ployed, in confequence, as they faid, of large orders from France. In a fhort time after, the effects of the treaty then negociating, reached, Manchester and the whole manufacturing county of Lancaster.

The comparative dimenfions of Birmingham and Manchester are at present disputed by the inhabitants of these towns. Both of them are poffeffed of an old and a new town. The new streets are numerous, extenfive, and elegant; the public buildings are magnificent. The inhabitants in each town are fuppofed to exceed 40,000.

Manchester is fituated in the great manufacturing county of Lancaster, and forms a center where the western roads unite. From thence the road to Carlisle is almost due north, and agreeably diverfified with hill and dale.

Within an hour's ride, after leaving Carlisle, the Solway Firth appears. This great bay divides the two kingdoms on the west. The river Esk rifes in Scotland, and falls into the head of the bay at Longtown.

SCOTLAND.

Soon after croffing the bridge over the Esk at Longtown, aftriking contraft is obferva

ble

ble in the appearance of the country, of the people, and of the cattle, upon the two oppofite shores of the Solway Firth. From Longtown to Dumfries weftward, a track of thirty miles, and as far as the eye can reach northward, the country confifts in fome parts of a a dead flat, at other parts, of gentle rifings, the whole capable of very great improvement; but which, at present, exhibits a picture of dreary folitude, of fmoaky hovels, naked, ill cultivated fields, lean cattle, and a dejected people, without manufactures, trade, or shipping.

which was

Dumfries is a handfome fmall town; it was formerly a place of trade, and the capital port on the Solway Firth, lined with little trading towns. At present the trade of this extenfive coaft scarcely deferves a name; and though herrings generally fet in about the month of September every season, upon the Scottish fide, the principal fishery is carried on by people from the oppofite coaft of Cumberland.

The herrings are fmall, but good; they are taken by fixed nets, while the tide is making. This fishery might be carried to a great extent; but the fallacious allurements

of fmuggling, the late reftrictions on the fisheries, and other caufes, have impoverished the people, and ruined their ports.

The country around Dumfries is in high cultivation, but these appearances foon vanifh, as we advance towards Moffat. It has been affirmed, that while these fouthern countries remain under ftrict entails, while they are no longer frequented by the proprietors, but left folely to the management of factors or stewards, all the feeble efforts of a poor commonalty will be inadequate to the great object of internal improvement, in a country where lime is fcarce, and where coals are burdened with a high duty, befides a water and a land carriage, proportioned to the distance of each district from the Solway Firth.*

Moffat, a small town, lies twenty-one miles from Dumfries, and has long been noted for its fpas; on which account it is much frequented in the summer season. The country northwards becomes almoft entirely pafto

ral.

* The coals are brought from Whitehaven and Workngton. The duty and expences of fhipping and landing exceed fix fhillings the chaldron, befides freight; and in many parts, a land carriage of fifteen or twenty miles,

ral. The lands rife to lofty mountains, from one of which iffues the Annan, which falls into the Solway Firth below the small town of Annan; the Tweed, which, after many ferpentine windings, divides England and Scotland on the east fide, and falls into the German sea at Berwick; the Clyde, famous for its commerce, its manufactures, the industry of its inhabitants, and the number of its towns, namely, Hamilton, GLASGOW, Paisley, Dunbarton, Port-Glasgow, Greenock, Rothfay, Campbeltown, Saltcoats, Irvine, Air, and Stranraer,

The head of the Annan rifes at the edge of the road, upon the right hand; it was quite dry when I paffed that way. Half a mile farther, on the left, is the head of the Tweed;' and a little farther is the head of the Clyde.

The afcent of the road from Moffat towards the fummit of these mountains, prefents a moft extenfive view to the fouth, where the profpect is bounded by the mountains of Cumberland, whofe appearance, tho' at a great distance, is majestic and fublime; and here an English traveller takes a parting view of his native country.

Mr. Pennant has done more than justice to the views and beauties of North Britain, but in fpeaking of this part of the road, he falls greatly short of its merits, owing, probably, to the following caufe: "But incef"fant rains throughout my journey from Edinburgh, rendered this part of my tour "both disagreeable and unedifying." The road northwards runs for many miles along the weft fide of the Tweed; the valley is called Tweed-dale, and bounded by verdant downs, rifing, on the east fide, in the form of pyramids, and covered with numerous flocks of sheep, whose wool is of fuperior excellence, and brings a high price.

Arrive at Edinburgh, and obferve with pleasure the rapid improvements of that northern metropolis, which bids fair to vie in a short time with the most elegant cities of Europe.*

Edinburgh is fituated in 55 deg. 57 min. north latitude, and 3 deg. 14 min. west longitude from London; distant from that city, by Berwick, as before observed, 388 Distant from Dublin, by Port-Patrick, 268

Diftant

* See a general description of Edinburgh in the View of the British Empire, page 569, &c.