would desire; but this, it is hoped, has been so far obviated by the introduction of snatches regarding popular superstitions, and a sprinkling of anecdote. Due advantage has been taken of the most authentic works which bear on the history of the district, for the use of the greater part of which, and for a vast deal of valuable information, the Writer is particularly indebted to the kindness of Patrick Chalmers, Esq., of Aldbar. He is also under deep obligation to the Right Hon. Lord Lindsay, not only for many important particulars which he has been pleased to communicate regarding his family history, but for the great interest he has taken in otherwise advancing the work.

In notices of pre-historic remains, the lover of antiquity may find the volume rather meagre. This, the Writer is sorry to remark, has arisen, in a great measure, from the penchant which most discoverers have of breaking any valuable relics with which they meet. For, although a change for the better has recently taken place in the mind of the general public regarding antiquities, the peasantry, into whose hands those treasures are most likely to fall, have still a sadly mistaken view of their value; and, in the vain hope of being enriched by the supposed wealth of their contents, they not infrequently deprive themselves of remuneration altogether, but, in destroying pieces of pottery-ware, metals, and similar articles, tear so many leaves-so to speak-from the only volume which belongs to the remote and unlettered past, and thus place the attainment of some important particular regarding the history of our forefathers—perhaps for ever-beyond the reach of enquiry. The baneful law of treasure trove has much to account for on this score; but, there is reason to believe, that the evil might be so far modified, through an express understanding between landlords and tenants, and tenants and servants.

The Appendix will be found to contain many interesting and hitherto unpublished papers, particularly those illustrative of

the ravages of the Marquis of Montrose and his soldiers in certain parts of Angus. The old Rental Book of Edzell and Lethnot, from which copious extracts have been taken, was lately rescued from total destruction in a farm "bothie" in Lethnot. Though a mere fragment, the portion preserved is important, not only from its shewing the value and nature of the holdings of the period, but from its handing down the names of many families who are still represented in the district.

In thanking his numerous friends and subscribers for their kind support, the Author feels that some apology is necessary for the delay which has occurred in the publication. This has arisen from two causes-mainly from a protracted indisposition with which the Writer was seized soon after advertising the volume; and, partly, from including in it the history of the minor Lindsay properties in Angus, and of those in Mearns, &c. -an object which was not originally contemplated. From the latter cause the volume has necessarily swelled far beyond the limits at first proposed; still, the Author does not feel himself justified in increasing the price to subscribers, but the few remaining copies of the impression will be sold to non-subscribers at a slight advance. He begs also to express his deep obligation to those who took charge of subscription lists, and so disinterestedly and successfully exerted themselves in getting these filled up, as well as to various Session-Clerks, and numerous Correspondents, for their kindness in forwarding his enquiries.

ANDREW JERVISE.

BRECHIN, August, 1853.

THE name of this parish, in old times, had a different orthography from that now in use. At the beginning of the thirteenth century it was written "Edale," and "Adel" in the ancient Taxatio, which was rated at a subsequent period.* In both cases the word may be considered as essentially the same, signifying "plain or meadow" ground, and quite descriptive of the most valuable half of the parish, or that part which lies without the boundary of Glenesk. In Rolt's Life of John, the twentieth Earl of Crawford, it is written "Edgehill," and so pronounced at this day, by some old people, and believed by many to be the true etymon, from the fact that the great bulk of the arable land lies from the edge of the hill southward.† In all documents posterior to the date of the two first, however, the orthography differs little from the present, and according to the late venerable Minister, implies "the cleft or dividing of the waters,”—a rendering which is also favoured by the physical aspect of the parish, in so far as it is bounded on the south and west by the West Water, and on the east by the North Esk, both of which rivers unite at the south-east extremity.

* Registrum de Aberbrothoc.-Bannatyne Club, Edin. 1848, pp. 7. 48, 240. Perhaps the present spelling arose from z being often used for g in old writings. B