102 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



their improper tionate ill contrivance ; because, 

 when to consider a dwarf of a house so cover- 

 ed over with a gigantick roof. By which, you 

 may imagine, our former projectors had but lit- 

 tle project for curious contrivances ; and, to 

 speak plain English, as little costly. 



The next thing in course that falls under our 

 consideration, will be their artificers. But the 

 Moors (more than all the rest) have gain'd the 

 reputation for the temper of dirks, razors, and 

 knives, whose temper is so exact, that it super- 

 excels afc the mechanicks in Scotland. Where, 

 ixote, you may. observe there are artists amongst 

 them, though not one good structure to be 

 found in Kilmarnock ; nor do I remember any 

 wall it has, but a river there is, as I formerly 

 told you of, that runs through the town ; over 

 which there stood a bridg so wretchedly an- 

 cient, that it's unworthy our commendations 

 any otherwise, than as travellers commend the 

 bridg they go over. 



Another part of their manufacture is knitting 

 of bonnets, and spinning of Scotish cloth ; which 

 turns to very good account. Then, for their 

 temper of metals, they are without compeer ; 

 Scotland has not better. And, as they are arti- 

 zans in dirks, so are they artists in fudling, as 

 if there were some rule in drinking. So that, 

 to me, it represents as if art and ale were inse- 



