MINERAL WATERS : CLIMATE. 7 



stone cover in 1780. "The supply of water," says Dr. R. D. 

 Thomson, "is pretty copious. Its sp. gr. is 1 •00237, and in 

 summer the temperature is 48°. The solid contents are sulphate 

 of lime, common salt, and a minute portion of iron held in solu- 

 tion by carbonic acid*." We have two saline springs with some 

 local reputation. One issues from Hyde Hill in the town of 

 Berwickt ; and the other from a rock on the river-side in its 

 immediate vicinity. The iirst has the power of curing bleared 

 eyes ; the other, if we can trust its votaries, who are not nume- 

 rous, is good for every ill that flesh is heir to. It is called Con- 

 queror's J or the Lady's Well, and has been analysed by Dr. R. 

 D. Thomson, who states its composition to be as follows : — Spe- 

 cific gravity, 1'00915 : one pint contains, common salt 45'534 ; 

 muriate of lime 38'461 ; sulphate of lime 4'715 ; muriate of 

 magnesia 0-450 = 89'160: or again, 1000 grains of it contains of 

 common salt 6*746 ; muriate of lime 5"826 j sulphate of lime 

 0"716 ; muriate of magnesia 0"086 = making of sohd contents 

 in the thousand, 13"374. 



The climate of the district, "from its geographical position 

 and its proximity to the North Sea, is colder and more subject 

 to sudden variations of temperature than the more inland and 

 southern parts of the island. The harvest is in general three 

 weeks later than in the counties south of the Humber ; but the 

 weather, on the whole, is drier than in the western counties of 

 Scotland or the north-west of England, — a very great advantage 

 in an agricultural point of view. This is ascribed to the in- 

 fluence of two ranges of high land, the Cheviot Hills on the 

 south, and the Lammermoor Hills on the north, which are con- 

 nected by a range of lower hills on the west§." Winter comes 

 to us sullen and sad, and is apt to encroach on the spring, 

 blasting the infant foliage and blossom with its cold frosty 

 weather and its northern gales. Severe black frosts are, how- 

 ever, not of frequent occurrence nor of long continuance j — 

 change and moisture, and a cold felt more severely than the 

 thermometer would appear to justify, are our winter's predomi- 

 nant qualities. And our springs are also in general cold, un- 

 genial and uncertain || ; nor can we often complain of summer's 

 heat or drought. Autumn, more especially the latter part of it, is 

 our pleasantest season. Then we have frequently long tracts of 



* Stat. Ace. Berwicks. p. 52. t Fuller's Hist. Berwick, p. 476. 



X From a watch-maker of that surname, who was the first and most 

 zealous patron of its medicinal power. 

 § Penny Cyclopaedia, art. Berwickshire. 

 II Hence the popular rhyme inculcates a useful lesson : 



" Ne'er change a clout 

 Till May is out." 



