Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

34 1
■dog fish, which are abundant on the coast. Of late
years, a. spirit for trade lias shewn itself, and the com-
merce of the town is rapidly increasing. Within the
last ten years, Stonehaven has acquired a busy and
-eheerful appearance, and is the residence of many re-
spectable families.
Stonehaven is a Birgh of Barony, the jurisdiction
of which, by the charter, is vested in Magistrates,
chosen by the superior, and feuars. The Sheriff
Courts for the County, are held here every Wednes-
day and Friday, and a Justice of Peace Court is held
on the first Monday of every month, for the recovery
of small debts, &c. The turnpike road to Aberdeen,
passes through the Town, and another road goes di-
rectly to Perth, through the valley of Strathmore.
The ancient Castle of Dunnottar, upon the beach,
at a short distance from Stonehaven, exhibits one of
the most majestic ruins in Scotland. It is situated
upon a perpendicular rock, rising 150 feet above the
level of the sea. The top of this rock is a plain of
three acres in extent, and is connected with the main
land, by a narrow and precipitous isthmus. The
ruins that remain, still occupy one half of the ground ;
the whole top of the rock, appears to have been co-
vered with buildings. The entrance into the Castle,
is flanked by a square tower of great strength, and
defended in its interior, by several sally-ports, which,
before the invention of Artillery, must have rendered
it impregnable.
This Castle was the seat of the Marischal family,
who were attainted in 1715, and is now the property
of Sir Alexander Keith, of Ravelston and Dunnottar>
the descendent and representative of that family. It