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XXIII. — Notice respecting the Depletion or Drying up of the Rivers Teviot, Nith, 

 and Clyde, on the 27th November 1838. By David Milne, Esq., F. R. S. E., 

 F. G. S. 



Read March 18. 1839. 



The Teviot, Clyde, and Nith, are well known to be among the largest rivers 

 in the south of Scotland. In the lower parts of their course they are navigable ; 

 and aU along their banks, nearly up to their sources, there are innumerable mills 

 and manufactories, dependent on the continuous flow of their waters. 



On the morning of the 27th November 1838, the channels of these rivers 

 were, in the upper and middle parts of their course, found almost entu'ely empty. 

 The thousands of water wheels, many of which had for years, without interrup- 

 tion, been turned by their currents, suddenly stopped. Immense quantities of 

 fish, inhabitants of their deep and rapid streams, were destroyed by being left 

 dry, or being caught with the hand in deserted pools ; and in places where it was 

 usually difficult for even horses to ford, it was easy for children to walk across 

 without wetting their feet. 



The phenomenon of a large river thus disappearing entirely from its channel, 

 for many miles, was one in its own nature well calculated to excite interest. But 

 being accompanied by the striking circumstances above mentioned, it could not 

 fail to excite astonishment among all living on its banks, and no smaU degree of 

 alarm among those who, in various ways, depended on these rivers for daily oc- 

 cupation and support. The subject became naturally one of general interest, and 

 occasioned much speculation and inquiry. The interest so excited was greatly 

 increased, on its being discovered that the phenomenon had happened not merely 

 in one large river, but in several ; and that, though these rivers were far distant 

 from each other, the phenomenon had occurred in aU, on the same day, and even 

 about the same time of that day. 



On making local inquiries, it was ascertained that the phenomenon was not 

 without precedent. In the Scots Magazine, and other periodical repertories of re- 

 markable occurrences, accounts were found of the disappeai-ance of several rivers 

 fi-om their channels, at diiferent periods, within the last century. These periodi- 

 cals contain long and frequently renewed discussions as to the cause of the phe- 

 nomenon, which show how much the public attention was interested by it, and 



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