prodigions but the greatest treasures of the animal world in Scotland, are the multitudes of fish with which its seas are filled. The whale frequently appears, and the basking shark often shows himself in the western bays. The herring presents itself in vast abundance, all along both the eastern and western shores; and the salmon is so plentiful in the rivers, that the exportation to England and other countries, forms a very considerable article of commerce. Pearls are also found in a species of mussel, in several of the Scotch rivers and lakes, Vegetables. The lowlands of Scotland in their vegetable productions, differ little from England; but in the mountainous tracts of the highlands, many plants are found which only in the Alps, and other elevated regions, are met with. In the highlands also are vast natural forests of pine and birch; and plantations of various sorts of timber have, for many years past, been carried on by a number of great proprietors, to an extent of which it is difficult to form a conception. ISLANDS. The Island of Britain possesses a multitude of smaller isles, scattered along its shores, particularly on the west and north parts. Holy island and Coquet lie under the shores of Northumberland. Thanet in Kent was once an island separated from the mainland by a navigable channel, on which at Richborough the Rhutupia of the Romans, was a principal station for ships. Wight. On the coast of Hampshire lies the Isle of Wight, rich and beautiful; about 20 miles long by 12 miles broad. Portland. The isle of Purbeck is properly a peninsula bus but the vast mass of stone composing the isle of Portland, has evidently been surrounded by the sea. Scilly-About 26 miles west from the extremity of Cornwall, lie the isles of Scilly or Silley, a cluster of low rocks and islands, of which the largest, St. Mary's, is about 5 miles in circuit. The whole population of these isles is about 1000 persons. Anglesey-A number of small isles line the shores of Wales; but Anglesey at the north-west corner is a considerable and fruitful island, being 25 miles long, and 18 broad; the chief town is Beaumaris. This island is the Mona mentioned in Tacitus' life of Agricola, and is now remarkable for its invaluable copper mine, in the Parys mountain already mentioned: from Holy-head on the most advanced point is the established passage from England to Dublin. Mann-In the midst of the Irish sea, at nearly equal distances from England, Scotland, and Ireland, lies the isle of Mann, the Monada and Menavia of the Romans: its length from north to south is about 30 miles, and its greatest breadth about 15 miles, The island is in general hilly, Mount Snafel in the middle rising to the height of 1,640 feet. It produces lead, copper, and iron, with limestone and slate, and contains about 40,000 inhabitants, members of the church of England, under their own bishop, who al though within the province of the archbishop of York, has no seat in the British house of Peers. This island formerly had kings of its own, and it remained in many respects independent on Britain down to the year 1765, when government purchased the sovereignty of the proprietor, the duke of Athol. The interior of Mann is in general bleak and unproductive, but the shores and vales afford good pasture and corn. The principal towns are Douglas, Castletown, and Ramsay. 1 2 HEBUDES. MIELIOTECA HEBUDES.-The whole western coast of Scotland is covered with a range of islands, some of them of consider able size, called in general from their situation with respect to that country, the western islands: but they are mentioned by Pliny, Solinus, and Ptolemy, by the name of Hebudes, or Ebude, terms which for some time past have been frequently but absurdly corrupted into Hebrides. Arran. Two islands lying in the entrance of the Firth of Clyde, are, however, not reckoned amongst the Hebudes: these are Arran and Bute. Arran is a mountainous island 23 miles in length and 9 in breadth, containing about 7,000 inhabitants. -- Bute. Bute is in length 12 miles and in breadth 4 miles: the inhabitants about 4800: the chief town is othsay, which gives the title of duke to the Prince of Wales. Ilay.-Proceeding from south to north, the principal islands of the Hebudes arc, Ilay, 24 miles long by 18 in breadth; the inhabitants 12,000. This island produces some copper and lead, and exports great numbers of cattle. Jura. This island is 20 miles in length, by 5 in breadth, extremely mountainous and ragged, the highest of the singular conical summits, called the Paps, rising 3,400 feet above the sea; the inhabitants about 1200. On the north end of this island is situated the dangerous whirlpool called Corry Vrecan, which, according to the state of the tide, extends its fury for above a mile in diameter. | Mull.-Mull, lying close to the continent of Scotland, is one of the largest of the Hebudes, being 28 miles in length, and 18 in breadth, containing above 8,000 inhabitants. Iona.-Adjoining to the south-west corner of Mull, is Tous, or Y-columb-kil, so early as in the sixth century the seat of religion and literature, Staffa. Staffa. A few miles to the northward of fona lies the celebrated and singular Staffa, a small island entirely composed of groupes of basaltic columns. Skye. To the northward of Mull is Skye, about 45 miles long, but of very unequal breadths in different places: the inhabitants are about 15,000: the island is hilly and rugged, producing little corn, but exporting numbers of cattle and small horses. Lewis. Twenty miles north-west from Skve is situated the island of Lewis, the largest of all the Hebudes, being about CO miks in length from south to north, and above 20 in breadth in the middle; but narrow at each end. The interior of this island consists of mountains covered with heath, but the shores produce oats, barley, flax, and hemp. The animals are, the red deer, horses, cattle, goats, and hogs. The chief place in the island is Stornaway, a considerable town, situated on a bay forming an excellent har bour. Vist.-Near the south end of Lewis is North Vist, an island of the same description, but less considerable; being in length about 22 miles by 17 in breadth. ORKNEY ISLANDS.-Separated by a channel of the breadth of a few miles from the most northerly point of Scotland lie the Orkneys, twenty-six in number, composed of a cluster of small isles scattered round the largest, called Mainland. The inhabitants of the whole are reckoned at about 24,000. The principal town is Kirkwall, seated on a good harbour, and formerly a bishop's see, the cathedral, a venerable gothic structure, still remaining in good condition : These islands export cattle, hides, salt fish, tallow, coarse linen, and frequently corn; the soil of Mainland`is in general good but shallow. SHETLAND ISLANDS.-About thirty miles from the most northerly of the Orkneys, lies the most southerly of the Shetland islands, a cluster resembling the Orkneys, having a large a large island, also called Mainland, in the centre, múch indented by the sea, but in a general sense about 55 miles long from north to south, and in the centre about 15 in breadth, although in many places not above two miles across. The only place of note in these islands is Lerwick, a small town seated on a circular bay, forming an excellent harbour, completely landlocked by the isle of Brassa, whence the bay is called Brassa Sound, a much-frequented place of rendezvous for vessels employed in the northern fisheries. The inhabitants of the Shetland isles are computed to exceed 20,000. Alderney. About 50 miles due south from the isle of Portland, and 9 miles west from Cape La Hogue in France, lies the little isle of Alderney, eight miles in circuit; the inhabitants being reckoned nearly 1000. The strait between this island and France, called the Race of Alderney, is noted for the impetuous and dangerous setting of the currents at particular states of the tide. Guernsey.-South-west from Alderney 18 miles lies Guernsey, of a triangular shape, being 12 miles in extent from east to west, and 9 from south to north; a fruitful island, healthy, and well-peopled; the chief town is St. Pierre, having a good harbour on the east side, Jersey. Twenty miles south-south-east from Guernsey is situated Jersey, a pleasant, fruitful, and well-cultivated island, in length about 12 miles and in breadth from 5 to 6. The chief town is St. Helier, situated on the east side of a fine bay, on the south side of the Island. The inhabitants are supposed to amount to 20,000. These islands are independent of the British parliament, being governed under the Crown by their own laws, and are all now remaining to the kings of England of their antient possessions in France. |