a town in the isle of Bute, of which it is the capital. It is a well-built town of small houses, and about 200 families; and is within these few years much improved. It has a good pier, and is seated at the bottom of a fine bay, whose mouth lies exactly opposite to Loch Steven in Cowal. Here is a fine depth of water, a secure retreat, and a ready navigation down the Frith for an export trade. Magazines of goods for foreign parts might be most advantageously erected here. The women of this town spin yarn, the men support themselves by fishing. W. Long. 5. o. N. Lat. 55. 50.

Rothsay gives the title of Duke to the prince of Scotland, a title which was formerly accompanied with suitable revenues, powers, and privileges. Of the origin of this title we have the following account from the pen of the learned Dr McLeod of Glasgow. Some time between the 16th of March and the 26th of October 1398, John of Gaunt, who is styled John duke of Aquitaine and Lancaster, uncle to the king of England, and David, who is styled earl of Carrick, eldest son of the king of Scotland, met for the purpose of settling the borders, and terminating all matters in dispute. At a subsequent interview between the same parties, David is styled Duke of Rothsay. "This innovation probably proceeded on an idea, to which the interview of the two princes might naturally give rise, that it was unsuitable, and unworthy of the Scottish national dignity, that the princes of England should enjoy a title of nobility, which was esteemed to be of higher rank than that possessed by the hereditary prince of Scotland." And this, in the opinion of our author, was the occasion of introducing the title of Duke into Scotland.

ROTTBCELLIA, in botany; a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the triandra-class of plants. The racemis is jointed, roundish, and in many cases filiform; the calyx is ovate, lanceolate, flat, simple, or bipartite; the florets are alternate on the winding rachis.