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The CATHEDRAL of St MAGNUS in ORKNEY.

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State of the BAROMETER in inches and decimals, and of Farenheit's THERMOMETER in the open air, taken in the morning before fun-rife, and at noon; and the quantity of rain-water fallen, in inches and decimals, from October 31st 1791, to the 29th of Nov. near the foot of Arthur's

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355

THE

Defcription of the View prefixed to this Number.

HE town of Kirkwall is fituated on the Main-land of Orkney, an -island called by the ancients Pomona. It was erected into a royal burgh when the Danes poffeffed it, and the charter of confirmation by King James the Third, is dated at Edinburgh, the daft day of March 1486. This Charter was afterwards ratified by King James the Fifth, and King Charles the Second.

The Cathedral of Kirkwall is an ancient ftructure. It was founded by Rogwald, (Rolland?) Earl of Orkney, about the year 1137, and dedicated to his coufin Saint Magnus, the tutelary faint of the country. Afterwards, when the islands were recovered from Norway, it was confiderably enlarged and beautified by different bishops. It is built in the form of a crofs, of red free-ftone. Though at prefent, from the deficiency of funds, but meanly fupported, it is a venerable monument of the architecture of the times, and of the power of fuperftition in a remote country.

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It is 226 feet long, and 56 feet broad. The height, from the floor to the top of the Iteeple, is 133 feet. The height to the main roof, is 71 feet, The eat window in the place of worship is 12 feet broad, and 36 feet high. The church is built with arches above arches, and these are fupported by 28 pillars, each 15 feet in circumference. The fleeple refts on four pillars of excellent workmanship, each 24 feet in circumference. There have been originally 100 windows, 72 of which are now fhut up. In the year 1670, the pyramid of the fleeple was burat, having been ftruck with lightning, by which fome of the ancient bells were deftroyed, but there itill remains a chime of three.

The ruin on the left fide of the plate is what is called the Bishop's palace. It was built by Patrick Stewart Earl of Orkney in 16c6, and, after his execution in 1614. became the refidence of the Bishops of Orkney.

To the Editor of the Edinburgh Magazine.

SIR, I HAD occafion lately to read fome part of Mr Bolwell's Life of Dr Johnfon, wherein I find, that fo very imperfect a narrative is given of a circunftance in which I am interefied, that I must expect, from your impar tiality, the benefit of having my own account of that matter inferted in your refpectable publication, the channel of univerfal intelligence.

I had indeed the honour to be a mong the guests of Mr Bofwell, at the Mitre Tavern, on the 6th of July 1763, of whofe converfation he gives fome account Vol. I. p. 231. Every

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reader will, I believe, acknowledge the propriety of one preliminary obfervation, which is, that I certainly had a right to be made acquainted with the purpofe of Mr B. to lay before the pubhe the particulars of cur difccurfe, fo far as refpected myfelt; or, if he had formed no fuch purpofe at the time when 1 received his invitation, of having his intention made known to me, at any rate, before it was carried into execution. As he has followed neither of thofe courfes, I mufl take up the matter as he has left it, and endeavour to do justice to mytelf

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Mr B. thinks proper to fay, that I

chofe

Chofe, unluckily, as the fubject of my Part of the converfation of that even lug, the preifes of my native country. A very natural topic, if it had been fo; but upon that occafion very unfuitable indeed. I began this hopeful panegyric by faying, that there is fome very rich land around Edinburgh. Dr Goldfmith having driven me immediately from this fort by a fimple affertion of the contrary, accompanied with a fincering laugh, I took new ground, on which he fuppofes that I thought my felf perfectly fafe; and afferted, that Scotland has many noble, wild profpects. Johnfon replied to this obfervation, by comparing Scotland to Norway and Lapland, and excited a roar of applanfe.

fhould have thought of introducing in the company of English gentlemen, of whom I had heard that one was invincibly prejudiced againft it, and fufpected that all might be under the influence of unfavourable prepoffeffion. Johnfon's diflike of Scotland is well known, and formed a predominant part of his character. He entered into the fubje&t himfelf, and launched into an account of that kingdom by na means gratifying to a native of it, with that energy of voice and gefture by which, as well as by command of language, he was at all times eminently diftinguished. During this time, although I had eyed this literary Dictator with fome attention, I made no remark of any kind whatever. But I am perfectly fenfible of the ank- I now began to feel in behalf of my ward fituation wherein an individual .country'; and I ventured, with fome is placed, who is obliged to make timidity, to afk Dr Johnfon whether himself the theme of his own 'difcourfe: he had ever been in Scotland ?-Upon and I am also confcious, that many his anfwering in the negative to this readers will confider the particulars queftion, I took occafion to fay, (as of a converfation wherein that indivi-Mr B. chofe to remain filent) that aldual is folely interefed, as being though Scotland was in general lefs wholly unworthy their regard. Of cultivated than England, the face of thefe, the former at prefent is una the country more mountainous, the voidable, and the latter preferiled by foil perhaps lefs fertile, and the feafons Mr Bofwell. Let me therefore try to furely more unfavourable; yet, that make the best of both as they fand. fome particular parts of North Britain were certainly equal in beauty and fertility to any in England and Į mentioned particularly, if I rightly remember, the counties of Lothian and Fife. I do nus recollect that I faid any thing concerning its wild and noble profpects. Yet it is very poible that I may have mentioned the rude magnificence of its highland regions. To all this Dr Johnton replied fimply in there words - Sir, I believe the bett

Our author's memory is much in fault, when he fays that I introduced any subject of converfation when I was his gueft ar the time above mentioned. The roft inexperienced, and one of the youngest perfons in a company, of whom I had never till that time feen an individual, Mr B. excepted, with whom I was very flightly acquainted, I went there with the purpofe of liftening, not of fpeaking, and of receiving, not of giving information. I believe I am not in general accufed of obtruding fubjects upon the perfons with whom I converfe. And of all fubjects whatever, the praife of my native country is the laft which I

thing in Scotland is the road to

England." My memory preferves noftronger trace ofthe roar of applause wherewith fo many well-bred men concurred in honouring this enuncia-. tion, than my ear retains at this mo

ment

* I have here delivered the fenfe of what I faid, not the words in which it was ex

preffed.

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