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There was an act of parliament pas sed last Session for forming a harbour at Ardrossan, and there is a bill now pending for cutting a canal from said harbour to the Clyde at Tradestown. This line of Canal is to pass through one of the streets of Pais ley. What vast improvements have been made in Great Britain by means of good roads and canals! What grand effects have they produced by opening communications with adjacent districts! These improvements have pervaded a great part of the country, and have roused the inhabitants to active exertions, by which they might better their situaations. What important changes have they effected, especially in north Britain, of late years! Who could have foreseen that such improvements would be made in this part of the country, that grain to the amount of half a million sterling should be sent from Scotland to England, in the course of four months, in the year 1806! Yet such appears to be the fact.

This Canal, if carried into effect, will incite some of the wealthy inha bitants of Paisley to engage in those branches of trade which this improvement will bring more within their reach. It will be highly beneficial for the transit of grain from Ireland and Ayrshire, to supply the nu. merous population of Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire; for bringing into competition the different qualities of coal, so abundant in this tract, and by that means lowering the price. How valuable must it be to the agri. culturist to procure limestone of the best quality in abundance, at a rate greatly under the present, and to the builders in Glasgow and Paisley, &c. to be furnished with the best materials, viz. stone and lime, at prices greatly reduced! And what a saving will it produce in the carriage of all bulky articles, such as iron stone, and manure of all kinds! These are

some of the salutary effects expected from this canal. Its length from Ardrossan to the Clyde at Tradestown, and from thence four miles up the south bank of the Clyde, is thirty-two miles. An estimate of the work has been made up by Thomas Telford, Esq. Engineer, and the expence stated at L.134,500; and the estimated revenue annually at L.13,699: 18:6. The harbour at Ardrossan was estimated by the same gentleman at L. 40,coo. expence.

The country is much indebted to the Right Honourable the Earl of Eglinton for his patriotic exertions for effecting this highly important measure. As an evidence that the inhabitants of Paisley highly approve of this undertaking, they have become subscribers to the amount of L. 20,000.

The objects most worthy of a stranger's attention who visits Paisley are, 1st, The weavers shops and the warehouses of manufacturers. The machinery used in weaving is brought to a high degree of perfection, and in some of the warehouses the great variety of goods, of the most fashionable and elegant patterns, is not only interesting to those who deal in articles of that kind, but highly worthy the attention of the curious stranger. 2d, In the near neighbourhood is erected a work by Mr John Gibb, at which, by means of a steam engine, a large stream of water is raised from the river Cart into a circular canal, and from thence it filters through a layer of river sand into a large bason. It is then, in a pure and wholesome state, conveyed by pipes to a bleaching work on the premises; part is conveyed to a long house erected for the purpose of washing clothes, for the convenience of the inhabitants, and the remainder is carried in large barrels, and sold to private families at the rate of about twelve scots pints for a penny. The accommodation thus given to the public, of clear fil

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tered water, fit for every culinary purpose, promotes both the comfort and the health of the people.

3d, Mr John Love's cottage, called Hope Temple, attracts the attention of many Ladies and Gentlemen who visit the place; the tasteful arrangement of the gardens, the great variety of shrubbery collected from the most distant parts of the world, the green house, with the rich display of flowers and rare plants, and the obliging and communicative disposition of the wealthy proprietor, all concur to render a visit to this cottage peculiarly gratifying to those who have a taste for gardening or botany.

4th, The abbey church is much admired for its light structure and pleasing effect. It was built about the same time with the cathedral at Glasgow. Great attention has been paid to preserve it in repair, and the arrangement of the galleries and pews is highly creditable to the Reverend Robert Boog, first minister in this church. Every part of the ornament and disposition within corresponds with the Saxon architecture of the structure without. There is likewise an aisle, called the Sounding Aisle, from a most remarkable sound or echo which is heard on making the slightest noise within it. Here are deposited the remains of Marjo. ry Bruce, mother of the Stewart family, and likewise those of her son, the first king of that ancient house. It is now the burying vault of the Abercorn family, in which was interred the body of the late venerable and worthy Earl. The echo in this vault, or rather chapel, for it was originally consecrated as such, produces a pleasing and solemn effect on the mind, which is heightened if a tune of church music is well sung, or performed on the flute or violin.

5th, If the traveller have any taste for mineralogy, by walking to the Hurlet works, about three miles dis

tant, he will find himself highly gratified. Here is a most ancient and extensive colliery, the property of the Earl of Glasgow, containing extensive seams of coal and limestone, and schistus of great value, used in the allum work erected at the same place, which is the most productive of its kind in Britain, and managed with great address. The construction of this work is well calculated for the business, and proves a source of considerable emolument to the partners.

6th, If the visiting stranger wishes to enjoy a full view of Paisley and the adjacent country, upon application being made to the High Church officer, he will be conducted up a good stair-case to the first battlement of the spire. There, in full security, a prospect opens which is both grand and extensive. This view is varied as the Spectator turns round the battlements: the attention is alternately occupied by lofty distant mountains, a rich well cultivated country, a distant peep of three rivers, with woods and gentlemen's seats, villages, bleaching-grounds, bridges, villas, cotton works, and distant pieces of water. If the view is directed to the foot of the eminence, the whole towa of Paisley presents itself to the eye, containing fifteen places of public worship, three spires, and upwards of thirty thousand inhabitants.

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father, after the purchase of New. Hall, acquired the estate of Romanno, within a few miles of it, on the other side of west Linton, in the county of Tweeddale or Peebles-shire. Although farther distant from Edin. burgh, and in another county, during the latter part of his life, both himself, and his son, seem to have been tempted by the greater proximity to Linton, and a more populous neighbourhood, to reside chiefly at Romanno, between the villages of Linton and Newlands, both in Peebles-shire.

The father is said to have been buried in the church-yard of Newlands. In what year, however, he died, is uncertain; but in the poem by his son, "Upon the Death of Alexander Pennecuick of New Hall," it is

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mentioned that

-Death, at length, hath shuffled from the stage "The oldest Esculapius of our age ;” that

"Thrice thirty years do now these hands destroy,

"That cured our maladies, and caused our joy;"

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"And yet, I swear, of all that sunburnt crew,

"I saw not one had thy dark hideous hue."

Indeed, from his father's public character, as " Chirurgion to General Bannier in the Swedish Wars;" and afterwards, as "Chirurgeon General to the auxiliary Scots army in England;" it is unlikely his youth was spent in his native country, then, comparatively, so unsuitable for his education in the highest department of the same profession.

In the latter, and declining days of his father, he appears to have taken a most affectionate care of him, and to have resided almost constantly with him in the country, to which he seems to have had a violent predilection. In one of the best of his poems, the "Answer to his brother T. P.'s many letters, dissuading him from staying longer in the country, and inviting him to come and settle bis residence in Edinburgh," he gives a very natural and agreeable account of his rural occupations, and amusements, with their superiority over those of a town; and declares to his brother, who seems to have

lived near "Libberton's," or "Foster's Wynd," that he will not be so graceless," or "bold," as to bring the aged gentleman his father to the city,

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will I, to repair my former losses, Consent to break his limbs in your stay closes."

"what I advance in this description "(which in duty I humbly dedicate "to your Lordship,) not from hear66 say and second hand, but from o"cular inspection, and proper know. "ledge: Having made so frequent "surveys through all the hills and valleys of that country, both on "horse and foot, and made a nice

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The father seems to have died, between the Revolution and the end of the seventeenth century. After this, the son's attachment to the country continued to the close of his life. In another series of smooth and agreeable verses, in the epistola-scrutiny into all things I found rery form, To my Friend, inviting him to the Country," he again launches out in praises of its comforts, and kindly endeavours to allure his correspondent to his mansion, by the entertainments his situation affords.

When relieved from the more important attendance upon his numerous patients, upon the different departments of rural economy, and the management of his two estates, he amused himself with the society of his neighbours; with his favourite study of botany, on which he corresponded with his friend the cele brated Mr James Sutherland, the superindant of the first botanic garden of Edinburgh; with collecting materials for the very accurate description of Tweeddale, which he afterwards published, in concert with his successor in the estate of NewHall, Mr Forbes the patron of Allan Ramsay the poet ; and with reading, and translating from the learn ed, and from the Italian and French languages, probably acquired by him on the Continent. Among his poems, we have a translation from Ovid, at the age of eighteen, As a physician, his aid seems to have been in high request. At the beginning of his dedication to the Earl of March, Viscount of Peebles, &c.; he mentions his having made choice of the subject of his Description" in gratitude to Tweeddale, where," says he, "I have had residence, and some interest, for thirty years and a"bove. My employment, as physi"cian, obliged me to know, and ob. ན་ serve every corner thereof:

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several whereof are naturally pro“duced here, which I have not ob"served in my herbalizing through "other shires of the kingdom." Archbishop Nicholson, in his Scottish Historical Library, takes notice of the Description of Tweeddale, as the joint production of Dr Pennecuick and Mr Forbes. His works were published in 1715, (and have never since been reprinted, although a copy now is scarcely to be obtained) with an address in verse, To the ingenious, and worthy author of the following Description and Poems, from a younger brother poet of nearly the name, Alexander Pencook of Edin. burgh, in which he calls him "the British Ovid," and congratulates the inhabitants of his district, on having one in it so deeply skilled in "Nature's Secrets," and who could equally contribute to their healths and their pleasures. At this time, he was sixty-three years of age, and, it would seem, had not resided in the country, at least in a settled state, as having succeeded to his father's interests in it, till about his thirtieth year. An Epitaph, on the tomb stone of the minister of Lintoun, is dated anno 1682; a poetical address is written to the Prince of Orange; another to Queen Anne, on the Union; a third to George the First; and an Elegy on Mr Douglas, who died in 1715.

During these last "thirty years and above," besides writing his description in prose, he had, occasionally, sketched in verse, the manners, and

foibles,

foibles, and incidents, of his own time under his immediate observation, as they occurred; in which light chiefly his poems are worthy of being preserved, as faithful representations of the rustic manners of that age near the metropolis of Scotland. Like Teniers, or Ostade, taking nature as he found her, he entertained himself with designing humorous pictures, from the lairds, portioners, and in habitants, of the famous town of Lintoun," and from the ministers of this "Submetropolitan," and of Newlands, both in Tweeddale. The poor ministers of Newlands, and Lintoun, seem to have been rather unfortunate in their names, schemes, and

tempers. Peter, and Hay, and Tory, all suggested puns; and Peter's Pass produced an excellent ryhme in case of need for Newland's Afs. Lintoun on the one hand, with its small lairds and portioners, with its little conceited parson; and Newlands on the other, with its succession of gipsies and jack-asses, afforded a never-failing fund of laughter and ridicule, for the entertainment and exercise of his jocular muse.

In "The humble address and sup. plication of the portioners and inhabitants of the famous town of Lintoun, Sub-metropolitan of Tweeddale, to bis Highness the Prince of Orange,' "James Giffart, and the Lintoun lairds" occupy one of the lines, which rhymes

to

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Hog yards."

the title of William Younger, who, "In name of all the Lintoun lairds," signs the address.

T. Giffard appears in large characters, rudely carved, on a remarkable rock at the north boundary of Peebles-shire in the estate of Carlops, now united to New Hall. It is called the Harbour Craig, and a view and description of it is given in the Edinburgh Magazine for April 1801. Besides numberless dates, his is con

spicuous, among many names, aud initials, left by the covenanters, who took refuge about it after the battle of Rullion Green on Pentland Hills, and occasionally during the whole of the religious persecutions of Charles the Second; though some of the dates mark it out, as having been an interesting object, long before the formation, and the introduction, of presbytery in Scotland.

In The Lintoun Cabal, portioner Giffard is again introduced, as the most prominent character, at the jo. vial Smith's invitation, and meeting of "his Club, to their Morning's Draught."

(To be continued.) Erratum.-P. 250. col. 1. for Penne. cook, read Pennycook; and passim read Pennecuik for Pennecuick.

REMARKS on a few Select AUTHORS,

From Heaven descends The flame of genius to the human breast, And love and beauty, and poetic joy And inspiration.

Akenside's Pleasures of Imagination. IT has been already endeavoured,

on a former occasion, to point out some of the most striking beauties, and defects in that species of lighter

literature which is classed under the two heads of Romances and Novels.

In the course of these former remarks, the author has been naturally led to the consideration of some works of a higher order, which it may be thought more worth while to criticise.

History stands first in this order. Though it may be argued by some who insist on the degeneration of taste and genius, that the ancients have far surpassed the moderns in this species of writing, the consideration of the several merits of Livy, Sallust, Thucydides Polybius, and Tacitus, is not now intended. Most of these have been blamed for giving

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