PEEBLES, the county-town, is not distinguished for any particular trade or manufacture. The majority of the operatives are hand-loom weavers, whose wages do not average more than from five to seven shillings per week; the remainder of their living being procured by fishing, harvest-work, &c. It is not known when Peebles was erected into a royal burgh; but in 1357 the burgh sent two members to parliament. The property of the burgh, consisting of lands, mills, &c. yields an annual revenue of L.1343. 11s. 2d., which is expended in salaries to teachers, in paving and lighting the streets, supplying the town with water, and other useful purposes. The whole matters of police are regulated by a provost, two bailies, a treasurer, dean of guild, and twelve councillors, chosen by the inhabi-
tants. Considerably more property was secured to the burghs and inhabitants by charter of James VI. dated the 10th of November 1621; but, as in most of the other burghs, this was dissipated by the members of the corporation. Peebles is divided into the old and the new town; and it is bounded on the south by the Tweed, and on the north by the Eddlestone Water. It is worthy of remark, that the Tweed runs almost from due west to east, whilst the Eddlestone Water, on the other side of the town, flows exactly in the contrary direction. The population returns for the burgh and parish were, in 1811, 2485; in 1821, 2701; and in 1831, 2750. The real value is estimated at L.9255. Peebles is distant twenty-two miles south of Edinburgh.