nected with the stations of fungi: while some species are equally constant to these as the higher tribes of plants, there are others very uncertain in this respect, disappearing for a succession of seasons together, seemingly without any relation to the more obvious influence of moist weather. The causes of this would appear to be obscure as the plants themselves, but the fact probably points to a field of investigation in some measure peculiar to them, although, in regard to the more general views of botanical geography, they may have less claim upon the attention. The following is a general list of a few more of the rarer plants : Orthotricum diaphinum Agaricus mutabilis Hippuris vulgaris Hookeria lucens Viburnum opulus Hypnum complanatum Fedia olitoria Aira cristata Grimmia tricophylla Hypnum alopecurum Brium legulatum Festuca bromoides titubans parasiticus cochleatus lutescens Agaricus ceraceus Leotia lubrica confluens MUSCI, &e. in fruit. Gymnostomum Gymnostomum Heimii Didymodon trifarum heteromallum. scaber Ornithology. The only bird at all rare is the fauvette (Sylvia hortensis.) It seems to be as common some seasons about Kinneil as the black-cap, and is probably generally so throughout Scotland, although overlooked from its similarity to others. II.-CIVIL HISTORY. Parochial Records. - The parochial records consist of, 1st, five volumes of minutes of session, regularly kept from 1694, and affording interesting information regarding the state of morality and religion in the parish in former times; 2d, six volumes of registers of births, baptisms, proclamations, and marriages; the oldest volumes are imperfect; the earliest entry is dated 1648; 3d, two volumes recording deaths, the first from 1736 to 1783, the second from 1808 to the present time; 4th, several volumes relating to the management of the poor's funds. Antiquities. The Wall of Antoninus, commonly called Graham's Dyke, traversed this parish. This celebrated rampart, in its course between the Friths of Forth and Clyde, crossed the river Avon, the western boundary of the parish, near Inneravon, and proceeded in an easterly direction towards Carriden or Abercorn; and its tract is still visible at various places along the high grounds of the parish. Traces of the military road on the south side of the rampart have been recently discovered near Inneravon, and also in two different fields east from Kinneil House. It is generally supposed that a station existed at Inneravon, and probably there was another at Kinneil. The wall was constructed, not by one, but by several individuals, at different periods; and they seem to have terminated the work at different places.* Hence has arisen some diversity of opinion regarding the site of the place whose name Bede and Nennius have so particularly recorded, and near to which, according to them, was the eastern termination of the rampart. The notices of ancient historians, and the researches of modern times, point to one or the other of two localities,† viz. to Kinneil in this parish, and to Weltoun in the parish of Carriden, as the place referred to by Bede and Nennius. Perhaps the name or names mentioned by these authors refer to both places, and not to one of them exclusively. Cenail,§ (which Nennius mentions as Scottish, i. e. Celtic, indicating an earlier period,) may refer to Kinneil, || where the earliest termination of the wall is generally supposed to have been; and Penguaul, Penfahel, and Peneltun, (Cambro-British, and Saxon, indicating a later period,) may refer to Weltoun, * which is farther east than Kinneil, and which, probably, is not far from the place to which the wall was finally extended. • The situation of Kinneil, commanding so extensive a view of the Frith of Forth, was most suitable for a watch-tower, and especially for one terminating the line of forts erected between Forth and Clyde by Agricola. The wall afterwards constructed by Lollius Urbicus might advantageously have terminated at this watch-tower; and the situation being one of importance, and probably much frequented, a village might spring up in its vicinity at an early period. And though afterwards, on dif. ferent occasions, additional forts or towers were erected, and the wall was repaired, and extended farther east, yet the village in the vicinity of the original termination of the rampart would retain its name, even though another station might be erected near the more recent termination, and a name of similar import given to it. A village near the eastern termination of the wall of Severus was called Wallsend. + The termination of the wall, according to Gildas, was near Carriden, about two miles west from Abercorn; - according to Bede, about two miles west from Abercorn, at a place called Penfahel or Peneltun;-according to Nennius, at a place called Penguaul, or Peneltun, or Cenail; and, according to Fordun, near Carriden. It was the opinion of Sibbald, one of the earliest antiquarians who considered this sub. ject, that Penvahel or Peneltun of Bede was the very same as Walltown or Weltoun near Carriden. Yet more recent and abler antiquarians have considered Cenail, Penvahel, and Peneltun of the more ancient authors the same as Kinneil. + Regarding Nennius, Ritson remarks, " He had already confounded the wall of the real Severus with that of Antoninus, and now confounds another Severus with somebody else." Perhaps in this instance he has confounded two names which, though of similar import, refer to two different localities. § Cenail is evidenly Celtic, and may be derived from Cean, "head" or "end," and fal, "sod," " turf," " wall," or " fence"-the possessive case of which is fhail, having fh perfectly quiescent. Cenail may thus signify "end of the turf wall" or "wall. end." Penguaul or Penvahel is Cambro-British, signifying "wall-head" or " wallend;" and Peneltun has the same signification, with the addition of the Saxon ter mination "tun" || Cenail, mentioned only by Nennius, (who does not specify distance nor mention Carriden or Abercorn,) corresponds with Kinneil, at least in pronunciation; whilst, in respect of both pronunciation and distance, Penvahel and Peneltun of Bede correspond better with Weltoun in Carriden than with Kinneil. Near the farm-steading of Upper Kinneil, and a little south of the Roman wall, there was a small tumulus or cairn, locally known by the name of the Laughing Hill. On its being opened to obtain stones for drains, four stone-coffins and four urns were found. The coffins contained black mould; and the urns, which were full of human bones, were inverted and placed upon flat stones. Probably the bodies were burned, and, after the calcined bones were collected and put into the urns, the remaining ashes were put into the coffins. The bones, when first discovered, were almost white; but, when exposed to the air, they very soon became black, and crumbled to dust. Several pieces of charcoal were found amongst them. A stone coffin and an urn, similar to those already mentioned, were found in the north side of an eminence called Bell's Know, immediately above the town of Bo'ness. A curious battle axe, coins, and other antiquities, have been found in different parts of the parish. One of the coins last found is a large silver piece of James VI. Near Inneravon, there is an old tower, with traces of considerable ruins connected with it. Sibbald calls it a Roman watchtower; but it has not the aspect of a Roman tower. In the Auchinleck Chronicle of James II., it is mentioned, that, in the beginning of March 1455, " James II. kest down the Castell of Inveravyne, and sine incontinent passed till Glasgow," on an expedition against Douglasdale, &c. The old ruin at Inveravon is most probably one of the corner towers of the Castle of Inneravon, built on the site of the Roman station. Below Kinneil House, upon the coast, there was formerly a cas It is not surprising that Penguaul, Penfahel, and Peneltun should ultimately become Weltun or Weltoun, through the prevailing influence of the Saxon language. The omission of the initial syllable is not without example. Edinburgh was, and still is, Dun-Eiden in Celtic; Incuningham is now Cunningham; Linlithgow is oecasionally written Lithgow, even in important documents. The interchange of gu, w, and fin pronunciation, may be traced, even to this day, in different parts of Scotland. Weltoun seems to have been a locality of some notoriety nearly 200 years before Sibbald wrote his Account of Linlithgowshire. Grange, had a charter, under the great seal, of the lands of Weltoun in Linlithgowshire, of date 8th February 1524. Two important requisites of a Roman station exist at Weltoun, viz, an eminence, and a good supply of water. These might have rendered it an eligible site for a station, although the wall, probably, did not termi nate at that place, but in its vicinity, and nearer to the Frith. LINLITHGOW, Alexander Hamilton in le tle, named Castle Lyon. It was built by a lady of the house of Glamis, and was probably the jointure house of Lady Margaret Lyon, daughter of Lord Glamis, and widow of John, first Marquis of Hamilton. A path leading from the high ground towards the shore, still called the Castle Loan, and some remains of a wall, called the Castle garden wall, indicate that the site of Castle Lyon was near the Snab. Kinneil House. Kinneil House, one of the family seats of the Duke of Hamilton, is the most remarkable building in the parish. The barony of Kinneil is one of the most ancient possessions of the house of Hamilton, and is associated with some interesting events in the history of that noble family. According to " Ffrier Mark Hamiltonis Historie," King Robert the Bruce gave all the lands of Kinneil to Sir Gilbert Hamilton, " for his trew service and greit manheid," and especially for having slain " the greit Lieutennant of Yngland upon Kynnale Muir."* From the same authority we learn, that this Sir Gilbert had been with The Bruce in the field of Bannockburn, and was one of the seven knights that kept the King's person. For Sir Gilbert's exploit upon Kynnale Muir, "King Robert gaif till him his armis till weir in Scotland, thre sinkfuilzies in ane bludy feild." The descendants of Sir Gilbert have held the lands and barony of Kinneil by various charters from the kings of Scotland. One of the earliest is dated July 28th 1323, granted by Robert I., in favour of Walter, the son of Gilbert. A charter of the lands and barony of Kinneil was granted to James, the first Lord Hamilton, who, in 1474, married the Countess of Arran, which event connected the house of Hamilton with the royal family of Scotland. When the Duke of Charterherault was Regent, he made large repairs upon Kinneil House. Considerable alterations were made upon it by Duchess Anne and Duke William, who, according to Sibbald, greatly embellished it. Probably, at this period, the old eastle or keep was modernized in the front, but not in good taste. The battlement was converted into a cornice and balusters; the In a place formerly known as Kirneil Muir, a remarkable stone lay near the road which used to be a thoroughfare between Linlithgow and Falkirk, or Stirling. It was seven feet long, five feet broad, and three feet thick. Its upper surface had been roughly dressed, a groove had been cut round the border, and a cross in the cen tre. It had a monumental appearance; but there is no vestige of tradition regarding it. Excepting the achievement of Sir Gilbert, there is no remarkable event associated with the locality. About twenty years ago, the stone, being an obstruction to the plough, was blown to pieces and removed. windows were enlarged, and a staircase was erected at each end. A wing projecting eastward was erected on the north; and, apparently, a corresponding wing was intended to have been placed on the south, so as to form three sides of a square. Kinneil House is built on the edge of a bank, about sixty feet above the level of the sea, and is surrounded with a considerable quantity of natural wood. The approach is from the east, along a beautiful avenue of aged trees. From the roof of the main building, which is flat, and covered with lead, there is an extensive and beautiful prospect. The admirable situation of Kinneil House, and the natural beauties connected with it, warrant Sibbald's magnificent description of this " princely seat." But the hand of time has changed the scene; the natural beauties of the place remain, but those of art, which Sibbald so much admired, have been effaced, and the internal decorations are gone. The numerous and spacious apartments of Kinneil House are at present uninhabited. Though in former times it was the abode of nobles, and the retreat of kings, the present generation will regard it rather as the favourite residence of the philosopher and philanthropist. The celebrated Dugald Stewart resided here about twenty years; and from this place he has dated most of those works which are the imperishable monuments of his genius.. The removal of Mrs and Miss Stewart, who were the last occupants of Kinneil House, was much regretted by every inhabitant of the parish; and the active and extensive benevolence of that family will be long and gratefully remembered. Celebrated Characters. - Other names besides Professor Stewart's may be mentioned, as connected with both Kinneil and the University of Edinburgh. Principal Wishart was the son of the last minister of Kinneil; and Principal Baird, whose name will ever be associated with the cause of education in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, was a native of this parish. A considerable number of clergymen might be mentioned as connected with this parish by birth or residence. One family has produced four clergymen of the Church of Scotland, all of distinguished excellence, though perhaps the editor of the last edition of Wodrow's Church History is best known to fame. The celebrated James Watt matured some of his improvements on the steam-engine, during his residence at Kinneil House. In 1769, Mr Watt, on the recommendation of Dr Black of Glasgow, entered into an engagement with Dr Roebuck, of Carron Iron |
