Gazetteer of Scotland

PER
S. and W. of the New Chapel, is an
old Hofpital, a confiderable building;,
the foundation of which is afcribed to
James VI. From the foot of the high-
ftreet, a new ftreet goes off in a north-
erly direction, called George' street,
leading towards the bridge, Gharlotie-
Jlreet, and the New Town. George's
and Cbarlotte-Jireet, confift of houfes
built in a ftyle of great neatnefs and
elegance ; and in the New Town,
which was begun only in 1798, a
Circus, and a Terrace of elegant houfes
are already built. The New Town is
built on feus from Mr. Anderfon, on
the ground where once ftood the
monajlery of Black Friars, in which
James I. was murdered by the Earl
of Athol and his accomplices. The
town was formerly provided with a
wooden bridge over the river ; but
this being very unfuitable to the depth
and width of the river, and the throng
of paffengers that had occafion to
pafs it, a new and very fine one of
ftone was lately built, the molt beau-
tiful ftrutSture of the kind in North
Britain, which was defigned by Mr.
Smeaton, and executed unser his di-
rection by Meff. Guyn, Morton, and
Jamiefon. The bridge confifts of 10
arches, one of wliich is a land arch.
The clear water-way is 589 feet, 9
inches ; the extent of the arches 730
feet, 9 inches; the wing walls 176
feet ; fo that the whole length of the
bridge is 906 feet, 9 inches ; its breadth
is 22 feet within the parapets. The
piers are founded 10 feet beneath the
bed of the river, upon oaken and
beechen piles, and the ftones laid in
puzzalane, and cramped with iron.
This noble work, which opens a com-
munication with the different roads
of the kingdom, was completed in
1771, at the expence of 26,000k fter-
ling. Of this fum, tfce commiffioners
of forfeited eftatcs, by his Majefty's
permifiion, gave 13,800k; the magis-
trates of Perth 2000k ; the Conven-
tion of royal boroughs 500k ; and a-
bout 5000k was collected by fubferip-
tion. But this great work would have
met with a check for want of money,
had not the late Earl of Kinnoul, with
his characteriftic public fpirit, ad-
vanced the remaining fum, and taken
the fecurity of the tolls, with the ha-
zard only to himfelf. The whole ex-
pence has now been defrayed; and the
PER
toll is aboliflied. At the E. end of the
bridge is the burgh of barony of Kin-
nmd, commonly called Bridge-end;'
(vide Kinnoul). A little to the
N. W. of the New Town, large and
g nvenient cavalry barracks have been
lately erected, where generally about
half a regiment of horfe is ftationed.
The fcenery around Perth is truly de-
lightful ; but, molt of the eftates in
the neighbourhood being entailed,
there are few feats. The only houfes
of note are the caftle of Balhoufie, an
ancient feat of the Earls of Kinnoul ;
Pit-tbevelefs, an ancient feat of the
Lords Oliphant ; and Fewe-houfe, the
feat of Mr. Marihall of Hillcairney.
On the oppohte fide of the Taj, in-
deed, in the parifh of Kinnoul, there
are many elegant villas ; particularly
Bellewood, the feat of Mr. Young;
and Wood-end, the feat of Mr. Mon-
crieff. Befides the Tay, Perth is wa-
tered by a part of the waters of the
Almond, brought by a canal to drive
the mills, and to afford water to the
town. The town divides a fpacious
plain into what are called the North
and South Inches ; each of which is
about a mile and an half in circum-
ference. Thefe fields are level, and
are ufed partly for pafturing cattle,
belonging to the inhabitants, and part-
ly for walking, the exercife of the golf,
and other recreations. Both the Inches
are furnifhed with feats, and the South
Inch is furrounded with an avenue of
large trees. The town is of great an-
tiquity, and is fuppofed to have been
in exiftence at the time when the Ro-
mans extended their arms to the banks
of the Tay; though it may be pre-
fumed, from the rude ftate of the arts,
and the wandering manner of life led
by the inhabitants, that it could con-
fift of nothing more than an irregular
collection of huts, fcarce deferving the
name of a town. It would appear
from the Itinerary of Richard of Ci-
rencefter, that there were three Ro-
man towns in this neighbourhood,
called " Alauna, Lindum, and Vic->
toria, or Perth ; rthe laft of which was
built by Agricola, on the river Tay,
28 miles from the exit of that river
I into the fea." Mr. Henry Adamfon,
! in his " Mufes Threnodie," or " Metri-
cal Hiftory of Perth," relates the fame
in thefe words : " When Agricola and
his army firft law the river Tay, and
3C»