Border Feuds. 39 



castle, whose elevated turrets afforded a com- 

 manding and extensive view of the surrounding 

 country. No enemy could approach it in the 

 day time, without the garrison having sufficient 

 warning. Vigilance, incessant vigilance, could 

 alone prevent surprise ; to induce which, a fa- 

 vourite maxim became the border motto, and 

 has been handed down to posterity : " If they 

 come, they come not ; If they come not, they 



come." 



The perpetual state of predatory warfare on 

 the borders of the two countries was at once 

 destructive of industry and moral obligation. 

 To decide which were the greatest thieves 

 would be difficult. The feudal trade was most 

 profitable to the Scotch, because the English 

 had the most to lose. 



It must be confessed, no district of the British 

 empire has profited so much by political 

 changes, as that which may be included under 

 the denomination of the borders. And although 

 the habits of the people yet bear strong marks 

 of the original peculiarities of each, yet are 

 their manners sufficiently assimilated to ensure 

 a mutual kindly intercourse of good offices, and 

 reciprocity of interests., which increase the hap- 

 piness and prosperity of both. 



