LIBERTON, a parish, in the county of Edinburgh, 2 miles (S. S. K.) from Edinburgh; containing, with the village of Morton, part of New Craighall, and the former quoad sacra parish of (iilmcrton,.'54.50 inhabitants. This place is supposed to have been originally called Lepers' town, from an ancient hospital for lepers, of which a memorial is retained in the name of the lands near the site. It is of considerable anti(|uity, and has been long celebrated for the beautiful remains of Craig- MILLAR Castle, which render it a favourite resort of the inhabitants of Edinburgh. At what time, or by whom, the castle was originally founded, is not precisely known; but for more than three centuries, previously to its coming into the possession of the Gilmour family, its present owners, it was the baronial seat of the Prestons of Preston, whose armorial bearings appear on the walls. During the reign of James III., John, Earl of Mar, the younger brother of that monarch, was for some time detained in confinement in the castle; which was subsequently the residence of James V., when in his minority, while a contagious disease was prevalent at Edinburgh. Craigmillar Castle sustained considerable damage in 1.543 and 154*, from the English, by whom it was partly demolished. It was soon restored, however, and, after her return from France, became a residence of Mary, Queen of Scots, whose retinue of French attendants lived in a small village situated at the base of the castle hill, and which, from that circumstance, obtained the appellation of " Little France." In 1566, after the murder of David Rizzio, a conference took place here of the Earl of Huntly, the Earl of Argyll, and others, having for its object the procuring of a divorce between the queen and Darnley, which her majesty refused to sanction; and the castle was subsequently the scene of various historical events. The remains of this once stately edifice are situated on the summit of a rock rising, almost perpendicularly on the south, to the height of 360 feet above the level of the sea. They were once defended by an outer wall with a deep fosse; and within the line of this is still an embattled wall with circular towers on the east, built in 1427, and inclosing the court, into which is an entrance on the north. The ascent to the castle is by a flight of steps, leading into the ancient hall, which is yet entire; and there are several other apartments in good preservation, one of which, of very small dimensions, is said to have been the queen's bed-chamber. On the east is the ancient chapel, now in ruins, and used as a stable; the family chapel built by Sir John Gilmour is also a ruin. The grounds have been lately planted. The PARISH, which extends from the eastern confines of the Pentland hills nearly to the Firth of Forth, and from the vicinity of Edinburgh to within a mile of Dalkeith, is about seven miles in length and three in mean breadth, comprising an area of rather more than 4700 acres. Of this area almost 4000 acres are arable, 370 meadow and pasture, and the remainder woodland and plantations. The surface is boldly undulated, attaining in some parts a considerable elevation, and commanding views over a wide extent of richly-fertile and highlycultivated country, with many interesting features, and much romantic scenery. The view from Craigmillar Castle embraces the city of Edinburgh, the Pentland, Braid, and Blackford hills, the Firth of Forth, the coasts of Fife and East Lothian, and various other objects. In the lower districts the soil is a rich loam; in the higher lands, a thin but retentive clay; and on the confines of the Pentland hills, a dry gravel. The crops are wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, and turnips. The system of agriculture is in the highest state of improvement; the lands have been well drained, and, from the alunulance of excellent limestone found in the |)arish, have been rendered extremely fertile. The lands are, however, but partially inclosed. Efforts have been made of late for the improvement of the farm-buildings. Portions of land are laid out in gardens, in which fruit and vegetables are raised for the supply of tlie Edinburgh market. A sycamore-tree at Niddrie measures nineteen feet in circumference, and one at Morton Hall fourteen feet; and at Moredun, Drum, and Inch are also many fine trees. In this parish the substrata are chiefly coal and limestone. The former, constituting part of the coalfield of Mid Lothian, was extensively wrought for many years at Gilmerton; but in 1838 the works were suspended, partly from the expiration of the lease, but chiefly from the abundant supply brought to Edinburgh at a more moderate cost: they subsequently came again into operation. A vein of ironstone has been discovered at the same place. The limestone is of excellent quality and very pure, containing about ninety-five per cent of carbonate of lime. There are quarries of it at Burdiehouse and Gilmerton, both in extensive operation. The stone of the former occurs in a seam twenty-seven feet in thickness, of a deep blue colour on the upper surface, and of a light grey beneath; and contains numerous shells, some perfect impressions of different plants, small fishes, and other remains. The stone of the latter is about nine feet in thickness, and contains various organic remains, which are exclusively marine. On the north side of the castle hill at Craigmillar was an excellent quarry of freestone, from which materials were raised for the erection of the Regent's-bridge, George-square, and many of the streets in the southern district of the city of Edinl)urgh, the barracks at Piershill, and other buildings. The annual value of real property in the parish is £23,715. Inch House, the seat of Walter Little Gilmour, Esq., is an ancient spacious mansion, erected prior to the year 16 17, and beautifully situated in an extensive demesne enriched with wood, and commanding some fine views. Morton Hall, the seat of Richard Trotter, Esq., erected in 1769, and improved by the present proprietor, is a handsome mansion in a demesne tastefully embellished with thriving plantations. The house of Drum, the residence of Miss Inncs, is also handsome; it was erected by Lord Somerville. Moredun, the seat of David Anderson, Esq., built by Sir James Stewart; Brunstane, erected in 1639 by Lord Lauderdale; and the houses of Southfield, Sunnyside, St. Catherine's, and Mount-Vern(ni, are all beautifully situated. The chief village is Gilmerton, which contains 548 inhabitants. There is a branch office here, connected with the Edinburgh post-office; and facility of communication is maintained by various roads, and the lines of the North- British railway company. For ECCLESIASTICAL purposcs the parish is within the limits of the presbytery of Edinburgh, synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. The minister's stipend is £326. 14. "., including £10 prebcndal fees; with a manse, and a glebe valued at £20 per annum: patron, the Crown. Liberton church, erected in 1815, is a handsome structure with a lofty embattled tower, forming an interesting object in the landscape, and contains 1430 sittings. A church, to which a quoad sacra parish was for a time annexed, was erected at Gilmerton {which see) in 1837; and this is now a preaching-station, supplied regularly by a preacher of the Establishment: he receives an annual salary of £80, raised by subscription and collections in the parish church. The members of the Free Church have a place of worship;md a school. Liberton parochial school is attended by about eighty children; the master has a salary of £34, with a house and garden, and the fees average £45 per annum. There are schools also at Gilmerton, Burdiehouse, and Niddrie, the teachers of which have an endowment from the resident proprietors, in addition to the fees; and the teacher at Niddrie has, besides, a house. At Kames is a girls' school, established and supported by Mrs. Trotter. To most of the schools are attached libraries for the use of the children. There are some slight remains of the ancient chapel of Niddrie, formerly a distinct parish; it was founded in 1387 by Robert Wauchop of Niddric- Marshall, was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and made subordinate to the abbey of Holyrood: the buryingground is still used. The ancient chapel and buryingground of St. Catherine have long since disappeared. Near their site is a mineral well, the water of which has been found efficacious in the healing of cutaneous disease; a black oily substance constantly floats on the surface of the -water. This well was inclosed by James VI., who visited it in 1617; but it was destroyed and filled up by Cromwell's soldiers in 1650: it has, however, been restored, and is now in good preservation. In the vicinity of Morton Hall are several tumuli; and to the west is the hill of Galachlaw, on which Cromwell encamped his army of 16,000 men previously to the battle of Dunbar. At Gilmerton is an artificial cavern of several apartments, excavated in the solid rock in 1724, by aa eccentric individual who lived there with his family till 1/35, and carried on the trade of a blacksmith. On the lawn in front of the house of Drum are the remains of the ancient market-cross of Edinburgh, placed there in 1756 by the Somerville family.