56 THE BORDEU AXGLER. 



is bound for Edinburgh by tbe evening train, and we 

 have now time to look about us at the place and its 

 scenery, as well as at the fishing for which Peebles 

 furnishes a convenient station. 



Peebles is a curious old Scotch burgh, supposed 

 from its name to have been a haunt of the nomadic 

 Britons who long held Ettrick and Strath- Cluyd. It 

 obtained a royal charter from David II. in 1337, but 

 was ruthlessly deprived of the parliamentary privileges 

 thereto effeiring by the Reform Act of 1832. It has 

 still a provost and council, and is the county-town. 

 It has throughout borne the usual character of small 

 Scotch towns, having always been a homely, drouthy, 

 God-fearing place. Its inhabitants, of whom there are 

 about 2000, and who are as " clannish" as the inha- 

 bitants of other Scotch towns, consider it the most re- 

 markable spot in the universe. It is looked upon as 

 a metropolis by the surrounding country districts, and 

 a story is told of a county-laird, who thus gave his 

 verdict as to the comparative merits of this capital and 

 that of France — "Paris for pleesure ! — Hoot-toot! 

 gie's Peebles ! " It is, however, prettily situated, and 

 is singularly healthy. The bare pastoral hills of 

 Tweeddale are here partly relieved by wood ; Nidpath 

 Castle, about a mile above the town, overhangs the 

 Tweed, there contracted in its vale to a deep glen ; at 

 Peebles itself two bridges span the river ; and below, 

 the eye follows an opening valley, with the ever-charm- 

 ing accompaniments of adjacent woods and a stately 

 stream. Nidpath Castle is a strong old tower, once 

 belonging to the Earls of Tweeddale, and some pretty 



