A wooden suspension bridge, built across the Tweed in 1818 by the late Earl of Buchan, leads to the famed ruins of

Dryburgh Abbey-This abbey is built on a peninsula of the Tweed surrounded by towering woods. It is greatly dilapidated, having shared the fate of the other monastic institutions in this country. It will ever be rendered an object of interest from its now containing the remains of Sir Walter Scott. He is buried* in St Mary's aisle, near the spot where the high altar formerly stood.

MELROSE ABBEY.-A short drive along the base of the Eildon Hills, which are seen rearing their triple summits on the left, brings the traveller in view of the famed Abbey of Melrose, situated in the immediate vicinity of the town. Like many of the other religious establishments of Scotland, this abbey was also founded by David I. in 1136. It was dedicated to the Virgin, largely endowed, and tenanted by Cistertian Monks. Previous to the Reformation it had suffered much at various periods during the border wars. Edward II. plundered it in 1322, and four years after it was restored by a munificent grant of L.2000 by Robert the Bruce. It was several times burned by the English, and unroofed and much defaced at the Reformation.

The church is in the form of a cross, and the architecture is of the most ornamental Gothic. Nothing

* Sir Walter, in his interesting autobiographical fragment inserted in Lockhart's Life of the poet, mentions that his family ought to have succeeded to the Dryburgh estate; and adds, "thus we have nothing left of Dryburgh, although my father's maternal inheritance, but the right of stretching our bones, where mine may perhaps be laid ere any eye but my own glances over these pages.'

can exceed the perfect state in which the carved work still remains on the compact sandstone of which the building is composed. The grand eastern window is an unrivalled piece of ornamental Gothic; and indeed the light graceful symmetry of the whole, with the minute and perfect taste with which every part is ornamented, constitute this by far the finest specimen or Gothic architecture in Scotland. At the north entry of the church is a Saxon door of very beautiful device. North of this are the churches and the other buildings connected with the monastery. The central tower of the church is in ruins; the clustered pillars supporting the chancel are rich with ornaments. The high altar was placed under the eastern window. Here tradition reports that Alexander II. was buried, and the heart of King Robert Bruce deposited, after an unsuccessful effort to carry it to the Holy Land. The body of the famous Michael Scott, who, on account of his knowledge of alchemy and the sciences, was reputed a wizard, is also said to lie here, though the precise situation is unknown. Here is the burial-place of the great family of Douglas. The abbey now belongs to the Duke of Buccleuch. Previous to 1810 a part of the abbey was used as a parish church, and the necessary building up of walls for this purpose has considerably destroyed the beauty of the ruin. Much care is bestowed by the present proprietor on the preservation of the pile in its original state. Sir Walter Scott took much pleasure and pride in this celebrated abbey, and many of the ornaments of Abbotsford are fac-similes of its carved cornices and pillars.

The stone is of a durable quality, of a dark red hue, which harmonizes well with the mellow tints that time

has thrown over the whole. A still autumn day is the most favourable for enjoying its beauties; nor should the tourist forget the poet's injunction,—

"If thou wouldst view fair Melrose aright,

Go visit it by the pale moon-light.

The small town of Melrose contains nothing of interest to the stranger, only that its commodious inn may afford accommodation to the visitor who wishes to prolong his stay for fishing or other sports.

ABBOTSFORD. This celebrated spot is situated on the south banks of the Tweed, about two miles and a half west of Melrose. It is embowered among rising plantations, which conceal the house of the Great Poet till you come upon its turreted structure at once. Every thing remains in the state in which its distinguished owner left it. The ground-floor contains a whole suite of public rooms, with hall and armoury. The bed-rooms are ranged above. The house is in the form of an irregularly-built castle, and contributions from all parts of Scotland make up this singular structure. The Gothic hall is filled with armour and antiques of the olden time. The pavement is of marble, from the Western Islands. Passing through this, another long apartment, stretching over the extent of the building, is filled with all manner of warlike and feudal curiosities, labelled and arranged by Sir Walter's own hand, with little histories and notices of each. A handsome dining-room, with oak carved roof, and numerous paintings, and Chantrey's admirable bust of the poet, looks towards the garden and the river. Here is a genuine painting of Queen Mary, the day after her decapitation, by Amias Canrood. The drawing

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room is lofty, and filled with curious cabinets, pictures, &c. The library is a spacious and beautiful room, containing 20,000 volumes of choice and rare books. The study is a retired, sombre apartment, with many old folios, ancient relics; and here, and in the breakfast parlour, the books, pictures, cabinets, are all as they were left by the family on the breaking up of the establishment. The scene is well worthy of the attention of the numerous pilgrims who, in the summer months, are daily and hourly flocking, on foot as well as in splendid equipages, to gaze on this celebrated spot. By the profits of the author's works, and a public subscription, arrangements are now completed, by which the whole property and house will be retained in possession of the family, for the gratification of future generations.

The road by Galashiels across the Lammermoor Hills will convey the traveller to Edinburgh. Galawater runs through the valley of Gala, on the left, till it joins the Tweed below Melrose. On its banks is the thriving manufacturing village of Galashiels. The woods of Torwoodlee are also on the left. By this road, the principal places which the traveller passes in succession are

THE TRIBUTARIES OF THE TWEED.

Instead of crossing the Lammermoor Hills by the direct road to Edinburgh, the tourist will find an interesting country, and many objects worthy of his notice, by following the tributary streams which flow into the Tweed, along most beautiful pastoral valleys, hemmed in on each side by smooth, green, swelling hills.

After passing Abbotsford, the character of the Tweed and the surrounding scenery undergoes a complete change. There is less richness and luxuriance of vegetation, and fewer meadow-grounds and stately trees. The river, which has hitherto flowed on in a stately and majestic stream, now assumes more of the rapid mountain character. The green round hills covered with sheep, and smooth glens or hopes, stretching up among these hills, every where present the pearance of pastoral simplicity and seclusion. Here, too, every little glen, and stream, and ruined tower, has its legend and its story of love or chivalry.

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Inverleithen. After crossing the bridge over the Tweed, a short distance from Melrose, a road leads through the village of Galashiels, and along the north bank of the Tweed, to Inverleithen. The principal seats and objects worthy of notice are—

Traquair House (Earl of Traquair).

Inverleithen is a village which has rapidly risen into notice, more especially since the novel of St Ronan's Well attracted public attention to its mineral spring,