a town in the isle and county of Bute, in Scotland. It is the capital of the county, is a well-built town of small houses, 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 spinning of yarn has been long carried on in Rothsay, and lately the cotton manufacture has been introduced. The herring fishery has been also long a great source of trade in this place. W. Long. 5. c. 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 the following account is given. 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, it is said, 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." In this way it is supposed the title of Duke was introduced into Scotland.