Gazetteer of Scotland

STI
in the form of a fquare, with a finall
court in the center. Its infide is to-
tally without form or regularity ; but,
externally, it is very richly and curi-
oufly ornamented with grotefque fi-
gures, upon flngular piilars or pe-
deftals, each of which refts on a figure
lying on its breaft, which appears a
very painful pofition, efpecially when
encumbered with fuch a load ; and
fome of the figures feem to wife to be
freed from it, if we may judge by the
contortions of the mufcles of their
faces. The ground ftory of the palace
is now converted into barrack wards
for the foldiers of the garrifon ; and
the upper ftory affords a houfe to the
governor, and rooms for the inferior
officers. A ftrong battery was erected
about the year 1559, during the re-
gency of Mary of Lorraine, called the
French battery. In the reign of Queen
Anne, the caftle was enlarged and re-
paired ; and a flanking battery, named
Queen Anne's battery, with barracks
and a bomb proof, was erected on the
S. fide. Since that period, no alteration
or repairs of any confequenee have
been made. This caftle has once been
a place of confiderable ftrength, when
the ait of ordnance was in its infancy;
but now, it could fcarcely hold out a
few hours againft an army of 3000
men, conducted by an engineer of
knowledge and integrity. About 36
guns are mounted on the ramparts.
It is commanded by a governor, de-
puty-governor, fort-major, and three
fubalterns: it is one of the Scottifh
forts, which, by the aiticles of Union,
are always to be kept in repair. Upon
the rock, and on the S. fide of the
caftle, is a fiat piece of ground, en-
clofed, which was the place of the
tournaments : on one fide is a rock,
where the ladies ufed to fit and ob-
ferve the addrefs and valour of the
combatants, fail named the Ladies'
rock. As this fortrefs was frequent-
ly the fcene of bloody contention,
it is cuftomary to point out to every
ftranger 12 fields of battle within
view of its walls. The profpect from
the caftle-hill is moft delightful, as
•well as extenfive ; being greatly beau-
tified, efpecially towards the E., by the
windings of the Forth, the ruinous
abbey of Cambufeenneih, the Abbey
Craig, the houfe of Colonel Callander
of C.raig forth, and the numerous feats
STO
and populous villages which adorn
the Carfe of Stirling. Between the
caftle and the town are feen the palace
of the Earl of Argyll, called Argyll's
lodging ; and the houfe of the Earl of
Marr, which was begun in i77o,during
the regency of that nobleman, but
never finifhed : it is faid to have been
built from the ruins of the abbey of
Cambufkenneth ; the outfide is orna-
mented with the fame grotefque fi-
gure as the palace within the caftle.
The rock upon which the caftle is
built is bafaltic, being compofed of
jointed pillars of 5 or 6 fides. Around
the caftle is a pleafant walk, carried
from the town ; in many places cut
out of the folid rock. From this walk
there are feveral beautiful views ; and
it gives an excellent opportunity of
examining the bafaltic pillars of which
the rock is compofed. The parifh of
Stirling is confined to the burgh, and
a fmall field called the King's Park.
In 179a, the population was 4698 ;
increafe 747 fince 1755 : but it is pro-
bable that the population is now con-
fiderably more than 5000.
STITCHEL and HUME; an united
parifh in the" counties of Roxburgh
and Berwick, of an irregular figure,
5 or 6 miles long, and between 3 and
4 broad. The furface prefents a gen-
tle declivity towards the S. ; the foil
gradually degenerating from a rick
clay to a wet muir, in proportion to
the elevation. The lands are almoft all
enclofed, and under tillage. There
are two villages, which bear the names
of each barony of the united parifh.
The village of Stitchel lies about 4
miles from Kelfo, and the village of
Hume is noted for the old caftle of
Hume, often the bone of conteft dur-
ing the border wars ; (vide Hume.)
Siiichel-hovfe, the refidence of Sir Jas.
Pringle, Bart, is an elegant building,
near the village of Stitchel : Neivton-
Don, the feat of Sir Alexander Don,
Bart, is not lefs diftinguifhed for its
elegance. In feveral places are diftinct
bafaltic columns, of a regular polygon
form, 5 or 6 feet high, and 16 or 17
inches over. In 1791, the population
of the united parifh was about 1000 ;
increafe 41 fince 1755.
STOBO ; a parifh in the county of
Peebles, about 6 miles long, and from
3 to 4 broad The greater part of
the parifh is mountainous, and fit for