COUNTY of, otherwise called East Lothian, is bounded by Mid Lothian on the west; on the north by the firth 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 reputed 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 admirably adapted to the rearing of sheep. The inhabitants 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 manufacture 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, Prestonpans, Aberlady, Dirleton, &c. In this county also there are many seats of noblemen and gentlemen, such as those of the duke of Roxburgh, marquis of Tweeddale, earl of Haddington, Lord Blantyre, earl of Wemyss, Lord Elbank, 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 lime-stone; ironstone is found in the parish of Humbie, and in the vicinity of Stenton there are some traces of an ore of lead. It is divided into 24 parishes. The population in 1821 amounted to 29,986 souls, and the actual rent of the whole has been estimated at 168,878l. 5s. 10d. sterling. The following table exhibits a view of the population of this county, according to the Statistical History of Scotland.
<table> <tr> <th>Parishes.</th> <th>Population in 1755.</th> <th>Population in 1790-98.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Aberlady</td> <td>739</td> <td>800</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Athelstaneford</td> <td>691</td> <td>927</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bolton</td> <td>359</td> <td>235</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dirleton</td> <td>1700</td> <td>1200</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dunbar</td> <td>3281</td> <td>3700</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Garvald</td> <td>774</td> <td>730</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gladfmuir</td> <td>1415</td> <td>1380</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Haddington</td> <td>3975</td> <td>3915</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Humbie</td> <td>1570</td> <td>676</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Innerwick</td> <td>941</td> <td>960</td> </tr> </table>
<table> <tr> <th>Parishes.</th> <th>Population in 1755.</th> <th>Population in 1790-98.</th> <th>Haddington</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Morham</td> <td>245</td> <td>190</td> <td>11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>North Berwick</td> <td>1412</td> <td>1300</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Oldhamstocks</td> <td>622</td> <td>498</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ormiston</td> <td>810</td> <td>864</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>15 Pencilland</td> <td>910</td> <td>1033</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Prestonhaugh</td> <td>1318</td> <td>1176</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Prestonpans</td> <td>1396</td> <td>2028</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Salton</td> <td>761</td> <td>830</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Spot</td> <td>727</td> <td>619</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 Stenton</td> <td>631</td> <td>624</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Tranent</td> <td>2459</td> <td>2732</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Whitekirk</td> <td>968</td> <td>994</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Whittingham</td> <td>714</td> <td>655</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>24 Yester</td> <td>1091</td> <td>900</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">29,709</td> <td>28,966</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">28,966</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">Decrease,</td> <td>743</td> </tr> </table>
a borough-town of Scotland and the capital of East Lothian, or Haddingtonshire, is situated about 16 miles east from Edinburgh, being the first stage on the London road, and in W. Long. 2. 25. N. Lat. 55. 50. It stands on the river Tyne, has four streets which are neatly built, cutting each other at right angles, with a town-house erected in 1748, from a design by the celebrated Mr Adams. The school is commodious, with lodgings for the masters, and accommodation for boarders. The parish church is large, which formerly belonged to the Franciscan monastery, and was probably built about the beginning of the 13th century. The west end is now the place of worship, for the rest of it is completely in ruins. The aisle is the burying place of the family of Maitland, and contains several marble statues of the dukes of Lauderdale. On the monument of Maitland of Thirlstane is an epitaph composed by James VI. Haddington is a place of great antiquity, for it is flanked by the mother of Malcolm IV. in a charter granted in 1178, meum Burgum de Haddington. Its political constitution is composed of a provost, three bailies, a dean of guild, treasurer, and 12 counsellors. Its incorporated trades are seven in number. It was once strongly fortified, of which different traces are still to be seen.
A considerable manufacture of coarse woollen cloth is carried on in the town and suburbs. It has two annual fairs, and a weekly market on Friday, computed to be the greatest in Scotland for all sorts of grain. Haddington has suffered much from the ravages of fire and the inundations of the Tyne, which rose 17 feet above its usual level in the year 1775, by which one half of the town was laid under water. Here the celebrated John Knox, father of the reformation, is said to have been born, and strangers are still shewn the house where he first drew his breath. It has a vote in electing a member of parliament along with North Berwick, Dunbar, Jedburgh, and Lauder. Its revenue is estimated at about 400l. sterling per annum.