The firft and the lighteft fpecies of This fpecies of thirlage exifts in most thir lage is called thirlage of grindable of the boroughs in Scotland; and the grain; and it means, that the tenants mill generally belongs to the incorporaand poffeffors of the aftricted lands, (in tion, where the borough holds directly our law, the fervient tenement) fhall be of the Crown, or what we call royal obliged to refort to the mill (the domi- boroughs. But where a borough holds nant tenement,) to which thefe lands of a fubject fuperior, (the lord of the have been aftricted, with all the oats manor,) the mill generally belongs to and barley they fhall ufe for food, the fuperior, and the accustomed duties and there pay certain dues for the grind. are paid to him, or to his tenant in the ing. mill. The 2d, and the oppreffive thirlage, is called the thirlage of growing corn. By this covenant of thirlage, every ounce of corn produced upon the fervi. ent lands, let the quantity be ever fo great, must be brought to the dominant mill, and there manufactured into meal; and the covenanted or accustomed du ties paid. The only limitation that this fevere thirlage admits of, is in favour of feed and of horfe corn. Sometimes afpe cial covenant is made, by which the poffeffors of the fervient lands, pay what is called dry multure; that is, they pay a quantity of corn, to purchafe the freedom of going to market with the remainder in the fame ftate; and where conftant immemorial ufage fhall have fanctioned this cuftom, the courts of law generally fo far mitigated the feverity of this fpecies of thirlage, as to find, that the proprietor of the dominant mill can demand no more than that quantity of dry multure, which the immemorial ufage has established. Thefe decifions are grounded upon the principles of a prefumed contract, of which the record or memory has been loft betwixt thefe parties, whereby the one agreed to pay, and the other to receive, the commutation fixed by the ufage. It is to be observed, that in all thefe thirlages, it is the land of the fervient tenement that is bound; and although it fhould pafs through 20 different hands, every purchafer, and all his people upon thefe lands, are equally bound to frequent the dominant mill. There are three different fpecies of duties paid at the dominant mill, viz. 1, The multure, (muitura, grinding;) 2dly, The bannock (the loaf) and, 3dly, The knaveship. The ft of thefe duties belongs to the heritor and proprietor of the mill; and feems evidently to have been the fine or premium originally fettled, as the inducement for his being at the expence of erecting the mill; and for fupporting the machinery of it in future. The bannock is the duty paid to the miller, and the knavefbip is the duty paid to the under fervants at the mill. The quantity of meal paid under the name of multure, varies confiderably in different counties, aud even at different mills. I have had an opportunity of knowing it as high as the eleventh boll, and fometimes as low as the 22d boll; and, in one particular cafe, fo low as the 32d. But it may be taken, upon an average, nearly at the 17th boll. The other duties are various; but they may be taken jointly as equal to the half, or from that to 3-4ths of the multure. The 3d and laft fpecies of thirlage, is called inveca et illata, and belongs properly to urban tenements; the meaning Independent altogether of thefe feveof it is, that corn, wherever produced, ral duties, the poffeffors of the fervient if brought for confumption within the tenement are bound to perform certain boundaries of the dominant mill, muft fervices to the mill and its appendages. be carried into this mill and manufactu- For example, when the dam dyke, or red there, and pay the accustomed du- the rampart that directs the ftrem of ties. water from the river to the mill, wants Q2 repair from the mill require to be fecured, the people of the fervient tenement muft turn out and perform thefe works. When the roof of the house in which the mill ftands decays, they must find thatch for making that repair; and they muft put it on. When grind-ftones are wanted, or an axle, or any other part of the machinery that requires a heavy carriage, they must go with their horfes and carriages to the nearest place (whatever may be the distance) to bring thefe articles to the mill. repair, or when the aqueducts to and known in this county; or at least, if it was, it has been long fince forgot; there is another circumftance peculiarly fortunate, which has put it in the power of most of the landed proprietors of the county, without difficulty, to emancipate their tenants from the thirlage even of grindable grain, viz. That the landlord, almoft univerfally, is proprietor both of the dominant and of the fervient tenement; and as he has aftricted his i tenants to his own mill, by a covenant in the leafe, progreffively as the leafes of them ills have expired, the landlords, in general, have emancipated their tenants from every species of thirlage, at a converfion of twenty fhillings per plough, which is paid by the tenant; and he and his fervants are left at perfect freedom to refort to any mill where they can get their work beft done, and at the lowest rate. The thirlage of growing corns is unqueftionably a heavy grievance, as it muft operate in one of two ways, either of which feem impolitic, and, with fubmiffion, unjuft. If it fhall operate as a bar to the improvement of agriculture,-and the extent of the tax paid to the dominant mill may produce this effect,-it is evidently impolitic. If, on the other hand, the lands of the fervient tenement fhall be improved and cultivated, it seems unjuft, that the proprietor of the dominant tenement fhould have a power to impose so heavy a tax upon the induftry of the cultivators of the fervient tenement, especially as he gives no equivalent for this tax. This fpecies of thirlage never was The cafe, however, is widely different in many parts of the north of Scotland; and I know, from the cause already mentioned, that there are many eftates, or fervient tenements, belonging to one proprietor, which are aftricted to mills, or the dominant tenements, belonging to another proprietor; and not a few of thefe thirlages are the fevere one of growing corns. View of Agriculture of Eaft Lothian. TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44. length The fides are pretty steep, tho' all built upon: the Caffle terminates the upper extremity, which is a bold abrupt rock; and the palace of Holyroodhoufe the lower extremity, being nearly a mile diftant. Of late the city has extended itself on both fides. To the north, the New Town covers an elevated plain, the ground having a gentle declivity on both fides, and makes a very elegant and noble appearance. To the fouth, the buildings are more irregular, and, in general, much inferior in elegance. The Caftle, fituated on a vast rock, rugged and precipitous, was in ancient times confidered as impregnable. At prefent it is a convenient station for foot fol- is the best collection of books and MSS in this part of the kingdom*. diers; is of advantage for the reception of prisoners; and, as its works are always kept in good repair, may prove ufeful as a place of retreat and fecurity in cafes of internal commotion. The armory, and the apartment in which the unfortunate Mary brought forth James VI. in 1566, are the only places which are pointed out to the notice of vifitors. The profpect from the walls never fails to strike the eye of all ftrangers. The half moon battery is 510 feet above the level of the fea; and the piazza of Holyroodhouse is about 135 feet above that level. In defcending from the Caftle-hill, the High Street, being near a mile long, and in general between 80 and 90 feet broad, always attracts notice. At the opening of the street, about a quarter of a mile below the Caille, ftands the fine Gothic Atructure of St Giles. It is thought to have been originally founded in 854. Under its roof are four churches. Above there is a lofty fquare tower, from which arise several flender and elegant arches, terminating in a point, and fupporting a very handfome fpire. The whole is adorned with fmall turrets, exhibiting the resemblanes of an Imperial crown, furrounded with its circlet. In this steeple there is a fet of musical bells, which are played every lawful day from one to two o'clock. The height of the fpire is 155 feet, and the street is 297 feet above the level of the fea. This noble pile forms one fide of the Parliament clofe; oppofite to it ftands the house where the Scottish parliament ufually met. It was built anno 1640, and cost 11,600l. Sterling. It confifts of a very large and grand hall, 122 feet long, and 40 broad, called the Outer houfe, where the Lords Ordinary fit, and the Inner-houfe, where the whole Lords fit in judgement. The floor above is occupied by the Court of Exchequer. Below the level of the pavement, the apartments are employed by the Faculty of Advocates as a library, which In the middle of the Parliament-clofe there is a beautiful equestrian statue of Charles the II. made of cast metal. On the north fide of th High Street is the Royal Exchange. It was founded in 1753, by the patriotic George Drummond, Efq; it is a very elegant building, in the form of a fquare, and coft, including the price of the area, 31,457 1. Sterling. In going down the High Street, the next public building which attracts notice, is the Tron Church. It was founded in 1637, but was lately confiderably modernized. Still defcending, the next building that attracts notice is the Canongate Church, standing about the middle of the street which goes by that name; but there is nothing remarkable about it. At the extremity of the street stands the royal palace of Holyroodhouse. It is a very neat and handsome building, in the form of a square. The north-west towers were built for a royal refidence by James V. The other parts of the building were erected during the reign of Charles II. The inner court is furrounded with piazzas. Over the principal entrance, which fronts the weft, there is a handfome cupola, the roof of which exhibits an imperial crown in ftone. The north front comprehends a fpacious gallery, where hang the pictures of the Scottish monarchs from Fergus I. to James VI. Thefe are imaginary portraits, and are executed in a very inferior ftyle. The different apartments of the palace are occupied by different noblemen. The principal apartment has been lately fitted up for the refidence of the commander in chief for Scotland. At prefent accommodations are making, in fome of the apartments, for the Count D'Artois, his fon, and fuite. The Abbey, adjoining to the palace, exhibits a very grand ruin. It was founded by David I. in 1128. We fhall now take a very curfory view of the other public buildings of this city. * See an account of it in vol 56, p. 193. The The streets of the New The one which ftands firft, both in point Edinburgh. Town aftonish and delight every behold- but one capital arch; but the elegance of the fhops and houfes upon it, ftrike all ftrangers with furprize and delight. The price of the areas on which thefe are built, is always mentioned with aftonishment; fome fold at the rate of 109,ocol. per acre, others at 96,oco I. per acre;-prices higher than any to be found either in ancient or modern times. Watfon's Hofpital, a neat modern building, was founded in 1733 by George Watfon, merchant in Edinburgh. It is also a very confiderable and well managed inftitution. Its revenue is nearly zocol. per annum. The is not remarkable as a bridge, having Royal Infirmary, incorporated by charter in 1756, is a very neat edifice, and has proved a molt beneficial inftitution: Above 2000 patients are annually admitted into it, of whom only one in 24, upon an average, dies. While the Infirmary is mentioned, the name of the patriotic projector Mr George Drummond must always be heard. There are feveral other cha- The Earthen Mound, which forms ritable inftitutions, as a Trades Hofpi- alfo a communication between the Old tal and a Merchant Hofpital for girls. and New Town, deferves notice. It Three Charity Workhoufes, an alms- is 8co feet acrofs, and is compofed house called Trinity Hofpital, and the of the earth and rubbish dug from Orphan Hofpital. This laft is the on- the foundations of the new buildly one that attracts notice as a building. ings. It was completed of a moderate It confifts of a centre and two wings, width and height in the space of three and makes a handfome appearance, tho' years, without any expence to the town, its fituation is rather low. It was found- and proves a very ufeful paffage. This ed by Mr Andrew Garden 1734, and extraordinary work is getting daily adhas, from the late management of thofe ditions; but, from its baving funk at in the direction, proved a very useful in- different times, the quantity of earth flitution. We conceive it to be unne- put upon it is aftonishing. From a comceffary to defcribe the churches and putation made in 1792, allowing three other old buildings; a fhort enume- cart loads to each cubical yard of earth, ration of the moft remarkable modern there must have then been 1,305,75 @ ones fhall close this account of the build- cart loads thrown upon it. ings of the metropolis. We may with juftice obferve in general, that no city in the world can exhibit more regularity, beauty, and magnificence, than the new buildings about At the extremity of the North Bridge ftands the Regifter Office, a moft fuperb and elegant structure, after a plan by the late Mr Robert Adam. It was built to preferve the records of the law de part partments, as well as the titles of individuals to their property, from the accident of fire or other destructive caufe, and it is well fitted for the purpofe. The estimate of the whole when finifhed is 36,000. In the center of the dome, an elegant statue of his Majefty King George III. executed by the ingenious Mrs Damer, was lately erected. St Andrew's Church, in George Street, is a very handsome building, the spire is elegant, but too flender for its height. Though Edinburgh cannot boast of many public places of entertainment, yet fuch as we have are neat and commodious. The Theatre, the Concert Room, the Equestrian Circus, lately erected, and the Affembly Rooms, are all worthy of the metropolis of Scotland, though none of them poffefs much exterior beauty. The Theatre, previous to the 1768, was private property; at that period it was pulled down during a riot. Upon this a royal licence was applied for, and the prefent houfe was built by fubfcription. It ceft about 50col. including wardrobe and scenery. The fhares are icol. each. The theatre when filled, draws 1401. Sterling. very The Concert; this is a fmall but elegant oval room, built by private fubfcription, after a plan of Sir Robert Milne, in 1762. It will contain about 500 perfons. The new Affembly Rooms, built by fubfcription, according to a defign of the late Mr Henderfon of this place, are very commodious and clegant. The large room is 92 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 36 feet in height. They were founded in the year 1776, and have cost upwards of 10,000l. but are not, as yet, completely finished. The Equeftrian Circus, was alfo built by fubfcription, divided in fhares of 20 1. cach. It is a commodious and handfcme houfe. The University of Edinburgh has, for a confiderable number of years, been in very high repute all over the world. As a medical fchool it has flood unrivalled. In theology, the belles lettres, and other branches of ufeful and polite literature, its fame is widely extended. It comprehends the following branches of ftudy: We have annexed the falaries, which are by far too fmall. Faculty of Theology.-Principal of the University, and primary profe flor of divinity, L. 111: 2: 03.-Profeffor of divinity, L. 161:2 : 04.—Prefeffor of divinity and church-hiftory, L. 100.Profeffor of Oriental languages, librarian and fecretary to the University L. 119:12:8. Faculty of Lacu.-Regius Profeffor of the law of nature and nations, upwards of L. 200.-Profeffor of civil law, L. 100.- -Profeffor of Scots law, L. 100.-Profeffor of civil hiftory, and Greek and Roman antiquities, L. 100. Faculty of Medicine-Profeffor of Anatomy and Chirurgery, L. 5o.-Profeffor of the Practice of medicine.-Regius Profeffor of botany, L. 77 : 15:64. Profeffor of Materia medica.-Profeffor of themiftry.-Profeffor of the Theory of medicine, and dean of the faculty of medicine.-Prof.fior of midwifery.-Prefefior of natural history, L. 70. Faculty of Arts.-Profeffor of moral philofophy, L. 102: 4:55.- Regius Profeffor of rhetoric and belles lettres, L. 70.-Profeffor of Greek, L. 52, 45-Profeffor of Humanity L. 52, 10.-Profeffor of natural philofophy, L. 52:4:53.--Profeffor of mathematicks and aftronomy, L. 113:6:8Profeffor of Logick, and dean of the faculty of arts, L. 52: 4:53.—Profeffor of agriculture, L. 50. The old College being very unfit to accomodate the ftudents, and having alfo become ruinous, the foundation of a very magnificent pile was laid in November 1789. As no public funds belonged to the Univerfity, the build among thofe gentlemen who have no falaries *The falary of King's phyfician is divided as proteffers. |