one (culled from the nearest wood, at the tenants pleasure,) fet up in the form of a roof to dry, for a future ftore of fuel. was pulled to pieces for fuel, and a new rarely tasted by the lower order of tenantry. Oatmeal is the great fupport and strength of the Highlanders, and is, probably, the most fubftantial of vegetable foods. In fupporting fevere At prefent the building materials is bodily exercise, it is found to be much ftone, but no cement as yet is in ufe, fuperior to wheat flour, which, at preexcept in particular cafes. The houses fent, makes no part of the Highlander's and office buildings of ordinary farmers food. "Beer,”-big-or four-rowed are of dry ftone, the dwelling-houfe barley, nevertheless, enters largely inbeing stopt on the infide with loam, to to bread; peas too are eaten in a fiprevent the wind from blowing through milar fhape, namely, thin flaccid cakes, the walls, which are feldom more than called bannocks, the ordinary bread five or fix feet high; perhaps without even of the gentry or lairds. Of late, glafs in the windows, and with door- potatoes have become a principal food ways fo low, that even a middle-sized of the common people, efpecially in man must stoop, not into the house only winter; and are confidered as the greatbut into the barn. The roof is fet on eft bleffing that modern times have bewith "couples," or large principal flowed on the country, in having, it is rafters, fixt in the walls two or three probable, more than once, faved it feet above the foundation, generally up- from the miseries of famine. on large ftones fet to receive their feet. Upon these couples, lines of" pantrees," or pur lines, are fixed for refting on, these rough boughs, (ftript however of the leaves and fmaller twigs,) are laid rafter-ways, and termed " cabbers," upon these, "divot," or thin turf, is laid on in the manner of flates; and upon this fod covering, a coat of thatch, composed of straw, rushes, heather or fern; the last being drawn up by the roots, or cut clofe to the ground, in the month of October, and laid on with the root ends outward, making a durable thatch. The gables and the ridge are loaded with "feal," thick fods taken from the deepest and best foil, no matter where; another vile practice. Food.-A vegetable diet, with milk and its productions, prevails throughout the Highlands. Animal food is Before the introduction of this root, inestimable in a country over-stocked with inhabitants, famines were frequent in the Highlands; the inhabitants having had fometimes recourfe to the blood of cattle, drawn for the purpose of prolonging a wretched existence until the return of harvest. Even fince that happy æra, a year of fcarcity is the caufe of much distress; for still the central Highlands do not produce fufficient fupply of vegetable food for their inha bitants. Meal is, every year, I believe, brought into it, and fome years in confiderable quantities; and this, notwithstanding, the country, if fully reclaimed and properly cultivated, would, I am of opinion, produce more than e nough for the present or a greater num ber of inhabitants. (To be continued.) TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 246. CORSTORPHINE parish commences a- is, on the whole, remarkably level, bout two miles weft from Edinburgh; its there being no eminences but those of greatest length is about 4, and great Corstorphine hills, already mentioned, eft breadth 24 miles. * The furface the fummit of which is 470 feet, above the level of the fea. The fouth end of The number of inhabitants are at prefen 1037, and 250 families, making 4 to tach family. thefe hills is beautifully decorated with the villas of Belmount, Beechwood, and Z z z others fo early as the year 1758, a new and improved mode of culture.-Returning eastward, we meet with the parishes of others. Almost the whole of the pa. gave birth to the celebrated Dr Culrifh is arable; the foil is a rich loam, len. He was proprietor of the estate diverfified with clay and fand. There of Ormiftonhill, where he introduced, are no manufactories in this parish. The only mineral hitherto difcovered, is the fand-stone of the hill. There used to be a well frequented mineral fpring near the village; but for fome time it has difappeared. The real rent of the parish is about 50col. Sterling. The average rent, per acre, is 2l. A little to the fouth of the church, there ftands a beautiful fycamore tree, the largest in Scotland. To the weft lies the parish of CURRIE and COLLINGTON, extending along the foot of the Pentland hills. The climate here is on the whole damp. The house of Ravelrig is nearly 800 feet above the level of the fea. In general, the foil towards the weft is a tough clay; about Collington it is richer. The banks of the Water of Leith, as it runs RATHO, 4 miles long, and 3 broad. by Collington and Slateford, are beauOn the east it is flat and fertile, but rifes tifully decorated with wood. The gradually towards the west. The foil in church of Collington is one of the most the low grounds is a good mixture of romantic fituations that can be conloam and fand, in many places there is ceived. Of about 9000 acres, which alfo a mixture of clay. Dalmahoy, the parish of Currie contains, two-thirds the principal refidence of the Earl of are arable; the rest confifts of hill and Morton; and Hatton, formerly belong- mofs. The Water of Leith takes its ing to the family of Lauderdale, now to rife in this parish. Though the whole the Marchioness of Titchfield, both course of this river be only about 14 beautiful and elegant feats, lie in this miles, yet in this fhort fpace it drives parish, which, with the plantations of above 80. mills; the rent of fome of Addifton, give a rich and pleasant afpect which is at the rate of zol. Sterling per to the country here. The hills of Dal- foot of water-fall. There are two well mahoy and Kaims, abound with free- conftructed and extenfive paper mills ftone; the rocks compofing the rifing near Currie . grounds to the north, are chiefly whin- On the estate of Maleny, stands an old tone. About a quarter of a mile weft caftle called Lennox Tower, the anfrom the church, there is a fine quarry tient refidence of the family of Lenof home-fone, at prefent wrought out for There are fome veftiges of Rono other purpose, but to lay on the high man stations in the parish, particularly roads. Adjoining, to the fouth weft is on the eftate of Ravelrig. Sir John KIRKNEWTON. This parish is of Skene of Curriehill, Lord Register, in confiderable extent, being fix miles long the reign of James the fixth; Lord and four broad. The rivers Amond Prefident Skene, his fon, Lord Adand Water of Leith run through it: vocate; Sir Thomas Craig of RicarThe great Glasgow road alfo paffes ton, the famous feudalift, were all forthrough it. There is good limeftone merly proprietors in this parish. wrought here; but no coal. The Freeftone, ironftone, and limeftone, ground is of various qualities, and lets from 10s. 6d to al. per acret. There being no manufactories, population is on the decrease. This parith * The medium rent, is from 22s. to 258. per acre, the whole amounting to about 500cl. Sterling. The number of inhabitants is about 225. There are 175 families, making 812 fouls, in ti is parish. nox. are found in this parish. Specimens of copper ore, and it is faid of filver too, have been found. An attempt some years ago was made, to find a copper mine on the eftate of Maleny, but without fuccefs. The number of inhabitants in the parisla of Currie, is about 1300, and the rent up. wards of 5000l. Sterling. The The late Sir James Foulis, refpect- ground here. The average rent for tilable as a patriot and antiquarian, had lage is 2 guineas per acre. The country his refidence at Collington. here abounds with coal; no lefs than 13 feams have been wrought upon the eftate of Dudingston. Å bed of fine A clay was fome time ago difcovered at Brickfield, where a manufactory of stoneware, fimilar to that of Staffordshire, is at prefent carried on; befides the fabrication of bricks, tiles, and coarfer pottery. Dudingfton loch affords excellent marle; and the variety of plants in it give fcope to the fearches of the botanift. Adjoining to Dudingston lies the parish of LIBERTON. Below the east end of the Pentland hill lies the parish of Liberton, being about two miles diftant from the capital. There are three villages in the parish which all have the name of Liberton, and one called Gilmerton, which is by far the largeft. This parifh is large and populous; it contains about 4140 acres of arable land; the number of inhabitants is 3457. In this parifh there are extenfive coal and lime works, which is the caufe of the great population. At Gilmerton there are NEWTON, containing about 2,135 above 20 feams of coal, from 2 to 10 inhabitants. The furface of the counfeet in thickness. Befides other lime try here is flat, but the foil, in geworks, thofe at Gilmerton alone yield neral is indifferent, though there are 70,000 bolls annually. Numbers of feveral rich fpots. This diftrict alfo apeople are employed in driving coal and bounds in coal,there being no fewer than lime to the capital; and a proportion of 19 different feams running through the the women employ themselves in wash- parish, of various thickneffes. Six of ing cloaths for families in Edinburgh. these lie in a horizontal position, and, The ground in this parifh is gene- therefore, are termed flat feams; they rally good; but it is alfo much enrich are from 4 to 24 feet thick. The other ed with manure from the city. The 13 ftand at an angle of about 90 degrees, greater part of it stands pretty high, and are called edge feams; these are and is very healthy. The old tower from 10 to 2 feet in thickness. The is 590 feet above the level of the fea, flat feams are of the best quality. Coal and commands a noble profpect. The has been wrought here for upwards of principal feats are thofe of Lord Somer- 200 years. The face of the country ville and Mr Wauchope of Niddry, two from the Dalkeith road to the fea is of the oldest families in the county. rather naked here. On the east it is joinThe real rent of this parifh is upwards ed by of 10,000l. Sterling. Still nearer the capital, eastward, lies INVERESK. This handfome village has been called the Montpellier of ScotDUDINGSTON, a parish about 4 miles land. The parifh is of a femicircular in length, and less than 2 in breadth, form, lying around Muffelburgh bay, containing about 900 inhabitants. The and its greatest length and breadth is church is a very romantic fituation un- about 2 miles *. The village and der the cope of Arthur's Seat, with church stand on a rifing ground, which the lake extended below; around are commands a most beautiful profpect. the beautiful inclofures of Preftonfield, This pleasant and healthy fituation, of and the pleasure grounds of Dudingfton. courfe, has induced a number of genThe foil here is not originally good; tleman to build handfome villas upon the but from the quantities of dung put on banks of the river Efk. The foil to the it from the streets of Edinburgh, it is very productive. It is believed that the proprietor of Preftonfield, about the end of last century, was the first who introduced this practice of meliorating *The rent of this parish is estimated to be L. 11,500, including villages, coal and fait works, &c. It contains 3571 acres of land, and there are about 5392 inhabitants. north, north, on the fea-coaft, is light and pretty strong clay. The rent of land is extremely high here, inclofures bringing from 31. to 51. per acre. Dalkeith is the greatest market for corn in Scotland, and there are fome manufactures here that are in a thriving way, particularly of leather, candles, foap, and hats. Adjoining to the town ftands Dalkeith Houfe, the principal feat of the Duke of Buccleugh, built the beginning of this prefent century*. It may be termed rather a good and fubftantial than an elegant houfe; but the park around, adorned with much fine wood, and beautified by the serpentine windings of the two rivers Efk, make it a very princely fummer refidence. The people in Edinburgh are in ufe to make frequent excurfions to Dalkeith and Roflin in the fummer, particularly during the rawberry feafon. There is coal here; but it is not much wrought, as it lies pretty deep. The finest trees in the county are to be feen in the parks of Dalkieth and Newbottle. A little upwards on the fame river stands fandy, and remarkably fit for producing early garden ftuffs. The fields to the fouth, on the banks of the river Efk, are a very rich loam and very fertile. The town of Muffelburgh lies at the bottom of the hill, the river Efk dividing it from Fisher-row. The bridge which unites them is very antient, and fuppofed of Roman ftructure. Over this bridge was the march of the Scottish army to the fatal battle of Pinkie, fought March 1547, on a field between the village of Inveresk and Walliford. Many circumftances concur to fhow, that a Roman colony must have been established here. Pinkie-houfe was one of the first feats of note built in Scotland, though it is not very antient; the date in front of the houfe is 1622: In it there is a gallery 80 feet long, the ceiling of which is covered with emblematical paintings and infcriptions. When in this quarter we must not omit mentioning the occupations of the women of the lower clafs. They are the carriers of greens, falt, fish, and fand to Edinburgh They trudge to the capital, loaded with about 200lbs. weight, early in the morning, and return again by mid-day, after felling their commodities. In this way they gain from 8d. to Is. 3d. a-day, except the carriers of fand, who only earn about 5d. The hufbands being fishermen or of other occupations, they make a very confiderable livelihood between them. This mode of life gives a very rough and more than mafculine turn to the manners of the women. In this diftrict there is heftone, plenty of coal, and very fine freeftone for building. Going up the Efk, we next find NEWBOTTLE. The church, and Abbey the family feat of the Marquis of Lothian, lie concealed in a valley, which is rich and romantic. The foil here is a rich loam, upon a ftratum of gravel. The South Esk runs through the parish, the banks of which are beautifully wooded. From this valley, the country rifes for about two miles to a fummit, the highest point of which is 680 feet above the level of the fea. The high ground on the S. W. is a stiff clay, and very unproductive. This parifh is not populous for its extent, being four miles long, and near three in breadth; at an average, the number of fouls is 1295. In NewDALKEITH, which is a fmall parish bottle Abbey, which is a good modern of about two miles fquare, but, owing houfe, there are feveral fine pictures; to the populoufnefs of the town, and in the library are various manucontaining 4366 inhabitants. Dalkeith fcripts, beautifully written on vellum, is pleafantly fituated on a narrow in the Saxon character, and highly ilftripe of land, between the North and South Efk. The low ground here is good in fome places, but inclising to fand; the higher grounds are of a luminated. The park furrounding the houfe is large, and contains a number of fine lofty trees. There is both lime *It is 200 feet above the level of the feat ftone ftone and coal in this parish.-The parish of Again: "Ewes and lambs on braes ran bleeting, Linties fang on ilka tree, Frae the wait the fun near fetting, Flam'd on Roflin's towers fae hie. Rollin's towers and braes fae bonny, LASWADE includes the eastern extremity of the Pentland hills, and ftretches along the North Efk; it is about 8 miles long, and of various breadths. In the lower grounds the foil is rich, but there is a great deal of heath and barren ground in the Various feams of coal and limeftone higher parts. Strawberries are cultivated with great fuccefs on the banks run through the whole of this parish. of the Efk, and prove a profitable crop, Sand-stone, and the other metals which yielding about 181. per acre; the whole accompany coal, are in abundance, but The coal parifh produces between 5000l. and no whinflone or granite. 6000l. Sterling yearly. There are 5 produces, at an average, between 6000l. paper, befides other mills, in the parish, and 7000l. Sterling per annum, great and two extenfive bleachfields, which part of which goes to fupply Edinburgh. employ a great number of hands, fo One of the pits in the parish accidentalthat the population is upwards of 3000 perfons. The banks of the North Efk which runs for feveral miles in this parish, are bold and picturefque in a high degree. Peculiar advantage is taken of this for the fite of Melvil Caftle, the elegant refidence of the Rt Hon. Henry Dundas. gen many Befides a conftant fucceffion of tlemen's feats, there are here beautiful romantic and noted fpots. The caves of Hawthornden, the refidence of Drummond the Poet and Hif torian, are worthy of notice: They are faid to have afforded shelter for the Scots in turbulent times. About half a mile above stand the well known ruins of Roflin. Though there be little of the old Castle ftanding to recal the remembrance of the pleafing melody of the tune, yet the Chapel is one of the most entire pieces of Gothic architecture now remaining in Scotland: it was built in 1440.-The scenery here is juflly, and not unpoetically, defcribed in "The Waes of War." "Clear below Efk's waters rumble, Deep glens murmuring back the found. Melvill's towers, fae white and ftately, Dim by gloamin glint to view, Through Laffwade's dark woods keek fweetly; Skies fae red, and lift fae blue." ly took fire about 20 years ago, and is exclude the In the GLENCROSS, feven miles weft from Edinburgh. It stretches at its longest and broadest about three miles, and contains 385 inhabitants. The greatest part lies along the Pentland hills, and is pafture ground, though fome crops of oats and grafs are raifed. lower grounds, which form part of an extenfive valley, are fandstone, limeftone, and coal*; thefe feem to be con tinuations of the fame ftrata which are wrought in the places nearer the sea, already described, and which stretch through the whole of this extensive tract from Muffelburgh to the Carlops, on the confines of Tweedale, about fifteen * Coal being always found in what have been termed fecondary ftrata, the feams, though numerous, either terminate at the foot of the Pentland hills, or dip under them fo deep, that they have not been traced to the northweft of the hills. As the Pentland are chiefly of whin and primitive ftrata, it is probable that the coal, lime, and other fecondary frata which compofe this great plain, terminate here on the north. |