HADDINGTON

HADDINGTON, COUNTY OF, otherwise called
East Lothian, is bounded by Mid Lothian on the west;
on the north by the frith of Forth; on the east by the
German ocean; and it is separated from the county of
Berwick by the Lammermuir hills. It is about 25 miles
long, and from 12 to 16 broad, being computed one of
the most fertile counties in the kingdom, producing
abundance of wheat and every species of grain. Even
the mountainous part of it towards the south is admi-
rably adapted to the rearing of sheep. The inhabi-
tants on the sea coasts employ themselves in fishing,
making of salt, foreign trade, and the exportation of
corn. Several branches of the linen and woollen manu-
facture have been established in the interior of the
county, and are in a flourishing condition. There is a
manufacture of sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) established
at Prestonpans, and one for sal ammoniac near the
same place.

It contains three royal boroughs, viz. Haddington,
North Berwick, and Dunbar; besides a number of well
peopled villages and towns, such as Tranent, Preston-
pans, Aberlady, Dirleton, &c. In this county also
there are many feasts of noblemen and gentlemen, such
as those of the duke of Roxburgh, marquis of Tweedale,
earl of Haddington, Lord Blantyre, earl of Wemyss,
Lord Elbink, earl of Hopetoun, Sir James Hall,
Hay of Drummelzier, &c. &c. In this county there
is abundance of coal of an excellent quality, of freestone
and limestone; ironstone is found in the parish of Hum-
bie, and in the vicinity of Stenton there are some traces
of an ore of lead. It is divided into 24 parishes. The
population in 1801 amounted to 29,986 souls, and
the actual rent of the whole has been estimated at
168,878l. 5s. 10d. sterling. The following table ex-
hibits a view of the population of this county, ac-
cording to the Statistical History of Scotland.