Description
BERWICKSHIRE is a county of an irregular square form, bounded on the north by the German Ocean; on the south by the river Tweed, which separates it from the bishopric of Durham and part of the county of Northumberland; on the north by Haddingtonshire; and on the west by Roxburghshire, and part of Edinburgh-shire. Its length and breadth are variously stated, one authority making the greatest length little more than 31 miles, and its greatest breadth about 22 miles; another stating it to be 35 miles in length, and the breadth 22 miles, but this latter breadth will include the Liberties of the Township of Berwick-upon-Tweed. According to a very accurate estimate given to the Emigration Committee in 1827 by Mr William Couling, civil-engineer and surveyor, the county contained an area of 446 1/2 square miles, or 285,600 acres, of which were then cultivated 160,000 acres, uncultivated 100,000, and unprofitable 25,600. The sea-coast is about 17 1/2 miles in length, from the boundaries of the township of Berwick, near Marshal Meadows, to its junction with East-Lothian at Dunglass Bridge. In 1834 it contained 31 parishes, and parts of two shires ; population in 1831, 34,048 ; parliamentary constituency in 1838, 1167. County town, Greenlaw, 38 miles southeast of Edinburgh. Lauder is the only royal burgh; Eyemouth the only shipping port in the county, excepting Berwick-upon-Tweed, which is a jurisdiction within itself.