OS1/5/25/6

Continued entries/extra info

[page] 6 -- Parish of Hutton

River Tweed (Continued)

been attempted there existed the remarkable facilities, that, immediately south
of Biggar, a bog extends all the way between the rivers, that its waters flow to
the Tweed, and its surface is only a few feet above the level of the Clyde and
that abundance of materials are at hand for erecting a dam-dyke.
Of the 1,500 feet of the Tweed's total aggregate fall from its source to its embouchure
1.000 are achieved when it reaches the town of Peebles. In the very long run between
that town and the sea, therefore the river might be expected to become sluggish
in current, and over a considerable distance navigable. But it accomplishes its
remaining fall of 500 feet in so many, so far apart, and so comparatively gentle
descents as to be altogether a stream of beauty and a stranger to matters of Commerce
It abounds in deep pools and in long stretches of scarcely perceptible current
yet in almost every sweep of it which can come under the eye in the course of its
beautiful bends and sinuosities, it presents one or more soft rapids sometimes of
Considerable length, where the surface of the water is carried along with just sufficient
speed, to feature it all over with dimples, and ripples, and glassy slides and whirls.
The banks of gravel or shingle which form these rapids and in one instance 2 or 3
miles above Kelso a perforated broad wacke dyke quite across its channel render
it naturally unfit, and artificially unimproveable for navigation. Yet ferry boats
are stations upon it in many locations, and have ample depth of water and small
flat boats used in salmon-fishing etc. and provincially called "trows" are freely navigated
over the fords. A