I N V 





1770, contains a prison, and apartments for the business 

 of the burgh, and for public meetings. 1 he parish 

 Inverness. c j, U rch, and the church for the burgher seccders, are 

 the only other public buildings. 



IHverkeithing H ^^vcrned by a provost, two bailies, 

 a dean of guild, and treasurer, who are elected annually 

 by the councillors and the deacons of the trades. It re- 

 ceived its charter fr i. m \Vi"i:im the I.ion. David I. re- 

 sided in it; and within these 50 years the vestiges of 

 his house remained. King James VI. ratified the char- 

 ter granted by preceding monarch?, bv a writ dated 4th 

 May ! 



There are almost no manufactures in Inverkeithing. 

 An iron foundry, on a small scale, has been established; 

 and there are several salt pans, which annually make 

 about 15,000 bushel* of salt. The trade of the town 

 illy of the export of coals, to the extent 

 of about 25,000 tons annually. The harbour has from 

 1 3 to 15 feet of water at spring tides, and there are good 

 quays for loading and ui! ^stl-. Tie bay of In- 



verkeithing, which i* separated from the Frith of Forth 

 by the Ferry hills, affords excellent anchorage for ves- 

 sels of any burden ; and it is here that the ships of 

 war stationed in I.eith Koads often ride in severe storms. 

 The Domiiin 11- and ttic Franciscans had convents here, 

 but no rtmaii's of them are now to be seen. The popula- 

 tion of the tt.w M - ibinit IKOO. In the year 1811, the 

 population of the burgh and parish was 



Inhabited houses 



Families .'ijy 



Do. employed in trade and manufactures 1 

 Population 24OO 



INVI'.ltM.SS, an ancient and flourishing burgh 

 and tea-port town of Scotland, and capital of the 

 ty, takes its name from its situation at the junction of 

 the river Ness with the Moray Firth. It i- 106 miles 

 north north-west of rr" 5" 



. and it* Long. 4* 5' West. Deing, from its geo- 

 graphical position and importance, resorted to from all 

 parts of the northern counties for many r.ecesaary ar- 

 ticles of consumption, as well as in conirqurnci 

 circuit courts, and of its eminarr 

 meetings for business and convivi. 

 as the capita) of the Highlands. The older and 

 portion of the town occupies an extensive alluvial plain 

 on the eattern bank of the river, stretching towards 

 the sea, from the more elevated country rising abruptly 

 over it ; wbilrt the more modem part, lies in the same 

 plain on the western bank. It* noble and majestic river, 

 ever filling its banks with a smooth and unvarying 

 trrani, the richness of the garden*, nurseries, cult; 

 fields, and hedge rows in iu neighbourhood, the rocky, 

 broken, and beautifully wooded hills riling from the 

 plain to the west, its vicinity to the Moray and Beauly 

 firtln with their bold shores, combine to render it* M- 

 tuation one of the most cV -liat can be imagined. 



Although the town it-< <. , it is nevertheless 



healthy ; and it hi- tlie advantage of possessing tone 

 very beautiful and elevated w., >% here 



a pure and salubrious air, as well at the DXMt spteodM 

 and exhilarating views, may be enjoyed. A in 

 these, the ascent to the summit of Craig Phadr.ick 

 (see FOBTS I'itrijied,) may be particularized, whence 

 may be commanded, a pro-pert as varied and extensive 

 as the eye can covet. The eastern part of the town con- 

 tain* one large and spacious street, called East-street, 

 running from east to west along the foot of a strep 



C-rrr-' .- 



181 I N V 



bank. From this, two others called New-street and Invemc*. 

 Church-street, branch off at right angles in a northerly * """V~~ 

 direction ; and there arc besides these, one or two run- 

 ning with a considerable ascent up the bank to the 

 south. In this part of the town are many buildings of con. 

 siderable antiquity, in which are observed many curious- 

 ly carved stones with grotesque figures, coats of arras, and 

 inscriptions. East-street is connected with the western 

 part of the town, through Bridge-street, by a very pic- 

 turesque, though rather inconvenient old bridge of 

 seven arches, built by subscription in 1686'. Beneath 

 the arches are projecting ribs of stone, producing a 

 very massive effect. A troublesome toll of a halfpenny 

 is levied from people passing this bridge on foot, which 

 ought certainly to be done away. The western part 

 of the town is less ancient and less extensive, but there 

 are a good many respectable looking houses facing the 

 river, and some neat streets have been lately begini. 

 A little above the harbour, the two sides of the river are 

 also united by a very handsome wooden bridge, of mo- 

 dern erection, much admired for the ingenuity and excel- 

 lence of its structure. A very beautiful walk has been 

 lately made on the eastern bank, running between the 

 ends of the two bridges, forming a delightful promenade. 



The town contains two churches and a chapel of p,,),^ 

 ease ; the former have three established clergymen, buildings. 

 and the latter one. In one of the churches Ciatli.- is 

 exclusively preached, and in the chapel of ease it is on- 

 ployed alternately with English. There is also an 



I'll chapel, with a bishop, and a methodic cha- 

 pel. The tolbooth and court-house, situated at the en- 

 trance to Church-street from East-street, is a very hand- 

 some building, having an extremely elegant tower and 

 spire rising over the front. This is 150 feet high, of 

 very beautiful proportion, and was built about '20 years 

 ago by the architect of the spire of St. Andrew's church 



ibtir^h, to which, though not so taper, it bears 

 considerable resemblance. In the ground floor of the 

 bi-ilding there is a military guard-house. The court- 

 room, though by no means bad in itself, is rather in- 

 convenient in its entrance ; and the interior arrange, 

 ment would admit of considerable- improvement. Here, 

 during arc held the criminal and jury court*, 



for the counties of Orkney, Caithness. Sut!uvl 

 Row, Cromarty, Inverness, Nairn, and Moray. Tl e 

 cell* for criminal*, on the second floor, are furnished 

 with cast iron bedsteads, benches, &c. on the plan of 

 the benevolent Howard. There is also a long gallery 

 hi front, with large open barrtd windows, where the 

 prisoners are a! take air and exercise. The 



third floor is occupied by the debtors' rooms, and apart- 

 ments for those confined in civil cases. The town- 

 hall i* a large plain building, opposite the head of 

 Church-street, having in front a pavement of 80 or 90 

 feet square, serving as an exchange. The ground-floor 

 consists of shops ; in the second floor is the council* 

 chamber, and a chartef-room ; and the upper is em- 



I for the meetings and courts of the dean of guild 

 and" his council. Near the upper end of Church-street 

 are the assembly-rooms of the Northern Meeting, erected 

 by Mitxcription about 178O. The edifice is rather heavy 



\trrior, but contains large and elegant dining and 

 ball-rooms, and several commodious smaller apartments. 

 It is intended for the accommodation of the nobility 

 and gentry of the northern counties, who meet annually 

 for a week in the month of October for the enjoyment 

 of field sports ; the evening of each day being spent in 

 a public dinner and ball. The building was originally 



