Mr Fulton of America, having seen Mr Miller's steam-vessel when in Scotland, turned the discovery to a practical use in his own country, where steam-boats were first introduced upon the river Hudson. But to Mr Henry Bell of Glasgow belongs the merit of bringing the steam-vessel to its present high state of perfection. By his persevering exertions, the first ever built in Great Britain was launched upon the Clyde in 1812; since then the number of steam-vessels has increased most rapidly. In Scotland alone, above thirty ply on the Clyde, and about twelve on the Firth of Forth; besides which, there is a constant communication by means of such boats between Leith and the east coast of Scotland, and London; and between Glasgow, and the western Highlands and islands; Inverness, through the Caledonian Canal; and also Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast, the Giant's Causeway, &c. TOUR I. FROM LEITH TO STIRLING, UP THE FIRTH OF An account has already been given of the beautiful Steam-boats sail every day from Trinity Chain Pier, west of Leith, for Stirling and Alloa, calling off north Queensferry, Limekilns, Borrowstounness, Kincardine, and Crombie Point. A Steam-boat sails at 8 o'Clock morning, from Trinity Chain Pier, for Grangemouth, calling off Inverkeithing, North Queensferry, Limekilns, Borrowstounness, and Crombie Point. Coaches run from 25, Prince's Street, and Duty House, north end of North Bridge, Edinburgh, for Trinity Chain Pier; and at either of those places, correct information respecting the time of sailing, &c. may be obtained. scenery upon the Firth of Forth, in describing the Excursion from Edinburgh to Hopetoun House, and of the most remarkable objects along its shores. To that description the Tourist is referred. Upon leaving Trinity Chain Pier, the burgh of Burntisland, distant six miles, will be observed almost directly opposite. This town has an excellent harbour and a dry dock; and its principal business is herring curing, and cooperage. The population of the parish is 2135. A succession of elegant marine villas appear along the south coast. Upon the same side, is a small bay formed by a headland, stand the ruins of Royston Castle, originally a hunting-seat of the kings of Scotland, and latterly the residence of Sir George Mackenzie, Bart. Lord Clerk Register, afterwards Viscount Tarbat and Earl of Cromarty, forfeited in 1715. Beyond this, on the same side, is Caroline Park, (Duke of Buccleuch ;) next appears Granton, (Lord President Hope,) the estate formerly of that great and patriotic lawyer, Sir Thomas Hope, advocate to Charles I. and ancestor of the noble family of Hopetoun, from whom its present proprietor is descended. Beyond Granton is Muirhouse, (William Davidson, Esq.) and near it is seen Lauriston Castle, (Thomas Allan, Esq.) the patrimonial residence of the famous John Law, projector of the Mississippi scheme, and ancestor of the French Marshal Lauriston. Towards the northern shore is the island of Inchcolm; and upon the coast, the bay and town of Aberdour, with its ancient Castle, and the modern house of the Earl of Morton. North of the Castle is Hillside, finely situate, and surrounded by modern improvements. Farther on, upon the same side, is Dalgetty Church, and at a little distance, the ruins of a castle which belonged to the Earls of Dunfermline. On the south side of the Firth, is a fine wooded headland, westward of which ABERDOUR-HOPETOUN HOUSE. 357 flows the river Almond, dividing the county of Edinburgh from that of Linlithgow. At the mouth of that river stands Cramond House, (Lady Torphichen,) the village of Cramond, and, in front, the small island of Next appear Barnbougle Castle, and Dalmeny Park, the seat of the Earl of Roseberry; and immediately opposite, is Donibristle, a fine seat of the Earl of Moray. that name. On the north shore, farther west, is the small burgh of Inverkeithing, beyond which the Firth contracts to the breadth of a mile and a half. Near the middle of this strait, is the fortified islet of Inchgarvie; and upon the two coasts, the towns of North and South Queensferry. Half a mile beyond the latter, is Port Edgar, where his Majesty, George IV. after a visit to the late lamented Earl of Hopetoun, embarked on board the royal yacht, 29th August 1822. The Forth again expands opposite Hopetoun-House, (already described) on the south. Considerably to the west, and elevated above the north coast, is the town of Dunfermline; and, in the far distance, the summits of the Grampians are seen above the intervening Ochils. Above North Queensferry, on the right, is Rosyth Castle in ruins; and beyond south Queensferry, on an eminence upon the left, Dundas Castle, the original seat of the family of Dundas before the 11th century, and still the residence of Dundas of that Ilk, their lineal descendant and representative. Farther on, upon the same side, is Hopetoun-House; next follow, Abercorn Kirk, near to where the Roman wall terminated, and Blackness Castle, seated upon a long narrow peninsula. A little farther, on the north side of the Forth, is the village of Limekilns, situate upon a height; beyond which is Broomhall, the seat of the Earl of Elgin, presenting a front of 470 feet, and built upon a Grecian model, under the direction of Mr Porden. Above Broomhall, is Charleston House and village, built by Lord Elgin for the exportation of lime from his quarries. Farther on, upon the right, is the village of Torryburn, next Torry, (Erskine, Bart.) and Newmills village. On a height stands the village of Valleyfield; below which, and a mile within water-mark, is a Coal Mine, and Pier, where vessels take in coal. Passing Carriden House, and Kirkgrange Salt Pans, upon the south shore, Borrowstounness, having an excellent harbour, is also observed and a little beyond the left; upon it, the Avon, which divides Linlithgowshire from Stirlingshire, falls into the Forth. Above Borrowstounness, on a height, is Kinneil-House, (Duke of Hamilton,) the residence of the late Dugald Stewart, Esq. A little beyond this, upon the same side, is Grangemouth, at the junction of the great Canal with the Carron, near the Forth. This town was begun by Sir Lawrence, ancestor of Lord Dundas, in 1777, and is now a place of considerable commercial importance.* Leaving Grangemouth, the burgh of Culross is seen upon the north coast; though a royal burgh, it is not now a place of such considerable note as it once was. Immediately behind it, upon an elevation, are the ruins of a Cistertian Abbey, founded, in 1217, by Malcolm, Earl of Fife, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and St Serf. When the Abbey was dissolved, its possessions were conferred upon Sir James Colville, who was created Lord Colville of Culross. The Earls of Argyll were hereditary bailies of the Abbey, and had an aisle adjoining to the church, in which some of them were buried. The Abbey afterwards became the property of the Earls * Grangemouth is three miles north by east of Falkirk, to which place, and to Lock Sixteen upon the Forth and Clyde Canal, in its neighbourhood, a coach runs daily. Commodious passage boats ply upon the Canal between Lock Sixteen and Glasgow. of Dundonald, and now belongs to Sir Robert Preston of Valleyfield, Bart. In former times, Culross was celebrated for its salt pans and coal mines. In the reign of James VI. the latter were wrought a great way under the sea, and the coals were shipped at the mound, which surrounded the mouth of a subterraneous communication with the coal pit, and defended it from the water. King James VI. upon a visit to the proprietor, Sir George Bruce, being conducted, by his own desire, into the mine, was insensibly led to the above mound, it being high tide. Seeing himself surrounded on all sides by the sea, he apprehended a plot, and bawled out "treason!" but Sir George dispelled his fears by handing him into an elegant pinnace that was lying along side. Three miles above Culross, upon the same side, is the town of Kincardine, where ship-building is carried on to a considerable extent; here is a ferry and steam-boat. On the opposite side, is Higgin's Nook, (John Burn Murdoch, Esq.) and, upon a height, Airth Castle, (Graham, Esq.) Farther on, upon the right, and near to Kincardine, stands Tulliallan Castle, the residence of Baroness Keith and Count Flahault, a splendid mansion built by the late Admiral Lord Keith; next, Kennet Pans, and Kilbagie Distilleries, and beyond, KennetHouse, the seat of Robert Bruce, Esq. Nearly opposite, upon the left, is Dunmore Park, the noble mansion of the Earl of Dunmore. Farther on, upon the right, is the burgh town of Clackmannan, the capital of the small shire of that name, agreeably situate upon an eminence. Towards the west of the town the ground is bold and rocky; and here stands the old tower of Clackmannan, said to have been built by Robert Bruce. In it are preserved that Monarch's great sword and casque, also a twohanded sword said to have belonged to Sir John Graham, the friend of Wallace. The proprietor of the tower is Lord Dundas. |