Annicersary Address. 231 



From the Museum the party proceeded to the Floors grounds 

 and palace, to which free access was given through the cour- 

 tesy of the Duke of Roxburgh. The party strolled through 

 the parks and enjoyed the beautiful scenery ; they entered 

 some of the apartments of the castle, and went through the 

 extensive conservatories. The changes in the level of the 

 Tweed formed a special subject of observation. The north 

 bank, on which the house stands, is formed of water worn 

 gravel, and is considerably above the present channel of the 

 river, and at some distance from it. Looking down from it 

 towards the river, two other terraces are traceable, and furnish 

 evidence confirming the views, some time ago expressed by 

 our president, that the river had at former periods flowed at 

 levels much higher than it does at present. 



Passing from the Floors to the river, a cursory glance was 

 given at the rocks which are there exposed; they belong to 

 the Tuedian or lowermost group of the carboniferous forma- 

 tion, and consist of the shales, impure limestones, and sand- 

 stones peculiar to the group, and contain Entomostraca and 

 fish remains, among which are scales of Holoptychius Hi- 

 hertii. Here the paity crossed the river and climbed the 

 steep hill on which stood Roxburgh Castle. Occupying the 

 angle formed by the junction of the Tweed and Teviot, it 

 was a place of great strength, and the masses of ruins yet 

 remaining attest the greatness and strength of this renowned 

 border fortress. Many scenes of richness and beauty courted 

 admiration in the course of our ramble, but none was fairer 

 and more pleasing than the view up the Teviot from Roxburgh 

 Castle hill. 



Leaving this spot, the party wended their way over the site 

 of Old Roxburgh, which in the time of David I. was one of 

 " the four great burghs," but is now entirely covered with 

 green sward. On the higher ground, among a group of trees, 

 some sculptured sepulchral stones, recently dug out of the 

 ruins of the Old Town, were examined. At a distant period 

 they had stood as memorials in one of the ancient chapels of 

 Roxburgh. Of these relics an account may be expected from 



