Towns > Dundee > 1822 - Dundee delineated; or, A history and description of that town, its institutions, manufactures and commerce

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A description of the Town of Dundee, extracted partly from
Dr. Gibsons Addition to Camhden's Britannia, and partly
from Captain Skzers Theatrum Scotue. Printed in folio at
London.
Dundee, a town in the shire of Angus, of great note, good
trade, and well built. Its Latin name, Taodunum, seems to
be derived from Dun, which in the old Scots language signi-
fies a hill, and Taus, the Tay ; it being situated at the foot of
a hill on the north side of the river Tay, not far from its entry
into the ocean. It stands on a most pleasant plain, and is
adorned with excellent buildings of all sorts. It hath two
ehurches, a very high steeple, a harbour for ships of burden,
and a considerable traffic with strangers ; whence the inhabi-
tants are generally rich, and those who fall into decay have a
large hospital- provided for them. Of old, the town gave»the
title of Earl, and dignity of Constable, to the Chief of the
Scrymzeours ; forasmuch as Sir James Scrymzeour, of the
Scrymzeours of Dudhope, and Constables of Dundee, was
first created by King Charles I. Viscount of Dudhope, and
by King Charles II. Earl of Dundee; which title being ex-
tinct* King James VII. created Colonel John Graham of Cla-
verhouse, Viscount of Dundee, who was slain in the battle of
Killicrankie, in the year 1689, by their Majesty's King Wil-
liam and Queen Mary's forces.
A Description of the Town of Dundee, extracted from Mr
Irvine's Nomenclatura Historice Scotice.
Taodunum— The Hill of Tay. This is the-name of Dun-
dee, or Duntay, as our historian supposeth, taken from the
hill that riseth above the town, called Dundee Law. But
this seemeth not to be the vera ratio nominis; for, besides that
there are many Duns or Hills on the banks of Tay, on both
sides, more conspicuous than this, which might give it more
justly that name, we find in our histories it to be taken, this
name, from the safe arrival of David, Earl of Huntington,
King William's brother, who, in his return from the Holy
War, (about the year 1190) in a great storm, from the sight
of this hill received first comfort, and next his crazy vessel
safe harbour at St. Nicholas' Rock ; upon which emergency
he called it Donum Dei, because it was the first assurance he
had that his prayers were heard. He afterwards fulfilled his
vows, and erected there a stately church, in honour of the
Blessed Virgin. This town is also famous for being among