Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

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most respectable description. The " Literary and
Antiquarian Society of Perth/' was founded in 1784,
for the purpose of promoting antiquarian research, as
well as every subject connected with Philosophy,
Belles Letters, and the Fine Arts. The Society pos-
sess a large collection of valuable coins, medals, and
manuscripts, besides a variety of natural curiosities ;
their cabinet of minerals is uncommonly rich.
The bridge of Perth forms the communication with the
Burgh of Kinnoul, commonly called Bridge-end, from
its local situation. This Burgh contains many of the
most beautiful seats in the immediate vicinity of Perth,
both on the sides of Kinnoul hill, and on the banks of
the river.
The Palace of Scoon, which lies on the banks of
the Tay, above Perth, was the ancient residence of
the Scottish Kings, the place of their coronation, and
the scene of many splendid actions. Here formerly
stood an Abbey, founded by Alexander the First in
1114, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Scoon is said
by some historians to have been the ancient capital
of the Picts, but it certainly was the chief seat of the
Scottish Monarchs, as early as the time of Kenneth
the Second, who began his reign in 843. Here was
the famous stone seat, used as the coronation chair
of the Pictish Monarchs, prior to the reign of Kenneth
the Second, who brought it to Scoon, where it re-
mained as the coronation chair of the succeeding
Scottish Kings, till 1290, when Edward the First car-
ried it to England. The Palace of Scoon is a large
modern building, and contains many spacious apart-
ments, with many old Paintings, Tapestry, &c. — The
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