Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
Letters from LondOn--.NO. 3.


LONDON, January 10th, 1879
Nessrs. Editors My last letter gave an ac-
count OF my journey down to the time at which
reached Kelso. That town was one Of the places
in which my school-boy days were spent, and
had long cherished an earnest desire to visit 1t
once more, before laying down my head in my
grave. This desire having, by the good hand Of
God upon me, been at last gratifed, will now,
for the purpose Of continuing my correspondence
with your readers, proceed to furnish them with
few notes about the town itself, and about such
other matters as there attracted my attention.
All Of your readers have heard Of OF read about
the Tweed, which for the distance Of some twenty
miles from Its mouth divides Scotland from Eng
land; and the town OF Keso Is beautifully sitn-
ated on the northern banks Of that river, few
miles above the point at which II ceases TO be the
boundary between the two countries It stands
directly opposite to the junction Of the rivers, the
Tweed and the Teviot On coming into the town
from the south or the west, II is entered by a
beautiful bridge Of five semi-elliptical arches,
each having span Of seventy-two feet, and bears
n very close resemblance to one of the London
bridges across the Thames Both these bridges
were built by the celebrated architect Renne, and
one is so exact copy Of the other. From the
bridge a fine view IL obtained Of the river, and
some Of the beautiful dwellings on its banks As
the stranger comes by the bridge into the town,
the first object which attracts his attention is the
grand old abbey, which was founded by David l.
Of Scotland, A d 1923. II was reduced to a very
ruinous condition A. d. 1915 during the feuds
which at that period were 20 common between
the two countries But it has OF late been con-
siderably repaired, and 1t now presents more
magnificent and elegant appearance than it did
when | attended the school, which was literally
under its shadow. It is now surrounded by
strong iron railing which keeps off all who might
be disposed to commit any depreciation upon it,
or upon the ancient tombs among which II stands
There are many gentlemens seats about Kelso,
all standing -" in the midst Of their tall ancestral
trees and extensive pleasure grounds, kept in the
most perfect order But the principal mansion in
the neighborhood IL the Palace OF Floors-or as |
suppose the name ought rather to be written, Les
Fleurs. II stands on n terraced lawn on the
north bank OF the Tweed, and Is about mile
west of the town of Keso. There are more old
castles and abbeys and ether notable places
around the town than can undertake to enumer-
ate, On the neck Of land formed by the juno
ton Of the Tweed and Teviot, are found the ruins
of the ancient castle Of Roxburgh. That fortress
was OF great extent and importance in the early
history of the country, but now only few frag-
ments of it remain. 1t was while besiegng it
that James II. was killed by the bursting of u
cannon under Its walls and believe the tradi-
ton il that his successor was crowned in the
neighboring abbey of Kelso On my visit to that
"A 4 - n.
banks Of the Teviot. The scene before me at
once broughtto my mind the beautiful apostrophe
which Scott addresses to the river:
Sweet Teviotl on thy silver tide
The elaring bale-hre' blaze no morei
y" ,onse, s'e,,,''u "",r''s rue
where,er ,bon ,.,n,,., h,. I,,s orhn,
Au all is peaceful, all is still,
As thy waves since Time was born
S,"ce nrs' 'ley ton s upon ,he lwe'i'
~ors,ar,ad a., ,hs hnsiaD,a,,
|
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- ''' ''"' ~, 10 ~, :" Wv
rl ,',,,p ~ ,,s 49, .,
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VIZ, f...,,'' - =, -, -.
e,a 49, C''.," -, ~ ''n ".ie.
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Judging rom It's runs norman castle seems u
nave been ike that oil hoxonrgh atortress oil grea
| Importance ana very extensive dimensions
was mere that E'waru l. resided wheh he was
CHOSEN umpire III the dispute respecting tue SCOT
'ish succession Inc Aooeys OF 'edourgn' Mel