and arable fields, with the town of Selkirk overhanging the river on the south, Bowhill, a fine seat of the Duke of Buccleugh's, on the slope of a mountain that divides it from the Yarrow on the north, one or two old towers, and the excellent cultivation of the haughs and lower grounds, give this part of the valley a character of varied beau ty and richness. The valleys of most of the tributary rivers in Scotland, at their junction, are bounded by mountains that are dry, healthy, and comparatively barren; and such are those separating the Ettrick and the Yarrow, and between the latter and the Tweed. The middle and upper part of the valley of Enrich is perhaps the most beautiful pastoral district in the kingdom. The hills are almost without exception of the finest deep-green mountain pasture, on which are spread thousands of sheep, and for many miles the valley opens into wide haughs of great fertility, where are seen many herds of fine cattle.
The head of the Yarrow is properly formed by se veral glens, and slopes, and dee ghs, that open upon St. Diary's Loch and the Loch of the Lowes, and send their streams to supply its waters. The princi pal of these is called Meggat. It is a dark valley, having all the characters of a wild deep highland glen rising by numberless sources among the highest sum mits of the great range already mentioned. It flows into St. Mary's Loch through a tract of line meadow land, the hills on each side of which arc skirted with bushes and old natural wood: but it is altogether in reebb...sshire, the shore of the lake forming the boun dary line for a little way. After leaving those beau tiful pieces of water, Yarrow flows among hills and cultivated haughs, where there is little of the pictu resque for eight or nine miles, yet it is similar to the Luria in its general character. It has more heath on the hills, and fewer haughs in the valley: but its hills are likewise green, and its haughs are fertile, and for several miles, it will yield to few waters* in Scotland in varied and romantic beauty, until it joins the Ettrick below the castle of Newark, and Bowhill already mentioned, which is situated in view of both waters. Through most of this part of its course it dashes through a rocky channel, while its banks and the sides of the surrounding hills are covered with fine natural wood, and a magnificent extent of old pines and forest trees.
The water of Ale belongs to Roxburghshire, but it draws its sources from a number of small lochs in the extensive muirs between the Ettrick and Borthwick. These lakes are mostly full of shell marl, and of great value, had they lain near the cultivated country. It may be mentioned as not a little curious, that they have all the Westmoreland appellation of mere or muir, as it is here pronounced, attached to their names: as Kingsmuir loch, Alemuir loch, Akermuir loch, Hell muir loch, Sze.
Borthwick, in its tipper course, belongs to both Selkirkshire and Teviotdale. It rises like the rest among green grassy hills, on the borders of Dum friesshire. Rankleburn rises contiguous to the Ale and the Borthwick, and has a claim to notice only be cause there is situated the farm that gives a title to the duke of Buccleugh, the proprietor of two-thirds of the county.
Gala runs for twenty miles through Mid-Lothian, and only bounds Selkirkshire for a few miles before it joins the Tweed. This part of its course is well wooded and beautiful, and as it runs through and drives the machinery of the village of Galashiels, it probably conduces more to the wealth and industry of the district than all the rest.
The lowest part of the county at the side of the Tweed, is nearly 300 feet above the sea. The county town, and T hirlestan e castle, and St. Mary's loch, are all 560. The highest farm house on the Ettrick is more than 700, so, as may be expected, the climate of Selkirkshire is wet, boisterous, and stormy; and although protected on the west by a high range of mountains, vet the west and south-west winds rage with much violence, generally bringing rain to the greater part of the district. As most of the lesser rivers run towards the east and north-east, the cold winds from these points blow up the valleys a ith lit tle obstruction.
The following is the average of seven years, ab stracted from a very accurate register of the weather kept at the farm house of Bowerhope, on the north side of St. Mary's loch, The height above the sea is, according to Ainslie, 560 feet. It is to be regretted that a register of the thermometer is not included. Along with the register is kept a memorandum of the first appearance and flowering, of several of the deep est rooted plants, and the first appearance of frog spawn, On the 26th of February 1810, the barometer stood at 30.8, and on the 20th December 1821, it stood at 27.8.
The following is from a register kept at Tinnis, about eight miles down the Yarrow, and 60 feet lower. Therm. at 8 A. ni. and 10 r.