Liverpool.
_Doomsday Book of Scotland._--In vol. xx. of Sir John Sinclair's
_Statistical Account of Scotland_, 1798, the following extract of a
letter appears from John Pinkerton, Esq., the antiquarian writer, dated
the 23rd February, 1794:
"In looking over the _Survey of Scotland_ accomplished by your
exertions, it occurred to me that I could furnish an article,
worthy to appear in an Appendix to one of the volumes of the
_Statistical Account_. I need not inform you, that in the third
volume of Prynne's _Records_ there is a large but undigested list
of all those in Scotland who paid homage to Edward I. in 1291 and
1296, forming a kind of Doomsday Book of the country at that
period. Four years ago, I, with some labour, reduced the numerous
names and designations into alphabetical order, and the list being
now adapted to general use, and containing the names and
designations of the chief landholders, citizens, and clergy of the
time, it may be regarded as of no small importance to our ancient
statistics, topography, and genealogy. If your opinion coincides,
I shall with pleasure present it to you for the purpose, and
correct the press."
Now the article so kindly proffered by Mr. Pinkerton did not appear in
the _Statistical Account of Scotland_, or in any of Mr. Pinkerton's
subsequent publications, that I am aware of. I should feel obliged if
any correspondent could inform me if it was ever published.