or of the dome of St. Paul's at London, ftood upon the banks of the ri ver Carron in Stirlingshire, but has been lately barbarously demolished by a neighbouring Goth, for the purpose of mending a mill-pond. Its height was twenty-two feet, and its external circumference at the bafe was eighty-eight feet; fo that upon the whole it was one of the most complete Roman antiquities in the world. It is thought to have been built by Agricola, or fome of his fucceffors, as a temple to the god Terminus, as it ftood near the pretenture which bounded the Roman empire in Britain to the north. Near it are fome artificial conical mounds of earth, which ftill retain the name of Duni-pace, or Dunipacis; which ferve to evidence that there was a kind of folemn compromife between the Romans and the Caledonians, that the former fhould not extend their empire farther to the northward.

Innumerable are the coins, urns, utenfils, infcriptions, and other remains of the Romans, that have been found in different parts of Scotland; fome of them to the north of the wall, where, however, it does not appear that they made any establishment. By the inferiptions found near the wall, the names of the legions that built it, and how far they carried it on, may be learned. The remains of Roman highways are frequent in the fouthern parts.

Danish camps and fortifications are easily difcernible in feveral northern counties, and are known by their fquare figures and difficult fituations. Some houfes or ftupendous fabrics remain in Ross-fhire; but whether they are Danish, Pictish, or Scottish, does not appear. The 'elevations of two of them are to be feen in Gordon's Itinerarium Septentionale. I am of opinion that they are Norwegian or Scandinavian ftructures, and built about the fifth century, to favour the defcents of that people upon thofe coafts.

Two Pictish monuments, as they are thought to be, of a very extraordinary conftruction, were lately ftanding in Scotland: one of them at Abernethy in Perthshire, the other at Brechin in Angus; both of them are columns, hollow in the infide, and without the ftair-cafe; that of Brechin is the most entire, being covered at the top with a fpiral roof of ftone, with three or four windows above the cornice; it confifts of fixty regular courfes of hewn free-ftone, laid circularly, and regularly tapering towards the top. If thefe columns are really Pictifh, that people muft have had among them architects that far exceeded thofe of any coeval monuments to be found in Europe, as they have all the appearance of an order; and the building is neat, and in the Roman ftyle of architecture. It is, however, difficult to affign them to any but the Picts, as they stand in their dominions; and some sculptures upon that of Brechin denote it to be of Chriftian origin. It is not indeed impoffible that thefe fculptures are of a later date. Befides thefe two pillars, many other Pictish buildings are found in Scotland, but not of the fame taste.

The veftiges of erections by the ancient Scots themfelves are not only curious but inftructive, as they regard many important events of their history. That people had amongst them a rude notion of sculpture, in which they transmitted the actions of their kings and heroes, At a place called Aberlemno, near Brechin, four or five ancient obelisks are ftill to be feen, called the Danish ftones of Aberlemno. They are erected as commemorations of the Scotch victories over that people; and are adorned with bas-reliefs of mon on horfeback, and many emblematical figures and hieroglyphics, not intelligible at this day, but ninutely defcribed by Mr. Gordon. Many other hiftorical monuments of the Scots may be difcovered on the like occafions; but it must be

acknowledged that the obfcurity of their sculptures has opened a field of boundless and frivolous conjectures, fo that the interpretations of many of them are often fanciful. It would, however, be unpardonable, if I thould neglect to mention the ftone near the town of Forrefs, or Fortrofe, in Murray, which far furpaffes all the other in magnificence and grandeur," and is (fays Mr. Gordon) perhaps one of the most ftately monuments of that kind in Europe. It rifes about 23 feet in height above ground, and is, as I am credibly informed, no less than 12 or 15 feet below; fo that the whole height is at least 35 feet, and its breadth near 5. It is all one fingle and entire ftone; great variety of figures in relievo are carved thereon, and fome of them ftill diftinct and vifible; but the injury of the weather has obfcured thofe towards the upper part." Though this monument has been generally looked upon as Danish, yet I have little doubt of its being Scotch, and that it was erected in commemoration of the final expulfion of the Danes out of Murray, where they held their laft fettlement in Scotland, after the defeat they received from Malcolm, a few years before the Norman invafion.

At Sandwick, in Rofs-fhire, is a very fplendid ancient obelisk, furrounded at the bafe with large, well-cut flag ftones, formed like fteps. Both fides of the column are covered with various enrichments, in wellfinished carved work. The one face presents a fumptuous crofs, with a figure of St. Andrew on each hand, and fome uncouth animals and flowerings underneath. The central divifion on the reverfe exhibits a variety of curious figures, birds, and animals.

The ruins of the cathedral of Elgin are very ftriking; and many parts of that fine building have ftill the remains of much grandeur and dignity in them. The weft door is highly ornamented; there is much elegance in the carvings, and the whole edifice difplays very elaborate workmanship.

Among the remains of ancient caftles, may be mentioned Kildrumy eattle in the north of Scotland, which was formerly a place of great ftrength and magnificence, and often ufed as an afylum to noble families in periods of civil war. Inverugie caftle, the ancient feat of the earl-marefchals of Scotland, is also a large and lofty pile fituated on a teep bank of the river; two very high towers bound the front, and, even in their decaying state, give the caftle an air of much grandeur and antiquity. Vaft rows of venerable trees, inclofing the adjoining garden, add to the effect of the decayed buildings. Near the town of Huntly are the ruins of Huntly caftle. On the avenue that leads to it, are two large fquare towers, which had defended the gateway. The caftle feems to be very old, and a great part of it is demolished; but there is a maffy building of a more modern date, in which fome of the apartments, and in particular their curious ceilings, are ftill in tolerable prefervation. They are painted with a great variety of fubjects, in fmall divifions, in which are contained many emblematical figures.

Befides these remains of Roman, Pictish, Danish, and Scottish antiquities, many Druidical monuments and temples are difcernible in the northern parts of Scotland, as well as in the ifles, where we may fuppofe that paganifm took its laft refuge. They are eafily perceived by their circular forms; but though they are equally regular, yet none of them are fo ftupendous as the Druidical erections in South Britain. There is in Perthshire a barrow which seems to be a British erection, and the most beautiful of the kind perhaps in the world. It exactly resembles the figure of a fhip with the keel uppermost. The common people call it

Ternay, which fome interpret to be terra navis, the fhip of earth. It seems to be of the most remote antiquity, and perhaps was erected to the memory of fome British prince, who acted as auxiliary to the Romans; for it lies near Auchterarder, not many miles diftant from the great scene of Agricola's operations.

The traces of ancient volcanoes are not unfrequent in Scotland. The hill of Finehaven is one inftance; and the hill of Bergonium, near Dunstaffage castle, is another, yielding vaft quantities of pumices or fcoria of different kinds, many of which are of the fame fpecies with those of the Icelandic volcanoes. Among other natural curiofities of this country, mention is made of a heap of white ftones, most of them clear like crystal, together with great plenty of oyfter and other fea fhells; they are found on the top of a mountain called Scorna-Lappich, in Rofsfhire, twenty miles diftant from the fea. Slains, in Aberdeenshire, is said to be remark. able for a petrifying cave, called the Dropping Cave, where water oozing through a spongy porous rock at the top, quickly confolidates after it drops to the bottom. Other natural curiofities belonging to Scotland have their descriptions and hiftories; but they generally owe their extra, ordinary qualities to the credulity of the vulgar, and vanish when they are fkilfully examined. Some caverns that are to be found in Fifeshire, and are probably natural, are of extraordinary dimenfions, and have been the fcenes of inhuman cruelties.

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.] In thefe refpects Scotland has, for fome years paft, been in a very improving ftate. Without entering into the difputed point, how far Scotland was benefited by its union with England, it is certain that the expedition of the Scots to take poffeffion of Darien, and to carry on the East and Weft-India trade, was founded upon true principles of commerce, and (fo far as it went) executed with a noble fpirit of enterprife. The mifcarriage of that fcheme, after receiving the highest and most folemn fanctions, is a disgrace to the annals of that reign in which it happened; as the Scots had then a free, independent, and unconnected parliament. We are to account for the long languor of the Scottish commerce, and many other misfortunes which that country fuftained, by the disgust the inhabitants conceived on that account, and fome invafions of their rights afterwards, which they thought inconfiftent with the articles of union. The entails and narrow fettlements of family eftates, and fome remains of the feudal inftitutions, might contribute to the fame effect.

Mr. Pelham, when at the head of the adminiftration in England, after the extinction of the rebellion in 1745, was the first minifter who difcovered the true value of Scotland, which then became a more confiderable object of governmental inquiry than ever. All the benefits received by that country, for the relief of the people from their feudal tyranny, were effected by that great man. The bounties and encouragements granted to the Scots, for the benefit of trade and manufactures, during his administration, made them fenfible of their own importance. Mr. Pitt, a fucceeding minifter, purfued Mr. Pelham's wife plan, and justly boafted in parliament, that he availed himself of the courage, good fenfe, and spirit of the Scots, in carrying on the most extenfive war that ever Great Britain was engaged in. Let me add to the honour of the British government, that the Scots have been fuffered to avail themfelves of all the benefits of commerce and manufactures they can claim, either in right of their former independency, the treaty of union, or pofterior acts of parliament.

This is manifeft from the extenfive trade they lately carried on with

the British fettlements in America and the West Indies, and with all the nations to which the English themselves trade; so that the increase of their shipping within thefe thirty years paft has been very confiderable. The exports of thofe hips are compofed chiefly of Scottish manufactures, fabricated from the produce of the foil and the industry of its inhabitants. In exchange for thefe, they import tobacco, rice, cotton, fugar, and rum, from the British plantations; and from other countries, their products, to the immenfe faving of their nation. The profperity of Glasgow and its neighbourhood has been greatly owing to the connection and trade with Virginia and the West Indies.

The fisheries of Scotland are not confined to its own coafts, for the Scots have a great share in the whale-fishery carried on upon the coast of Spitsbergen; and their returns are valuable, as the government allows them a bounty of 40s. for every ton of fhipping employed in that article. The late improvements of their fifheries, which I have already mentioned, and which are daily increafing, open inexhauftible funds of wealth; their cured fish being, by foreigners, and the English planters in America, preferred to thofe of Newfoundland.

The buffes or veffels employed in the great herring fifhery on the western coafts of Scotland, are fitted out from the north-west parts of England, the north of Ireland, as well as the numerous ports of the Clyde and neighbouring iflands. The grand rendezvous is at Campbeltown, a commodious port of Argyleshire, facing the north of Ireland, where fometimes 300 veffels have been affembled. They clear out on the 12th of September, and muft return to their different ports by the 13th of January. They are alfo under certain regulations refpecting the number of tons, men, nets, &c. the whole being judicioufly calculated to promote the beft of national purposes, its strength and its commerce. But though the political exiftence of Great Britain depends upon the number and bravery of her feamen, this noble institution has hitherto proved ruinous to many of those who have embarked in it, and, unless vigorously supported, muft fail of obtaining its object.

To encourage this fishery, a bounty of 50s. per ton was granted by parliament; but, whether from the infufficiency of the fund appropriat ed for this purpose, or any other cause, the bounty was withheld from year to year, while in the mean time the adventurers were not only finking their fortunes, but also borrowing to the utmoft limits of their credit. The bounty has fince been reduced from 50 to 30s. with the ftrongeft affurances of its being regularly paid when due. Upon the ftrength of thefe promises they have again embarked in the fishery; and it is to be wished that no confideration whatever may tend to withdraw an inducement fo requifite to place their fishery on a permanent footing.

The benefits of these fisheries are perhaps equalled by manufactures carrying on at land; particularly that of iron at Carron, in Stirlingfhire.

Their linen manufactory, notwithstanding a ftrong rivalfhip from Ireland, is in a flourishing ftate. The thread manufacture of Scotland is equal, if not fuperior, to any in the world; and the lace fabricated from it has been deemed worthy of royal wear and approbation. It has been faid, föme years ago, that the exports from Scotland to England and the British plantations, in linen, cambrics, checks, Ofnaburgs, inkle, and the like commodities, amounted annually to 400,0001. exclufive of their home confumption; and there is reafon to believe that the fum iş confiderably larger at prefent. The Scots are likewife making very

promifing efforts for eftablishing woollen manufactures; and their ex ports of caps, ftockings, mittens, and other articles of their own wool, begin to be very confiderable. The Scots, it is true, cannot pretead to rival the English in their finer cloths; but they make at prefent fome broad-cloth proper for the wear of people of fathion in an undress, and in quality and fineness equal to what is commonly called Yorkshire cloth. Among the other late improvements of the Scots, we are not to forget the vaft progrefs they have made in working the mines, and fmelting the ore, of their country. Their coal trade to England is well known; and of late they have turned even their ftone to account, by their contracts for paving the streets of London. If the great trade in cattle, which the Scots carried on of late with the English, is now diminished, it is owing to the beft of national caufes, that of an increase of home confumption.

The trade carried on by the Scots with England, is chiefly from Leith, and the eastern ports of the nation; but Glasgow was the great empo rium for the American commerce, before the commencement of the unhappy breach with the colonies. The late junction of the Forth to the Clyde will render the benefits of trade mutual to both parts of Scotland. In short, the more that the feas, the fituation, the foil, the harbours, and rivers of this country, come to be known, the better adapted it appears for all the purpoles of commerce, both foreign and domeftic.

With regard to other manufactures not mentioned, fome of them are yet in their infancy. The town of Pailley alone employs an incredible number of hands in fabricating a particular kind of flowered and ftriped lawns, which are a reasonable and elegant wear. Sugar houfes, glassworks of every kind, delft-houfes, and paper-mills, are erected every where. The Scotch carpeting makes neat and lafting furniture; and fome effays have been lately made, with no inconfiderable degree of fuccefs, to carry that branch of manufacture to as great perfection as in any part of Europe. After all that has been faid, many years will be required before the trade and improvements in Scotland can be brought to maturity. In any event they never can give umbrage to the English, as the interefts of the two people are, or ought to be, the

fame.

Having faid thus much, I cannot avoid obferving the prodigious difadvantages under which both the commercial and landed intereft of Scotland lie from her nobility and great land-holders having too fond an attachment for England, and foreign countries, where they spend their ready money. This is one of the evils arifing to Scotland from the Union, which removed the feat of her legislature to London; but it is greatly augmented by the refort of volunteer abfentees to that capital, While this partiality fubfifts, the Scots will probably continue to be diftreffed for a currency of fpccie. How far paper can supply that defect, depends upon an attention to the balance of trade; and the evil may, perhaps, be fomewhat prevented, by money remitted from England for carrying on the vast manufactures and works now fet on foot in Scotland. The gentlemen who refide in Scotland have wifely abandoned French claret and brandy (though too much is ftill made ufe of in that country) for rum produced in the British plantations; and their own malt liquors are now come nearly to as great perfection as thofe in England; and it is faid that they have lately exported large quantities of their ale to London, Dublin, and the plantations.

REVENUES.] See England.