Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

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ced the sentry-boxes for the guards, divided off from
the prison yards, by a dry ditch and interior low wall,
with an iron rail. Inside of this rail, and open to
the prison yards, is a Canal of running water, for the
use of the prisoners, besides an abundant supply of
spring water. The interior of the prison flats, are
divided longitudinally into three spaces, by rows of
cast iron pillars, with two horizontal rails of the same
metal, which serve as supports for the Hammocks,
each prisoner having one ; the middle space is the pas-
sage through the house. These pillars and rails are
hollow tubes, with openings at certain distances, for
carrying off the heated air ; the whole communicating
with the external air, by means of pipes. Besides
these means of ventillation, and the windows in each
flat, there are large ventilators in the roof of each pri-
son house. Each of the five prisons contain with
ease, 12 to 1300 men, exclusive of the separate pri-
son and hospital. The situation is airy and healthy,
the rear overlooks the river Tay, of which it is with-
in a few hundred yards. It was built by Govern-
ment, at an expense of upwards of one hundred and
twenty-five thousand pounds, easily contained, and se-
cured nearly 7000 prisoners. The discharge of the pri-
soners at the peace, and consequently of the military,
who guarded them, was sensibly felt by the Town of
Perth, as at least the supply of provisions, &c. for
9000 mouths, was cut off in the course of two months*"
The Town is governed by a Provost, who has the
title of my Lord, and who is also Sheriff and Coroner,
a Dean of Guild, three Merchant, and one Trades
Bailie, Treasurer, eight Merchant Councillors, four
Trade's Councillors, the, eight Deacons of the Incor*