SCOTLAND.

SITUATION, EXTENT, CLIMATE, FACE OF
THE COUNTRY, &c.

SCOTLAND comprehends that part of the island

of Great Britain, which lies north of the river Tweed, and is situated between 54 and 59 degrees of north latitude. It is bounded on all sides by the sea, except on the south-east, where it is joined to England. It extends 278 miles in length, but the breadth is variable, being in some places 180 miles, and in others not more than 50 or 60. It contains an area of 27,794 miles, having about 12,151,471 acres of cultivated, and 14,218,224 acres of uncultivated land, the remainder of the surface being occupied by rivers and lakes.

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From its situation in the midst of a great ocean, and in such a northern latitude, Scotland cannot boast of a regular climate. It is likewise various in different places from its insular situation, however, the cold is not so intense as in similar latitudes on the continent; the thermometer does not even siuk so low during the winter as it does in the neighbourhood of London. Mountainous countries are always most subject to rain; and Great Britain being a sort of inclined plain, gradually declining from west to east, it has been supposed that on this account, the western coast is the most rainy; but in this part of the island we are inclined to think that the rain is rather owing to the prevalence of the west wind, which brings humidity with it, from the Atlantic Ocean; hence we find that more rain falls at Greenock than at Glasgow, and more at Glasgow than at Edinburgh: the east coast is however shrivelled and nipt, during the spring months, by cold and piercing east winds. Notwithstanding

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withstanding all which, the air of Scotland is in general pure and healthy.

Scotland is naturally divided into two great divisions, Highlands and Lowlands; and it may again be divided into three parts, which may be called the north, middle, and south divisions. The first or northern division is separated from the middle by a chain of lakes, stretching from the Moray Frith to Loch Linnhe; the second or middle division is separated from the southern by the Friths of Forth and Clyde, and the Great Canal in the northern; it presents nothing to the eye but an assemblage of vast mountains, bordered however on the north-east and east coasts, with vales and level tracts tolerably fertile; the middle division also contains many ranges of mountains, particularly the Grampians, stretching from Aberdeenshire to the Atlantic Ocean. In these two divisions, which comprehends more than two thirds of Scotland, the arable land bears but a small proportion to the mountainous regions, which are of such ruggedness and sterility as nearly to defy the efforts of human industry. The eastern coast of the middle division and a greater part of the southern, bears a resemblance to England, and in the southern division may be seen every sort of rural variety, having in many parts verdant plains watered by copious streams, and covered with innumerable flocks of cattle; some of the tracts abounding with prospects of the most romantic kind.

The principal ridges of mountains are the Grampians; the Pentland-hills in Lothian; the Lammermuir-hills in Berwickshire; the Ochils, in Fife and Perthshire; and the Cheviot-hills, on the English borders.

The following is a list of the most remarkable mountains and hills, with their heights above the level of

the sea.

In Perthshire.

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The ancient forests of Scotland have been greatly diminished, yet there are considerable remains in the districts of Marr, and Glentanar, Rannoch, Glenmore, and Strathspey, and in Ross-shire. The fir is the most common timber.

The soil of Scotland consists of every variety in nature, and its general character in point of fertility is much inferior to England. The Highlands have been compared with the moorlands of Yorkshire; but of late the principal nobility and gentry have formed themselves into a society, called The Highland Society of Scotland, giving premiums and various encouragements, for the improvement of the waste lands, and the amelioration of the breeds of black cattle and sheep. The soil produces wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, and beans, flax, hemp, hay, potatoes, &c. and almost every sort of crop in common with England, although not in such perfection, and at times precarious with the season. Apples and several fruits are also produced in great abundance: Juniper shrubs grow naturally on the hills, and the whortle or blue berries (vaccinium mertillum) grow on the highest mountains, in the greatest abundance.

MINES AND MINERALS.

Scotland at present cannot boast of mines of the most precious metals, but considerable quantities of gold and silver have been found at different times; no mines are now wrought solely for silver, but the

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