PERTH Proper

PERTH Proper, stretching 20 miles in length, and at some places 15 in breadth, is bounded on the north-east, by the Carse of Gowrie; on the east, by Angus; on the west, by Stratherne; on the north, by Athol; and on the south, by the frith of Tay. This is likewise a fruitful country, populous and well cultivated, abounding with gentlemen who possess opulent estates; with farmers who understand agriculture; and with manufacturers who turn their industry to great account. North-eastward from Perth to Brechin lies the vale of Strathmore, one of the most fertile districts in Scotland, which gives the title of Earl to the noble family of Lyon.

The population of this county in 1801 amounted to 126,366 (A).

The following table shows the state of the population, according to its parishes at two different periods.

Perth. PERTH, the capital of the county of that name, is an agreeable, populous town, situated 20 miles within land, on the south bank of the river Tay. It was otherwise called St Johnston's, from a church dedicated to St John, as the patron of the place. It is a royal borough, second in dignity to the metropolis, the seat of a large presbytery, and gave the title of Earl to the family of Drummond, which is now forfeited. James Drummond, 4th earl, was created duke of Perth by James II. for adhering to whose interests he was outlawed. His two grandsons were attainted in 1745. No less than 14 national councils have been held at Perth between 1201 and 1439. But the oldest was at Scone, A. D. 926. Perth, in the reign of Edward I. of England, was possessed by the English, who secured it with fortifications: but after an obstinate resistance, they were expelled by Robert Bruce. In the year 1715, the rebels made it a place of arms, and retired to it, after the battle of Dumblane; but they were in a little time dislodged by the duke of Argyle, and retreated northwards with the pretender. They possessed it also in 1745. The pretender was proclaimed king, new magistrates were appointed, and an attempt was made to fortify it. The town is populous and handsome; the streets are well paved, and tolerably clean at all times; and the houses, though not stately, make a very decent appearance. Both the streets and houses are, for the greater part, disposed in a regularity of plan, which proves them not to be of the most remote antiquity. It is indeed true, that the level situation, being singularly favourable to regularity, might, even from the first, give this an advantage over many of our old boroughs. Several streets run in a direction parallel with the river, as far as a right line can bear this relation to a curve line, nearly between east and west: these are again intersected by others extending between north and south. It should seem that anciently particular streets were inhabited, each by a particular class of artisans. The names still preserved seem to indicate as much. The shop-keepers or merchants occupied one street; the hammermen a second; and other crafts occupied, in the same manner, each a separate street. Many of the houses in that street called the Water-gate, seem to be very old buildings. Towards the south end of the Water-gate stands the famous palace of the Gowrie family. The house, and the very room, where the attempt of the Gowries to seize or assassinate the king was supposed to have been made, is now converted into barracks for a train of artillery; but the back-stair, down which the Ruthvens were thrown, is pulled down. This strange event, however magnified or attested by contemporary writers, is made up of so many improbabilities, or circumstances for which no reason can be assigned, that Sir David Dalrymple, in republishing the account printed by authority, 1600, preparatory to his further observations on it, seems justified in absolutely discrediting a fact which passed for problematical with so many persons at the very time. Dr Robertson supposes it a plot of Elizabeth to get James into her power. Mr Cant having discussed the whole story of the conspiracy in his Muse's Threnodie, p. 185—261, concludes, "that as this would have been a very impolitic measure, the best way of accounting for it is by James's known hatred to the Puritans, and wish to get rid of two popular characters." The king had been seized and forced from his favourites by the father of the Ruthvens 12 years before

(1582), and though he affected to forgive him, took the first opportunity to condemn and execute him as a traitor, 1584. Mr Camden was too good a courtier to speak with impartiality of any part of this weak monarch's conduct. Though the name of Gowrie was abolished, the title of Ruthven was revived in the person of Sir Thomas Ruthven of Freeland, whom Charles II. 1651, created Lord Ruthven: but the honour, on the death of his son David in 1704, devolved on Isabel, surviving daughter of his second sister, who married Sir Francis Ruthven, and was succeeded, 1732, by his son James.

The castle of Perth stood near the red bridge, which terminated the narrow street called Skinner-gate. At the end of the Castle-street another narrow street leads west to the Black-friars, called Cowrie-fellow-row, where the curfew bell was. The kings of Scotland before James II. were crowned at Scone, and resided at Perth as the metropolis of the nation. James resided and was educated in the castle of Edinburgh, and was crowned there 1437. The parliaments and courts of justice were removed from Perth to Edinburgh, but Perth kept its priority till 22 James III. 1482.

The church in which John Knox harangued is still standing, and is now divided into three; named the east, the middle, and the west kirks. The east kirk was lately very handsomely modernised within. There is an old hospital, a considerable building, the founding of which is ascribed to James VI. The town-house fluts up the eastern end of the High-street. A monastery of Carthusians was here established by King James I. of Scotland, who lost his life on the very spot, by the treachery of Athol and his accomplices. The king was buried in a very stately monument in this place, which was called monasterium vallis virtutis, one of the most magnificent buildings in the kingdom, which with the rest was destroyed by the populace. James VI. created George Hay commendator of the Carthusian priory, giving him all its endowments, with a vote and seat in parliament; but these not being sufficient to support the title, he surrendered it back to the king. The only remains of this magnificent structure is to be seen in the carved stones with which the south-east porch of St John's church is built, now greatly decayed. The king's garment full of stabs was preserved here after the reformation.

The town was anciently provided with a stone bridge over the river, which an inundation swept away; but a new and very fine one has lately been built, the most beautiful structure of the kind in North Britain, and was designed and executed by Mr Smeaton. Its length is 900 feet; the breadth (the only blemish) 22 within the parapets. The piers are founded 10 feet beneath the bed of the river, upon oaken and beechen piles, and the stones laid in puzzolano, and crammed with iron. There are nine arches, of which the centre is 75 feet in diameter. This noble work opens a communication with all the different great roads of the kingdom, and was completed at the expense of 26,000l. Of this the commissioners of forfeited estates, by his majesty's permission, gave 11,000l.; Perth 2000l.; private subscribers 475l. the royal boroughs 500l. But still this great work would have met with a check for want of money, had not the earl of Kinnoull, with his characteristic public spirit, advanced the remaining sum, and taken the security.

curacy of the tolls, with the hazard only to himself. The whole expence has now been defrayed, and the toll has ceased.

This town has but one parish, which has two churches, besides meetings for separatists, who are very numerous. One church, which belonged to a monastery, is very ancient: not a vestige of the last is now to be seen; for the disciples of Knox made a general desolation of every edifice that had given shelter to the worshippers of the church of Rome: it being one of his maxims, to pull down the nests, and then the rooks would fly away.

The flourishing state of Perth is owing to two accidents: the first, that of numbers of Cromwell's wounded officers and soldiers choosing to reside here, after he left the kingdom, who introduced a spirit of industry among the people; the other cause was the long continuance of the earl of Marr's army here in 1715, which occasioned vast sums of money being spent in the place. But this town, as well as all Scotland, dates its prosperity from the year 1745; the government of this part of Great Britain having never been settled till a little after that time.

That this town does not owe its origin to William I. 1210, as Boethius says, is evident from its being mentioned as a considerable place in the foundation charter of Holyroodhouse by David I. 1128.

The population of Perth in 1791 is said to have been nearly 20,000; but it is supposed that it has since increased to 22,000.

The trade of Perth is considerable. It exports annually 150,000. worth of linen, from 24,000 to 30,000 bolls of wheat and barley to London and Edinburgh, and a very large quantity of cured salmon. That fish is taken there in vast abundance; 3000 have been caught in one morning; weighing, one with another, 16 pounds; the whole capture 48,000 pounds. The fishery begins on St Andrew's day, and ends August 26th old style. The rents of the fisheries amount to considerably upwards of 3000. per. annum. Smelts come up this river in May and June. W. Long. 3. 27. N. Lat. 56. 22.