Gazetteer of Scotland

EYE
EYE
Eye (Loch) ; a fmall lake in the
pariih of Fearn in Rofs-fhire, about
two miles long, and half a mile broad.
From it proceeds the fmall rivulet
Eye, forming in its courfe a fucceffion
offmaller lochs, which are much fre-
quented by aquatic fowls ; it after-
wards falls into the Moray Frith, near
the fmall filhing village of Balhitore.
Eye ; a river in Berwiekfhire, rifes
in the pariih of Cockburnfpath, and
taking an easterly courfe through the
pariih of Ayton and Coldingham, falls
into the fea at Eyemouth. It abounds
with trout, and, at particular feafons,
falmon are caught in it.
EYEMOUTH, or HAYMOUTH;
a confiderable town in the county of
Berwick. It is a borough of barony,
of which Mr. Home of Wedderburn
is fuperior and proprietor. At the be-
ginning of the laft century Eyemouth
was a fmall fifhing village, which af-
forded a retreat for fmugglers ; but,
ihortly after the union, that perni-
cious trade being much quafhed, the
gentlemen of the county took advan-
tage of the excellent natural harbour,
formed by the river Eye, and erected
a pier on both fides, by voluntary
fubfcription : this was executed by
Mr. Smeaton, who conceived an high
opinion of the advantageous fitua-
tion. It lies at the corner of a bay,
in which (hips can work in and out
at all times of tide, or lie at anchor
fecure from all winds, except the N.
and N. E. : in fuch cafes the harbour
can be eafily taken, and vefiels of fmall
burden lie in fafety, defended from
the impetuohty of the fea by the
northern pier. Since the erection of
the harbour, the trade of the town
has much increafed, and corn and
meal have been fhipped here to the
extent of 20,000 bolls annually, and
in fome years more than double that
quantity. The coaft abounds with fifh,
and many fifhing boats are conftantly
employed. The pariih is fmall, being
nearly confined to the limits of the
burgh, containing at. moll only 800
fquare acres ; the foil is good, and
produces every fort of grain, of a good
quality. Upon a fmall promontory
ftretching out into the lea, are the
remains of a regular fortification, faid
to have been erected by the Earl of
Hertford, afterwards Duke of Somer-
fet, when going to invade Scotland,
while he held the regency in the mi-
nority of Edward VI. Though ail
the rocks along the coaft are common
whinftone, yet the rock which com-
pofes this promontory is a coa.rkpud~
dlngjlone. In 1793, the population was
about 1000.
F AI
FA I R A Y ; one of the Orkney
iflands, is about a mile long, and
lefs than half a mile broad ; feparated
by 2 narrow found from the ifiand of
Eday. It affords excellent pafture.
FAIR ISLE ; an ifland lying in the
middle, betwixt the clutters of Orkney
and Shetland, the inhabitants of which
are almoft in a flate of nature. From
' its fmall fize, and its great diftance
from the neareft iflands, it in ancient
times was peculiarly expofed to invad-
ers. " The natives," fiiys Buchannan,
" are by far the pooreft of all others;
for the filhermen from England, Hol-
F AI
land, and other maritime nations, who
every year frequent thefe feas, feize
upon, and carry away every thing as
they pleafe :■" hence, although thefe
depredations have ceafed, thole ifland-
ers are Only emerging from the effects
of fo precarious and diftreffing a con-
dition, and only beginning to know
the comforts of a fettled fociety. It
extends upwards of 3 miles in length,
and nearly a in breadth ; rifing into
3 lofty promontories, and encompaff-
ed with precipitous rocks ; it is every
where inacceflible, unlefs upon the
S. E. where, lowering itfelf a little, it