II. POPULATION.

The population of the different parishes in 1841 was as follows:

Manufactures.-Messrs Gillon and Company's establishment for the preservation of all kinds of fresh meat and vegetables for naval stores, &c. was commenced in 1838. The principle of this manufactory consists in cooking and enclosing in air-tight tin cases all sorts of soups, flesh and fish, and vegetable substances, and carefully excluding all contact with atmospheric air. In this way the various meats keep in all climates for many years, and afford a most convenient supply of provisions for travellers and voyagers. Milk, cream, gravies, and jellies for invalids are also included in these ingenious processes. The tin cases used in the process are manufactured within the establishment. They are of various sizes, containing from half a pound to several pounds weight; and from 800 to 1000 of these cases are prepared and filled daily. The prices of the various articles, considering that the meat is free of all bones, and many of the dishes highly concentrated, are not much above the ordinary values of their respective substances. The demand for these articles, both for home and foreign consumpt, is always more than even this extensive establishment can well accomplish. Some of the rejected oily matters of the cooking process are sold for greasing machinery; and other substances are purchased at a moderate price by the poor in the neighbourhood.

An establishment for the refining of sugar upon an extensive scale contributes in some degree to the prosperity of the town. It gives employment directly to upwards of eighty persons, consumes annually nearly 4000 tons of coals, which are chiefly sea-borne, and previously to the late reduction of the sugar duties, paid to the revenue from L.80,000 to L.90,000 per annum in duties on sugar alone.

The North British Paint and Colour work was commenced about twelve years ago, where all kinds of paints, colours, and copal varnishes are manufactured to a large extent, giving employment to a greater number of hands than any similar establishment in Great Britain, including various professions of trades, such as coopers, tinsmiths, blacksmthis, joiners, &c. The proprietor,

within these three years, has added large works for the manufacture of prussiate of potash, which confers a great benefit upon the poor in the surrounding districts, who collect animal matter, such as hoofs, horns, rags, &c. and who find a ready sale for the same at the manufactory. The residue from the manufacturing of this article has been proved to be a most valuable manure, of which several hundreds of tons are annually disposed of to the farmers in the neighbourhood. There are upwards of 2000 tons of coals consumed annually in the works.

In addition to the above named, the spirited proprietor is now erecting works for the manufacturing of ultramarine blue, which has never yet been manufactured in Scotland, the art having hitherto been chiefly confined to, and the trade principally sup plied from, the continent, where it has been carried on under letters patent; and a similar protection, we understand, it is the intention of the proprietor to adopt.

Miller and Arthur, Shore, Timber Bush and Little Carron, manufacturers and exporters of colours, paints, and varnishes, refiners of animal and vegetable oils, and manufacturers of machinery, railway, colliery, and waggon grease, employ about seventy hands, men, women, and boys.

The glass manufactories of Leith consist of seven cones, which are capable of being used for all kinds of glass. At present, the manufacture of bottles only is carried on, employing from 80 to 90 work-people; but it is hoped, now that the excise duty has been repealed and all fiscal restrictions removed, that the other branches of glass manufacture, viz. plate-glass, windowglass, and crystal, will be immediately resumed, and that these old and celebrated works will again present the enlivening bustle and stir of former days, when every cone was in operation. One of the cones is very old, having been built after the Rebellion in 1745 by the soldiers stationed in Edinburgh Castle, being impossible then, from the state of the times, to obtain any brick-builders throughout the country. Bottles of large magnitude have been made at these works; and it is a matter of fact, that at one time there was blown by a workman there, a bottle equal to the size of fully more that a hogshead.

There are several cast-iron founderies connected with Leith and Edinburgh, saw-mills on the Water of Leith, soap and candle works, rope-works, sail-cloth manufactories, and ship-building.

An extensive distillery is in operation at Bonnington, and breweries in Leith and vicinity.

Trade and Commerce.-Both the home and foreign trade of the port are on an extensive scale. The foreign trade is carried on with Russia, Hamburgh, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden, as also with various parts of the Mediterranean, America, East and West Indies, New Holland, and China. Formerly, a considerable tonnage of shipping was engaged in the Greenland whale trade, but of late this has greatly fallen off. A comparative view of the progress of trade during the last century is exhibited by the following list of the shipping belonging to and engaged in the commerce of Leith.

In 1784 the trade of Leith was estimated at half a million Sterling. In 1791 the registered tonnage was 130,000 tons. In 1804 the number of vessels of different descriptions which arrived in Leith was 2652, being nearly double the number of 1787. In 1830 the gross receipts of the custom duty amounted to L.444,411. For the year 1834 the statistics of the foreign and coasting trade stand thus:

In 1844 the number of ships belonging to Leith was 210; the aggregate tonnage of which amounted to 25,427 tons. The number of arrivals coast wise for the same year was 2,272, of which 381 were steam-boats.

The foreign arrivals for the last three years are as follow:

The Custom House is a large building adjoining the docks, and was erected in 1812. It consists of an establishment of 106 officers, the aggregate salaries amounting to L. 9390. The revenues of this office amounted in 1843 to L.569,684 Sterling; in 1844 to L.628,007.

Foreign grain imported in 1843 for the year ending 5th January 1844, and amount of duties respectively on each description at the successive rates of duty.

The same in 1844 for the year ending 5th January 1845.

IV. PAROCHIAL ECONOMY-ECCLESIASTICAL STATE.

The ancient parish in which Leith is now comprehended was Restalrig or Lestalric. The parish constituted a barony; and at the earliest period in which it is mentioned, it belonged to the family De Lestalric. The parsonage existed at least as far back as the demise of Alexander III. In 1291, Adam of St Edmonds was parson of Restalrig; and he had a writ to the sheriff of Edinburgh to deliver him his lands and rights. Whether from the beauty of the situation, or from its near vicinity to the Abbey of the Holy Rood, the ancient residence of the Scottish Kings, James III. founded there one of those colleges or fraternities of secular clergy, of which there were many throughout Scotland, and several in the neighbourhood, as at Corstorphine, Roslin, and Crichton, and Trinity College, Edinburgh. This establishment was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and the Virgin, and united with the parish church. It included, besides the church, a “lodging” for the dean, and "chambers" or "manses," with "yardis and lands" for all the prebendaries; and it was fostered and extended by the founder's royal successors, James IV. and James V., till it came to consist at last of a dean, eight prebendaries, and two singing boys. In the year 1661, according to the rentals given in to government, "the fruites of the Denerie of Restalrig, as it payis presentlie and comounlie thir divers yeirs bygane, with the parochins of Leswaid and Glencorss," were twenty-five chalders eight bolls two firlots oats; eight chalders six bolls two firlots bear; two chalders thirteen bolls one firlot wheat; one chalder three bolls two firlots rye; with L.43, 6s. 8d. Scots money.

The glebe and manse of said parsonage was given in feu for the yearly payment of L.47, 6s. 8d. Scots.

In 1435, the lands of Restalrig and patronage of the parsonage was confirmed to Thomas Logan. From this family the grant of