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THE

Scots Magazine,

AND

EDINBURGH LITERARY MISCELLANY,

FOR FEBRUARY 1812.

T

Description of Threave Castle, in Galloway.

THREAVE, or Thrieve Castle, is situated on an island (about sixteen acres in extent), formed by the river Dee, in the shire of Wigton. It is a place highly distinguished in the annals of that part of Scotland. Tradition reports it to have been the residence of the ancient lords, or petty kings in Galloway. Of the castle however, in which those chieftians resided, all traces are now obliterated. The present edifice is supposed to have been built by one of the family of Douglas. The origin of the name has been variously reported. We can attach no credit to one account mentioned by Mr Grose, that Thrieve was a contraction of The Rive; which name was given to a chieftian, on account of his riving, or plundering the whole neighbourhood. Others supposed the name to have been merely a contraction of the castle of the Reeves."

In 1455, this castle became the property of the Scottish crown. In 1502 Sir John Dundas of Mochrum received the office of keeper, with 25 merks worth of land, called

Granger of Threave; for which appointment he paid L.100 per annum. In 1524, it was granted to Robert Lord Maxwell and heirs, for the period of nineteen years. This family, who afterwards be came Earls of Nithsdale, held it for more than two hundred years. In the time of Charles I. the Earl of Nithsdale maintained this castle and that of Caerlaverock, very gallantly, against the forces of the Covenanters; nor did he surrender, till authorized to do so, by a letter from the King himself, dated 15th Septemher 1640.

In 1747, the castle of Threave, along with the other heritable jurisdictions, was united to the crown. It has since become the property of the Laird of Kelton.

The remains of the castle now consist of a large square tower, built of small slate-like stone, and surrounded at a little distance by an envelope, with four round towers, the curtains of which are pierced for guns. There are also the remains of a gate, which had been very strong.

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Varieties, Literary and Miscella

neous.

BEGGAR'S OPERA.

T is not

Thoughts on the Improvement of the Police of Edinburgh.

THER

HERE is unfortunately no discussion which

I the Be generally known that present moment, s possesses, at the

ten in Edinburgh. Mr Gay then lived in a small house in the Canongate which still exists; it is situated almost opposite the Gate of Queensberry House, and is at present (1812) occupied by a shoe

maker of the name of Wm. Nich

olson, and may be easily recognized by two small projecting roofs covered with tiles.

JEALOUSY OF ARTISTS.

The greatest artists, like the greatest authors, have not been exempt from the meanest jealousy.

Michael Angelo procured the banishment of Leonardo da Vinci from Florence. He endeavoured first to make Raphael pass for a plagiary, and then to raise up a rival to him in Bastian del Piombo. When Dominichino had finished his celebrated picture of St Jerome, Lanfrank hastily got an engraving made at Bologna, of the same subject painted by Ludovico Carracci. He then caused this print to be circulated at Rome, and employed persons to point out certain resemblances to that of Dominichino, which might make the latter pass for a plagiary.

The fine pictures, which La Sueur had painted for the cloister of the Chartreux, were spoiled by artists jealous of his reputation. They cut off with a knife the finest heads, the most expressive features. It evidently appears that this instrument was employed with art, and by hands accustomed to draw ing. Just and correct expressions are rendered ridiculous, by the skilful movement of the knife.

terest, as that which relates to the preservation of public order in this Within the last two great city. has taken place. That peaceable months, a most disastrous change and virtuous department, which honourably characterized the most pulation, has been entirely broken numerous part of the Scottish poup; and a system of robbery and atrocity has been organized, which places the life of every citizen every moment in danger. Any measure which might correct this degeneracy, and restore national manners to their original purity, would certainly be deserving of the most serious consideration. But this is an object which cannot be accomplished at once, and the means of attaining which, depend upon numerous and complicated circumstances. The immediate and urgent consideration is, how the person and property of the citizens may be secured from those attacks, to which they are incessantly liable. This has turned men's attention to the present very defective state of the system of Edinburgh police. Its imperfections indeed have, since its first institution, been very generally acknowledged; but recent events render it impossible longer to overlook them. Some of the causes of this insufficiency seem to be pretty generally observed. The superintendant, instead of being a judge, and (ananomaly in our constitution) a judge without appeal, ought to be an executive officer charged with maintaining the peace of the city, and detecting offenders. He ought to have the choice of his inferior agents, and to be made responsible

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for their properly discharging their
duty. Efficient and active men
would then probably be chosen;
nor would a place in the police be
considered as a mode of providing
for decayed servants, or persons un-
fit for any other occupation. But
I am particularly anxious to recal
the attention of the public to what
was formerly stated through the
medium of your miscellany. No
way, it is probable, can be found in
which the city will be thoroughly
guarded, unless by a stationary po-
lice. Men ought to be placed in
sentry, at moderate distances, and
communicating with each other by
appointed signals. By this arrange-
ment, whenever a disturbance aris- Monthly Memoranda in Natural
es, at any one point, the alarm is
immediately given, and a strength
sufficient to crush it may be speed-

highly so) would place himself in
a situation where his continuance
would be dependant on the caprice
of a single individual.
His ap-
pointment and removal would, we
imagine, be most properly placed
in the hands of the Magistrates,
who have naturally the immediate
superintendance over the peace of
the city. Doubtless, he ought to
be legally removeable at pleasure;
but still with the understanding, as
is usual in such cases, that provid-
ed he does his duty, and provés
himself fit for his office, he shall re-
tain it during life.

ily collected. I am happy to observe that this plan has been brought forward in the resolution of the society of Advocates, and I am led to hope, that the influence of so respectable a body, may lead to its adoption. There are only one or two details in which I cannot help differing somewhat from the sentiments of that learned body. They propose that a system of patrole should still be continued along with the stationary police. I cannot help thinking, that the one supersedes the necessity of the other. In attempting thus to support two establishments, we must either render both inefficient, or incur an expence altogether enormous. The number of men, it must be recollected, that would be required to guard the city in the manner I have been proposing, would be very considerable. Still less can I approve the proposal that the superintendant should be appointed by, and removeable at the pleasure of the sheriff of the county. No respectable man (and he who holds this office, should be

History.

M.

February. THE first days of this

month were very mild and genial. The yellow flowers of the Winter Aconite immediately peeped above ground; and they were quickly followed by the Snowdrop. The Missel-thrush was heard to sing.

8. In a garden at Canonmills, near Edinburgh, a common Jargonelle, (cuisse madame), on a wall with a S. E. aspect, began to expand its blossoms.

12. The Black Cock, (Tetrao tetrix) has, during the past winter, been occasionally seen in this neighbourhood. One was shot some weeks ago at Meadowbank; another at Barnbougle; and a third was observed a few days ago on Corstsor- phine Hill. I understand that a rare species of Sandpiper (Tringa nigricans, Lin. Tr.) has recently been shot on the beach at Portobello.

BOTANIC GARDEN. This garden still remains in the same forlorn state, which we have noticed and deplored at different times during the last three years. With an emi

nent

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