links of a river, and plantations of stately oaks, beeches, and other forest trees on the right and on the left, which, together with the hills behind, variegated with planting, increase their beauty and their warmth. To the south of the Grampians there runs a range of green hills, almost parallel to the Grampiaus. They are lower, although in some points they rise with beautiful conical tops of green, to a great height above the adjacent country. They are distinguished, in different parts of the chain, by the appellations of the Sedlaw and Ochil hills. These hills, being lower than the Grampians, are more verdant, and are on this account better calculated for a range of sheep pasture than the latter. Along the south side of the Grampians, and between the Ochil and the Sedlaw hills, a large valley or strath runs in the direction, and along the whole length of the Grampian mountains. This valley is of unequal breadth, from 10 to 15 miles, and upwards of 100 miles in length. It is intersected by various beautiful rivers, and is eminently fertile in every species of grain; while the picturesque variety of this highly cultivated and well wooded track forms a striking contrast to the sublimity of the mountain scenery. Along the banks of all the rivers of this county, after they descend from the northern hills into the champaign country, there are extensive tracks of rich land, under high cultivation, adorned with elegant mansions and extensive plantations, which exhibit a pleasing and plentiful appearance. Where the ground swells between one river and another, the fertility of the soil on both sides of the aclivity of these ridges decreases gradually, until it ends at last in a barren moor, on the highest part of the ascent. Between some of the rivers these moors are large, between others less extensive. Some of them rise but very little above the adjacent rivers; others have a considerable swell. They are all covered with heath, which is longer or shorter according to the degree of their elevation. In South Britain such tracks of land are called heaths, because they are clad, or have been clad, with heath; in North Britain they are called moors, to distinguish them from mountains, which for the most part have a similar covering, but always more altitude.

Perthshire comprehends all the varieties of soil known in Scotland, and may be considered as consisting of three divisions, of unequal extent. 1. The Carse of Gowrie, between the Sedlaw hills and the Tay, is a level track of rich clay, or alluvial soil, deposited in the course of ages, highly cultivated, and abundantly fruitful. 2. The next division is much more extensive, as it includes the remainder of the Lowland dis

trict, viz. a track watered by the Forth, and resembling the Carse of Gowrie; a considerable proportion of Strathmore and Stratherne, with large moors in the highergrounds, which are gradually diminishing in size, by agriculture and plantations. 3. The third, or Highland district, consists chiefly of mountains, and glens or vallies, containing little soil that admits of cultiva◄ tion. In many places are extensive mosses, particularly in Monteath, in which is situ ated the moss of Kincardine. Like all Highland countries, Perthshire abounds with lakes and rivers, which occupy extensive vallies lying between lofty mountains. The two greatest rivers are the Tay and Forth, which collect many streams in their course to the German ocean. The Tay, after rising on the borders of Argyleshire, and forming Loch Tay, directs its course to the south-east, receiving the waters of the Lyon, the Garry, the Bran, the Isla, the Almond, and the Erne. The Forth receives in its course through Perthshire the waters of the Teath, the Allan, and the Devon. The principal lakes are Loch Tay, 15 miles in length, from Kenmore at the north-east, to Killin at the south-west extremity, and about one mile in breadth, and from 15 to 100 fathoms deep; Loch Rannoch, 12 miles long and one mile in breadth; Loch Ericht, 14 miles long and three-fourths of a mile broad; Loch Erne, 8 miles long and 1 broad; Loch Catherine, a considerable lake, celebrated of late for its picturesque scenery, and much visited by travellers. In this county are to be found some of the highest mountains in Scotland, viz. Benlawers on the north side of Loch Tay, which rises to the altitude of 4015 feet; Benmore, 3903 feet high, which commands a prospect both of the German and Atlantic oceans; Schichallion, which rises with a conical shape, 3564 feet; Benledi, 3009 feet; Beingloe, 1040 feet; and Turleum, 1400 feet high. The climate of Perthshire varies with the diversity of surface which everywhere prevails. Eastward of the Grampian mountains, the east winds bring rain and unsettled weather from the German ocean, while the weather is serene and dry on the west; and westerly winds, on the other hand, bring the clouds from the Atlantic, and deluge the western parts with rain, while not a drop of rain falls to the eastward. The midland parts of the county are not so much affected with a change of weather, by either of these winds, as the extremities, which are situated on the opposite coasts; the clouds, from either sea, being generally spent before they reach the interior of the county. The climate is generally mild; and the southern slope of the Grampians, many of the vallies within their bosom, that side of the Sedlaws which

descends into the Carse of Gowrie, and that of the Ochils which looks down upon the Forth, being screened from the inclemency of the northern blasts, possess a more warm and genial atmosphere than other districts which have a different aspect.

Horticulture has made rapid progress in Perthshire. Along the circuitous bank of the Sedlaw hills, and indeed in the whole Carse of Gowrie, the mildness of the air, the shelter from the north and eastern Masts, the depth and fertility of the soil, and its sloping aspect to the south, like a barging garden, render this an apt spot for the production of fruit. There are, accordingly, upwards of 20 orchards in the Carse of Gowrie. Next to the Carse of Gowrie, the best exposure for raising fruit is the foot of the Ochils, from the bridge of Allan to Dollar. Nor are the vallies in the Highlands defective in shelter, although the soil in general is too thin and light for nourishing the trees which bear the larger fruits. In former times, the greater part of this extensive country was covered with wood; but by the progress of agriculture, and the increase of population, the country was laid bare, by the destruction of its tallest forests. About the beginning of the last century woods began to claim some attention. For 60 or 70 years back, the possessors of some estates in this county thought of repairing the devastation which had formerly been permitted or encouraged on the growing timber. They saved what remained of their woods, and made new plantations in places convenient for that purpose. Within these last 40 years, plantations have increased rapidly, both in size and number, in every corner of the county. These consist of a variety of forest trees, adapted to the nature of the soil, which are already an ornament to the county, and a profit to their possessors.

The valuable minerals of Perthshire are few. Coal is found in the southern parts of it, in the neighbourhood of Culross and Kincardine. But it is singular, that although most of the counties in the south of Scotland abound in mines of pit-coal, yet none has hitherto been discovered in any quantity north of this county. The Ochil hills crossing the county, and the same chain under other denominations, Crossing the counties of Stirling and Dum barton on the west, and those of Fife and Forfar on the east, form a great dike from sea to sea, which seems hitherto to be the barrier that nature has placed between the coal countries and those which have none. Limestone is wrought in many parts of the Highland district, particularly in Rannoch, Glenlyon, Braidalbin, and the head of Stratherne: in Monteath it is of the nature

of marble, receiving a fine polish. The dis trict of Stormont also possesses several limestone quarries. Slates are found in many parts, and especially in the parish of Aberfoyle. The mountains on the north and west are chiefly granite. Freestone of the best quality is abundant, and is wrought to a great extent at the Kingoodie quarry in Longforgan, and at Longannat in the parish of Tulliallan. In Monteath there is a ridge of steatites or rock soap, three feet thick, which extends upwards of four miles in length; and a very valuable clay, similar to that wrought at Stourbridge in Worces tershire, has been discovered in great beds near Culross. There is plenty of iron-stone in Tulliallan, but it is not of sufficient value to cause it to be wrought. A copper mine has been wrought in the parish of Logie, on the banks of the Forth; and a lead mine was carried on for some years near Tayndrum, in Braidalbin, and another in Glenlyon. Some lead ore was lately discovered in the mountain of Blenledi near Callander. It may be noticed, that this county seems to divide that part of Scotland on the south which is generally adapted to the raising of grain, from that on the north, which, with a few excep tions, is more fitted for pasture. It is also singular, that Perthshire divides the country on the north, where firs abounded in former times, from that on the south, where oaks and a variety of deciduous trees, but no firs, flourished. Here also is the division betwixt the granite and the freestone ; there being little or no freestone north of Perthshire, and granite being more rare towards the south. Besides Perth, the coun ty town, Perthshire contains another royal burgh, viz. Culross; several towns which formerly enjoyed the privileges of royal burghs, as Auchterarder, Abernethy, and Dunblane; several burghs of barony, as Dunkeld, Crieff, Longforgan, Cupar, Alyth, &c.; besides about 60 other considerable villages, as Kincardine, Callander, Muthil, Blairgowrie, Inchture, &c. It is also interspersed with numerous seats of the nobility and gentry, which add greatly to its interest and beauty.

Perthshire contains an arca of 5000 square miles, amounting to 3,200,000 Scots, or 4,068,640 English acres. It contains 80 parishes, 26,404 inhabited houses, and, in 1801, 136,366 inhabitants. Its valued rent is L.339,892. 6s. 9d. Scots; and its real rent in 1811 was estimated at L.460,738. 13s. 11d. sterling.

PERTH, the capital of the above county, situated on an extensive low plain, on the. west bank of the Tay, which here runs south, and takes a bend to the eastward, about a mile below the city. On the north

and south, the town has two beautiful green meadows, called Inches, each of which is about 1 mile in circuit. Perth is regular and well built, having four streets from east to west, which are again crossed by others at right angles from north to south. The whole of the Blackfriars ground on the north, and a considerable space of ground on the south side of the town, have within these 20 years been laid out for buildings, and a new town has arisen, containing a number of streets, with many fine houses. Adjoining the North Inch is a crescent, a place, and a terrace, the latter a row of very fine buildings, in the centre of which is the seminaries, a handsome fabric, where the various branches of education are taught. An elegant new theatre forms the western termination of the crescent, and a fine barrack terminates Athol-street in the same direction. At the east end of the High-street is the townhouse, the removal of which, to make way for a new street on the bank of the river, is talked of, and would open a fine prospect of the Tay and surrounding country. At the south end of the Watergate is the new prison, adjoining which, facing the Tay, and intended for a termination to the projected street, a building, containing halls for the public offices, has been erected, which does honour to the county, and, but for its situation, would have been highly ornamental to the town. The exterior, not yet finished, is of the purest Doric architecture, and within, simplicity and elegance are admirably combined. It is from a design by Mr Smirke. It stands on the site of the palace of the Gowrie family, built by the countess of Huntly in 1520, and noted for the event distinguished in Scottish history by the title of the "Gowrie Conspiracy." Between the High-street and the South-street stands the church of St John the Baptist, a building of very great antiquity, with a high spire, but not other wise remarkable. It is fitted up for three places of worship. In the High-street is the guild-hall, a plain building, and at the west end of it a new church, with a steeple 140 feet high. In George-street is the coffee-room, a very handsome hall. There are several other good halls in the city, particularly one built by the royal arch mason-lodge, on the site of the ancient parliament-house of Scotland, the chapel of which was but lately demolished. A little to the south and west of the new church is an old hospital, a considerable building, now used as warehouses, founded by James VI. At the extremity of the South Inch stands the depot, built by government for the reception of prisoners of war, now used as a depot for military stores.

It is perhaps one of the most perfect buildings of the kind. The town was formerly provided with a wooden bridge over the Tay, in place of which a new one of stone, designed by Mr Smeaton, was begun in 1766, and finished in 1772. It consists of 10 arches, is 906 feet in length, and 22 in breadth, and was built at an expence of L.26,000. At the east end of the bridge is the burgh of Kinnoul, now commonly called Bridge-end. The scenery around Perth is uncommonly beautiful and picturesque, and on the opposite side of the Tay are some elegant villas. The North and South Inches, the level meadows already noticed, afford an agreeable recreation to the inhabitants, being well adapted for walking, for the game of golf, or other recreations; and the North Inch affords an admirable racing ground. Besides the Tay, Perth is watered by a part of the waters of the Almond, brought by a canal to drive the mills, and to supply the town with water.

Perth is a town of great antiquity, and some suppose it to have been founded by Agricola the Roman general, during his invasion of Scotland; and various stories are told of the surprise and admiration with which the Romans beheld the valley of the Tay. These appear to be fabulous, and we have no authentic account of Perth at such an early period. The Picts, after their conversion to Christianity, consecrated the church they had built in Perth to St John the Baptist, whom they chose as the tutelar saint of the town, which, from this circumstance, received the name of St John'stown, and its ancient seal bore the image of the saint on one side, and a representation of his decapitation on the other. This seal was laid aside at the reformation, as a relic of popery, and an eagle was substituted in its place. Boethius and Buchanan relate, that Perth was formerly situated higher up the Tay, and was swept away by a flood in the year 1210, and afterwards rebuilt on the spot where it now stands, and received its charter of erection into a royal burgh from William the Lion in that year; but their accounts appear to be fabulous, as there are charters extant concerning the town from the year 1106 to the year 1210, which describe it in its present situation. In the year 1210, king William renewed the charter of Perth at Stirling; and therein it is expressly stated that he confirms the privileges which the burgh enjoyed in the time of his grandfather king David, who died in 1153, and adds to it new privileges. At that period it was strongly fortified, and was reckoned the capital city of the Scottish kingdom. In several of the public writs, particularly about the time of James VI. it is called the city of Perth,

and still bears that title. Prior to the reign of the Stuart family, it was the usual residence of the Scottish monarch; and the parliament-house, in a close on the north side of the High-street, for some time occupied as an Episcopal chapel, and many of the houses of the nobility, still remain, converted into modern dwelling-houses. Perth has been the scene of many important transactions recorded in Scottish history. In it no fewer than 14 parliaments were held from 1201 to 1459. In 1298, its walls were rebuilt by Edward I. who made it the residence of his deputies, till they were expelled by Robert Bruce. In 1437, on the 21st of February, king James I was murdered here, in the Blackfriars monastery, by Robert Graham, who gave him 28 wounds. In 1545, five men and a woman were burnt here for heresy. Upon the 11th of May 1559, John Knox preachel a sermon in the kirk against idolatry; and by the indiscretion of a priest, a mob was raised, which destroyed all the monasteries and religious houses in the town. This year a select band of 300 reformers marched out of Perth to Stirling, with ropes about their necks, to hang the first that fled. From this arose the phrase, "St Johnston's ribbands." In 1644, Perth was seized by Montrose, after the battle of Tibbermuir; and it was the head-quarters of the earl of Marr and the Pretender in 1715. Perth was occupied for some time by the army of prince Charles, in 1745. There were formerly a great many religious houses and establishments, which were mostly destroyed at the reformation. Among these may be enumerated the following:-A castle near the termination of the Skinnergate; a convent of Carthusian monks, founded by James I., on the site of which the infirmary was built; a monastery of Franciscans, by lord Oliphant, in 1410; a priory of Dominicans by Alexander II. in 1231; and many chapels consecrated to particular saints. But those religious houses were entirely destroyed by our zealous reformers, May 1559, together with many curious writings and records relating to the history and antiquities of our country. The church in which John Knox preached a sermon against idolatry, May 15, 1559, is now divided into three, nuned the East, Middle, and West kirks. There are chapels for dissenting congregations in almost every part of the town. That erected in Prince's-street by the members of the Episcopal communion, though sinall, is a piece of beautiful architecture. In early times Perth was a place of great trade, and carried on an extensive intercourse with the Netherlands. It was considerably benefited also by the civil wars;

for a great number of Cromwell's officers and soldiers settled in it, and taught the citizens of Perth to improve their modes of life by the English arts, and excited amongst them a spirit of industry. The salmon fishery on the Tay, near Perth, is very extensive, and the annual rent may be estimated at about L.7000, of which the community of Perth draw about L.1000. The salmon are sent to London, packed in ice or pickled; a smack sailing every third or fourth day during the season. The staple manufacture at Perth is linen; but of late the cotton manufacture has almost superseded it. There are upwards of 2500 looms employed in the town, which manufacture linen and cotton goods annually to the amount of L.200,000 sterling. Besides this, there is at least L.120,000 more in value manufactured in the neighbourhood, which is purchased in the Perth market by the dealers. Besides these, there are extensive manufactures of leather, boots, shoes, and gloves, the value of which is estimated at upwards of L.30,000. Two banking companies belong to the town; and there is also a branch of the Bank of Scot land and the British Linen Company established here. The grammar school of Perth has long been accounted one of the best in Scotland, and has produced many eminent statesmen and scholars. There is also an academy upon an excellent plan, where every branch of natural philosophy, drawing, and the French and Italian languages, are taught. A literary and antiquarian society has also been established for some time, and has made a considerable collection of books, manuscripts, coins, and minerals. The city is governed by a provost, who exercises the office of sheriff and coroner within the town, four bailies, a dean of guild, treasurer, and 19 councillors, the greater part of whom are elected from the trades. Perth joins with Dundee, Forfar, Cupar-Fife, and St Andrew's, in sending a member to the imperial parliament. There are several villages in the neighbourhood of Perth, at which there are considerable bleachfields, printfields, and spinning machinery. Of these, however, only Tulloch, Craigie-mill, and Muirtown of Balhousie, are in the parish of Perth. Perth formerly gave title of earl to the family of Drummond, which is now forfeited. James Drummond, the fourth earl, was created duke of Perth by James II. of England, for adhering to whose interests he was outlawed. His two sons were attainted in 1745. Population of Perth in 1811, 17,248. 39 miles N. of Edinburgh by Kinghorn, 42 by Queensferry, 22 W. of Dundee, and 15 S. of Dunkeld. Long. 3. 27. W. Lat. 56. 22. N.

PERTON, a parish of England, in Hertfordshire, 3 miles from Hitchin. Population 558.

PERTUIS, a town in the south-east of France, department of the Vaucluse, on the Durance. It has brandy distilleries, and a considerable traffic in wine, silk, and oil. Population 4000. 14 miles S. E. of Apt, and 40 S. E. of Avignon.

PERTUIS, COL DE. See Col. PERTUIS D'ANTIOCHE, PERTUIS BRETON, &c. See Antioche, Breton, &c.

PERU, one of the five viceroyalties of Spanish America. It is at present much less than it was under the incas, having been diminished in 1718, by the separation of Quito on the north as far as the river Tumbez, which was annexed to New Granada, and in 1778 by the loss of Potosi, and several other of its richest districts on the east, which were annexed to the viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres. Its present extent is therefore from the Rio Tumbez, in 3. 30. S. latitude, to the chain of Vilcanota, in 15. S. latitude, or 690 geographical miles, while along its coast this fength may be prolonged to 375 more; its medial breadth, not including the Pampas del Sacramento, is nearly 80, so that its area may be estimated at 33,630 square leagues, or according to Humboldt, only at 80,000. It is bounded on the north by the southern provinces of Quito, Mainas, Jaen de Bracamoros, and Guayaquil, on the west by the Pacific ocean, on the east by the land of the Missions, the Pampas del Sacramento, and the vast plains which, spreading out from the eastern Andes, extend into the Portuguese territories. These plains are covered with a tall rushy grass, and are watered by the great river Amagons, with its tributary streams.

The country is divided into High and Low Peru. It is traversed by two chains of the Andes from north to south, in directions nearly parallel. The one is the central chain of South America, or the cordillera of the Andes; the other, which is much lower, is called the cordillera of the coast. Between the latter and the shore lies the country of Low Peru, forming an inclined plane from ten to twenty leagues in breadth, and consisting for the most part of sandy deserts, without vegetation or inhabitants. The cause of this sterility is the natural dryness of the soil, and the total absence of rain; for it never rains in any season of the year in this part of Peru. The chain of the Andes which intersects the country, arresting the clouds, they dissolve on the mountain districts into rain and vapours, accompanied with storms of thunder and lightning; while between the 6th and 15th degrees of S. lat. on the coast,

rain is unknown, and dry north winds constantly blow in this region, from the desert! of Atacama to the gulf of Guayaquil, a distance of 400 leagues. In this track the houses are covered only with mats, and sprinkled with ashes to absorb the night dews; and the soil being only moistened with these dews, is sandy and barren. Deserts of 20, 30, and 40 leagues in extent, occur in every part of the coast, from Tumbez to Atacama. The only spots capable of cultivation are the banks of navigable rivers, or such as are within the reach of artificial irrigation. In this low track the climate is sultry, and is liable to very inconsiderable variations of temperature. In Lima, during the winter, the thermometer is never at noon observed to be under 60°, and it seldom rises in suminer above 85°. The hottest day ever known at Lima was in February 1791, when the thermometer rose to 96°.

The country between the two cordilleras is called the Sierra, or High Peru. It consists of barren mountains and rocks, interspersed with fertile and cultivated vallies. On these uplands vegetation flourishes, and to the height of 10,000 feet the climate is mild and temperate, being a mixture of perpetual spring and autumn. Beyond this, and at the height of 14,000 feet, commences the limit of perpetual snow, where everlasting winter reigns. Here are also many volcanoes, which are flaming within, while their summits, chasms, and apertures, are involved in ice. The cultivation of these different tracks is little attended to: along the coast, deserts of 30 or 40 leagues in extent are frequent; and the immense forests which cover the maritime plains, prove that the inhabitants are not numerous. These fo rests contain acacias, mangle trees, arborescent brooms and ferns, aloes, and other succulent plants, cedars, cotton or ceiba trees of gigantic growth, many kinds of ebony and other useful woods, ten or twelve species of palms, and the maria, an enormous tree used in ship-building. These forests are thickest at the distance of seven or eight leagues from the coast, and the trees then become covered with parasitical plants, which reach to their very top, mixing their beautiful and lively flowers with the dark green foliage so peculiar to the tropics. In the forests and in the plains of the coast, are found the cabbage palm, the cocoa nut, the cacao nut, the cotton shrub, the pine apple, canna, omomum, turmeric, plantain, sugar cane, &c.; on the sides of the Andes, and in its great plains, are the precious cinchona, coffee tree, the cardana alliodora, a large tree, whose leaves and wood emit an odour resembling garlic,