456 ME MILNE ON THE DRYING UP OF THE 



3. That, at New Lanark, the average width of the current is from thirty to 

 forty yards, and its average depth from one and a half to two feet. 



4. That, during the night of the 26th, there was a severe frost, accompanied 

 by a stiff gale from the east, from which quarter the wind had blown for some 

 days previously. 



5. That, on the morning of the 27th November, at daybreak, there were ac- 

 cumulations of ice in the river, and especially on the bands of rock crossing its 

 channel. 



6. That the river was, on the 26th November, rather above its average level, 

 and on the 28th it was flooded and muddy, though no rain had fallen in the in- 

 terval. 



7. That similar phenomena occurred in the tributaries of the Clyde, and that 

 some of the minor springs were dried up, whilst the larger springs had their sup- 

 ply diminished. 



8. That there was no appearance of any fissures near the channel of the 

 river. 



9. That the Clyde, in the upper part of its course, flows in a NE. direction. 



10. That, besides this recent stoppage, four others had occurred in the Clyde 

 between 1813 and 1837-8, all of which were in winter, and duriag the prevalence 

 of severe frost. 



I may add to these instances of stoppage, the one previously mentioned, 

 which occurred in January 1787, on the day on which the shock of an earthquake 

 was felt to the north and east of Glasgow. 



(3.) The only other river the desiccation of which attracted particular atten- 

 tion is the NiTH. 



The general nature of the phenomenon, as observed in this river, may be 

 judged of from the follow^ing extract from a letter, wTitten to me by Mr Threshie 

 of Dumfries : — 



" I learn indirectly from Mr Smith of Dalfibble, a most respectable man, 

 that, on that day (the 27th November), he crossed the river a little below Drum- 

 lanrig, in the forenoon, and found the river so void of water, that, with a stout 

 pair of shoes, he could have crossed without wetting his feet ; and recrossing in 

 the afternoon of the same day, the river took his horse nearly to the belly, at the 

 same place, and there had been no rain, or appearance of rain, and the circum- 

 stance struck him much. Farther, about four miles farther down the river, two 

 persons crossed on foot, to their surprise, at the ordinary ferry ; and found in the 

 afternoon the boat, as usual, necessary. Much higher up, or below these two 

 points, no particular change seems to have been remarked." 



The most distinct and detailed account I have received in regard to this river 

 is from James Shaw, head-gamekeeper to the Duke of Buccleuch at Drumlanrig. 



