184 DR DOUGLAS ON THE CESSATION OF THE 



in order that their curiosity might frona time to time be enkindled, their 

 vigilanco awakened, and their mind restless, ti]l they have improved 

 its powers, and thoroughly investigated the great and mighty whole. 

 Only let us keep carefully in mind that the advancement of science is 

 not our sole object, but that we have a nobler result in view — the 

 praise and glory of the Almighty Framer of the Universe ; — then we 

 shall have the satisfaction of feeling that we are not forgetting duty in 

 the midst of pleasure ; that even in our hours of relaxation from the 

 graver callings of life, we are walking piously with our Grod. 



Notice regarding the Cessation of the Flow of the River Teviot^ Tlth 

 November 1838. By Db Douglas, Kelso. 



The temporary cessation of flow and drying up of the Eiver Teviot 

 in November last, excited very considerable interest amongst the scien- 

 tific world generally, but more particularly in the South of Scotland, 

 where the phenomenon occurred. Unfortunately for my description, I 

 was not an eyewitness to the occurrence, but the following facts were 

 gathered with the greatest care, and their correctness ascertained. 



The first intelligence which I had of the drying up of the river, was 

 a paragraph in a local newspaper announcing the fact, and likewise the 

 contemporaneous occurrence of the phenomenon in the Elvers Clyde 

 and Nith. My first impression was that no common cause could 

 account for the phenomenon, and that, in all probability, it could be 

 produced by nothing short of an earthquake extending over a large 

 surface of ground, so as to comprehend all the springs which fed those 

 rivers. In the sequel we shall see what evidence exists in support of 

 such a theory, and what other conclusion the following facts would 

 lead us to adopt. 



I shall first, then, state the facts which I have ascertained, and 

 secondly, endeavour to give the proper solution of them. 



1. The scantiness of the stream of water in the mill-lead above 

 Maxwellheugh Mill, situated about 50 yards above the confluence of 

 the Teviot with the Tweed, was first observed by the miller at 6 a.m., 

 Nov. 27. 1838. His attention was directed to it in consequence of the 

 stopping of the wheel from a deficiency in the volume of water which 

 was required to keep it in motion. The supply nearly ceased altogether 

 at 8 A.M. On examination, the whole of the water in the river was 

 found to be diverted into the mill-lead by means of a cauld or wear, 

 stretching across the body of the stream, but the whole of this quantity 

 was insufficient to keep the mill-wheel in motion. Between the hours 

 of 8 A.M., and 12 mid-day the bed of the river was perfectly dry. 

 Many individuals walked across without wetting even the soles of their 

 shoes. The trouts were scarcely covered in the small pools which re- 

 mained, and were easily captured by the hand. About 12, the flow of 



