angle of depression. In digging the foundation of houses or graves in the churchyard, sea-shells are found, affording evidence that the whole site of the town has been reclaimed from the sea. II.-CIVIL HISTORY. There is no complete account of the parish deserving of particular notice, though there is an anonymous publication, bearing date 1726, arising out of some disputes between the magistrates and the clergyman of the time, which contains various particulars of interest connected with the erection of the church, provision for the minister, &c. Some documents also, in the hands of the representative of the ancient family of Stewart of Craigiehall, show, in 1689, the state of the water passage, as divided into thirty-two shares, among twelve shareholders. There is likewise a petition, printed in 1718, and presented to the Convention of Royal Burghs, setting forth the great distress of the town, on account of the failure of trade, pressure of taxation, removal of sailors to NewHalls, and the quartering of soldiers passing to the north, and in returning from it. At a very early period, the spot where the town is built was much frequented, as the most convenient place for crossing the narrow strait which separates the county of West Lothian from Fife. At a remote era, it was denominated Freti Transitus, as the Romans, about the year a. D. 83, penetrated as far as the marshes, lakes, and forests in the neighbourhood of Lochleven. Various discoveries made of bones, funeral urns, &c. in the town and immediate neighbourhood, point it out as the scene of fierce strife between the original inhabitants and its invaders; and as it lay near the course of the Roman wall, built by Antoninus, A. D. 140, this may well account for the importance this place early acquired. On the conquest of England by the Normans, a. D. 1066, various fugitives escaped to Scotland, and among these Edgar Atheling, heir of the Confessor's race, with his sister, Margaret, a most beautiful and accomplished maiden. Malcolm III., surnamed Cean Mohr, married this princess in 1067. To the westward of the town a spot favourable for embarkation was called Port Edgar, and some rocks, from whence the Queen was accustomed to pass to the opposite shores of Fife, in the low Latin of George IV. embarked at Port Edgar on the 15th August 1822, on his return to England. He was accompanied from Hopetoun House by General the Earl of Hopetoun. At the same pier, on the 1st October 1823, the remains of the gallant and distinguished earl were landed from His Majesty's Sloop of War, Brisk, from France, amidst the regrets of the whole nation. the time, Passagium Reginæ, and in the vulgar tongue, the Ferry, or the Queen's-Ferry, by which name it was then known. There was formerly a house on the beach, near some shelving rocks, called the Binks, which, it is understood, was built for the Queen's accommodation while waiting the arrival of her boat from the opposite shore, on her way to Dunfermline, the royal residence. So much attached to this princess were the inhabitants, that her footmark was cut out in the solid rock; and some of the inhabitants speak of it as being in existence in the recollection of the ancient inhabitants. In a charter of Malcolm IV. the town was called Portus Regine, who granted a free passage to the monks of Scone, ad Portum Regina. Pope Gregory, in 1234, confirmed to the abbot of Dunfermline, dimidium passagiæ sanctæ Margaritæ Reginæ. This was also granted to the abbey of Dunfermline, by Robert I., regranted by Robert III., and confirmed by James II. in 1450. At the Reformation this right was disposed of by the abbot, in sixteen shares; but there is evidence on record that he actually sold eighteen-sixteenths. Though a port so early as Malcolm IV., it was not a royal burgh in 1556, when a tax was levied on royal burghs, but it procured a charter of erection into a free royal burgh in 1636. Its erection was much opposed by Linlithgow, which was appeased by some degrading concessions. It appears to have sent a representative to Parliament in 1639. Under the Union it has the privilege of choosing a representative to Parliament, along with Stirling, Inverkeithing, Culross, and Dunfermline. The towncouncil consists of twenty-one, of whom two-thirds were formerly merchant sailors, and three were deacons of crafts. The number of persons residing within the royalty, whose rents in property or tenantry amount to L. 10, are 20; and in the extended royalty there are 10 persons resident rated at the same amount. The parish was an erection from Dalmeny, in the year 1636, ratified by Act of Parliament 1641, at which time, the place seems to have acquired considerable importance, in consequence of its commercial intercourse with Holland. At this time it possessed nearly twenty great ships, with several coasting vessels of a smaller size. A church was built in 1633, on the ruins of a very ancient chapel. Some tombstones bear the date of 1685, and one, apparently of a much earlier period. The magistrates and town-council are patrons of the church. The length of the town does not extend to one quarter of a mile, and its breadth to a few hundred yards. It forms one street, bounded by one row of houses on the north, and on the south several closes, as they are called, extend backwards. The shore is flat and sandy, except on the east and west, where ledges of rocks extend a considerable way into the sea. On the western ridge the harbour is formed. The rude erection of an early time has been replaced by a very substantial pier and harbour, built under the directions of Mr Stevenson, civil engineer. Parochial Registers. - The parochial registers extend from 1635 to the present time. The first entry in the record of baptisms is 1635, and in that of marriages, 1635. They are not voluminous, but have been regularly kept, though the register of baptisms appears, with a few exceptions, since the commencement of the secession, to contain only the names of those connected with the Established Church.* Extracts from the Session Records of Queensferry, by Elias Johnston, schoolmaster. -"At Queinsferrie, August 13, 1635.-The qlk day Mr David Lindsay, seconnd bischope of Edinburt, came yairfra to the above namit toun of Queinsferrie, for the consecration of yr new erectit church yr, and for admitting of Mr Robert Gibbisone, minister yrto, being the first man yt was presentit to yt place. And after the said Mr David his entrie in the toun, he went by the (sleip) way towardis the doore of the kirk, qlk was then lockit, qre mett him, Rot Daulling and Rot Hill than present baillies, accompaniet wt the haill honnest men of the toun. The said Mr David demanding the baillies and the rest of the companie yair, to what end they had build that hous, wha replyit onlie to the glorie of God, and for his worshipe, and in tockin yrof they did render him. This being dune, and doore maid oppine, the said bischope did ascend the pulpit, and yairafter prayer conceivit and salme sung, he maid chois of his text furth of to the consecration of the church, and nixt to the admissione of the said Mr Robert. Sermon being endit, two childrene war baptizit, ye on to Galbin Sympsone, namit Edward, and uthr to Andro Hutton, namit George. After this the said bischope dischendit to ane seat before the pulpit, qr he did demand furth of the bookis of ord (ination) such and such questionis as concernit the admissioun of the said Mr Rot., to yt divyne calling and replyis war maid be the said Mr Rot yrto. Qlk finischit he resavit imposition of hands, and last of all the sacrament of the Lord's supper was celebrat. Qik endit and a salme sung, the companie, than yr convened for the forsaid wark, war dismist." Qlk endit "AtQueinsferrie, August 23, 1635. -The quhilk day cōveinit Mr Robert Gibbisone, minister at South Queinsferrie, accompaniet with the wholl honnest men of the said burij, and than did nominat and choizit the personis following to be deaconis and eldars wthn the said paroch, viz. &c. &c. Upon the same day it was appoyntit be uniforme cõsent of the sessione that the chief place wthin the church should be applyit for the baillies and counsillors. Also it was appoyntit that thair should be no seats nor dasks within the kirk, bot all pewis." "September 6, 1635. -The qlk day sessione being mett, it was ordaint that James Dalling, eldar, should keip the kirk box, and Robert Dalling, wth David Wilsone, should keip the keyis for the first qrter. Upon the same day it was ordainit that whatsoever personis war buikit for the performance of matrimonie, should wth sufficient cauners that they should performe and accomplishe marriag wthin fourtie dayes, under the paine of fourty poundis. Upon the same day it was ordanit that quhasoever should defyle the marriag bed before marriag should pay six poundis Scottish mõey, and that to be cōsignit befoir thair marriag. It was also ordainit that qtsomever personis should buik thamselfis to perform the band of matri Eminent Men. - It is not known that any individuals of much note have been connected with this parish. Mr Kid, who_was minister from 1710 to 1743, was much distinguished as an eminent divine, and one of the twelve brethren who, in 1721, united in a representation to the Assembly respecting the act passed in condemnation of the Marrow of Modern Divinity. The celebrity of this individual at the time of the communion attracted crowds from the most distant parts of the country. By the session record it appears that 600 communicants were sometimes assembled, and that twenty-two pints of claret and eighteen great loaves were used. monie, sall pay to the reidar threttein shillingis four penneis. It was also ordanit that thes personis sall give to the beddell the day of thair marriag 4s. It was also ordanit that the personis qusomevar that ar to be merriet sall cōsigne the sowme of 20 mek Scottis mõy in cace that thair exceid ten shillings for the man, and aucht for the woman, and if so be the act be transgrest the mõey sall cum to or kirkbox. It was also ordanit that at baptisme the father of the chyld sall give to the rei. dar aucht shillings and to the beddell four shillings. It was also ordanit qusumever persone sall depart this lyf above ten yeires sall pay to the beddell ten shillings, and under ten yeires six shillings aucht penneis, and that for the making of the graves. It was also ordanit that everi fornicator, especially the man, sall pay to our box for his trespas the sowm of six pounds, and the woman four poūds, and the relaps ever to be redowblit toties quoties. It was also ordanit that qtsomever personis sall break the Sabbath day by taking other great or small boot to pass this ferrie, from the rysing of the sune to the twelf hour of the day, thes personis sall be fynit for the first fault in twelf shillings Scotts the man, and if they sall fall in the sam fault againe, they sall stand at our kirk-door in sackcloth, and mak ane cõfessione of thair fault before the cōgregane. It was also ordanit that if the master of the bootis sall give thair cōsent to the botsman, they sall pay fyve pounds toties quoties. It was also ordanit that qtsomever browstar sall sell drink upon the Sabbath day in tym of divyne service, sall be fynit in fourtie shillings. It was also ordanit qtsumever browster salbe found earing b from twelf hour upon sall be fynit in fourtie shillings Scottis. It was also ordanit that qtsumever personis salbe found out of our kirk in tyme of divyne service, sall be fynit in aucht shillingis. It was also ordanit that qt sumever persone servant that salbe found bearing bur-n upon the Sabbath day within the tymes limitit, if they sall nott he able to pay fourtie shillings, yitt sall mak satisfactione at the kirk-door, according to the sessionis injunctione." "September 13, 1635.-The qlk day sessione being mett, Bessie Howisone being callit and compeirit, acknowledgit hirself to be wth chyld to David Crichtone, it was ordanit that both pties should be warnit heir against this day aucht dayis. Upon the sam day it was ordanit that Mr James Levingstone should be reidar in this our kirk, so that he and our session can aggrie under sufficient that he sall sub stit (ute) in his place ane copleit deputy heir to serve upon the Sabbath day befoir noone." (Date omitted,) probably 20th September 1635.-" The qlk day sessione being mett, callit and compeirit Bessie Howisone, cõfessit she was wth chyld to David Crichtone -the said David callit and cõpeirit, cōfessit kopelane wth the said Bessie. Thairfoir, it was ordanit that the man sould pay six poundis, and the woman four poundis, and to enter to the publick place of repentance, and to that effect Thomas Barron is become caune for the man, and William Thompsone for the woman." "November 8, 1635 -The qlk day cōvenit, Mr Robert Gibbisone, minister at South Queinsferrie, being accompaniet wth the deaconis, eldars, and sessionaris than present, after due deliberatne and advyse, all of them than present, out of ane motive and free will, wthout any costranit or cõpulsione, did cõdiscend all the schipis boxes should be joynit in wth thair kirk-box, to remaine thair for intertaining thair poore affaires belonging to the kirk, and uther pious usss; and this to be dune in all tyme eming. Protesting that out of gud coscience thay war movit thairto, and in toking thairof, and for gud exmple, James Hill, skippar, gave in 19 rex dollers and 12s., and Arch Logy, skippar, gave in 5 rex dollers to the kirk-box." Antiquities. The burgh has no ancient buildings; but in the west end of the town the Carmelite church, dedicated to the Virgin, is deserving of notice. It was built and endowed by the very ancient family of Dundas of Dundas, about the year 1330. Its extent and revenues are now unknown. It continues to this time the burial-place of the family, whose remains are deposited in a vault under the place where stood the high altar, and now in a new tomb, formed by the preseut proprietor. The town suffered from time to time, from the hostile commotions that prevailed in the country. It was injured by the cannon of some ships in the time of the Commonwealth, as there are balls in the possession of some families, which tradition mentions as having been picked up after the cannonade had ceased. In the year 1745 the town was threatened to be plundered by the Highlanders on their march to Edinburgh, but the Happy Janet, a ship of war lying off the town, prevented their designs being carried into effect. There are some good houses in the town, on what is called the Vaults. The church is a plain building, but in the year 1821 was fitted up with very great neatness and taste, at the expense of upwards of L.500. It has an excellent bell, which the shipmasters brought from Holland, at the erection of the church. It has the following inscription : "Soli Deo gloria, Michael Burgerhuys mekeit, David Jonking, maerchant of Edinbruge, gifted this bell to the kirk of the Queensferrie. Cursed be they that takes it frae there. Anno domino 1635." It has a spire and two bells, and a council-room, in which the magistrates and council meet for the despatch of business. In 1831, there were 313 males, and 371 females, and in 1841, 339 males, and 382 females, in 169 families. IV. INDUSTRY. No attempt hitherto made to supply the town and neighbourhood with white fish has proved successful. In the summer months they are brought here in boats from the east coast of Fife, by several persons, who carry on a profitable trade in this article. In |