JEDBURGH.

JEDBURGH is a very ancient town, and was sometimes called Jedworth, Jedwood, or Jeddart, and it was in ancient times usually written, Gedworde. It is beautifully situated among fine woods in the romantic valley of the Jed, a river abounding with many kinds of fish. The name of this stream is styled in old writings the Ged or Gad, supposed to be taken from the old British or Saxon nation, called the Gadeni, which in early times inhabited this quarter of the country and Northumberland, which adjoins it. The phrase "Jeddart justice,” is familiar in Scotland, as denoting the Lynch law of border wars, when criminals and prisoners were usually at once executed without any forms of trial and sentence.

In the border wars between the English and the Scots, it was frequently burned and

destroyed, and its inhabitants were noted for their bravery and warlike temper. David I., in the twelfth century founded one of his monasteries and abbeys here, which made it a place of considerable resort. It has also a castle, but by whom built is not known, and it was frequently the place of royal residence. Alexander III., the celebrated Scottish monarch who was prematurely killed while hunting on the coast of Fife, near Burntisland, was married here, and made it the scene of his royal festivities. Lord Surrey, in the days of the great Henry VIII., during an incursion into Scotland with the English, burned the town. At this time, it is described as a more populous town than Berwick. Their favourite weapon then was the "Jedwood axe," and their usual battle

cry was, "Jedworths here." Being close on the borders, it must have been in those times, the common ground of contention in all the old border wars and forays, when the "blue bonnets marched for the border."

It is now the county town of Roxburgh, a royal burgh, having the sheriff's court held in it, the seat of a Presbytery of the established church, and forms a parish of

its own. It has four streets, crossing each other at right angles, and terminating in a square or market-place. It has been recently much improved, and the streets are wide and clean, having many fine shops filled with the necessaries and luxuries of life.

Jedburgh is celebrated for fine bread, which it exports to England, and also for the manufacture of blankets, tartans, shepherds plaids, and shawls, as well as for excellent fruit. It has two markets weekly, on Tuesday and on Saturday, at which considerable quantities of grain is usually sold. It has two Banks-branches of the British Linen Company, and the National Banking Company. Besides the Parish Church, it has many Dissenting Meeting-houses of different denominations. It has also a large Grammar School, a Dispensary, a Savings' Bank, and several subscription Libraries.

Its Magistrates are a Provost, Dean of Guild, four Bailies, and eighteen Councillors. The revenue of the burgh is at present £.573, being chiefly derived from the rent of Mills.

It returns a member of Parliament conjointly with the burghs of Lauder, Haddington, Dunbar, and North Berwick. The population of the burgh was at the census 1821, 2,500, at that of 1831, it was 3,709. Its distance is forty-six miles south of Edinburgh, ten west of Kelso, and twelve from the borders.

The situation of Jedburgh is extremely fine. It stands in the vale of the Jed, about two miles from its junction with the Teviot. The Jed is about twelve miles long, and has its rise at Carlin Tooth, a mountain which divides Roxburgh from Northumberland. It then runs to Jedburgh through a beautifully cultivated and wooded tract of country.

The castle of Jedburgh was destroyed in 1409 A.D., to prevent the English again from possessing it. It was the great place of rendezvous for the borderers in their Raids and Forays into England. Hence the inspiring song of Sir Walter Scott, the "blue bonnets," which may be considered as one of his happiest efforts to represent the spirit and marked enthusiasm of his Border ancestors.

JEDBURGH ABBEY.

THIS fine old ruin, which was once the abbey of Jedburgh or Jedworth, is situated on the west side of the river. It was also founded by the pious king David, a true son of the Romish Church, for Canons regular brought from the abbey St. Quintins of Beauvais, in France.

This abbey had two cells or subordinate convents, the one at Restennet, a mile to the north of Forfar, and the other at Canonsby, Roxburghshire.

Fordun, the Scottish Chronicler mentions the names of many of the celebrated abbots of Jedburgh, and their deeds of piety.

The revenues of this monastery are stated to be £.1,275 10s. sterling, along with two chaldrons, two bolls of wheat, twenty-three chaldrons of bear, and thirty six chaldrons, thirteen bolls one firlot, one peck of meal.