depth of two hundred toises. The mass of copper ore in the mine lies in the form of an inverted cone and as the labours of the people have nearly

the the observations of the directors, that they are apprehensive the treasure it produces will soon be exhausted. Five hundred men are the daily workers. Women are forbidden to enter it: no very mortifying prohibition! I suppose the law was meant rather as a kindness than restriction, arising from a fear of their more delicate frames being injured by so destructive an atmosphere. They are allowed free egress to the other mines, which have not these baneful vapours.

To shew you how Avernian are the șteams in this mine, I need mention one instance only. A few days before we arrived, a man fell into a large hole in one of the caverns. Not a moment was lost in taking him out; but yet the effects of the vitriolic water he had swallowed were so potent, that he died in less than an hour.

Near the bottom of the mine is a rocky saloon, in which are benches; it is called the Hall of the Senate, from its having been the resting-place of several Swedish kings, who, coming to examine the works, refreshed themselves there; and, as a memento of their visit, wrote their names, with their appropriate dates, on the roof. Here too, perhaps, the immortal Gustavus Vasa, when he sheltered in this mine, took his nocturnal repose.

This mine is said to produce the best copper in Europe; and is useful, not only on account of its internal wealth, but in providing subsistence for so many subjects as work in its bosom. The three great mines in the kingdom employ annually, in constant pay, about twenty-five thousand six hundred

persons.

October 1809.

Description of the Town and Harbour of EYEMOUTH.

(From KERR's General View of the Agriculture of the County of BERWICK.)

Eing village, is the only sea port EYEMOUTH, little better than a fish

within the county. Before 1776 this place possessed a considerable trade in grain and oatmeal, exported coastways, chiefly because the Guild, or Corporation of Berwick, till then refused the freedom of trade to those who were not burgesses, and would not even permit natives of Scotland to serve ap prenticeships for the freedom of their town. So long after the cause ceased, did the hostile prejudices continue to operate, which took place when Ber wick was the principal frontier garrison of England, during an almost incessant warfare of two hundred years, laying waste and depopulating the borders of both kingdoms, from which they have not yet completely recovered. At the above mentioned period, Berwick judiciously opened its trade to strangers, or non-freemen, upon moderate terms; and its shipping having greatly increased, the corn trade, from an extensive circuit, on both sides of the borders, now principally centers there. Before that period a considerable quantity of grain and oatmeal was carried through Berwick, from Northumberland and North Durham, to be shipped at Eyemouth, where one respectable corn merchant still carries on a considerable trade, the hereditary representative of one of the oldest commercial houses in the kingdom. *

Formerly, by various evasions of the revenue laws, a considerable contraband trade, in wine, foreign spirits, tea and tobacco, was carried on at Eyemouth. But this illicit traffic, by the amendment and better execution of the revenue laws, is now happily abolished. Even a petty smuggling trade, mostly in Hollands gin, and chiefly confined to fishers, and other low people, is now very much curtailed, or at least seems to have changed

its

its place of action to the English side of the borders. To such men, who have little or nothing to lose, the great profits of their petty illicit dealings hold out irresistible temptation to transgress the laws, and they are much encouraged to persevere, by regularly established agents of the Kentish and Flushing smugglers, who allow credit for the smuggled goods.

Until some uniform and effective system can be devised, for striking at the root of this evil, so injurious to the revenue, the fair trader, and the morals of the people, partial and local exertions of the revenue officers only compel the principal smugglers to shift the stations of their nefarious traffic.

The harbour of Eyemouth is the private property of a country gentleman, to whom some ancient small customary dues are payable from trade and shipping, but without any reciprocal obligation to improve the port, or to keep its necessary accommodations in repair, for which, indeed, these dues are utterly inadequate. It consequent ly long remained a mere open tide creek, at the influx of the Eye into a bay of some extent, and entirely exposed to the sea in several directions. In that state nothing but boats and barks, or sloops of the smallest size, could enter, and the mouth of the river was often blocked up by a bar or bank of gravel, driven in by gales from the sea, from the beach of the bay. In the old feu charters to the vassals of Eyemouth, the feuars are taken bound to assist in clearing away such obstructions from the mouth of the river, which often accumulated so as to prevent all access or exit during weeks or months, unless thus removed by labour, or by freshes or floods in the river.

It may be necessary to mention, that by feuars are meant hereditary proprietors of small portions of land, or of houses, holding under the great freeholder or lord of the manor; the particular nature of which tenure will be explained in Chap. II. Sect. II.

§ 2. of this report. It may be sufficient to say here, that these feuars are analogous to English copy-holders of inheritance, though not exactly similar.

About the year 1747, the late William Crow, Esq. of Netherbyres, a gentleman of distinguished genius, and of great mathematical and mechanical knowledge, planned what is now called the Old Pier, which he got constructed by means of private subscriptions. By this the accumulation of gravel was much prevented, in consequence of its resisting the oblique reverberation of the waves, from the beach of the bay into the mouth of the river. After this the harbour became practicable for coasting vessels of some size. Before this material improvement, hardly any thing whatever could either be imported or exported at Eyemouth. Sensible of their monopoly from situation, it is said that the traders in Berwick behaved very cavalierly to the Berwickshire farmers who had grain to sell, and to the country gentlemen who had occasion for any imports; but after the building of this pier, and their experience of the rivalship of the trade at Eyemouth interfering materially with their own, they altered their conduct very considerably in these respects. Yet more grain and oatmeal and malt continued to be shipped from Eyemouth than from Berwick, until that town opened its trade, as before mentioned, to resident non-freemen.

About 1766, the elbow of the Old Pier, constructed under the direction of Mr Crow, was undermined by a great flood of the Eye, and fell down, greatly obstructing the harbour, by a number of large stones from its ruins. Sensible of the great advantages derived from this pier, and wishing to protect the harbour from the sea, which made free passage in heavy gales, over the rocks where the New Pier now stands, the gentlemen of the county got the late highly celebrated Mr Smeaton to inspect the place, and to examine shipmasters and pilots, that

he

he might direct such improvements as he should jndge necessary. He accordingly planned the New Pier, which was begun in 1769, and finished in 1773, at the expence of L.2100. The contractor is supposed to have lost near L.100 by his bargain; and the members of the committee, though appointed by a county meeting, having rashly contracted for the work, wtihout sufficient funds, had a deficiency of above L. 600 to defray themselves. Owing to this, little was then done towards repairing the gap at the elbow of the Old Pier, nor for a good many years afterwards.

At last, in 1796, a resolution was formed to endeavour to procure funds for rebuilding the gap in the old pier, and a further breach of its turret, or extremity, which took place from an immense flood of the Eye in November 1794, and for repairing the parapet of the new pier, which had become defective. Private subscriptions were procured to the extent of nearly £. 1000; and a donation was given of £.300 by the Convention of the Scots royal boroughs. In consequence of these aids, the necessary works were commenced. Sensible, however, that nothing permanent could be effected, without some regular and certain income, for repairs and farther improvement, an act of parliament was procured in 1797, imposing certain duties on vessels coming into the harbour, and vested under the management of trustees with perpetual succession, for the express purpose of improving, cleaning and deepening the harbour.

Under this trust, from the beforementioned subscriptions and donation, and out of the funds created by the act, the Old and New Piers have been thoroughly repaired, and an extensive quay wall has been built, for facilitating the loading and unloading of cargoes. A break-water has been constructed to keep off land floods from injuring the vessels at the quay, and which was expected to prove useful,

Plans are now

for removing a sand bank, which considerably hampers the entrance: but hitherto, it rather seems to have occasioned a second bar within the harbour, and it has too much lessened the harbour space, insomuch that, in a gale of wind in September 1807, several vessels that had taken shelter, were obliged to go to sea for want of room. Upon repairs and improvements, the trustees have expended, since June 1796 to September 1807, the sum of £.2250. in agitation for deepening the harbour, and for laying down anchors with buoys, for warping vessels in and out of the bay, and the funds are amply sufficient for such gradual ameliorations as may be thought requisite, and for keeping the present accommodations in repair. In these circumstances, it is much to be desired, that the trustees were provided with a plan and specification for putting the harbour into the best order, and capable of being gradually executed as their funds become efficient.

The harbour dues imposed by the act, which are sufficiently moderate, are, one penny for every quarter of all grain, malt, meal and flour; sixpence per ton on all potatoes; one halfpenny per bushel on all salt, shipped from or landed in the harbour; twopence per ton register, on all vessels which may arrive in the harbour to load or unload their cargoes, or any part thereof;

one penny per ton register, on all other ships or vessels that may enter the harbour; one guinea for every foreign ship that may come into the harbour. From these duties, the yearly revenue derived by the trustees has hitherto averaged about L.60. The small ancient dues still belong to the private proprietor.

For these advantages of this harbour in its present state, Eyemouth has been principally indebted to the persevering and judicious exertions of the late John Renton, Esq. of Chesterbank," a most intelligent and active magistrate,

man

many years in the commission of the peace, and long under Sheriff of the county, who was nearly 80 years of age when he undertook and accomplished this most beneficial improvement.

From this material amelioration of its harbour, Eyemouth bids fair to recover some respectable portion of trade hereafter. In the mean time, however, it has to struggle against the superior advantages of Berwick, which already possesses capital and shipping. The only considerable inconvenience of the port of Eyemouth, besides being a tide harbour, which is irremediable, is being above 20 miles distant from its custom-house at Dunbar, which occasions expence and delay to trade.

It may be proper to mention in this place, that in the entrance of Eye

mouth bay, there are some detached

rocks, called the Hircars, in deep water, partly covered at high tides, partly always above water. The reporter does not pretend to any knowledge in maritime affairs, or in the science of civil engineering; but were it practicable to join these rooks with either shore of the bay, by a pier, or buttress of cones like those of Cherburg, a safe harbour might be formed for vessels of any size and burthen, accessible at all times of tide, and in all winds, which would certainly be of infinite importance, more especially in time of war, to the military and commercial marine of Britain. Even if practicable, the expence could not fall short of L.100,000, and consequently could only be afforded at the public charge.

It is said that an excellent harbour might be made near Dunglass, at the north-eastern extremity of this county, or in the next adjoining county of East Lothian, close upon the borders of Berwickshire; and that it might even admit of ships of war, A slight attempt for this purpose was made there long ago by the late Sir John Hall of Dunglass; but his erections were ruined by a storm, and have neer been resumed.

To the exertions of the same respectable gentleman, Mr Renton, Eyemouth likewise owes, about the same period, the construction of a very useful stone bridge over the deep dell of the Eye; by which a most incommodiously steep bank, in the communication towards Berwick, has been effectually surmounted.

SCOTTISH REVIEW.

A Narrative of the Campaign of the British Army in Spain, commanded by his Excellency Lieutenant General Sir JOHN MOORE, K. B. Authenticated by Official Papers and Original Letters. By JAMES MOORE, Esq. 4to. .1. 11s. 6d. CONSIDERING the importance of

the events narrated in this volume, and considering also how completely this was a campaign of Scottish Officers, and what glory, amid all its disasters, it reflected on the military character of this country, we conceive that a pretty full analysis of it may be inter, esting to most of our readers. It comes certainly in a very authentic shape, consisting chiefly of official let. ters and papers which had passed between persons employed in these momentous transactions. The interstices of these are filled up chiefly from a journal constantly kept by General Moore himself, and from which Mr Moore has compiled his narration.— This narration is written with great simplicity, and apparently without aiming at the ornaments of composition; yet we cannot help regretting that General Moore should not have been oftener allowed to speak for himself, as his own expressions must have given a more lively idea of his views, and the situation of affairs, than any abstract which can be made of them, however elegant it might have been. We shall proceed, however, to endeavour to give some idea of the information which it contains.

Mr