1993- an inscription: 23 
for the entertainment of others; in return for the favours 
Thave received from them. If you think the following 
inscription, which pleased me from its plain ‘simplicity, 
will be agreeable to your readers, it is much at your ser- 
_vice ; and in that case I fhall think the trouble I have 
taken in transcribing it abundantly repaid. It is written 
on a plain slab of white marble placed in the front of a 
building erected by a taylor for charitable purposes in 
Stirling. What struck me as a singularity in this case, is 
that Iam informed the gentleman who wrote the inscrip-_ 
tion has dedicated a great part of his time to the perfec- 
ting military engines of destruction. How he can recon- 
cile his theory with-his practice I pretend not to say. 
: He is not a clergyman as I am afsured; for if he had, the 
_ase, you know, would not have beenuncommon. Above 
the inscription is the figure of a large pair of tailor’s scif- 
sars. A Riper.” 
InscRIPTION. 
[Place of the scifsars. ] 
In order to relieye the distrefs of useful members of 
society, the ground within this wall, with the adjoining 
hospital and lands for supporting it, were given to the 
tradesmen of Stirling, in the year 1530 by Robert Spit- 
tal who was taylor to king James the fourth of Scotland. 
He likewise gave part of his wealth for building useful 
bridges in this neighbourhood. Forget not, reader that 
the scifsars of this man do more honour to human nature 
than the swords of conquerors! 
VOL. xvii. . + 
