The Tweed, here an infant stream, is now seen on the left; the county continues moorland, and uninteresting. After passing Crook, here at the 44th milestone from Edinburgh, Dumfriesshire is entered. A road here passes on the right for Glasgow.

Arriving at the summit of a steep ascent, Erickstane Brae, the valley of Moffat comes into view, and the scene immediately changes to a simple and beautiful pastoral district.

Moffat, a neat village, is situated at the opening of the valley. Its mineral springs, &c., have been described, p. 41.

Leaving Moffat the Annan river is crossed; on the left is Lochhouse tower. The Evan, another stream with steep banks, is next passed. The country is bare

and mossy.
After several miles
ston, M. P.) is seen on the right.

Raehills (Hope JohnProceeding another stage the river Ae is crossed; on the right is Amisfield (Earl of Wemyss) and Tinwald Church on the left. The road now enters the valley of Dumfries. The Locher moss extending to the Solway on the left.

There

Dumfries. This town is pleasantly situated on the Nith river, just where it begins to widen into an estuary. It is of considerable extent, and along with Maxwellton has a population of 12,000. The principal street extends three quarters of a mile; in its centre is the townhouse, and at its extremities are two churches. are also assembly rooms, a theatre, reading rooms, and library. A very ancient bridge, founded by Digella, the mother of Baliol, crosses the Nith, and communicates with a village on the other side of the river called Maxwellton. In the priory of the Minorite, all traces of which are now gone, Robert the Bruce smote the red Cumin.

In the church-yard, at the south corner of the town, lies the remains of Burns, over which a handsome monument has been erected, and the house where the poet lived is still to be seen in an adjoining street.

Lincluden Abbey, a fine ruin, stands on a point of land at the junction of the Cluden and the Nith, two miles from the town.

Caerlaverock Castle, a noble ruin, is five miles south of the town, a short way from the shores of the Solway. This was a noted keep during the border feuds, and was besieged and taken by Edward I. in person. On the opposite side of the Nith is seen the Criffel mountain, and near its base

New Abbey, a very fine ruin, is delightfully situated. The country around Dumfries is rich, varied, and beautiful. A few miles up the Nith is

Drumlanrig, a magnificent seat of the Duke of Buecleuch ; and near this a picturesque valley, surrounded by green conical hills, called the pass of Dalveen.

A steam-boat sails weekly from Dumfries to Liverpool.

Another coach-road leads from Edinburgh to Dumfries by Biggar. It is hilly, and for a considerable part of the way uninteresting, until it enters Dumfriesshire, when the scenery assumes a more inviting aspect.

Edinburgh by Biggar to Dumfries.

Edinburgh to Rutherford Inn,

Rutherford Inn to Linton,

Linton to Biggar,

Biggar to Abingdon,

Abingdon to Elvanfoot,

Elvanfoot to Thornhill,

Thornhill to Dumfries,

Miles.

14

3

11

12

6

16

14

The road passes along the valley of the Nith called Nithsdale. Seven miles from Dumfries, and on the right hand of the road, is the farm of Ellisland, once occupied by the poet Burns, and where he wrote his celebrated lyrics. On the other side of the Nith are the house and grounds of Dalswinton; a little farther on is Friar's Carse, a beautiful retreat also celebrated by Burns. Still farther on is Closeburn (Menteath). The neat village of Thornhill is now passed; west of which is Drumlanrig.

Sanquhar is the next stage, near this is Leadhills, where a considerable quantity of lead-ore is annually procured.

The country is here bleak and uninteresting. A few miles onward is Kirkconnel, celebrated in ballad poetry, and still farther the "Lugar flows" embalmed in the verse of Burns. New and Old Cumnock are passed, villages celebrated for the manufacture of snuff-boxes. "The Land of Burns" is now entered, and every grove and stream bears names familiarized to the stranger by his enchanting strains.

AYR

"Which ne'er a town surpasses

For honest men and bonnie lasses,'

is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river of

the same name, at its junction with the commands a beautiful view to the ocean. considerable inland trade and shipping. extensively wrought in the neighbourhood.

sea, and It has a Coals are

A lit

tle south of the town is shewn the house where Burns was born, near to which a monument is erected to this bard, who has thrown over the district such an undying interest as a great genius alone can bestow. Here too the 'bonny Doon' flows past the ruin of Alloway kirk, celebrated as the scene of Tam O'Shanter. The town of Mauchline lies two miles to the north-east of Ayr.

Ailsa Crag, an isolated rock with basaltic columns, forms a conspicuous object off the Ayrshire coast. There is a direct road from Ayr to Glasgow by Kilmarnock, the distance being 31 miles. There is also a road from Ayr to Port-Patrick, which is distant 60 miles, from whence there is a steam passage daily to Ireland.

STEAM-BOAT TOURS.

LONDON TO EDINBURGH BY STEAM-BOAT.

SAILING from the Wharf, the London Docks are passed on the left, then the village of Limehouse, which connects London with the village of Poplar. The course is now eastward, along the river Thames, with the counties of Middlesex and Essex to the north, or left, and Kent on the right.

Greenwich is next passed on the right, a town containing upwards of 24,000 inhabitants. Greenwich Hospital is a magnificent structure, fitted for the accommodation of 3000 pensioners as inmates, nearly as many more out-pensioners being supported from its funds. Adjoining is the Park, Royal Observatory, and Naval Asylum. Deptford is almost connected with Greenwich, containing a naval dock-yard, and a population of 21,000.

Blackwall and Poplar are considerable villages on the opposite side. Here are the East India Company's Docks, and here several of the steam-boats take up and land their passengers.

Woolwich is eight miles from London, on the Kent side. It contains a population of 17,000, and a royal dock-yard and naval and military arsenal, cannonfoundry, cable and anchor manufactory, and military academy.