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torians, as having been men of extensive learning and 
great erudition; but their claims to this eulogy are probably 
overrated. The earliest genuine work relative to Scotland, is 
the Ch'ronicon Pictorurn, written by an Irish clergyman, 
supposed, with considerable probability, to have been a dig¬ 
nitary of the church of Abernethy, in the commencement of 
the eleventh century. In the twelfth century, the chronicles 
published by Innes, and those of Melrose and Holyrood, de¬ 
serve to be noticed. About the year 1270 flourished Thomas 
of Erceldon, commonly called Thomas the Rhymer, who 
wrote a metrical romance, called Sir Tristram, lately repub¬ 
lished by Sir W. Scott. The next writer of consequence is 
John Barbour, archdeacon of Aberdeen, who wrote a poem 
in commemoration of the heroic actions of Robert Bruce, 
in the year 1375, not less celebrated for its historical fidelity 
than for its poetical merit. About this time flourished John 
Fordun, designated the father of Scottish history. In the 
fifteenth century, James I. of Scotland, wrote some poems 
of great merit, and he was succeeded by Holland, and Henry 
the Rhymer. Next arose Dunbar, whose merit has entitled 
him to be placed at the head of the ancient Scottish poets. 
In the beginning of the sixteenth century flourished Gawin 
Douglas, and Sir David Lindsay. These were followed by 
many others of various merit, till the middle of the seven¬ 
teenth century, when the unhappy events of that turbulent 
period checked the career of the arts and sciences. Before 
this, however, the illustrious Drummond had consigned to 
the world his exquisite poems. In modern times, the field of 
poetical merit has been more luxuriant. The names of Thom* 
son, Ramsay, Blair, Armstrong, Beattie, Burns, Campbell 
and Scott, with many others, are held in universal estimatio 
In the other departments of science, though of later culti¬ 
vation, the Scots have made rapid progress. In history, the 
names of Boethius and Buchanan, are every where revered. 
The classic elegance and purity of the style of the latter, has 
entitled him to rank with the first authors of antiquity. In 
our own age, among other historians of great merit, have 
arisen Hume and Robertson, whose works will ever be read 
with enthusiastic delight by the admirers of taste and genius. 
In the mathematical department, lord Napier, the celebrated 
inventor of the logarithms; Maclaurin, no less celebrated 
for his astronomical works; and Dr. Simpson, noted for 
his knowledge of ancient geometry, have acquired a lasting 
reputation. In medicine, the names of Monro, Cullen, and 
the Hunters and Barclays, may be mentioned as holding 
the highest rank; and in the department of metaphysical 
and moral sciences, the labours of Hume, Hutchinson, Reid, 
Campbell, Beattie, Monboddo, Kaimes, Smith, and Fer¬ 
guson, do honour to their country. Scotland has also attained 
the praise of superior excellence in other departments of 
science, particularly in political economy and in chemistry. 
Education .—The mode of education adopted in this 
country is highly laudable, and is probably the best prac¬ 
ticable system established in any kingdom. The plan fol¬ 
lowed in the cities and large towns, is nearly similar to that 
of England ; that is, by private seminaries and great public 
schools, of which the High School of Edinburgh is the most 
eminent. But the chief advantage of the Scottish education 
arises from the circumstance of every country parish having 
a schoolmaster, regularly appointed by the heritors, in the 
same way as the clergyman, who receives a small salary, 
which enables him to educate the children of the parishioners 
at a rate easy and convenient even to the most indigent 
parents. In the Highlands, the children of the poor are 
occupied as herds during summer, and in winter attend 
schools. To be unable to read and write is considered so 
disgraceful in Scotland, that persons are scarcely ever to be 
met with in such a condition. 
X.— Antiquities. 
Monuments of antiquity of every age, from the Celtic 
colonization of the kingdom, are yet visible in various dis¬ 
tricts. Those of the first epoch are all of the tumular 
kind, and are only to be discovered by nice investiga¬ 
tion in the more wild and uncultivated tracts. Of the 
Von. XXII. No. 1545. 
Roman period, the remains are numerous, consisting of ves¬ 
tiges of roads, stations, encampments, foundations of walls, 
and other minor antiquities. The celebrated wall of Anto¬ 
ninus may yet be traced, with perfect accuracy, nearly the 
whole of its extent from the Forth to the Clyde; and many 
interesting inscriptions are frequently dug up from its ruins. 
Near it was formerly a small edifice called Arthur’s Oven, 
which the most intelligent antiquaries suppose to have been 
a temple dedicated to the god Terminus. The most northerly 
Roman camp yet discovered is situated on the river Ythan, 
in Aberdeenshire; and there are some roads extending into 
the county of Angus; but the chief remains of them are 
south of the walls' The monuments of the Pictish era con¬ 
sist of those circles of stones, cromlechs, &c., usually, but 
erroneously, denominated Druidicial temples; and of those 
artificial mounds or hills, whence the Pictish and Dalriad 
kings were wont to promulgate their laws. The most re¬ 
markable stone circles in the kingdom, are those in the isle 
of Lewis, and on the Mainland of Orkney. The structures 
commonly called “ Piets’ houses,” and the heaps of stones 
called “ cairns,” or “ karns,” have also been supposed to 
belong to this age; but Pinkerton refers the latter entirely to 
the Dalriads, or Scots, and thinks the former may be Danish, 
as it is certain similar edifices have been traced in Scandi¬ 
navia. They seem to have consisted of a vast hall, open to 
the sky in the centre, and having recesses for beds, &c., in 
the wall. “ These buildings,” says the author last men¬ 
tioned, “ are remarkable, as displaying the first elements of 
the Gothic castle; and the castle of Coningsburgh, in York¬ 
shire, forms an easy transition.” The remains of later ages 
are the sculptured obelisks at Forres, and other places; 
which are probably monuments of signal events, such as 
battles and treaties of peace; the noted vitrified forts, and 
churches, abbeys and castles almost innumerable. Among 
the more remarkable buildings which owe their origin to 
religion, are the abbeys of Melrose, Jedburgh and Aber- 
brothick; the cathedrals of Dunkeld, Glasgow and Brechin ; 
and the chapel ofRosslyn, near Edinburgh. The last is one 
of the most singular and interesting remains of ancient archi¬ 
tecture in Great Britain; and Melrose abbey may vie with 
many m England, both as to the extent and magnificence 
of its buildings. 
SCOTLAND, a small hamlet of England, in the isle of 
Purbeck, Devonshire; ] mile north of Corfe Castle. 
SCOTLAND, a river on the west side of the island of 
Barbadoes, which runs into the sea; 4 miles south-south¬ 
east of Cuckold’s point. 
SCOTLAND, Old and New, two suburbs of Dantzic. 
See Dantzic. 
SCOTLAND NECK, a post village of the United States, 
in Halifax county. North Carolina. 
SCOTLAND WELL, a village of Scotland, in Kinross- 
shire ; 3 miles west of Lesslie. 
SCOTODINOS, a term used by medical writers to express 
a vertigo, or dizziness of the head, attended with a dimness 
of sight. 
SCO'TOMY, Sco'tomia, orSco'TOMA, s. [o-^ora/za, Gr.] 
A dizziness or swimming in the head, causing dimness of 
sight, wherein external objects seem to turn round. Unused. 
How does he with the swimming of his head ? 
—O, sir, ’tis past the scotomy ; he now 
Has lost his feeling. B. Jonson. 
I have got the scotomy in my head already, 
The whimsey; you all turn round. Massinger. 
SCOTT (Michael), a celebrated Scotsman of the 13th 
century, was born at Balwearie, in Fife, about the begin¬ 
ning of the reign of Alexander II. At a very early period 
he made great progress in language, as well as the mathe¬ 
matics; and having finished his studies at home, he went 
over into France, where he remained some years; but hear¬ 
ing that the emperor Frederick II. was a great patron of 
learning and learned men, he repaired to the court of that 
prince, and applied himself closely to all the branches of 
philosophy then studied. After residing some time in Ger- 
10 K many. 
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