Gazetteer of Scotland

MUS
M U T
;i)iout 6 miles E. by S. of Edinburgh.
The fuburb of Fi//xr-row, which is
united to Mufielburgh by a bridge o-
ver the EJk, is confidered as forming
a part of the burgh, and is under the
fame magiftracy. Mufielburgh is a
very ancient burgh of regality, and
was once named Mujfelburgbjhire. Be-
fore the reformation, it belonged to
the abbacy of Dunfermline ; but was
taken from it by King James VI. who
gave the fupeiiority of it to the Earl,
afterwards Duke of Lauderdale. In
this family it remained till 1709, when
it was purchafed by the Duchefs of
Monmouth and Buccleugh. It is now
holden by the Duke of Buccleugh, as
lord fuperior of the regality ; and
pays annually to that nobleman, cer-
tain fums as quit-rent and feu-duty.
It is reported that it received its firft
charter about 1340, from the Earl of
Marr, for their attention to the great
Randolph Earl of Murray, who died
in the town in July 1332. But the
moft ancient charter now extant, is
dated nth December, 1562, and is
granted by Robert commendator of
Dunfermline, with confent of the
whele members of the convent : this
charter narrates, " that the title deeds,
belonging to the burgh, were burnt
by their enemies the Englifh, after
the fatal battle of Pinkie ; therefore,
they, de novo, grant, difpone, and con-
firm to the prefent bailies, community,
and inhabitants of Mufielburgh, and
to their fucceffors," &c. This char-
ter is confirmed by various fubfequent
charters and acts of parliament ; par-
ticularly by a charter from the Duke
of Lauderdale, dated 1670, in which
all their ancient rights are narrated
and confirmed. In 1632, it was e-
recled into a royal burgh, by a char-
ter under the great feal ; but the ma-
gistrates of Edinburgh found means
to obtain a reduction of that charter
before the privy council, on 30th No-
vember of the fame year. It is go-
verned by a town council of 18 mem-
bers, 10 of which are elected from
Mujfclburgb, and 8 from Fijhsr-roiv:
out of thefe, 2 bailies and a treafurer
are annually elected : there are alfo 7
incorporated trades. The annual re-
venue arifmg from fhore-dues, feu-
duties, mill-rents, &c. amount to up
and to grant infeftments ; and, upon
the whole, it poffeffes all the privi-
leges nf a royal burgh, except thofe
of voting for the election oi a mem-
ber of parliament, and of fending a
delegate to the convention of burghs.
Betwixt the fe'a and the town, lie the
extenfive downs, called Mujfelbv.rgb
links, excellently adapted for the
healthful exercife of the golf. In
1792, the buvgh contained 4015 in-
habitants, of which number -1130 re-
dded in MuJJelburgb, and 1885 in Fijher-
roiv. Vide Inveresk.
MUTHIL; a pariih in Perthfhire,
fituated on the borders of the High-
lands, betwixt Crieff and Dumblane ;.
it is of great extent, being from 8 to
10 miles long, and from 6 to 9 broad :
the furface is hilly, and, of confe-
quence, the foil is various : on the
haughs of the Erne and the Allan,
there is a confiderable extent of ara-
ble Land, of a light loam, exceedingly
fertile ; the higher grounds are natu-
rally barren and wet ; and, towards
the S. W. there are many thoufand
acres, completely covered with heath
or deep mofs. A confiderable pari is
covered with WGod, both natural and
planted. Befides the Erne and the
Allan, it is watered by the rivulets
Machany and Knaick, all of which a-
bound with falmon and trout. The
village of Muthil is fituated on the
great military road to Invernefs, by
Tay-bridge, 4 miles S. from Crieff,
17 from Stirling, and 16 from Perth.
In 1792, it contained about 400 inha-
bitants. About a mile from the vil-
lage Hands Drummond-cajlle, the an-
cient feat of the noble family of Perth.
It is delightfully fituated at the head
of the vale of Stratherne, and attracts
the notice and admiration of every
ftranger, from the beautiful and un-
bounded profpect it commands. Ar-
docb, the feat of Sir William Stirling,
is alio a venerable and extenfive edi-
fice. There are two Roman camps
in this pariih ; one at Strageatb, and
the other at Ardoch ; befides feveral
forts of obfervation : the camp at Ar-
docb is fuppofed to be the moft com-
plete of any in Great B a tain ; (vide
Ardoch.) A large cairn was lately
opened, and was found to contain a
ftone coffin, in which was a human.
ivards of 1500I. The magiftrates are | fkeleton 7 feet long. There are, in
empowered to hold a court of record, \ feveral places, the remains of druidica!