tt ANNALS OF SCOTLAND, 



rious tenure, notwithftanding the obligations whic& 

 Holland' owes the former kingdom. 



The court, OF Convention of tbe Royal Boroughs in 

 Scotland^ had its origin about the middle of the twelfth 

 century. Their meetings were held occasionally as 

 Haddington,. and afterwards > ann-ually, at Inver- 

 keithing. The number of thefe boroughs is at prefene 

 fixty-fix, including the cities. Some of them are in 

 ruins, others decayed,, the harbours choaked up, and 

 the corporations involved in debts. The boroughs 

 are reprefentcd in parliament by 1 5 members ; and, 

 at the annual convention held at Edinburgh, by one 

 commiflioner from every borough, befides Edinburgh, 

 which fends two.. Their privileges extend to com- 

 mercial affairs both within the kingdom and abroad, 

 of which they confider themfelves the guardians, but 

 having neither funds nor fpirit> their conventions of 

 late years have not effected any material purpofe of 

 national concern. 



In 1726, however, the convention 1 ,, perceiving the 

 miferable Hate of the nation, procured a new efta- 

 blifhment,./0r the Encouragement of Fijberies, Manu- 

 fattures'y and Improvement s y confifting of 21 Trufteesy 

 who fa far as their very limited funds extend, have 

 rendered their country the moil efTential fervices. The 

 funds allotted for thefe great national objects eonfifl of 

 An annuity, as per treaty of union, of 2000 



Intereft of .40000 lodged in the royal)' . 



bank> at 4! per cent. y 



Annual favings, on an average 500 



A flax fund, arifing from an additional J 



duty on foreign linens > about C 



The following is a flate of the linen manufaclure> 

 which fliil increafes under- the foflering hand of 

 this Board^ * 



* Account of linen cloth Damped in Scotland, froni the ffrff 

 of No vembc ?, 1782, to the i fi of November, 178*, diitinguifhing 



