a well-known measure of length; being the twelfth part of a foot, and equal to three barley-corns in length.

inch of Candle, (false by). See CANDLE.

(contracted from the Gaelic innis "an island"), a word prefixed to the names of different places in Scotland and Ireland.

Inchcolm or Columba, the isle of Columba, an island situated in the frith of Forth in Scotland, and famous for its monastery. See FORTH.

This monastery was founded about 1123, by Alexander I, on the following occasion. In passing the frith of Forth he was overtaken with a violent storm, which drove him to this island, where he met with the most hospitable reception from a poor hermit, then residing here in the chapel of St Columba, who, for the three days that the king remained there tempest-bound, entertained him with the milk of his cow, and a few shell-fish. His majesty, from the sense of the danger he had escaped, and in gratitude to the saint to whom he attributed his safety, vowed some token of respect; Inchcolm accordingly founded here a monastery of Augustines, and dedicated it to St Columba. Allan de Mortimer, lord of Aberdour, who attended Edw. III., in his Scotch expedition, bestowed half of those lands on the monks of this island, for the privilege of a family burial-place in their church. The buildings made in consequence of the piety of Alexander were very considerable. There are still to be seen a large square tower belonging to the church, the ruins of the church, and of several other buildings. The wealth of this place in the time of Edward III. proved so strong a temptation to his fleet, then lying in the Forth, as to suppress all the horror of sacrilege and respect to the sanctity of the inhabitants. The English landed, and spared not even the furniture more immediately consecrated to divine worship. But due vengeance overtook them; for in a storm which instantly followed, many of them perished; those who escaped, struck with the justice of the judgment, vowed to make ample recompense to the injured saint. The tempest ceased; and they made the promised atonement.—The Danish monument, figured by Sir Robert Sibbald, lies on the south-east side of the building, on a rising ground. It is of a rigid form, and the surface ornamented with scale-like figures. At each end is the representation of a human head.

Inch Keith, a small island situated in the same frith, midway between the port of Leith and Kinghorn on the opposite shore. See FORTH.

This island is said to derive its name from the gallant Keith who so greatly signalized himself by his valour in 1016, in the battle of Barry, in Angus, against the Danes; after which he received in reward the barony of Keith, in Lothian, and this little isle. In 1549 the English fleet, sent by Edward VI., to assist the lords of the congregation against the queen-dowager, landed, and began to fortify this island, of the importance of which they grew sensible after their neglect of securing the port of Leith, so lately in their power. They left here five companies to cover the workmen under the command of Cotterel; but their operations were soon interrupted by M. Deffe, general of the French auxiliaries, who took the place, after a gallant defence on the part of the English. The Scots kept possession for some years; but at last the fortifications were destroyed by act of parliament, to prevent it from being of any use to the former. The French gave it the name of L'isle des chevaux, from its property of soon fattening horses.

In 1497, by order of council, all venereal patients in the neighbourhood of the capital were transported there to prevent their disease from spreading, ne quid detrimenti respublica caperet. A lighthouse, which must prove highly beneficial to the shipping which frequent the Forth, was erected in 1835.

Inch Garvie, a small island, also lying in the frith of Forth, near Queensferry. See FORTH.