Gazetteer of Scotland
(40) Page xxxii
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kxxli INTRODUCTION.
every diftrict ; the many military ftations of the Saxons and other nations;
and the remains of the vitrified forts* (as they are called) on many mountains?'
furnifh innumerable examples. Many of the ancient Scottifh caftles have been
ftrongly fortified; and, as many of them are fituated on precipitous rocks over-
hanging the fea, muft have been impregnable before the invention of artillery.
Of religious edifices the examples are alfo innumerable : almoft every diftricl:
poffefTcs the remains of the circles or fanes of the Druids; and in feveral places
are the celebrated rocking-ftones, fuppofed by many to have been engines
ofdruidical fuperftition.}- The magnificent ruins of the different abbeys of
Scotland, particularly of Melrofe, Aberbrothoek, Plufcardine, I-colm-kill, &c.
are many proofs of the extenfive monaftic eftablifhments in Scotland. The
Danifh duns in the Hebrides ; the Pidfcifh monuments at Brechin and Aber-
nethy ; the obelifks ; the cairns and tumuli ; are too numerous for notice in
this place, but will be found in the descriptions of the diftri&s where they arc
fituated in the Gazetteer*
HISTORY.
The ancient hiftory of Scotland is involved in fo much fable, and fo much
obfeurity, that, in our narrow limits, to attempt to unravel the confufed tiffue,
and to feparate truth from fable, would be futile and ufelefs. It would be
equally vain to give an abridgment of the modern hiltory, as it would be
impofiible to ftate the important particulars in an Introduction to a Gazetteer.
We have, however, in the Appendix, Table _B, given a chronological tabic
of the Scottifh kings, from Fergus I. to James VI., with the dates of the begin-
ning and conclufion of their reigns, which will be of confiderable ufe to the
reader in finding out the dates of different inftitutiono and eftablifhments
mentioned in the Gazetteer, to have taken place in fuch amonarch's reign.
CONCLUSION.
In other refpects, Scotland is fimilar to the fouthern diftricl: of Great
Britain ; and the intercourfe between the t\^o countries is every day growing
more frequent, to the mutual advantage of both : this has the effect of rend-
ering their manners, drefs, language, and indeed every particular, alike; and,
of ccurfe, we may anticipate, at no very diftant period, the time when national
diftinctions and prejudices fhall be known no more, and Britain will form 3
as it ought to be,— only ONE NATION.
* Vide Craigphatric of the Gazetteer.
f Vide Kells Rhvns of the- Gazetteer.
every diftrict ; the many military ftations of the Saxons and other nations;
and the remains of the vitrified forts* (as they are called) on many mountains?'
furnifh innumerable examples. Many of the ancient Scottifh caftles have been
ftrongly fortified; and, as many of them are fituated on precipitous rocks over-
hanging the fea, muft have been impregnable before the invention of artillery.
Of religious edifices the examples are alfo innumerable : almoft every diftricl:
poffefTcs the remains of the circles or fanes of the Druids; and in feveral places
are the celebrated rocking-ftones, fuppofed by many to have been engines
ofdruidical fuperftition.}- The magnificent ruins of the different abbeys of
Scotland, particularly of Melrofe, Aberbrothoek, Plufcardine, I-colm-kill, &c.
are many proofs of the extenfive monaftic eftablifhments in Scotland. The
Danifh duns in the Hebrides ; the Pidfcifh monuments at Brechin and Aber-
nethy ; the obelifks ; the cairns and tumuli ; are too numerous for notice in
this place, but will be found in the descriptions of the diftri&s where they arc
fituated in the Gazetteer*
HISTORY.
The ancient hiftory of Scotland is involved in fo much fable, and fo much
obfeurity, that, in our narrow limits, to attempt to unravel the confufed tiffue,
and to feparate truth from fable, would be futile and ufelefs. It would be
equally vain to give an abridgment of the modern hiltory, as it would be
impofiible to ftate the important particulars in an Introduction to a Gazetteer.
We have, however, in the Appendix, Table _B, given a chronological tabic
of the Scottifh kings, from Fergus I. to James VI., with the dates of the begin-
ning and conclufion of their reigns, which will be of confiderable ufe to the
reader in finding out the dates of different inftitutiono and eftablifhments
mentioned in the Gazetteer, to have taken place in fuch amonarch's reign.
CONCLUSION.
In other refpects, Scotland is fimilar to the fouthern diftricl: of Great
Britain ; and the intercourfe between the t\^o countries is every day growing
more frequent, to the mutual advantage of both : this has the effect of rend-
ering their manners, drefs, language, and indeed every particular, alike; and,
of ccurfe, we may anticipate, at no very diftant period, the time when national
diftinctions and prejudices fhall be known no more, and Britain will form 3
as it ought to be,— only ONE NATION.
* Vide Craigphatric of the Gazetteer.
f Vide Kells Rhvns of the- Gazetteer.
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Gazetteers of Scotland, 1803-1901 > Gazetteer of Scotland > (40) Page xxxii |
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