limeftone; and in the hills about Noblehouse, iron-stone and iron-ore abound; of confequence there are many chaly. beate fprings. The Wheam, belong. ing to Lord Chief Baron; Lamancha, to the Hon. Capt. Cochrane; and Magbie hill, to Mr Mongomery; are feats which beautify this parish. There is a manufacture for converting ochre into paint at Lamancha. KIRKURD. This parifh from E. to W. is 5 miles, and from 3 to 4 in breadth, containing 6,620 English acres. The number of inhabitants is only 310; the furface is pretty much diverfified, there being a good deal of flat ground in this parish, confidering its fituation, 600 feet above the level of the fea. Upon the banks of the Tarth, which is a fmall ftream, the foil is rich and loamy; in general it is light and gravelly. From the hill called Hell's Cleugh, there is a moft extenfive profpect; its height is 2,100 feet above the level of the fea. There is a fulphureous spring near Kirkurd house, which approaches in tafte to Harrogate water. Two excellent modern houses, with extenfive plantations, decorate this quarter; the one, Kirkurd, belonging to Mr Carmichael; the other, New Cairnmuir, belonging to Mr Lawfon. DRUMMELZIER. This parifh extends near 12 miles in length, chiefly along the banks of the Tweed; its breadth is at an average only 3. The foil in general is light and gravelly, but fertile; in the low grounds it lets at zos. per acre. This parish is but thinly inhabited, containing only about 270 perfons. KILBUCHO. This parish lies in the S. W. corner of the county, and is 4 miles from E. to W. and about 3 from S. to N. containing nearly 360 inhabitants. The land rent is little above 1000l. Sterling per annum. Of between 4000 and 5000 acres, which the parish contains, the greater part is pasture; being at a diftance from coal, peat is almoft the only fuel. TWEEDSMUIR, This parish is ex tenfive, being nearly 9 miles fquare, but contains only about 230 inhabitants. It is very hilly and mountainous, but thefe in general carry grafs even to the tops. The two highest are Hartfield and Broadlaw, which are about 2,800 feet above the level of the fea. The river Tweed has its rife in the South Weft corner of the parish. From the fame hill the rivers Clyde and Annan alfo flow. The Tweed is joined in this parifh by the Core, Fruid, and Fala. The Crook and Beild, two stages on the Dumfries road, lie in the parift. Some ruins of ancient calties are seen at Oliver, Fruid, and Hackshaw. LYNE and MEGGET are united pa rifhes, though they do not lie together. The former is between 3 and 4 miles long, and 3 broad. Megget, fituated in the fouthern extremity of the com ty, is between 6 and 7 miles both in breadth and length. Together, they do not contain above 160 inhabitants. The water of Lyne runs from one extremity of the parish to the other. On the low grounds, the foil is a fharp gra vel-the pafture on the hills about Lyne are good; thofe in Megget are bleaker, and the grafs much coarfer. Near the church of Lyne there is a famous Roman camp, of about 6 acres extent. Ia ploughing, many Roman coins were formerly turned up. TRAQUAIR. This parish lies on the South banks of the Tweed, about 6 miles below Peebles. Its length is be tween 8 and 9 miles, and its breadth from 4 to 5 up to the fource of the ri ver Quair. It is fard to contain about 17,290 acres English; the number of inhabitants is nearly 450. The gene. ral appearance is hilly and mountainous. The hills afford good fheep-pasture, and the haughs are light and fertile. Gumf cleugh, the highest hill in this parish, is about 2,200 feet, and Minchmoor, lying on the road to Selkirk, is 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. There are fome flate quarries wrought here. Some fpecimens of lead ore have been found, but no attempts have been made to to work any mine. The old manfion of Traquair ftands on the banks of the Tweed. A little above, on the S. E. face of the hill, the Bush aboon Traquair overlooks the lawn. Croffing the Tweed we enter the parish of ne water takes its rife in this parish, where INNERLEITHEN, which is pretty extensive, about 5 miles long, and 4 broad. The greater part is hill and theep pafture. There is a small village on the water of Leithen, where a mineral well has lately been brought into some repute. It is a faltifh spring, and found efficacious in fcorbutic and coutaneous eruptions. The opening at the junction of Leithen water with the Tweed is a very pretty fpot, ornamented with the plan- productive. The land-rent of this patations of Traquair on the one fide, and of Pirn on the other. STOво parish is about 6 miles long, and from 3 to 4 broad, containing about 320 inhabitants. The hills afford excellent fheep pafture; the low grounds are a fharp gravelly foil, and not un ifh is about 1,250l. Sterling per annum. There are two flate quarries in this parifh, of excellent quality. They have been much afed in covering the houfes in the New Town of Edinburgh. The river Tweed runs through it. PREBLES is a very extenfive parifh, about 10 miles in length, and 5 in breadth from Eaft to Weft, containing about 1,920 inhabitants. The face of the country here is hilly and mountainous, though these are in general gravelly, affording good sheep pafture. The haughs on the Tweed and Peebles water are a pretty rich loam, and fertile. The lands near the town let from 40s. to 50s. per acre. Peebles is a Royal burgh, 22 miles from Edinburgh. There are no manufactures carried on in it: But its romantic and healthy fituation induces many families to refide there. The Castle of Neidpath, embofomed in wood, the property of the Duke of Queensberry, ftands adjoining to the town; and the caftle of Horfe- tower on a very commanding fituation, burgh a few miles below. There are near which are the veftiges of a Roman the vestiges of many Roman and Bri- camp. tish camps in this neighbourhood. Peebles once was a royal refidence; it was there that James I. wrote his poem of "Peebles to the Play," in which he defcribes a great feftival of diverfions, feasting, and mufic. MANOR parish is 9 miles in length, and about 3 in breadth, containing nearly 18,110 acres of ground. The number of inhabitants is about 230, and the land rent 1,6851. Sterling per annum. The parish is hilly, like moft others in this county; but the ground on the banks of the river Manor is productive. From the hill called Dol larburn, which is 2,840 feet above the level of the fea, there is an extensive profpect into the Lothians on the North and Eaft, and to the Cheviot on the South. There are the ruins of a watch EDDLESTOWN. This parish lies about 17 miles South from Edinburgh, on the Peebles road; it is about 10 miles in length, and 7 in breadth, containing above 700 inhabitants. Peebles GLENHOLM. This parish lies about 28 miles from Edinburgh, on the road to Dumfries, extending upwards of 4 miles along the road, and containing 300 inhabitants. The greatest part is hill and pafture ground; on the banks of Holm's water and the Tweed it is cultivated. It yields about 1,000l. Sterling of rent yearly. It lies high, and is much expofed to rain and damp On the banks of the Tweed, there are feveral feveral artificial mounts, which had been in former times used as burying grounds. BROUGHTON parifh is about 4 miles long and 3 broad, and contains about 265 inhabitants. The parish confifts of two ridges of hills, and the valley between them. It is very bleak, having no natural wood upon it; the foil in general is a wet clay. There are the remains of feveral caftles or towers here, in one of which Macbeth is faid to have lived, which bears his name. There are no gentlemen's feats in the parish. Lord Justice Clerk, (MQueen,) is the only proprietor. DOLPHINGTON extends about 3 miles from E. to W. and 2 from N. to S. and contains only about 200 inhabitants. The great road from Edinburgh to Leadhills paffes through it. The face of the country is bleak and barren; the foil is a blackish mould upon till, very unproductive, and in which neither timber nor even thorn hedges will thrive. SKIRLING parifh lies in the western extremity of the county; it is nearly 2 miles both in length and breadth, and contains 234 inhabitants. The foil is in general light, but lying high, and being much expofed to cold blafts, it is not productive. Srow. This large parish extends from the head of Gala water to the banks of the Tweed below Innerleithen. It however lies chiefly in the county of Mid Lothian; its length is 15 miles, and medium breadth about 5, making 75 fquare miles, and containing about 37,500 acres, producing in rent about 4,100l. Sterling yearly. It contains about 1400 inhabitants. The face of the whole is hilly, but these mostly covered with good pafture for fheep. (To be continued.) ABSTRACTS OF NEW ACTS, PASSED DURING THE LAST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT. DOG-TAX. EVERY perfon who fhall keep any greyhound, hound, pointer, fetting-dog, fpaniel, lurcher, or terrier; or who fhall keep two or more dogs, of whatever defcription or denomination the fame may be, fhall be affeffed annually with the fum of 5s. for each. And every perfon who shall inhabit any dwelling-houfe, affeffed to any of the duties on inhabited houses, or on windows or lights, and fhall keep one dog, and no more, not being a greyhound, hound, pointer, fetting dog, fpaniel, lurcher, or terrier, fhall be charged with the fum of 3s. for such dog. This duty not to extend to dogs not fix months old: proof to lie on the ow ner. The first affeffment to be made for three quarters of a year, from July 5. 1796; and afterwards for one year from April 5, every year. compounding for the number of hounds kept, and shall give notice thereof to the collector, and pay 251. within thirty days after July 5. 1796; or 20l. within thirty days after April 5, in any fubfequent year; fuch perfon thall not be liable to be affeffed in refpe&t of any hounds by him kept in the preceding year; and, if they are kept in two or more parishes, he fhall give notice in which parish fuch compofition is intended to be made. STAMPS ON HAT-LININGS. IT is enacted, by 36 Geo. III. c. 125. that, after Aug. 5. 1796, the duty of 3d. on every hat of 4s. value or under; 6c. on every hat above 4s. and not exceed ing 7s. value; Is. on every hat above 75. value,and not exceeding 123.; and 25. on every hat valued at 128. and upwards, fhall be calculated according to the full price of the hat, and of all the mount ings and other ornaments, except guld and filver lace, fold therewith. And every hat made wholly of felt, wool, ftuff, beaver, or leather, or dry mixture therewith, fhall be liable to the duties. Perfons liable to the duties, are to make out, and deliver to the affeffors, lifts and declarations of the number of dogs kept by them, in like manner as they are, under former acts, to deliver And every fuch hat fhall, previous to lifts of horfes. the fale and delivery, be lined or coverIf any perfon fhould be defirous of ed in the infide of the crown with filk, Enen, linen, or other proper materials, with a durable stamp affixed thereon to denote the above duties. And if any perfon-other than licenced dealers buying hats from other licenced dealers-fhall receive on fale, or if any person fhall, after April 5. 1797, wear or ufe any hat wherein no lining or infide covering fhall be affixed; or if the lining or covering fhall not be ftamped according to this act, or not have the ftamp placed therein in a vifible manner, every such person shall forfeit 1ol. PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. From and after the 26th April 1796, every person who fhall wilfully take, kill, deftroy, carry, fell, buy, or have in his or her poffeffion, or ufe, within that part of Great Britain called Scotland, any partridge, between the 1ft day of Febru ary and the 14th of September in any year, fhall be liable to, and incur the fame penalties and forfeitures as prefcribed by the act of the 13th year of his prefent Majesty. REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS. Profpects from Hills in Fife. By George Wallace, Efq; 28. Bell & Bradfute. IN an advertisement, the Editor informs, that PROSPECTS FROM HILLS IN FIFE were moftly composed, many years ago, to afford their Author an occafional relief from the aufterity and the vexations of a profeffion very remote from Poetry: Forty copies of a large portion of that poem, having been privately printed, without any view to publication, under the title of Fragments of a Profpect from a Hill in Fife, were prefented to a felect few, diftinguished by tafte and by talents; but as there was reafon to apprehend that an incorrect edition would foon make its appearance: That therefore the prefent impreffion was fent abroad under the eye of a particular friend. So much for the reafons of publication. The Editor goes on and remarks, that "the merit or demerit of poetical compofitions depends not on the great or small number of lines of which they confift. Beautiful imagery, tender sentiment, ftrong defcription, harmonious verfification; excellencies which, as well as deep thought, or just observation, may be found both in fhort and in long poems; conftitute their chief recommendations." We shall endeavour to present our readers with a specimen of the author's manner in each of these particulars. Top of the Hill from which the Profpe&t is taken, &c. Here, on the breezy fummit, let me rest Amid the ruftic furze, the fcented brooms, And mingling flocks, that, scatter'd o'er the bill, VOL. LVIII. Or browfe in innocence the tender herb, Or harmless gaze. Their mufic, wildly fweet, From rock to rock, harmonious, which refounds, According with the tuneful linnet's voice, The lark's mellifluous ftrains, the blackbird's pipe Sonorous, and the throftle's various song, The ftockdove's plaint, and rook's affecting caw, Composes man into a penfive mood, And with their own ferenity inspire form'd To relish calm fincere refined delights. He fteal fuccessful with a chofen few, lic haunts, Aftonish'd, feels and wonders at their meat. Love, selfish love, shares not with dearest friend Its boons, impartible. With carking thoughts, Corrofive of the husband's, lover's peace, And breaft, affectionate, by abfence torn, His ftrays, folicitous, he fondly feeks, Their devious guides, and cheers their ling'ring pace. But fee; a rival there attempts his bounds: Inftant he darts, all fiercenefs, on his foe, His collar briftling, and his flashing eyes; And many a stroke, and many a fpring they make; Their dropping feathers, and their crimfon combs, And flender legs, run red with pouring blood; And sharp and corneous bills, and armed feet, And pointed fpurs, and beating pinions, all |