a royal and parliamentary burgh of Scotland, county of Moray, situated on a rising ground three miles S. of Findhorn, its port at the mouth of the river of the same name. It is a neat and well-built town, surrounded by scenery of great beauty. The great road to Inverness forms its main street, from which several smaller ones branch off. It possesses an excellent academy, called the Anderson Institution (from its founder, a private gentleman of that name), in which the classics, mathematics, natural philosophy, and other branches are taught. Besides this academy there are several private schools; also a newsroom, subscription library, and various friendly societies. Besides the parish church, there are a Free Church, and chapels for Episcopalians, United Presbyterians, and Independents. On a hill W. of the town are some remains of the ancient castle of Forres; and on another eminence in the vicinity a tower in memory of Nelson has been erected. Forres unites with Inverness, Nairn, and Fortrose, in returning a member to parliament, and is governed by a provost, three bailies, and thirteen councillors. Pop. (1851) of municipal burgh 3339, of parliamentary burgh 3468. Forres is noted for the possession of one of the most remarkable ancient stone obelisks to be found in Britain. It is thus described by Mr Cordier, in a letter to Mr Pennant: "In the first division, underneath the Gothic ornaments at the top, are nine horses with their riders marching forth in order. In the next is a line of warriors on foot, brandishing their weapons, and in the act of shouting for the battle. The import of the attitudes in the third division is very dubious, their expression indefinite. The figures which form a square in the middle of the column are pretty complex, but distinct; four sergeants with their halberts guard a canopy, under which are placed several human heads which have belonged to the dead bodies piled up at the left of the division; one appears in the character of executioner severing the head from another body; behind him are three trumpeters sounding their trumpets, and before him two pair of combatants fighting with sword and target. A troop of horse next appears, put to flight by infantry, whose first line have bows and arrows, the three following swords and targets. In the lowermost division now visible, the horses seem to be seized by the victorious party, their riders beheaded, and the head of their chief hung in chains or placed in a frame; the others being thrown together beside the dead bodies under an arched cover. The greatest part of the other side of the obelisk, occupied by a sumptuous cross, is covered over with an uniform figure, elaborately raised, and interwoven with great mathematical exactness. Under the cross are two august personages, with some attendants, much obliterated, but evidently in an attitude of reconciliation; and if the monument was erected in memory of the peace concluded between Malcolm and Canute, upon the final retreat of the Danes, these large figures may represent the reconciled monarchs. On the edge below the fretwork are some rows of figures joined hand in hand, which may also imply the new degree of confidence and security which took place, after the feuds were composed, which were characterized on the front of the pillar. But to whatever particular transaction it may allude, it can hardly be imagined that, in so early an age of the arts in Scotland as it must have been raised, so elaborate a performance would have been undertaken but in consequence of an event of the most general importance; it is therefore surprising that no distinct traditions of it arrived at the era when letters were known. The height of this monument (called King Sweno's Stone) above the ground is 23 feet, besides 12 or 15 feet under ground. Its breadth is 3 feet 10 inches by 1 foot 3 inches in thickness.