On the Rise of the Shores of the Firth of Forth. 293 



present road leading westward from Queensferry. Similar 

 effects have likewise been produced on the northern shores 

 of the Firth, at Culross and eastwards by St Davids, Burnt- 

 island, Kirkcaldy, and Dysart. The seaports along this 

 coast have all suffered more or less from encroachments of 

 the sea — roads, fences, gardens, fields, piers, and even dwel- 

 ling-houses, having been from time to time carried away."* 

 On evidence as to Carriden I have a few words to say. 

 Carriden, where the Wall of Antonine terminated, is more 

 than 100 feet above the mean level of the Forth. Any one 

 reading either of Mr Geikie's papers — more especially the 

 one read to the Geological Society of London — would most 

 naturally infer that he had seen the termination of the cele- 

 brated Roman Wall. In the above quotation he is more 

 modest and more accurate ; but for myself I did infer that a 

 visit to Carriden would give me a long looked for pleasure 

 to gaze on the works of men gathered to their fathers 1800 

 years ago. 



Let me shortly detail my disappointment. On reaching 

 Carriden, along with my friend Dr M'Bain, we announced 

 our object to the factor on the estate, Mr Alexander 

 Davidson. This gentleman has been on the property for 

 upwards of fifty-five years, and is, indeed, the best authority 

 on the subject. In answer to our queries regarding the 

 Roman Wall, he took us to a spot near the house of Carriden, 

 the seat of the gallant Admiral Hope, and pointed out to us 

 the position of a tree which he had assisted in removing 

 fifty years ago. The tree was an ash, and, on counting the 

 circular layers, it was found to be not less than 200 years 

 old. Now, this tree had entwined its roots round masonry 

 which had to be removed before these could be extirpated, 

 and then they came on the remains of what was supposed 

 the old Roman Wall. So here we find in this paper a state- 



* For further confirmation of this statement, the late William S. Young, 

 while resident at Fillieside House, Seafield, compelled the North British 

 Railway to give an entrance from the road south of the railway to the sea. 

 He gained his point by proving that there was a parish road between the 

 bottle-works at Leith and Portobello. Golf was also played within a hundred 

 years at Bathfield, between Leith and Newhaven. Mr Whitten, in the 

 Sheriff-Clerk's Office, can show the plans where the parish road is marked. 



