LEITH, an important seaport, a municipal and parliamentary burgh of Scotland, on the southern shore of the firth of Forth, at the mouth of the water of Leith,, 2 m. n. of Edinburgh, with which it is now connected by a continuous line of houses. Although not without many fine edifices, the town, as a whole, is rather mean in appearance, being irregular and dingy, especially in the older and central parts. The Trinity-house, custom-house, town-hall, royal exchange, corn exchange, and banks are really hand some buildings. Leith has one of the largest and most elegant flour-mills in the king dom. West of the town, on the shore, is Leith fort, an artillery station. Leith is con nected by branch-lines with the various railways centering in Edinburgh. The harbor extends, by means of two piers, upwards of a mile into the firth, and has a depth of from 20 to 25 ft. at high-water. There are three wet-doeks, containing a floating area of 26 acres; and an additional dock is in course of construction which is to contain a floating area of nearly 17 acres. 'Railway communication is continued from the various Leith stations throughout the quays, and to the extremity of the western pier, and has also been carried across The harbor by a superior iron swing-bridge. There are six grav
ing-docks, one of them being 73 ft. wide at the entrance, and 450 ft. in length, with 24 ft. of water on the sill at spring-tides. The trade of the port is chiefly in colonial and foreign produce, but is also extensive in coal and iron exports. Grain, timber, and wine are among the leading imports. In 1840 the harbor dues were £26,000; in 1875 upwards of £74,000. In 1852 the tonnage of arrivals was 350,286, while in 1878 it was 962,875; and the tonnage of sallings shows a corresponding increase. In 1875 the imports of grain amounted to 768,120 qrs., and those of flour to 245,515 bags. The fishing village of Newhaven is within the port. There is a daily market. Chief manufactures—ships, machinery, sail-cloth, ropes, ale, rectified spirits, soap, bottles, flour. Pop. '71, 44,277. Leith unites with Portobello and Musselburgh in sending a member to parliament.