EDIXBURGII TO THE ROMAN CAMP. 81 



production of kelp as a substitute for barilla, as '^tlie 

 earlier stages of the process were calculated to en- 

 courage a seafaring life, and breed up seamen for the 

 navy/' Any attempt on the part of the Chancellor 

 of the Exchequer to increase the duties on soap was 

 therefore watched with an especially jealous eye ; 

 but beyond an attitude of defiance on herrings and 

 barilla we find hardly any trace of political action. 



The contests for the prize pipe took place in the 

 Theatre E-oyal at Edinburgh each July, '^'^irame- 

 xliately after the race.'^ The judges wore their na- 

 tional garb ; and on one occ:ision_, when Mr. James 

 Moray's piper won the prize pipe and forty merks to 

 boot, there were forty-five competitors, and upwards 

 of £150 was taken at the doors. The notation of pipe 

 music was carefully attended to, and it was a cardi- 

 nal rule that each candidate should deposit six ancient 

 pipe tunes with the Society. Those, too, who could 

 " produce tunes set to music by themselves, and sing 

 or recite ancient Gaelic poetry or lines not generally 

 known or published," were informed that they would 

 ^^racet with due encouragement." Sometimes Strath- 

 spey or ^^Twasomc" was danced as an interlude; 

 and both it and the playing were so keenly relished, 

 that more than once Sir John Sinclair had to warn 

 the company that if they encored the performers so 

 often the dinner-hour would lind^ them only half 

 through their work. Sir John quite gloried in being 

 chairman of the musical jury, and the Peninsular 

 war gave him great scope when lie distributed the 



