Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

278
by the erection of a handsome Stone Pier, and other
additions ; the expense was defrayed by subscription,
aided by Government.
At the west end of the Town, a neat monument
has been erected to the memory of Mr John Straith,
who was forty years school-master at Nairn, as a tri-
bute of respect by his numerous scholars. There are
several benevolent, and other societies of a very re-
spectable description ; there is a Subscription Library
and News-Room, the latter of which is open to the
admission of strangers.
The date of the erection of Nairn into a Royal
Burgh is unknown, as the oldest charter in existence
is one from James the Sixth, dated in 1589, being a
renewal of one granted by Alexander, probably the
First of that name, King of Scotland.
That charter was confirmed by one from Charles
the Second in 1661, by which the government of the
Town is vested in seventeen persons, viz. a Provost,
three Bailies, a Dean of Guild, Treasurer, and
eleven Councillors, nine of whom to be a quorum.
The Gentlemen of the County are eligible to any
of these Offices in the Burgh, except Bailie, Dean
of Guild, and Treasurer. The whole trades form
only one Incorporation. Nairn joins with For-
trose, Inverness, and Forres, in returning a Mem-
ber to Parliament. The funds of the Town
were formerly very considerable, but have been
much delapidated by time. The white fishing
on the coast is carried on to a considerable extent,
and employs about 12 or 14 boats ; the Salmon fishing
in the river is also productive. The Herring Fishery
bus of late years been prosecuted with great spirit