New Posso. 439 



the natural expression of the place. Among the young trees in 

 these masses we observed some thriving plants of Pinus Laricio, 

 P. Cembra, and Irish yew ; but, on the whole, there is a great 

 want of different species both of trees and shrubs. We found, 

 however, a plant of Crataegus /anacetifolia Celsidna, the only 

 one which we saw in Scotland. These grounds are admirably 

 adapted for planting an arboretum, including a pinetum ; for the 

 soil is dry and sandy, and the declivity is such as to prevent all 

 risk from stagnant air, whether cold or moist. Large masses of 

 plantation, to connect the woods on the right side of the house 

 with those on the left, and to prevent the eye from measuring 

 the ground from the base of the hill to the summit; as complete 

 an arboretum as the climate will admit of; and a waterfall of 

 50 or 60 feet in height, to be seen from the windows of the 

 house, and to drive away melancholy by its noise, appear to us 

 the grand improvements which the place wants. 



The house has undergone a thorough renovation, and also 

 the mausoleum ; and these, the walks, and the plantations, show 

 a desire to do every thing substantially and in good taste. In 

 short, though we had not the pleasure of finding Sir John 

 Nasmyth at home, every thing that we saw convinced us that 

 his reputation for good taste as a professional landscape-gar- 

 dener is well merited. 



A very interesting description of New Posso, as it existed in 

 1715, will be found in our Arboretum, vol. i. p. 95. Whoever 

 recollects it will probably wish to know whether we saw the 

 greenhouse, which was at that time the glory of Tweeddale, and 

 over which was inscribed, in conspicuous characters, alluding to 

 the flowers within, " Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 

 like one of these." We did see it, andi found within, hung up 

 on the back wall, the old flower-stem of the first agave that 

 flowered in Scotland, in what year we do not recollect. The 

 greenhouse is placed, as was the custom formerly, in the kitchen- 

 garden; and near it are a fine specimen of J^cer monspessu- 

 lanum, and a venerable old robinia. 



The architectural alterations and improvements at New Posso 

 have been designed by Mr. Burns,, and executed, under his 

 direction, in a neat and most substantial manner. The terraced 

 gardens are at present without flowers, as the family has not 

 resided there for two or three years ; but, when they are pro- 

 perly planted, the place will appear much more cheerful and 

 habitable. 



We passed Stobbo Castle, and arrived at Peebles late in the 

 evening, but with sufficient light to obliterate the impressions 

 which the town and the scenery around had made on us in 1804-. 

 It was then a poor place, surrounded by a naked hilly country ; 

 but these hills are now covered with thriving plantations. 



f f 4 



