RIVERS TEVIOT, NITH, AND CLYDE. 451 



is one of these fissures (near Musselburgh) which exceeds fifty feet in width ; and 

 throughout the Lothian coal-field, there are many hundreds of them exceeding 

 six feet in width. Now the partial elevation of the earth's crust by subterranean 

 action, in whatever way it takes place, must widen these natural fissures, so as 

 to permit water to escape by them. A Fellow of this Society mentioned to me, 

 that, in 1834, near Liverpool, when the shock was felt there of the earthquake 

 which transmitted its vibrations through the south-eastern and midland counties 

 of England, the slines or cutters (as these fissures are called by quarrymen) were 

 observed to open, in a stone-quarry near Liverpool, and after a short interval to 

 close again. 



Such were the most plausible of the theories adopted to explain the re- 

 markable desiccation of the Teviot, Clyde, and Nith, on the 27th November. But 

 I should term them conjectures rather than theories ; for they were formed with- 

 out any previous ascertainment of even material facts, and therefore could not be 

 relied on, to the least extent, as affording a true explanation of the phenomenon. 

 I therefore deemed it to be my first business, to obtain from different persons who 

 had themselves witnessed the circumstances, or could easily ascertain them on 

 the spot, a full and accurate statement of what had occurred. 



(1.) I shall not quote at length the reports themselves, but shall give merely 

 a summary of the material facts and circumstances contained in them.* I may 

 only here mention the names of the gentlemen on whose information I have re- 

 lied ; and I do so from a conviction, that I shall thus afford a proof to all who 

 know these gentlemen, of the truth and accuracy of their communications. 



The state and appearance of the Teviot were described in letters from 



Andrew Jerdan, Esq. oi Bonjedwm^d, in a letter, dated 31st December 1838, 

 addressed to Professor Forbes. 



Dr Douglas Junior oi Kelso, in a letter addressed to me, dated 21st January 

 1839. 



Dr Wilson of Kelso, in two letters to me, dated 21st January 1838, and 15th 

 March 1839. 



Rev. Mr Aitken of Minto, in two letters to me, dated 27th January and 7th 

 February 1839. 



The temperature of the district during the 26th and 27th November, and the 

 state of the wind and weather generally during these two days, was obtained 

 from meteorological registers kept by the 



Rev. Mr Wallace of Ahhey St Bathans, near Dunse. 



Mr Jerdan of Bonjedward, near Jedburgh, 



Mr Dudgeon of Spylaw, near Kelso. 



* The reports themselves were read to the Society, and are in the possession of the author, who 

 Avill give access to them, to any one who may desire to examine them. 



