SPEY, a river of Scotland, rising from a lake of the
same name in Badenoch, and, after a serpentine course
of 76 miles, passes by Rothes castle, and falls into the
German sea at Garioch near Elgin. Mr Pennant tells
us, that the Spey is a dangerous neighbour to Castle
Gordon, overflowing frequently in a dreadful manner,
as appears by its ravages far beyond its banks. The
bed of the river is wide and full of gravel, and the chan-
nel very shifting. In 1746 the duke of Cumberland
passed this river at Belly church near Castle Gordon,
when the channel was so deep as to take an officer, from
whom Mr Pennant had the account, and who was six
feet four inches high, up to the breast. The banks are
here very high and steep; so that had not the rebels
been infatuated in such a manner as to neglect opposi-
tion, the passage must have been attended with con-
siderable loss. On this river there is a great salmon-
fishery; about 1700 barrels full are caught in the sea-
son, and the shore was formerly rented for about 1200l.
per annum: now it is probably doubled.