Transactions. 27 



it were, into a spacious quadrant, in the centre whereof their 

 market-place is fixed, near unto whicli stands a statt'ly tolbooth — 

 a very sumptuous, regulated, uniform fabric, large and lofty, most 

 industriously and artificially carved from the very foundation to 

 the superstructure, to the great admiration of strangers and 

 travellers. But this state-house, or tolbooth, is their western 

 prodigy, infinitely excelling' the model and usual build of town- 

 halls, and is, without exception, the paragon of beauty in the west, 

 whose compeer is nowhere to be found in the north, should you 

 rally the rarities of all the corporations in Scotland. In the next 

 place, we are to consider the merchants and traders in this eminent 

 Glasgow, whose store-houses and w^arehouses are stuffed with 

 merchandise, as their shops swell big with foreign commodities, 

 and returns from France and other remote parts, where they have 

 agents and factors to correspond, and enrich their maritime porty, 

 whose charter exceeds all the charters in Scotland, which is a 

 considerable advantage to the city inhabitants, because blest with 

 privileges as large, nay, larger, than any other Corporation. 

 Moreover, they dwell in the face of France and a free trade, as I 

 formerly told you. Nor is this all, for the staple of their country 

 consists of linens, friezes, furs, tartans, felts, hides, tallow, skins, 

 and various other manufactures and commodities not comprehended 

 in this breviat. Besides, I should remind you that they generally 

 exceed in good French wine, as they naturally superabound with 

 fish and fowl — some meat does well with their drink. The very 

 prospect of this nourishing city reminds me of the beautiful fabrics 

 and the florid fields of England. How many such cities shall we 

 meet with in our travels where the streets and the channels are so 

 cleanly swept, and the meat in every house so artificially dressed ? 

 The linen, I also observed, was very neatly lapped up, and, to 

 their praise be it spoke, was lavender-proof. Besides, the people 

 were decently dressed, and such an exact decorum in every society 

 represents it, to my apprehension, an emblem of England. Til 

 superscribe it the nonsuch of Scotland, where an English florist 

 may pick up a posie." 



III. — Leaclis Petrel (Procellaria Leachii). 

 By Mr John Corrie. 



A specimen of this scarce peti'el was found dead in a meadow 

 near Monybuie, Kirkcudbrightshire, on 2nd November. The 

 measurements were : — Length, eight inches ; expanse of wings, 



