DESCRIPTION OF SCOTLAND.

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Divisions, which form in effect two courts of equal and independent authority. The Court of Justiciary, the supreme criminal court of Scotland, consists at present of six judges, who are also judges of the Court of Session. The president of the whole Court is the Lord-Justice General. The Court holds sittings in Edinburgh during the recess of the Court of Session; and twice a year in the spring and autumn vacations, the judges hold circuits in the chief provincial towns, two going each circuit. The Court of Exchequer, for the trial of cases connected with the revenue, is now held as a separate establishment, and the duties are devolved on two of the judges of the Court of Session. There are also inferior courts of law, viz., the courts of the sheriffs, of the justices of the peace, and of the boroughs.

POPULATION.—The population of Scotland at the period of the Union, in 1707, is supposed not to have exceeded 1,050,000. In 1755, it amounted to 1,265,380; in 1831, it had increased to 2,365,114; in 1841, to 2,628,957; in 1851 it was 2,870,784, and it is now estimated at upwards of 3,000,000. The average rate of increase from 1801 to 1851 (50 years) is 79 per cent, being 22 per cent less than that of England and Wales.

THE APPROACH TO SCOTLAND.-The North British and Caledonian Railways are the great avenues of approach from England. Those who enter by the former may visit Melrose and Abbotsford on their way northwards; but the great majority of tourists come at once to the metropolis, and to all who visit Scotland for the first time, this plan possesses many advantages. Edinburgh is of itself an object of very great interest, and it is within a few hours' journey of the finest scenery of Perth, Stirling, Dumbarton, and Argyle shires. We shall therefore assume Edinburgh as our first startingpoint, and commence our description with a notice of that city and its interesting environs.

The following HOTELS are recommended :

SLANEY'S late DOUGLAS', 35 St. Andrew Square; and the BRITISH, 70 Queen Street, Family Hotels of the highest class.

Excellent Private Hotels-THE WINDSOR HOTEL, 20 Moray Place; SWAIN'S, 4 Albyn Place; VEITCH'S, 120 George Street.

There are, besides these, numerous First-rate Hotels for Tourists, of which the principal are-MACGREGOR'S ROYAL, 53 Princes Street, opposite the Scott Monument-very central. PROVEN'S BALMORAL, 91 Princes Street, next the New Club. The CALEDONIAN, 1 Castle Street (Princes Street). ADDISON'S ALMA, 112 Princes Street. The QUEEN's, 131 Princes Street; and the CLARENDON, 104 Princes Street. WATERLOO, 24 Regent Bridge, close to the Calton Hill. LAMBRES' (late NEW ROYAL), 16 Princes Street. KENNEDY'S, 8 Princes Street, The STAR, 36 Princes Street. HOTEL FRANCAIS (DEJAYS), 100 Princes Street. BEDFORD, 83 Princes Street.

The CROWN, 10 Princes Street: GRIEVE'S NORTH BRITISH, 22 Princes Street; LONDON, 2 St. Andrew Square; The BRIDGE HOTEL, 3 Princes Street; REGENT,

14 Waterloo Place; The SHIP, 7 East Register Street-are excellent Commercial Hotels.

JOHNSTONE'S, 17 Waterloo Place; WAVERLEY, 43 Princes Street; ALBION, 28 St. James Square, are good Temperance Hotels.

Restaurants.-For Dinners, Suppers, etc., HOTEL FRANCAIS, 100 Princes Street. DoULL'S, 60 Princes Street. BLAIR's, 37 George Street. LITTLEJOHN'S 31 Leith Street. IMPERIAL HOTEL, 3 Waterloo Place. CAFE ROYAL, 1 Register Place. RAINBOW, New Buildings, North Bridge.

Newsrooms.-ROBERTSON and SCOTT, and HARTHILL-Hanover Street. Posting Establishment, JOHN CROALL and SONS (late Isaac Scott), Lothian Road.

The ordinary CAB-FARES are 1s. and 1s. 6d.

For a distance from the stance not exceeding a mile and a half, 1s., and 6d. for every additional half mile, or part thereof. Half fare returning.

Calculating by Time, the first half hour is charged 1s., and for every additional quarter of an hour, 6d. For an airing into the country (such as round the Queen's Drive), within five miles from the General Post Office, and returning either by the same or different road, 3s. per hour; 15s. for a whole day. The fares for Two-Horse Carriages are one-third more than the above.

The only Coach Office in Edinburgh is at No. 4 Princes Street; and the Stations of all the Railways (except the Caledonian, which is at the Lothian Road), are situated in the spacious area under the North Bridge at Waverley Bridge.

THE metropolis of Scotland is situated in the northern part of the county of Mid-Lothian, and is about two miles distant from the Firth of Forth.* Its length and breadth are nearly equal, measuring about two miles in either direction. Its site is generally admitted to be unequalled by any capital in Europe, and the prospects from the elevated points of the city and neighbourhood are of singular beauty and grandeur. The noble estuary of the Forth, expanding from river into ocean; the solitary grandeur of Arthur's Seat; the varied park and woodland scenery which enrich the southward view; the pastoral acclivities of the neighbouring Pentland Hills, and the more shadowy splendour of the Lammermoors, the Ochils, and the Grampians, form some of the features of the panoramic landscape, seen from the elevated parts of the city.

*The precise geographical position of the centre of the city is 55° 57′ 20′′ north latitude, and 3° 10′ 30′′ west longitude.