570 SHORT TOUR OF SCOTLAND. 



Dittant i .lafgow, by Calder, 44; by! 



Kalkirk } ** 



Dungfbay-Head, in Caithnels 273 



Port-Patric, in Galloway 132 



Dublin, by ditto 



It (lands in the centre of that tine tract of land 

 which (Itetches 50 miles along the fide of the Forth, 

 called the Three Lothians, and within 2 miles of the 

 fpacious Forth, having thereby the benefit of 

 breezes, which, in winter, blow pretty frefh on a city 

 of fuch elevation. 



.round being alfo finely var 



with hill and dale, contributes to the health of the 

 citizens. Here agues, and fome other diforders 

 common in England, are little known. 



The fite of the old town is extremely lingular ; a 

 ridge or hill, rifes from the weft fide of Arthur's 

 feat, by a gradual afcent, and in a wellerly direction, 

 to the height of Too feet. It ftretches above a mile 

 in length, and terminates in a perpendicular rock of 

 300 feet from the bafe. This rock being inacccflible 

 on all fides, except the eaft, naturally fuddled the ex- 

 pediency of a fortrefs on the fumrnit,confifting of an 

 area of 6 1 .nglifh acres ; in what age, or by what 

 pie it was made a place of ftrength, hillory is filent. 

 From this origin we may, however, trace the pro- 

 grefs of the city; firft, in houles built contiguous to 

 the fortrefs or cattle, by which they might be pro- 

 tected, and there increafing, from age to age, 

 tended at length to the oppofite or lower termina- 

 tion of the ridge, near the bottom of Arthur's feat. 

 The old city therefore confifts chiefly of one ilrex-t, 

 built on the iummit of this Hoping ridge, and extend- 

 ing from one hill to the other. It is ftraight, well- 

 built, and confidered by the inhabitants as magniH- 

 cent. The houfes are generally 5 or 6 (lories high 

 in front, and from 6 to 10 (lories backwards, owing 

 to the narrownefs of the ridge, and its rapid declivity 



on 



