PERTH, a city, royal, municipal, and parliamentary burgh, and capital of the county of the same name, is situated on the right. bank of the Tay, 45 m. n.n.w. of Edinburgh by railway, through Fife. The charming scenery of the immediate vicinity; the Tay, a broad and noble river, sweeping southward its eastern side; and the superb back ground of the Grampians on the n., render the site of the "Fair City" exceedingly interesting and beautiful; while its rank, as in some sort the ancient metropolis of Scot land, the important Nile it has played in the history of the country, and the picturesque associations with which history and fiction have invested it, claim for it a high rank among the cities of Scotland. A handsome bridge of nine arches, 880 ft. in length, and stretching over a water-way 590 ft. in width, connects the town with the suburb of Bridgeml, on the left bank of the river. Further down, the Perth and Dundee rail way crosses the river on a fine stone and iron bridge, which also admits foot-passengers. The appearance and salubrity of Perth arc much enhanced by two beautiful public parks, called the North and South Inches. The water-supply, obtained from the Tay, is filtered, raised by steam into two elevated reservoirs, and thence distributed over the town, rising to the upper stories of the highest houses. Among the most interesting public buildings arc the church of St. John, an ancient structure in the pointed style, surmounted by a massive square tower; the county buildings, a Grecian edifice; the town-house, part of which is as old as 1210; king James VI.'s hospital; the infirmary; and the local prison.
At the head of the South Inch stands the penitentiary. or general prison, one of the largest buildings of the kind in Scotland. where all criminals sentenced to imprisonment for long periods, are confined. The town also contains a statue of the late prince consort; Marshall's monument, erected in honor of a former lord provost, and containimr a public library and the museum of the antiquarian society; the public seminaries, Sharp's and other educational institutions. The river is navigable to Perth for vessels of considerable burden. The linen and wincey manufactures are thriving. There are dye-works, iron foundries, breweries, etc., but ship-building has declined. The salthou fishery on the Tay is very valuable, the rental being upwards of £15,000. ' In 1876, 161 vessels, of 12,352 tons, entered and cleared the port. Six fairs arc held annually, and horse-races take place every year on the North Inch. Perth has a charter as a royal burgh from king William the lion, 1165-1214. It returns a member to the house of commons. Pop. (1871) of royal and parliamentary burgh, 26,356. There are twenty-four places of wor ship. The city revenue in 1876-7 was £6,700.