a name given to three counties of Scotland, viz. Haddingtonshire, Edinburghshire, and Linlithgowshire; otherwise called East, Mid, and West, Lothians.
1. East Lothian, or Haddingtonshire, is bounded on the north-west by the frith of Forth; and on the east by the German sea; on the south-east by Berwickshire; and on the west by the county of Edinburgh. It extends about 25 miles from east to west, and where broadest, nearly 15 from north to south; the area is about 297 square miles. Of the whole county about 64 parts in the hundred are arable, 16 meadows or low lying ground, and 20 hills and wastes. This is one of the most fruitful counties in Scotland, producing great quantities of wheat and all sorts of grain, well watered, and plentifully supplied with fish, fowl, fuel, and all the necessaries of life. It abounds with towns, villages, and farms, interspersed with a great number of agreeable houses belonging to persons of rank and fortune. Beside farming, which is successfully carried on, the people towards the sea-coast employ themselves in the fishery, salt-making, and in foreign trade; and some of the more inland inhabitants engage in the linen and woollen manufactures. Limestone and coal are found in most parts of the county, and great numbers of sheep are fed on the hills of Lammermuir. See HADDINGTONSHIRE, Supplement.
2. Edinburghshire, or Mid Lothian, is about 35 miles long, but varies in its breadth in different places from five to 16 miles; area 358 square miles. It is bounded on the east by Haddingtonshire; on the west by the shire of Linlithgow; on the south, by Peeblesshire; and on the north, by part of West Lothian and the frith of Forth. The aspect of the country is in general level and pleasant, interspersed with a few hills, that help to exhibit agreeable prospects. It is well watered with rivers, and shaded with woods. It produces plenty of coal, limestone, a soft black marble, and some copper ore. The soil, of itself fertile, is finely cultivated, and yields as plentiful harvests of excellent wheat as are found in any part of Great Britain. The whole shire is interspersed with noble houses and plantations belonging to noblemen and gentlemen of fortune. The farmers, in general, are skilful and wealthy. The country is well inhabited, and presents us with a good number of towns and populous villages. Along the sea coast the common people subsist by fishing, and traffic in coals and salt, and some few carry on a smuggling commerce. Those in the inland are employed in farming, and some branches of the weaving manufacture. Edinburgh is a county within itself. See EDINBURGHSHIRE, Supplement.
3. The shire of Linlithgow, or West Lothian, is bounded on the north by the frith of Forth. The small river Almond divides it from Edinburghshire on the east. On the south-west it joins the county of Lanark; and on the west, it is parted from Stirlingshire by Avon, a small river. Its form, though irregular, approaches to a parallelogram. It measures from north-east to south-west, 20 miles. It breadth, except on the shore of the frith, does not exceed 12.—The country is pleasant and fertile, abounding with corn and pasturage. LOT
Lothian pastorage. Here is found plenty of coal, limestone, and lead ore; nay, in the reign of James VI. it produced a rich mine of silver. See Linlithgowshire.
Supplement.
Lotion is, strictly speaking, such washing as concerns beautifying the skin, by cleansing it of those deformities which a distempered blood throws upon it. Medicines of this kind, however, are for the most part insignificant, and sometimes very dangerous; the only proper method of treating these disorders is, by administering such medicines as tend to correct the morbid state of the constitution from whence they arise.