An historical and descriptive Account of Roxburghshire, from the most ancient to the present times

Front matter

AN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF ROXBURGHSHIRE, FROM THE MOST ANCIENT TO THE PRESENT TIMES. BY ALEXANDER JEFFREY, WRITER, JEDBURGH. EDINBURGH: FRASER & CO., NEW BUILDINGS, NORTH BRIDGE. MDCCCXXXVI. JEDBURGH; JAMES BRYAN, CASTLE STREET. TO THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUIS OF LOTHIAN, &c. &c. &c. My Lord, L esteem myself highly honoured in being permitted to dedicate and present my Historical and Descriptive Account of Roxburghshire to your Lordship, the representative of a race of men icho were distinguished for feats of chivalry performed in defence of the rights and liberties of Scotland, while it remained an independent kingdom, and in later times have been famed as profound statesmen and loyal subjects of their king. To your Lordship, therefore, the present ivork, containing a faithful record of the transactions of the county from the earliest age to the present period, is, with sentiments of the highest respect, inscribed. I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient and most humble servant, ALEXANDER JEFFREY.

Preface

. The following work was undertaken chiefly as Rox burghshire has been little known, either through the medium of the historian or topographer, although abound ing in objects highly deserving of the attention of the enlightened antiquary and scholar. The only work ex clusively devoted to Border transactions is Redpath's History, and, though written with ability, by far too diffuse to be generally useful even on Border matters, much less as a county reference. The elaborate production of Chalmers, confessedly pre-eminent as a Caledonia, is nevertheless extremely defective as a county history, and conveys very imperfect ideas of this interesting part of the kingdom; besides, its bulk and price naturally pre clude its appearance on the shelf of the industrious me chanic or tradesman. The statistical or present state of Scotland, written by tbe clergy of each parish, contains much valuable matter, but at a price so high that renders it inaccessible to any save the higher classes, and even to these the information relating to any particular district

PREFACE.

. VI of country cannot be obtained without great labour, from the disconnected manner in which the work has been got up. The author's intention was to supply this deficiency, and how far he has succeeded in the execution it is for others to judge. The history of Jedburgh was first written, and it was intended to have been published separately, but' the author was induced to extend the work to the whole shire, on account of their being so intimately connected that it was impossible to write the history of the burgh without taking in most part of the county transactions. They generally shared the same fate, the English forces that passed the Cheviot limit seldom returning to their own land without paying a visit to the romantic banks of the Jed; and, on the other hand, scarcely an expedition was made into the sister kingdom by the county leaders, but the ensigns of Jedburgh floated conspicuous wherever danger was to be found, or glory obtained.

This devia tion from the original plan has unavoidably increased the price of the work, but it is hoped will also have enhanced its value in the estimation of the reader. To enumerate the various authors consulted would be tedious and useless. It is sufficient to say that the ma terials employed are chiefly derived from MS. works in the Advocate's Library, the Justiciary and Privy Council

PREFACE.

. VII Records. Much valuable information has also been ob tained from the records of the burgh of Jedburgh, not only in regard to its own but also illustrative of general history and the manners of successive ages. To Chalmers' " Caledonia" the author is indebted for assistance in that part of the work relating to antiquities, a survey having been made expressly for that gentleman ; but no statement has been inserted upon the faith of any, however eminent, without a strict examination of each locality, charters, and other documents. It is needless to point out particular parts of the work; suffice it to say, that the aim of the author has been to convey a mass of information within as brief limits as a due regard to perspicuity would admit, and he now sub mits it to the candour and judgment of the public. Jedburgh, February 28, 1836. Page 1 12 21 CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Of Its First Settlement, And Ancient Appearance

Its first inhabitants — From whom descended — The period of its settlement — the Phœnicians — Their trade with this island — Religious rites — Appearance of the county at Roman invasion — Its woods — Evidence that it was covered with wood, ....

Chapter II. Of Its Successive Names, Situation, Extent, Divisions, And Establishment As

A SHIRE. Introductory remarks — The tribes who inhabited this county — The name of Roxburgh — How derived — Various opinions thereon — County consists of four divisions — What they consist of, and how divided — Who was the first sheriff — The power of the sheriff — Office limited by local jurisdictions — the several regalities in the shire,

Chapter III. Of Its Mountains And Hills, Rivers And Waters, Lochs And

MINERALS. Description of the county — Inclines towards north-east — Cheviot mountains — Scenery — Dunian hill — Ruberslaw — Minto crags — Penielheugh — Eildon hills — Williamlaw — River Tweed — Abounds with salmon — Regulation of fishing — Rivers Teviot, Borthwick, Ale, Slitrig, Rule, Jed, Oxnam, Cayle, Alne, Beaumont, Lid, and tributary streams — Their source and progress through the county — Primside loch — Lintou loch — Whitmuir loch — Mode of catching fish — perches and pikes. — Minerals — Pit coal in Liddesdale — Been discovered in Southdean and Bedrule — Discovered at Hunthill, near Jedburgh, and in forest of Jed — From whence Roxburghshire derives a supply of fuel — Limestone in ssveral districts of the county — Marie found in great quantities — Moss, its us3 — Freestone abounds in the shire — Where found — Petrifying springs — Chalybeate and sulphurate springs — Consecrated wells, . CONTENTS. X Page 49 72

CHAPTER IV. OF ITS BRITISH, ROMAN, ANGLO-SAXON, DANISH, SCOTO-IRISH, AND SCOTO-SAXON ANTIQUITIES.

The people and speech — Manners of first inhabitants — Weapons used in battle — Druidical instructions — The burial of the dead — Sepulchral cairns, where found — Stone monuments — Hill forts of the earliest people — British remains in Teviotdale and Liddesdale — Remains in the eastern parts of Roxburghshire — Caves in the banks of Jed and Ale — Their dimensions — Maltan Walls — The catrail, and its course through the county — Period of entry of Romans, and time retained possession — Have left no specimens of their language — The roads made by the Romans — The Wattlingslreet, Maidenway, and Wheel Causeway — Of the Saxon people — Their antiquities — The Danish antiquities — Their settlements — Antiquities of the Scoto- Saxons — Speech and topography of the county,

Chapter V. Of The Burgh And Castle Of Roxburgh

Period of its erection — How fortified — Privileges of the Monks at fair of St James — Used os a royal residence — Annals,

Chapter VI. Of The Burgh, Castle, And Localities Of Jedburgh

Of its name, situation, description, buildings, streets, manner of lighting and cleaning, and how supplied with water — Reikmond and Bongate villages — Streets not included in royalty — Its Abbey — Remarks thereon — Abbey cells — Suffering of the Monks — Charters, by whom granted — Alterations since reformation — Endowments — Revenue— The gardens of Jedburgh — David I. introduces horticulture at his castle of Jedburgh — The remains of orchards — Jedburgh p^ars — Enumeration — Places of worship — Schools — Friendly societies — Observations thereon — Mason lodges — Dispensary — Libraries in the Burgh — Charity of the inhabitants — Reading societies — Reading rooms — the jail of Jedburgh — Government of the burgh — Deprived for a time of its magistrates — The cause of deprivation — Manner of election — Powers and privileges — Jurisdiction over St James' fair — Jurisdiction of magistrates — How chosen — Offices in gift of magistrates — The dean of guild next magistrate to the bailies—Institute of dean of guild court — Meetings of town council- — Exclusive privileges of the burgh — Incorporated trades — History o* — Their powers and privileges — The flesher trade — Of its woollen manufactories — Their history, with remarks on the progress of Page 79 CONTENTS* manufactures in the burgh — Distilling in Jedburgh — Revenue of the burgh — Exemption from custom in favour of Timpendean and Broomhall — Debts of the burgh — Power of levying several Taxes — Poor rates — When established — Markets and fairs — Corn, cheese, and butter markets — Unfreemen when allowed to sell goods in burgh — Manners and customs of the inhabitants of the burgh- Public amusements — Horse races — Curling clubs — Hand-ball played on Shrove Tuesday — Theatrical performances — Bull-baiting — The burgli of Jedburgh healthy. — Localities, or Historical Scenes — Boundary Bank, Stewartfield, Hunthill, Bonjedworth, Glenburn hall, Ferniehirst, Capon Tree, Lintalee, Hindalee Cottage, Lang* lee, Mossburnford, Old Jedworth, with reflections thereon, Dolphin stone Castle, and Edgerston — -Remarks on the new London road, and roads in general. — Annals, or Ancient History of the Burgh — At what period it became a royal burgh — Whether fortified with walls — Various opinions on that subject — Observations thereon — Number of towers within the burgh — Military strength of the burgh — Its ancient extent — Statement of Earl Surrey examined — Burgh for merly very wealthy — Marriage of Alexander to Jolinde at Jed burgh — Skeleton appeared at the dance — Edward appointed referee in the disputes which followed Alexander's death — Community of Jedburgh swear allegiance to Edward — Standard taken by Jed burghers at the battle of Bannockburn — Town and forest of Jed burgh surrendered by Baliol — Earl of Angus created sheriff — The castle of Jedburgh razed by the commons of Teviotdale— Sir Robert Umfranville burns Jedburgh — Notice of the hospital of Jedburgh — Convent of Carmelite friars founded — Regent

Albany visits the burgh — The Abbot banished beyond Tay — The Earl of Surrey's inroad — James V. made a progress to Jedburgh — Jedburgh burnt by Eurie — Hereford burnt the town, abbey, and friars — Somerset's expedition — French auxiliaries arrive at Jedburgh — Take Fernie hirst castle — Cruelties committed on the garrison — Earl of Rutland arrives at Jedburg*h — Governor at Jedburgh, and ratified division of debateable land — Anecdote of James VI. — Regent Murray appointed lieutenant, and held his courts at Jedburgh — The queen arrives at Jedburgh, and holds justice courts, where she fell sick — Earl of Sussex and Sir John Foster at Jedburgh — Treatment of a pursui vant by the Provost — Attack of Ferniehirst and Buccleuch — Battle of the Redswyre — Manifesto against Arran published at Jedburgh cross — King James made several expeditions to Jedburgh — Battle of the rood-day in Jedburgh — Erected into a lordship for Earl Home — Plague in Jedburgh — Protector's troops in neighbourhood, and magistrates of Jedburgh fined — The burgh agrees to union pro posed by Cromwell — Witchcraft — Transactions regarding the rebellion in 1 715 — Political transactions of the burgh, CONTENTS.

XII Paaa 204 223

Chapter VII. Of The Town Of Kelso, And Its Localities

Introductory remarks — Description of the town — Buildings — Places of religious worship — Printing offices — Libraries — Public Dispensary — Nurseries — Fiesh market — Markets and fairs — Manufactures — A distillery carried on — Breweries — The Abbey — Its architecture — By whom founded — Its endowments — Revenue — Was several times burnt by the English — Kelso bridge, when erected, and by whom — Of the government of the town of Kelso — Jurisdiction of the baron bailie — Water is of the best quality — Border Agricultural Society — Societv of Antiquaries — Kelso races — Inns and hackney horses — Stage coaches — Manners and customs of inhabitants. — Scenery and Localities — Fleurs palace — Genealogical account of the family — Roxburgh castle — Friars — Springwood park, and genealogical account of the family — Village of Maxwellheugh — Pinnaclehill Henderside park, . . . . . . . . .

Chapter VIII. Of The Town Of Hawick, And Its Localities

Of its name — Description of the town, buildings, and places of worship Subscription rooms, when built — Benefit societies — Markets and fairs — Town subject to inundations — Government of burgh — The common feeling of the inhabitants to the family of Buccleuch — The cause — Its manufactures — Horse racing and Common riding — Observations on the charge against the people of Hawick being disorderly and riotous. — Scenery and Localities — Wilton village — Its origin, situation, and description — Wilton lodge — Baron of Wilton slays the Abbot of Melrose — Obtains a pardon from the King — Stirches — Branxholm castle — Stobs castle — Genealogical account of the family of Sir W. Francis Eliott — Politics of Sir William, .

Chapter IX. Of Its Villages, Their Scenery, And Localities

Melrose — Its situation, and description of town improvements — Markets and fairs — Manufactures — Government — Freemasons — Banks — Friendly societies and inns — Its monastery — Description of and remarks on its architecture — Order to whom the Monks belonged — Families interred in Abbey — The chronicle of Melrose — By whom written — Endowments of monastery, and its revenues — Its sufferings during border warfare. — Scenery and Localities — Villages of Dernick, Gattonside, and Newstead— Langlee — Abbotsford — Drygrange — Gladswood — Hallydean — Ravenswood — Old Melrose. — Bowden — Its name, situation, and description — Hallydean T CONTENTS.

X1U Page tower — Kippielaw — Maxpoffle — Eildon hall — Si Bosivell's or Les sudden — Description of St Boswell's fair — Its history. — Maxton — The ancient name of the village — Its situation and history — The barony of Rutherford — Hospitals of Rutherford — Remains found at Broomhouse — Littledean tower. — Ashkirk — Its name, situation, and description — Ball played on Shrove Tuesday. — Lilliesleaf- — An account of its ancient name, and notice of the village — Riddell, the seat of Mark Sprott, Esq., with a genealogical account of the family of Riddell — Linthill, the seat of William Currie, Esq. — Ancrum — Etymology of the name — Its situation and extent — Notice of John Livingstone— Ancrum, one of the posts of border garrisons — Ancrum house — Description of, with a genealogical account of the family of Sir William Scott — Notice of Kirklands, the seat of Mr Richardson, solicitor, London — Mount Teviot — Genealogical account of the family of Lothian — Chesters — Notice of the family of Ogilvie. — Minto — Its name, situation, and importance — Minto house — Genea logical account of the family of the Earl of Minto — Denholm — Cavers — Hobkirk, Kirktown, Southdean, Bedrule, Crailing, Eck ford, Heaton, Sprouston, Edenham, Stitchel, Smailholm, Castletown, Morebattle, Hownam, Kirk- Yetholm, Town- Yetholm — Notice of the gipsey tribes, ......... 237

Chapter X. Of Its Wars And Feuds From The Roman Invasion To

1020, WHEN THIS COUNTY WAS CEDED TO THE ROMANS. Roman invasion — Advance into this shire — Inhabitants of this shire subjects of the Romans — Wars with the Picts and Scots — Country overrun by the Scots and Picts under Galgacus — Saxons invited to assist the Britons — They settle in Kent — War with the Britons and Saxons — State of Northumberland — Subdued by Egbert — Invasions of the Danes — Settle near Jedburgh — Danes routed — Make another descent, and are successful — Kingdom of Northumberland divided amongst the Danes — Defeated by Alfred, and return to their own ■ country — Battle of Brumish — Roxburghshire ceded to Scotland, 343

Chapter XI. Of Its Annals From

1020 TO THE UNION OF THE KINGDOMS. Limits of the two kingdoms — Malcolm slain before Alnwick Castle — His eldest son Edward died in Jed forest — Great famine on the borders — 'Ihe charge of the borders committed to the King of Scotland — Border laws — Dispute between Bruce and Baliol as to the succession — Edward's claim — Baliol renounces his allegiance to Edward — Scottish troops enter England — Battle of Dunbar — Jedburgh castle yields to the English — Baliol again submitted — Sir William Wallace — Roxburgh castle taken by Douglas— Scots enter Nor- CONTENTS.

Page 354 thumberland — Douglas encounters the English forces in Jed forest — Firearms first used — Andrew Murray made Regent — Edward arrives at Roxburgh — Baliol flies to England — Edward at Melrose — David taken prisoner — Sir William Douglas murdered in Jed forest — Theft of ploughshares — Pestilence raging in England — David ransomed — Famine in Scotland — Plague again broke out — Jedburgh castle rein forced—Skirmish at St James' fair — Conferences at Muirhouselaw — English drove out of Teviotdale — Abbe)* of Melrose burnt — Sir William Stewart of Jedburgh one of the ambassadors to treat of peace — Regulations anent complaints — English king's letters published at Kelso and Melrose — Percy gets a grant of Teviotdale — Enters Scot land — Besieges Cocklaw castle — Battle of Homildon — Murder of Sir W. Stewart — Umfranville burns Teviotdale — Weapon shawings appointed — Regulations made for defence of county — Watches set at fords, and beacons on hills — Regulations for building castles — Garrisons placed in various places in county — The Earl of Angus sworn into the sheriffship of Roxburgh — Theft greatly increased on the borders — Several people tried for stealing and bringing* in the English — Trials by Andrew Lord Grey at Jedburgh — Lord Dacres ravages Teviotdale — King* at Jedburgh, and battle of Melrose — King again at Jedburgh to administer justice — Johnnie Armstrong hanged — Trials at Jedburgh — Eurie burns Jedburgh — Sunlaws burnt — Several incursions into Roxburghshire, towns and villages burnt, and stock and crop carried away — Duke of Somerset arrives at Rox burgh, which he fortifies— Walter Scott murdered in revenge for death of Lord Cessford — Strange fire seen on the borders— Regent at Hawick to keep down the thieves — Incursion of Sussex — Feuds — Inhabitants of Kelso fined — Plague makes terrible ravages — An agreement for the pacification of feuds on borders — James ascends the English throne — Sets about suppression of feuds — Number and inveteracy — Clan of Scott maim and destroy the cattle of Dou glas of Drumlanrig on farm of Howpaslet— Bond amongst the Scotts — James attempts to introduce prelacy into Scotland — Scots flew to arms against Charles — English fled — Treaty entered into — Castles restored — Cromwell and the mosstroopers — The union — Re bellion of 1715— Rebels at Kelso— March to Jedburgh, and from thence to Hawick— Transactions while in the county— Rebellion of 1745,

Chapter XII. Annals Of Agriculture, Manufactures, And Trade

Primitive state of the county— State of agriculture on the Romans leaving the island— During the fifth century the Saxons introduced the breeding of horses, and made settlements in various parts— Progress of agriculture during the Scoto-Saxon period— Feeding of flocks—Cultivation of hills— Granges and brewhouses— Grange at Blainslie— Description of these— America an illustration of the state of this country in early ages — Dairies, when introduced— The fuel CONTENTS. . XV Page used by the various successions of people — State of agriculture at demesne of Alexander III., at the accession of James to the English throne, and at the union — Society of improvers formed — Lord Bel haven's address to farmers — Turnip husbandry introduced — Artificial grasses sown for the first time — Potatoes first planted — "Marie introduced as a manure — A new kind of oats sown by Mr Church — improved roller — Fanners invented — Threshing machines intro duced — Carrot culture begun — Cultivation of the tobacco plant prohibited by act of parliament. — Roads — Remarks on roads in gene ral — Epoch of improvements — Bridges — Wheel carriages — What kind used during the 12th and 13th centuries — Coaches introduced — Observations on the benefits of roads and carriages — Railroad from Berwick to Ancrum. — Manufactures — Progress of. — Trade during the fifth century — English settlers introduced for purposes of trade — Burgh laws enacted — Who permitted to buy hides — Articles of traffic — Cadgers and carriers — Amount of profit, . . . 401

Chapter XIII. Of Its Eminent Men

Gavin Douglas, John Rutherford, Samuel Rutherford, James Thomson, Dr Armstrong, Lord Heathfield, Dr Buchan, Dr Leyden, and Sir John Buchanan Riddell, ...... AN ACCOUNT OF ROXBURGHSHIRE.

Chapter I. Of Its First Settlement And Ancient Appearance

From the transactions of the more early ages not being com mitted to writing, but transmitted from one generation to another by Bards and Scnachies, whose province it was, at the coronation of Kings and the interment of Princes, to recite, in verse, their whole genealogy and glorious actions, it becomes a matter of as great difficulty to trace, with truth, the beginnings of People and Kingdoms as to find out the heads of mighty Rivers. and even if they could be known, would promote but very little our virtue or reputation, since it is evident that most of them owe their original to poverty, robbery, and oppression, though fabulous writers, to magnify their own nation, have obtruded upon the credulity of after ages strange relations of miraculous and heroical beginnings. Of this truth the history of mankind abounds in examples.

"We have nothing but fabulous accounts of the first settlement of all those potent empires — excepting the B Jews, the favourites of Almighty God— which have successively governed the ancient world. They have all, after undergoing innumerable devastations, come at last to be peopled by rude barbarians, but from what corner of the Northern forests, or mountains, these irresistible swarms of people issued, is involved in impenetrable gloom. So complete has been the extinction of some of those powerful States, at whose ncd whole provinces have been annihilated, that were it not for the testimony of the sacred Penman, and a few shreds of profanehistory, corroborated, were it necessary by those stupendous structures of architecture whose ruins are tbe wonder of the present age, and statues, in scriptions, and medals which have reached our times, we could have no conception that such mighty Empires ever existed.

It is not to be expected, then, that Britain, the most ancient of all the European States, can account better of its original inhabitants. But though our insinuation on the subject of early times is contracted, jet, on recourse to sacred history, we may learn our origin and the first formation of society. We are there told that when the posterity of our first parents had so greatly de viated from the paths chalked out by the Supreme Being, the deluge swept them from the face of the earth, with the exception of one family, who, for their obedience, were destined to become the trunk from which a new race should spring. From the three sons of Noah, who had been so wonder fully preserved in the ark, three distinct classes of people arose ; and, as they increased in numbers, severally spread themselves to the four corners of the globe.

The posterity of Japbet emigrated towards Europe ; and Gomer first appears in Asia. From the descendants of this family the ancient Britons sprung. Al though it is not our particular business to trace this family minutely from Asia into Germany, nothing can be more natural ROXBURGHSHIRE. 3 than to suppose that, on finding themselves straitened for room in Lesser Asia, they advanced up the Danube, to the very heart of the adjacent country, and on arriving at the sources of the rivers, descending to the north and north-east, they might extend their emigrations alons** the bank; of the Rhine till they arrived at Holland. They might then be induced to ascend Moselle from its influx into the Rhine. To the westward of Metz on the Moselle the distance to Verdun on the Maes is inconsiderable; and thence, following the course of the Marne, would conduct emigrants almost due west, through the very heart of France, to the ocean at Havre de Grace.

And that this communication along the coast would be the means of discovering this island, from the heights of Calais, no doubt can be entertained. This discovery would naturally suggest a disposition in the spirited and enterprising mind to explore the regions of this new country, — penetrate its recesses, and ascertain the advantages, accommodations, and comforts, it was capable of producing. What knowledge these Celtæ had, on their first discovery of Britain, of the proper means of passing over to it from the continent, we are not informed ; yet, as they must have been acquainted with boats, to convey themselves up or down the Rivers of the Rhine and Seine, it cannot be difficult to assign a sufficient foundation for building such vessels as ft c' might be fully competent for such a purpose.

Besides, the tra ditional notices of the ark in the time of the flood might bring to their recollection the propriety and necessity of the same conveyance. Most Antiquarians assert that this island was first discovered in the dark haze of uninformed antiquity by Pythias, a voyager of Marseilles, who sailed into the western seas while the hero of Macedon sought adventures in the eastern regions. But this opinion is, however, far from correct. Though we have no means of ascertaining, with any precision, the exact time of the peopling of this country, it may with reason be stated to have been in the very earliest ages of the post-deluvian world, at least 1450 years before Christ. The countless multitudes brought against Cæsar at his invasion precludes the idea that they could have recently emigrated from the opposite shores.

There they must have lived for ages, probably augmented from time to time by fresh supplies of settlers from the mother country. And that each of these colonies retained the customs, manners, and languages of their tribes is manifest, since, at the arrival of the Romans, they were divided into different tribes, under separate leaders, and distinct Governments, acting independently of each other. But if any doubt can exist in the minds of any upon the reasonableness of the above supposition a recourse to the records of the sacred Penman will completely set the matter at rest. From this volume we are informed that our country carried on an extensive commerce with distant climes long before the time of Alexander of Macedon. When the victorious Joshua the son of Nun made a conquest of the land of Ca.'.aan the in habitants — the Phccnecians — had recourse to flight to save themselves.

Sidon — although the splendid victories of the Israel tish chief extended to its walls, was never conquered — lent them ships, and by them extended their trade, and formed settlements in all the countries of Africa and Europe. From them Tyre and Sidon became the emporium of commerce, " and a merchant for the people of many isles ;" and it is recorded of the former, " all the ships of the sea, with the mariners, were in thee to occupy thy merchandise." From this it appears that no other country or city could pretend to or vie with them in navigation. Amongst the great number of places with which they had commercial concerns, we find Tarlessus, in Spain, so named by a very slight change of letters from one of the grandsons of ROXBURGHSHIRE 5 Japhet. The discovery of this place is said by Herodotus to have been occasioned by a storm known in modern times by the name of a Levanter, and long before the first Olympiad, which was 776 years before Christ.

Familiarized to the ways of the deep, they extended themselves to the west of the straits of Ca diz, as well as to the right. We are assured by Strabo, that these people had gone over a part of the west of Africa a little time after the war of Troy. Their passage into Britain might perhaps be determined by a reflection which the reading of the writers of antiquity furnishes us with. They are persuaded that all the tin that was consumed in the world came from the isles of Cassitorides, and it cannot be disputed that these were a part of Cornwall. We find also, on examination of the works of that celebrated legislator, Moses, tin was known in Palestine. Homer also informs us, that they made use of this metal in the heroic ages ; and others add, that tin was frequently used in the meretricious ornaments of the courtezans.

We need but consider, that this description of Tyre was more than 500 years before the time of Julius Cæsar's first descent upon Britain, and that Tyre had then long been in the most flourishing situation, as the very emporium of commerce. And more than 200 years previous to this description of Tyre and of Tarshish, already alluded to, we find Jonah designing to escape to Tarshish, far to the west, instead of executing the commission of his Master to Nineveh, far to the north-east; and he had taken shipping at Joppa, a port town to the South of Tyr> . which shows the vast extent of commerce carried on at that time by the Phœnicians, as a long tract of coast, both to the north and south of it, was known by the general name of Phœnicia. The Phœnicians having then established a staple for Trade at Tartessus, in Spain, frequent visits to our island was the na tural result of their knowledge and good understanding with the inhabitants.

A barter for tin was thereby established, and many useful and important articles found their way into this island- In process of time the enterprising Grecians put in for a share of this traffic, and accordingly dispatched their ships to Britain for tin, cattle, lead, and hides, which they had previously purchased from the Phœnicians, or at second hand. In exchange for these articles the Grecians brought earthen-ware, salt, and brass trin kets. But to show more conclusively still that the inhabitants of Canaan — the Phœnicians — traded with our British forefathers long before the country was known to the Romans, we need only advert to the fact that part of this country, on the arrival of these polished conquerors, bore the name of Thule, which is the Syriac or Chaldee language — the dialect of the Phœnicians — and in our tongue signifies darkness.