IN SCOTLAND.

333

A pin fixed in the piece of wood raises the catch, goes be-hind it, and is prevented from returning by the falling of thecatch.

“ A, catch and pin when the gate is shut.

“ B, ditto pushed up by the pin, and ready to fall downand fix the gate, or piece of wood.

“ C, horizontal view of the section of the pillar, piece ofwood, catch, and hook ; also of the rail.

“ The castings, complete, to hang any weight of gate,cost about 3 s. 7d. at the foundery, inclusive of the liftingsncck. Our smith, John Edgar, made them of malleableiron, sufficiently strong, weighing 7 lb. 4* oz. which, at 9d. perpound, amounts to 5s. 4Jd., not a third part of the price ofthose formerly used here. Two pounds, or at most two anda half, would furnish out a set of iron-work for the three rails,or between 1 s. 6d. and 2s. And this simple gate we find tobe excellent for many situations. About three and a half feetof wood will make the gate above described, which, at 3s.per foot, is 10s. 6 d. I got some made of larch, which couldhave been afforded for about 12 s., or, inclusive of hinges, &c.15s. 7d., rather of smaller dimensions than those of the draw-ing, which have been in use three years, and are very littlethe worse. Our blacksmith, who is a first-rate workman,made sliding bolts for fastening all the late Sir William Max-well’s gates, with a socket upon the hasp, inclosing a screw-pin, which, by a few turns of a key made to fit its top, is in-serted into a dint in the bolt, and secures the gate equal toany lock.”

C. Grenville Stuart Monteath, Esq. of Closebum, has themost simple plan of raising the head of a gate in case of itshaving fallen down a little, that can be contrived; and as thisintelligent and public-spirited gentleman has used it for years,and found this easy remedy of a very common fault in gatesquite effectual, and has otherwise improved the common form