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1 


r' 


:;:jn.v\c  .--.. 


1 


THE 


STATISTICAL   ACCOUNT 


OF 


SCOTLAND. 


THE 

STATISTICAL    ACCOUNT 

or 

SCOTLAND. 

DRAWN  U?  FROM  THE  COMMUNICATIONS 

or    THE 

M I N I Sr  E RS 

OF    THE 

DIFFERENT     PARI  S  BlrOE'S/ 
'  *  -'  '^'-    J' 

By  Sir  JOHN  SINC  L  AIRz/BaVV:'.:';;/ 

VOLUME    NINETE  ENThV  vV*: 

^AiconfiUum  de  repubiica  JanJum,  caput  eft,  nojfe  rempuhlicam?^ 

Cic&RO,  de  Orat.  lib.  ii. 


EDINBURGH: 

PRINTED  AMD  SOLD  BT  WILLIAM  CREECH  ; 

AlfD   ALSO    SOLD    BT    J.  DONALDSON,    A.    GUTIIRIK,    W.  LAING^ 

4MD   JO.   FAIfcBAIR.N«    BDINBURGB  \    T.    CADELL,    J.    DEB- 

ABTTy  AND  J.  SBWBL,   LONDON  \    DUNLOP  AND  WIL- 

iON|  OLAf GOW  ;  AND  ANGUS  AKD  SON,  ABEKDBBN. 


•  •  • ' 


•  •     •   •  •, • ,    •• .  •• 


• •  •  . ••  • 

•  •  •  • 


CONTENTS. 


No.       Ktmc        PopuUti 

I  Halkirk, 
a  Falkirk, 

3  Roxburgh,     - 

4  Aberdeen  *, 

5  Alneis, 

6  Stornoway, 

7  Barvas, 

8  Lochs, 

9  Uig. 

10  Rhjnie  and  Effie, 

11  Abojne  and  Glen 

tanar, 
n  Bojndie, 
[3  South  Knapdale, 
t4  Kinclaven, 

15  Bendothy, 

16  Tannadice, 

17  Rothtemay, 

18  Orphir, 

Carried  over, 


in  175s. 

In  1790-7. 

S07S 

^180 
8020 

393* 

784 

840 

»S433 

24493 

1090 

II2I 

i8ia 

2639 

'995 

2006 

1267 

1768 

1312 

1898 

836 

68x 

169s 

1050 

994 

1260 

1292 

1524 

993 

1150 

"93 

878 

1491 

1491  + 

1190 

1125 

855 

826 

41339 

55950 

4088 

56 

9060 

827 
XI 

586' 


266 
232 

^57 


15920 


Hi- 


4*5 

29 
1309 


I 

114 
140 
234 
.*4i 
.•*?3 

308. 

327 
334 
37a 
385 
394 


*  In  the  Afpekdix  there  is  additional  communication  re> 
fpe£Ung  the  Town  of  Aberdeen. 


f  Stated  at  the  fame  number  as  in  1755,  no  return  of  the 
-  -.1  hi  ion  having  been  given  in,  in  confcquence  of  the  living 
ling  vacant,  though  probably  increafed. 


in 


CONTENT  1 


Ko.        Name.        FSopulatio 

Brought  over, 
19  Kilmanj, 
10  Dunning, 
a  I  Tundergarth, 
a 2  Annan, 
93  Tarbolton, 
34  Longforgan, 
15  Maddcrty, 
26  Minto, 
37  CoUington, 

28  Innerleithen, 

29  Glenbucket, 

30  Yctholm, 

31  Auldearn, 

31  Killeafi  and  Kil- 

'.\    >og«Httton.in  1755, 
••.-.%    •lhC5«»ft-Ji»-l*79o-7. 


Din  1755. 

I11X790.7. 

bernfe. 

Decnafe. 

Pap 

41339 

55950 

i59»o 

1309 

785 

869 

84 

410 

I491 

1600 

109 

434 

625 

510 

"S 

443 

1498 

2500 

1002 

447 

'365 

1200 

165 

433 

1285 

1J26 

241, 

459 

796 

631 

165 

563 

396 

513 

H7 

570 

792 

1395 

603 

579 

559 

560 

I 

59» 

430 

449 

«9 

607 

699 

976 

277 

609 

1951 

1406 

545 

616 

2391 

1911 

480 

6i^ 

56402 

71996 

18373 

2779 

56402 
»5594 

2779 

15594 

•  •    •  • 

a     ••  •    • 


STAT  IS- 


STATISTICAL    ACCOUNT 


or 


SCOTLAND- 

PART   XIX. 


NUMBER.    I.         '  V: 
PAR 


:•'• 


ISH  OF   HAhKAi.%\:'.    J<-. 


(CouUTT  OF  Caithness,   Synod  of  C AMArtM- A)ifc- 
Sutherland,  Presbytert  of  Caithnes&J*  A^  ' 

Bj  the  Rev.  Mr  JoHN  Cameron,  Minijer. 


Prelimtnary  Obfirvations, 

THE  traft  of  ground,  which  is  now  called  by  the  gene-. 
ml  name  of  ihe  parifli  of  Halkirk,  co»fiftcd  formerly, 
pf  two  pariOies,  vi%.  of  Skinnet  and  Halkirk.  At  what 
particular  period  they  were  united  I  have  not  yet  beea 
able  to  learn,  bat  I  have  reafon  to  fufped  that  their  union, 
took  place  fome  time  after  the  Reformation.  Nay,  cir« 
cumftftDces  make  it  ytxj  probable,  that  the  part  of  which 
the  parllh  of  Halkirk  confifted,  when  it  was  erefled  into  a 
VoL^XIX.  A  ftated 


2  Siaii/lical  Account 

jbted  jNurifliy  was  no  parifli  at  all  before  the  RefonnatioB  v 
bat  that  the  other  part,  which  was  called  the  parifli  of' 
Skinnety  was  a  dated  pariih  of  verj  early  date  before  diat' 
period,     ^alkirk9  by  all  I  can  learn  or  conjectures  was 
originally  no  more  than  a  chaplainry,  occupied  by  the  Bi- 
Ihop's  chaplain,  who  alfo  ferved  the  great  family,  that  had 
one  of  its  feats  at  Brawell,  a  pUce  very  near  the  chapel,  in  * . 
that  capacity..   Here. alfo  the  Biihop  had  one  of  his  feats, 
within  a  very  few  yards  of  the  prefent  manfe.    It  was 
here,  as  I  have  it  from  report,  that  the  Biihop,.  whofe  name 
I  do  not  recoiled,  was  aflaflinated  in  a*^moft  fliameful,  crueU. 
and  barbarous  manner,  by  a  fet  of  rui&ans  from  Harpfdale, 
a  place  belonging  to  the  chaplainry.    Thefe  favages  were 
called  the  fops  of  John  of  Harpfdale,  whom  the  then  EarL 
of  Caithiie&*rnborned,  as  inftruments  very  fit  for  the  exe* 
cutioQ.  df  ttrAt  alarming  and  horrid  deed:    The  reafon  why 
^c  ]^iArrfvffKed  and  executed  this  atrocious  defign  was,  as 
^•/!'l('is  ce^bftc'a,  tpl^  revenged  of  the  Bifhop  for  alTefling  his 
C*•*^  "ffijf^s  111  t1ieL*cliup^inry  with  an  addition  to  the  chaplain^ls 
>  *      fiYV3fc«  V^C^'  augmentation  being  very  difagreeable  to  tbe 
YgdSt/pCi  of  courfe  to  his  tenants,  roufed  their  refentment,.. 
ancf  )>recipitatedthem  into  this  (hocking  deed.     A  moil  ez^ 
emplary  and  extraordinary  punifliment  was  infliSed  on  the 
inftigators  and  perpetrators  of  this  murder,  at  the  inftaace, 
and  by  the  fpecial  diredion  of  King  Alexander  IL  who,  to 
his  great  credit  and  honour*  exerted  bimfelf  in  a  remark* 
able  manner,   in  the  'difcovery,   condemnation,  and  pu- 
nifliment of  thefe  prefumptuous  culprits.     What  is  record- 
ed in  hiflory  concerning  tliis  affair,  feems  to  corroborate 
what  I  have  from  report;  and  from  the  concurrent  tefti* 
mony  of  both,  there  is  reafon  to  believe,  that  this  was  the 
nobleft  and  moft  diftinguifliing  aAion  of  that  King's  life. 
But  to  return  to  the  hiftory  of  the  pariflies : — 

OrigifL 


ttf  Halkirh  3 

Vrtgtn  of  the  Names. — The  fpot  where  the  chapel  for« 
^merly  ftpod,  and  where  now  the  kirk  of  the  two  united 
parilhes  Hands,  is  a  fmall  round  hiU|  in  the  middle  of  a 
large  extenfive  plain.  From  this  fpot,  as  the  centre^  thete 
is  a  very  gent4e  rife,  almoft  in  every  direftion,  to  the  fur- 
roonding  hills.  Fram  wthis  circumilance,  <it  is  more  than 
probable,  the  parifli  deiives  its  name.;  for  the  rifing  ground 
whereon  the  kirk  ftands  is  called  T[or4  Harlogan^  and  the 
kirk,  TTettumful  Harlo^an^  and  io  retain  the  original  Irilh 
aames,  though  the  parifh  is  called  by  the  name  oiJSacriggp 
and  more  frequently  of  Halkirk^  which  are  manifeiUy  a 
corruption  of  the  original  name,  7brf ,  olaggaa,  No«^j^« 
/Off,  in  Earfe,  fignifies  a  low^place,  the  lowed  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, and  ^ore^  a  mount  or  fmall  hill.  Thus  the  ori- 
ginal name  was  compounded  of  Tore  and  Laggan  \  and  had 
it  not  been  that  the  chapel  was  built  on  the  fmall  Tore^  or 
hillt  that  is,  in  the  middle  of  this  low  place  or  laggan^  this 
pariib  would  have  been  called  parlfh  of  Loggie,  or  Si/r,  a* 
^ggon%  or  Laggy^  as  other  parifhes  in  Scotland  are  calledf 
for  the  lame  reafon,  as  is  evident,  from  the  low  fituation  of 
the  place  of  worihip,  when  compared  with  the  reft  of  the 
pariih }  whence  it  is  very  prefumable,  that  the  original 
aatne  of  this  pariih  was,  Skira^  Tiore^  o  Laggan^  but  in 
coorfe  of  time  was  com^ted  into  the  name  Hacrigg^  which 
has  no  meaning  but  analogy  of  found  \  and  becaufe  the 
fimnd  Hacrigg  refembles  the  Engliih  word  HaUiri,  it  was 
#oiiverted  into  that  name. 

As  to  the  name  of  the  other  parifh,  it  is  fometimes  pro- 
nounced  Skinnet^  fometimes  Siiniie,  fometimes  Skinilt^ 
fboietimes  Skinnofif  fometimes  Skinine.  Nothing  can  be 
condoded  from  this  confufed  variety  of  pronunciation; 
4mt  from  the  fituation  of  the  kirk,  with  the  aid  of  thele 
ibunds,  I  have  reafen  to  believe  that  the  real  name  ihould 
3ie  Siiw  Noylu^  the  Wing  of  the  Bum  \  for  that  place  goes 

off 


4  SiiUifikal  Acamni 

off  from  the  buni  that  mss  befide  it,  b  the  fonn  of  m 
wing*. 

KimaH^m  ati  Emimi.^^-^Thit  two  onited  pariAics,  or  what 
b  now  caUed  bj  the  cqqiiikmi  nsae  of  Halkirk,  isia  kngdi 
34  milca  from  N.  to  S.  W.  Its  breadth  is  Tarioos,  being 
in  feme  places  la,  in  other  places  10,  in  ibnae  8,  in  others 
7  miles,  from  the  N.  £•  to  the  N.  W.  It  is  bounded  on 
the  N.  bj  the  pariih  of  Thnrfo ;  on  the  N.  £•  bjr  die  pa- 
fiflies  of  Bower  and  Wattin  ;  on  the  8.  and  S.  W.  bjr  the 
pariflbesofLatheron,  KUdonnan,  Reaj;  on  the  W*  by  n 
detadied  part  of  the  pariih  of  Thnrfo,  and  on  the  N.  W. 
bj  the  parifb  of  Reaj  again.  It  is  fitnated  in  the  connt j 
and  prefl) jterj  of  Caithneis,  and  belongs  to  the  provineial 
Synod  of  Caithneis  and  Sutherland.  It  is  an  inland  pariih, 
and  die  mofi  centrical  in  the  coonty. 

Soil. — ^The  foil  is  in  general  very  good,  though  y^tj  va> 
rious.  lo  fome  parts  it  confifis  of  a  mixture  of  clay  and 
loam,  in  fon^e  of  a  heavy  or  light  kind  of  clay  altogether, 
in  maoy  parts  of  a  mixture  of  clay  and  a  light  kind  of 

mois, 

*  The  river  that  rum  by  the  kirk  h  csHed  Amhine  Th»rft,  /.  #•  River 
vTTborfo;  whence  it  may  he  foppobbk.  that  the  rhrcr  it  eallcd  tnm  a 
perfoa  or  place,  as  riven  oomnxmlj  are.  The  place  or  peribo  might  have 
been  termed  Tttfr.  or  Tborfa,  a  Daniih  word  ;  now,  Tkor,  or  Thor/a,  as 
it  might  have  been  pronounced  in  that  labgoage,  it  the  name  of  a  oortir- 
tsn  deitj*  from  which  was  derived  the  oaoBe  of  a  day,  Tborlday,  nd  of 
perfons,  with  fome  variations  and  compofitioos.  Thus,  for  Miftaace. 
there  were  of  old  of  the  name  OdJsn^  or  O^Detae^  another  northern  deity, 
from  wbidi  wc  have  iVtdAtnfSay  or  Oddimfday^  or  O^D»me/dmj:  and 
^Ibeie  are  to  this  day  perfons  of  a  name  patronimically  derived  from  it» 
V$%.  Mac9iosm€,  or  Oddtn*s  Son.  Thit  may  lead  to  a  difeovery  of  the 
liame  of  this  parifii.  The  place  whertf  the  kirk  ftands  is  truly  a  k^mtt 
pr  low  place,  in  the  ft  rid  fen  fe  of  the  word ;  and  then,  why  might  it  not 
lie  compounded  by  the  addition  cf  Tlw,  or  Tb$rfa,  and  fo  called. Jl^r 
p^Li^an,  or  Tharjd  0*  Idiggjn,  i,  e.  The  low  place  of  TAar,  or  Thor/a  ; 
as  Tbttrib  is  in  Carle  called  Jmwr  Thr/k^  i,  #.  The  Mouth  of  Tfaorfe. 
7I1US  Invemefi,  iJc.    From  TUr  feveral  names  are  alio  derived,  as  ^o^ 


of  Halkirk.  5 

mo&,  and  in  feyeral  parts  it  is  gravellifli  or  fiuidy,.  or 
cfaiogilj.  It  is  in  general  not  deep,  rather  fhallow;  in 
foaie  parts  too  fhallow  and  rocky.  The  fnrface  is  rather 
fiat ;  &r  thongh  there  are  feveral  hills  or  rifing  grounds, 
yet  thej  are  of  no  confiderable  height,  bavmg  a  very  gen- 
tle declivity  in  genera!  from  their  fummits  to  the  fabjacent 
plains,  efpecially  in  the  lower  end  of  the  pariih. 

Difadvantages  arifing  from  the  Soil^  (^r^— To  the  cir- 
cmnftances  above  mentioned  relative  to  the  foil  may  be 
afcribed,  in  a  great  meafore,  its  wetnels,  which  prevaib 
very  mncb,  efpecially  in  winter,  fpring,  and  latter  end  of 
harvcft ;  befides,  the  fogs,  tnd  mills,  and  rains,  which  are 
rather  too  freqtient  in  this  conntry,  contribate  much  to 
tbis  diiagreeable  qnality ;  another  circnmftance  which  tends 
to  its  wetnels,  is  the  kind  of  ftrata;  which,  in  general,  is  not, 
io  the  arable  ground,  and  other  places,  more  than  i  foot, 
or  i-f-,  or  a  feet  at  the  utmoft,  below  the  fnrface.  Thefe 
ftrata  in  many  places  confift  of  a  hard,  heavy,  petrified  kind 
of  clay,  which  may  properly  be  called  eap$a  mortuum.  In 
moft  places,  efpecially  in  the  lower  end  of  the  pariih,  they 
confift  of  flags,  as  they  are  here  called,  or  large  thin  ftones, 
which  lie  in  a  horizontal  pofition,  and  run  clofe  to  one  an- 
other, without  any  great  interval  or  interruption.  From 
thefe  two  laft  circumilances  it  happens,  that  the  furface  is 
kept  perpetually  wet,  except  in  the  fummer  and  harveft, 
for  neither  of  thefe  flrata  will  fufier  the  water  to  fink  or 
filtrate  throngh  them,  therefore  it  muft  remain  on  the  fur- 
face,  till  it  is  either  exhaled  by  fun  and  wind,  or  runs 
off  along  thefe  ftrata  to  the  adjacent  fwamps,  lakes,  and 
boms,  which,  by  the  bye,  muft  be  very  flow,  the  declivity 
to  thefe  being  in  many  places  very  inccnfiderable.  This, 
moreover,  oceafions,  in  a  great  meafure,  the  great  damp- 
nefi  or  chiUineb  of  the  ground,  which  are  fo  inimical  to 
yej^etation,  and  peculiairly  noxious  to  the  roots  of  trees, 

and 


STATISTICAL    ACCOUNT 

OF 

SCOTLAND. 

DRAWN  UP  FROM  THE  COMMUNICATIONS 

OF    THE 

M I N I Sr  E RS 

OF    T  H  E 

•*•  ••  • 

DIFFERENT     PARI  S  H:£'5/ 

•  •     •  •  •     • 

Bt  Sir  JOHN  SIN  C  LAI  R,:*BAK;f;  •/;;;/   ^ 

VOLUME    NINETE  ENThVV--':' 

^Adamfiiatm  de  refiMica  JanJum,  caput  eft,  noffe  rempuhltcam^ 

Cicft&o,  de  Orat.  lib.  iv 


EDINBURGH: 

FRINTED  AND  SOLD  BT  WILLIAM  CREECH  ; 

Ain>    A.L80   SOLD   BT    J.  DONALDSON,    A.    GUTIIRIB,    W.  LAING> 

AND  JO»   FAIILBAIBN9    BDZNBUHGB  \    T.    CADBLL,    J.    DEB- 

RSTT|  AND  J.  8BWBL,   LONDON  \    DVNLOP  AND  WIL- 

iON^QLAlGOW  \  AND  ANGUS  AHD  SON,  ABERDBEN. 


B  Statyiical  Account 

cing  annually  large  crops  of  grals,  very  fit  for  hay  or  pa- 
ftaragc.  Thefe,  becaufe  of  their  low  fituation,  arc  drenched 
with  water  moiUy  all  the  winter  and  fpring,  which  cir* 
cumftance  contributes  much  to  the  luxuriancy  of  their 
crop.  Moil  of  our  hills  or  rifing  grounds,  aiid  alfo  of  our 
moors,  are  well  adapted  for  what  we  call  ordinary  or  High* 
land  pailurage,  and  capable  of  maintaining  a  vetj  great 
number  of  cattle.  Thefe  circumflances,  together  with  the 
want  of  inclofures  and  winter  herding,  are  in  a  great 
meafure  the  caufes  why  the  people  do  not  trouble  them- 
felves  with  raifing  any  crops  of  clover  and  rye-grals. 
Of  late  years,  indeed,  feveral  attempts  have  been 
made  this  way,  which  have  been  very  fuccefsful;  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  this  ufeful  prafiice  will  foon 
become  more  general.  The  reft  ^  of  the  parifli  confifls 
of  fwamps,  marihes,  bogs,  or  deep  mofs,  all  of  great 
extent,  but  very  fit  for  Highland  pafturage  for  the 
greateft  part  of  the  year.  When  to  thefe  are  added  the 
great  number  of  lakes  or  lochs,  (mall  and  great,  which  are 
&Im«ft  in  every  quarter  of  the  pariih,  there  is  reaibn  to  be- 
lieve that  the  fiftieth  part  of  it  is  not  in  culture.  Yet,  after 
all,  it  will  be  allowed,  that  it  has  the  greateft  variety,  the 
^eateft  advantages,  as  well  as  the  mod  pleafimtand  enter- 
taining profpeds,  of  any  pariih  in  the  county. 

Climate^ — Mutual  Influence  of  Soil  and  Climate  on  on^ 
onotbeTf — Difadvantage  from  that  Influenci. -^Though  the 
climate  is  tiot  in  general  very  agreeable,  yet  I  am  perfua- 
ded  it  is  much  better  than  it  is  reprefented  and  imagined 
to  be  by  people  of  other  countries.  For  they  who  come 
only  for  a  flart  into  the  country,  have  no  great  opportunity 
of  knowing  it  \  and  they  who  never  were  in  it,  arc,  from 
the  report/ of  thofe  who  were,  prejudiced  againft  it.  Be- 
fides,  from  its  more  northern  fituation,  they  are  apt  to  con* 
dude  that  the  dificrcnce  between  this  climate  and  theirs  is 

more 


af  Halkirki      .  9 

more  than  it  a^hiallj  is.  Bat  i  will  not  h^fitate  t6  aflBrm, 
that^  had  our  climate  been  equally  good  with  oar  foil,  the 
inhabitants  of  more  fouthem  counties  would  covet  otir 
more  northern  fituation.  However^  it  muft  be  acknow- 
ledged, that  neither  our  climate  or  foil  are  fo  agreeable  as 
could  be  wiflied^  and  that  the  refpe^tive  nature  of  each,  con- 
tributes mutuallj  to  this  difagreeable  circumilance^  Thtfj 
have  a  mutual  influence  on  one  another,  as  may  appear 
hereafter  in  the  courfe  of  thefe  obfervations. 

But  this  dilagreeableneis  proceeds  not  fo  ihueb  from 
our  northern  fituation,  as  from  other  caufes  ;  fuoh  as  the 
fwampnels  and  flatnefs  of  the  country^  its  aboundiiig 
fo  much  in  fens,  marihes,  lakes,  %ic.\  its  being  expofed^ 
without  any  interruption,  to  the  baleiiil  influences  of  the 
N.  N.  W.  and  N.  £• ;  and  fin^y,  to  the  hills  and  moun« 
tains  on  the  S.  and  S.  W.  which  inviron  it  in  thefe  quar« 
ters,  and  intercept,  in  fome  degree,  the  genial  "and  behign 
infiiiences  of  the  S.  and  S.  W«  From  thefe  high  hills  or 
mountains,  which  are,  as  it  were,  the  barriers  between  this 
country  and  Sutherland,  there  is  a  declivity  all  along  to 
the  N.  N.  W.  and  N.  £.  fhores.  T\\\$  contributes  confi- 
derably  to  the  coldnefs,  the  inconflancy,  and  variablenels 
of  our  climate,  being  thereby  devoted  to  all  the  evils  that 
come  upon  us  from  thefe  quarters^  over  an  immenfe  traft 
and  body  of  water  to  the  north  pole.  But  thi»  circum- 
ftaoce  is  not  more  hurtful  and  difadvamageou»  to  ns^  than 
it  is  beneficial  and  advantageous  to  the  neighbouring 
coQttty«  For  thefe  mountains  flielter  and  defend  them  from 
many  of  thefe  evils  to  which  we  are  expofed  ;  apd  I  am 
truly  of  opinion,  that  bad  thefe  mountains  been  fituated  in 
a  contrary  diredion  to  us,  and  the  declivity  of  the  country 
in  a  contrary  diredion  alfo,  y^t  would  have  a  more  agree- 
able dimaie  and  foil  than  we  have,  though,  by  the  bye,  all 
things  confidered,  we  have  no  gr^t  caufe  to  complain. 

Vol.  XIX.  '8  Ail 


i<5  Statijlkal  -Account 

All  this  time  I  have  been  |;iving  a  dcfcriptibn  of  Hie' 
climate  of  the  country  in  general,  when  I  fiiouM  hav*- 
confined  my  thtttightt  to  this  parifh  in  particular ;  but  this, 
makes  no  difference,  for  almoft  every  particular  ttet  is  ap- 
plicable to  this  pariflii  is  in  a  degree  lefs  or  more  applicable 
alfo  to  the  whole  country  at  large.     But  ta  proceed : 

From  the  mutual  influence  of  the  foil  and  climate  on 
otkt  smother,  arife  the  frofts,  the  noxious  winds,  the  dorms- 
with  which  we  are  vifited  frtfqoerttly  in  April,  May,  and- 
foinetimes  in  June  -,  for  when  the  air  has  a  currency  from 
the  N.  N.  E.  and  N,  W.  it  fcours   along  the  counory>. 
armed  &nd  impregnated  wich  till  the  noxious  and  nippicig 
qualities  it  gisitfters  or^  contra^s  in  its  progrefs  over  the 
north  feas ;  and  iheTe  qodliti^s  ftfe  again  fecondtfd  arid  im- 
proved by  what,  in  its  progrefs  over  the  land,  it  receives- 
from  the  wetnefs  and  dampueis  of  the  foil^  and  from  the 
murihes,  fens,  lakes,  and  deep  mofs,  witb  which  it  abounds^ 
to  this  alfo  is  to  be  aferibed  the  frofty  and  blading  inflaen« 
ces  of  the  air,  fometimes  hi  Atrguft-  and  often  in  Septem- 
ber.   Hence  the  vapours,  mifts,  and  mildews,  which  are 
fometimes  very  hurtful  in  that  feafbn  of  the  year,  to  the 
great  difappointment  of  the  farmer* .   Thefe  are  uo  lefs  ini-  - 
mical  to  the  crops  of  trees  and  tender  vegetables ;  to  th& 
bud,  the  foliage,  and  the  tender  part  of  the  branches,  thar 
was  the  growth  of  the  immediately  prec(Siing  year  knd> 
feafon,  than  the  dampneb  and  fhallownefs  of  the  foil  is  to 
the  root.     But  yet  I  muft  fay,  that  feveral  fruit-trees,  and 
other  kinds  of  timber,  would  grow  and  thrive  here  pretty^ 
well,  if  their  crops  could  be  defended  and  iheltered  from  ~ 
thefe  inBu'ences  of  the  N^  N.  E.  and  Ni  W,  I  am  warranted^ 
in  this  aflertion  by  obfervations  I  have  made  on  a  fir  plant- 
ing in  my  neighbourliood,  -  belonging  to  Sir  John  Sinclair^, 
and  planted  by  hb  father.    About  i8  years  ago  the  young 
trees  made  no  impronufing  appearance  ^  on  the  cootrai^. 


thqr  tcmn^i  in  »  blpoujiiiKg,  li  v^^,  and  thiivjbag  Affl^,  umU 
by  degm»  thej  uvtXVof^i  tbe  dikes  and  feoce^  ^heii^bjr 
they  are  indofied.  .From  that  date  they  ivitbered  and  de- 
cayed gradually  in  their  crops';  the  balefiil  infection,  which 
made  an  eafy  prey  of  tbe  tender  ^rops.oEthe  branches, 
communicating  itfelf  therefrom  downwards  to  the  ftrooger 
parts,  and  frpm  thence  to  the  farface  of  the  ground.  The 
whole  planting  is  now  decayed  to  the  very  root,  which  ftill 
retains  fome  life  and  vigour,  and  the  branches  flioot  out 
from  it  almoft  flat  on  the  fur&ce  of  the  ground  to  fome 
diftance,  and  wear  a  green  and  vivid  appearance.  Fromthis 
circomflance  it  is  evident,  that  though  the  fcnl  is  pot  the 
moft  favourable  to  planting,  yet  if  the  inflaences  of  the 
north  could  be  prevented  from  the  ctop,  timber  of  feme 
kinds  would  thrive  here  pretty  well ;  yet  I  by  no  means 
think,  that  the  fir  is  any  wife  calculated  for  growing  in  this 
country. 

To  thefe  caufes  muQ  aUb  be  attributed  the  jdiiQculty  of 
making  roads  in  this  parifii,  and  indeed  in  the  country  in 
general*  By  Sir  John  Sinclair's  example,  and  the  encou- 
ragement given  by  him,  the  whole  country  was  animated, 
and  heartily  engaged,  in  making,  repairing,  and  improving 
roads,  which  proved  to  be  a  great  advantage ;  but  yet,  from 
the  caufes  above  mentioned,  there  is  reafon  to  apprehend, 
that  what  k  already  done  in  this  way  will  foon  krv^  no 
other  purpofe  but  only  a  dire^on  to  ft  rangers,  if  more  labour 
and  expence^  with  more  attention,  be  notbeftoweduponit  \ 
and  we  may  be  thankful,  if  even  after  that  the  roads  will 
be  tolerable  for  more  than  one  half  of  the  year.  However, 
the  country  has  great  credit  from  the  exertions  they  have 
^ready  made,  and  ftill  continues  to  make,  in  oppoiitioA  to 
cbefe  difficukies ;  and  it  is  to  be  regretted,  that  their  fuccefs 
i&aa  hitherto  been  far,  verj  far  fliort  of  their  laudable  exer^* 
<tiofu.  At  the  iaac  titne,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  by  the  plan 

now 


12  Staii/ikal  Account 

now  adopted,  if  executed  with  perfeverance,  ever/  diffi- 
culty will  be  furiBounted,  and  the  country  accommodated 
Co  their  wiQi  in  fufficient  and  durable  roads. 

Salubniy  of  the  Climatic  Htaltb  o/tbt  PtopU^  Longevity^ 
C/r.— From  the  above  obfervations  on  the  foil  and  climate* 
a  perfon  would  be  apt  to  conclude,  that  they  muft  be  ini- 
mical to  healtht  and  very  prolific  of  a  variety  of  diflempers 
which  detraft  from  the  comforts  of  life,  and  confine  it  to  a 
very  contraAed  period ;  more  efpecially  when  the  extra- 
ordinary ineonftancy  of  the  climate  is  coniidered,  which 
often  goes  to  extreme  in  the  fpace  of  24  hours ;  for'ic  is 
not  unufual  to  be  vifited  here  with  all  the  coldnefs  and  ri- 
gours of  winter,  and  the  fervour  and  beat  of  a  funimer-day, 
in  the  fpace  of  12  hours.  But  I  can  fay  from  experience 
and  obfervation,  as  well  as  from  the  teftimony  of  the  oldeft 
perfons  here,  that  there  is  not  a:  more  healthy  country  in 
Britain,  efpecially  to  thofe  who  are  its  natives,  or  are  nata- 
ralifed  to  it.  There  is  no  difeafe  that  can  be  called  pecu- 
liar to  it ;  neither  are  the  difiempers  by  which  we  are  vi- 
fited more  frequent,  or  more  fatal  and  violent,  than  in  other 
(Countries,  that  are  efteemed  very  healthy  and  falubrious. 
Hence  the  natives  are  in  general  very  healthy,  vigorous, 
firm,  agile,  well  proportioned,  excellently  calculated  to  un- 
dergo fatigue  and  hardlhips  \  nay,  I  believe  that  in  thefe 
qualities  they  excel,  and  that  this,  with  their  adive  and 
fenterprifing  fpirit,  is  the  reafon  why  this  country  is  the 
firft,  the  readied,  and  heft  nurfery  for  the  Britifi)  army. 
There  are  befides  inftances  of  longevity  not  a  few.  In  the 
courfe  of  my  iocuinbenpy,  there  have  been  feveral  men 
and  women  who  furvived  100  years  and  upwards,  many 
who  exceeded  80,  and  at  prefent  there  are  a  fcore  who  are 
either  90,  or  on  the  confines  of  that  period,  and  moft  of 
tljetn  perfe^y  found  both  in  body  and  mind.    Here  I 

ihould 


of  Halkirk.  13 , 

ftoold  not  omit  obfervingf  that  there  is  a  man  in  my  near 
neighboorhoody  on  the  borders  of  80  years,  who  can  num- 
ber upwards  of  lao  perfons  of  his  own  progeny,  beiidea 
thote  who  have  died.  The  number  is  ftill  increafing  by 
his diildren,  grandchildren,  great-grandchildren,  \3c\\  and 
what  is  worthy  of  particular  remark,  he  is  ftill  healthy  and 
vigorous,  and  is  as  able  to  add  to  the  number  hy  his  owa 
perfooal  exertions,  as  he  was  feveral  years-  ago ;  fo  that  if 
he  be  fpared  but  for  a  few  years,  I  have  no  doubt  but  he 
may  fee  the  number  doubled. 

Mtmral  Springij-'^Difcovay  of  Lime  and  MarL^^From 
the  circumftances  above  mentioned,  relative  to  the  foil  and 
climate,  it  will  naturally  be  concluded  that  there  are  a 
great  many  fprin^js  in  the  pariAi  *,  fo  there  are,  in  very 
great  abundance,  and  of  moft  excellent  quality  in  general. 
That  fome  of  thefe  fprings  are  mineral  I  have  no  doubt ; 
bat  of  what  kind  of  mineral,  and  for  what  particular  kind 
of  diftenipers  they  may  be  lalutary,  I  am  not  naturalift 
enough  to  enable  me  to  determine.  There  is  only  one  in 
the  parifli  that  attraAed  the  attention  of  the  people,  and  to 
which  they  afcribe  falntary  effeds  ;  it  is  called  the  Well  of 
Halkirk,  fituated  in  the  near  neighbourhood  of  the  church ; 
and  its  water  has  been  ufed  for  a  cure  by  fick  perfons  in« 
difcriminately,  but  not  near  fo  much  fo  as  formerly.  What 
benefit  they  have  derived,  or  do  derive  from  it,  neither 
they  nor  1  can  tell,  unlefs  it  flattered  and  gratified  their 
imagination  at  the  time.  It  is  very  limpid  and  clear,  of  a 
moftpleafant  relilh,  and  rtfes  in  'great  abundance  with  a 
perpendicular  force  from  bottom  to  top.  On  its  furface 
lies  always  a  thin,  beautiful  kind  of  fubftance,  that  varies 
like  the  plumage  of  the  peacock,  difplayed  in  all  its  glory 
to  the  rays  of  ihe  fun.  Whi  brought  this  fpring  to  a  parti- 
cular notice  beyond  other  fprings  in  the  parilh,  which,  for 

-  aught 


K4  Sifiiifiical  Apcount 

^uigbt  I  know,  «iay  bt  fqu^lljr  mcdidiMU  Ml  fditbii- 
«usy  was  the.  foUowiog  drcumfiaace ;  One  of  my  predc- 
^pflbts  in  office,  who  happened  to  have  fome  koowledg^e  of 
fbyfic,  reibrtedtD  it  pcrpecvally  whik  be  liired,  aii4  W9s 
.  «ble  to  wsvU^  t9  it,  apd  draak  pf  it  moft  copioufly .  Ia  the 
iQ0iir£e  of  hU  reitei^ced  vifits  he  dificovered  a  rich  kind  of 
iQgrl  and  limeQonc  round  the  welL  Whether  the  water 
i:Qli^ib»ted  to  hU  health  I  know  not,  but  I  am  fore  it  coo- 
^ributed  tp  bis  pl^furet  and  ^t  the  Iiidjb  and  mart  availed 
much  to  the  fertility  of  his  glebe  and  fmaU  fiarou  To  this 
iimple  incident  is  to  be  afcribed  the  firft  ufe  of  mineral 
water,  and  the  firfi  ufe  and  dilbovery  of  time  and  marl  ia 
thia  pari  of  the  coontry. 

jMhs.^r^fiL%  the  pariSi  abounda  in  fpriofp,  fo  ia  prppor- 
tipn  it  a^un^s  in  Istkes.  There  are  no  }els  than  a4  great 
^f)4  fPV^*  I'be  moft  coafi4erable  are  the  b>c]is  of  Cathel, 
<Qf  J^ixrary,  Lochinore,  l^ehmepdy  \  bat  the  largeft  is  that 
fOtf  pathel  9  it  is  3  pijle#  Ipngi  a  broad,  if  not  more,  very 
•deep,  and  aln^oft  perpetp^y  full  to  its  faitbeA  hanks* 
Tbry  ^  abouiw}  with  ej^ikat  trput,  wi  eel  of  di&rent 
kinds  and  fiz^e^  \  tbefe  ^fS  diQer  alfo  in  colour,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  lake  where  they  v^re  fpawne,d.  In  the 
lake  of  Cathel  |hei;e  af e  troMts,  which  are  found  no  where 
^\{p  in  the  country,  ^f  %  reddifli  beautiful  colour,  a  pretty 
ihape,  vfrry  fat,  ^nd  vioft  pjeafant  eating.  I  fufpeft  they 
^e  that  iiii|d  of  fi(b  which  naturaliOs  call  freih-water  her- 
rfuQg.  There  are  no  pike-&lh  in  any  of  them,  which  is  an 
s^vant^gf,  for  r^aibns  well  koowo. 

Riveru  thar  F{fl>^  au4  JJrii^«,— TThere  are  ftvcnij  .wa- 
ters in  the  pari(hy  which  are  perpetually  (applied  froffi 
thefe  lakes,  and  fome  otber  takes  in  the  i^eighhouring  pa- 
riihes*    In  dme  of  fpeat  or  floo^i  HX  iMe  wa^m  are  both 

drtadftil 


€f  Halkirk.  »5 

^adTnt  and  dangerous,  iftBd  6ft«n  otn^rfldvr  and  inundace 
the  vafltes  and  plains  through  which  tlv^y  run,  efpecially 
ki  the  heights  of  the  ^rilh,  whi^re  they  are  attended  ^b 
feme  damagie,  yet  n6oe  df  them  m«ritsah«  native  of  a  m^y 
hot  one,  which,  is  tailed  the  riv«r  of  TifUrfi,  This  rivtr 
originates  principally  at  Loch  more,  ft  rery  beautiful  lake 
in  the  height  df  the  parilh.  In  its  courfe  it  receives  all 
the  other  Waters  tod  ftreaa^s^  wM^h  it  difcharges  at  Thuar- 
fb  into  tf)e  Petttlahd  fttch.  ^hey  all  aboYind  with  e«celle«t 
trout  and  ee! ;  but  thfe  rivet  <^f  Thuf-fo  is  vl^ry  diftinguifll^ 
abk  fbr  Cslmon,  ^any  in  mMnher,  and  etceUiftiic  %n  ^tilicy> 
It  is  aHow<ed,  Ihat  better  abd  more  agreertle  &liWon  is  oot 
to  be  found  any  where  \.  I  beliere  ft  is  alfo  tbe  «airlieA  ia 
Britain  fOr  <iirn(fting  Chat  fith ;  Hiay,  it  wants  ^not  doa* 
and  frefh  falnMi  every  '^tj  id  t%«  year ;  yet  the  ^ttxWg  t£ 
it  is  of  tate  'f^Sits'¥€vf  flauteh  on  ttle  d^eUne  %  to  wivat  oaufe 
this  is  to  be  attrTbu^d-,  it  is  fMt  cfeBftcult  to  conj>£tol<»b  If 
this  is  not  (eafonabty  adverted  to  and  obviated,  it -is  to  be 
feared  that  a  very  fine  and  nfeiill  faknont-fiflifDg  tnay,  in  m 
few  years,  lie  redtfted  fo  Mthing.  From  this  river  the 
town  of  Thnrfo  derives  its  natne ;  for  the  name^f  the  ri- 
ver is  Thorfa  in  Earfe,  txA  of  the  town  fnver  of  Thoffa» 
Why  the  rfver  is  called  Thorfa  I  cannot  teU,  nn)6ft  it  ivas 
fe  calM  tfom  Thor,  a  Scandanaviltn  deity.  It  runs  almoft^ 
all  along  in  ^ftoney  or  fandy  charmel,  is  very  Yapid  and 
impetuous  )h  fiine  of  fpeat,  and  in  cet'tain  feafons  of  the 
year,  prov^  a  ^at  ttiror  to  all  Who  inhabit  near  its  banks  ^ 
for  it  fometimes  happens  that  it  fweeps  away  eom  and  hay 
in  harveft  froitk  all  the  plains  and  valUes  throogfa  which  it 
pafles  into  the  fea,  and  fometimes  the  tilled  ground,  to  the 
great  Idft^anddifappointment  of  the  farmer,  and  detriment  of 
the  knd;  yet  few  rivers  are  more  beautifa],'Or  run  through 
a  tnore  pleaCant  traft  t>f  eountry .  There  is  a  great  variety 
•f  profpeAtidob^jts  bank%  which  aire  bordered  with  rich 

aaeadows^ 


16  Statijlical  AccQurU 

meadows,  fertile  fields,  ahnoft  to  its  fource,  vis.  Lochmore^ 
where  the  falmon  delight  to  dwell  in  great  abundance,  and 
to  which  they  all  run,  if  not  prevented  in  their  courfe. 
There  are  no  bridges  worth  noticing  on  anjr  of  thefe 
waters,  (only  one  on  the  laft  mentioned),  which  is  the 
occafion  of  great  inconveniency  to  the  inhabitants  of  this 
parifh  in  particular,  and  to  the  country  in  general,  and  no 
lels  fo  to  ftrangers  and  trarellers  from  other  countries*  This 

,  bridge  is  of  pretty  long  ftanding,  extremely  well  built, 
very  ftrong  and  fufficient ;  there  is  none  in  the  north  of 
Scotland  can  excel  it  in  ftrudnre  and  ftrength  \  for  if  it  had 
not  been  wonderfully  ftrong,  and  well  adapted  to  the  na« 
ture  of  the  river,  and  other  circumftances  too  tedious  to 
mention,  it  would  haye  been  deftroyed  and  fweeped  away 
itiany  years  ago ;  it  has  got  very  fevere  trials  during  my 
incumbency,  which  very  few  bridges  could  withftand,  and 
yet  continues  as  firm  and  unimpaired  as  at  the  beginning, 
and  is  likely  to  ftand  for  ages,  if  any  the  leaft  attention  is 
paid  to  it,  which  it  well  deferves.  It  is  of  mighty  advan- 
tage to  the  country }  but  yet,  before  many  inconveniencies 
and  dangAa  arifing  from  the  river  can  be  obviated^  more 
bridges  than  one  would  be  necefiary.  It  was  projeded  by 
Sir  George  Sinclair  of  Clyth^  one  of  Sir  John  Sinclair's 
predeceflbrs,  for  the  accommodation  of  his  tenants  in  the 
neighbourhood,  (who  are  numerous),  and  of  the  country  at 
large,  and  he  left  and  configned  a  fum  for  the  execution  of 
it.  It  was  accordingly  undertaken  and  executed  by  John 
Sinclair  of  Ulbfter,  £fq;  Sir  John  Sinclair's  grand&ther, 
who,  to  the  original  fum  deftined  for  that  purpofe,  added 
liberally  out  of  his  own  funds*  It  flands  in  the  near  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  church,  at  the  diftance  of  6  miles  from  the 
town  of  Thurfo,  and  confifts  of  3  arches.    Before  I  dofe 

\  thb  article,  I  ihould  mention  another  water,  which  runs  only 
through  a  fmall  part  of  this  pariifai  at  the  extremities  of  it, 

and 


.     pf  Halkirk.  n 

uA  is  next  in  bignefi(  to  the  laft  tnentiooeda  I  m^ao  the 
water  or  river  of  Forfi*  It  14  a  yer  j  rapid  and  dapgeroua 
water,  efpccially  in  lime  of  fpeat,  abounds  with  exccUent 
troot,  aqd  a  confiderable  nun^ber  of  falmon  are  ii(hed  ip  it 
everjr  jcar ;  a  few  years  ago  there  was  a  very  good  bridge 
built  upon  it|  at  a  pla9e  in  the  parifh  o^  Reay,  and  very 
few  watery  in  the  country  need  ic  more. 

HUls  and  MountMfu^'^H'^ying  in  fome  meafure  antici- 
pated the  article  of  hills  or  mountains,  in  my  oblervationa 
on  the  foil  and  climate,  very  little  may  be  fiud  of  them 
here.  The  only  hill  that  is  any  wife  worthy  of  notice,  is 
that  of  Sptttal.  The  fummit  of  it  is  4  miles  from  the 
neareft  bank  of  the  river  Thurfo,  from  whence  there  is 
a  vfxj  gentle  elevation  to  its  bafe»  From  this  to  the  dm* 
mit  the  acclivity  b  very  confiderable.  It  is  green  all  over, 
not  very  high,  though  yet  I  believe  it  is  the  highell  in  thlf 
end  of  the  country.  It  has  the  command  of  a  very  plea- 
iaot,  grand,  and  eztenfive  profpe^,  being  the  moft  centri- 
cal in  the  country.  Immediately  on  a  perfon's  arrival  at 
the  to^  the  Orjuiey  Ifles,  the  Pentlaod  frith,  theffupendu- 
OQs  rocks  00  each  fide  of  the  friths  and  the  furrounding  feas,. 
bnrft  on  his  view  at  once,  and  overwhelm  him  with  fur- 
prife  and  tranfport  \  nor  is  he  leis  delighted  when  he  be- 
holds the  whole  country  expofed  in  all  its  varieties,  as  it  were, 
ia  a  map,  to  his  eye,  looking  down  from  this  elevated 
centre  on  the  grand  Subjacent  and  circumjacent  objeds.  It 
is  I  believe  7  miles  difiant  from  the  north  fiiore,  la  miles 
from  the  eaft  fliore,  and  14  from  the  north«weft  fliore,  ha- 
ving a  gradual,  gentle  afcent  from  thefe  Ihores,  with  the 
interruption  of  fome  fmall  hills  or  rifing  grounds.  Its  pre- 
cife  height  I  cannot  determine,  having  neither  the  opportu- 
oUy  nor  the  inftruments  proper  for  taking  it.    The  name 

Vol.  XIX.  C  os 


x8  Statijlical  Account 

pf  it  Is  derived  from  the  religious  hoafe,  irhich  was  imme- 
diatelj  below  it,  called  the  Bbfpitali  by  way  of  ccntrac- 
tjon^  Spitcal. 

Another  hiU  ihottid  not  here  be  omitted ;  lecaufe, 
though  it  is  not  in  this  parilh,  it  is  yet  on  the  near  confines 
of  it,  I  mean  the  hill  of  Dorrary.  Its  diftanc^  From  the 
Spittal  Hill  is  about  x  2  or  13  miles  due  weft.  "It  is  of  con- 
iiderable  heigh  tj  if  taken  from  the  ihore  or  the  pharcht  of  this 
parifli.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  arable  ground  about  its 
^afe,. which  yields  good  crops  of  ^om,  a  prodi^ous  quantity 
of  natural  hay,  and  affords  excellent  paftuie  for  a  great 
qumbcr  of  cattle  ;  it  is,  therefore,  eileemed  the  befi  High- 
land farm  in. the  country.  It  belongs  to  the  pariih  of 
Thurfo,  tfiough  not  within  4  miles  of  any  part  of  that  pa^ 
rilh.  It  is  a  part  of  the  bi/hop-lands,  was  a  Ihieling  be- 
longing to  the  biOiops  of  this  county,  and  from  this  cir- 
cumfiance  it  derives  its  name.  It  commands  the  fame 
grand  extenfive  profpeS  with  the  other  hill,  though  it  is 
Qot  fo  centrical. 

Afar/,  Stones,  Limcftonif  Afi/»«.— There  have  been  dif- 
covered  of  late  figured  ilones,  having  the  impreflion  of 
plants  and  fifhcs.  Thefe  were  found  in  the  courfe  of  at- 
tempts that  were  made  by  the  direftion  and  encourage* 
pent  of  Sir  John  Sinclair,  to  difcoyer  mines.  I  have  been 
alfo  informed,  that  ihells  of  feveral  kinds  have  been,  and 
are  ftill  to  be  found  in  feveral  parts  of  this  pariQi  \  and  this 
is  not  to  be  doubted,  iince  great  q  pan  titles  of  marl,  excel- 
lent in  its  kind,  are  found  in  feveral  parts,  and  applies}  to 
land  with  great  fucccfs  and  advantage. 

As  to  [tones,  having  anticipated  this  article,  I  will  only 
further  obferve,  that  there  is  no  freefione  in  this  parifii ; 
that  there  are  excellent  lime-quarries,  attended  with  this 
^reat  advantage,  vm.  excellent  peat-banks  clofe  by  them  *, 

and 


oftialkirk.  ly 

aad  that  the  lime  they  produce  far  excels  any  we  get,  from 
•ny  other  country.  i 

As  to  amines,  the  furface  of  the  ground,  the  colour  of  the 
fabfiapce  which  €oyer3  feveral  fpringSi  the  colour  with 
whidi  the  flreains  of  thefe  fprings  tinge  their  channels  and 
banks^  the  efiays  and  attempts  that  have  been  made  for 
di&overy  of  min^s^  Jurniih  every  fymptom  and  appearance 
that  minea  are  not  wanting  in  this  parifh.  But  I  much 
fiiTpefly  that-more  labour,  expeocei  gnd  perfeverance  is  ne« 
cef^ry  to. prove  fuccelsfuU  What  kind  of  mines  thefe  ap- 
pcaranqes  fudicate,  I  will  not  pretend  to  determine.  But 
this  I  cap  iay«.  that  feveral  years  ago  1  faw  the  beginning 
of  a  vein,  but  very  trifling,  and  (awalfo  pure  lead  extrafted 
from  the  -ore^  Furti^er^  I .  obferved  in  this  parifh,  and  ie^v 
veii^l  parts  of  the  c9i^Qtry,  a  very  heavy  hard  kind  of 
brown  ilonoi  in  great  abundance,  on  the  fur&ce  of  the  earthy 
whifch  I  aip  apt  to  conclude  may  be  iron  ore,  but  whether 
good  or  bad  of  its  kind  I  cannot  fay.  This  depends  on 
truL 

TbunJtr^  TCempefis,  JVat£r-j[ppttti.—t\m  pariit  is  fpin^i 
times  vifited  with  thunder,  lightning,  tcn^pefts,  hurricanes, 
water^fpouts,  terrible  in  their  appearan^e,^  bi^t  in  general  j 
attended' with  po  confiderable  mifchief.  Till  about  5  years 
ago,,  thunder  for.  ievetal  years  was  vei'y  rare,  more  efp^- 
ctally  during  the  late  bad  and  unfavourable  years  ;  fo  tnnch 
ib,  that  th^  country  rejoiced  when  they  heard  on  a  ihom- 
ing,  repeated  claps  of  thunder  ip  thefe  hard  times  ^flat- 
tering tbemfelves  with  the  hopes,  that  they  were  to  ttflier  in 
a  change  to  the  better  in  the  feafons,  as  they  had^not  heard 
them  for  a  long  time  before.  But  they  were  difappointed 
in  their  ezpe£latiops,  for  the  weather  immediately  after^ 
wards  became  ;more  cpld  and  (tormy.  They  are  corifider- 
ably  more  frequent  and  loud  of  late  years.    Earthquakes^ 

which 


20  Statijlical  Account 

which  commotily  happen  with  fiicb  dorms  and  tempeSs 
as  we  have  fonetimes  here,  were  never  felt  6t  knoWn  in 
this  parifh  or  country,  fo  far  as  T  czh  learn.  Three  li^tnark- 
able  water-fpouts  happened  in  the  cotirfls  of  thSfe  laift  50 
years.  The  lall  one  happened  about  13  years  igo.  It  ap- 
jpears  from  the  altonilhing  tSk&s  they  ptxiiiAced  ^  SKhd 
near  the  places  where  they  fell,  th)it  had  they  happened  in 
any  of  the  inhabited  parti  6f  die  paxiih,  the  ccinib)oetiec» 
would  have  been  lameatable  and  iatal  indeed.  They  Sell 
on  the  high  and  remote  parts  <^  the  patiih,  winch  win  best 
teftimony  to  thefe  events  for  many  tiges  to  tome.*  Bot^ 
after  all,  I  am  inclined  to  fiifpeft,  though  tfiefc'cAAs  are 
a{cribed  to  water-fpouts,  that  they  were  prodttced  frtihs  «!• 
other  caofe,  it%.  froni  the  Irruption  of  an  imtnclkire  tcollec- 
tion  of  water,  penned  \ip  in  fome  of  the  prodtgidofy  tfcep 
and  very  eztenlSve  momfles.  Which  are  tet  few  ift  ihie^ 
fiightand  paru  of  the  pari&  %  and  what  gives  dits  ^^  4em« 
blance  of  probability  is,  that  in  ixany  of  thefe  'morlfles,  or 
jKntv,  as  they  are  here  called,  when  the  furface  is  bored,  tbe 
water  ifTues  out  like,  a  torrent  with  great  force. 

Here  I  fliould  not  omit  a  teal  w^ter-fpout,  ih  the  firiA 
'fenfe  of  the  ward,  that  happeaed  about  '200  yekrs  ago  ofi 
the  loch  of  Cathel ;  a  whole  femily  refiding  on  a  Very  finall 
ifland  in  the  loch,  excepting  the  youogeft  child  and  his 
Burfe,  were  deftroyed  by  it*  This  awful  e^eifit  W^  fo  ikr 
from  being  a  Caufe  of  regret  to  the  neighboiirhobd,  tha^ 
they  exceedingly  rejoiced  at  it,  as  thereby  they  %eiie  hap* 
pily  delivered  from  the  terror  and' rapine  ^th  which  they 
were  perpetually  annoyed  and  Varafled  by  that  lawle&'ahd 
plundering  faniiiy ;  for  they  lived  on  rapine  and  plunder^ 
and  fortified  themfelves  on  this  fmall  Ifland,  to  the  nttet 
defiance  and  vexation  of  the  oppreflfed  neighbourhood. 
^  Tke  mafiex  of  this  family  was  by  name  Gaine  SSaricaciii^ 


of  Halktrk.  « 

i  r.  Gtvin  Henderfon.    TT&e  ftxrri'nng'cfaild  is  pfogetilloir 
of  a  certain  branch  of  die  Henderfons  in  this  conntt^. 

^minpetb.  Birds  mdigtuomf  ^nd  migrmwy.  Gium^  ■■ 
The  qoadmpeds  tli  Uiis  pari&,^  both  domeftic  and  wM, 
harmlels  and  ravenous,  are  miich  the  fame  as  in  other  Htgk« 
lainipatiflsesi  and  not  itb  num^rods.  For  the  game,  fbere 
are  Ibt^  deer  and  roe,  aHb  ott^eia,  foxes,  and  ha^,  in 
great  abnndance.  About  60  yeaia'a^  no  hares  were  to 
be  fieeo  in  this  paiiffi  or  country ;  now  diey  aic  not  pientior 
asy  where  than  here.  ^ 

The  birds  ilhit  «e  native  of  indigenous  'are  the  fiune 
^Ib  "as  in  other  wMthem  Ifi^land  ^MuiOieat  and  oot  iois 
nmneroiis.    The  inigratory  birds  are  Uk  *&nie  siUb ;  &di. 
ia  ihk  fehSfer-f  th^  fffiea  plover  or  lapwing,  the  ^aaxl  or 
torn-crake,  tiie  woodcock,  the  cnckoo,  th6&ow4bwK  For- 
nedy tflhe  lap^ivfng  vtfited  thb  ]>ari(h-in  mfultitbdes;  noir 
we  do  not  fee  the  hundredth  ptfrt  of  What  was  wont  to  be 
tctn  of  them ;  and  very  fooh,  as  the  tnfmber  yearly:  4le- 
creafest  we  will  fee  none  at  all.    The  fprlng  feafts  in  Eng- 
land wiH'foon  deftroy  that  delicious  bird  we  were  wont  tx> 
retrand  feed  for  didr  table,  "and  deprive  us  of  their  vifits. 
The  birds  for  game  are  of  various  kinds,  and  feme  kinds' 
Verj  numerous,  the  moorfewl,  the  blackeook,  the  taraat- 
chaoi  plovers  of  fcveral  kinds,  fiiipes,  pigeons,  parttidges. 
It  is  only  of  late  ye;its  tl»t  'this  4aft  bird  was  to  be  {een 
liere%    'Wt  have  OKo  fi^dris,  ^M-geefe  of  diftrem  kinds  in 
valt  numbers,  diicks  ih  great  viurie^  aad  numbers  aMb|  be- 
lies Several  odier  birds  too  'tedtons  to  taiention.    On  the 
Whole  I  know  not  any  place  tlMlt  eto  -affottl  better  ganie 
thiia  this  parilh'.  '  '      . 

Pofnhtiois,  tit  Ind^a/iji  Oiiu^iqfignidfar  it,  C^C4-*Tbe 
AomW  of  inhibitifits  hasp  'rather  iwttx&d  daring  my  In- 

cumbency» 


•Ofi  Statifiicai  Account 

cumbcQcyf  ivhich  is  upwards  of  23  years  ago ;  and  I  ha^w 
reafoa.  to  believe,  from  the  concurring  report  of  all  the  vcrjr 
old  people  with  whom  I  have  been  talking  on  the  fubjefi^ 
•as  well  as  from  other  circumOaoces,  that  the  pre&nt  num- 
.ber  isat^leaft  one  fourth  more  than  it  was  aboat  70  years 
ago. 

•  Agriculture  has  made  confidcxable  prqgtefs  during  that 
period,  and  in  proportion  to  its  progre&,  a  greater  naoaber 
of  hands  were  needed  to  carry  it.  on.  IndoAry  and  firoga* 
Jitj  kept  pace  with  this  progreis  i  as  the  inhabitants  were 
gradually  enlightened,  fo  thcj  w^re  gradnallj  awakeoed, 
and.  incited  to  afiioii;  their  neceffities  and  wants  grew 
greater  .as  they  multiplied;  this  put  their  invention  to  tbe 
r  trial,  and  their  wants  and  invention  introdnoed  feveral  em- 
ployments, and  feveral  fhifts  for  livii^  to  which  they  were 

•  ftrangers  before,  and  for  which  they  did  notcare  ;  for  truly 
'I  believe  that  they  knew  no  want,  and  felt  no  oecelEty  for 
•diligence  and  adivity  before  that  period.    Thefe  circum- 

ilances  fiimiihedempJoyiDent,  apd  employment  made  room 
for  hands ;  and  numbers  of  hands  that  could  live  in  idle- 
ness before,  but  could  not  do  fo  now,  were  ready  to  embrabe 
.  and  avail  themfelvcsof  it*  Hei\ce  a  variety  of  implenauents 

*  and  uteniils  fpr  hu(bimdry,  ^c.  which  were  very  few  and 
.fimple  before,  were  afterwards  found  necefiary;  and  of 

courfe  and  by  confequeace,  arti(|s  and  tradefmen,  w^o  were 
alio  very,  fcaroe  before  th^t  period,  to  make  them.  Hence 
-a  finall  farm^  that  was  wont  to  be  worked  t^  yery  few 
.  binds,  cannot  now  be  wrought  to  any  putpofe,  without 
fome  additional  hands  \  for  the  rent  being  formerly  very 
low,  and  o|.her  neceflaries  eafy  to  be  got,  very  little 
pains  was  neceflary  to  live  and  keep  credit  by  that  f:irm- 
But  now  the  cafe  being  altered,  there  is  a  neceffity  for  rai- 
fiag  better  crops,  and  foriuore  labour  and  indoftzy,  before 
the  &mily  can  be  fupported#  credit  kept,  >and:aU  neceffiisy 

demands 


of  Halkirk.  23 

demands  anfwered.  Hence,  feveral  fpots  that  have  been 
negteded  and  defpifed  before,  as  there  was  no  u£e  for  them, 
are  now  fufficient  to  employ  feveral  hands,  and  to  main- 
tain feyeral  fiimilies.  Hence,  finally,  people  are  called 
forth  mnch  earlier  into  life,  and  employed  in  bufinefs,  who' 
before  that  period  would  be  only  as  playful  children  at  the 
firefide,  and  quite  ufelels  to  themfelves  and  others. 

Thus  the  number  of  perfons  being  increafed,  and  bufi' 
■eft  and  wants  having  enlarged  their  narrow  fphere,  and 
taken  a  wider  compais,  traiEck  and  commerce,  arts  and 
manufiiAures  ftarted  into  being.  They  now  begin  to  creep 
and  crawl  -,  and  I  hope  they  will  foon  be  able  to  throw 
away  theij  leading-firings,  and  to  make  more  flately  mo* 
tions,  and  more  mafculine  exertions. 

Another  circumftance,  that  contributed  coniiderably  to 
the  increafe  of  population,  fhould  nor  here  be  omitted.  Be- 
fore the  period  above  mentioned,  people  in  general  did 
not  enter  fo  early  into  the  conjugal  Rate.  The  Jlorgea^  or 
impetus  of  nature,  was  fuperfeded  by  motives  of  intereft 
and  conVeniency.  But  now,  vic€  verfa^  thefe  prudential 
copfiderations  are  facrificed  to  the  impulfe  of  nature,  which 
is  allowed  its  full  fcope ;  and  very  young  people  ftretch 
and  extend  their  necks  for  the  matrimonial  noofe,  before 
they  look  about  them,  or  make  any  provifion  for  that  llate. 
Often  times,  indeed,  motives  orinterclt,  and  the  impulfe 
of  nature,  combine  with  united  force,  and  precipitatp  them 
into  that  ftate  at  a  very  early  period  of  life.  Whether  this 
praftice  is  favourable  to  the  improvement  of  the  fpecies,  I 
much  fufpeA ;  but  that  it  is  very  much  fo  to  population  I 
have  every  reafon  to  believe* 

It  is  true,  indeed,  that  population  has  of  late  years  re- 

ceivcd  no  fmall  check  from  the  junftion'  of  farms,  from 

emigration,  and  from  the  vaft  numbers  that  have  gone  to 

(lie  army  during  this  and  the  former  war.   But  yet  it  is  on 

.3  the 


■-? 


24  Statlftical  Account 

iSb^  increaftt  though  t^  fo  much  fo  as  it  woald  have  bee« 
without  thefe  checks. 

Having  thps  en^eayoured  tp  account  for  the  increafe  of 
population  in  the  period  abov^  mcntionedi  I  now  prpqeed 
to  }a^  down  the  prefent  ilate  of  it* 

State  of  Population^  bow  divided^  (/^.—According  to  the 
baft  inquiry  and  cakulation  I  coi^d  make,  the  prefent  Hate 
'q{  peculation  is  as  follows,  (from  which  it  will  appear,  that^ 
the  increafe,  fince  Dr  Webftex  drew  up  his  account  of  it  ia 
I755i  his  date  being  then  3075  fouls,  is  105)  ; — families 
J30 ',  fouls  3180 1  of  thefe  fods  x6jo  are  n^ales,  1530  fe- 
males. Below  five  years  of  a^e,  443 ;  betweea  &ve  and 
ten  years,  509 ;  between  ten  and  twenty  years,  685  ;  be- 
tween twenty  and  fifty,  986  >  between  fifty  and  feventy» 
483;  between  feventy  and  eighty/ 55  ^  between  eighty 
^nd  ninety  years,  20.  Of  this  number,  there  are  380  ba- 
chelors; maidens,  40b  *,  widowers,  40  j  widows,  89 }  men- 
jEbrvants,  308 ;  women- fervants,  321;  tradefmen,  liich  as 
tailors^  weavers,  ilvoe  or  brogue  makers,  fmiths,  wrigbts, 
coopers,  cowatu  *,  73.  There  is  only  one  dyer,  and  two 
gardeners,  and  three  merchants.  The  number  of  day-la- 
bourers cannot  be  afcertained.  There  are  indeed  feyeral 
who  work  for  daily  hire,  fometimes  in  the  year ',  but  they 
are  not  many  who  are  ilated  ones,  or  make  day-Iabopr 
their  bufinels  by  which  they  fupport  themfelves  and  fitmi* 
lies.  I  would  conjecture  the  number  of  thofe  who  live  by 
day-labour  to  be  about  50  -,  and  of  thofe  who  make  it  only 
a  bye-job,  or  a  bufinels  now  and  then  as  they  are  difpofed, 
or  find  it  nectfTary,  to  be  about  thrice  that  number.  Be- 
fides  the  above,  there  is  a  great  number  of  fpinners  for  the 
linen-manufa^ures  in  Aberdeen  and  Edinburgh.  ThU 
number  is  as  difficult  to  alcertain  as  the  former,  and  for  the 

fam^ 

«  Cowans,  gttfons  who  1>uild  dry  (tone  dikes  or  w&IU 


tf  Halkirk.  2$ 

iwe  jneftfott ;  I  wofild  fap^«  the  viht^t  i^o  I>e  about  409. 
All  the  iamUies  above  ftated,  excepting  thqfe  of  tradefmen, 
daj-la^boorera,  iic.  are  faixm^vt^  tenants,  fubtenants,  cottar 

Birtist  Morriages^   Burials. — ^The    annual  average  of 
births,  n^arriages,  burials^  cannpt  be  afceitained  with  aaj 
tolerable  accuracj.    B7  examining  the  regifter,  I  fpoad 
there  were  3o  baptifm^  and  ^4  marriages  recorded  from 
Janiiarj  1789  to  January  1790  -,  but  I  iDi^ch  fufped  their 
number  ought  to  have  bipen  more;  and  I  have  re;^fon  for 
this  fufpicion,  bec^iiie  fome  few  may  be  baptifed,  and  fbme 
&w  manned  bj  the  nii^onar  j  an  this  pariib»  and  the  neigh« 
bomiag  cjergymes,  whofe  names  might  have  been  ne« 
glefied  to  he  reported  to  the  (efliou-clerl^.    Thv^  circum« 
jBaac4(,  togetb^  with  fipme  who  die  uobaptifed,  and  who 
ace  n9t  th^erefore  reported  and  recorded,  may  well  account 
ton  this  miflake.    Indeed,  thefe  numbers  of  b^ptifms  and 
marrii^gps  /e«cc^d  what  they  were  in  4ie  (ame  fpace  of 
tio^e  for  feveral  years  before,  accprding  to  the  regiften 
From  die^  very  probabjie  cirpi^fiances,  I  v^j  (^f^lyjCOQ- 
dude  the  annual  average  of  births  for  a  fe,w  years  p^  to 
be  ji}>oojC  85, 9^  )tjbat  of  aiarriages  about  28.   T^^  number 
of  4ea^  or  burials  I  found  on  the  regjUler  in  (h^  P^/ic^ 
above  mentioned  to  be  24,  whioh  i^  .by  noTneaos  ^tisfac- 
(ory,  and  puts  it  en^rely  put  of  my  power  .to  filcertain  the 
pitciie  average,  jeijpecially  when  it  is  coa^dcred,  that  i^ 
order  to  elude  payment  of  the  jta^,  xxi^mbers  ufe  all  the  ihifta 
they  cap ;  befides,  there  are  ^o  leis  tt\^n  10  buri^al  places 
in  the  parifii,  which  ^ves  ^mbexs  an  ample  ^portuqi^ 
to  eicape  froqi  both  xegifier  ^d  f^uu 

Mi/ciffaniops  Oifirvationsn-^Mmj  of  the  propofed  fta- 

tifijcal  queries  have  no  relatipn  to  Uiis  parilh  ia  its  prefefit 

VoL.XIX«  D  ftate» 


26  Statijiical  Aecoutti 

ftate.  Many  of  thofe  that  haTe,  were  alreadj  coofideredT 
and  anticipated  in  whole  or  in  part,  as  they  occurred  occi^ 
fionally  in  treating  of  other  articles.  Therefore  all  that  i» 
neoeflarj  is  to  give  »(hort  aeeoant  of  ibciv  parttcabfa-  aa. 
have  not  been  anticipated,  and  may  apply  to  this  pariih. 

Well,  then,  we  have  no  manufaclnres,  no  artifls,  and  hot 
few  mechanics.  AH  the  inhabitants  are  of  the  Efiabliihed 
Charch,.yet  many  attempts  have  been  made  to  introdoce  Se* 
ceffion  among  them,  lliey  are,  on  the  whole,  moderate  and 
rational  in  their  religions  principles,  ponftiial  in  their  attend* 
ance  on  divine  ordinances,  and  weH  di^oled  so  encourage 
and  fupport  the  means  of  rcKgions  infim^on  among  them. 
None,  for  many  years  paft,  have  died  of  fiunine  or  want : 
nay,  in  the  late  fevere  and  nnfiivourable  years,  when  the- 
country  was  threatened  with  &mine,  nothing  like  it  was 
f(Ben  or  heard  in  this  parifli ;  yet  the  efieds  of  thefe  unhap- 
py feafons  are  ftill  felt,  and  will  be  felt  for  fome  time  tO" 
come :  So  fatal  a  ftroke  it  then  received,  that  finom  it  we 
may  date  a  kind  of  revolution  in  nunners  and  circnrnftaa* 
oes*  No  murders  have  been  conormitted  &r  many  years 
pafi ;  yet  lecret  grudges  and  anxmofities  fiiS'  prevail,  and 
often  times  break  out  into  quarrels  and  broib,  at  markets 
and  meetings,  which  wear  a  dreadful  appearance,  and  fome* 
times  are  attended  with  di&greeable  confequences ;  but  a 
great  deal  of  this  b  to  be  imputed  to  the  too  free  nfe  of 
fpiritous  liquors  on  thefe  oocafions,  which  inlhunes- their 
blood,  and  exafperates  their  fpirits.  As  to  child-murder, 
in  particular,  it  is  fcarcely  known  in  this  parilh,  and*  long 
may  it  be  fo.  I  never  heard  of  any  initonce  of  fuicide  bat 
one,  which  happened  about  x8  years  ago,,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  will  not  happen  fo  foon  again ;  yet  I  am  ibrry  to 
£Eiy,  that  of  late  years  there  were  in  the  country  two  or 
three  indances  of  that  detefiable  and  melancholy  pra&ice. 
I  have  no  doubt  but  many  leave  tfai9  parilh  and  countxy 

cithea 


^Halkirk.  2f 

either  for  vmnt  of  employment,  or  for  the  fake  of  getdng 
better.  But  I  am  perfiiaded»  that  nombeis  leave  it  wan* 
tooly,  VfhOf  if  they  were  difpofed  to  eaercife  fobriety  and 
iadofiry,  as  they  mnft  do  abroad,  might  find  m  competency 
of  bread  and  employment  at  home.  It  is,  howeva*,  very 
mnch  to  be  regretted,  to-  What  cau£e  foe  ver  it  may  be  owing, 
that  a  f^rit  of  emigration  prevails  too  much  of  late  years ; 
fiir  the  coniiBqaences  of  it  are,  year  after  year,  more  and 
mora  fevevely  felt  by  the  country  at  large,  but  mose  efpe- 
da&y  by  the  &rmers  and  tenants.  That  nfeful  and  necef- 
ftry  dafi  of  people^  had  fearcely  thefe  two  laft  years,  the 
complement  of  iSnvants  they  would  need,  becanfe  they  ei- 
ther conld  not  get  them  for  any  wages,  or  if  they  ooald, 
jret  tbeir  dem«id  was  too  high,  and  perhaps  their  work  fo 
little^  that  they  were  not  able  to  engage  them;  I  deny 
not,  but  fervants  ought  to  have  all  due  encouragement 
when  they  de&rve  it ;  neither  do  I  think,  that  in  this  coun- 
try they  have  more  than  they  would  need :  but  I  aflirm, 
that  in  the  pirelent  ftate  df  things,  the  farmer  b  not  able  to 
aftrd  it  and  keep  credit.  The  demands  of  the  landlord, 
which  ara  not  lefleniag,  the  expence  of  living,  which  is  a 
thifd  more  at  leaft  ihan  it  was  20  years  ago,  together  with 
the  other  espenoes  Ihat  attend  the  working  of  hb  farm, 
which  asMdfo  daily  growing  more,  all  thefe  are  of  them- 
iielvcs  too  heavy  for  all  the  produce  of  the  farm,  and  his 
ciber  ihifia  to  aofwer  them,  though  he  had  no  other  bur- 
den. An  thefe  things  confidered,  I  believe  in  my  heart, 
that  tho  farmer  is  the  greateft  dupe  and  flave  in  the  coun- 
try ;  and' while  he  is  fo,  the  country  cannot  thrive,  efpe- 
dally  fince  the  whole  traffick  and  credit  of  it  is  yet  found- 
ed onao  other  bottom  but  the  produce  of  the  field.  Let 
all  conoemed  bo  wife  and  oonfider  this. 

Yet,  after  all,  I  think  it  very  prattcable  to  improve 
fmD9p  to  make  the  qicamlhncce  of  the  fataicr  comfortalde. 


%%  StaHJlkal  Jctount 

to  give  all  doe  enii^ocingemeat  to  fervaats;  and,  ia  a  word, 
to  remove  all  thefe  grievaiiccs,  withoot  any  dtmtnatioo  of 
ients,  or  paffing  from  the  value  of  cuftodis  aod  fervioei; 
Thefe  are  things  which  the  landlord  tan&dmtif  thovgti  in- 
deed faUelj,  It  great  advantages,  and  will  thefefoHs  hy  Ho 
means  dirpenfe  with  them.  WeB  then,  to  gntdfy  hilh^  I 
do  not  think  that  there  is  anj  neoeffitj  to.  cede  the  vakie 
|tf  Cervices,  Vc.  or  aqy  advantage  he  derive  at  prefient 
from  the  farmer  $  all  that  is  required  is  to  pafr  from*  die 
fervioe^,  and  fome  other  articles  ih  kind,  and  to  tako  ireal 
vtiiie  for  theih  by  oomnmlation  dr  conterfion^  ThiSf  if 
flintters  Were  duly  confidered,  wiH  be  found  nccribry} 
and  as  it  is  neceflary,  fo  it  ^ould  be  eafily  aocompfifhed* 
It  may  be  compenfated  in  ihch  a  way,  as  will  redound 
inuch  to  the  iputaal  credit  and  advantage  of  both  landlord 
and  tenant.  If  this  were  once  eftftedi  it  Would  be  attended 
with  another  important  advantage,  {t  wodkl  make  the 
tenants  more  frugal  and  indufbrieus,  and  improve  their  fen* 
timents  and  n^orals ;  apd  what  would  greatly  conttibnte  to 
this  reformation,  is  the  profpeA  they  would  have  of  rei^ 
ing  and  enjoying  the  fruit  of  their  own  labouts,  more  efpe- 
fually  if  they  held  their  tacks  on  longeHeafes,whi^^wou1d 
be  alfo  neceflary  in  effcAing  fo  defirabk  a  ohaoge.  Where- 
as  their  prefent  ftate  and  droomftanees,  hive  a  manifcft  ten- 
dency to  depreis  th^r  fpirits,  to  check  their  ardour  for  di- 
Itgence  and  induflry,  to  contraA  the  hearti  to  cherilh  the 
felfiih  principle  in  all  its  meannefs,  and  of  eoiirfe,  *U  noan- 
lier  of  fraud,  cunning  and  dtffimulation,  which,  I  am  forry 
to  fiiy,  have  made  confiderable  progrefs  of  kte  years.  There 
are  no  fiated  or  Eoenfed  taverns  in  the  paflih  bat  one, 
,|rhichfcarcely  deferves  the  name;  bnt  there  ate  fevetal 
families,  who  retail  Whiflcy  and  ale  occaimally.  This 
fprafiice  prevails  too  mueh,  and  is  attended  with  many  ton- 
Ift^ueiipes  fai^rtfiil  to  the  imereft  and  morals  of  the  paopk; 

and 


9f  Halkirk.  29 

Mad  it  were  to  be  vriihed  dimt  it  had  been  fiipprefled.  Be- 
fideSf  of  late  yean,  fince  diftillation  prevailed  fo  muchi  the 
«fe  of  whiiky  has  almoft  faperfeded  that  of  ale,  which  about 
fartjr  ytOis  ago  was  the  ordinary  drink,  both  in  uveme 
and  private  honfesy  and  not  near  ib  hartfnl  and  inconve-* 

at  to  the  peopk.  The  heavy  duty  on  malt^  contributed 
m  little  to  diis  diiagreeable  6irotta»ftaD<se,  by  whidi 
1  tUs  beverage,  fo  ofeful  a»d  convenient  to  the  coun- 
oy  pMple,  vriien  vftd  in  moderatioti,  ia  in  danger,  of  being 
at  1^  entirrfy  in  difisfei  and  no  drink  will  be  reUihed  bat 
valnt  direflly  iiltozitele*  the  btfain-  and  inflames  the  blood* 

The  uTifal  kilo  of  a  day'laboofev  is  almoft  donbk  what 
it  was  nbodt  Ao  years  ago*  Thit  i$  both  natural  and  rea-* 
fbliaUe,  bccanft,  at  hal  been  already  obferved,  the  expenco 
0f  living  has  greedy  iaereaied  in  that  period.  It  is  various, 
nocording  to  the  various  jobs  in  which  they  are  employed. 
The  nverage  here,  per  day,  I  wonld  eftimate  at  9  d. ;  and 
die  (mm  neoeftry  to  fopport  a  finnily,  confifting  of  man, 
wifit,  add  4  children, /»r  week,  at  3  s»  6  d.  Both  the  hire 
aid  the  expenoe  of  living  are  yearly  very  much  on. the  in* 
creaie*  The  fiurmer  is  the  only  man  who  will  fu£br  moft. 
ky  this  progreft,  if  he  will  not  have  more  advantages  than 
he  has  at  prefent  to  keep  pace ,  with  it*  We  have  rather 
too  many  who  are  idly  difpofed,  and  who  will  not  work, 
tmlefr  compelled  to  it  by  the  extremity  of  the  laft  necefr 
fity  ;  for  if  they  htq>pen  to  have  what  will  enable  them  to 
hold  it  out  until  night,  or  any  profpeft  of  any  other  fliiit, 
though  at  the  expence  of  their  more  indnftrious  neighbours, 
to  whom  they  are  no  (mall  burden,  tbey  have  no  concern 
Mboat  their  debts,  or  any  provifiop  for  to-morrow.  Though 
eiMCb  are  a  grievance  to  the  codiitry,  yet  the  Britilh  army 
is  omch  indebted  to  them  i  add,  indeedi  if  this  is  a  relief 
to  themfelves,  it  is  no  fmall  one  to  their  nrighb<  urs,  who 
Hft  glad  to  be  free  of  foch  idle  and  ufeleis  drones.  From 
I  this 


30  Stati/fical  AccwM 

llixs  caufe,  and  the  vices  to  which  it  is  tn  inlet,  ts  well  «s 
£rom  other  canfes  which  are  more  neceflary  and  nnavoid* 
able,  it  happens  that  we  have  a  great  number  of  poor.  But 
what  b  much  to  be  regretted  is,  that  a  coofiderable  part  of 
thb  number  confifis  of  tenants  who  have  been  reduced, 
cither  by  the  late  unfiivourable  fieafons,  or  by  the  infuS** 
eiencj  of  their  farms,  and  other  (hifts,  wiA  aK  their  iai* 
chiftry  and  firugalitj,  to  provide  for  the  evil  day.    The 
slumbe^at  prefent  on  the  roll  is  150 ;  but  it  ought  to  have 
been  near  double  that  nunober,  were  all  tfaofe  who  are  im 
indigent  circumftancea  to  be  admitted*    So  very  low  are 
the  feffion-funds,  that  none  can  be  admitted  on  the  rofl  but 
tiie  greateft  objefls,  or  foch  as  are  extremely  indigent ;  and 
even,  in  that  cafe,  they  are  not  in  th6  fmalleft  degree  ade- 
quate to  that  number )  for  the  only  fources  of  our  funds 
are  the  Sabbath  coUeftious,  and  the  fines  arifing  from  de- 
linquencies.   The  former  is  very  trifling,  more  elpedaHy 
becaufe  our  men  of  mooey  are  not  thofe  who  moft  fre* 
qnently  come  to  church.  The  latter,  though  more  frequent 
than  could  be  wiflied,  yet  it  turns  out  to  no  great  aoeouutt 
becaufe,  though  they  are  very  fubjeft  to  dMfe  ddtnqueocies^ 
they  are  yet  on  the  whole  very  poor  in  purfe.    They  are 
able  to  fin,  but  ncft  able,  had  they  been  willing,  to  pay. 
It  is  a  pity  that  the  civil  arm  does  not  interpofe  its  autho* 
rity,  and  the  gentry  their  influence  and  example,  as  could 
be  wiihed,  to  ftrengthen  the  hands  of  the  clergy  in  the  fup- 
preflion  of  tbefe  deftruftive  praAices.    But  to  return  to  the 
poor  :  At  the  annual  diftribution  of  the  funds,  the  (hare  of 
€ach  individual  poor  on  the  roll,  is  no  more,  at  an  average, 
than  2  8.  af  the  utmoft.    Thb,  and  the  infufficiency  of  the 
pariik  to  fupply  their  needs,  is  one  great  caufe  why  num« 
bers  of  them  wander  about,  begging  that  charity  which  they 
cannot  get  at  home. 


6f  Halkirk.  yi 

It  has  been  already  obfierved,  that  the  foil  and  clfanate  cf 

this  pariih  and  couDtry,  do  not  feem  favourable  ta  the  pro- 

doftton  of  trees.    Yet,  I  believe^  if  proper  methods  had 

been  nfed,  und  due  attention  given  to  that  neceflary  article^ 

fiime  kinda  of  timber  ought  thrive  pretty  well.    But  there 

are  oither  kinds,  whichr  in  my  opinion,  will  frnflrate  every 

attempt  to  rear  them*    Of  this  kind  is  the  fir,  as  was  alfo 

i^ecified  before.    Yet  it  is  certain  that  there  was  great 

abundance  of  that  timber  once  in  this  pariih*    This  mani- 

fefily  appears  from  the  remains  of  it  that  are  fliU  to  be  leea 

is  feveral  parts  of  the  parifli,  and  indeed  of  the  whole 

country.     From  this  circumftance  it  woaid  be  'Saturallj 

eoocfaided^  that  where  that  timber  grew  fo  welli  and  fo 

flately  of  oM,  without  the  aid  of  care  or  art,,  it  would  fbrely 

grow  diere  now,  with  the  conjoined  afliftance  of  both  an 

and  nature.    This  is  a  paradox  I  will  not  pretend  to  folvct 

though  yet  I  am  -^trj  much  inclined  to  think,  that  it  is  to 

be  attributed  to  fome  change  or  revolutioo!  that  has  taken 

phoetn  the  climate,  and  confe^ently  in  the  £ail,  firom^ 

their  mutual  infiuence  on  one  another.    To  corroborate 

this  opinion  I  would  remark,  that  about  23  years  ago,  there 

were  twa  or  three  fmall  woods  of  birch  and  mountain  aib^ 

tf  r.  in  n  very  blooming  and  vigorous  ftate,  in  this  and  a 

Mghbonring  parift,  which  are  now  almoft  wholly  decayed 

and  withered  root  and  branch.    This  reverie  is,  no  doubr, 

in  a  great  meafore  to  be  afcribed  to  the  depredations  of  the 

country  people,  who  cannot  withhold  their  hands  from 

gvowing  tifliber,  wherever  their  eyes  behold  it.    But  from 

this  reverie,  in  fo  ibort  a  time,  it  Seems  to  be  principally 

oocafioned  by  the  late  unfavourable  feafons,  which  have 

proven  as  noocious  tO'  them  as  to  other  vegetables,  and  more 

io,  becanie,  as  was  before  obferved,  they  are  not  raifed  out 

cf  the  earth,  as  other  vegetables  are,  at  the  end  of. the  fea« 

fau   Doet  not  this  civcumfliAGe  render  il  at  liaft  probable 

that 


3a  StatyUcai  Jccaunt 

tbtt  dieir  utter  decaj,.aiid  not  tttemptkag  to  grow  fiooe,  is 
omng  to  foch  •  xevdatioa  of  cUmate  and  fbtl  as  took  plaoe 
at  that  period  ?  And  wbat  OMkos  for  this  fiili  further,  ami 
adds  to  the  probability  of  it^  is  asoAcr  ciraunfiance,  vitf^ 
Che  lieaioDs  are  colder,  the  earth  more  wet,  the  crops  not 
sear  £b  good,  fome  aoiauh,  Ibcb  as  the  wild  bee,  d^  fwal- 
low,  icarcdj  to  be  icea  fince  that  fatal  period  i  and  sett 
only  iii^  fome  vegetables  that  anbvered  very  well  bcfbre, 
do  not  grow  now  at  all  vn$h  the  greaieft  attention  and  i^ 

I  wQidd  aUb  fofther  veaaark,  as  it  now  opcnis  to  me,  and 
aipplics  to  the  prefisnt  pnrpofe*  that  when  there  is  a  current 
cf  air  irom  the  iea«  aoconfianied  with  mift  and  fog,  it  en- 
velopes all  the  vegetable  Croatian  as  £u:  as  it  advances  with 
m  flimj,  inline  kind  of  4ew«  which  is  often  from  one  end 
of  the  conntiy  to  the  other  i  £ar  I  believe  there  is  no  place 
in  this  country,  that  is  above  9  miles  in  a  ftwght  line  from 
the  fiea,  which  furrouods  it  dofe  on  every  quarter  but  the 
£•  and  S.  W.  This  dew,  when  appjyied  to  the  tongue  and 
pahte,  has  a  very  faltiih  reliAi;  fo  I  have  experienced  once 
in  tile  centre  of  the  country;  na]r»  at  that  time,  and  in  that 
fhce,  I  fdt  the  fieent  cf  cotien  ware,  as  feofibly  almoft  as 
if  I  had  been  on  tlie  ihore  at  that  time.  This  oircumftaaoe 
anuft  iisrely  have  a  confideraUe  influence  on  traasy  and  the 
other  prodoce  of  tbc  kii^  and  this  is  the  cauft  of  my  ma^ 
kbg  this  lemark.  But  before  I  clofe  thefe  ob^vations » 
I  would  fiirther  remark,  that  our  winters  are  in  proportion 
tttoce  temperate  than  the  other  feabns  of  the  year*  Whe- 
ther this  has  been  the  cafe  of  cid  I  cannot  by. 

Pl9Hgh$,  Carts f  Uor/es,  Oxen  for  tie  F^«i.-^The  plough 
oied  in  this  pariib,  and  indeed  in  all  the  country,  not  very 
many  years  ago,  was  of  very  fimple  ccmftrufiiafi,  Very 
cheap,  very  eafily  and  Ipendily  madej  it  had  only  nne 

ftilt; 


cf  Halkirk.  33 

tttrby  this  it  wtt  mraaged  and  oondaded  by  the  plough^ 
man,  with  his  right  hand  ooly,  and  dofe  at  his  right  thigh  ( 
it  had  fcofcdy  a  fide  board;  thooghi  fot  thefe  reafons,  it 
was  very  aneafy  for  the  ploaghman,  yet  it  was  very  light 
aad^afy  for  ihe  oattk.  It  ploughed  very  weU,  and  tMf^ 
as  I  dun  infermed^  broke  the  earth  as  it  tamed  it,  ferved 
die  pwpofe  nf  a  'firft  harrowing  as  it  went  along,  and  good 
traps  wereTaifed  after  it.  For  fonae  time  paft  there  is  none 
of  them  to  be  feen  $  for  thofe  now  ufed  are  mnch  the  fame 
witih  diofe  ofed  in  ^  ibuth  of  Scotland.  Thefe  are,  in* 
detdt  mofe  eafy  for  the  ploughman,  yet  not  fo  for  the  cat- 
tle, becatife  diey  are  heavier,  and  plough  deeper,  l£c. 

The  long  yoke,  as  we  (all  it,  or  two  and  two  a-breail,  be- 
fore one  anodier,  is  not  ufed  bat  by  very  few,  and  that  oc« 
cafiooally.  The  old  mode  of  four  a-breaft,  or  ihort  yoke, 
as  we  call  it,  is  ftill  the  fafliion.  This,  however,  thou^ 
not  fo  eafy  and  fafe  for  the  driver,  who  goes  retrograde  in 
die  forrow,  with  two  on  each  fide  of  him,  is,  I  believe, 
more  advantageous  for  the  cattle  than  the  other.  For,  in 
draoghia  of  every  kind,  it  is  very  much  in  favour  of  the 
drawing  power  to  be  near  the  centre  of  motion.  This  is 
mtaifefily  the  cafe  in  the  fliort  yoke,  all  the  cattle  being 
ecpally  near  the  plough,  and  having  confequently  an  equal 
fliarc  of  the  draught.  The  only  difadvantage  arifing  from 
it,  befides  the  danger  to  which  the  driver  is  ezpofed,  is, 
that  two  of  the  cattle  draw  on  the  tilled  ground,  and  there- 
by trample  it,  which  is  both  uneafy  to  them,  and  hurtful 
to  the  ground ;  but  thefe  are  nothing  when  compared  to 
the  other  advantages. 

It  is  only  of  late  years  alfo  that  carts'  began  to  be  ufed. 
Now  the  great  advantage  of  them  is  feen  and  felt,  and 
the  ufo  of  them  is  daily  becoming  more  and'  more  general. 
They  are  increafing  in  number  eVcry  year,  efpecially  as 
we  have  the  profpeft  of  good  roads.    Since  carts  be- 

VoL.  XIX.  E  came 


34  Staiiftkal.Jcfoutti 

otme  lb  geoei^  I  am  petfiuded,  that  q|i«  ball  of  ibt  t«im- 
ble,  of  the  timey  and  of  the  ezpenpe,  is  fayed,  whkh  waa 
formerly  bellowed  oo  the  article  of  carriage  alone* 

Further,  the  cattle  nCed  not  man  j  years  ago  &r  the  pur- 
pofes  of  the  farm,  and  carriages  of  all  kbds*  were  Cor  the 
moft  p^n  horfes.  This  is  flill  much  the  pradice  ^  yet  oQEca 
are,  of  late  years,  more  and  more  uied  for  tbefe  p«ipo(c^ 
efpecially  finae  horfes  are  become  fo  exprttfive  in  ibe  rar- 
ing, and  fo  dear  in  the  purchafe. 

The  prtffent  fiate  of  thefe  articles  is  as  foUows  :«-rPlaug|ii» 
3x2  i  carts  of  diiFerent  fi^es,  2ao;  horfes,  580;  of  thb 
number  there  are  30  large,  or  of  the  Galloway  fiae ;  tlir 
reft  are  of  different  fi^es,  but  in  general  rather  foal) :  oxen, 
294 )  of  thefe  there  are  40  of  pretty  )arge  ii^  all  |he  reft 
ffi^all,  or  of  ^feripr  files. 

f^tQduce  offhe  Parijb^  Animal  atfd  Vegefakk^^rrAMrndX 
produce  ^  horfes,  black  cattle,  iheep,  goat,  fwioe,  geeie. 
Moft  of  the  horfes  bred  here  are  of  the  fmall  garron  kindt 
and  many  of  tl^em  fold  at  a  or  3  years  old.  Qut  moft  qf 
thofe  employed  in  work,  fjf.  are  pnrchafed  at  a  dear  rate 
fron^  other  places,  efpecially  from  the  Orkneys,  where  oqt 
^oung  horfes  are  boi^ht  for  the  purpofes  of  rearing  and 
fale.  lience  it  is,  that  the  ycry  fame  hor^  which  werp 
(old  by  us  at  very  low  priceS|  are  fometimes,  2  qr  3  yea^ 
afterwards,  rebought  by  the  fame  perfons,  who  fold  them 
before,  at  three  times  the  original  price,  Tl^is  is  furely  a 
mode  of  traffick  verj  unfrugal^  and  mug)^  againft  the  intc- 
^  reft  of  the  country. 

£laci  ^a///(r.— There  is  a  great  number  pf  thefe  rehired 
in  this  parish,  being  well  calculated  for  it^  as  being  fur- 
niflied  with  good  pafture,  both  lowland  and  highland.  3ut 
yet  I  am  perfuaded,  that  the  number  reared  is  near  one- 
third  more  tbap  it  ought  to  hav^  been,  or  the  parifli  c^ 

wcIJ 


of  Halkirk.  3S 

iwn  atiotaio.  This  is  the  caufe  why  oor  cows  do  not 
vfiiaUy  yield  fo  much  milk  as  might  be  expeded ;  why 
diat  cattle  are  in  general  more  poor,  and  of  leis  fize  than 
tbej  might  have  been  ;  and  confequently,  why  they  fetch 
tadtk  low  prices  at  markets.  But  what  is  their  motive  for 
this  uafrngal  and  miftaken  plan  ?  Why,  becaufe  the  com« 
sncroe  in  that  cattle  is  a  principal  and  neceJTary  article  of 
anedit;  and  confeqnently,  they  calculate  their  flock,  ac* 
GOtding  to  their  number,  and  not  according  to  their  quality* 
Befides,  having  no  other  way  fo  ready  to  maintain  credit^ 
floid  to  anfwer  Maniumas  de^nands,  they  pinch  their  fami- 
lies in  the  neceffary  food  arifing  from  thefe  animals,  from 
an  overweening  ezpeftation,  and  the  miftaken  idea,  that  if 
diey  have  plenty  of  calves,  they  will  be  able  to  anfwer  thefe 
demands,  which  hang  a  mighty  terror  over  their  heads 
every  year.  Thns  it  happens,  that  they  themfelves,  and 
their  cattk,  are  halfflarved,  and  their  ill^otuided  ezpec* 
tations  often  times  frnftrated.  Whereas,  had  they  adopted 
another  plan,  and  kept  an  adequate  number  of  cattle  only, 
their  fandlies  would  be  better  ibpported,  their  cattle  better 
in  quality  and  value,  and  the  demands  of  the  landlord 
more  readily  anfwered. 

j£#r^.— By  appearance  there  are  excellent  ibeep-paftares 
in  this  pariih,  efpecially  in  the  Highlands^;  but  in  moft 
parts  they  do  not  thrive  to  any  latisft^on.  This  appears 
both  from  the  fmallnefs  of  the  number  they  generally  bave^ 
and  the  number  of  lambs  that  are  yearly  bought  from  othet 
countries,  for  a  continual  fnpply  of  their  own,  which  never 
increaies,  notwithftanding  that  annual  recruit,  but  often 
growa  leis  and  le&.  This  failure  may  be  attributed  to  fcr 
veralcaufes;  to  the  wetnefs  and  fwampioefs  of  the  foil;  to 
their  being  fed  promifcuooily  with  other  cattle  i  tp  their 
being,  for  the  moft  part,  houfed  every  night,  and  often 
with  othet  cattie ;  to  the  wgnt  of  due  IkiU  and  care  in  ma* 


36  Siati/Ucal  AceowU 

nagingthem  ;  and,  fiaaOyf  10  didr  beilig  atfeended  tD  ^bIj 
BOW  and  than  m  a  bye  job ;  all  wkkfa  cuatmflanoes  «ac 
verj  hurtful,  and  ininoical  to  that  nfeftal,  dalkate^  sod  pr^^ 
carious  aaimal.  Tet  I  am  perfoaded,  that  good  ikeep^Nfimaa 
mi^t  be  eftabliflird,  at  leaft  in  (bme  para  of  the  pacifliy 
efpecially  in  the  Highlands.  They  are  all  of  a  miaDod  €li«> 
minntive  kind,  but  Terj  prolific,  and  exoellent  eatings  I 
cinnot  fay  that  their  wool  n  either  good,  or  plenty  of  itt 
Iqnd,  which  is  the  cade  that  we  (are  principally  fiqpplied 
with  this  neceflary  article  from  other  places. 

Goor.—- This  animal  is  not  fo  abundant  in  this  parifli  an  k 
might  have  been }  foe  though  we  have  ndt  nuny  rocka  or 
places  produ&ive  of  thole  weeds  and  herbs,  in  which  thej 
moft  delight,  yet  I  am  informed  by  thole  who  keep  them, 
that  they  thrive  very  welL 

.  5marv~Thefeaie  very  fe*i^  late.  To  what  canfe  thia 
may  be  owing,  I  know  not;  but  about  at  years  ago  thia 
end  of  the  parifli  fwarmed  with  them,  and  they  geaeiall j 
fold  welL  They  are  commonly  of  a  very  fmali  fise,  but 
£ur  better  eating,  and  firmer  meat,  than  a  larger  kind,  and 
by  far  more  eafily  reared.  There  are  ibme  of  a  large  fiao, 
but  they  are  very  few. 

G^w— A  confiderable  number  of  diis  bird  waaformerly 
reared  in  this  parilb.  Now  they  are  but  very  few  in  com- 
parifon,  which  is  much  to  be  wondered  at,  beoanfe  they 
^ould  fetch  now  more  .than  double  the  price  they  gave  30 
years  ^ago. 

'   The  pre&nt  fiate  of  thefe  articles,  •  according  to  the  beft 
of  my  information,  is  as  follows  : 
Number  of  horfes,  young  and  old,  including  thofe  working 


-•  the  fiirms,  Wr.           ... 

165a 

0^  black  cattle,  hicluding  the  work  oxen, 

49*3 

Ofibeep, 

2890 

Of  goats,  ^      .     .•      .          •   -        •    • 

-    130 

]Ofli#ine, 

190 

3 

VegitiM 

cfUamrh  37. 

FigtiiM$  PpoJaa^'^Tht  greats  and  indeed  almoft!  the 

eolj  vegetable  produce,  are  bear  and  oats.   There  are  fo^ 

in  contimial  altemeta  rotadoa,  without  the  intefventitn  of 

iny  other  crop.    Hub  prafiice  muft:  furely  be  unfiivoiir- 

able  to  the  fieid»  the  erop^  the  qnalirf  of  the  grain,  and  e»- 

poCe  the  &nner  to  nMNre  trottble  and  ezpenoe,  for  reafona 

well  iuiown*    No  great  attempts*  have  jet  been  made  to 

raife  peafe  and  green  crops^  fnch  as  turnips,  lit.    Yet  I 

have  reafon  to  think,  from  the  good  fooceis  that  attended 

the  ftw  trials  which  have  been  made,  that  they  would 

praTper  welL    It  is,  indeed,  graat  matter  of  inrpriie,  that^ 

in  a  parifk  where  the  fnpport  and  credit^  of  the  people  ai«* 

moft  entirely  depends  on  their  cow  and  their  grain^  they 

Iboiild  deny  themfeives  this  great  advantage*    For,  befidea 

the  benefits  that  woiild  be  derived  firom  thefe  crops  ta 

themfelves  and  their  cattle,  they  would  moreover  enable 

diem  to  keep  a  greater  number  of  cattle,  which  they  would 

like  well,  and  occafion  that  rotationof  crops  fo  much  wanted 

for  the  benefit  of  the  field,  and  its  pcxnlnce.  Want  of  inelo* 

fiifes  and  winter-herding  are,  as  has  been  already  obfetvedl 

two  great  canfes  why  the  people  do  not  avail  themfelves  of  j 

this  great  advantage.  Befides,  being  unaccountably  averft  to 

any  thing  that  is  ftrange  or  novel  in  this  way,  they  cannot 

be  perfuaded  to  truft  their  credit  and  their  profpe£b  to  fuch 

crops.     Great  quantities  of  potatoes  are  indeed  of  late  years 

raifcd  in  this  parifli,  from  which  they  derive  very  confi-^ 

dcrable  advantages,  efpecially  as  they  contribute- much  to 

make  the  Hving  cheaper. 

Oaii. — ^The  oats  raifed  generally  h  of  two  kinds,  black  and 
grey,  of  a  fmall  body,  very  prolific,  but  not  produfti  ve  of  a^y 
gieat  proportion  of  meal.  In  fome  parts  of  the  parifli,  in  good 
yean,  the  proportion  is  more  than  9  ftones  of'  meal  obi 
of  it  boHs  nndried  grain ;  in  other  parts,  not  Above  6  fibnes 
wtof  the  fame  meafure  of  grain.    Of  late  years;  ether 

kinds 


38  Stati/Hcat  JtiCQUttt 

Unds  of  black  oats  are  raiiedy  and  a  confidefidite  qmafity 
of  white  kinds.  T^,  though  thefe  jield  more  meal|  they 
are  found  not  to  be  well  calculated  fiE>r  this  icil»  nor  £b  pro- 
fitable. However,  by  the  bje,  I  know  not  but  this  maj 
be  as  much  owing  to  miftaken  notioosb  t&d  a  predilefiioa 
in  favour  of  old  ufiiges,  as  to  any  other  caoie« 

JBior.— The  bear,  tat  the  ihoft  part«  is  in  fome  degree  in* 
&rior  in  quality  to  that  of  more  fonthem  counties :  Yet^ 
in  good  years*  and  in  the  mod  fertile  fpots  of  the  parifli«  it 
weighs  between  17  and  18  ftones^  boU.  In  any  year  it 
i^  reckoned  preferable  to  any  that  grows  almoft  in  this 
county.  The  returns  of  it,  in  growth,  are  various,  being 
4f  5f  ^f  7*  ^^  8  at  the  ntmoft.  Yet,  effimated  at  an  ave* 
rage,  the  whole  crop,  bear  and  oats,  does  not  much  exceed 
4  returns*  But,  I  believe,  that  with  more  pains  and  in- 
duftry,  and  proper  encouragement  and  e^nmple  to  tnfnfe 
that  fpirit  into  the  people,  the  crop  might  be  confiderafady 
meliorated ;  however,  in  good  years,  the  produce  is  con- 
fiderably  more  than  is  neceflary  for  the  fopport  of  die 
pariAi  in  its.  pre&nt  ftate.  The  whole  amonnt  in  bear  and 
oat  meal,  at  an  average,  according  to  the  beft  of  my  enquiry 
and  calculation,  is  about  15,500  bolls,  the  boU  of  mttl  at 
8t  ftones. 

PriciS  of  ViRual^  and  Uhtr  Ntceffiaries  o/'Xj^.— The  ave- 
rage price  of  viftoal,  I  mean  of  bear  and  med,  for  we  have 
no  other,  is,  for  fome  years  paft,  133.  4d. /^boU;  of 
good  beef,  Hd.^  lb. ;  of  mutton  and  pork,  when  goody 
the  fame}  of  geeie,  £ald  at  Martinmas,  z  s.  4  A. per  goofe ; 
of  hens,  6d.  each  \  of  eggs,  a  d.  per  dozen ;  of  iheep  hogfs 
or  wedders,  7  s.  per  hog  \  of  fwine,  Z2  s.  each.  There  are 
fome  of  them  that  fell  coniiderably  below,  and  fome  confi- 
derably  above  that  price,  according  to  their  quality  and 
£ze ,  of  an  ordinary  cow  or  ox,  for  flaughter,  and  in  flefli, 

L.  2, 


qf.  Halkirk.  39 

L.^  to  t. ;  fome  fell  at  Ids*  and  Cmm  at  more,  accordisg 
tofize;  of  malt,  148.^  boU^of  whilky,  nnmu^td,  %%. 
6d.p€rfvat\  mixed,  is.  jd. 

Commerce  and  Trafici^^Thc  principal  fubjefis  of  com- 
merce in  this  pariflii  as  already  obferved,  are  the  articles 
joft  now  mentioned.    As  to  horfes,  very  few  of  them  could 
be  Spared  fin-  fide,  if  thofe  who  rear  them  had  patience  to 
keep  them  nntil  they  would  be  fit  for  work,  &c.    There^ 
£ore  they  fell  them  at  two  years  old,  as  mentioned  above, 
at  low  prices,  and  buy  others,  fit  for  work,  at  very  high 
rates ;  fo  that  there  is  no  gain,  bat  rather  great  lois  by  this 
branch  of  commerce.     As  to  black  cattle,  I  believe,  thaty 
ttmmunibus  anmSf  about  1000  of  them  are  fold  between  the 
butcher  and  the  droven    As  to  viAual,  I  believe  they  can 
eapoit,  at  an  average,  in  good  years,  about  x8oo  boUs,  and 
fupport  themfelves ;  bat  this  export,  as  I  am  informed,  is 
'  not  fo  mnch  as  it  was  in  former  years.    The  decline  in 
craps,  the  increafe  of  people  notwitfaftanding  the^  improve- 
ments made  of  late  years,  and  the  bear  confumed  by  whiiky 
anddiftiIlatioa,'may  well  account  for  this  circumftance. 
As  to  whiiky,  1  believe  2-3ds  of  it  is  confumed  in  the 
coontfy,  a  great  part  of  thefe  a-3ds  in  this  fame  pariih,  and 
confeqiiently,  that  fcarcely  x-jd  of  that  liquor  b  exported. 
Net  many  years  ago,  dier6  were  no  left  than  13  or  14  fmall 
difiiUeries  in  this  parifh,  and  on  the  near  confines  of 'it} 
at  piefent,  fince  the  late  aft,  there  are  only  4,  which  I  think 
is  enough,  confidering  all  the  good  that  is  reaped  from 
diem. 

Rmt  oftbi  PariJh.^Tht  valned  rent  is  L.3314  :  7  :  8 
BcoCcb,  I  fnppofe,  at  the  converfion  of  L.  4  Scotch  per  hoSL 
The  real  rent,  including  other  advantages,  bot  ezdnfive  of 

gcmflams, 


SuaifBeal  Atcount 

ftrvioM,  at  ^  ccmrerfion  of  to  s*  pn- 
TUXU  »y  I  aoi'  perfiiaatdt  L.  aaoo  Steriifeg  good. 

Hiritars  and  Profrietors^'^Tht  heritors  and  proprietors 
ace  not  fo  laany  l^tbcy- were  a  few  yeats  ago.  The  nun- 
lcr»  at  prefciitf  is  6.  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Ulbfler  it  abe 
pmcipa^'being  praprietor  of  .much  more  than  oae  half  of  the 
fHiidbf  ao4  iiipemr  of  a  confidomUe  fart  of  it  befides  bis 
f  property.    Heiaaifo  patnMotoCthe  panAk 


Etdffiqfiical  StaU.^^Tbt  j^rtkut  iocimbeiit  is  Mr  John 
Caraergn^  who  was  admitted  ia  Sep^^mb^^  X7^9-  ^^ 
YBafried  aoth  December  1781  -,  is  a  widower  frpaii  Jamiaajr 
5*  17S4;  has  one  daughter,  aa  only  child,  bom  5ih  I>e- 
cefuber  1783.  ^b  iDSOiediate  predeceflors  were  Mr  Wil- 
']iam  Abernecfay,  Mr  William  Cummi^g^  Mr  John  l^uaro^ 
who  vras  the  firil  Pre(byterian  Minifter,  Mr  John  Suther- 
landt  Mr  James  Nicolfon.  ,The  ftipend,  in  Mr  Cununiag's 
time^  was  fcarcely,  at  the  then  viSual-converiioii,  L.  35 
Sterling.-  It  was  augmented  in  Mr  Munro'a  time  to  about 
^SO  Sterling,  at  the  then  coaveriion.  He  had  only  a 
dialdexa  of  viAual  in  his  ftipend  ^  yet  fmall  as  was  this  ili- 
pend^  he  lived  very  comfortably,  and  made  a  fuitable  pro- 
mSosk  for  his  family,  which  was  numerous.  His  cUeft  ion 
was  the  late  Sir  George  Munro  of  Pointsfield.  His  two 
imnkediate  predeceflbrs,  who  had  much  fmalkr  ftipeads, 
and  families  to  iupport  and  provide  for,  did  the  iame  alio* 
JSo  gxeaa  was  the  value  of  mo^ey,  and  fo  many  were  the 
advantages  of  thofe  days  befides  what  they  are  now.  The 
prc&nt  ftipend,  which  W8|s  augmented  nth  December  1776, 
.is  2  ehtalders  of  meal  and  a  chalders  of  bear,  L.  600  Scotch, 
.saii*L.30  Scotch  for  cominonion^elements. 

.Hie  manfe  and  church,  during  the  pre£ent  incon^ncy, 
^e  always  been  in  a  bad  ftate  of  repair,  and  extremely 

inconvenient 


•/  Haikirh  4i 

bconredlent,  tboflgh  repaired  four  times,-  and  at  omfider*  ^ 
ftBle  cxpence  during  that  period,  via.  23  years.  The  laft 
of  thefe  repairs  is  going  on  juft  how,  at  iiit  efti^atcd  font 
of  L.  154  Sterling )  and  as  foon  as  tiie  undertaker  ^uts  them 
tS  his  hands,  the j  will  call  for  another  itnuiediate  repair^ 
whether  the  miniiler  calb  for  it  or  not  It  is  t6  be  regretted^ 
that  heritors,  from  a  miffaken  notion  of  faving  their  purtes^ 
ihould  fo  unaccountably  injure  their  own  intereft,  and  in- 
commode the  minifter^  when  both  might  ^ave  bisen  avoided  • 
with  little  ezpence.  * 

The  glebe  is,  oil  the  whole,  very  good  lapd^  biit  oonfi- 
derably  Ihort  of  the  minifnum.  It  only  fows  3  bolls  bear^ 
fuppofing  all  of  i;  to  be  fown  with  that  grain,  and  will  not 
graze  one  cow.  There  is  Feafon  to  believe  that  it  was  lar- 
ger, and  that  it  was  curtailed  by  the  encroachments  or  de» 
predatioos  of  the  conterminous  tenants  in  ume  of  vacancies, 
and  never  yet  enquired  into.  This  is  the  more  credible^ 
from  the  report  of  a  very  old  member  of  this  prefbytery^ 
dead  feveral  years  ago,  who  informed  the  prefent  incum- 
bent that  this  was  the  cafe,  for  that  he  faw  the  decreet  ox 
defignation  by  Bilfaop  John.  Forbes,  of  this  diocefe,  in^thtf 
cnflodj  of  Mr  Munro  above  mentioned^ 

Mifflon  end  Miffion-boufe^  S/r.—Befides  the  church,-  thcrd 
is  a  meeting  or  minion-houfe,  in  the  Highlands  of  the  p»« 
rifli,  at  the  diftance  of  9  miles  from  the  church,  where  thef  . 
minifter  of  the  pariih  was  wont  to  preach  every  4th  Sab« 
bath  as  a  volunury  deed,  if  not  prevented  by  bad  weather, 
or  fpeats  in  the  waters,  which  are  too  frequeAil,  efpecially 
b  winter.  The  houCe  is  pretty  large,  was  built,  and  ia  . 
flill  fupported  by  the  inhabitants  of  that  dUlri6l  of  the  pa« 
tifh,  for  their  own  and  the.  minifter's  accommodation^  a^ 
ytrj  confiderable  expencc  for  them.  Of  late  years^  tliey 
have  a  miiBonary  fupported  at  their  own  expence  idfo.    If 

Vol..  XIX.  y  k 


4%  Statifticdl  jfceouttt 

*"'ls  true,  indeed,  that  the  Committee  of  the  Rojal  Bbuiif>f 
fometimes  granted  a  little  for  their  relief ;  and  the  fiuDQ  is 
continued  juft  now,  but  the  further  continuance  of  it  is  on*- 
certain  and  precarious.  The  Societj  for  Propagating  Chri- 
ilian  Knowledge,  fince  the  late  increaJle  of  their  funds,  have 
been  often  folicited  and  importuned  to  extend  the  benefit 
of  their  inilitution  to  that  remote  comer,  that  (lands  fo  much 
iii  need  of  it,  and  fo  well  deferves  it,  bjr  the  exertions  madc 
by  the  people,  beyond  their  abilities,  to  fupport  the  means 
of  inftru£tion  among  them.  But  all  hitherto  has  been  to  no- 
purpofcr  Yet  there  are  miffions  eflabllihed^by  the  (aid  So- 
ciety in  other  places,  which  do  not  fo  much  need  them. 
However,  it  is  flill  hoped,  that  this  defirable  objed  will  be 
obtained,  as  foon  as  the  Honourable  Society  will  have  a^ 
proper  view  of  the  utility  and  neoelfityof  it.  Here,  it 
ihould  be  obferved,  that  an  excellent  dwelling-houfe  was^ 
very  lately  built  by  fubfcription,  in  order  to  encourage  the 
idiffionary,  and  to  aflift  the  people,  and  with  the  profpeA 
that  a  perpetual  miflion  was  to  be  eftabliihed  there  \  . 

5ci(oo/r.— There  are  two  fcbools  in  the  pari(h,  a  parochial 
and  a  Society  one.  As  to  the  former,  it  is  always  throng 
of  fcbolars,  and  is  taught  by  an  excellent  mafter ;  but  the 
ifflallne£i  of  the  falary,  which  b  but  a  trifle  more  than  L.  6, 
and  the  want  of  proper  accommodations  for  teaching,  are 
snighty  hinderances  and  difcouragemcnts.  Thele  grie- 
vances were  reprefented,  laft  year,  to  Sir  John  Sinclair,  who- 
immediately  gave  powers  to  the  minifter  to  get  the  accom* 
modations  of  a  fchooLhoufe  and  de(ks  as  foon  as  po{fible,l& 
the  firft  place,  and  that  he  would  pay  his  quota  of  the  ex* 
pence  on  demand ;  and  this  he  would  have  done,  but  fome 
of  the  heritors  refufed  to  contribute  their  (hare,  which 
would  be  but  very  triflmg,  and  fo  the  matter  ftands,  which 

O  Since  the  above  ww  written,  fo  John  SincUir  hai  proctlred  a  miffiofi 
for  the  two  parishes  of  Haliark  and  XiRtiieioD,  ftooi  tlie  Sodetj, 


4(f  Halkirk.  43 

is  a  pitj;  for  next  to  the  boroughs,  it  is  in  the  moft  cen« 
triesl  and  commodious  place  for  a  flourifliing  fchool  in  the 
whole  county. 

As  to  the  other  fchool,  it  is  always  full  alfo,  and  am- 
bulatory for  the  accommodation  of  thb  extenfive  and  po« 
poloos  parifli ;  yet  two-thirds  almoft  of  the  parilh  reap  no 
benefit  from  it,  not  only  becaufe  of  their  diftance  from  the 
fiation,  but  alfo  becaufe  it  is  difficult  of  accels  to  maiiy,  who 
may  be  nearer  hand,  moft  feafons  of  thj^  year.  Tbefe  cir« 
cumfiances  render  another  fchool  of  the  fame  kind  necef- 
liury  in  the  Highlands,  if  it  could  be  obtained.  Applica- 
tions are  making  for  it,  and  it  is  hoped  that  they  will  be 
attended  with  fiiccels ;  for  never  have  the  Society  applied 
their  funds  to  a  more  ufefiil  and  neceffary  purpofe. 

AntiqmiUsf  Vc— There  ar^  feveral  veftiges  of  antiquity 
in  this  parifli,  fome  of  which  are  to  be  feen  by  the  eye,  and 
fome  to  be  heard  of  by  the  ear,  from  oral  tradition.  But 
neither  what  is  to  be  (een  or  heard,  furnifli  a  key,  whereby 
the  truth  can  be  fo  inveftigated  as  to  afibrd  any  great  in- 
ftru&ion  or  amufement.  The  remains  that  are  vifible 
floake,  indeed,  awfiil  and  pleafant  impreflions  on  the  mind 
of  the  beholder,  and  fogged  to  him  a  confufed,  but  majeftic 
idea  of  what  they  once  have  been :  yet  they,  at  the  fame 
time,  affeft  him  with  pain,  becaufe  the  eagemefi  of  his  cu- 
riofity  cannot  be  gratified.  The  avenues  that  lead  up  to 
the  objeft  of  his  ardent  parfuit  and  defire  are  clofed  on 
every  hand.  No  infcription,  no  emblem,  no  monument. 
A  veil  of  obfcurity  intercepts  his  view,  and  eclipfes  the 
light.  Ks  cnriofity  is  at  a  ftand.  It  cannot  puih  on  fur- 
ther. What  muft  he  do  ;  He  retires  full  of  what  he  has 
feen,  but  lull  alfo  of  regret  and  difappointment,  becaufe  ho 
4id  not  fee  more  of  what  his  nund  fuggefb  to  him  it  has 
«riglnally  been.  But  he  refi»  not  here.  He  ^as  recourfe 
f  to 


^  Statiflical  Account 

%q  oral  tradition,  hoping  to  find  ai^cefs  bj  that'  quarter, 
Alas  \  tradition  is  too  much  the  work  of  fancy.  Like  Ho* 
jner's  Iliaf),  it  paaj  amuCe  as  a  pleafant  dreatDi  but  can  give 
biin  as  little  authenticated  information  of  the  truth,  as-tfutt 
poem  can  give  of  ancient  Troy,  and  the  fiege  of  it,  whi^h 
I  fappofe  was  as  confufed  a  ftorj  in  that  poet's  time,  as 
fhat  of  thefe  antiquities,  and  gave  eqQal  plaj  and  ficope  to 
the  imagination.  Where  now  will  (he  antiquarian  turn 
himfelf  ?  He  betakes  himfejf  tp  the  hiilorical  page.  There 
he  maj  find  fpm^thing  }ike  tl|e  obje^  of  bis  enquiry  and 
wi(b ;  but  it  is  too  vagae  afid  general,  too  mpcb  dothed 
Vith  the  brilliant  drapery  of  fancy ;  and  fo,  if  he  be  qot  a 
dupe  to  credulity,  he  inu(^  lUll  remain  difcontented  and  up- 
iatisfied.  Thb  b  a&ually  my  cafe.  How  then  can  I  fatif- 
fy  others,  when  I  canqpt  get  myfelf  (atbfied  ?  However, 
1  will  attempt  it,  at  all  adventures,  and  do  what  1  can. 

The  fertility  and  extent  of  tli^  corn-fields,  the  richnefs 
and  variety  of  the  paftures  in  this  parifh,  both  highland  and 
lowland,  the  traces  of  antiquity  that  flill  remain }  all  thele 
evidently  ppint  it  out  as  hplding,  from  early  d^te,  a  di- 
flingui(hed  ranl^  in  this  pountry,  in  regard  cf  people  and 
IBvenis,  which  would  amply  reward  the  memory  of  the  hi* 
fiorian,  had  they  not  efcaped  |iis  nptice.  I  myfelf,  this  mo- 
ment, when  I  am  ;|t  a  lofs  for  inforn^ation,  could  I  but  fiqd 
a  proper  hi  dorian  on  the  fubjed.  would  have  faid.  Peace  to 
'  his  foul.  But  fince  it  is  pot  fo,  what  I  &e  and  bear  other- 
fvife  tempt  me  to  grop  and  fearch  in  the  dark,  and  I  Ihall 
be  happy  if  any  corre^  n^e  with  the. light  of  authenticity 
and  truth. 

Ecclefiafiical  AntiquitiiSf^^'ikxrL  mj  atteatiop,    in  tbe 

Ijrft  place.  Among  thefe,  the  religious  houfe  that .  Wf^ft 
jSpiual  is  the  mod  diftingui/bed.  .This  hoi^fe,  it  if  ccftajp, 
i{f  a^  originally  founded  and  endowed  by  a  St  Magnus  of 

O^eji 


of  Halkirk.  45 

Orkney,  and  dedicated  to  that  Ssunt,  therefore  called  St 
Magnus.     Who  be  was,  I  have  not  jet  been  able  to  learo ; 
butj  from  fever^  circumfUnceSy  I  have  reafbn  to  belie ve, 
that  be  was  either  a  Dane  or  of  Daoiih  extradion  i  z^d 
that  be  aflumed  the  name  MagnaS|  on  his  becoming  fo  emi- 
nently difiinguiihed  in  the  ^hurch.    Whatever  he  .was,  it 
appears  that  he  was  a  great  and  a  good  man,  a  perfonage 
of  great  wealth  and  influence,  of  no  lels  piety  and  bene$«  * ' 
cence,  and  highly  beloved  and  revered,  efpecially  in  tiofM 
country  and  in  the  Orkneys,  where  he  has  done  fo  much  good* 
From  this  circumftance  it  is,  that  there  are  flill  fo  many 
in  thefe  countries'  called  Magnus.     Circnmftances  alfo  lead 
to  the  belief,  that  he  was  one  of  the  Knights  Templars,  fo 
powerful  and  afl9uent  in  their  day,  and  a  capital  one  too, 
and  confequently,  that  the  lands  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Spittal  Hill,  to  a  confiderable  extent  in  this  and  the  parifli 
of  Wacten,  were  the  property  of  that  fociety.      What 
makes  thb  the  more  credible  is,  that  there  is  fcarcely  a 
pariih  in  Scotland  where  that  fociety  have'  not  had  lands, 
and  eftabliihed  religious  houfes.     Nay,  fo  much  did  their 
influence  and  wealth  accumulate,  that  it  was  their  ruin  at 
laft.     They  were  envied  and. dreaded  by  both  church  and 
laity,  who  coveted  their  wealth.    Hence  this  order  was  ex« 
^nguilhed  very  early  in  the  14th  century,  deprived  of  their 
wealth,  and  a  large  {hare  of  it  transferred  to  the  order  of 
St  John  of  Jeru&dem,  who  alfo  were  treated  in  the  fame 
manner,  as  loon  as  their  affluence  made  them  ripe  for  the 
rapacious  hand  of  covetoulheis.     But  to  return  from  this 
digreflion,  which  I  could  not  well  avoid. 

Why  this  religious  houfe  was  called  Spittal,  viz.  Hofpi^ 
^1, 1  cannot  learn  *>  neither  can  I  find  what  kind  of  reli- 
gious 

•  Some  people  insgine,  fint  Ifcofe  religioot  bnildings  were  cHlled 
ppfpitab,  or  Spittals^  bccuie  the|  fonulM  Ikclttr  and  btJpitaJiij  to 

pilgnaa 


^6  Stat0icai  Aaouni 

jgiotts  wer^  ttdmitted  to  it,  or  what  were  the  particolar 
rules  and  orders  pbferved  by  them,  or,  finally,  at  what  pe- 
riod of  time  it  wm  fpunded,  or  when  it  was  demolifliefl. 
But,  frpm  the  chahi^r  of  the  original  founder,  for  no  doubt 
there  were  largie  dpnations  m^e  to  it  after  hi°>t  ^^^  ^^.^ 
charader,  I  Ctj,  and  from  the  name  oCthe  houfe,  vi%.  Spit* 
tal,  it  is  more  thf n  probable  diat  it  was  ereAed  and  en* 
dowed  principally  for  the  maintenanoe  and  inftruAion  of 
jthe  poor  religious ;  or,  at  leaft,  that  there  was  an  apartment 

'  .for  the  rect;ptio^  of  mendicants,  who  wer^  entertained  <m 
the  funds  of  that  houfe,  as  waa  ufually  the  cale  in  thefe  re- 
ligious eftablifhments*  Circumfiances  alio  render  it  probable, 
that  the  houfe  was  ftripped  and  demoUIhed  in  the  reign  of 
James  VI.  or  perhaps  Mary.  That  the  number  admitted  to 
it,  and  retained  in  it»  was  great,  is  very  certain  \  and  it  is  no 
jefs  certain,  that  the  revenues  of  it  were  very  coofiderable 
alio  ;  for,  befides  other  circumftances  too  tedious  to  men- 
tion, there  is  one,  which  feems  to  me  to  put  this  beyond 

'  all  4oubt,  vi%.  that  the  church  was  yery  large  and  capa- 
cious, being  fome  feet  broader,  and  feven^l  feet  longer  than 

I  the  prefent  pariih-church,  which  is  among  the  largeft  m 
thefe  northern  comities ;  as  alfo,  that  th^re  were  feveral 
houfes  round  it,  which  furely  were  th^e  cells  or  habitations 
of  thefe  religious,  fome  of  which,  as  appears  frpm  their  ve- 
fijges,  were  lar^e  alfo.  Befides  thefe,  there  were  other 
houfes  of  the  fame  nature,  for  tlie  accommodation  of  the 
fame  eflablifliment,  at  a  further  diftance  ;  more  particularly, 
there  was  a  very  large  one,  at  a  place  on  a  rliiijg  ground  %o 
the  weft  of  the  church,  called  Auchips^as,  that  is,  the 

Field 

*)fitgHml  tnd  mendicants.'  Near'Spittlei  as  ft  is  now  fometimei  fpeft, 
thece  is  a  farm  called  Achachoal,  or  Acha  ChoIrl«  (that  ift»  th»  field  of 
the  mef  ting  of  council,  or  mufter),  where  the  people  of  Csithnels,  io 
(Bti9er  timet,  fregneatlj  aflVn^M  cogntfasr. 


4if  Falkirk.  47 

Field  of  the  Altar.    From  all  which  It  appesrs,  thae  the 
revalues  of  the  houfey  and  the  number  of  religious  retuned 
in  it,  were  verj  confiderable.     There  is  a  import  prevalent, 
in  this  countrj,  that  all  the  inhabits^nts  of  Caithne^  affem,«^ 
bled  there  periodicailj,  as  a  place  of  rendezvous  }^^(t  ^^ 
nod  elevated  and  centrical  in  the  countj*  9XiA  th^t  the 
church  contained  them  alh     This.ma^  fern^  *  I^7R^^V^^i 
a  figure  always  attending  vulgar  repcvt,     But^-in  my  opi- 
nion, with  a  little  qualification,  it  «  not  altogether  irr^cpn-^ 
ctleable  to  truth.    For,  fuppo^e  the  kirk  could  not  bold 
tfcem  all,  yet  it  would  contain  many  of  tb^m,  and  ,th^  hour 
fes  and  celk  round  it,  I  am  perfuaded,  wpijild  bold  the  fur^f 
plus;    more  efpecisi^lyf   when  it  is  copfidered,  that  the 
people  were  then  (^  led  in  number,  and  fhat  ;th9J  y^rq.r 
only  perfons  above  a  certain  age  that  muft  .have  aflembled  - 
there  on  thefepccalions.  _,.^    • 

The  lands  about  that  boufe  were  about  1^30.  y^ean^.^g^ji^. 
the  pofleiBon  of  the  Murrays  of  Pcnnyland  in  this  cfoiintry^ 
which  makes  me  fufpeft  that  they  were  derived  to  that 
family  from  a  Gilbert  Murray,  Biibop  of  Suthcrlai^d  and 
Caithncls»  ^o  made,  in  hb  day,  a  capital  figure  in  phnrch 
and  ilate,  and  who,  it  is  ptobablc,  got  tbeff  kwds  cither  by 
purchafe,  or  by  donation  from  the  churci^  after  the.  e;|ptinc-' 
tion  of  dut  order  and  ih^  boufe.    It'  was  aane^xed,  \o  the. 
diocefe  of  Orkney,  and  is  fiill  on  the  Eij^ghe^r  bo9kf.U- 
a  part  of  that  dioQeiie.  -  t       ^ 

The  church  of  Skinnan  was  a  large)  coa^fe,  mafiy.  btiild* 
bg,  aa  Indeed  was  that  of  St  Magnus,  dedicated  tQ  a  St. 
Thomas,  therefore  Called  the  church  of  Sc  Tbom^.    By 
all  acconnts  it  was  in  Mr  Abemethv/s  incumbency,  the 
only  churqh  in  what  we  aow  call  the  pariih'of  Halkirk* 
Here  the  laid  Aberpediy  performed  the  fui;£tions  of  bis^. 
office,  but  his  dwelling  was  at  ilalkirk. '  Once,  in  a  Sal^t^  ; 
bath  evening  on  his  Tctum  hooie  from  churchy  he  was  ac» 

.     ^oBed 


4S  Statiftkal  AfCQunt 

coftcl  by  one  Maban  Rjaii,  by  name,  a  ruffian,  \ivho  lay 
in  wit  for  him  at  the  river,  below  the  caftic  of  Braal, 
when  'le  fo  maltreated  him  by  tumbling  him  off  his  horfe 
into  tK»  river,  and  then  by  blows  and  fuffocation  of  water, 
tfiat  he  w^  carried  home  as  bruifed  and  fuffocated  to  death. 
The  viOain^t  motive  for  this  fiaivage  treatment,  was,  as  it  is 
faid,  to  be  revea^^ed  of  the  minifter  for  ioterpofing  the  au- 
thority of  his  office,  and  the  difcipline  of  church-Iaws,  to 
check  him,  in  his  career  of  wickcdnefi :  fo  ontrafiable  and 
wild  were  the  people  in  th^  dajs. 

"  Not  fiir  from  this  church  was  another  religious  houfe, 
ddled  the  Abbey.    The  remains  tA  it  ihew,  diat  it  has  once 
been  a  large  building.'  Why  it  was  cUled  the  Abbey,  who 
was  theibunder  of  it.  What  order  of  religioos  inhabited  it,  and 
when  it  was  founded,  and  when  demoliihed,  1  cannot  find  -, 
but  I  am  certain,  from  what  it  appears  to  have  been,  that 
it  was  the  receptacle  of  many  devotees,  and  that  the  funds 
to  iiipport  it  could  not  be  fmaU.    Nigh  this  houfe  are  the 
rettlains  of  a  fine  monumental  ftone,  that  was  erefied  there  as 
tf* memorial  of  fbme  interelling  evjcnt;  '  It'was  9  feet  high 
above  ground.    I  cainnot  fay  nor  find  what  the  particular 
event  was.  But  that  it  was  revered,  and  facredly  preferved, 
as' a  diftinguiihing  maik  of  fomething  momentous,  appears 
from  hence,  that  in  jTohn  Sinclair's  time,  late  of  Ulbller,* 
proprietor  of  that  land,' a  fet  of  ruffians,  broke  it  wantonly^ 
who  immediately  were  purfued  by  the  neighbours ;  and  on 
their  being  overtaken,  a  fcuffle  enfued,  to  which  numbers 
reforted,  and  was  the  occafion  of  bloodfhed.    The  faid  John 
Sinclair,' heritable  Sheriff  of  the  county,  decerned  the  fa- 
crilegious  villains  in  a  fine  of  a  cow  the  piece,  which  were 
ad^ed  to  the  public  funds.   Soon  afterwards  the  remains  of 
the  nionument  were  ereded,  and  inclofed  with  a  ftone  dike 
at  bi9'6wn  e:^nce,  b^th  of  which  are  fince  entirely  demo- 

"-      *  lifted. 


of  Halkirk.  49 

fiflied;     It  is  called  by  the  people  to  this  daj,  St  Thomas's 
Chair, 

Befides  thefe,  there  were  feveral  chapels,  or  places  of  wor- 
&ip,  in  other  parts  of  the  pariih*  fome  of  which  feem,  from 
what  yet  spears  of  them,  to  have  been  of  fome  note  in  thofe 
days.  One  at  Weftfield,  called  St  Troflan ;  one  at  Olgang- 
beg,  called  St  Peter;  one  at  Deal ;  one  at  Sibfter ;  one  at 
Banniikirk,  and  feveral  more.  I  can  fay  nothing  about 
them  but  one  thing,  vns.  That  the  church  had  its  own  fhare 
largely  of  this  parifli,  as  indeed  the  biihop  had  of  this  dior 
cefe,  which  made  it  one  of  the  moft  lucrative  bifliopricks  in 
Scotland  *• 

CivU 

*  Before  I  dtfoiifs  thii  article^  I  would  clofe  it  with  %.  remark,  and  aa 
aoccdate.  Such  was  the  fuperftitious  regard  the  people  paid,  to  tliefe 
boufet  about  80  years  ago,  that  there  was  fcarcely  any  who  was  married, 
or  delivered  or  child,  or  was  fncce&fol  in  any  enterprifb,  or  refcued  from 
aoy  danger,  but  embraced  the  firft  opportunity^  after  fuch  events,  uf  re^ 
paiiing  to  one  or  other  of  thcfc  facred  hoafet»  with  a  large  gift  or  ofier* 
ing  to  the  tutelar  faint  of  that  particular  hoafe.  Thefe  gifts  were  a  great 
Ihare  of  the  tfnoluments  of  the  clergy  in  the  days  of  Popery ;  and  fo  fond 
were  the  people  of  paying  them,  in  the  time  of  reformation,  when  there 
was  00  ghofUy  pneil  to  leceive  them,  that  they  guzzled  and  gormandi- 
sed the  neat  and  drink-offering  themfelves,  all  along  drinking  the  Saint*! 
health.  Thus  they  went  fober  deTotees.to  viiit  the  dead  Saint,  but  re- 
turned home  perfed  Bacchanalians  and  Epicureans. 

Jbttcd^eti^So  lightly  were  clergy  and  divine  worfliip  efteemed  fome' 
time  after  the  Reformation,  tb^tin  Mr  Cummiog's  days,  the  laft  £piico- 
jpalian  niAiller  in  this  paxjih,  there  was  no  linger  of  Pfalms  in  church 
but  the  Icturgac,  as  they  called  the  preeentor,  and  one  'i  ait*'  gardener 
in  BraaL  Thb  Tail  fung  lb  loud,  and  with  foch  a  large  open  moatfa, 
tfkat  a  young  lellow,  of  the  name  of  Iverach,  was  tempted  to  throw  a 
finaU  round  ftone  into  his  fliouth«  whereby  his  teeth  were  broke,  and  hif 
finging  ftopped  at  once,  and  he  hhnfelf  almoft  choakcd.  Iverach  imme- 
diately took  tQ  bis  heels;  the  ffrvice  was  converted  to  laughter ;  two  ot 

Taii'f 

Vol.  XIX.  G 


50  Statijiical  Account 

Civil  Amiqmtiit.'^^tTt  Braal  dauns  the  firft  place.  It 
is  tnilj  a  beautiful  aad  princely  place,  aud  may  with  gccat 
propriety  be  called  the  Paradife  of  Caithneis.  Indeed^  it 
would  make  a  figure  in  any  northern  county,  were  it  duly 
improved,  for  which  it  i»  a  moft  excellent  (ubjeft  in  this 
corner  of  the  world.  Though  very  little  improvements 
have  been  made  upon  it,  in  comparifon  of  what  it  deicrves» 
yet  of  old  it  was  a  capital  feat  of  the  Harolds  Earls  of 
Caithneb.  The  fabric,  which  is  called  the  Caftie  or 
Tower  of  Braal,  ftands  on  an  eminence,  at  a  fmall  diftance 
from  the  river  of  Thurfo.  It  is  completely  fqoare,  of  a 
▼cry  large  area,  wonderfully  thick  in  the  walk,  which  axe 
partly  built  with  clay,  partly  with  clay  and  mortar  mixed, 
and  in  feme  parts  with  mortar  altogether.  The  ftairs  and 
conveyances  to  the  feveral  ftories  are  through  the  heart  of 
the  walls.  Thefe  ftories  were  all  of  them  floored  and 
vaulted  with  ftones  prodigioufly  large,  as  are  indeed  moft 
of  the  ftones  of  the  whde  fabric.  A  great  part  of  it  ftill 
remains,  is  as  plumb  and  firm  as^ever,  and  feems,  from  its 
firufture,  to  have  been  very  high  and  (lately ;  and  what  ib 
ftrange,  the  higheft  ftones  feem  to  be  larger  than  thofe  be- 
low*.  It  furely  coft  imraenfe  labour  to  get  fome  of  them 
up  to  foch  a  height,  efpecially  in  thofe  days,  when  it  is  te 
be  fuppofed,  they  had  no  proper  machinery  for  the  purpofe. 
The  plummet  and  rule  were  furely  well  applied  in  the  pro^ 
greis  of  the  work,  but  there  is  not  the  leaft  impreffion  of 
block  or  chiflel,  which  (hews  the  gceat  antiquity  of  it.  It 
was  manifeftly  a  place  of  ftrength,  as  well  as  of  habitatioow 

A 

TBit*s  foDs  «Wed  and  oYttpook  him,  and  the  fcene  was  cloTcd  with  » 
moft  defperate  fight.  This  Tait  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Taiu  in  this 
country,  and  by  his  hand  was  planted  a  very  large  aih  tree  in  Biaal,  whicl^ 
fell  feveral  years  ago,  and  there  remains,  as  the  fallen  monarch  of  the 
wood,  «nd  as  a  proof  how  his  famil)si  wonld  thrive  there*  if  taken  oure^of. 


if  Halkirk.  51 

A  deep,  large,  well  contrived  ditch  fecures  it  on  the  north; 
and  I  have  reafon  to  believe,  that  it  was  continued  dowA 
to  the  river,  which  fecures  it  on  that  quarter.  It  has  the 
appearance  of  being  fortified  aUb  with  other  outworks,  fudi 
as  walls,  moats,  lie.  which  have  been  all  demoliflied,  when 
the  gardens  about  it  were  firft  planned  or  enlarged.  It  is 
not  known  bj  whom,  or  when  it  was  built,  though  it  is 
the  current  report,  that  it  was  built  and  inhabited  by  the 
Harolds,  who  came  over  here  from  Denmark,  but  more 
immediately  from  Orkney,  where  they  bore  a  princely 
fway,  ^  well  as  here.  But  very  ancient  as  this  fabric  cer^-, 
tamly  is,  there  is  the  remains  of  another  very  near  it,  to 
the  fbath,  that  feems  to  excel  it  far  in  antiquity,  and  to 
have  been  not  inferior  to  it  in  ftrength.  Nothing  of  it  re- 
niaiiis,  but  a  huge  unfhapely  cairn  of  ftones,  which  yet  in* 
dicate  it  to  have  been  once  a  very  large  and  ftrong  faftnefi. 
I  fuiped  that  below  it  are  fubt^raneous  vaults  and  com« 
munications  to  other  works,  neceflary  for  defence  and  feco* 
rity  in  thofe  days  of  violence  and  confiant  invafion. 

But  the  beauty  of  the  whole  are  the  remains  of  a  much 
more  modem  building,  which  was  extremely  well  begun, 
but  never  finiflied.  It  (lands  clofe  to  the  bank  of  the  river, 
below  the  fiibrics  above  mentioned.  The  defign  is  cer« 
tainly  grand  and  magnificent,  and  worthy  of  its  princely 
fitc  ;  and  had  it  been  finiflied,  it  would,  in  all  appearance, 
have  been  one  of  the  fineft,  and  moft  (lately,  and  commo- 
dioos  edifices  in  the  north,  according  to  the  ftyle  of  thob 
times.  The  work  was  carried  on  a  few  feet  above  the 
vaults,  which  were  completely  fini(hed,  and  are  indica- 
tions of  the  greatne(8,  majefty,  and  elegance  of  what  was 
to  (be  above  them.  There,  unluckily,  the  building  was 
flopped,  and  never  was  refumed  or  attempted  after- 
wards, though  what  was  done  already  was  a  very  great 
temptation  to  it. 

Though 


59  Stati/Hcai  Account 

Though  there  was  aboBdanoe  of  ftones  read  j  at  hand,  ex- 
cellently calculated  for  building  on  any  plan,  yet  to  fait 
the  grandeur  and  elegance  of  the  defign,  vaft  nambcra  of 
large  freeftone  were  brought  from  the  fliore,  at  the  diftanoe 
of  8  miles.  This  carriage  was  attended  with  gct9%  labour 
and  expence,  and  occafioned  the  death  of  feveral  men  and 
borfes  -,  and  this  is  very  credible,  becaufe  at  that  tiino  tbcro 
were  no  roads ;  and  if  there  were,  yet  there  were  no  carts 
then  in  ufe,  but  the  tenants  behoved  to  carry  them  in  loads 
on  the  backs  of  horfes.  In  (hort,  all  things  put  together^ 
fpeedily  efiefied  a  total  mifcarriage -of  the  nndertakiiifv 
and  the  faikire  of  funds,  and  left  this  piece  of  worH  «s  « 
Sanding  monument  of  the  undertaker^  great  fpirit,  but  of 
his  great  folly  alfo.  It  was  begun  by  John  Sinclair,  one  of 
the  Earls  of  Gaithneft,  diftinguifhed  by  the  mock  appd- 
lation  of  yobu  tie  IVaJlir^  but  in  what  year  is  not  knowp. 

The  gardens  of  Braal  ihould  not  here  be  omitted.  They 
have  the  appearance  of  antiquity  alfo.  They  are  very 
large,  very  plea&nt  and  beautifult  divided  according  to  thp 
variety  and  tafte  required  in  horticulture,  efpectally  in  this 
country,  furrounded  with  trees,  nvirferies,  pjantatioos  of 
wood,  all  of  them  at  prefent  in  a  thriving  date.  Yctj 
confiderable  improvements  have  been,  and  ftill  are  made 
upon  it  by  the  Ulbfter  family,  the  proprietors,  but  &r  ihoit 
of  what  they  might  have  been,  and  what  fo  good  a  6ibje& 
deferves.  I  have  it  from  undoubted  authority,  that  about 
100  years  ago  thefe  gardens  produoed  a  great  deal  of  friut« 
though  of  late  years  that  produce  has  been  but  trifling.  Bq» 
fore  I  clofe  this  article,  I  ihould  obferve,  that  the  fineft  and 
earlieft  falmon  in  the  kingdom,  and  in  great  ifumbers,  could 
be  fifhed  every  feafon  of  the  year,  dofe^to  thefe  garden^ 
which  would  be  a  gre^t  convenience  to  any  family  refiding 
the?c. 


qf  HdUdrk.  53 

DnriStf  fb^ilr.— The  next  piece  of  ultiqiutj  worth j. of 

iwtioe  is  Dirlet  Caftle.    It  ftands  in  a  vcxj  beautiful  ro- 

laandc  place  in  the  Highlands,  called  Dirlet,  on  a  round 

high  f  ock,  very  fteep,  almoft  perpendicular  on  all  fides. 

TIk  rock  and  cafile  hang  over  a  very  deep  dark  pool,  in 

tbe  river  Thurfo,  which  runs  dole  by  its  fide.    On  each 

fide  of  the  river  and  the  caftle,  and  very  near  them,  are 

two  other  rocks  much  higher,  looking  down  over  the  cafile, 

with  a  fiately  and  lowring  majefty,  and  fencing  it  on  thefe 

fides.    By  appearance,  as  well  as  by  accounts,  it  was  a 

pjaoe  of  ftrength  in  the  days  of  rapine  and  plunder.    For 

further  iecurity  it  had  the  river  on  one  hand,  and  a  dit^h 

on  the  other,  through  which  the  water  was  convejre^,  with 

a  draw-bridge.    The  laft  inhabitant  was  a  defcendent  of 

the  noble  &mily  of  Sutherland.     He  was  called  in  £ife 

%h^  Ruiler  Dirgf  that  is,  the  Red  Knight.    Having  been 

denoonced  a  rebel  for  his  oppreifive  and  violent  pradtces, 

he  was  apprehended  by  Mackay  of  Farr,  his  own  unde^ 

and  died  on  his  way  to  Edinburgh,  fbrne  fay  to  Stirling,  to 

be  tried  for  his  life.    Mackay  took  pofieffion  of  bis  eftate, 

which  confifted  of  the  lands  called  the  Ten  penny  land  of 

Braygald,  a  very  fine  and  lucrative  eftate,  and  his  fucceflbrs 

mjoyed  it  fior  a  coofiderable  time.    Whether  Mackay  got 

thefe  lands  as  a  reward  for  his  loyalty,  and  the  fervices  he 

did  his  King  and  cpuntry  by  this  afiion,  or  by  what  other 

means,  I  cannot  bj.    Neither  can  I  &y  at  what  period  of 

%\m%  thb  Ruder  Derg  lived.    His  name  and  title,  by  aU 

accounts,  was  Sir  William  Sutherland  of  Braygald,  that  is, 

of  the  Height  of  Caithnels,    This  eftate  has  been  for  many 

yean  in  the  poffeffion  of  the  family  of  Ulbfier,  who  acqui* 

red  itirom  the  Msck^ys. 

Locbmore  Cqftle^-^The  next  in  courfe  is  Lochmore  caftle, 
about  8  miles  above  Dirlet.    It  fiood  juft  on  the  bank  of 

lie 


54  Staiiftical  Account 

tfbeiocht  htngiag  ovti  the  firft  csmiit  bf  die  river  oot  of 
!(••  In  that  plsoe  the  river  is  vcrj  murrow,  and  ▼ecy.deef^ 
Mid  whhal  very  corrnit.  It  is  fiud,  hj  repoft,  to  bmm 
keen  binlt  and  inhabited  b^  a  perfoaage  called  Mwnrar^  mm 
Steam  %  that  is,  Lord  of  the  Game  or  Venifoo,  becaofe  he 
delighted  in  thefe  rural  fports.  It  u  (aid  alfo,  that  there 
was  a  cheii,  or  feme  kind  of  nsachinei  fixed  in  the  mooth 
of  the  Areaaiy  below  the  cafile,  fbr  catching  iafauoo  in  tboir 
aogreia  into  the  loch,  or.cheir  egreis  oat  of  it  y  and  diat,  im- 
ncdiatelj  as  the  fifli  was  entsngkd  in  the  machine,  the 
capture  was  annonnced  to  the  wh<de  family  by  the  ringiag 
of  a.'bell,  which  the  motion  and  ftroggles  of  the  fifh  fet  a« 
going,  Iqr  means  of  a  fine  cord,  that  was  fixed  atone  end 
to  the  bell,  in  the  middle  of  an  upper  room,  and  at  die 
«tfaer  end  to  the  machine  in  the  dream  bdow.  This  is  by 
no  means  improbable ;  for  in  thefe  days,  when  the  Aloaon 
were  more  plenty  than  they  are  now,  and  had  a  freeoomft, 
Jhat  ftream  and  that  loch  mod  have  been  fwarming  wiA 
4hat  fiih ;  and  it  would  be  fo  ftill,  had  not  our  modem  in- 
"veations  prevented  it. 

This  Morrar,  na  Shean,  according  to  report,  was  very 
onxious  and  impatient  to  have  a  (on  to  inhefit  hb  eftates 
and  honours  i  but  he  had  only  3  daughters  fucceffively, 
nt  which  he  was  fo  difappointed  and  enraged,  that  he  maU 
treated  the  modier  wad  the  daughters ;  |and  the  mother, 
dreading  more  and  more  her  huiband's  dtfpleafure  and 
ill  nfiige  of  herfelf  and  the  in&nts,  detached  them  pti- 
▼ately  to  a  place  where,  without  his  knowledge,  they  were 
feai«d  up  into  very  beautifol  and  aiocomx>liflied  young  la- 
dies, all  along  amafing  the  barbarian  hufband  and  parent 
with  the  laudable  pretext  that  they  were  dead.  Morrar^  na 
3  Sheao, 

O  Tbere  U  ccafim  to  btliere  tlist  hu  nssK  wss  Chejat. 


^  ffaikirk.  55 

SheHiy  at  laft  defpairiag  of  baving  any  more  childreoy  antf 
fflakmg  a  vaft  regret  that  he  had  no  child  at  aH,  his  lad/ 
availed  herfelf  of  the  favonraUo  opportumtyi  prefents  htm 
with  his  3  daagfaters,  and  thereby  converts  his  rage  andt 
difioontentment  into  a  tranfjport  of  joy  and  furprife.  The 
happy  (bare  difiurmed  htm  of  his  terrors ;  the  charoM  of  hia 
dao^ters  ia&Cffd  a  complacency  through  his  whole  firam«« ' 
The  interview  is  a  fcene  oi  love,  heightened  by  a  happy* 
matml  difappointment ;  and  he  thanks  God,  that  his  eftatca 
woold  not  be  under  the  belt  of  one  man,  as  he  called  it. 
They  are  foon  difpofed  of  in  marriage ;  the  eldeft  to  a  Sio^ 
clair  from  the  Orkneys,  the  fecond  to  a  Keith,  and  the  laff 
to  one  of  another  name,  but  of  fome  rank. 

This  ftory  is  wild  and  romantic,  but  it  is  by  no  means 
irrecoorileable  to  the*  favage  notions  and  barbarous  u&gesl 
of  theie  ifark  and  fuperftitious  times.  It  may  not  be  alto« 
gether  accmiiing  to  the  original  fiift,  but  is  exaftly  the  cur-< 
rent  tradition  of  the  neighbourhood.  It  may  be  too  much 
exaggerated  by  the  embelliihmeirts  of  £incy ;  yet,  1  nm 
perfnaded,  it  is  founded  on  fome  event  of  this  nature  that 
has  taken  place  in  thefe  times,  otherwife  it  would  not  have 
been  (o  currently  and  fo  facredly  tranfnritted  from  age  tc^ 
age  by  oral  tradition.  Who  this  Morrar,  na  Shean  was,  I 
cannot  find ;  but  I  fufped  that  he  was  one  of  the  Harolds, 
who  had  one  of  his  feats  at  Braal,  and  retired  occaiiondlj 
to  his  hunting- feat  at  Lochmore  for  his  amnfement ;  for 
this  reafon  he  was  called  hy  the  mock  name  of  Morrar,  na^ 
Shean,  i.  e.  Lord  of  the  Venifon  or  Game,  becaufe  beloved 
the  one  for  his  table  and  palate,  and  the  ocher  for  his  fport 
and  amufeooent.  It  cannot  be  expeded  that  I  cah  afcer^ 
run  the  era  when  this  wonderful  ftory  happened,  though  I 
doubt  not,  had  I  accefs  to  the  archives  of  the  old  families 
in  the  country,  but  I  might  trace  it  out,  at  leafl  by  way  of 

indiidion. 


$S  Statifikdl  Act^unt 

ftidadioa.  Suffice  it»  tbat  it  has  the  appearance  of  a  ^«ry 
old  ftorjy  and  tbat  it  is^  very  probable  that  theie  marriages 
pve  the  Siodairs  and  the  Keiths,  who  came  over  here 
more  immediatelj  from  the  Orkneysi  the  firft  footing  in 
Caithneis,  where,  in  a  Ihort  time,  thej  grew  b  great  and 
powerful ;  and  to  make  this  fiill  the  more  probable^,  there 
was  a  Keith  a  viceroy,  if  I  recoUefi,  in  the  Orkneys,  under 
the  Daai(h  monarchy,  before  any  of  that  name,  and  per* 
haps  of  the  name  of  Sinclair,  had  a  footing  in  this  cooncry. 
Next  prefents  idklf  the  awfiil  remains  of  a  very  large 
&bric,  at  a  phice  called  Achnavam,  near  the  loch  of  Ca» 
theL  It  was  certainly  a  building  of  great  ftrength  ;  and 
feems  to  have  been  the  habitation  of  heroes,  who  delighted 
^  in  hardy  deeds  of  arms,"  and  who^  therefore,  were  in 
danger,  night  and  day,  of  being  furprified  on  all  hands  by 
enemies  of  the  lame  kidney.  It  was  fortified  by  feveral 
outworks,  the  remains  of  which  ftrike  the  beholder  with  a 
len&tion  of  terror  (  for  they  bring  to  hb  Hwrr  the  violent 
and  bloody  icenes  that  have  been  there  adrd,  together  with 
the  dreadful,  precarious,  and  hoftile  ftate  of  thefe  times. 
By  whom  or  when  it  was  built,  or  by  whom  inhabited,  I 
cannot  find ;  but  only  that  current  report  lays,  that  it  was 
inhabited  by  a  Danilh  prince.  This  is  by  no  means  in* 
credible,  efpeciaUy  when  it  b  confidered,  that  in  thofe  days 
thb  country  was  perpetually  infefied  with  noble  adventu- 
rers from  that  kingdom,  who  pofltfled  themielves,  by  force, 
of  the  property  of  the  natives,  and  kept  it  afterwards  by 
the  lame  hofiile  and  violent  means  by  which  they  feized 
*  It,  till  at  length  they  became  as  naturalized  and  fecure  as 
the  natives  themfelves. 

There  are  other  remains  of  antiquity  almoft  innumerable* 
Indeed,  I  know  not  any  parifli  that  abounds  with  more* 
What  were  the  particular  defign  or  occafion  of  them  I  can* 

not 


^  Halkirki  57 

sot  predlelj  faj,  neither  can  I  well  find.  Bat  the/  fliew, 
in  general,  that  this  country  was  once  a  theatre  of  iniquity, 
Uoodihed,  and  vioknce ;  natives  opprefling  and  plundering 
natives,  and  foreign  rapacious  adventurers  making  a  prey 
of  them  all.  There  is  not  one  of  thefe  antiquities  that  has 
the  leaft  appearance  of  being  the  habitation  of  peace  and 
iecurity.  Surely  they  coft  immenfe  labour  and  expence  in 
bnilding  and  defending  them,  and  the  people  could  not  be 
weak  or  few  in  thofe  days.  For  the  manifeft  defign  of 
them  required  a  great  number  of  hands,  and  ftrong  ones 
too»  to  accompliih  it ;  but  how  they  were  fupported  and 
maintained,  when  the  moft  of  their  time  and  labour  rouft 
have  been  ingrofied  by  thefe  machinations  ofieniive  andde« 
fenfive,  b  a  myftery  which  I  cannot  pretend  to  folve :  for 
in  {bcfa^aftate  of  afiairs,  though  a  great  number  of  people 
and  great  expence  was  neceflarily  required  for  theie  purpo- 
fes,  yet  very  few  hands,  and  very  little  time  and  indufiry 
could  be  fpared  for  the  purpofes  of  life ;  and  furely,  when 
they  fooj^  &  well,  and  fo  frequently  in  thofe  days,  thej 
mud  have  eat  and  ^funk  well  alfo ;  but  how  or  whence 
they  got  thefe  neceflary  fupplies  is,  at  this  diftance  of  time, 
hard  to  account  for ;  for  the  people  then,  as  i^pears  by  the 
mottiimenta  they  left  behind  themt  lived  more  by  plunder 
and  rapine,  than  by  induftry  and  cultivating  the  field.  It 
is  true,  indeed,  fiihing  and  hunting,  and  the  beafis  of  pa^ 
flnre,  would  fiimiih  a  confiderable  fupply,  as  there  was 
better  same  and  fiihing,  and  more  cattle^  and  p^fture  than 
are  now.  It  is  tme  alfo,  that  the  foreign  adventurers  of  the 
north  would  bring  fome  money  and,  provifions  along  with 
them.    After  all,  it  is  dill  a  myftery,  and  fo  I  leave  iu 

Yet  fo  it  is,  that  the  people  were  then  numerous,  and 
very  roboft,  and  well  fupported,  otherwife  they  could  not 
carry  00  and  atchieve  what  they  did.    Their  houfes,  or 

VouXIX.  H  rather 


58  StatiJUcal  Account 

rather  fiiftnefles,  feem  all  of  them  to  have  been  compktelj 
circular  from  bottom,  to  top,  prodigioafly  thick  in  the  widb, 
biult  with  the  largeft  fiones  thej  could  get,  without  say 
timber  at  all.  Many  of  them  were  bnilt  on  emioenccsy 
many  on  plains  and  low  places,  according  as  heft  fmted  the 
defign,  and  many  furroonded  with  ditches  or  ramparts, 
with  outpolls  or  redoubts,  in  a  degree  lefs  or  more.  Tliey 
are  here  called  indifcriminately,  as  is  commonly  the  cafe^ 
Pidifii  Houfes,  Dniidical  Temples,  Repofitories  of  the 
Dead,  Cairns,  Toulichs.  No  doubt,  they  had  jdaoes  and 
honfes  for  all  thefe  purpofes,  befides  their  ftitmg  holds  and 
places  of  (Irength  ;  yet  fecnrity  and  ftrength  b  the  cfaarac- 
teriftic  of  all  their  honfes  of  what  kind  foever.  Thole  ef 
them  that  were  on  the  greatefi  eminences  weve  erkfently 
defigned  for  watch-towers,  whereby  any  alarm  of  danger, 
or  approach  of  an  enemy,  was,  t}uick  as  lightning,  anneon- 
oed  to  the  whole  comtry,  by  the  rapid  communication  of 
light  from  one  watch-tower  to  Mother,  and  all  thefe  were 
lb  Rationed,  as  moft  admirably  to  accommodate  one  ano- 
ther, and  confequently  the  whole  country,  to  tfie  remoteft 
comers,  as  may  be  feen  by  any  fpedator  who  compares 
them,  their  fituations,  and  diflances  to  one  another.  This 
admirable  contrivajice  was  neceflary  to  a  eonotry  expofcd 
to  much  as  this  was  to  the  freqaent  invafion  of  the  Danes, 
and  the  inroads  and  incurfions  of  their  neighbours. 

With  regard  to  their  dwelling-hottfes,  I  cannot  pals  ofcr 
^ne  or  twa  things  I  obfer^ed  more  than  once  v  the  finoie  ii 
alio  obfervable  in  what  remains  of  their  ftroog  towers  \ 
thefe  were  oblong  open  flits,  at  certain  diftances,  all  round 
in  the  walls  -,  before  each  of  thefe  flits  or  windows  was  a 
kdgment,  of  the  dimeniions  of  %  fmall  bed.  Thefe-  lodg- 
ments are  in  the  ftalr,  which  mounts  fpirally  through  the 
heart  of  the  wall  from  bottom  to.  top..    The  defigii  of  this 


of  Halkirk.^  59 

15  evtdeat.   Fuithort  I  bavf^  ieen  in  them  nnmben  of  fmall 

nxmd  hmsd  ft€iiC8»  io  the  fowm  of  a  ver  j  flat  or  oblate 

fpbem,  of  at  inches  thick  tn  the  centrcp  aad  about  4  inches 

in  diameter.  •  I  have  alfa  feea  other  round  ftooesj.  perfedlj 

circobr^  ^txf  plaii|  and  Iqyel  on. one  fide»,with  a  fo^all  rife. 

at  the  cirCiMn{0rt|i6ii«  fad  f b$>ii^  «  foot  in  diameter.    Now» 

I  think  the  intention  T>f  both  thefe  kinds  of  ftpaes  is  mani- 

feft.    It  was  cefta^nlj  to  br^ak  and  grind  their  grain,  as 

thej  bad  90  miU»  of  machines  for  that  purpofe.    This  they 

iidv  b J  breaking  the  grain  on  the  larger  done,:  with  the 

InaU  tound  pblate  ftone  in  thehr  band. 

Befides  tbefe  'buildingii  of  ilqne,  ieveral  of  which  were 

prodigiocist  thcare  are  in  vafioi^  parts  of  the  parilb  ditches 

or  intrcndiiiieots  no  leis  aftoniAiing»  edged  on  the  outfide^ 

or  cypofite  parapeti  with  larg^  mounds  of  earth  and  fione^ 

sad  iadofiog  a-d^p  hollow  in  the  ceatie.    Thefe  were  cer- 

tainlj  eneampVientSi  in  which  they  fortified  and  intrenched 

themfelr^  in  the  tin>e  of  ejtcounter,  or  when  they  took 

the  field  for  43iud  engi^meoL     Pitched  battles  have 

bfdy  been  fipiigbc  in  theft  places  -^  and  the  remains  of 

floQcs  that  have  b^n  ere£Ud  Aear,  and  at  ieveral  diilances, 

from  tbefe  imrenchments,  were  defigned  as  memorials  of 

perfiMis  of  note^  who  have  fallen  either  in  clofe  battle,  or 

in  the  retreat  or  purfuit.    But  what  tbefe  battles  were,  at 

^bat  timcv  and  by  whom  they  were  fought,  or  who  were 

the  eminent  perfons  who  £sU|  and  for  whom  thefe  memo* 

riab  were  ereded,  I  believe  is  not  to  be  found.    By  the 

bye,  I  have  no  doubt  but  ibme  of  thefe  ftoaes  would  be 

erefiod  in  order  to  defend  a  &w  perfons  from  the  miflile 

weapons  of  the  enemy,  and  .to  give  them  the  advantage  of 

dilouffing  their  own  miifile  weapons  at  them  with  the 

greater  fuccels  and  fe^urity,  on  what  fide  foever  of  the  ftone 

they  made  their  approach.    ^ 

Uttrary 


6o  Stattftical  Account 

'  littrary  CbaraSer. — ^I  have  no  accosnt  of  but  one  Kcc- 
rarjr  charafter,  the  Rev.  Mr  Daniel  Campbell,  foo  to  a  far-» 
mer,  commonly  called  Padric  Bujr,  that  is,  YeBow  Peter, 
who  was  an  Earfe  poet,  as  well  as  hit  fon,  who  compo- 
fed,  however,'  both  in  Earfe  and  Englilh.  This  Daniel 
was,  and  is  (till  called  by  the  old  people  in  this  parifli, 
patronimicanj,  Dooil  Bay,  that  is.  Yellow  Donald.  He 
was  minifter  of  Kilmichael  of  Glafietie  in  Afgyleihire, 
in  1698,  as  a  fragment  of  one  of  his  booki  informs  me, 
which  I  have  now  in  my  hands.  How  long  he  was  in 
that  parifli  before  the  piiUication  of  this  book  I  can* 
not  fay.  By  ail  accounts  he  was  a  man  of  literatnre, 
very  pioos,  devout,  and  fenfible,  and  withal  very  gene- 
roas  and  charitable,  very  popular,  much  efteemed,  aod 
eminently  ufefiil.  He  was,  in  his  day,  an  able  member, 
and  diftioguilhed  charader  of  the  charch,  being^alfo  an  ex- 
cellent orator.  Thb  fragment,  which  is  all  I  have  iieen  of 
hid  works,  is  of  a  book  entitled,  Sacramental  Meditations 
on  the  Suflerings  and  Death  of  Ghrift.  Alpimof  rattooal 
piety  and  good  fenfe  breathes  through  the  whole  perform- 
ance, and  it  is  reckoned  a  trieafure  by  all  the  piotts  here 
who  happen  to  fall  upon  it.  It  was  dedicat*ed  to  tiie  Dot- 
chefs  of  Argyle.  He  wrote  and  pnblilhed  more  eflays  in 
profe  and  verfe.  Befides,  he  was  a  principal  hand  in  tranf- 
lating  the  P&lms  of  David  into  Iriih  verie,  to  be  long  in 
the  church,  and  fupplied  his  friends  in  this  country  with 
copies  of  the  firft  impreffioii.  He  was  very  generoofly 
mindful  of  hb  friends  and  relations,  efpecially  in  this  ps- 
riOi ;  for  feverals  of  them  being  reduced  in  their  cticom- 
ftaoces,  by  the  failure  of  crops,  in  confeqoeoce  of  a  very 
fevere  froft  early  in  harveft,  he  fcnt  them  frequent  fuppliea 
of  money  from  Argyleihire,  particularly,  two  ftmilies  in 
^ufaGlale,  a  placp  in  the  height  of  this  pariihi  who  were  en- 

tircly 


of  Halkirk.  6i 

wciyfiipported  by  his  munificence.  In  what  pjuticnhr  year 
(his  froft  happened  I  cannot  iay  i  but  it  was  a  memorable 
year,  and  fiital  to  many.  That  it  happened  in  hisb  own 
aad  his  fisher's  day,  appears  not  only  from  the  circumftance 
above  mentioned,  but  alfo  from  a  paragraph  of  a  letter 
tbcn  wrote  by  the  father  to  the  fon: — **  AUdinues  here  is^ 
"  iai  di  doks  got  ^er  try  on  Paul  Hacriig^  on  £  tird  of 
**  Augtr  i.  e.  •*  Aathe  mws  iere  is,tiat  tbedqgigot  over 
"  dry  on  tig  Pool  o/Halkirkr  The  particular  day  of  the 
week  on  which  it  happened  was  Sunday ;  and  that  it  was 
peculiarly  fatal  to  Padnc  Buy,  appears  from  the  following 
poem  he  made  on  the  occafion: 

Koodh  ud*haQic»  ar  Diadonich, 
Ghour,  a  brone,  as  moQlUrd  orm  < 
ChoUa  a  miibe,  bhoay  wnX, 
Snichibbc  mor»  cbo  buirras  tetmbc 

God*  cbuirin  cear,  tiTf  do  bhotlidh. 

Cbcart,  o  croay,  'fa  barridh,  dbatdb, 

Noatr,  a  fcoabidb  leamhe,  alaar 

Cho  dbeaoidb,  a  tradb,  doa*  bbftiffehiB.  ^ 

In  Engliih  :-— 

Tbe  Sabbath  of  the  Iktal  froft 
Did  ae  great  pain  and  fiurow  coft. 
It  checkM  me  £■  my  drink  career* 
For  tittle  cafli  had  I  to  fpare. 

Though  to  the  flatl  Unx  «eo  apply, 
And  oa  (heflieaf  with  veageance  lay. 
The  flooTi  at  night,  fwept  clean  and  well, 
Can  fcarce  produce  a  fcanty  meat 

Lm^/r^r.— This  countyi  being  of  old  inhabited  by  a 
mixture  of  people  of  different  languages  and  ufiiges,  I  be- 
lieve more  fo  than  any  other  county  in  Scotland,  the  ori-* 

gin 


62^  StadfikMl  Jicwunt 

ffm  of  kvtni  enflomt;  whkh  ban  prevtiM  for  ft  long' 
tiiM  afterwardt,  and  faoia  9t  wbicb  do  fttll  pnvaflt  is  ta 
be  traced  Co  that  p^od.  From  this  intaf muitnre  (fting 
nany  words  in  their  languaga,  efpccially  words  ezpraflii^e 
of  lb*  »ame9  of  perbas,  of  plaoei,  of  Tefloii»  and  Taricoa- 
vteafib  and  tAftrumoms,  V^.  But  a  very  ooofidoraUe 
part  of  tbia  iatemiixtttra  being  Uaoo  aod  Norvtgiam,  as 
thafe  were,  by  all  aoco«nts»  faperior  in  powtr  and  poflfef- 
fioa,  fo  their  language  and  urages  would  be  tba  moft  pre* 
Talent  aUb ;  and  among  the  other  eiefb  ol  ibia  prevalaoce, 
wara  the  names  whidi  were  given  to  places,  asaoy  of  whic:ii 
are  manifeftlj  of  Danilb  oripn.  This  eireumflance,  toge- 
ther with  tlie  variations  they  have  necelTarily  undergone 
in  the  different  flages  of  time  fince  that  period,  render  it 
almoft  impoflible  to  afcertain,  or  trace  out  their  real  mean- 
ing at  this  diflance  of  time. 

At  prefent  there  are  two  languages  fpoken  in  this  parilh, 
vi».  the  EarCe  and  the  Engli^i.  The  former  is  much  cor* 
rupted,  but  yet  fpoken  with  great  fluency  and  emphafia, 
and  not  without  harmony  of  (bund.  The  latter  has  alfo 
many  words,  which  are  neither  Englifii  nor  Scotch,  yet,  ac- 
cording to  its  idiom,  it  is  fpoken  with  great  propriety,  aod 
the  fentiments  are  ezpraifed  by  it,  either  in  narration  or 
delcrip^oh,  as  intelligibly  and  fignifioantly,  as  in  any  coun- 
ty in  Q'eat  Britain,  nay,  I  dare  fay,  more  fo  than  in  moft  of 
them.  :Thele  languages  are  fpoken  in  various  degrees. 
Some  fpeak  only  the  Earfe,  but  do  not  fpeakor  underftand 
the  Englifh ;  fome  underftand  the  Englifti,  but  do  not 
fpeak  ic;  fome*  fpeak  the  Englifti,  but  do  not  fpeak  or  un- 
derifamd  the  Earfe  -,  fome  underftand  the  Earfe,  but  do  not 
lpeak4^K^4^  ^^^gi'^A^cft'OpQib^f  fpeak  and  underftand 
both  the&  t*lf*^uages  equally  well.  /  Tjiis  y  their  ftate  with 
regard  to  iaoguagp ;  but  o£  late  7!^%.  th$  Englifti  is  ma^ 
king  great  prbgrefs  at  the  ezpence  of  the  Earfe. 

Farms^ 


of  Hatktrk.  «3 

Farms — ^Hic  farms  in  this  parifli  are  of  great  variety 
With  refped  to  rent  or  taek-d'uty,  afrtndlng  through  vari- 
ous degrees,  from  L.  2  to  L.  ibo,    Thofe  of  them  that  fall 
under  the  defcripdbn  of  too  kfge  tacks  or  farms,  are  cer- 
tainly a  great  bane  to  ioduftryand  population,  and  the  ne- 
ceflary  caufes  of  many  inconviefiiencies  to  fnbtenants ;  and 
it  is  equally  certain,  that  the  advantages  arifing  from  them 
either  to  the  tackfman  or  the  proprietor,  are  imaginary  and 
delufive,  and  terminate  in  the  prejudice  of  the  intereft  of 
both.     But  how  happens  this  ?  Why,  the  tackfman,  who  is 
not  able  to  labonr  but  a  very  fmall  part  of  the  tack  him- 
felf,  and  founds  his  credit  and  fupport  on  what  he  can 
make  of  the  fubte nants,  this  tackfman,  in  order  to  keep 
credit  iPrith  the  proprietor,  and  to  fiipport  his  family,  im- 
pofes,  and  perhaps  of  neceffity,  heavy  burdens  on  the  fob- 
tenants,  by  which  they  are  in  the  end  difabled  to  keep 
credit  with  this  tackfman.    'Hie  proprietor,  by  the;  rent 
he  eza£b  from  the  tackfman,  will  reduce  him  in  the  end 
to  bankruptcy,  if  he  has  no  other  (hift;  and  if  he  fltould 
have  fuch  fliifts,  it  is  odds  but  he  moft  pay  for  thefe  alfo» 
as  ibon  as  they  are  perceived.    Thus,  the  great  evil  origi- 
nates with  the  proprietor,  though  perhaps  undefignedly. 
Tet  I  will  not  Hand  forth  in  the  vindication  of  thefe  large 
tackfmen.     They  therofelves  af e  much  to  blame,  either  by 
taking  tacks,   which  oblige   them  to  diftrefs  others  and 
thcmfelves;    or,  if  they  hold  their  tacks  on  reafonable 
terms,  by  opprefling  their  fubtenonts,  not  from  motives  of 
neceffity,  but  from  motives  of  gain,  and  to  make  them* 
fdves  eafy  at  their  expence. 

And,  as  too  large  farms  are  great  evils,  for  the  reafons 
above  iiated,  fo,  on  the  other  hand,  too  fmall  ones  ^re  no 
lels  fo,  for  other  reafons  no  lefs  important.  They  are  too 
inadet}uate  to  the  butdezi  they  have  to  fupport,  even  when 

they 


^4  Siatyiical  Account 

A€j  «re  held  on  retfonabk  terms ;  but  bow  Much  moc«  Co 
when  the  cafe  is  often  otberwife.  What  is  this  burden  ? 
Vfhjf  theie  tacks  fubjeA  their  poOeflbrs  to  £everal  iervi- 
indes,  which  ooght  ncccflarily  to  be  beftowed  on  their  &- 
milies  and  farms  i  to  ezpenoes  in  hbouringf  too  difpropor- 
cionate  to  the  profits  thej  can  ezpe£L  They  have  rents  to 
paji  a  familj  and  iervants  to  fupport,  a  horfe,  an  oz,  and 
cow  to  buj,  any  of  which  may  be  more  than  the  rent  ^ 
and  oftentimes  their  fmall  crops  are  Yery  much  curtailed 
by  the  rapacious  hand  of  the  millert  who  has  every  power 
and  opportunity  in  his  hands  to  treat  them  without  mercy* 
N0W9  the&  are  things  which  too  imail  a  farm  cannot  bear, 
even  though  the  tenant  held  it  otherwife  on  reafonable 
terms.  They  are,  at  beft,  but  a  deifeitfiil  kind  of  wretched- 
neisy  amufing  them  with  gilded  and  fallacious  hopes,  which 
reconcile  them  to  their  prefent  ftate,  but  fednce  them  into 
complete  ruin  at  laft.  The  meaneft  fervant  of  fuch  a  te- 
nant reaps  much  more  from  his  tack  than  he  does  him£el£. 

Another  great  evil  ariiingfrom^thefe  too  imall  farms 
IS,  that  they  are  a  flrong  temptation  to  tradelmen  to  take 
them,  whenever  they  have  made  a  few  pence  by  their 
trade,  in  which  they  were  profperous  before  they  became 
tenants ;  now,  being  entrapped  into  a  farm,  their  families 
and  their  trade  ru(h  into  ruin  at  once.  By  this  means  a 
good  and  ufefiil  tradefman  is  loft  to  the  public,  or  rather 
becomes  a  burden  to  it. 

There  is,  further,  another  evil  accompanying  thefe  too 
Imall  tacks ;  they  entice  many  from  the  fervice  to  become 
tenants,  who  could  have  lived  more  comfortably  and  nfe- 
fully  in  their  former  ftate.  This  is  one  great  reafon  why 
fervants  are  fo  dear,  and  fo  difficult  to  be  got  by  the  far- 
mer, or  if  he  gets  them,  that  they  are  fo  uointerefied  and 
careleis  in  his  fervice.  From  the  moihent  they  engage  io 
3  the 


of  Halkirk.  w        65 

the  fcrvice,  the  .only  objeft  that  occupies. their  ittcntion  \% 
to  gather  a  few  penc^,  to  enable  them  to  marry^  and  take 
one  of  thcfefmall  farms.  X^us  they  are  impatient  of  the  fcr- 
Tice,  and  make.it  only  a  Job  of  very  lecondary  .confidera« 
ti on  while  they  ate  in  it.  Hence  it  is,  that  they  leave  the  fqr- 
vice  without  any  great  ftpck  or  chara£ler,  and  redpce  them- 
ftlves  to  mifery  at  lad ;  whereas,  if  they  had  not  the  temp- 
tation of  thefe  fmaU  tacks  before  them,  neceflit^  and  felf- 
intetcft  would  compel  (hem  to  make  a  chan^der  in  the  fer- 
vice,  becaufe,  in  this  cafe,  their  .future  profpeAs  woi|14  en- 
tirely depend  upon  it,  having  ooimB^diate  profped  of 
being  able  to  take  a  farm*  v^hich  would  require  a  great- 
er flock  .than  fervants  ufu^Hy  can  afford.  Thus,  the  pa- 
ciih  woqld,be.)>etter  accommodated  in  fervants;  and  th€ 
(crvants,  on  the  other  band,  wpuld  live  more  comfortably* 
This  is  by  no  ineans  mi^ai^t  to  limit  or  circumfcribe  the 
cbaoces.cf  ietrants*  JNxj;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  their  true 
iotecffi  and, welfare  I  aim  at. 
Tjwne  M  jtt  anotl^er  gqevaiipe  occurs  to  me,  and  qf 

wbichvtl^efetopJmaU  tasK?>  ^f  ^^  occaSon.  Thjc  conti« 
oaal.aec^lfities  of  iheir^pofSe^prs  put.  them  on  ihifts  for  pre« 
ient  fi^lief,  yihifh  ^ome  upi9n  thcim  with  vei^geapce  at  laft* 
The]r;(peiid,ajgce4t;p^  of  fiwimer  and  bacveft  in  carry* 
i^gjeacs  anfi  b^athfntp  Thntfo,  which  wot^ld  have  bee^l 
moR  luTefi^tly  .ao^  ^pco^ably  [bcAowed  on  the  neceiTary 
putpofes  qf  ^e  &rm.  |Bad3th\s.time  an^  labour  they  fub«  | 
trad  £rom  .the  farvn  |>een  Jn  any  tolerable  d^ee  compeo« 
latedjhj  their  j^rofits.tn  tbis  bufinefi  of  carriage,  ^there 
would  be  lefs  to  fay.  Biittbis  is,not  the  cafe  ;  for  the  va« 
loe  they  get  for  their  time  and  labour  is  very  inconfider* 
able ;  mi  tflMimakea  it  more  (b  is,  that  a  great  part,  if 
aot  the  f«bQle«of  it,  js  ;lpie0t  .qlidcl^Iy  before  they  rttom  i 
^  (heir.boriesi  which  are  aigreat  part  of  their  (look,  are  . 
both  jaded  and  rflai^ved*  JHad  fbeybetn  near  the  town» 
VcL.  XIX.  I  and 


66  Statijlical  Account 


and  provided  in  carts,  it  would  have  made  this  bufiaefs 
more  tolerable  and  profitable ;  bat»  on  the  contrary,  they 
carry  them  the  diftance  of  9  or  lo  miles,  and  in  bad  roads, 
and  on  their  horfes  backs  \  and  fix  horfes  will  not  carrjr 
what  one  cart  would  hold,  and  one  horfe  would  carry  in 
that  cart  with  eafe ;  mere  neceflity  is  the  caufe  of  this 
wretched  bufinels. 

From  the  fame  caufe  it  b  alfo,  that  numbers  of  thele 
fmall  tenants  fell,  early  of  the  year^  and  at  a  low  price, 
the  vi&ual  that  Ihould  go  to  fupport  their  families,  and  paj 
the  matter.  By  this  means,  in  order  to  filence  the  clamo- 
rous dun  of  their  creditors,  who^  no  doubt,  may  avail  tfaen^- 
felves  of  their  neceflity,  little  remains  for  the  rent  and  the 
family ;  and  if  it  ihould  fo  happeu  that  they  pay  the  rent, 
yet  they  are,  at  the  long  run,  reduced  to  the  neceflity  ol 
buying  vidual  at  a  dearer  rate  than  they  fold ;  and  if  they 
have  no  money  or  credit,  a9  for  the  moil  part  they  have 
not,  the  mailer  mud  interpofe  with  hb  purfe  or  hb  vidnal, 
or  they  mufl  ftarve.  Very  ofton  they  make  whilky  of 
their  beer,  with  a  pretence  to  make  money  for  the  rent. 
By  this  bufinels,  whatever  profit  the  ^ftiller  may  have,  I 
am  fure  they  can  have  none,  but  rather  lofs,  confidering 
the  time  fpent,  the  duty  paid,  the  whiiky  drunk,  the  pot 
hire,  as  they  call  it,  and  the  want  of  the  draff  and  burnt 
ale,  which  go  to  the  difiiller.  Now,  from  what  I  have 
iaid  about  farms,  it  b  not  to  be  underftood  that  I  allude  to 
the  pofitive  deamefe  of  tacks.  No ;  I  all  along  alude  to 
their  relative  deamefi,  or  as  they  fiand  with  refped  to  the 
prefent  date  of  things  in  the  pariflu. 

Sirvicis. — ^I  have  mentioned  fervices  more  than  once  as 
a  grievance.  They  are  fo,  and  ought  to  be  abolifhed,  if 
for  no  other  reafon,  yet  for  thb  great  one,  vns.  that  the  te- 
nant might  have  all  hb  time  and  laboor  for  the  purpofe» 

of 


of  Halkirk,  67 

of  lus  fioin  and  credit.  Thefe  will  necefTarily  require  the 
whole  of  his  induftry  and  time,  though  none  of  them  were 
befiowed  to  ferre  the  purpofes  of  the  landlord.  Here  it 
may  be  laid^  that  thefe  fervices  are  abundantly  compen- 
iated  by  the  eafy  terms  on  which  they  hold  their  tacks. 
This  is  mere  deldion ;  for  fcarcely  will  aAy  confideration 
of  thb  kind,  were  it  tmci  coropenfate  the  negle6k  of  their 
own  neceflary  afiairs  at  home.  Befides,  on  the  fuppo^ 
fition  that  they  have  value  in  their  tacks  for  thefe  fervices, 
yet,  being  always  in  pinching  circumftances,  it  is  with  the 
greateft  relu&ance  they  perform  them.  Becaufe  they  are 
not  animated  with  a  prefent  meal  for  their  hungry  paunch,  * 
and  with  the  profpefi  of  payment  at  night  to  carry  it  home 
to  a  craving  family,  they  confider  the  whole  as  loft  time 
and  labour ;  therefore  they  perform  the  fervice  but  very 
heavily  and  indifferently,  and  are  well  pleafed  how  little  the 
work  is  if  the  night  is  come.  This  being  the  cafe,  what 
they  do  is  far  fiiort  of  the  work  of  a  day-labourer,  who  ex- 
pefis  his  hire  at  night  to  refireOi  and  enliven  himfelf  and 
£imily  on  his  return.  Thus  the  matter's  work  goes  on  but 
'flowly  and  ilightly,  and  their  own  work  at  home  ne- 
gleded. 

ilfi]2&.—- Mills  are,  in  fome  parts  at  leaft  of  the  parifh,  a 
very  great  and  {hameful  grievance.  The  proprietor,  for 
an  advance  of  rent,  is  tempted  to  give  a  leafe  of  the  £atrm 
and  mill  upon  it,  without  any  reftriftions.  The  tackfman, 
thinking  he  pays  too  dear,  falls  on  ihifts  to  make  reprifals. 
He  fubfets  the  mill  to  under  millers,  at  a  rate  which  they 
are  not  able  to  anfwer.  The  millers,  that  they  may  keep 
credit,  of  necei&ty  opprefi  the  fuckeners.  The  fucken- 
ers  complain  to  the  laird,  or  his  fador.  They  get  no 
hearing  or  redreis.  They  return  home,  lamenting  their 
£ae«  The  millers  redouble  their  oppreiHon.  The  fucken« 
I  ers 


68  Statijlkat  Account 

crt  £0  in  hamt)1e  proftratioa  before  the  rnafter  miller^  and 

prefent  their  petition  to  his  majeftjr.    His  intereft'  H  too 

lUBcb  concerned  |  he  knows  the  millers  cannot  pay  lirm, 

unleis  tbej  are  verj  fevere  \  tie  tnrns  his  back,  bids  the  di- 

firefled  fnppliants  good  day ;  he  has  nothing  to  do  with 

the  mill ;  it  is  fubfet  \  let  them  agree  with  the  mill'en. 

Thus  they  all  fin  by  proxy,  and  the  poor  fuckener  is  the 

lacrifice.    Thus  the  proprietoff  and  tenant  pay  dearly  for 

this  additional  rent,  for  more  reafons  than  one,  whicfi  are 

too  obvious  to  be  mentioned.    However,  it  is  not  amiis  to 

produce  an  inftance.    There  b  a  tack  in  my  neighbour-* 

hood,  the  rent  of  which  is  L.  46.    It  is  as  much  a  grais  ^s 

^  corn  tack.    This  tack  pays  the  mill,  according  to  the 

prefent  price  of  vi&ual,  L.  8,  los.  which  is  very  near  x- 

5th  of  the  rent  \  and  yet  the  miller  is  not  (atisfied.    Kot 

many  years  ago,  the  multure,  Uc.  paid  out  of  this  farm 

was  not  near  one  half  of  what  it  is  now,  neither  was  the 

produce  of  it  lels,  however  more. 

CBftcltifion^ — ^Now  all  thefe  evils,  and  many  more,  might 

be  removed,  and  many  great  advantages  introduced,  if  the 

prefent  ftate  of  things  were  modified,  or  in  fome  meafure 

altered.    This,  I  think,  might  be  eafily  eifeded ;  and  the 

pariih  is  a  moft  excellent  fubjed  for  it.     I  need  not 

point  out  the  means  whereby  this  defirable   end   would 

moft   likely  be  brought  about.     They  are  obvious  to 

common  obfervation.    If  the  heritors  had  attended  more 

to  their  own  true  intereft,  and  confidered  that  of  their 

tenants  as.  their  own,   for  they  are  infepamble ;    if  they 

had  done  this,  it  would  naturally  and  neceftarily  lead 

them  into  this  meliorating,  plan  \  but  the  difficulty  is  to 

perfuade  them  that  the  adoption  of  fuch  a  plan  would  be 

their  intereft.    The  temptation  of  prefent   gain  makes 

rtcna  Wind  to  what  wpuld  enlarge  their  future  profpeds, 

«q4 


and  be  foetbfiMftiilg^  ^th.  doable  vdlXjoA  ta^  their  advan« 
tage.    BqC  what.it  diisplaii'?  Let  theia  duly  coi^der.  the 
prefent  ftate  of  thipg^  anddt  will  fogged  the  plan  ta  themi 
The  malady  will  point  out  the  i^medj,  if  they  dMiffe  C6 
embrace  and  appTj  it.    Without  entering  dee^  into  this 
affiify  which  I  leave  to  tbemfelves  and  more  abk  hiandsi 
I  would  Beg^^kvvetKi  fuggeft-  to  them  in-  geiii^-  the  ne« 
ceffity  and  great  advantage  of  exciting  a  ipirir  ei  induflijr, 
fragalit J9  and  emulation  among  their  tenants,  by  due  en*- 
couragement  and  §pod  ezampte,  of  potting  their  traffick 
and  commerce  into  a.  better  channel ;  o£  introdooiiigr  into 
the  part(h  feme-  Brandies  of  efsMe-  aM<  m«raf«6mvi  of 
which  it  is  capat>Ie ;  of  animating  them  vtritK.  the  com- 
fortable profpefi.  of  enjoying  the  fruit  of  their  labours; 
and*  finaliyi  ^uid  aibove  aU,  of  oheriihii^.  and  cuitiirating^ 
their  principles,  both  moral  and  religioos.    Tlnl  weuM-y 
in  a  fliort  time,  briiig  aBdut  better  crops,  and  a  greater 
variety  of  them;  more  particularly,  it  would  introduce 
the  raifing  of  flax,  for  which  this  parifh  is  well  calculated. 
It    would    Airther  enlarge  their  commerce  and  credit, 
would  fornifli  a  more  ready  market,  which  they  ofteii 
want;  and  torn  the  balance  of  trade,  which  at  prefent 
is  againft  them  in  feveral  articles,  to  be  in  their  favour. 
Finally,  it  would  make  cidtivation  lefi  expenfive,  and' 
more  efieAod;,  efpeoially  io  the  articles  of  fervanta  and) 
labouring  cattle,  which  aM  juft  now  a  burden ;  for  near 
ooe  half  of  both  would  ferve   all  the  purpofes  of  the] 
&nner^  if  they  were  of  a  better  kind,  and  properly  guided*. 
We  ihall  conclude  with  the  following 


Simifiica/ 


y  Statyikal  Auount 

SiaHJUcal  TaUi  o/iie  Pmi/b  cfHaOiri. 

Length  in  £nf  liih  milei*  24    Number  of  aamaffric 

Breadth,  9  -     above  45,              -              44% 

Fopnlatimi  m  t7S5>       -       VnS    widowtn,        -         4* 

■      ■          in  X79»»        -  3i«o            ■         widowi,                      8f 

Increale»           -           -  105    — —  membere  of  tbc  E- 

Avenge  of  births  Ibrfefcral  ftabliihed  Ghnrch,       -       51  <• 

yeara  precediiif  1791,  %$                    P^oprictora  rcfiJiog.      3 

-—of  marriages  ditto,  %%                ■■'               non^rclid.      3 

Number  of  males,         -  1650    £Aabli(hed  clergyoMii,         -        i 

— -*—  fcmalei,        -  1530    Mtffionary.       -         .         .        j 

■  perfins  voder  s  Number  of  fchoolmaften,        -      % 
years  of  age,            •  $51    Innkeeper,         ...          x 

»  betwteu  10  &  to,  685    Number  of  tradefinen,       -        73 

— — —  between  ao  Ic  50,  986    ■                 day-labourers,             50 

■  between  50  &  70,  481            ■         men-ferrants,            308 
— -  —  between  70  8b  80,  55    ■                women-iervantab       3ar 


-  between  80  8b  90,      ao  ■      poor,  •  x5o 


aao 


•  bachelors,  or  on.  ploughs,  311 

married  men  above  io» 


▼alued  rent,  in  Sootch-money,        -        -       -        -        L.  3314    7 
Real  rent,  in  Staling,  ann%  1791,       ....        aaoo 


o 


STOCK. 


Number  of  borfin^         -         1650    Number  of  goats,  -  130 

•""- cattle,  •  4963     ■■      -  fwine,  -  190 

•  Iheep,         .  9890  ■■  ploughing  oieuy       194 


ANNUAL     SAL1E. 
A^-rage  export  of  grain,  -  .  .  x8oo  bolls. 

A-aagefltleofcattle,        ....  1000  head. 

NUM. 


43f  Falkirk.  yi 


NUMBER  IL 


PARISH   OF  FALKIRK, 


(CoTOTT  OF  Stirling,  Stnod. of  Lothian  axd  Twseq- 

BALE,  Pr£8BTTKRT  OF  LlNLITHaOW), 


By  Jamcs  Wilson,  M.  A.  MiniJlir»fibiPar0t, 


BoundatieSf  and  general  Befcripiion. 

THE  plrifli  of  Falkirk  is  between  7  and  8  miles  in 
length  from  £•  to  W.  and  in  fome  parts  more  dian 
4  miles  in  breadth.  It  is  bounded  on  the  E.  bj  the  frith 
of  Forth  and  the  parifla  of  Polmont;  on  the  S.  by  the  pa- 
rilhes  of  Polmont  and  Slamanaan ;  on  the  W.  by  Gumber- 
nanld  and  Denny ;  and  on  the  N.  by  the  river  Carron, 
which  feparates  it  from  the  united  parifhes  of  Larbert  and 
Dunipace.  By  the  changes  which  the  conrie  of  this  river 
has  undergone,  a  few  boufes  belonging  to  this  pariih  are 
now  on  the  Larbert  fide ;  and  a  few,  which  are  conneded 
with  that  parifl),  are  oa  the  Falkirk  fide  of  the  river. 

FrooT 


72  Suu^ical  Account 

From  a  reference  to  the  pariflb  of  Falkirk,  in  an  aAion 
with  refpefi  to  the  patronage  of  die  diurch  and  parilh  of 
Oldhamfiock^y  in  the  jpreftjjtti^r  'Of  Dunbar,  which  was 
depending^  in  the  year  1748  between  the  King  and  Mr 
Hay  of  Lawfieldy  it  appears  that  the  pariflies  of  Denny, 
Slamanna^y  iMoivavoofiide,  jand  Polmpot,  conftitnted  for- 
merly parts  of  the  parfonage  of  Falkirk.    The  three  firft 
of  thefe  parishes  mod  have  been  very  early  (eparated  from 
Falkirk;  bat  it  was  not  till  the  year  1724  thatPolmoot 
was  formed  into  a  -pmlh.    The  iminifter  of  iPohatmt^fs 
not  only  4tipend'finom%is  own  pai^,  bat  aUb  from  thofe 
of  Falkirk  and  Denny. 

The  efiate  of  Callander  having  been  confifcated  im  me- 
diate .after\lbe«Mim^qn  an  j|h.ejear  ^7  xj,  .it  w)fl  fold 
about  the  year  1 720  $  and  fuch  tithes  as  were  not  conveyed 
with  the  eftate,  were  difpofed  of  by  the  commiffionets  and 
truilees  of  the  forfeited  eftates  in  Scotland  to  Mr  Hamilton 
of  'PiehflieftdH»dar4his  exprtia  ftipulation,  that  thry  flinnld 
be  fubjeft  to  the  llipend  of  a  minifler  for  the  new  pariih, 
which  was  to  be  taken  off  the  parilh  of  Falkirk.  This  cir* 
cumftance  explains  by  what  means  it  happened  that  (Upend 
is  paid  both,  out  tif^li^ta  IWfifli^ndiDlcanjr^tPlke  minifler  of 
Polmont. 

Falkirk.  isifitu^edion'tlHb  north  itaad'bfttweeorEjlinfHii^ 
and'Oiaigow,  and  it  is  nearly  At  .«n  .ei|ttalrdiftan«e  from 
both.  SThe  road  to  fiti^liog  and  the  North  {^ghlan^s  alb 
pB^es  thcQugh  this  towp.  Falkidc  was'  oose  denomaated 
JSxd^btae^  tihatis,  tfaedChnrch  on  the  Brow ;  add  jtbe  Mme 
18  tmly  defctiptlve  of  the  fitnatton,  :fbr  .tiiett^im  ftandson 
an^mtnence,  which  has  a  dncUvib^  mi  fivvqr  :6de.  Ititlbe 
Gacliclangoage  it  isxalled.an  Eghis  UrUfimt  more  com* 
monly.an.JS^»  iirec.  The  ibrmer/of  .Ih^e.phr4£i&  ijg* 
nific8<tbe)Brdcien  Church,  which  fometbMikjis  not  iippra* 
pcrly  tranfiated  Falkitk,  that  is,  the:FaUen  Church.    Cqr- 


<f  Falkirk.  73 

tin  it  IS,  that  tlie  church  of  Falkirk,  as  it  now  fiandsi  has 
aot  all  been  buik  at  the  fame  time.  In  the  year  xx66»  it 
-was  pven  *  to  the  monailery  of  Holyroodhonfe  bj  the 
Biihop  of  St  Andrew's ;  and  as  the  pariflies  belonging  to 
Ifaefe  religious  foundations  were  often  not  properlj  attend- 
ed to  with  refpeft  to  religious  inftruftion  and  accommoda^ 
tioo,  lb  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  church  of  this  parifh 
might  have  been  permitted  to  fall  into  ruiui  and  thence  the 
name  under  confideration  might  have  taken  its  ri£e. 

jfm  Eghui  Mrecj  the  latter  of  the  Gaelic  defignations 
which  I  mentioned,  fignifies  the  Spotted  Church.  To  this 
name  Buchanan,  who  underftood  the  Graelic  language,  gives 
his  fupport,  for  in  his  Hiftory  of  Scotland  he  calls  Falkirk, 
^  Varium  Sacellum/*  It  is  fuppoled  bj  fome,  that  it  got 
d>at  defignation  from  the  partj-ccdonred  appearance  of  the 
fiones  in  the  building* 

As  the  wdl  of  Antoninus,  which  w9I  afterwards  be  de- 
fcribed,  paiTed  very  near  the  church,  and  where  a  part  of 
the  town  is  built,  fome  are  of  opinion,  that  the  prefent 
same  of  this  place  is  derived  from  Valium  and  Kirk^  which 
by  an  eafy  tranfition,  became  Falkirk,  thereby  fignifying 
the  Church  upon  the  Wall. 

The  greater  part  of  this  parifh  is  inclofed  and  fubdivided, 
«s  well  as  enriched  by  trees,  villas,  and  gentlemens  feats. 
The  numerous  fine  trees  which  are  in  Callander  park  and 
its  neighbourhood,  together  with  the  wood  belonging  to 
the  iame  place,  add  much  to  the  pleafantnels  of  the  town 
of  Falkirk ;  as  it  is  fituated  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
thefe  rural  and  enlivening  objeds.  From  the  manfe,  and 
other  places  on  the  north  fide  of  the  town,  the  profpeft  is 
delightful,  and  comprehends  a  fertile  and  well- cultivated 
•oontry  of  xa  or  14  miles  fquare,  which  is  bounded  by  the 
Vol.  XIX.  K  OchU* 

#  Nifluno's  HUbry  of  SiirUD£lhire»  page  135. 


74  Statyiical  Account 

Ochil-hills  aod  elevated  litoations  id  the  coantiei  of  Sht- 
ling,  Fife^  and  Linlithgow.  Toward  the  N.  W.  the  tops 
of  feme  of  the  Highland  hills  are  to  be  icen,  involved  io 
clouds,  and  at  certain  frafons  of  the  year  coveted  with 
fnow,  when  none  of  it  is  to  be  feen  eliewhetx  witfaia  the 
whole  compafa  of  onr  profpe£L  A  part  of  the  frith  ef 
Forthy  prefenting  itlelf  to  view,  tmd  the  veiTels,  pafiuig  oti 
the  canal,  within  a  mile  of  Falkirk^  enbanee  coafi4erafal7 
the  beauty  of  the  fcene. 

When  this  proTped  is  involved  in  the  darkiiefe  tjt  night* 
the  flashes  of  light  from  the  iron- works  at  Carron,  appear 
in  awful  and  fublime  majefly.  When  a  fall  of  rain  or 
fnow  is  foon  to  happen,  the  light  is  refraded  by  the  thick 
and  moid  atmofphere,  and  confiderable  illuminations  ap- 
pear in  the  air  above  the  works.  Thefe  are  feen  at  a  coo- 
fiderable  diflance,  and  great  flafbes  of  light  arc  thrown  into 
the  boufes  in  this  neighbourhood,  which  have  windows  to- 
ward the  Carron  works.  Upon  the  eminence  on  the  S. 
of  Falkirk,  the  profpefl:  not  only  comprehends  the  whcd^ 
view  which  I  have  dtfcribed,  but  alfo  the  fcenery  about 
Callander  houfe,  to  which  I  have  already  alluded ;  the  vef- 
fejs  in  the  harbour  of  Grangemouth ;  the  mafts  of  thofe  in 
that  of  Borrowftounnc&i  the  ruins  of  the  palace  of  Lin- 
lithgow; the  fteeples  of  that  town,  and  thofe  of  Daa: 
fermline ;  together  with  a  variety  of  flriking  obje6b  on 
l>oth  fides  otthe  frith  of  Forth,  as  well  as  thofe  which  i^- 
pear  in  other  points  of  the  profpe£(. 

Population^  and  E^clefiajlicat  StaU^^Tht  pariib  of  Fal- 
kirk contains  about  8c20  inhabitants.  In  the  town  there 
fure  389a  ;  in  the  village  of  Camelon  there  are  568 ;  in  that 
of  Briansfprd  *,  758  \  in  the  village  of  Grangemouth,  410 ; 
und  in  that  of  Lauriefion,  838  ;  in  the  country  part  of  the 

pariib 


of  Falkirk^  75 

pairiOi  the  inhabitants  are  about  1534  in  namber  *•  Among 
a  people  fo  numerous,  we  muft  expedto  find  different  fen- 
timcRts  refpfffing  religion,  as  well  as  about  every  other 
fubjed  which  comes  under  their  confideration ;  but  it  is  no 
ikiafi  confolation  to  feei  that  the  bittemefs  of  ill-direded 
zeal  is  faft  giving  way  to  charity,  and  the  natural  influence 
of  progrcffive  improvements.  Nothing  will  fland  the  teft 
of  time  and  experience,  but  that  which  is  founded  on  truth. 
Error  and  prejudice  wHl  pafs  away,  and  it  behoves  us  to 
rejoice,  that  amongfl  the  wreck  of  falfe  or  unimportant 
fpecnlations,  virtue  will  remain  without  a  blemiih,  and 
completely  fecnre.  It  is  the  effence  of  true  religion  ;  it  is 
the  point  where  men  of  worth  meet ;  and  it  is  the  centre 
from  which  every  ray  of  excellence  proceeds.  Thejarrings 
of  interefl  may,  on  occaiions,  drflurb  the  calmnels  of  hu- 
man fife ;  but  if  reafon  dire£t  the  thoughts,  and  conduft 
the  aftions,  tlie  eSeds  on  the  whole  muft  be  harmony  and 
peace. 

In  the  town  of  Falkirk,  there  is  one  chapel  for  the 
Burghers,  two  for  the  Antiburghers  f ,  and  one  belonging 
^  to  the  Relief  interefl.  In  Lauricflown,  there  is  a  chapel 
for  the  mofl  ancient  Prelbytcrian  Diffenters  In  Scotland, 
who  are  generally  known  by  the  name  of  Macmillanitcs. 
The  congregoktions  of  thefe  different  meeting  houfcs  are 

compofcd 

<•  Tiicaon«ali»Ufliberof  birtfas^takeniipon  an  average  from  January  r. 
1784  to  Jaouar/  1794*  is  171.  Th«  anoual  number  of  mai-riages  taken  ia 
the  fame  manner,  for  the  Ctme  term  of  years,  i»  62.  But  it  appears,  that 
the  popuUcioo  of  the  panfli  is  incrcaling,  for  the  average  of  marrla^ci 
for  the  lal(  eight  yean  is  7s. 

^  Tbrre  is  a  difference  fubCfltng  between  the  two  congregations  of 
Antiburgbcrt  iri  this  town,  which  arofe  chief!/  from  the  manner  of  fctting 
•part  tU  elcaieati  io  the  JLord's  fupper. 


^6  Stati/lkal  Account 

compofed  of  people  from  this  and  other  paiUhes.  In  di9 
parifli  there  are  a  few  of  the  Epilcopal  perfuaiumi  who^ 
have  an  opportonity  of  attending  divine  lenrice  every  £ort- 
night  at  Carron.  The  Roman  Catholics  are  veiy  few  m 
number  here,  and  have  no  place  of  worfliip  in  the  nd^i^ 
bourhood* 

The  church  of  Falldrk  is  the  only  place  of  public  wor« 
ihip  iu  this  pariih  for  ^thoCe  who  belong  to  the  religion* 
aftabliihment  of  Scotland*  The  building  is  in  the  form 
of  a  crols,  and  bt  from  being  fuflkient  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  thofe  who  wilh  ta  attend  ^  but  it  is  hoped  fomeyhing 
will  fioon  be  done  to  provide  »  remedy  for  this  inconve- 
nience* 

Before  the  Refoamataon,  the  parilkof  ValkiriL  belonged 
tathe  &e  of  St  Andrew's*.  Immediately  after  that  period, 
and  before  the  Prcfbycerian  mode  of  worlhip  had  aflumed 
its  prefent  fenui  there  were  fuperintendents  appointed  for 
the  differaic  diftriSs  of  the  country.  Falkirk  was  witfaiB 
the  bounds  of  Mr  Spottifwood'a  infpediooy  who  was  parfon 
of  Calder-Comitis  *,  and  &ther  of  Spottifwood,  who  fnp« 
ceeded  the  fuperintendent  in  the  parfonage  of  Calder^  was 
Archbifliop  of  Glafgow  after  Elpifcopacy  was  re-eftabliihed 
in  Scotland^  wrote  a  hifiory  of  the  Church,  and,  after  en- 
joying many  honours,  died  Axchbifliop  of  St  Andrew's. 

While  he  prefided  over  this  fee,  that  part  of  the.diooefe 
which  was  fituated  on  the  fonth  fide  of  the  frith  of  Forth 
was  erefted  into*  a  biflioprick,  and  caHed  the  fee  of  Edin- 
burgh. St  Gileses  was  the  cathedrali  and  the  minifter  of 
Falkirk  was  one  of  the  twelve  prebends.  His  lalary  for 
this  office  was  L.  80  Scotch,  whick  is  L*  6 :  13 : 4  Sterling. 
A  perfon  of  the  name  of  Forbes  was  the  firft  Bifliop  of 

thi» 

*  Thii  pariih  is  oow  divided  into  two*  wUch  sic  odled  Mid  ind  WcAc 


of  Falkirk.  77 

tfas  diocefe*  He  is  reprefented  as  having  been  a  man  of 
Inning  and  pietj,  but  rather  Tufpefted  of  being  a  friend 
to  Poperj.  His  ftadies  ivere  chieflj  dire&ed  toward  anti^ 
qoides ;  and  being  reclufe  in  his  manners,  he  was  little  ac- 
quamted  with  the  world.  It  is  iaid  that  it  was  no  uncoio. 
mon  thing  for  him  to  preach  five  or  fix  boors  ac  a  time  *• 

After  the  benefice  of  Falkirk  was  befiowed  upon  the 
lonaftery  of  Hotyroodhoafe,  the  Kving  of  this  paxiib  be- 
came a  vicarage.  The  great  tithes*  which  formerlj  be- 
longed to  the  parfon,  were  then  claimed  by  the  religious 
order  to  which  they  had  been  given,  and  the  niinifter  of 
die  pariih  was  paid  with  the  (mall;  and  the  parfon  of  Fal* 
kiriL  ^ill  receives  fome  finall  foms  of  money  as  vicarage- 
does.  The  ft^end  of  this  parUh  coofifis  at  prefent  of  33 
boDs  of  barley,  64  of  oat-meal,  and  about  L.  65  :  14 :  %.^ 
of  money,  together  with  a  manfe,  garden  and  glebe.  The 
ffiinift^  of  Falkirk  alfo  claims  a  right  of  getting  from  the 
efiate  of  CaUaader  all  the  codb  which  are  made  ufe  of  by 
his  family,  without  any  other  ezpence  than  that  of  paying 
fior  cutting  them  from  the  flratum  in  the  pit,  and  bringing 
tbem  home«  Among  feveral  donatioas  which  King  Da- 
vid I.  made  to  Ae  monaftery  of  Newbottle,  was  that  of 
fuel  and  paflnre  for  cattle  in  the  wood  of  Callander  f,  and 
it  was  upon  this  grant,  I  prefume,  thac  the  privilege  under 
confideration  was  founded. 

The  King  is  patron  of  this  church,  and  has  the  'right  of 
prefenting  miniflers  to  all  the  pariibes  of  which  the  Earl 
€»£  Linlithgow  and  Callander  was  patron  before  he  was  at« 
tainted  of  high  treafon.  The  patronage  of  the  church  of 
Denny  appears,  by  the  deed  of  conveyance,  to  have  beea 

fold 

•  Burnet's  Hifbry  of  hit  own  times,  toI.  L  p.  31* 
f  Njamo'a  HUlonrof  StirUngOiue,  p.  iss* 


7$  StatiftkaJ  Aecount 

tfbld  along  with  the  barony  of  H^evtfyre  m  tile  year 
1632.  Tbk  tranfodioii  was  {andioned  by  qhartrrs  of  cob- 
fivmatioa  firom  the  King  in  the  years  1654  and  16S0. 
However  the  King,  as  weU  as  Mr  Moirhead,  claims  ttftc 
n^x  of  prefenting^  and- the  matter 'hai^  not  yet  been  bronght 
to  a  final  dedfion. 

Scbw>b — ^The  grainmar4chool  of  Ftflkirk  b  juftly  h«ld 
in  gveat  nopntation.    JBefides  the  fchool-wages,  the  roafter 

'-enjoys  a  (alary  and  confiderable  eniolaments  as  iel&oo- 
derk.  We  have  here  a  fchool  for  EnglHh,  to  which  < these 
is  dfo  a  £dary  anneaoed,  the  mirfler  whenof  has  no  fmail 
degree  of  oiertt  in  the  line  of  his  profeffion.  There  are  other 
ichools  in  Falkirk  which  do  honoar  to  their  mafters ;  and» 
upon  the  whole,  our  youthis  have  good  opportunities  of 
laying  the  foundation  of  ftitore  ufefnlneisand  importance* 

In  the  village  of  Camelon  there  is  a  dwellkig^ioufe  and 
fchool-room  provided  for  the  encouragement  of  a  fehool- 
mafter,  but  no  ialary.  Lord  Dondas  of  .Aike  gives  to  a 
fchoolmafier  in  Grangemouth  a  houfe  to  dwell  in,  a  fchool- 

"^^  room,  and  L.  5  a-year.  In  Lauriefton  he  gives  a^dweUing' 
houfe  and  fcbeol-room,  but  not  any  falary.  One  of  the 
Aaaie  of  Scott,  fome  years  ago,  left  a  fmall  liim  pf  money 
-for  the*  encouragement  of  a  fchool  at  Bonny*brtflge,  which 
is  toward  the  weft  end  of  this  parifli. 

Though  populous  and  flouriihing  fituatioQS  like  Falkirk 
yield  a  decent  competence  for  the  fupport  of  refpoftable 
ichoohnafters,  yet  in  few  fituatioiis  are  they  poud  in  propoc* 
tion  to  their  ufefuloeis  in  fociety. 

Country  fchools,  where  the  inhabitants  are  oeither  rich 
inor  numerous,  require  at  this  time  peculiar  attention.  .Pa- 
riih  fchools  in  general  ought  to  have  their  lalaries  increa- 
fed,  as  every  thing  neceflary  for  the  comfort  and  fupport 
of  life  is  rifing  in  value,  except  money,  which,  muft  of 

coorfe 


qf  Falkirk.  79 

courfe  &di  lA  ^roportiocl.  Parifli  fchook  hare  been  the  great 
Durferks  of  tliAC  general  knowledge  wKtcb  k  fo  commooly 
to  be  feiind  even  among  the  peafafkts  of  Scodaod  \  end  from 
them  fome  of  our  soft  illuftrioiia  charaAfcrs  have  {pning  forth* 
But  I  am  afraid,  if  additiooal  eocoutageDaent  be  not  fmn 
given,  that  thofe  {ources  of  ittiproveoieat  and  wifilom  maft 
Gmhi  be  abandoned  to  the  diredion  of  the  iUilerate.  Men 
of  learning  and  abtlitj  will  not  chuie  to  langnifli  in  obfico-' 
ritjr  and  indigence^  but  ;MriIl  ieek  &r  employnient  in  fbme 
•f  the  more  Ittcratire  fitnationa  of  civil  Hfe ;  and  then  the 
DatioQ  win  be  fireteoted  from  being  adorned  and  improved 
by  thofe  luminaries*  which  opportunities  <  of  education 
would  hive  formed  and  drawn  out  to  public  view. 

Pocr.— ^Tbe  number  of  perfons  in  this  pari/b  who  are  at 

ooe  time  upon  the  poora  roll,  majr  be  eftimated  at  an  ave* 

nge  at  fomewhat  more  than  150*    Thej  ere  fupplied  with 

linall  foms  of  monej,  according  to  their  circomllances, 

from  1 8.  to  5  s«  or  6  s.  a-montb.     The  money  which  is 

thut  expended  on  the  indigent  of  this  parifh  arites  from 

funds  belonging  to  tlie  poor,  from  offerings  at  the  cburcb- 

pites  on  days  of  divine  (ervice,  from  other  voluntary  con« 

tribotionsi  and  from  an  iffefiment  which  the  landholdeiB 

annuallj  lay  upon  themCelves  of  L.  I  Sterling  for  every 

L.100  Scotch  of  valued  rent  in  the  parifli.     As  many 

perbns,  from  the  nature  of  their  property,  are  little  or  in 

no  degree  expofed  to  the  afTeiTmetit,  there  is  an  annual^ 

voluntary  and  liberal  fubfcription  in  the  town  of  Falkirk, 

and  in  the  villages  of  the  parifli. 

There  is  alfo  in  the  town  of  Falkirk  an  hofpttal  for  the 
{iipport  of  four  aged  and  infirm  perfons.  It  was  founded 
and  endowed  in  1640  by  Lord  Livingilon  of  Almond  and 
Callander.    This  deed  was  amplified  and  confirmed  by  hvctt 

ift  the  year  x668,  after  he  was  created  Earl  of  Callander* 

Upon 


8c  Statiftical  A€€9unt 

Upon  eertain  parts  of  the  eftateswhich  then  belonged  to  hb 
Lordfliip,  there  is  fecurity  given  for  the  falfilment  of  the 
obligatioo.  Moreover,  if  his  Lordfliip,  «r  any  of  ti^e  fuc- 
ceflbrs  to  hb  eftates,  (hoidd  negled  or  refiife  to  fill  ap  an  j 
^racancjr  in  diis  hofpital,  it  is  provided  by  the  ifiDreikid  aft, 
that,  if  thb  aegleft  or  refofal  be  perfifted  ii^  after  notice 
fliall  have  been  given  in  due  form  to  the  perfon  or  perfbns 
then  poflei&ng  the  CaUander  eftates,  then  the  minifter  of 
Falkirk  for  the  time  being  is  authorifed  to  prefent  a  proper 
objed  of  this  charity  to  fill  any  vacancy  which  ihall  be  in 
the  drcamftances  now  delcribed.  Mr  Richard  Callandery 
then  minifter  of  Falkirk,  and  his  foocefifofs  in  that  office, 
were,  in  the  above  fpecified  deed,  made,  confiitoted  and  ap- 
pointed patrons  of  this  hofpital,  and  were  lawfully  autho- 
rifed to  nominate  and  admit  proper  poor  perfons  to  the 
benefit  thereof  in  all  cafes  where  the  faid  Earl  or  his  fiic- 
ccfTors  fliould  refiife  or  iUegally  delay  to  do  their  duty. 

There  are  feveral  focieties  in  this  town  and  neighbonr- 
hood  for  the  fapport  of  the  members  thereof  when  they 
are  feized  by  fickneis,  infirmity  or  old  age ;  but  it  is  much 
to  be  lamented,  that  inftitutions  of  this  kind  are  not  more 
common  and  extenfive.  When  the  labourer  is  in  health, 
he  finds  fufficient  demands  for  his  money,  and  too  feldom 
thinks  of  making  a  little  retrenchment  in  his  expences,  in 
order  that  he  may  prepare  for  the  evil  day.  The  Legifla- 
ture  have  turned  their  attention  to  thofe  ufeful  and  impor- 
tant focieties,  but  much  ftill  remains  to  be  done,  in  order 
to  infure  their  extenfion  and  fuccefs. 

AgricuUurty  and  rural  Improvemints.^^Thc  land  im- 
mediately about  the  town  of  Falkirk  is  let  in  fmall  pieces, 
and  produces  a  rent  of  L.  a,  lo  s.  to  L.  3,  5  s.  per  acre, 
Scotch  meafure*.     The  Carfe  £arms,  upon  an  average, 

mrf 

•  The  Scotch  acre  conttins  54,760  fqaare  fieec»  and  the  ftatnteacrt 


of  Falkii^M.  .    9i 

ithij  be  ttMHStd  at  L.  a  an  acre ;  more  or  ItfSf  according*  to 
tirconiftances.  Good  land,  which  is  not  of  Carfe  quality, 
is  %l£o  let  at  a  very  high  rent ;  but  in  fome  parts  of  the 
parifli,  where  the  foil  id  poo^,  wet,  and  fpungy,  the  vahie 
td  the  acre  is  very  fmall. 

In  the  Carfe,  th^  cropis  of  grain  and  hay  are  fo  loxoriant 
Slid  prodnfiive;  that  the  farmers  have  but  a  fmall  portion 
of  their  Itfnd  in  pafture  i  and  of  courfe  they  have  no  more 
cattle  than  are  neceffary  for  the  family  and  the  farm* 

The  roBtation  of  farming  in  the  Carfe  of  Falkirk  confifla 
in  general  of  fix  parts  i  Firfi,  the  ground  is  fallowed  $  fe« 
eondly,  it  is  fown  with  wheat ;  thirdly,  with  beans  and 
peafe ;  fourthly,  with  barley  ;*  fifthly,  it  produces  a  crop 
of  grais  for  hay,  the  feeds  of  which  had  been  fown  the  pre- 
i^ing  year  with  the  barley  $  and  fixthly,  it  is  fown  with 
oats* 

The  valued  rent  of  the  parifli,  by  which  the  lapd-taz^ 
parifli  oflefiinents,'  &c.  are  paid,  is  L.  131521 :  8  :  6  Scotch 
money  *•  The  rental  of  the  pariih,  about  fourteen  years 
ago,  was  eftimated  at  L.  6,277,  9  s.  Sterling ;  but  owing  to 
the  improvements  which  have  taken  place  fince  that  pe- 
ried^  the  rental  cannot  now  be  leis  than  L.  9000.  Houfe- 
rents  are  not  taken  into  the  account  in  either  of  the  above 
▼alnations^ 

Soon  after  the  eSates  of  the  family  of  Linlithgow  and 
€!aUandet  were  forfeited,  they  were  purchafed  by  the 
Company  which  undertook  to  raife  water  from  the  river 
Thames  into  the  York-buildings,  for  fupplying  a  part  of 
the  city  of  London.  The  affairs  of  that  Company  having 
fbon  after  gone  into  diforder,  their  whole  eftates  were  fold 
for  the  benefit  df  their  creditors  by  the  authority  of  the 
Court  of   Seffion;  and  thofe  of  Callander  and  Almond 

Vol.  XIX.  L  wcr^ 

•  A  pound  Scotch  is  twenty  'p^ce  Sterling ;  Uut  all  piynentt   xa  > 
fkU  conotiy  are  oow  made  by  SurUng  o&oney. 


82  Siait/licai  Account 

ifrere  booght  by  William  *Forbe8»  Efq;  the  prefent  prqptie- 
tor.  , 

The  whole  eftates,  together  with  fome  ether  fioms 
which  were  purchafed  by  him  aboat  the  lame  time,  a- 
mounted  to  about  8oao  Scotch  a(cres;  almoft  7000  <if 
thefe  are  in  this  pariih.  Excepting  about  500  acres,  it 
was  all  arable ;  but  little  more  than  200  of  it  were  indo- 
fed.  The  whole  farms  were  out  of  lejde,  and  the  tenants 
were  all  removed  as  foon  as  they  could  provide  themfelvea 
with  other  fituations,  in  order  that  there  might  be  no  ob- 
flruAion  to  the  intended  improvements. 

Almoft  the  whole  of  thefe  eftates  is  now  incloGed  aad 
fttbdivided.  The  fences  are,  as  much  as  poflible,  drawn  at 
right-angles  to  one  another;  the  ridges  are  ftrughtenecf ; 
and  the  wet  parts  are  drained,  or  in  the  train  of  being 
done  with  all  convenient  fpeed.  The  inclofures  which  are 
near  the  town  of  Falkirk  or  the  villages  adjoining,  contain 
each  from  three  to  four  Scotch  acres  of  land ;  but  tl^ofe 
which  are  in  different  fituations,  comprehend  from  feven  to 
eight  acres  of  the  fame  meafure. 

About  2C0O  acres,  which  are  near  die  canal  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  Falkirk^  were  limed  upon  the  green  fward,  and 
let  to  tenants  for  the  fpace  of  two  years,  who  were  bound 
to  lay  them  down  with  grais^feeds  in  the  lad  year  of  their 
leafe.  A  confiderable  part  of  the  land,  which  was  over* 
run  by  headi,  broom  and  furze,  was  let  to  tenants  alfo^  who 
were  to  plough  it  five  times.  This  in  like  manner  was  to 
be  laid  down  for  grafs ;  but  in  both  cafes  the  grala-feeds 
were  to  be  provided  by  the  proprietor,  and  at  his  ezpenoe. 

Thefe  improvements  will  not  only  add  much  to  the 
beauty  of  a  diftrift  already  delightiul ;  but*  when  comple- 
ted, will  add  much  to  the  richneis  of  this  neighbourhood. 
It  is  one  diftinguilhing  feature  in  the  improvements  of  Mr 
Forbesy  that  they  are  intended  to  be  completed  before  he 

let 


qfFaHiri,     -  83 

I  V 

l^t  the  land  in  Joog  leafes ;  whereas  it  is  common  to  carry 
4m  improvements  after  the  farms  are  in  the  polTeiBon  of  tp* 
nants. 

Of  Servants  fVages^  Prices  of  Foody  Wr. — A  good  ploughr 
man  gets  about  L.  la'a-year,  together  with  his  bed  and 
board ;  and  a  common  female  fervant  expeAs  from  L.  3, 
10  s.  to  L.  4  per  annum^  independent  of  food  and  lodgings 
A  man  who  engages  to  labour  bj  the  day,  has  i  s.  2  d.  in 
fummeri  and  i  s.  in  winter.  During  barveft  the  wages  are 
hi^er.  Great  quantities  of  graifl»  efpecially  barley»  bean^ 
and  peafey  are  fold  in  this  market.  Carfe  barley  is  held  in 
fuch  high  eftimaciony  that  it  brings,  in  general,  two  or  three 
(hillings  per  boll  more  than  barley  from  other  parts  of  the 
coontry«  During  theie  feveral  months,  the  price  of  grain 
has  been  extravagant ;  barley  has  been  fold  at  L.  t  :  ii  s, 
per  b(dl,  wheat  at  L.  2  :  12  :  6,  and  oat-meal  at  x  s.  4  d. 
a-pcck.  It  is  worthy  of  ob£ervation,  that  in  former 
times  of  fcarcity,  the  people  of  Scotland ;  looked  up  to 
England,  as  well  as  to  foreign  countries,  for  ftipply  i 
but  in  the  prefent  feafon,  when  the  people  qf  Englsind  are 
in  want,  we  have  not  only  plenty  within  our  .borders,  but 
have  been  enabled  to  relieve  them  in  their  neceiTity. 

Markets^  5/^.— Befides  feVeral  fairs  in  the  year,  and 
three  trjrfls  •,  there  is  a  market  every  week  on  Thurfday^ 
At  tbefe  three  tryfis  there  are,  at  an  average,  60,000  black 
cattle.  As  mod  of  them  are  of  the  fmall  Highland  breeds 
the  medium  price  may  be  £xed  at  L.  4  each.  Thus  at 
tbefe  meetings,  it  is  fuppofed,  L.  400,000  Sterling  are  put 
into  circplation.  Not  a  fmall  proportion  of  this  money 
pafles  through  the  Falkirk  Bank.  There  are  alfo  horfes 
and  flieep  difpofed  of  at  tbefe  markets. 

Bj 

*  Trjfk  is  a  Scotch  word  for  so  appointed  fflcetinf . 


u 


Statijlical  Account 


By  the  favour  of  Mr  Longmoory  a  very  accurate  farmer^ 
I  have  it  in  my  power  to  lay  before  the  public  a  fiatcmeitt 
of  the  prices  which  the  Carfe  wheat,  barley,  and  oat-meal, 
brought  for  the  fpace  of  40  years  preceding  the  crop  of 


1794. 

Prices  of  Kerfe  Grain  Jvr  ^ojears  preceding  cr^ff  179^ 

Whcit^rrbolL 

Barley  ^*r 

boU. 

MtilperMl. 

Crop  1754 

L.o  14    0 

L.O  zi 

8 

I#.0    10      6 

>7S5 

0  15  10 

0  14 

4 

0  13    8 

XJ56 

X     3     0 

I    p 

Q 

.0  x6    4 

J757 

100 

p  16 

8 

099 

1758 

0  14    6 

0    10 

8 

090 

1759 

0  14    6 

6  zz 

6 

094 

1760 

0  16    0 

0  zz 

8 

0  zo    4 

176X 

0  IS  IP 

P  I? 

9 

0  Z4     0 

v^^ 

z     I     0 

p  Z7 

0 

0   Z5      Q 

17*3 

100 

0  zo 

6 

0  Z2      6 

1764 

110 

b  16 

6 

0  Z5    0 

1765 

z     i    6 

i     1 

3 

0  Z7    6 

1766 

I    I    6 

X    a 

0 

0  t6  zo 

1767 
1768 

120 

z     z 

8 

0   Z2      0 

120 

0  16 

4 

0  Z5     0 

1769 

0  18    0 

0  16 

8 

0  Z5     0 

1770 

0  18    6 

0  Z7 

6 

0  Z5     6 

I77I 

120 

z    0 

4 

0  Z7     0 

.177^ 

140 

1     z 

8 

0  z6  zp 

1773 

140 

z     z 

0 

0  z6    0 

,  lifedium  price  frqm  Z753  ^  I774»  being  ^o  years, 

Wheat,  ^^  boll,    -      L.o  Z9     5^ 
Barley,  — -  -         o  z6  zo,^ 

Meal,     — !—    -        -      p  Z4    ZtV 


Cro] 


n 


of  Falkirk. 


8J 


Prices  of  Kerji  Grain  continued. 


Barley  per  boll. 
L.O  19     o 


Metl  pr  bolU 

L.O  15.    o 


Crop  1774  L.I     z  ( 

1775  o  19  o  o 

1776  o  19  o  o 

1777  I     I  o  o 

1778  o  19  o  o 

1779  o  15  0  o 

1780  I     I  o  o 

1781  o  19  o  o 

1782  X     6  o  1 

1783  I        I      O  O  I 

.  1784         o  19    6  I 

1785  .1     p     p  9 

1786  o  18    o  o 

1787  110  o 

1780  X    o    6  p 

1789  X     4;    o  * 

1790  130  o 

1791  1x6.  I 
X792  I  2  d  I 
X793  Jt    4    o  I      X 

Medium  price  from  X773  to  1794,  the  kft  ao  jearsi 
Wh^at,  -  L.X    o    8 

Barley,        -  -        o  18    8  > 

Meal,  -  o  X5    3* 

Our  mailieu  are  well  fupplied  with  butcher-meat  of  ez« 
cellent  quality.  It  ia  fold  by  the  Scotch  Trone  weight  $ 
the  pound  of  ¥^ich,  as  it  is  ufed  here,  is  to' that  of  the  A- 
voirdupois,  as  7,000  are  to  10,450. 

Forty  years  ago,  not  more  than  one  heifer^  cow,  or  bul- 
lock,  together  with  a  few  Iheep  and  lambs,  were  ezpofed 
to  fide  in  the  weekly  market  of  Falkirk.  As  to  veal,  it 
^  fcarcely  to  be  found,  but  in  the  fpring.    But  I  am  ao« 

thorifed 


17 

0 

0  la 

8 

15 

3 

0  J4 

8 

I§ 

6 

0  14 

6 

15 

9 

0  13 

0 

15 

3 

0  12 

Q 

15 

3 

0  J4 

4 

14 

10 

0  14 

■3 

6 

6 

0  17 

6 

0 

6 

0  18 

8 

I 

6 

0  13 

4 

;6 

0 

Q  16 

Q 

'9 

6 

0  16 

0 

»9 

b' 

0  16' 

0 

16 

9 

0  13 

6 

0 

0- 

0  17 

Q 

»9 

0 

0  16 

8 

% 

p 

0  15 

3 

4 

0 

I  0 

0 

0 

6 

e  18 

0 

t€  Siatifiical  Account 

thorifed  to  faj,  that  there  h»ve  not  been  ibid  i&  the  fhaoi* 
bles  of  this  town,  during  the  coar£e  of  the  laft  year,  fewer 
than  2000  btack  cattle,  (coo  fiteep  and  lambs,  and  calves 
in  proportion. 

. .  Forty  years  ago,  few  of  the  common  people  were  in  the 
habit  of  eating  batcher-meat,  except  a  little  with  their 
greens  in  winter.  This  fcadty  portion  they  £dted  about 
Martinmas,  and  confequently,  about  that  leafon  of  the  year, 
more  but6her<»meat  than  common  was  brought  into  the 
market.  But  now  all  defcriptions  of  the  people  are  more 
in  the  pradice  of  eating  animfcd  food*  ^ 

It  appears  from  Dalrymple's  Annafa  of.  Scotland,  that 
the  price  of  a  hen  in  X295  i^as  only  one  penny ;  but  now 
one  that  is  well  fed  will  coft  fifteen  or  eighteen  pence. 

Forty  years  ago,  the  price  of  butcher  'meat  in  this  mar- 
ket w^  only  about  ^d.  per  pound  \  but  now  it  .is  from  4  d* 
to6d.  or  7d.  \ 

Forty  years  a^o  there  wese  but  3  fprge^ns  in  the  town 
of  FaQurk  \  but  at  pcefent  there  is  x  phyficjan,  5  furgeons, 
and  1  druggifts. 

About  60  yeamagatbi$to><^  And  neighbonrbood  were 
chiefly  fupplied  with  wheaten  bread  from  Edinburgh  and 
Linlithgow.  There  were  then  only  3  bakors  in  Falkirk, 
and  they  were  but  eccafionally  employed.  Hence  it  is, 
that  the  people  in  the  remote  parts  of  the  country,  when 
they  come  to  procure  bf e^d  for  feafls  or  fim^rdfl,  do  flill 
■enquire  of  the  bakers  if  their  ovens  be  heated. 

There  are  now  18  bakers  in  the  town,  of  Falkirk,  and  6 
in  the  different  villages  within  the  parifli.  Tb ^  make  ex- 
cellefU  breadi  and  the  price  js  regulated  by  the  Edinbargh 
aiBze. . 

At  the  period  .above  alluded  to  there  wese  not  nKnre 
.fhan.acx)  boib  of  wheat /€r<2jiMMBrin  reduced  into  flour  for 
1^  ufi|  of  the  Falkirk  bakers.    It  was  ground  in  common 

mills, 


^/Falkirk.  «7  \ 


milf,  «ad  boolted  by  hand-fieves.  Now,  about  7005  bolh 
are  made  ufe  of  anouallj  j  it  is  ground  in  mills,  which  ar^ 
made  for  the  pnrpofe  of  preparing  flour ;  it  is  boulted^  and 
the  dtfierent  kinds  feparated  hj  machinery,  which  is  con- 
firuAed  according  to  the  lateft  improvements.  Seven  of 
thefe  mills  are  within  a  few  miles  of  the  town. 

Forty  years  ago  there  were  but  a  grocers  in  Falkirk  ; 
they  complained  of  little  bufinefs,  and  one  of  them  was 
alfo  a  tallow-chandler.  They  had  all  their  grocery  goods 
from  Borrowftounnefi,  and  imported  nothing  themfelves. 
We  have  now  aa  in  that  line  of  bufineis ;  fome  of  them 
carry  on  an  eztenfive  trade,  both  in  wholefale  and  retail^ 
and  import  wine,  lie.  from  foreign  partsu 

It  appears,  that  in  the  reign  of  Charlemagne,  there  was 
but  one  clock  in  Europe,  and  it  was  fent  to  him  by  Ab- 
dalla  King  of  jPerfia  *.  How  different  is  the  fituation  of 
arts  and  improvements  now,  when  there  are  four  clock  and 
watchmakers  in  the  town  of  Falkirk  itfelf ! 

There  are  two  lodges  of  free-mafons  in  Fitlkirk.  One 
of  them  is  fo  ancient,  that  it  is  marked  No.  z8.  in  the 
books  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  The  lodge  of  Carron  alfo 
meets  in  a  houfe  within  the  precinds  of  this  parifli. 

Falkirk  was  formerly  a  burgh  of  regality,  and  I  have 
now  before  me  a  burge&ticket,  iigned  by  one  of  the  Earls 
of  Linlttbgow  and  Callander.  I  find  no  veftiges  of  any 
magiftrates  which  have  been  invefted  with  the  powers  of 
the  burgh,  except  the  baUiff  of  barony,  who,  in  former 
times,  before  the  hereditary  jurifdiAions  were  taken  away, 
had  ao  eztenfive  jurifdidion  both  in  criminal  and  civil 
caies*  We^have  $ill  a  baron-bailie,  who  is  nominated 
by  the  lord  of  the  manor.  But  the  power  of  life  and  death 
11  not  now  attached  to  any  barony.  He  can,  within  the 
bounds  of  his  jurifdifiion,  enforce  the  payment  of  rents  to 

any 
•  Anirew't  HiftMf  of  Gntt  Brittis.  toL  i  .  p.  It. 


Statijlkal  Accomt 

toy  amount,  tod  decide  in  difputes  about  money  affili^ 
provided  the  fum  do  not  exceed  L.i  Sterling.  Thb 
debtor's  goods  may  be  diftrained  for  payment,  and,  if  noC 
fufficient,  he  may  be  imprifoned  for  one  month.  He  cao^ 
for  fmall  ofiences,  fine  to  the  amount  of  ao  s.  and  put  de- 
linquents into  the  ftocks  in  the  day -time  for  the  fpaoe  of 
diree  hours. 

We  ftand  moth  in  need  of  a  police-bill  for  r^gnlatiag-  the 
aflfairs  of  the  town,-  and  making  thofe  improvements  which 
the  date  of  its  mcreafed  population  requires.  Much  to  tha 
honour  of  the  people,  it  m^  be  mentioned,  that  though* 
^^ere  is  no  place  of  confinement  m  the  county  nearer  than 
Stirling,  which  i^  eleven  mile9  diftant,  yet  there  are  few 
inftanccs  of  riot  or  diforder.  It  has  been  oblerved,  that  a 
coafiderable  part  of  the  bufinels  which  comes  before  the 
Court  at  the  StirUnglhire  af&zes,  iSc.  proceeds  from  this 
qnarter  of  the  diftrifi ;  but  it  ought  alio  tq  be  attended  to, 
fhat  the  population  of  Falkirk,  and  three  or  four  miles 
round  it,  bears  a  great  proportion  to  that  of  the  whole 
county. 

A  coofiderable  part  of  tbofe  alloniibing  improvements, 
ivhich,  within  thefe  40  years,  have  been  made  in  this  pa^ 
riih,  and  in  the  adjoining  country,  has  been  owing  to  the 
great  canal,  which  is  cut  from  the  frith  of  Forth  10  the  ri- 
ver Clyde.  As  Scotland  is  almoft  cut  into  two  parts  by 
the  frith  and  river,  which  have  juft  been  mentioned,  as 
idea  was  formed  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  of  open* 
ing  a  communication  between  the  eall  and  weft  feas  through 
the  medium  of  a  canal.  In  1723,  a  furvey  of  the  intended 
track  was  taken  by  Mr  Gordon,  who  is  well  knoWb  as  the 
author  of  the  '*  Itinerarium  Septentrionale,"  In  the 
year  176a,  Mr  Mackell,  at  the  expence  of  Lord  Napier,^ 
took  another  furvey  of  the  projeded  canal*  and  gave  alfo 
an  eftimate  of  the  money  which  would  be  neceflary  to 

carry 


0/ Falkirk.  «9 

<frrj  the  defign  into  execution.  Mr  Mackeirs  report  at- 
traAed  the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Trafiees  appointed  for 
tiie  Encouragement  of  the  Fifheries  and  Manu&Anres  of 
Scotland ;  end  at  their  xeqneft,  Mr  Smeaton  in  like  man- 
ner took  the  bufinefii  under  his  coafideradon,  and  gave  in 
an  cftinute  of  the  expence. 

After  varioos  attempts,  a  bill  was  fanflioned  by  Parlia* 
■lent,  which  gave  powers  for  rai&ig  a  ftock  of  1500  fliares 
finr  the  pnrpoie  of  making  a  canal  between  the  Forth  and 
Clydie.  Each  fliare  was  to  confift  of  L.  1 00,  and  the  whole 
capital  wocdd  tbns  amonnt  to  L.  z  50,000* 

On  the  loth  of  July  1768  this  great  work  was  begun 
«nder  the  direAion  of  Mr  Smeatoo.  The  operadons  com* 
nimcfd  at  the  eaft  end,  and  die  late  Sir  Laurence  Dundaa 
«f  Kerle,  Baronet,  cut  and  removed  die  firft  fpadefbl  of 
earth  which  was  taken  from  the  canal.  The  fpade  is  jet 
kept  in  Kerle  hotde  in  memory  of  diat  traniadioBy  wluch 
was  the  beginnmg  of -an  undertaking,  great  in  the  defigUf 
and  diificnlt  in  the  esecudon ;  but  happy  in  its  eftdsi  and 
Skely  to  be  nf  uafpeakable  advantage  to  fiicoeeding  gene- 


/ 


On  the  zoth  of  July  1775,  ^  ^^^  ^^^  fit  for  naviga- 
tion as  fiv  weft  as  Stockingfield,  which  is  widiin  a  few 
mika  of  Glargow,  About  two  years  afterwards  a  fide 
bfUttch  was  cut,  by  which  vefiels  could  go  ftill  nearer  Glaf- 
gow,  and  a  baibn,  together  with  granaries,  and  other  build* 
ings,  were  piepared.  By  this  dme  the  Company's  public 
fimds  were  exhaufted  1  fiar  the  making  of  canab  being  then 
in  its  iafim^  in  Britain,  the  manner  of  doing  the  bufinefii 
in  the  eafieft  way  was  not  underftood,  and  confequendy 
die  work  was  canied  on  at  a  much  greater  ea:pence  than  it 
coold  be  done  for  now^  although  the  value  of  labour  is  much 
inoealed. 

V0L.XIZ.  M  The 


99*  Statijlic^  Account 

Tbe  canal  fcmaifltd  »  this  languifluag  and  iwiiiifligd 
ft»fee»  till  by  the  aflifltfice  of  Gov^nuneat*  the  namatrTa 
W^re  enabled  %o  be^  their  oferaciooa  again  ia  July  1786. 
The  work  ^as.cooduded  by  ]M[c  Rohcn  WhUwoitb*  and 
odft  the  38cb  of  Jttlj  X79Q^  the  nanrigatiqa-fr^iOL  fioLtoIiea. 
was  opened.  When,  by  the  intervention  pC  the.  caoaL  ^ 
connnmnicarion  betweea  the  eaftern  and  laeftecn  iieaa  was 
completed^  the  event  waa  fignalized  by  the  ^karaaeriilic 
oereroony  of  poujing  %  hogibead  fidl  of  the  water  of  the 
£ritb  of  Forth  into  the  river  Clyde  %  amidft  tkn  Ibontai  and 
approbation  of  an  ailoniihed  mnltixude* 

When  wje  oonlidec  the  oovehty  gf .  the  nn<knaking|.  and 
the  difficulty  of  tb»  jentecpviie^  we  flnU  not  be  forpnied  to 
fiod^tbat  it  was  %t  years  ^Ind  18  daya  ia  heisg  finiihrd, 
The  eanal  in  its  courfe  paflies  through  fnarfhr%  and  oirtr 
xlversi  tivuUtSt  and  reads*  There,  ia  a  con£deiabIn  ayie* 
daft  bridge,  which  conveys  it  over  the.  Glafgow  and  Stir* 
ling  r(md»  a  little  to  the  weftward  of  Falkirk.  But  the 
moft  macoificent  is  that  haning  four  aichea^  wbinh  conduda 
it  over  the  river  Kelvin,  where  the  valley  in  which  it  mns 
is  400  feet  wide,  and  the  depth  from  the  fummit  of  the 
middle  arebc4  to  (he  channel  of  the  river  is  ni#rc  thaA  65 
feet.  y(s 

The  fide  cut,  which  has  already  been  meocionnd^waa 
carried  CorwaiHl  to  within  haU  a  mile  of  Glafgow.  Largci 
and  more  commodious  bafons*  were  made ;  neccflary  build- 
iogs  were  erected  ^  there  is.  land  to  be  lold  Car  building  a 
village,  and  the  pkce  is  called  Port  Dondas,  in  hoaow  of 
X4ord  Dundas.  Frpm  this,  port  these  ifra.jnndio»aiade  with 
the  Monl^d  .Canals  which  is  a  .{mail  cut  ronning  i  % 
miles  into  the  country  on  the  eaft  o^  GlaigoWi  Sar  the  par- 
poie  of  conveying  coals  into  that  city, 

Ihi 

9  Edinburgh  Af sgwrine  for  ApiE  x  793. 


ThelengA  of  fl^e  gncttt  canri  is  35  miles ;  the  callatefd 
«ft  «o  GMgb\9  al ;  an4  theic  4ipom  Pert  DundaB  to  the 
Mtmklftad  CmmiI,  t  mMe ;  in  vAtoitj  38^  miles.  This  cs- 
cenfit^  trade  <if  a  cttial  it  iwpplied  with  water  I^  fix  r^tet^ 
iFons,  wbidi  «e^«r  aboat  409  acpes  of  latkl,  and  contain 
aboat  12.679  Iock-{i0l8'«f  water ^  and  the  Cwk^pany  faa;vfc 
it  m  their  pa^er  ta  iiicr%afe  the  awober  of  f^fervoirt.. 

The  fbrntait  <rf  Ylbe  canal  is  141  ¥eet  abatre  the  kvel  of 
tlia  fisa  *.  The  numher  ^ef  the  locks  k  ao  en  the  edl,  and 
19  cB  'the  weft.  The  lev^th  it  the  focfes  batwaen  tlw  gataa 
is  74  feet,  vnd  the  width  beftween  the  wafls  20  feet.  Tha 
medinm  brcaddi  ft  the  canal  at  the  fnrfece  i^  56  feet,  attd 
•t  ^e  bottom  17.  Veffeb  of  ^o  or  90  tons,  propedy 
cooftruded,    may  be  navigated  through,  and  are  fit  fef 

voyagea 

a  Tbe  fmnant  o(  Ae  canmX  fms  at  4rft  but  140  Icct.  Dae  foot  in 
height  wM  afterwards  added  to  all  the  lock-gates,  <whirh  has  made  ibine 
people  cooclade,  that  at  90  Locks  are  on  the  eaft,  the  ibmrnit  moft  !now 
be  160  feet.  But  thoogh  the  water  throughout  the  canal  be  one  foot 
it,  Tet  die  fbamnt  is  only  raifed  ta  inches.  l*he  firft  btk  from  the 
\  now  rlOTittTeBcU  8  feet;  but  the  idcreaftd  height  of  tbu  lodt 
caiicJtbe  water  on  the  nejtt  one  toot;  thus  tbe  upper  gau  of  the  id  lock» 
which  was  7  feet  above  the  level  of  the  water  on  the  lower  fide,  is  redu- 
ced to  6  feet,  and  confequently,  when  a  foot  is  added  to  its  hei|^t,  it  onlj, 
ma  formerly,  raifes  the  veflel  7  feet  The  fkmt  thmg  happens  to  the  €bird 
lodk,  and  lb  on  throagk  the  "whole ;  and  when  you  arrive  at  tbe  fumnit, 
tbe  boat  is  only  one  foot  higher  than  h  would  have  been  before  the  addi* 
tioo  was  made  to  tbe  gates,  and  this  foot  was  gained  at  the  firft  lock* 

The  ctrcumftance  of  there  being  10  locks  on  the  eaft  fide  of  the  fum* 
Bdt»  and  only  19  on  fbe  weft,  may  be  accounted  for  as  follows  i^^n  the 
Mft,  the  cvnai  tefaiiiiaMs  in  the  Gnmgebaro,  where  tfaoie  it  £>  Jictte 
^vatet;  lbat<fbe  vedbls^ie  left  neavly  dry  at  d>b  tide;  wbcreasoa  the 
iMft,  it  ends  in  the  Clyde,  where  the  water  is  8  (act  d^ep  without  tha^ 
iMlp  of  the  tide,  and  thus  one  lock  U  faved. 

Hie  revenue  fifing  fromibe  caoal  was  vnnusUy  .iocreafing  'firom  the' 
aoauaeaetoiant till  2792 ,  wbdu  tk  ■meimied  (to  iboot  L.  •X4400o.  By  the 
ftifaation  oftiade  in  1793,  it  did  not  reech  L.'t«,ooo;  but  ia  1794,  it 
wasibmewbat  more  than  L.  11,000. 

Oovenunent  haw  ihtres  in  this  canal  to  the  eitent  oft  .50,030. 


g% '  Stat0kat  ActwuU 

▼oytges  by  fea«  The  tonnage  dues  tre  9  d.  pit  tm  €nxf 
mile,  with  fome  exceptions,  lefpefting  Kme,  &c.  Tlie  dt- 
itdibn  of  the  canal  is  under  a  Governor,  Coonoil  in  Loo* 
don,  and  a  Committee  at  Gla%ow,  who  meet  mootfdy. 
iThej.  are  chofen  annually,  by  a  general  meeting,  irtiich  ia 
held  in  London  every  month  of  March* 

The  extenfive  tiade  carried  on  tttfOogh-  thii  eanal  log* 
gefted  to  Sir  Lawrenoe  Doodas  the  propriety  of  boilding  a 
village  and  qnay  near  the  call  end  of  it  on  hb  own  eflate. 
The  place  which  he  fixed  opon  fior  this  pnrpo&  was  the 
«ngle  which  ia  formed  by  the  jonAion  of  the  river  Carroo 
and  the  canal.  They  were  begon  to  be  hoik  in  the  year 
1777 ;  the  vilkgjs  is  now  of  confiderable  extent,  and  ia  call* 
ed  Grangemouth. 

Veflels  bring  into  this  port  timber  and  hemp,  deals,  flas^ 
and  iron,  from  the  Baltic,  Norway,  and  Sweden,  and  grain 
from  foreign  markets,  as  well  as  from  die  coafia  of  Scot- 
land and  England.  The  trade  to  London  is  carried  on  by 
the  Carron  Shipping  Company,  who  in  their  vefleb  con« 
vcy  to  that  place  goods  which  are  made  at  Carron^  together 
with  other  arddes  of  commerce;  and  when^ they  letoni, 
they  bring  grocery  goods,  dye-ftofi,  ftx.  for  the  fiipply  of 
Glafgow,  Faifley,  Greenock,  Falkirk,.  Stirling,  and  many 
of  the  inland  towns  of  the  weft  country. 

The  tonnage  at  this  port  is,,  at  a  medium,  nearly  as  fol« 
lows :  VeflUs  belon^g  to  England,  which  bring  cargoes 
from  foreign  places,  about  5000  tons  annually ;  ditto,  from 
England,  which  carry  on  a  coaftiog  trade,  about  4000  tons 
annually }  thofe  belonging  to  Scotland,  which  are  employed 
in  foreign  traffic,  about  zo,ooo  tons  annually ;  thofe  which 
carry  on  the  coafting  trade  are  about  9000  tons  annually  r 
the  Carron  Shipping  Company  require  about  9360  tons ; 
the  vefTels  belonging  to  foreign  nations,  which  come  anno* 
>lly  to  Grangemouth^  may  be  eftimafd  in  their  tonnaga 


^  Falkirk^  ^  ^ 

atiooo.  Great  quantities  of  herrings  made  their  tppt^tm 
■nee  hft  winter  in  the  frith  of  Forth,  and  many  of  them 
were  canght  at  the  very  mouth  of  the  river  Carron.  Moro 
than  110  fiul  from  Greenock,  Rothfaj,  Stranraer,  &c« 
came  through  the  canal  to  filb»  and  they  returned  home* 
wards  with  foil  cargoes^ 

At  (kangemouth,  there  is  great  need  of  additional 
warehoofes  and  ihades.  But  what  fa  moft  of  all  wanted  is 
n  cttftomboule,  or  branch  thereof.  Borrowftounnets  ha* 
▼iag  till  of  late  been  the  principal  place  of  trade  in  this 
aeighboorhood,  a  cuftonyioule  was  eftabUflied  there,  and 
fnfficient  attention  has  not  yet  been  paid  to  the  fituation  of 
Grangemouth. .  Thofe  at  this  port,  who  have  bufinefi  to 
do  in  the  cuftomhoufe,  are  obliged  to-  travel  to  Borrow- 
ftowmefa,  which  is  eight  miles  diftant  ^  and  when  the  river 
Avon  is  not  fordable,  they  are  under  the  neceiSty  of  going 
ffoondby  linlithgow-bridge^  which  lengthens  the  jjoumey 
fimr  miles. 

Bot  the  Carron  iron-works  have  in  a  peculiar  manner 
tended  to  improve  this  town  and  neighbourhood.  They 
are  fituated  on  the  northern  banks  of  the  river  Carron; 
and  thoo^  they  are  not  in  this  parilh,  yet  many  of  the 
workmen  live  in  it,  and  as  they  are  not  two  miles  from  the 
town  of  Falkirk,  the  (hops  and  markets  thereof  are  gene-^ 
rally  reforted  to  by  thofe  who  are  employed  in  the  various 
operations  of  that  extenfive  manu&Aure. 

The  Carron  Company  have  a  charter  for  employing  a 
a^tal  of  L  150,000.  It  is  divided  ipto  600  ihares,  and 
no  perfon  can  have  a  vote  in  the  management,  unleis  he  be 
pofleiled  of  ten  (hares.  Thefe  works  were  firft  pro|efie4 
and  eaabliihed  by  Dr  Roebuck,  and  MelTrs  Cadell  and 
Garbet.  They  were  joined  by  other  gentlemen  of  refpec*  ' 
taUlity^  and  the  Company  are  o^w  in  a  very  flouriihing 

^onditiony.' 


'5H  Stati/Rcttl  Acc^kni 

conlfdon.    Tht  ^oiltd  ^^re  \mdtt  ibe  immedfatte  ffiieflRm 
of  Mr  Jofeph  StaintdD,  who  b  sdfo  a  parctier. 

They  are  Tiipplied  t^th  iron-^re  4<im  Lancdhire  and 
Caitiberhnd ;  mA  with  inniftone  from  Bamon,  Denny, 
and  Bc^nyliiBy  Sccinthis  Tkitilty,  and  ftam  the  roomy 
of  Fife,  &c.  They  have  limeftone  from  fiomtifland.  Set. 
and  coals  from  Kinnaxrd,  Catroti-liall,  and  ShieMhiU.  All 
the  materials,  which  are  made  nfe  of  ftt  theft  woiks  are 
brought  to  them  by  water-carriage,  except  Cbals,  and  tfaefe 
are  found  in  tbeir  neighbourhood.  At  an  average  tbey 
ufe  800  tons  of  coal,  400  tons  of  iron  fione  and  ore,  and  1 00 
tons  o'f  limeftone  per  week.  The  inmftone  is  firft  calcined 
in  an  open  "fire ;  "but  the  iron-ore  needs  no  preparation  in 
order  to  be  fie  for  the  blaft  furnace. 

There  are  £ve  fomace^  of  this  delcriptioh,  which  are 
fupplied  with  ftrong  currents  of  air  from  caft  iron  cylinders, 
inftettfl  of  bellows.  Thefe  cylinders  are  conftmfted  fame- 
what  like  forcing  pumps,  and  are  not  only  more  durable 
than  beTIows,  but  have  more  power,  and  produce  a  better 
efieft.  They  have  three  cupolas,  which  receive  -a  proper 
fupply  of  air  by  means  of  pipes  conneifted  with  ihe  forcing 
cylinders.  ^There  are  alfo  fifteen  furnaces,  which  are  kept 
in  aftion  by  the  eictem^l  atr,  without  the  aid  of  any  arti- 
ficial blaft. 

At  Carron  all  kin&  of  caft  iron  goods  are  made  in  the 
beft  manner.  A  fliort  kind  of  cannon  called  Carronad^ 
were  invented  there  ;  and,  in  certain  fituations,  they  are 
confidered  as  of  great  importance.  They  are  moved  in 
.grooves ;  and  thus  the  increafed  fiiftien  mt>re  effeAuallJr. 
oppofes  the  force  of  the  recoil.  The  caliber  of  the  cannon  is 
bored  out  of  the  folid  metal,  and  thus  the  hole  is  mon 
fmodth  and  juft  in  its  diredion,  than  when  caft  with  a  corty 
and  the  piece  is  tels  ready  to  burft  in  time  of  aftion.     The 

outfide 


.,       4>f  Falkirk.-  95 

tmtfick  of  the  cannpn  is,  tusnr&b;  pco^  J9flcaiiu»tif,aad 
the  whole  is  not  on}^  ofac«  hot;  ^bfUnti^l*  , .  ,  . 

At  thefe  works  b»r  ifon  js.  allp.auidb;  9ti^in.9a:oa)^ 
pliihiD^that  bufiaelsy  thefoUowingoi^iW  is  puclued^  . . 

The  pig  iron  is^^i^lted  in  a.  fioprj^.  ^hcro  col^e  i^  f^k 
while  hott  it  is  beaten  out  into  plates  about  an  inch  in 
tfaickncls.  Thefe.phues  aie^4|a:x;^aKd^.b;f0kkfiiriD(afpeces 
about  two  inches  iquarey  for.  thf  coaysm^^cA  of  (qpuring 
themi  &c.  They  are  the  a  flowed  ii^  an  iro^  QyMs^tVf 
which  is  conneOed  with  the  wace£«wji|efly  avc^  wIk^  thej 
are  properly  prepared  by  this  operation,  they  are  put  into 
pots,  which  are  made  of  firo  elay^  aiid:  ittaft  mfr-fbtnace 
they  are  brought  to  a  weUiajgheai  v  '^  this  t^M  of  pre* 
paration  they  aca  pal  ander  the  haauBei!,  audi  wfoaght  into 
blooms;  the  blooms  are  haatad.ia  .a..chaSBty,  aa  hollow 
Sstt  and  then  drawn  into  bars  for  various  ufes.  In  thb 
condition  the  iron  is  equal  in  goodneis  to  that  which  is  im- 
ported  from  Raffia  under  the  name  of  new  lable  iron. 

The  machinery  is  moved  by  the  water  of  the  river  Cac- 
ron,  and  for  a  fupply  in  time  of  droughty  they  hava  a  f^ 
fervoir  to  the  exteat  of  about  30  acres.  But  as  this  pre- 
caotioD  is  not  enough  in  very  dry  feafonsi  they  have  more- 
over an  engine  for  throwing  back  the  water,  that  it  may  ha 
ufcd  again,  and  this  en^e  raiCcs  4  tons  evciy  ftreke»  aad 
snakes  about  7  ftrokes  in  a  minute.  If  we  take  into  tlie 
aecouBty  akmg  with  the  people  who  are  direftly  employed 
in  the  manafaJhire  at  Carron,  thofe  alfo  who  are  engaged 
in  the  mines  and  pits,  together  with  thofe  whoc^nry  mat^ 
rials  to  the  works,  and  goods  by  fea  and  otherwife  imme^ 
diaiely  £ram  thett,  we  may  efttmate  the  whole  at  aoo0 
people. 

Nobody  is  admitted  to  view  the  works  on  Sondays^  e»> 

c^t  thole  who  are.  properly  recommended,  or  knawa  ta 

be  worthy  of  attention.    Mr  Boms,  the  Aytlhire  poet, 

%  not 


0  StnHjlkal  ACC99M 

Mt  kDOwiogf  or  txk  attending  to  this  regulation,  male  am 
attempt  to  be  admitted,  withont  dilcovering  who  he  waa^ 
Imt  was  refiifed  bj  the  porter.  Upon  returning  to  the  ina 
atCamm,  he  witte  the  following  lines  npon  a  pane  oC 
da&  in  •  window  of  the  parlovr  into  which  he  naaihown  : 

We  eam  na  here  to  view  yonr  wark% 

in  hopes  to  be  mair  wife : 
But  oolj,  left  we  gang  to  hell, 

it  may  be  na  fniprife. 

fiot  when  we  tsrl'd  at  your  door, 

jovr  porter  dooght  na  bear  ns ; 
So  nuj,  ihould  we  to  heU*s  yetu  com% 

your  billj  Satan  fair  us*« 

RitiutrtUUb 

o  WtlUua  FnlUitoii,  £%  of  Fnllaitra,  ia  4ke  eoaalsr  of  Ayr,  KorA 
BritiiD,  hu  obtained  b  patent  for  makiof  caft  and  anaUeable  iion  after  • 
new  oMthod.  He  cakioet  the  irm  ftone  or  ore,  if  it  be  naoeflkry,  ledn- 
cei  k  €0  powder,  boltt  it,  feparatet  tbe  eztrancoos  matter,  and  tfiea  pata 
it  into  a  fanacc,  aloo^  with  a  faCcient  ^anttty  of  coke,  or  cbareoaL 
The  furnace  it  intended  to  aA  ai  a  crucible ;  and  the  OMtaU  whea  foad, 
is  not  to  be  drawn  off,  and  caft  into  pigt,  but  it  to  reanin  as  a  loop  at  tbe 
liottMB.  Whea  it  it  taken  out  thence,  it  does  not  require  to  be  melted 
•gain,  but  after  being  baaled  aBay»  without  any  other  prooefi,  be  beatea 
iatoban. 

The  principal  advantigeSf  which  appear  to  attend  the  awthod  pro* 
pofed  by  Mr  Fnllarton  mnft  arife  from  his  manner  of  preparing  the 
iron  ftone  or  ore,  and  from  tpermitttng  the  metal  to  cool  gradually  in 
dM  Aurnaoe  |  to  which  amy  be  added  the  removing  of  the  flag,  which  ho 
takes  cere  to  do  while  the  fuiaon  is  going  forward.  From  the  fpecifica* 
Jtion  which  he  has  girca,  it  foems  u  if  pulveriing  the  iron  ftone  or  ofu» 
«id  freeing  it  of  eatraneous  matter,  precludes  the  necelBty,  and  ikvas  the 
czpence  of  ufing  Limeftoue  u  a  flus ;  and  cooling  the  metal  gmdnally, 
fcareats  that  brittleaels  which  caft  iron  end  fteel  poflels  when  they  are 
tfooledoBafttddaa;  and  tfans  the  loop  is  in  f  bettar  ftale  of  pitparatioa 
|pr  bfing  put  yader  the  haauaer. 


if  FaOtirL  97 

Rimarialle  Evmts.^^liimrgaartt,  commonly  called  by  hi* 
fiorians  the  Maiden  of  Norway^  died  at  Orkney,  on  her 
way  to  Britain,  where  Ihe  was  to  have  been  crowned  fiic* 
ctSfit  to  her  grandfather  Alexander  IIL  of  Scotland.  Upon 
her  death  there  was  much  agitation  in  the  kingdom,  and 
many  competitors  fprang  up  for  the  Crown.  But  of  all 
diofe  who  laid  in  their  claims,  the  rights  of  Robert  Bmce 
and  John  Balliol  *  appeared  to  be  moft  worthy  of  invefti* 
gation  and  fupport.  On  the  fide  of  one  or  other  of  tfaefb 
opponents  were  the  people  of  Scotland  generaUy  arranged* 
As  the  conteft  was  violent,  and  not  likely  to  be  brought  to 
a  fpeedy  ifliie,  it  was  refolved  to  fubmit  the  whole  bufi* 
ncfs  to  the  decifion  of  Edward  I.  of  England.  He  accept* 
«!  of  the  offer  with  much  pleaibre,  and  took  that  opporta* 

aity 

Bat  ifl£a\\j  andeHUnd  t&e  fpecificstkxi*  Mr  FnlUfton*!  method  moft 
Ix  iabjedl  to  frvenl  inconvcnienciet.  Either  the  famace  muft  be  Terf 
UuU,  or  it  will  he  difficult  to  remove  the  regului  ifter  it  has  remttnell 
theic  till  it  be  cold,  eod  the  work  mnft  faffer  an  intemxpdon  by  waiting 
fc  loaf  bdbce  a  new  charge  ean  be  pot  in.  In  order  to  obviate  theft 
iaconvenienciet,  it  might  be  proper  to  draw  off  the  metal  in  the  fluid  ftate, 
and  havbg  cail  it  into  pifi  of  the  nfiial  formi  put  them  while  hot  into  a 
famace,  ezpofed  to  a  well  regvlated  heat»  and  feffered  gradaallj  to  be- 
come ceoL 

▲  gentleman,  who  was  taken  by  the  French  daring  the  laft  American 
war,  having  efinped  from  priibn,  was  travelling  homeward,  aad  on  his 
way*  10  psHing  through  a  valley  among  the  Pyrenean  Donntaint,  came  to 
a  UomU  forge,  where  fome  men  were  making  irop  from  the  ore.  They 
fifed  it,  and  having  mized  it  with  charcoal,  put  it  by  fmall  quantities  at 
•  time  into  a  furnace.  They  let  it  remain  till  k  was  duly  fafed.  Then  thej 
pBt  a  bar 'of  iron  among  the  metal,  to  which  a  knob  adhered,  and  when 
it  had  ac^ttd  a  proper  confiftency,  they  beat  it  with  a  hammer^  re- 
peating the  operation,  till,  in  a  fhort  time,  they  had  made  a  bar  of  confi- 
derable  length.  This  method  is  recommended  by  its  fimplicity,  and  per- 
luips  it  may  fnggeft  fomothing  for  the  improvement  of  makiag  bar-iron 
IB  this  country. 

#  Formerly  called  Robert  de  Bms,  and  John  de  Balliol. 

Vox..  XIX.  N 


9t  Statyiical  Account 

nit  J  of  can{mfidn»  tmcertaintji  and  teller^  io  hate  biisfclf 
proclaimed  Lord  Paramount  of  Scotland ;  aod  finding  Bal- 
liol  not  n&wiUing  to  acknowledge  this  fupremacy,  he  de> 
dded  the  conteft  in  his  favour.  But  Edward  Cdoo  horkd 
him  from  the  throne*  under  the  pretence  that  he  had  oo^ 
put  the  feeptre  into  hia  hands  to  be  fwajed  in  truft.  The 
troops  of  the  Eoglilh  monarch  loon  over-ran  many  of  the 
moft  important  diftrids  of  this  kingdom ;  and  in  trinmph 
carried  to  Weftminfler  the  ftone  of  Scooci  which  was  made 
fomewhat  in  the  form  of  a  chair,  in  which  the  Kings  of 
Scotland  had  been  in  ufe  to  be  feated  at  the  time  of  their 
coronation* 

In  this  feafon  of  national  deje&ion  and  difmay.  appeared 
William  Wallace,  of  an  ancient,  but  at  that  time  aa  ob> 
fcure  family  *•  He  lifted  up  the  flandard  of  liberty,  and 
many  flocked  around  the  fignal.  Rut  fiill  there  were  not 
a  few,  who  through  envy  or  fear  would  not  join  the  pa« 
triots.  But  Wallace  and  his  adherents  prevailed.  They 
fought  and  were  fucceisful.  They  drove  the  Engliih  be- 
yond the  borders,  and  entered  the  countries  in  the  north  of 
Edward's  kingdom. 

When  the  King  of  England  was  informed  of  thefe  events, 
he  returned  from  the  continent  where  he  had  been  with  an 
army ;  and  marching  into  Scotland,  he  advanced  with  vie* 
torious  bands  through  that  country,  meeting  with  little  re* 
fiftance  till  he  came  to  Falkirk. 

Having  come  within  view  of  the  Scotch  army,  they  faw 
them  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  fomewhat  more  than  half 
a  mile  north  from  Falkirk.  Before  this  time  many  peHbns 
of  eminence  and  power  had  joined  the  party  of  Wallace. 
Of  thofe  who  were  prefent  with  him  on  the  occafion  now 

under 

«  Of  EMerflie,  in  the  coQfiry  of  Renfrew,  which  wm  prohahly  t£  that 
time  a  part  of  LanarkUiire.    Dalrynple's  Annaiii  vol.  t,  p.  tS6. 


of  Falkirk.  95 

voder  revieir,  the  following  names  are  the  chief  of  thoie 
whicfc  have  been  preferve4  on  record :  John  ComyDi  c^ 
Coming,  of  Badenoch,  the  younger ;  Sir  John  Stewart  of 
Bonkili,  and  n6t  of  Bate,  as  tradition  has  handed  it  down. 
This  gentleman  was  brother  to  the  Steward  of  Scotland, 
firom  whom  the-fimame  of  Stewart,  or  Stuart,  was  taken. 
To  thefe  we  mnft  add  Sir  John  Graham  *  of  Abercorn  or 
Dnndaff ;  and  Macduff,  the  uncle  of  the  Earl  of  Fife  f  • 

Wallace  had  arranged  his  infantrj  in  four  bodies,  of  a 
Gircttlar  form,  with  the  convex  fide  toward  the  enemy  ;  the 
archers  formed  a  line  between  the  circles ;  and  the  cavalry 
were  placed  at  a  little  diflance  in  the  rear.  The  ftrength 
of  Edward's  army  confifted  of  cavalry,  which  >vere  drawn 
up  in  three  lines «,  and  the  third,  which  wa^  int^pded  to  be 
kept  as  a  corps  of  referve,  was  commanded  by  the  king 
falmiel£  Nothing  being  (aid  of  ikc  manner  in  which  the 
£n|^ifli  io&ntry  were  difpofed,  Sve  are  naturally  led  to 
believe,  that  they  were  not  nnmerons. 

A  morais,  which  was  in  front  of  the  Scotdi  army,  bat 
is  now  drained  by  the  canal,  prevented  the  troops  of  Ed- 
ward from  attacking  the  Scotch  in  front ;  but  wheeling  to 
the  right  and  left,  they  .flanked  them  on  both  fides,  and 
tihe  carnage  was  dreadfd.  Struck  with  a  panic  by  the  fall 
of  Graham,  Stewart,  and  Macduff,  and  prefled  by  the  well 
appointed  cavalry  of  England,  they  were  compelled,  after 
a  brave  refiftance,  to  abandon  the  conflid,  and  leave  the 
Tidory  in  the  hands  of  Edward. 

Sir  John  Graham  and  Sir  Jojbn  Stewart  were  both  buried 
in  the  church-yard  of  Falkirk.  The  ftone  which  was.  laid 
aa  the  grave  of  Sir  John  Graham  had  forae  fculptnre  upon 
it,  which  the  hand  of  time  was  faft  obliterating.    At  length 

another 

e  Cenenlly  called  in  old  recordi,  Sir  John  de  Graham. 
f  Datiymple^s  Annals  of  Scotland* 


io«  Statiftieal  Accouftt 

Uit/Sktt  Sone  w«s  ereAed  with  decorations,  ind  «a  epittplH 
the  whole  being  fapported  bjr  piUan.  When  the  letten 
«f  the  infcription  were  nearly  defiM:ed,  another  of  a  fiailar 
kind  was  pat  over  it  \  and  when  it  alfo  had  fitiered  confi- 
deraUj  hj  the  lapfe  of  time,  the  hte  William  Graham  of 
Airtb,  Efq;  eroded  a  third,  after  the  lame  manner  at  the 
two  former.    The  infcriptioos  are  as  follow  : 


Mcate  ■MBnqvc  poteBs»  Vallc  Sd««  Acliates» 
Cooditiir  hk  GnuBiu»  bello  intcrfe^ns  ab  Aaslis. 

zzii.  Jalii^  tiino  zi^f. 

Heir  Ijet  Sir  John  tlMr  Oimne,  Mth  wisliC  lad  mikt 
Aae  of  the  chie6  who  refcewit  Scotland  thrift* 
Ane  better  knight  not  to  the  world  was  lent, 
Kor  was  gnde  Qrame  of  tnith  and  hcrdiment* 

Not  far  from  the  tomb  of  Sir  John  Graham  lie  the  afliea 
of  Sir  John  Stewart.  The  place  of  his  reft  is  but  a  few  feet 
from  the  eaft  end  of  the  church,  and  near  the  fonth  comec 
of  it.  Though  Sir  John  was  nearlj  allied  to  the  progeni- 
tors of  the  honfe  of  Stuart,  whoTe  kindred  blood  flows  in 
the  veins  of  manj  illuftrious  families  of  Great  Britain,  and 
aHb  in  not  few  of  the  princes  and  potentates  of  the  earth, 
jet  his  grave  is  not  nsarked  out,  except  bj  a  flone  withoat 
a  name,  and  is  the  fegment  of  an  oAagon. 

Much  has  been  bid  with  refpeft  to  difcontents,  which  are 
rcprefented  as  having  fubiifted  among  the  leaders  of  the 
Scotch  army  on  the  eve  of  the  battle.  The  peevifli  de- 
parture of  the  well-tried  patriots,  Wallace  and  Cuming, 
cannot  be  received  but  upon  the  moft  authentic  documents. 
Jarrings  might  have  prevailed  among  a  ntimber  of  leaders, 
where  the  fubordination  of  regular  government  was  not 
obferved ;  but  from  the  charafter  of  the  men,  and  the  cir- 
oumftanccs  of  the  cafe,  no  fault  feems  to  have  been  com* 

mitted» 


^/Falkirk.  aot 

mkled^  which  was  either  £%noefiil  to  themfelFeSy  oriiiut- 
"M  to  the  iflise  of  the  daij  •• 

In  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  the  Earl  of  Lanark,  who  was 
afttrwmrds  the  2d  Duke  of  Hamikon,  together  with  a  per^ 
fiaii  of  the  name  of  Monro,  being  frien^lj  to  the  King,  at« 
tncked  with  dieir  troops,  near  Stirling,  the  arroj  which 
had  been  ratfed  by  the  Marquis  of  Argjte,  and  the  £ar& 
of  Caffilis,  Eglitttonn,  and  Loudon.  Hie  former  were  re- 
poUed,  and  fled  to  Falkirk ;  but  a  temporary  aooomiiioda»*> 
tion  fiopt  for  a  time  the  eflSifion  of  homan  blood. 

In  the  battle  of  Dunbar,  Cromwell  was  fuoce&fid,  and 
lie  marched  forward  to  gire  Charles  IL  battle,  who  was 
>  encamped  with  his  army  at  the  Torwood  in  this  neighhoar- 
iMod,  and  had'dien  been  proclaimed  King  of  Scotland.  On 
bis  route,  Cromwell  ftormed,  and  took  Callander  honft, 
where  Charles  had  a  garrifon. 

The  Earl  of  Arran,  when  Governor  of  ScothAd,  did, 
with  the  confent  of  his  party,  agree  to. give  Mary,  the 
young  Queen  of  Scots,  in  marriage  to  Prince  Edfvjsrd,  >  the 
.  beir  to  the  Englifh  throne.  But  having  at  Callander  hoafe 
met  with  Cardinal  Beaton  and  the  Earl  of  Murray,  leaders' 
of  the  oppofite' party,  a  negociation  was  entered  into, 
vHiich  broke  the  matrimonial  treaty.    ... 

It  appean,  that  Mary  Queen  of  Sco^  vifited  Lord  Li* 
Tingfton  at  Callander  hoofe,  anno  1565  f . 

In  the  year  1745*,  when  the  troops  of  Great  Britain  were 
in  Fknders  fi^porting  the  houfeof  Anftria  againft  the  arms 
of  France,  the  grandfon  of  James  IL  who,  at  the  revolutidn 
in  this  country,  had  taken  refuge  at  the  Court  of  Verfaitks, 
aflcrted  his  father's  pretenfions  to  the  throne  of  thefe  king- 
doms.   This  meafiire  was,  without  doubt,  agreeable  to  the 

Ffeoeh 

e^OftlrympU's  Aaoils  of  Scotland,  voh.  i.  ptges  a^a.  and  a^3«,  ,^, 
t  .$taart*9  Hiftorj  of  Scotland,  vol.  i.  p.  98. 


Stalf/Ucal  Juount 

JTflcAdi  Court,  ash  waold  Midentljr  he  di«  mtaa  of  with^ 
drawing  our  forces  from  the  contiiiest.  Fevliapi  it  wa 
cvnr  fi^ellcd  bj  thdm ;  and  we  know  that  dicj  gswe  %^ 
finall  ibpply  of  naonej  and  arms. 

CliarkSt  floflied  with  the  hapcs  of  power,  eminence,  and 
foyakj,  &tled  from  a  port  in  Brittany  on  the  15th  of 
Joljr,  and  in  a  fliort  time  landed  in  the  Highlands  of  Scot* 
land.  There  he  laRantly  drew  together  a  confidcrabla 
<€mmfaef  of  pardzaos,  and  marched  ditefily  to  Edinburgh. 
He  got  pofleiEon  of  the  town  of  Edinburgh,  lodged  in  the 
yabce  of  Holyroodhoofc,  and  (boa  afterwatds  engaged  at 
VkeikoB,  near  MttflUhnrgh,  a  few  of  the  King's  troops,  who 
wave  Qoder  the  command  of  Sir  John  Copew  Here  he  was 
widorioos;  and  in  the  anxious  ezpedation  of  fiitore  fuboeft, 
,inardied  into  England,  as  fu*  as  Derbj,  by  the  waj  of 
Carliflc.  Though  be  had  many  friends  near  the  road  by 
^tvbich  he  went,  yet  prudence  permitted  but  a  iEsw  of  them 
io  follow  his  fortune* 

Difiippobted  in  he  views,  he  returned  by  Glaigow, 
inarched  to  Stlriiog,  end  hid  fiege  to  the  oafile.  By  this 
time  a  icenfiderable  number  of  the  King's  troops  were  af- 
Itaibled  near  Edinburgh,  eonunanded  by  licmenantrOeae- 
ral  Hawley*  He  marched  for  the  relief  of  Stirling;  and 
havii^  ftopped  to  mfrefli  the  troops  at  Fdkirkt  he  encamped 
with  them  between  the  glebe  and  the  fidd  wheie  Sir  John 
Graham  fell  in  defence  of  liberty  and  his  country* 

On  tha  17th  of  January  1746  the  alarm  was  given,  that 
the  Prince's  followers  were  advancing  by  the  Torwood. 
By  different  means  they  attempted  to  deoeive  die  army  of 
the  King,  They  left  a  flandard  at  the  place  where  they 
had  halted  on  their  way  from  Bannockbum,  which,  being 
fcen  at  Falkirk,  would,  they  fuppofed,  hufii  their  opponents 
into  a  temporary  fecurity.  They  alfo  fent  a  fmaU  detach* 
meat  by  the  north  fide  of  the  river  Camm,  that  it  might 

appear, 


ofFalkiri.  foj 

•ppeVy  if  there  was  aaj  alatniy  diat  tbfly  inletidod  to  •!)► 
tack  the  King's  camp  on  the  left;  bat^  ia  the  meas  tioM^ 
the  principal  body  of  their  forces  were  led  findght  finv 
ward,  and  croiTed  the  ford  of  Carroni  ^  DunipaiDei  abovt 
the  diftance  of  three  miles  to  the  weftward* 

No  fooaer  was  this  difbovei^  than  the  drtans  at'  Fab 
k&rk  camp  beat  to  battle.  But  the  Ocneral  not  being  pcc^ 
fenty  they  were  detained  fo  long  before,  his  aniyal».duit'  th^ 
eneny  had  gained  an  eminence,  which  is  about  a  oifeibiith* 
weft  from  this  town.  The  way  thither  being  mgg^  dMi 
cnonon  conld  not  be  dragged  up  time  eaoagh  for  the  )u>^ 
tion ;  fwampy  ground  rendered  the  cavalry  almoft*  niblefil 
smd  a  tremendous  ftorm  of  wind  and  rain  .blowing  direfijj 
againft  the  fiice  of  the  natiooal  troops,  added  to  tho  mifbfw 
tnnate  drcumftaaces  of  the  day.  Notwithftaodiag  the 
bravery  of  Major-General  Hnik,  and  other  officers,  06$ 
King's  forces  were  worfted ;  many  were  killed,  federal  W> 
tun  prifoners,  and  the  reft  fled  to  linlitbgow* 

Among  the  perfoos  of  rank  who  were  left  dead  oQ  tlla 
field  were  Sir  Robert  Monro  of  Foulis,  Bart*  and  his  bro^ 
Cher  Duncan,  a  phyfician*  Sir  Robert,  in  the  retreat^  wat 
fsToonded  by  the  enemy,  and  after  a  defperate  refiflanec^ 
yiekled  to  the  ftroke  of  death.  The  phyfician,  from  the 
affetton  which  he  had  for  his  brother,  left  the  peace  $md 
fweets  of  retired  life^  and  followed  him  through  the  din  cf 
arms,  and  the  dangesa  of  battle.  In  tbe'dilcharg^  of  thb 
amiable  office,  he  foil  a  viAim  to  kindnefs  and  brotherly 
attachment.  They  were  buried  befide  each  odier  in  the 
ehurch-yard  of  Falkirk ;  a  fuperb  monument  was  ereded 
to  their  memory  ;  and  the  circumllances  of  ditir  death  are 
recorded  by  fottable  infcripdons.  The  nnthber'  of  foiceli 
Which  were  led  to  aAion  that  day  was  about  6eo6  of  the 
royal  party,  and  perhaps  fomewhat  more  of  thofe  in  the 
^  ... '  jBvcfes 


XQ4  Staiiftkal  Aepount 


mteftft  of  cM  Princei  botthe  true  mmaiitit  of  his  trooptfaas 
not  been  exafflj  sfeeftamed. 

Hawlej  foDod  means  to  vindtcate  himielf  to  bis  Sove- 
taign^.bnt  the  iiB]»reffions  of  hiscondod  which  remain 
here»  are  by  no  means  finToorable  to  his  charaAer,  as  a  Ge* 
naial  entmftcd  with  an  imjtortant  command.  If  we  credit 
f^ortf  he  was  dining  that  daj  at  Callander  houfe  with 
Lady  Kilmanocky  whofe  Lord  had  then  declared  bimfelf 
in  fiivoor  of  di^  young  adventurer,  and  was  at  that  time 
•Anally  engaged  in  his  fervices  fomewhere  in  the  ifland. 

The  aAion  began  aboat  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
hy  the  evening  the  Prince's  army  were  in  pofieflioa  of  the 
town  of  Falkirk.  One  of  the  fons  of  Macdooell  of  Glen* 
gafy,'  when  walking  in  the  principal  ftreet,  foon  after  he 
had  arrived  from  the  field  of  battle,  was  fliot  from  a  win*^ 
doMr  by  a  muiket-buliet.  He  did  not  tnfiantly  die ;  but 
Inrring  langaiflied  a  few  dajrs,  he  expired.  His  death  was 
accidental,  for  it  wasoccafioned  by  one  of  hu  own  men, 
whole  gnn  had  miffed  fire  during  the  engagement,  and  not 
being  ^>priied  of  this  circumftance,  while  he  was  cleaning 
his  piece,  the  fliot  went  off  at  the  expence  of  a  life,  which 
he  would  have  done  much  to  iave.  Bnt  fnch  was  the  vio- 
lence, Keal  and  difiruft  which  prevailed,  that  he  was  found 
guilty,  and  ihot  in  this  neighbourhood.  Soon  after  the 
battk  of  Falkirk,  the  Prince's  troops  weie  vanquiihed  and 
difperfed  at  CuUoden.  Thus  tranquillity  was  reAored  to 
the  nation ;  and  we  tmft,  that  the  horrors  of  civil  war  wiU 
never  again  pt evail  in  the  land. 

,  Emmtm  Q9d  RtmorkilUif  CbaraSiers.'^Tht  livingfioos 
wece  long  oonipicuoos  and  powerful  in  this  pari(h  and 
a^^bourhood.  It  is  foppofed  that  they  are  of  Hongariao 
c^traffion,  and  that  the  fiunily  fprung  fi'om  a  gentleman  of 
tbo  Mine  of  Uvingos,  who  came  with  Market,  Qaeen  of 

King 


tf  Falkirk.  ID5- 

King  Mtlcolm  G«fiai(»e»  Mwut  the  year  1075.  We  find, 
Aat  diftrest  branches  ^f  -this  taaxiilj  were  employed  ift 
Smdc  of  the  moft  important  fituations  and  tran&diona  ojf 
t}iiacoiiitti7*. 

Is.  the  psegrels  of  {bdety  theie  ar ofe  among  them  the 
three  diftingpiiflied  fami&ie9  of  linlitfagowi  C^afli4eri  an4 
Kilfyth.  The  Vilcoimt  KiUytb,  and  the  Earl  of  JLiniith- 
gow  end  Callaader,  were  found  guilty  of  rebeHioft  in  17159 
bad  their  eftatea  confifcated,  and  their  titles  Wetted.  Th^ 
titles  of  Linlithgow  and  Callasder  at  this  time  centered  in 
the  &me  perfon,  and  the  Earl  found  means  to  efcape  to  the 
eoQtincsty  whoie  he  died.  ^\t  Thomas  Livingfton  of  Bed* 
lermie  and  WeAqnarter^  Baronet,  is  li«eal  heir  of  'the  fa* 
naily. 

Lady  Ann,  the  only  furviving  child  of  the  laft  Eail  of 
Lmlslbgow  and  CaUander»  was'  married  to  the  Earl  of  Kil- 
mnmock,'  who  joined  the  followers  of  the  Prince  in  the 
year  i745»  and  was  beheaded  for  treaf6n  on  TowerhiU,  qn 
Ihe  18th  of.  Aiiguft  1746,  in  the  4ad  year  of  his  age.  Hia 
infidelity  to  the  King  is  the  more  remarkable,  as  hb  &mily 
had  always  been  loyal^-  and  as  he  himfelf,  at  the  beginning 
of  die  commotions  in  which  he  afterwarib  was  an  abettor^ 
had  eiKrted  himlelf  confiderably  in  behalf  ^  the  reigning 
fivnily* 

.  The  truth  feems  to  be»thatas  be  was  not  in  opidcBJt.ciff- 
cansAaacesy'he  was  induced,  to  become  an  adventurer;  and 
from  hia  marriage-con|ie£Hon,  he  was  in  hopes  tbit^  if  the 
Prince  ittcceededt  he  woald  be  railed  to  the  poffeflions  an4 
perhaps  to  the  honours  of  the  for£eited  and  .deceafed  Earl 
of  lialithgow  and  Callander.  And  thu  leads  me  to  ob- 
ferre,  that  it  is  politic  in  a  flate  to  iofliA  as  few  permanent 
diiabilities  and  ponUhments  as  the  nature  of  governmcQt^ 
Vol.  XIX.  O  ai>4 

#  Dottgltt*!  Peerage,  articlei  Liolitbgow,  GalUndefi  tod  Kilf;4. 


1 06  StatiJHcal  jfccount 


and  good  order  wiV  permk.  If  a  loma  fUkt  jA  ^UKa 
to  the  hW|  the  gaNing  remembreiiGe  m  gradiuillj  ddhojud 
among  hia  oonnofti^iM  «mI  defctndents;  bttt  if  aa  cAate  be 
forfeited,  or  a  civil  privilege  be  permaneiitlj  tdwa  awaj, 
thtrre  is  a  perpetual  broodbg  o^rche  miaftiffmcy  aadfraai 
tbis  fotirce  there  often  fprmgs  die  bitaeniels  of  ftrife. 

Oar  Government  have,  with  aiiicb  pnideace  and  hnma* 
nity,  reftored  the  eftatei  whicb  were  ooflMnttcd  in  1746} 
and  it  is  moch  lo  be  lamentedyibac  fanethbg  efeAaal  baa 
not  been  <tpvifiM)  for  tbe  hein  of  diofe  who  foCwwI  by  the 
ferfetnires  in  the  year  1716.  Tbe  aftntea  bcriag  bona 
otherwffe  loag  ago  difpoled  of^  coaM  not  be  teftoiaif  bai 
the  trifdom  oFtbofe  in  powori  among  tbe  amaj  refoumi 
vhicb  they  hare,  might  perbapa  find  ont  the  meana  of  0 
leaft  a  fmaR  eompeafation. 

The  leftate  of  ^erfa,  in  this  parift,  oooe  beloogad  «a  cba 
Hopes,  a  fcmilj  of  eoafiderable  aote  and  aattqahy  in  tbb 
eountry.  John  de  Hope  wa^  one  of  the  berana  who  firi^ 
niitted  to  Edward  L  of  Eaglkad  ia  1396,  wboo  bo  hadia- 
iraded  Scotland. 

Kerfe,  as  well  aa  many  other  eftatea  in  SooAiaif  ^^cnm 
pnrchafed  by  Sir  Thomaa  HopOi  who»  aa  ea  advaeatei 
jaade  a  confpicnona  ngnre* 

In  the  revolutionary  period  of  the  Scotch  cfaofthf  fit 
mbiftera^  who  had  denied  that  the  King  had  «Ay  power  in 
*jiMxlefiaftteaI'aAir»,  were  committed  to  tbe  eaAk  of  Bfaick- 
Aeis,  an4  fer  hightreafon  were  brofight  to  trial  at  Liiriith- 
gtyw,  Jan.  to.  1606.  No  cdaafel)or  of  eminen6e,  not  even 
Sir  Thomas  Chiig,  the  procatator  fer  the  ehorcb,  eonid  be 
prevailed  upon  to  ftaxid  forward  as  theilr  advocate  at  the 
bar  of  the  Court.  Mr  Thomas  Hope,  for  he  was  not  then 
created  a  baronet,  undertook,  though  bat  a  young  man,  to 
pkad  their  caufe.    His  feicible  elocution^  hia  ingenioos, 

thoiigh 


qfJMtirL  107 

(hds^  onlbeeefiU  exertioiM,  {wocvrel  Jbim  i4fniraUQ8^ 
iMd  braa^t  him  iato  notice* 

Be  WW  aoc  oolj  cmifidtisd  in  ail  dificiik  osfes  by  chp 
Brdbjrteriaiis,  but  was  efteemed  by  the  Court  party,  au4' 
wiiKMg*s  Advoeaoe,  both  ii  the  reign  of  JameB  VI.  and 
Charles  L  He  liad  three  fbns,  who  were  I«orck  ef  Sei&on, 
and  two  of  them  fat  upon  the  Bench  as  Judges,  while  be 
hkofelf  was  at  the  bar.  The  Lord  Advocate  has  ja  right 
te|dead  wkh  his  hat  an«  aod  tradition  fays»  that f this  priyi* 
lege  waaiotrodneed  in  the  ttm^  of  Sir  ThooaaA  Hope*  aa  it 
was  llioDght  unbeoomittg  the  deputy  ef  a  father  in  his  fi- 
taalaaa  to  plead  with  his  head  nncovered  before  his  bo»* 
Bnt  it  is  more  probable,  chat  the  cofioB  was  iotroduccd 
as  a  dtftiiigiiifliing  mark  of  refpeft  to  the  ling's  Advocatt. 

Sk  Tliomas^  his  fecoad  fon,  to  wheai  he  gave  the  eflate 
of  Kerfe,  was  eminent  in  the  law,  and,  I  believe^  the  o^ 
eommoner  who  erer  has  been  Lord  Juftice^General  of 
Scotland }  as  his  firther,  Sir  Thomas  of  Ciaigbaii  in  Fi£e« 
was  Ae  only  porfon  dot  hooowed  wi&h  a  title  of  nobility, 
who  at  nay  time,  in  the  eharaAer  of  Lord  High  .Commif- 
fiaoer,  reprefented  his  itijefty  in  the  General  AffemUy 
ef  ibis  chnach.  The  eiaie  of  Kerfii  was  iatd  foosetioie 
ago  to  cho  litte  Sir  Laorenoe  Ikmdas,  Baronet,  £Either  of 
Laid  Dnndas,  the  pioiant  proprietor. 

AMfmtut^-*ia  die  barony  of  Seabeg;i,  near  the  canal, 
Aere  ia  an  astifieial  mound  q£  earth,  where  courts  and  de- 
libaratiire  councils  were  formerly  held^  as  appears  by  the 
tane  ICoie,  which  the  place  ^et  retains.  There  is  alfu  a 
finall  bvsying  ground,  wheio  farmerly  there  was  a  Roman 
Catholic  chapel. 

In  different  parts  <tf  this  neighbourhood  there  have  been 
dog  up  urns,  filled  with  aflies,  and  ftooe  coffins,  containing 
human  bones.    Somewhat  more  than  twenty  years  ago, 

there 


168  Staji/Ucid  Jceount 

Aere  wm  fomid,  in  a  hoUow  of  a  fireefloee  ^Mny  near 
Caftlecary,  feme  wheatt  which  had  become  YAadk^  and  waa 
feppoiied  to  hare  been  there,  from  the  tiaia  that  the  Ko* 
tnans  poflcfled  that  ftatioiK 

The.  fmall  river  Bonnej,  which  fiepaiatai  a  piit  of  this 
parifli  fiom  Deooj  and  Duntpaoei  feens  to  he  the  GiOBan 
ofOffian. 

Old  Camekm  ^  not  Camitodamim^  hot  prabahly  Bml^i 
Gmidif  appears  to  have  been  fiarmerly  a  place  of  coofe- 
quence.  There  are  now  few  veftiges  of  it  remainiiig ;  bat 
not  loi^  ago»  foundations  of  honles,  and  the  direAioa  of 
feme  of  the  ftieets,  were  vifiUe.  Moch  hat  been  find  abont 
•the  iniportaaoe  which  it  once  had  $  we  have  heard  of  die 
riches  and  ornaments  of  royaltj  which  were  feond  diere, 
when  it  was  taken  by  the  Roifians*  Bat  we  have  no  an- 
thentic  docnments  by  which  we  can  decide  whether  it  was 
a  habitation  of  fome  of  the  ancient  tribes  of  North  JBritaint 
or  whether  it  was  only  a  Roman  fiation. 

It  is  alfo  reported,  that  CanKlon  was  a  fea*port  town  i  * 
and  in  confirmation  of  diii  we  are  toU^  that  an  an^or 
was  formerly  dng  np  t  in  the  grooad  near  it.  Thera  aie 
circmaflances  whidnauthorife  ns  to  conclude,  not  only  that 
the  river  Carron  has  been  navigable  farther  up  than  the 
place  where  Camelon  ftood,  bnt  aUb^  that  the  fea  dDme 
very  near  Falkirk,  and  covered  the  whole  of  that  diftrid 
which  is  now  caHed  the  Carfe.  The  name  Carfe  in  Scot- 
land b  generally  applied  to  that  land  which  has  been  fcrm- 
'  ed  by  the  retreat  or  czclufion  of  the  fea.  Our  carfe  lands 
are  very  little  raifed  abovs^he  level  of  the  .firiih  of  Fwch, 
and  in  many  places  are  defended  by  banks  %•    The  Carfe, 

whiah 

a  A  new  TtlUge  in  its  neigbbearhood  it  ca>l«l  Camdim. 

f  Sibbald*t  Hiftorical  £nqoirics,  chap.  7. 

I  A  few  dijT^^aot  in-.tbe  morning  of  O^ober  30.  a  tide  bring  uncom* 
mooly  higU  t^  banks  were  overflowed  by  cbe  2ca^  and  the  water  not  only 
entorrd  many  houfcs,  but  inundated  faveral  hundred  acres  of  the  Carfe  land. 


.  ^  FaOarh.  tgxf 

wbidris.veiyTftlDalikmqaalitj,  fluigbt  eaflly  be  eakigr^ 
fafeacrpodiiiig&rdicrcNi.the  iea.  Lord  Dundas,  hgribb 
metbod,  has  lately  added  abost  70  acre$  to  hk  eOttt. 
About  the  beginning  of  thi^  centorjr,  a  SotchmilBv  wlHi 
im  welLaoqnaiAted  with  operadoos.  like  thefc'  in  Holtond^ 
propobd  to  the  Duke  of  Hamilrop  to  gain  for  himaooo 
acies  off  the  fea*  adjoining  his  eftste  rf.Kinneali  in  the.p^ 
rifii  of  Borrowftonnnefs,  provided  he  Ihoiild  be  adiowed  |» 
poflfefe  it  rent  free  £or  forty  yeai^  and  be  iuraiihe^  with 
timber^  &c«  bom  die  Dnke's  wood  in  the  neighbourhoofL 
The  propofid  was  rejeded ;  and  the  iea  continnes  to  r«^ 
lis  odes  over  thofe  ihaUoWs,  where  fhiit&l  f elds  n^ight 
now hsTie  heeh  yiddiag.an  annoal  income  of  £.4000. or 
L5000  to  the ' proprietor,  and  a  confiderable  qofuitity  of 
pnmfioos  for  the  fnpply  of  this  populous  part  of  the 
ooQOtry* 

But  the  moft  prominent  foMnre  of  antiquity  in-tfajs  pa* 
rifli  is  the  Roman  wall  built  in  the  reiign  oftfae  Emperor 
Antoninus  Ku%  nnder  the  dire&ictn  of  his. lieutenant  Lol- 
fim  Urbkns,  It  in  general  follows  the  track  where  Agc|« 
cobhadpreTioaflyeredsd.a  dwia  of ioyts*.  It.is  more 
than  x6oo  yeass  finer  the  wall.WfBibuiJl^  and.yct  in  leve- 
ral  parts,  both  in  this  parilh  and  elfewhere,  its  form  Hi)d 
cottife.nm  vtfiUe:  }$,  c^tendsjirDintbe  fx^itb  of  Forth  to 
the^ver  Clyde,  and  was:  about  40  Roo^ani  or  37  Engliih 
miles  in  leo^.  Cansden,  .Kinneal,  ai(d  Blpickneis,  on  the 
eaftfDnmgho.and.i01d  Ktrkpatrick  op  the  weft,  have,  \^j 
difcient  people,  /bce{><i9gge0ed  as  i)^  boundaries;  fiede 
fays,  that  it  began  two  miles  firom  the  monafiery  of  Aber- 
com,  and  ended  at  Alcluith,  which  appears  to  be  the  (ame 
place  which  is  now  called  Dumbarton  *.    If  the  wall  tcr» 

miaated 

•  Ca«4e&*s  Britanqii  b^  G««sb,  article  Lennoi. 


lie  Simytkal  jSccouni 

MiiMtidMOId  Kirii^iiriek,  Dumbactai  wm  praUlyt 
fbtt  tekngiog  to  die  Komois}  oad  «nt  know,  tlwt  on  tte 
4ift4XMfttlwir£ii«inid  flnMift  wese  earned  hx  beyond 
HiecadofcbewfiU^ 

lliia  wall,  or  rather  dcAofiM  woricy'cewfifted  of  «  ditch 
<m  ihe  nerthy  dbd  a  waU  oq  the  foutb.  It  varies  at  to  the 
hxeflMi  of  the  dkA ;  but  10  aeter  lefr  than  ti  or  15  feet 
tride,  aod  the  wall  was  aJboot  la.foet  thiek  at  the  finnda- 
tion  t«  The  dic«h  'tras  deep  in  profortkn  to  ka  hnaadtfa ; 
aad  the  wall  wat  hi^  4a  propottioD  to  ks  wtddi.  Not- 
wkhftandkig'what  has  beea  fidd  by  fime  amfaora,  no  part 
tf  thia  wal  ^pMrt  to  have  beea  baik  of  fieacv  ezoq>c  la 
fwwaupy  places,. where  «(he  aatore  of  the  gnwnd  leqnifcd 
It.  Fort!  or  AatiMi,  aad  betweeo  cbefe,  toraeii  or  watob. 
towefsy  *were  ^efoAed  f<w  the  acconfliodatioa  of  feUaen  to 
defend  it}  aiftd  as  thej  were  at  no  great  difiance  ffom  ene 
aaolSienm  general  alsroi  eiMiId  begkren  at  tbe  approach  of 
danger.  Hence  the  valgar  belief  thai  <he  wall  was  hollow, 
and  thatthefauadofatroaBpet  whieh  was  blowa  at  oae 
eadcooM  be  heard  at  the  other.  Cafllecarj,  fiaaghaaftk, 
and  Cameloni  were  the  bmA  reaiarkabfe  forts  or  ffadons  ia 
thb  nei^hboarboodw  Theficeaf  ikeSwofDraveraieililliD 
befeen. 

Mncfa  I^ht  has  been  tteowa  oa  ike  hiBorj  of  this  wall 

bjftones  with  inferiptiotiSy  which  ihave  basa  dag  fxf  in  ▼&• 

rioQS  parts  of  k.    A  coafiderablo  namber  of  thefe  ftoaes 

are  in  the  Cronege  of<}lafgow»'&io.  $  ^oae  ia  Sir  John  Clerk's 

colledion,  atad 'one  ki  Gallaader  ho«rfe,  with  the  fcBoanag 

infcriptioA: 

VtXI 

LEG  XX 

PRIMIO  • 

Froor 

a  Sibbald's  Enqoiries. 

t  The  ditch  in  dnandcr  park  ii  above  fd  ftet  wide ;  is  (bmc  otiwr 
places  it  is  not  fo  mach  by  half. 


4f  Falkirk.  |i« 

Ffom4MirdiS«ROtft<me»iti|{lp09if8,  tktt;  the  ^n^  uras 
chief/  made  by  the  ad  end  aofb  legions,  fu\4  ;he  veziUa<» 
dflos  of  the  6)1  and  ftoib,  tofe(her  wilb  a  cobqet  of  awn]^ 
liancft  *•  Every  laodth  pact  of  a  legioii  wee  failed  a  een- 
tnry*  aod  had  a  veziUam,  or  pair .  of  ooloun.  To  guard 
tbefey  ten  of  ibe  heft  ibUieis  were  allotted  for  each  vexil* 
faifla,  and  tbofe  gffud^f  which  in  ev«ry  legion  amouated  to 
looo  ipen»  were  called  ita  vexiUatipo. 

Thia  vaoBpart  is  denominated  by  Bocbaaan»  in  his  Hi- 
flory  of  Scodaod,  the  wall  of  Sevenia.  Other  writers  have 
nUd  gftven  it  the  iiuiie  name  \  but  thoogh  it  may  have  been 
MpMTed  by  Severus,  as  it  was  by  diiFerent  people,  yet  the 
imsU  which  he  biiik  was  not  in  this  diftrift  of  the  coootryp 
but  was  drawn  between  the  Solway  frith  and  Newcafilf^ 
■cflidy  ia  the  iiune  direftion-in  wbich  Adrian  had  formerly 
boikhia. 

The  wall  of  Antoninns-  is  generally  known  in  this  counii 
try  by  the  na^w  of  Grs^anofs  Dike.  Some  are  of  opinion^ 
that  it  derived  tbU  naase-from  a  powerfiil  leader  of  that 
nnme^  who  bveke  throng  thas&mous  line  of  defence^  and 
ffontcd  the  Britooaon  the  footh.fide  of  it,  who  were  then 
nbondoned  by  the  Roopmum.  OtheiB  aflkm^  that  in  the 
imga  of  Mak^e^lL  one  Gryme^  who  was  cooneded  with 
Ae  royal  family,  afpiring  to  the  throne,  drew  together 
fome  followers,  and  in  order  to  fettle  the  commotion,  the 
pretender  got  a  grant  for  the  term  of  his  life  of  all  that  . 
part  of  Malcdm's  kingdom  which  was  on  the  north  fide  of 
the  wall,  and  that  the  line  of  feparation  was  from  thb  event 
^lled  Gryme'a  Dike  i  hence,  by  an  eafy  trsnfition,  Gra- 
ham's  Dike.  It  has  alio  been  ft^gefted,  that  as  the  build- 
ing of  this  wall  has  been  attributed  to  Severus,  lb  by  tranf- 
latbg  Sevems  into  |ji|^fli,  yoa  have  Grim  j  and  in  a 

countiy 

t  Beai/t  Hiiloix  of  Orett  Britain, 


tit  StoH/KenfAceoufU 

eoantry' where  the  iiHiaiiie  oFOrthaiB  is  fo'comoMiii  a$  it 
is  here/  it'  "wib  very  natnAI  to  find  the  appeHation  Grim's 
W^,  6Dit^erted  into  Orafaam's  D jke  *.  The  name  it&lf 
b  of  little  conftquenee,  but  the  wall  ia  a  ftriking  moini* 
inent  of  Roman  aAivicy. 

The  foldien  of  the  Roman  empire  were  not  aDowed  to 
be  enervated  by  idknefi;  They  wcreconftantlj  employed, 
and  often  engaged  in  fevere  manual  labonr.  Not  oply  the 
walls  which  have  been  takeh  notice  of^  bat  alfio  the  various 
foads  which  they  made  in  Great  Britain  are  clear  proo6» 
that  they  were  called  forth  to  exertion,  and  kept  in  afiive 
life.  Along  the  fondi  fide  of  Grriiam's  Dyke,  a  canleway 
was  formed  for  the  more  expeditions  and  comibrtable  tra- 
velling of  the  foldiers  from  one  part  of  it  to  another. 

Nearly  oppofite  to  Crilander  hoofei  an  earthen  wall  of 
confiderable  height  and  thicknels  branches  off  from  Gra- 
ham's S)yke,  mns  throu^  Weft-qnarterhoufe  garden,  and 
reaches  die  old  caftle  of  Almond.  From  diat  toward  the 
eafti  there  are  few  or  no  certain  traces  of  it  to  be  feen ;  bnt 
we  may  prefume,  that  it  oftce  ended  at  LinKtiigow,  where 
there  was  a  Roman  camp,  on  the  very  place  where  the 
King's  palace  was  afterwards  boilt.  This  vnjl  has  noibflk, 
and  being  broad  at  the  top,  was  probably  intended  to  he  a 
road,  as  well  as  a  line  of  defence. 

•  Dyke  in  the  Scotch  Ungaage  laeans  t  wall. 


Vbt  rtaier  is  requefiid  to  mai^  iU  Jalhmng  torrtBiom  m 
my  SMifiicai  AccowU  o/MU^CaUer,  Vol.  XJV.i 

Page  3(4.  ihu  7.  for  clothes  feai  cloaks. 
—  371.  -^  1.  for  emperor  read  ufarpec. 
•-^ 37a.  -» 5.  in tbenote^for refcue read xoalr* 


Tbf 


fbe  following  correBions  and  additions  to  the  SttOiJiicat 
Account  of  the  farijb  qfPolmpnt  (vol.  III.  p.  344*^  aro 
beri  infcrttd^  at  the  reqnejl  of  the  Rev,  Mr  William  Finlof  t 

The  puUh  of  Poimont  is  not  ittUrfeded,  but  bounded  by  the  frith  of 
ftrtbt  on  the  north,  and  hj  the  river  Avon  on  the  eaft.  A  fmall  part  of  it 
h  ioteife^ed  bj  tijbori  mt  from  Onrngemouth,  which  is  now  die  only 
navigibk  comnmnication  betwixt  the  great  canal  and  the  Forth.  Ths 
iron  ftooe  isXold  by  the  proprieton  of  land  to  the  Canon  Company,  not  at 
tapenupfrftofte,  bat  at  tenpenee  per  ton.  tlie  annual  amount  of  thi 
foods  lor  relief  Of  te  poor  u  ndt  L.  a8,  but  about  L.  55,  and  the  ezpendi- 
ture  nearly  Ae  fiune.  By  an  uiterlocotor  of  the  Teind  Court,  June  1793, 
tiie  ffipend  of  this  parish  is  ordained  to  be  iii  bolls,  1  firlots,  i  peck,  and 
1  lippies  of  bear,  $6  bolls  of  mea],  and  L.  z  5%  :  10 :  10  Scots  money,  witb 
L.69  n»Aey  fbrefiud  fat  fumifhing  the  commanion-«teiiKntf.  The  rf$X 
rent  of  the  panfli  ia..atail  L.  4000  StttUpg^  t 


VouXIX.  f  KUMC. 


m^  Staiiflitql  AtCMM 


NUMBER  IIL 


PARISH  or  ROXBURGH^ 


(CpuvTT  or  KozBUEGB,  Stuod  or  VUtXE  £Jm  TWEU- 
DALE,  PftsaaTf sftT  or  Kxuo.) 


By  tbi  Rev.  Mr  Andrew  Bell,  Mimfier  ^tht  Farifif. 


A  I. 


PREVIOUS  to  the  Union  of  the  Scotch  and  Engliih  Par- 
liaments, this  corner  of  the  land  was  often  the  feat  of 
war,  and  the  unhappy  fcene  of  broils  and  feuds,  which 
ufually  ftigmatize  the  border  inhabitants  of  two  hoOile 
kingdoms  in  a  barbarous  age.  Roxburgh  was  the  refidence 
and  rendezvous  of  fome  of  the  greatell  military,  political, 
clerical  and  Royal  charaders  Europe  has  to  boaft  of,  and 
the  place  where  ilate  councils  were  held  with  a  fplendour 

and 


tfSiaxhirgi.  115 

Ecenoe  becoftiilig'  Ae  disMty  «f  ^BtmWie9w  in 
^ihofe  decern  mMiy  aatioiis  fidt  diemfelves  hi^y  mt^ 
jcAed  and  eoncimMd.  Hiroqe  cbi»  parilb  affords  greflt 
room  Car  snvcAigatiom  aad  «peM  a  field,  wh4;ffoon  the  hi- 
floiic  geniiu  might  range  with  (lecaliar  graliiGailioiu  The 
Crilowiog  remarks  however,  bebg  iaieaded  to  make  part 
«f  a  work,  wbofe  objefi  la^a/fjiCjiMi/ rather  tha»  bijimimi 
^aqpkjf  the  J  are  cbiefl  j  limked  to  }ocal  aad  exiAiog  cit^ 
csmfiances* 

Nmt,^^l^ika  all  etymolopcal  interpretations  of  the 
■ames  of  {daces,  the  meaning  of  this  is  eatremdj  vague 
aad  mcortaio.  Camden  calls  the.  cafUe  of  Roxburgh  Mar<» 
MduMf  or  the  hill  on  the  matches,  aUudiog»  tiot  to  the  alr 
titode  or  fize,  but  to  the  ftrength  and  importance  of  that 
fiMtreb.  Some  nomendators  faj,  that  Roxbttrgb  is  a  Gon*> 
trafiioa  fi>r  Rogne's  Burgh,  referriag  to  the  charafter  of  its 
andeot  inhabitants,  when  marauding  was  the  trade  of  aU 
the  borderers.  Others  affirm,  that  Roxburgh  is  the  pcoper 
name,  and  derived  from  a  Saxoo  word,  fimr,  ^nifjing 
llrcogth :  And  others  iofift,  that  Rofeburgh  (as  it  is  vul* 
garljr  defigned)  is  the  proper  appellatioa  of  this  fdacei 
being  moft  czprellive  of  its  beautiful  fituatson. 

Situation. — ^The  old  city  of  Ro^iburgh  Hood  over  againft 
Kelfo,  on  a  rifing  ground  at  the  wef!  end  of  a  fertile  plain, 
peninfulated  by  the  confluence  of  the  rivers  Tweed  and 
Tcvtot.  Thefe  fong-renownccf  rivers  flow  here  in  all  their 
glorj  ;  but  the  Teviot  has  decidedly  the  preference,  when 
imagination  calls  up  to  view  the  grand  aflfemblage  of  ofa- 
jeds  that  formerly  lined  her  banks  in  this  place.  On 
the  fouth  angle  of  a  beautiful  peninfulated  traA  of  land, 
formed   by  the   curviturcs  of  the  two  rivers,  Is*  a  rich 

fpot. 


XiiS  Siatifikat  Aceauni 

fy^  of  grodody  where  David  I,  boik  a  mtgnifieent 
Iriarj  for  fome  Ciftertiaa  monkft  whom  he  removed 
from  Selkirk  to  Roxburgh  ;  on  the  middle  ftood  the  town, 
both  under  cover  from  the  Caillei  ^ich  was  fitualed  on  a 
large  oblong  knoll  to  the  weft,  and  feparated  from  the  dtj 
hj  a  narrow  neck  of  land,  formed  by  the  proximity  of  the 
rivers.  ^  The  fouth  walk  of  the  Caftk  impended  over  cho 
^  Tevioti  a  part  of  whofe  waters  were  direded  by  a  dam 
**  thrown  obliqaely  acrofs  the  ftream  at  the  weft  end  of  the 
*'  CaiUe  into  a  deep  fofle,  which  defended  the  fortrels  oo 
^*  the  weft  and  north,  emptying  itfelf  into  the  river,  at  the 
H  eaft  end  thereof  ^/'  Over  this  moat,  at  th^  gateway 
from  the  town,  was  thrown  a  draw-bridge,  the  remains  of 
which  were  but  lately  removed.  About  two  miles  weft 
from  the  Caftle  ftands  the  prefent  village  of  Roxbargh, 
plea&ntly  fitoated  near  the  banks  of  the  Teviot,  oo  a  dcr 
clivity  of  fonthem  expofure.  It  is  divided  by  a  (mall  rir 
vulet  into  the  "  Upper  and  Nether  Towns,"  which  had 
formerly  been  of  confiderable  extent,  though  they  now  con^ 
tain  only  about  200  inhabitants.  This  village  b  the  feat 
of  the  parochial  church ;  is  nearly  centrical  to  the  whole 
parifti  9  lies  in  the  county  which  bears  its  name,  and  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Prelbytery  of  Kelfo,  and  Synod  of  Merie 
and  Teviotdalq. 

Extent^  Hurfacef  and  So//.— The  parifli  extends  about 
9  miles  in  length,  and  4  in  breadth  at  the  extremities,  in* 
eluding  an  areapf  7000  acres  of  land.  Its  figure  is  irregular, 
^nd  may  be  reprefented  by  a  fpread  eagle,  with  his  head 
towards  the  north,  his  wings  fhadowing  eaftward  and  weft- 
v^rd.  The  general  appearance  of  the  country  is  flat  and 
floping.  The  foil  is  moftly  m  rich  loam,  well  calculated 
for  bearing  turnips  or  wheat :  The  A^nds  are  therefore  very 

valuab]f, 
f  Pfnnant. 


iff  Roxhurgh.  iij 

irtliiaUe,  but  rftther  onpleafaiu  to  laboofy  being  ianfy  in 
fome  places.  The  iktrts  of  the  parifli  on  the  weft  and  footh 
are  mooriih*  A  great  part  of  that  trad  of  land  which  lies 
between  the  rivets,  efpecially  about  the  viUage,  u  fo  ftonj, 
that  tradition  reports  it  to  have  been  once  all  covered  with 
houiiBS.  In  very  few  placesi  however,  have  the  ftones  any 
appearance  of  having  ever  been  ufed  in  building.  The 
grounds  on  the  eait  end  of  the  parifb,  and  thofe  on  the  fouth 
fide  of  the  Tcviot,  iu-e  inclofed  with  ditch  and  hedge.  The 
fences,  being  in  general  grown  np,  and  ornamented  with 
hedge-rows  of  trees;  befides,  various  woods,  and  little 
thicketii  or  clumps  of  wood,  reared  upon,  unarable  knolb 
and  rocky  hillocks  in  feveral  parts,  make  the  country  look 
rich  and  beautiful.  The  parifh  is  bounded  by  Maxton, 
Ancmm,  and  Crailtng,  on  the  weft  ;  by  C  railing  and  Eck- 
ford,  on  the  fouth  ^  by  Kelfo,  on  the  eaft }  by  a  part  of 
l^elfo  and  Makerfton,  on  the  norths 

Agrieubure^'-^Tht  greateft  part  of  this  pariOi  is  in  a  vtrj 
high  ftate  of  cultivation,  and  yields  an  ample  reward  to  the 
occupiers  for  their  toil  and  expence  in  labour.  Whether 
lying  in  pafture  or  in  tillage,  the  fields  every  where  around 
difplay  the  remarkable  adivity,  agricultural  fpirit,  and  ikill 
of  the  farmers.  Equal  in  all  kinds  of  huftandry  within  their 
fpheretoany  inthekingdom,the  landholders  and  farmers  here 
aie  particularly  attentive  to  the  cultivation  of  potatoes,  and, 
being  favoured  by  the  nature  of  the  foil,  have  carried  it 
to  a  very  high  degree  of  perfedion.  Three  hundred  fir- 
lots  pfT  acre  is  a  frequent  produce.  They  are  planted  in 
drills,  the  diftance  between  each  plant  fometimes  about 
three  feet,  and  are  completely  cleaned  of  weeds  by  frequent 
hoeing  \  the  firft  and  fecond  time  very  deep,  with  a  fliarp 
pointed  hoe,  afterwards  not  fo  deep,  left  the  root  fliocdd  Bft 
injured.  About  thp  time  pf  their  blooming,  the  earth  is  laid 

up, 


liB  ShatyHca  Account 

up,  focnetunet  in  die  ibria  of  a  flMkhiIl»  tboot  eadi  Ststk^ 
ivhich  is  a  gmt  iioproTcmcnt.  la  dus  way  ti  saoagc- 
meiit  tbc  ground  is  well  cleaBod»  and  afterwards  yiekb  a 
good  crop  of  wheat  or  oats.  The  potatoes  axe  phnfeed  oa 
light  dry  laod,  either  Batorally  richt  or  node  lb  with  dcmg. 
lim^  is  found  hurtfalt  by  aaaking  them  grow  /eabb§dm  la 
order  to  prevent  their  degcncra^i  the  feed  is  csr^dly 
picked,  and  fuch  as  grow  corlcd  leaves  axe  kept  oot  if  pof- 
fible.  Though  a  rotation  of  crops  is  generally  obferved 
here,  by  raifing  one  green  and  two  whiter  yet  fiome  of  the 
iarmers,  diftingniihcd  for  flcill  in  and  attention  to  bofinefi, 
are  often  direded  by  the  Ceafims,  and  the  various  fisil  of 
their  lands. 

Hence  the  number  of  acres  occupied  by  diftinft  fpecies 
of  crops  can  ardly  be  a&ertaiaed.  It  is  fuppoCed  that  one 
half  of  the  whole  parifli  is  girnerally  in  paflurc  ;  the  other 
half  in  tillage  \  and  om:*third  of  that  kid  down  annually 
with  grais- feeds,  the  ground  being  always  firft  properly 
cleaned  and  prq>ared  for  tiicm.  The  pariAi  reaia  a  great 
deal  more  grain  of  all  kinds  than  the  inhabitants  ufe,  and  . 
the  catde  bred  or  fattened  within  its  bounds  are  not  half, 
fcarcely  the  third  part,  cpnfumed  there.  Upwards  of  50 
ploughs  are  employed  in  the  partfli,  axid  drawn  generally 
with  two  hories.  Oxen  are  alfo  ufed,  and  found  to  aafwer 
the  purpofes  of  huibandry,  both  in  the  cart  and  plough. 

Po^ftfftoip^— Vediges  of  villages,  malt  fteeps,  cottages, 
and  other  memorials  of  inbabitatioB  in  various  parrs  of  the 
parifli,  indicate  the  popaladon  to  have  been  formerly  very 
confiderable ;  but  no  exaft  lift  of  old  date  having  fallen  into 
my  haAds,  the  number  cannot  be  alcertained  £ar  back. 
Agreeably  to  a  praAice  recommended  and  gene];^ly  oh* 
ferved  in  the  Church  of  Scodand,  the  writer,  upon  hb  in* 
fluxion  to  this  cure^  vifited  every  family  within  its  bounds, 
I  and 


^^  Roxburgh.  ii^ 

tnl  fmoA  the  Oftttber  of  ibab  i&  tlie  paijfli  to  be  upwards 
of  1050. 

A  very  accurate  lift  was  again  made  out  at  the  defire  of 
the  Sheriff  of  the  county,  in  r782»  to  aflift  in  providing 
a|ajoft  a  fcaroity,  with  which  this  country  was  then  threat* 
enedi  and  the  number  of  fouls  was  found  to  be  iioo* 
They  do  not  at  pre&iit  exceed  900  *,  and  may  be  ^UftdU 
bated  thus : 

Of  the  £ftabli(bcd  Church,  480 

Burghers,  Antiburghers,  and  ReEef 

Secedeis,        -  -170 

Cameronians  and  Quakers,        «  9 

Childrca,         ~  -  241 


._C  Males, 
5**®  1  Females, 

3«o 
540 

191 

Lotters,             •                 • 

t2I 

Minds  and  nerds. 

23 

Haadieraftfinett,  * 

43 

Apprentioes  to  thefe, 

7 

Servants, 

7Mafcs, 

60 
46 

Fanaers, 

aa      . 

nentors,            *                    • , 

xo 

The  great  difproportion  between  the  inales  and  females 
feems  to  arife  from  a  number  of  cot-hou(es  being  pofTtiTed 
bj  women,  wfaofe  buifiiandd  or  iioii^  are' eitij^oyed  elfe* 
where.    .     '    m-      -■  ■'-  • '-  '-"  '0    '     ''  ''•^^  « '^^  '  ^-^ 

According 

'  •     *  ;  fc  »  ,'      •    ...     V    ;  "I'M  ^t   '  .  '  ^-    <'*  •rtibj.n  2..T  * 
•  Since  this  lift  was  uKen  in  1 79^t^  BW*^^  A?VirfW>W:Wnj . 
*wdsof6o. 


ifto  Siaif/lufal  Account 

Accordiag  lo  tbe  parifli-regifler  •«  there  has  been,  widi* 
in  tbe  time  included  between  the  ift  of  Odober  1783  and 
the  ift  of  Odober  17939 
Marmges,        ^-  •  76 

K«^      -        ■    '«5SX    ?l 

The  exad  number  of  births  and  burials  cannot  be  cafilj 
afcertained*  For  various  rcafons  many  childrens  names  are 
not  regiftered;  and  the  people  in  general  all  over  this 
countrj  having  an  idea  of  property  in  their  family  buiy* 
ing  place^  carry  their  dead  there ;  and  by  negle&ing  to  do 
fO|  they  feem  to  feel  themfelves  guilty,  not  only  of  viola- 
ting a  natural  propenfity  in  men  to  deep  with  their  fiathers, 
but  alfo  of  infringing  a  facred  obligation,  as  they  &y,  fanc- 
tioned  by  the  example  of  patriarchs*  at  the  cave  in  the  field 
;  of  Macpelah*  In  articles  of  population*  an  account  of  the 
ages  of  different  claffes  of  perfons  have  been  thought  ex- 
pedient and  ufeful.  This  the  writer  has  been  obliged  to 
omity  except  with  regard  to  children,  who  neither  fear  nor 
bluili  to  cell  their  age ;  and  thofe  who  glory  in  "  prattling 
**  o'er  the  tales  of  other  years."  The  children  mentioned 
above  are  under  10  years  of  age ;  of  the  other  venerable 
dafsy  there  are  15  upwards  of  70,  nine  upwards  of  So,  thsee 
above  90,  and  one  near  100  years  old.  During  the  late 
incumbent's  miniftry  here,  a  woman  died  at  Faimington 
about  the  age  of  xao. 

State  <(f  tht  Popr.'^hl  prefent  there  are  24  upon  tbe 
poors  iroll  i  the  monthly  affeffmeot  for  fupporting  theiJB, 

including 

•  Tliis  reacba  as  far  back  u  xtfiS ;  is  ramaifcablf  tegolltf,  tudhss  oftoR 
been* proof itfibe  titiUtj  of  fndi  recorii.  - 


of  Roxburgh i  Hi 

including  collefior  and  clerk's  fees,  is  L.6:4:4,  levied, 
one  half  from  the  heritors,  and  the  other  half  from  the  te^^ 
nants,  according  to  their  real  and  valued  rents  refpedivcly. 
Meetings  for  condufting  the  aifairs  of  the  poor  here  ard 
held  twice  a-year  ;  the  tenants  are  always  invited  by  the 
minifter  from  the  pulpit  to  attend  on  thefe  occafions  for 
alGfting  the  heritors  and  kirk-feffion  *  in  that  work  ;  and 
the  allowance  of  each  pauper  is  generttlly  fixed  according 
to  the  report  of  the  kirk-fefCon,  or  tenant  under  whom  hd 
lives,  as  to  his  circumftances.     By  this  means  improper  ap- 
plications for  public  charity  are  checked ;  the  truly  indi- 
gent fiirni{hed  with  a  good  mode  of  obtabing  relief;  and 
to  the  generous,  a  plan  is  opened  for  giving  alms  without 
danger  of  impofitionl    It  is  painful,  indeed,  t(5  fee  parents, 
worn  out  with  the  toil  and  cafe  of  rearing  a  family,  fome- 
times  applying  for  public  aid  i' while  the  very  childreA 
they  have  nourilhed  and  brought  Up,  will  not  give  a  mit6 
to  relieve  th^ir  difttefi.    The  public,  (ky'they,  is  obliged 
to  do  it.    This  is  the  apology  many  tn^ke  for  negleding 
to  obey  one  of  the  firft  laws  of  nature,  )vhile  they  frequent- 
ly lavifli  away  a  confiderable  part  of  their  earnings  upon 
the  vanities  of  life.    On*  this  account  fome  have  thought 
there  (hould  be  no  law  to  force  public    charity,    unlefs 
to  oblige   fuch  as  are  in  ability  to   fdpport   their  indr- 
gent  relations,  efpecially  children  their  parents.     Alas  \  if 
filial  or  brotherly  affe£Kon  cannot  melt  the  heart,  1  rod  of 
iron,  it  is  to  be  feared,  would  be  ufed  \tl  vain  to  bt^ak  it. 
In  order  to  keep  the  number  of  poor  on  the  lift  from  inr- 
crealing  beyond  proper  bounds,  and  to  prevent  the  modcft 
and  well-defervln^  from  fufferin^   want,    the    colleftions 
Vol.  XIX.  QL  'made 

•  HertterK,  or  hndltolders,  Jind  t1i<?  klrk-fcffion  in  a  parUh»  arc  the  lega$ 
tneoibcn  of  diefc  m^edog*. .  In  «fleffiiig  for  the  poor,  l^owevcr,  th^  aid  ai 
the  farmcn  is  highly  proi)cr. 


222  Siatiflical  Accouni 

made  in  the  ktrk  ve  diftributed  among  nee^j  perfoasi  ooC 
on  the  poors  roll ;  and  in  cafes  of  incidental  polrertj,  an 
interim  fupplj  is  given.  The  heritors  fometimes  lodge 
money  in  tbe^  hands  of  the  fefliony  to  diflribute  as  they  fee 
proper.  This  is  attended  with  great  advantages  i  evils 
often  occurring  that  cannot  be  provided  againft  by  the  ge* 
neral  meeting,  and  the  coUedions  in  the  church  being 
{carcely  adequate  to  the  claims  ufually  made  upon  them, 
fiich  as  the  fchool- wages  of  poor  fcbolars,  Ste. 

State  of  the  Church  and  ScbooL-^vee  minifters  have 
been  ordained  here  fince  the  Revolution,  vi%*  MefTrs  Dat- 
gliefli,  Brown,  PoJlock,  Hogg,  and  the  pre&nt  incumbent. 
The  firft  of  thefe  was  excluded  6901  his  charge  at  the  Re* 
volution,  and  returned  to  it  afterwards ;  but  the  benefice 
being  too  imall  to  fupport  his  suimerous  family,  he  was 
obliged  to  betake  himfelfj  to^^ome  other  employment,  and 
leave  this  cure»  much  regretted  by  the  people.  Mr  Brown 
was  removed  from  his  kirk  in  the  year  1715  ^  and  had  it 
not  been  for  the  compaf&on  and  humanity  of  a  Noble 
Counteis,  he  had  felt  all  the  diftre&  naturally  (befalling 
fuch  as  are  driven  from  a  particular  Jine  of  life,  to  which 
alone  they  have  been  educated.  Though  a  man  of  no 
fliining  abilities,  and  greatly  deScient  in  that  difcemment 
and  prudence  neceflary  to  fleer  the  helm  of  condud  in  a 
politic  age,  yet  we  feel  for  Mr  Brown,  retiring,  in  exile,  to 
a  remote  valley,  where^  he  lived  for  years  in  a  cottage  on 
the  fide  of  a  rivulet,  (by  Cefsford),  tending  his  milk-cow,  tx 
delving  his.  garden — ^his  only  livelihood,  and  the  gift  of 
cbari^.  The  ground  of  proceis  againft  Mr  Brown  is-  iaid 
to  have  been  a  charge  of  difloyalty,  which  a^e  chiefly 
from  his  drinking  the  Pretender's  health  at  Kelfo,  in  com- 
pany with  the  rebel  army.  This,  it  it  faid,  he  did  with  no  ill 
intention,  but  fimply  thinking  thereby  to  pleafe  Mackintc^, 
the  rebel  cfftnmanderi  and  thus  recover  a  horlie  the  rebels 

^      hai 


of  Roxburgh.  12^ 

hfld  ftelea  firodi  him.  Mr  Pollock  lived  iM>t  long  to  profc* 
cnte  (be  remarkable  (uccefs  w^tb  wbicb  his  miniflry  was  . 
•Ctended  in  this  parith.  Defigned  by  Providence  to  in-' 
ftmft  a  mde  race  of  men,  he  was  endowed  with  many  qua- 
Itfications  reqnifite  for  that  important  talk.  A  robuft  con- 
ftitutton,  and  a  bold  impetuous  temper ;  unwearied  atten- 
tion to  the  care  of  his  paiftoral  office ;  and  a  rigid  ezecu- 
tioQ  of  difcipline  ;  a  competent, ihare  of  Tarious  erudition, 
and  very  confiderable  powers  of  addreis,  procured  him  the 
lalling  memorial  of  having  turned  many  from  datkneis  to 
light.  Scarcely  above  one  in  a  family,  befoi^  his  days, 
having 'been  taught  to  [read  here,  under  his  tuition  the 
youths  not  only  obtained  the  elements  of  ufeful  knowledge 
at  fchooly  but  were  obliged  tq  commit  the  principles  of  re- 
Kgion  and  morality,  as^ recommended  by  the  confticution 
of  tlHs  kbgdom,  carefully  to  memory,  and  repeat  them 
pabHcIy  at  diurch,  which  gave  early  and  falutary  ideas  of 
civil  and  (acred  virtues  chat  the  lapfe  of  time  has  not  en- 
tirely  wiped  away.  His  few  fiirviving  difeiples  talk  of 
tbefe  things  with  delight ;  and  difcover  the  mingled  fenfa- 
tioQs  df  joy  and  tricmbling,  while  they  fpeak  of  the  great 
oaken Jlick  wherewith  Mr  Pollock  always  walked,  over- 
awing' Che  ittfoleht ;  or  the  engaging  means  by  which  he 
enconraged  the  timid  and  deferving.  Mr  Hogg  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  ^arifl),  and  wore  out  his  days  in  ferving  this 
cure  witfl  much  efteem,  refped,  and  ufefuhiefs.  He  died 
on  the  3d  day  of  Febrnary  1781,  in  the  46th  year  of  his 
tninifiry,  and  was  fucceeded  \j  the  prefent  incumbent  in 
the  month  of  November  following..  The  church  was  built 
in  the  year  1752 ;  was  the  firft  modem  houfe  of  that  kind 
in  this  comer  of  the  country ;  is  in  good  repair,  ncit  and 
commodioufly  fitted  up  for  holding  the  people.  Though 
plain  and  fimple  in  its  conftrudion,  the  prefent  church 
forms  a  ilriking  contrafi  to  the  old  one  here,  and  ihows  how 

diffsrently 


1 24  Statiftical  Account 

diiTerentlj  men  in  isixicient  and  modem  tiw^es  tfaink  of  plft* 
ces  iiueft  for  devotional  e^ceroifes.  Agreeably,  as  it  woaI4 
feeniy  to  the  old  idea,  that  the  {pirit  of  devotion  likes  beft 
to  dwell  in  gloomj  retx:eats,  the  kirk  at  Roxburgh  was  al- 
jDoil  wholly  un^er  ground,  roofed  with  a  ftroog  arch,  and 
totally  overgrown  wKh  grafs.  The  people  entered  to  the 
place  of  public  woribip  through  ;ui  aifle  *  of  the  fiMne  coor 
jftruflion,  and  delcended  by  fix  or  feven  fteps  into  the  body 
of  the  cburqh,  (perhaps  the  particular  conftniSion  of  tha( 
edifice  had  been  intended  as  9  kind  of  fecority  to  the  wor- 
.ihippers  in  times  of  perfepudon  and.  danger).  T)ie  roaoie 
has  been  rebuilt  during  the  prefcnt  minifter's  incumbency, 
and  might  be  dejcmed  a  good  one,,  did  not  the  v^j  da^p 
jituation  repder  it  both  particularly  uncomfortable  and  tm- 
healthful  to  live  in.  The  heritors  have  already  been  at 
confiderable  e^ptnce  in  repairing  it,  by  renewing  the 
ground-floor,  tbrpwing  drains  round  the  houfe,  &c.  bat  all 
jfeems,  as  yet,  an  ineffedual  remedy  of  an  evil  that  might 
eafily  have  been  prevented  at  firfi.  It  is  furely  the  interefi 
as  well  as  the  duty  of  all  who  arc  bound  by  }aw  to  fumilh 
accommodations  to  perfons  in  public,  cbafaftcrs,  not  only 
to  contrad  with  tradefmen,  but  alfo  to  fee  the  work  done 
in  a  plape  and  form  that  may  render  it  mpft  durably  com- 
fortable. The  Quke  of  Roxburgh  is  the  undoubted  pa- 
tron of  this  ]l\t]^.  The  ftipend  is  L.  73  :  3  ;  4,  including 
communion-elemeqts,  and  L.  i,  10  s.  Sterling  in  lieu  of 
turf>calUng.  A  decre^  of  modification  paflfed  the  3d  day 
of  March  1790,  augmented  faid  ftipend  by  a  grant  of  four 
chalders  qf  oat-me^,  but  the  locality  is  not  yet  fettled, 
i^racUces  qf  thi^  Ifind  are  not  only  vxsry  much  againft  a  mi- 
pifter's  iniereft,,  bpt  often  prove  alfo  extremely  hurtful  to 

«  heritors, 

»  Tliis  aide  is  llill  remaining,  anci  is  the  family  bnrj?ng-plact  oelonging 
if>  Sunlaws.  •     ' 


of^Roxburgbk  X2$ 

heritorsy.on  whom  the  greateil  £hare,o£ftipeiids  finally  falls. 
The  law  indeed  autborifcs  a  miniftcr  to  uplift  his  whojc 
iiiodi6ed  ftipeod^  mstil  locked,  from  any  proprietor,  who 
has  fofficient  teinds  within  the:  parifli^     This,  however, 
thoogh  ftridly  legal,  is  generally  thought  an  ungracious 
ftep,  IS  difficult  to  render  effeAual,  and  is  feldom  or  never 
followed,  unle&  qeceQity  u^g^.;    The  glebe  is  of  confider- 
able  extent,  but  not  including  a.  grafs^glebe,  nor  has  the 
minifier  any  thing  in  ^eu  thereof  that .  he  knows  of,  has 
bcei^  all  indofed  and  much  improven  at  the  prefent  incum* 
bent's  fole  expeoce.    But  being  rnaturally  of  a  wet,  cold 
bottom,  and  interfcfted  by  a  very  dcftrua'jvc  rivulet,  it 
will  require  conftant  attention  to  keep:  the  fences  in  re*- 
pair,  and  the  land  in  any  tolerable  date  of  culture  or  fruit- 
^ulnels.    The  miniver's  garden  is  now  very  good,  and  his 
oflioe-houfesare  iuitable,  had  their  &ua^pn  b^en  dry. — ^Xhe 
number  .of  fcholars  attending  the  psgroohial  fchool  is  gene- 
rally about  30  in  fummer,  and  40  in  winter.     The  .fcfaool- 
mailer's  falaxy  is  L.  xoo  Scotch,  and  ai  darg  of  turf  caft  on 
Roxburgh  moor,  according,  to  ufe  an4  wont. '  Belides  hiji 
legal  ialary,  he  has  feveral  little  perquifites,  iiich  as  xo  s. 
per  annum  as  precentor  and  feflion-clerk  j  ao  s.  J^er  annurfi 
as  heritors  clerk ;  for  each  proclamation  .of  b^nns,  i  s. ;  for 
every  regiftration  of  baptifm,  6d»;  and  4Td«  for  each  te- 
fiimonial  of  moral  charader ;  thefe  arq  here  given  by  the 
authority  of  the  kirk-fe£Qon.    The  fchool-wages  arc  x  s. 
per  quarter  for  readbg  -,  i  s.  '6  d.  for  writing  ;  and  %  s.  for 
arithmetic.    Befides  the  parochial,  there  are  twofchools  in 
this  pariflb,  which  acc6mmodate  children  who  live  at  a  di- 
ftange  from  the  village.    The  falary  of  the  mailers  of  thefe 
twp  febpols  is  given  by  their  employers.    It  is  much  to  be 
willed  that  country  fchoolmafters  had  more  liberal  appoint- 
Aents.    The  Duke  of  Roxburgh,  whofe  attention  to  all 
ijjfhpublip  ipfti^utions  deferves  the  higheft  praifc,  has  aug- 
mented 


1^6  *  Siutijikal  Actount 

tniented  to  the  legal  vhimum^  vis.  L*  xob  SeoticA,  the  fiiiool* 
mailer's  falarjr  heir,  md  I  befieve  of  dll  the  {choolanflen 
where  he  has  zuj  cDOtetn.    Tfoej'are  ffil'lhit  a  poor  ni* 
dfacement  tot  men  of  gebios  or  leaming»  iti  this  entcrpri- 
ling  age,  to  undergo  the  drudgery  of  that  itiolV  nfcfiil  office. 
At  tfaefe  humble  {emtnaries,  the  miMson^inthis  country  re- 
ceive die  nidimenti  of  dvil  iMid  modrl  diarader;  and  the 
prxactples  children  iinbibe  there,  often  direft^tbe  wliole  Te« 
nor  of  their  future  life.    Unlefs  the  depravity  of  the  wocU 
hai  rubbed  oflT  the  virtutnis  feelings  a  boy  was  infpired  with 
at  ichooly  we  frequently  fiiid  htm  in  mattfte  age  pnifaed  on 
to  excellence  in  hodabie  puriuita  by  the  fame  nerves  which 
led  him  foremoft  iii  the  youthful  fp<^,  and  made  him  a- 
fpire  at  perfonal  honour,  or  his  mailer's  applaufc,  by  rffing 
Daxin  the  clafs  through  merit  and  indufh-y.    It  might, 
itherefore,  be  of  great  advantage  to  church  and  fbite,  in  a 
land  where  the  road  to  eminence  is  open  to  all  who  will 
Drive  to  attain  it,  were  a  man  of  a  liberal  and  poliflied 
ynind  placed  at  the  head  of  each  of  thefe  nurferies  of  youth, 
Ratified  not  only  to  teach  children  the  alphabet,  but  to  imv 
plant  in  theit  minds  the  feeds  of  virtue,  and  of  that  noble 
ambition  which  leads  to  preferment  in  the  world,  as  at 
Ichool,  b^  perfonal  worth  and  due  fubmiJQiDn  to  fuperiors. 
But  this  can  hardly  be  escpefted,  while  the  appointments  of 
that  office  continue  fo  extremely  narrow,  as  to  make  every 
"uell-^'dacated  and  virtuous  man  fhfink  back  from  it  as  a 
place  of  hopelefs  penury,  or  follow  fome  other  employ- 
ment befides  his  fchool,  in  order  to  gain  V  decent  livelihood 
for  his  family^     It  is  hoped,  however,  c!hat  fuch  arrange* 
ments  will  be  made  as  may  enable  prefbyteties  (whom  the 
wifdom  of  our  anceftors  has  conflituted  guardians  of  paro^ 
chial  fchools)  to  recommend  men  eveJ-y  way  fit  for  con* 
'during  that  lingular  fyftem  of  education  from  whence  the 
^ottiQi  people  ha v^  derived  fuch  confec^uence,  and  on.thb 
3  proper 


fioper  ttumagtincnt  of  which  the  Inrelfare  of  focictj  fo 
gititly  depends.  Over  the  parochial  fcbool  of  this  parilh 
a  man  of  f(reat  inUgritj  has  prefided  upwards  of  40  years^ 
aiKl  many  have  reapied  the -good  fruits  of  his  labours. 

Herii^s. — ^Tbere  arp  ten  heritors^  or  proprietors  of  land, 
in  the  parifli,  ^ve  great  and  five  fmall.  The  Duke  of  Rox*' 
burgh  is  proprietor  of  one  half  of  the  lands  in  the  whole 
parilhy  and  bears  confeqnently  one  half  of  all  parochial  bur^- 
deoS|  except  the  miniAer's  ftipend,  of  which  by  law  he  caa 
greatly  relieve  himfelf^  being  titular  of  all  the  teinds.  The 
only  great  heritor  who  refides  for  any  length  of  time  is  the 
Uoa.  Baron  Rutherford  of  Faimington.  Of  this  gentle- 
man's  cbarafier,  fo  univerfally  and  fo  jufily  efiecmed,  a 
imall  part  only  fadls  within,  the  limits  of  a  Statlftical  ac* 
count.  The  whole  eftate  is  cultivated  by  the  proprietor 
himfelfy  and  his'extenfive  improvements  have  afforded 
bread  to  artifls  ^d  labourers  in  this  part  of  the  country 
for  many  years.  Befides  their  receiving  the  ftated  price  of 
htboor,  the  moft  humane  and  particular  attention  is  paid 
to  the  comfort  and  health  of  the  inhabitants  ^  in  fo  much, 
that  every  thing  being  found  them,  (even  medical  afliBance 
when  necefiary),  they  have  no  need  to  apply  to  the  public 
funds  of  the "parifh  for  charity*  In  a  fmall  village  on  this 
eftate*  in  which  there  are  upwards  of  xoo  fouls,  the  pro* 
prietor  has  efiablilhed  a  fchool  with  a  confiderable  falary 
to  a  teacher  properly  qualified.  The  fchoolmafter  has  an 
additional  allowance  for  keeping  a  Sunday  fchool^  where 
all  who  with  to  attend  are  inftruAed  in  the  principles  of  re- 
ligion and  morality,  and  propei:  books  on  thefe  fubje^  pot 
into  their  hand&.*-)noculatiou  of  the  fmall-pox  has  often 
been  fucceisfully  prafiifed  in  the  bounds  of  his  eilate  ^  and 
this  alfo  being  afforded  gratis^  has  induced  the  parents  to 
comply  with  that  faluiary  meafure.    Thus  both  the  fpi* 

ritual 


■  -¥ 


t28  Statijlical  Account  ^ 

ritual  and  temporal  inter^fls  of  the  people  are  carefidly  af« 
tended  to  by  the  Hon.  Baron  *. 

Of  the  12  farmers  who  occupy  the  lands  in  this  parilh, 
eight  farm  pretty  extenfively,  the  reft  are  fmall  tenants. 
Eleven  or  twelve  in  the  village  of  Roxburgh  are  called 
cotlanders^  poflefSng  from  his  Grace  the  Dakeof  Raxborgh 
abaut  two  acres  of  land  each,  together  with  a  houfe»  jrardi 
and  liberty  of  pafturing  their  cows  in  an  adjacent  ioamimg. 
This,  along  with  their  own  induftry  in  fome  trade,  enables 
them  to  bring  up  their  families  pretty  comfortably.  They 
have  no  leafe  of  their  lands,  but  their  rents  are  feldom  rai- 
fed,  and  they  are  almoft  never  turned  away,  cnleis  they  be- 
have  ill,  or  prove  troublefome  neighbours.  All  of  them 
have  families,  which  being,  in  genera^  trained  up  in  the 
path  of  virtue  and  induftry,  promife  to  be  ufefiil  members 
offocicty, 

Animdls.'^ThAs  parifh  contains  about  x6o  work,  9  or 
10  riding  horfes,  and  feveral  young  ones  to  preferve  the 
flock,  600  black  cattle,  and  4000  iheep,  all  good  of  their 
l;.ind,  though  not  diftinguiihed  in  the  neighbourhood  either 
for  lize  or  value.  Birds  of  all  kinds,  ufually  met  with  in 
this  country,  appear  here  in  their  proper  feafons. — ^The 
Tweed  and  Teviot  are  the  only  rivers  in  the  parifh,  and 
abound  with  various  kinds  of  fiOi,  efpecially  falmon,  whofe 
prices  are  generally  regulated  by  the  Berwick  mat ket.  A 
fmall  purple-coloured  trout  prevails  much  here,  very  defi- 
cious  to  eat,  and  is  faid  to  be  peculiar  to  Teviot.  Such 
quadrupeds  as  generally  frequent  the  fouthem  parts  of 
Sc9tland,  appear  in  various  corners  of  this  parilh,  and  af- 
ford the  fportfmen  plenty  of  game  in  the  feafon. 

Advantages 

«  Since  the  above  wu  writtdn,  tliis  worthy  Nobleman  is  dead,  mucii  vA 
moft'ficccrely  regretted. 


iff  Roxburgh.  129 

Advantages  and  Di/advanta^ ei.^^Thongh,  this  parifh  is 
«iot  much  diftinguiflied  from  thofe  around  by  any  pardfu- 
lar  local  advantages,  yet  its  vicinity  to  a  good  market  at 
Kelfoy  its  inhabitants  Being  liable  to  no  peculiar  difeaicy 
and  its  very  healthful  climate»  are  properties  of  high  efta- 
jnation.    Spring  agues  were  tronblefome  in  two  or  three 
places,  which  lie  low  and  damp;  but  fince  the  ground 
about  thefie  was  made  dry  in  the  courCe  of  farming  improve- 
ment, by  drains  and  inclofiixg,  the  inhabitants  have  not 
been  expofed  to  that  complaint  in  any  remarkable  degree. 
Several  old  people  complain  much  of  what  they  call  tie 
patJUf  or  rheumatifai^  oraving  probably  to  the  extreme  cold 
they  are  expofed  to  from  their  damp  boufes,  and  great 
icaxvity  of  firing.     Among  the  principal  difadvantages  un- 
der which  this  place  and  all  the  neighbourhood  labour,  is 
the  great  diftance  from  coal,  and  a  total  want  of  every 
-other  fpecies  of  fuel.     This  is  a  xeal  cfdamity  to  the  poor ; 
and  mod  heavily  felt  by  them  fince  they  were,  £»aie  years 
ago,  all  prohibited  from  cafting  turf  on  the  moors.     Every 
cottar  ufed  to  have  liberty  from  his  mafter  to  caft  a  ^arg  or 
two  of  turf.-*The  fine  road  from  Berwick  to  Carlifle,  (fo 
beautifully  defcribed  in  the  Statiftical  Account  of  Bedrule), 
pafles  through  the  fouth  part  of  this  parifh,  and  is  of  ezten- 
{ivc/ub^antia/  benefit,  as  is  that  likewife  which  runs  along 
the  north  fide  of  the  parifii  from  Kelfo  to  Melrofe.     But 
the  high  road  paffing  through  the  village  of  Roxburgh  is 
jet  in  a  natural  (late,  and  on  account  of  its  extreme  rug- 
gcdntls  is  almoft  impaflable*     In  confequence,  however,  of 
a  bridge  now  building  over  Teviot,  near  Kelfo,  we  hope 
this  road  will  foon  be  put  into  a  (late  of  complete  repair, 
being  the  direft  line  therefrom  up  through  a  rich  populous 
country,  whofe  comforts  and  improvement  are  much  im- 
peded by  the  want  of  it.    The  bridge  above  mentioned  is 
xemarkably  handfome,  and  will  be  of  vaft  utility  to  all  that 

Vol.  XIX.  R  populous 


X30  Statijlical  Account 

populous  diftriS  between  Tweed  and  Teviot ;  efpeciallj 
to  tl^  tenants  on  the  eaft  end  of  thb  parifli,  whom  the  ac- 
cidental mngnitude  of  thefe  riven  often  internipted  in  the 
courfe  of  huiineb.  Another  inconvenience  arifes  to  this 
parifli  from  its  interfe£tion  by  the  Teviot.  The  lands  ad- 
jacent to  the  river  are  not  indeed  expofed  to  much  damage 
thereby,  and  a  boat  is  kept  at  Roxburgh,  both  for  ferving 
the  country,  and  accommodating  the  people  with  accefr  to 
the  church  ;  yet  the  flooding  of  the  river  often  prevents  a 
populous  diftrift  of  the  parifli  ironi  attending  public  wor- 
iliip,  and  ^of>///)^  deprives  the  children  there  of  the  benefit  of 
the  parochial  fchool.  As  many  landward  pariflies  labour 
under  fimilar  inconveniencies  with  regard  to  parochial 
fchools,  it  is  hoped  that  in  thefe  arrangements  underfiood 
to  be  going  on  through  Scotland  for  better  encouraging  the 
education  of  youth,  fome  plan  will  be  adopted  for  provi- 
ding ftated  fchoolmailers  in  fuch  places  as  have  not  acceii 
to  the  parilh-ichool. 

Vie^os, — In  almoft  every  corner  of  this  parifli  the  eye  b 
prefented  with  objeds  that  nature  and  art  feem  vying  how 
bell  to  adorn.  The  beanties  of  the  fcenery  which  fur- 
rounds  tlie  feat  of  the  ancient  city  of  Roxburgh  exceeds  all 
defcription.  A  little  to  the  weft  of  this,  the  public  road 
lies  along  the  top  of  a  precipice  lined  with  trees,  through 
which  a  traveller  perceives  the  Tweed  rolling  **  ^dark, 
**  drumbly  and  deep,"  far  below  him  ;  at  a  little  diftance, 
on  the  other  hand,  he  fees  the  Teviot  meandring  round  a 
large  plain,  and  boimded  by  a  rocky  wooded  bank.  While, 
contemplating  thtfe  rivers,  truly  beautiful  when  in  low 
water,  and  grand  when  in  flood,  the  fpeAator  fuddenly 
lofes  ijght  of  them^  and  every  thing  elfe  but  the  wood  that 
ovcrfliadows  him  in  a  hollow  of  the  way.  In  this  gloomy 
path  he  goes  only  a  few  paces,  until  a  moft  enchanting 

fceac 


of  Roxburgh.  131 

ibeoe  opens  upon  him  all  at  once,  the  prominent  features 
whereof  are,  the  Duke  of  Roxburgh's  feat  at  Flenrs;  Sir 
George  Douglas'a  at  Springwoodpark ;  the  Teviot  on  the 
right  and  Tweed  on  the  left  hand,  two  beautiful  bridges 
over  thefis,  and  Kelfo^  in  all  its  glory,  full  in  the  traveller's 
cje,  as  he  paiTes  eaftward.  From  a  panicular  fpot  in  the 
▼tUage  of  Roxburgh  there  is  a  very  magnificent  view, 
laooking  eaftward,  the  fpe&ator.fees  nothing  wild  or  uncul- 
tivated, and  ftretches  the  line  of  vifion  along  a  valley,  appa- 
rently covered  with  trees,  to  the  diflance  of  8  or  10  miles. 
Jl  com  or  grals  field,  a  houfe  here  and  there,  and  the  fmoke 
of  various  cots  and  villages  curling  up  from  amidft  ti)e  fo- 
reft,  divetfify  and  heighten  the  fcene.  A  houfe  on  the  top 
of  a  high  hill,  with  a  row  of  trees  on  each  fide  of  it,  makes 
a  fine  termirauion  to  the  wiiole.  From  the  fame  fpot  the 
fpcfiator  is  amufed  with  a  very  different  profpeA  wcft« 
ward,  doable  the  length,  and  bounded  by  the  lofty  moun- 
tain Carter,  and  its  adjacent  hills*  From  a  rifing  ground 
00  the  fouth  fide  of  the  parifli,  the  curious  are  gratified  with 
a  romantic  view  of  the  Teviot.  After  being  concealed  by 
the  panicular  arrangement  of  its  banks,  the  river  appears 
tumbling  cafcadt-like  from  the  mouthofSunlaws  eaves,  and 
inftantly  difappears  again.  The  cave-mouths,  and  the  river 
apparently  flowing  from  them,  produce  a  moft  Angular  ef- 
fed.  A  profped  of  the  Teviot  from  Sunlaws  hill,  wind- 
ing through  an  extenfive  dale,  enriched  in  the  higheft  de- 
gree both  by  nature  and  art,  well  deferves  notice  as  pecu- 
liarly pleafing  and  grand.  The  wideft  and  mod  abundant 
range  of  view  which  this  parifli  affords,  is  from  a  rifing 
ground  or  bill  called  Duns-Law^  on  the  weft  angle  of  Fair- 
nington  eftate.  Agreeably  to  the  import  of  its  name,  this 
eminence  is  faid  to  have  formerly  been  a  ftation  of  autho- 
rity and  ftrength.  An  obfcrvatory,  or  fummer-lioufe,  built 
on  the  top  of  it  by  the  Hon.  Baron  Rutherford,  ^commands 

a 


liz  Statifllical  Account 

a  prvTped  too  vaft,  and  crowded  with  objeds,  for  pafdcov 
kr  or  critical  remark.  From  this  adTantageoos  fpot  o£ 
obfervatioa,  the  various  powers  of  Cade  which  adorn  the 
mind  of  man  are  called  forth,  and  pleafiuitly  engaged  in 
contemplating  lofty  mountains,  verdant  htUs,  firuitfnl  plains^ 
beautiful  rivers,  populous  towns,  great  woods,  three  re« 
nowned  caftles,  and  a  peep  of  the  German  Ocean.  Under 
the  fpcdator's  eye  from  this  place  the  parifli  of  Roxburgh 
Mts  fully  difphyed,  and  forms  an  excellent  landfcape,  the 
Tweed  walhing  its  border  on  the  north,  and  Teviot  partly 
on  the  fouth«  A  rich  angle,  all  indofed  *,  lying  on  the 
Ibuth-eaft  £de  of  Teviot,  adds  much  to  the  beauty  of  the 
whole. 

Curiofiiiei^-^hmong  the  cnriofities  in  this  parifh,  two 
well-fprings,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tweed,  of  a  petrifymg. 
quality,  are  remarkable.  One  of  thefe  is  but  a  feeble 
fpring,  and  being  la  the  midd  of  marfhy  ground,  is  not  very 
perceptible.  The  ndols  around  it,  however,  is  all  incrufied 
confiderably.  More  plentiful  in  its  fource,  tiie  other 
fpring  produces  a  more  powerful  effed.  It.feems  to  drip 
through  a  fblld  rock ;  but  upon  near  infpe£Bon,  that  rock 
appears  plainly  to  be  a  petrified  fubftance.  The  powers  of 
the  water  are.  fo  ftrong,  as  to  cruft  a  bit  of  mols,  or  any  ca* 
pillary  fubftance,  within  the  fpace  of  three  months,  and 
render  it  hard  as  folid  ice  in  the  courfe  of  half  a  year.  A 
little  below  this  a  ilratum  of  rock  (by  miners  called  a  dike) 
runs  acro&  the  rWer,  and  forms  a  great  natural  curiofity. 
The  rock  is  divided  into  four  flits,  which  contain  the 
Tweed  when  not  in  flood.  Two  of  thefe  are/about  34  feet 
deep,  and  fo  narrow  that  one  may  eafily  ftep  acrob  them. 
In  fnmmer,  people  a-foot  ufed  often  to  pais  the  river  here  ^ 

but 

*  This  is  faid  to  have  been  the  firfl  inclofed  fp-ound  in  all  this  countr;. 


of  Roxburgh.  133 

hot  Sir  Henry  Haj  Macdougal,  fome  time  ago»  caufed  the 
middle  rock  to  be  blown  up ;  and  thus  humanely  Aopped  that 
carious,  but  dangerous  paflage.  As  the  water  runs  through 
chefe  guUets  with  great  velocity,  perpetually  hurling  down 
fmall  ftones,  it  emits  a  loud  grumbling  noife  at  a//  times ; 
hut  at  the  break  df  an  ice  florm,  it  fends  forth  atremen* 
dons  roar  Eke  the  raging  fea,  and  is  heard  a  great  way  off. 
In  the  time  of  firoft  the  dtflferent  ihapes  and  hoary  appear* 
ance  of  the  ice  fdrm  a  grand  fcene;  in  fummer,  or  when 
the  river  is  low,  a  diftant  view  excites  pleaCmt  emotions  ; 
a  near  infpeAion  of  the  deep  impetuous  ftream  raifeth  a 
Ytry  different  feeling.  Thefe  rocks  are  frequented  by 
great  numbers  of  falmon,  and  highly  valued  by  fifhers  as  a 
fit  place  for  fetting  their  nets.  Three  or  four  cart-load  of 
fiih  are  fometimes  catched  there  in  a  morning.  Such  fiih 
as  lodge  among  thefe  rocks  a  few  days,  it  is  faid,  turn  quite 
black,  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  efieft  of  copper  ore  whick 
appears  on  both  fides  of  the  river  here  in  confiderable 
quantity.  Some  of  the  fmall  ftones  which  halt  on  diefe 
rocks  being  kept  in  a  conftant  eddy  by  the  current,  grind 
out  deep  round  holes  vtrj/ooftf  which  make  a  curious 
beautiful  appearance. 

^iif^tfiVfVf ^— Such  as  are  given  to  that  fpecies  of  inve- 
iligation  might  find  many  memorials  of  antiquity  in  this 
parifli.  The  feat  and  gardens  of  the  Francifcan  monks^ 
who  fettled. at  Roxburgh;  various  monuments  of  ghoftly 
cuftoms  obferved  by  thofe  religionifts ;  medals,  coins,  fun- 
dry  machinery  inftruments ;  caufeway  paved  ftreets  and 
fubterraneous  vaults ;  pieces  of  fpears,  guns,  and  other  mi- 
litary accoutrements ;  an  immenfe  quantity  of  iron  nails, 
&c.  found  in  cultivating 'the  fields  where  the  ancient  city 
of  Roxburgh  formerly  floo3;  fpurs,  and  otlver  articles 
of  hamefs,  got  about  the  fkirts  of  the  caftle ;  the  cattle  it- 

3  •  f-^'f- 


134  Stattftical  Account 

&%  \vhereof  there  remains  now  only  as  much  fliattered 
wall  as  fuggefts  the  former  prodigious  flrength'  and  finga* 
lar  magnificence  of  that  fortreis ;  a  variety  of  %fjA  JUaelj 
trees,  particularly  an  elm,  called  the  tryJUmg-trtt^   about 
thirty  feet  round  the  trunk,  and  clothed  with  ramificatioiu 
•  remarkably  grand  and  venerable;    tbofe   objeds  fumiih 
great  entertainment  for  the  antiquarian  :  but  the  reader  is 
referred  for  a  fiirther  account  of  them  to  the  Sutiilical  Re- 
port of  Kelfo,  whofe  author  has  taken  notice  of  them«   and 
whofe  talents,  befides  fuperior  means  of  information,  are 
better  fitted  to  do  jufiice  to  fuch  rare  monuments  of  anti- 
quity *•    But  there  are  other  objcds  in  this  pariih  worthy 
of  the  antiquarian's  notice.    Among  thefe  may  be  reckon- 
ed a  hawthom-tree  in  the  minifter's  garden,  remarkable  for 
fize  and  beauty,  meafuring  about  feven  feet  round  the 
trunk,  and  ihading  an  area  of  upwards  of  thirty  feet  dia- 
meter.   There  are  few  objeAs  of  greater  beauty  to  be  feen 
than  this  tree  when  in  bloirom.-*The  remains  of  a  ftroag 
tower,  fituated  near  this  village,  on   the  top  of  a  bank 
gently  doping  down  to  the  T^viot,  are  worthy  of  notice. 
This  venerable  fabric  has  once  been  of  great  extent  and 
magnificence.     Old  people  here  remember  its  having  vari- 
ous apartments  inhabited,  the  windows  and  doors  fecured 
by  iron  bars  and  gates,  and  the  Unties  and  door-pofis,  cfpe- 
cially  thoie  of  the  great  porch,  highly  ornamented  by  grand 
Gothic  fculpture.     They  fpeak  with  rapture  alfo  of  the 
fine  gardens,  the  fruit-trees,  and  various  works  of  decora- 
tion, 

*  That  tbefe  places  belong  to  Roxburgh  parUh  appean,  from  the  local 
memory  of  the  oldeft  inhabitants  here  ;  from  the  expreCs  terms  of  the  leafcs, 
whereby  the  tenants  of  thefe  lands  have  always  held  that  farm ;  from  the 
Bailie  of  Roxburgh  barony  holding  his  court  at  Frian ;  from  the  polittv^ 
'  teftxmony  of  the  late  author  of  die  county  cefs-books ;  and  from  the  ftatutc- 
'  labour  of  Roxburgh  parlHi  being  applied  for  making  tod  repairing  roads 
about  Friais  as  within  tliis  bounds. 


of  Roxburgh.  135 


< 


tioD,  whereby  they  have  feen  this  manfion  fiirroanded. 
TTheTe  things,  fo  expreffive  of  the  tafie  and  dignity  of  the 
former  inhabitants  of  tbb  place,  afe  now  quite  efiaced ; 
and  there  remains  of  the  tower  itfelf  only  two  apartments 
on   the  gronnd-floor,  lighted  by  a  few  rays  tranfmitted 
through  fome  flics  in  the  wall,  apparently  defigned  for  air, 
or  for  fliooting  arrows  from  in  different  diredions.    The 
apartments  are  ftrongly  arched  above ;  the  walls  are  up- 
mrards  of  fix  feet  thick,  and  boilt  with  fmallftones,  cement* 
ed  firm  as  the  folid  rock.     The  roof  is  overgrown  with 
grab,  interfperfed  by  bmfli-wood,  fprung,  feemingly,  from 
feed  blown  thither  from  a  neighbouring  afli-tree.    Thefe 
buihes  contribute  much  to  the  beautifiiUy  grotefque  figure 
of  thu  rnin.    From  thb  tower  was  carried  to  the  late  Lady 
Chatto's  (whole  property  it  was)  a  flroog  iron  gate,  two 
^ars,  a  fieel  cap,  and  a  coat  of  t'mail  very  entire.    The 
fpcars  were  of  fuch  fize  that  a  rugg  faw  was  made  out  of 
each,  and  dill  to  be  feen  here :  the  coat  of  mail  was  fo 
Iwmvy,  that  aftout  young  man  in  this  village,  who  tried  it  on 
and  eSayed  to  walk,  was  not  able  to  move  with  it.     This 
ruin  is  called  Merlin's  Cave,  in  memory  of  an  ancient  in- 
habitant of  that  name,  they  fay.     It  beats  alfo  the  name  of 
Wallace's  Tower ;  but  whether  it  obtuned  that  defignation, 
like  totne  other  places  in  Scotland,  merely  in  honour  of 
fiscb  an  illnftrions  champion  of  his  country ;  or  whether,  as 
blind  Harry  &ys,  Wallace  was  adually  in  this  place,  and 
built  the  tower  at  Roxburgh,  the  writer  has  not  been  able 
fbUy  to  afcertain.    A  young  woman,  about  70  or  80  years 
ago,  fell  from  the  ftair-head,  where  ihe  was  fitting  fpinning 
one  day,  and  foon  after  that  the  place  was  totally  defertcd. 
From  a  fiiperflitions  averfion  probably,  that  ftill  prevaib 

-in 

,  •  The  ftccl  cap  is  in  podeffioa  ftill  of  Mr  George  Cnufton  at  Plow. 
had. 


136  Statijlical  Account 

in  this  cottntry,  to  any  place  where  wilfiil  or  accidental 
death  has  happened,  the  people  imagining  that  fuch  places 
are  haunted  by  the  ghofts  of  the  deceafisd ;  that  gloomy 
fancy  was  heightened  in  this  inftance  by  the  confideration 
of  the  poor  imfortanate's  being  a  bride  the  day  (he  died. 
A  little  tojthe  weft  ward  of  this,  on  the  oppofite  tide  of  the 
river,  appear  feveral  caves  cnt  out  of  folid  rock,  in  the 
middle  of  a  high  precipice,  whofe  bottom  is  waflied  by  the 
Teviot,  which  flows  here  broad  and  deep  in  a  Terpentine 
form*  Three  of  thefe  caves  have  been  of  large  dimeniions. 
One  of  them  was  ufed  as  a  hiding  place  for  horfes  in  1745* 
when  the  Pretender  to  the  Crown  of  Britain  went  through 
this  parifh  with  his  army,  and  from  that  circumftance,  as 
well  as  from  its  having  been  ufed  for  a  ftable  afterwards, 
it  is  called  the  Horfe  Cave.  Another,  whofe  mouth  is  al- 
moft  quite  filled  vp,  and  inaccefllible  now,  reaches  fo  far 
back  into  the  ground,  that  old  people  who  have  been  in  it 
fay  they  never  got  to  the  fartheft  end  of  it,  and  fuppole  this 
cave  had  beta  a  fiibterraneous  paflage  to  Sunlaws  manfioOi- 
houfe  in  times  of  danger^  A  third  is  called  the  Dove  Cave^ 
from  its  having  been  ufed  by  Lady  Chatto  as  a  pigeon- 
houfe.  The  fides  of  it  are  full  of  fquare  holes  cut  out  of 
the  folid  rock,  and  faid  to  have  been  the  pigeon  nefts ; 
but  fome  imagine  from  this  circumftance,  that  it  had  been 
originally  a  concealed  cellar,  or  hiding  place  for  (lores*  Ic 
is  probable  thefe  caves  had  all  been  iheltering  holds  during 
the  border  incurfions,  which  expofed  the  miferable  inhabi- 
tants of  this  country  to  perpetual  danger  and  depredation. 
Ac  the  month  of  one  of  thefe  caves,  in  a  fine  fummer  even- 
ing, when  the  fun  has  gone  *•  halJUngs  down  the  weft,"  the 
eye  is  prefented  with  a  view  of  nature  difplayed  in  fuch 
^lory  and  variety,  as  (he  feldom  a(rumes.  Many  veftiges 
of  camps  and  trenches  appear  in  this  parilh  -,  but  the  moft 
remarkable  encampment  in  ic  is  that  on  the  north-weft  fide, 


ofkoxhurgb.  137 

fo  well  defcrified  in  the  Statiftical  Report  of  Maztoiii  but 
from  the  local  metnorj  of  the  people  not  ia  Maxton  pa* 
lifli.  **  The  exploratory  mount  belonging  to  this  camp 
*'  ftands  a  little  eaftward  on  the  banks  of  Tweed  *  \**  is 
planted  on  the  top  with  trees,  as  a  vifta  from  Mackcrfton- 
houfe,  and  makes  a  very  piAurefque  appearance,  the  fcene^* 
ry  round  its  bafe  being  highly  romantic.  A  well  of  fe- 
▼era!  ftreams  iflues  out  of  it,  which,  from  the  name  f ,  the 
peculiar  fidubrity  of  the  water,  and  the  remains  of  nice 
building,  had  likely  been  once  of  great  repute.  The  great 
Roman  road  (Watling-ftreet)  By  Borrowbridge,  runa 
through  the  weft  comer  of  this  parifli;  and  that  being 
thought  the  neiifeft  yet  found  between  England  and  Scot- 
land, great  quantities  of  cattle  pnrchafed  at  the  Scotch 
markets  are  carried  fouth  this  way. 

Mtjcettantis. — The  wages  of  houfehold-fervants  are  not 
higherhere  than  in  the  neighbourhood;  tbofe  of  day-la« 
bourers  are  often  regulated  by  the  abilities  of  the  worker, 
or  his  employer's  neceflity.  Wages  in  general  are  under* 
flood  to  be  more  than  qqadrupled  within  the  laft  forty  years, 
and  leave  little  ground  ot  complaint,  did  not  plenty  create 
luxury,  and  luxury  want^.  which  nature  unadulterated  fel* 
dom  feels.  The  people  hd^r  complain  not  fo  much  of  the 
price,  as  of  the  mode  of  obtaining  labour  in  fome  inftanoes. 
Cottars  are  bound  to  be  at  their  matter's  call  through  the 
whole  year,  at  8  d.  pir  day  generally.  Confidering  this 
bondage^  as  they  call  it,  a  hardfhip,  the  people  ftrive  to  get 
lodgings  in  places  where  no  fuch  obligations  are  required, 
or  where  they  may  have  viftuals  as  part  of  wages,  a  thing 
fcldom  now  granted  to  day-labourers  here.*  Owing  either 
to  this,  or  the  monofofy  of/armSf  or  the  demolition  of  cot- 

Vol.  XIX.  S  hou&s, 

•  Pennant    .        .  i  St  John's  Well. 


138  Staiiftical  Account 

honfes,  or,  perhaps,  the  combinatioa  of  all  thefe,  the  popu- 
htioa  of  this  pairifli  has  decreafed  upwards  of  aeo  Coob 
within  the  fpace  of  ten  years  !  a  ferious  clrcumftanoe,  were 
it  univerfid  through  country  parifhes;  principles  of  eflSrmi- 
nacj  and  corroption  naturally  prevailing  moft  in  towns,  for 
teafons  mentioned  above,  die  people  generally  emigrating 
firom  the  country  to  towns.  In  an  age  of  general  profpe- 
rity>  indeed,  thefe  baneful  principles  make  rapid  progids 
every  where.  An  unexampled  flow  of  profperity  has,  of 
late  years,  wonderfully  altered  the  condition,  fentiments, 
and  manners  of  men  in  this  comer  of  the  country  ;  but  the 
vrricer  is  happy  to  find  the  people  here  retaio,  in  general, 
their  wonted  charafier  of  fobriety,  kii^dneis,  liberality,  and 
xefped  for  the  ordinances  of  divine  worlhip.  Indeed,  the 
inhabitants  of  Roxburgb  parilh  lie  under  peculiar  obliga- 
tions to.  virtue  both  civil  and  religious.  Dwelling  in  peace, 
happineis,  and  lafety  on  that  very  fpot  where  their  fathers 
knew  not  where  to  lay  their  heads,  the  fen^ble  and  reflefi- 
ing  feel  thankful  to  iiei^vim  for  fpreading  its  inflfieii^  ib 
benignly  over  us^ 

Memoriab  of  death  and  flaughter  appear  in  many  parti 
of  this  pariih,  from  human  bones,  fometimes  fcattered  in 
the  open  field  uncoffined ;  fometimes  huddled  together 
head  to  foot,  in  a  hole  of  the  earth,  and  covered  with  rug- 
ged fiones )  ai^d  fometimes  found  in  cells  of  mouldering 
towers,  with  infiruments  of  murder  in  their  bowels*  Xbefe 
fad  memorials  make  minds  of  (enfibility  bewail  the  wretch* 
edneft  of  mankind  in  a  rude,  ungovemed  ftate,  and  infpire 
veneration  for  that  excdkmt  conflitution,  under  whofe  ao-  . 
fpices  Britons  enjoy  their  religion,*  families,  and  home ; 
each  one  fitting  under  his  own  vine  and  under  his  own  fig- 
tree,  and  nohe  to  'make  him  afraid. 

Surveying  the  plains  where  armies  a  hundred  thoufimd 
ftrong  had  marched^  eoipurpling  the  earth  with  blood,  now 


of  Roxburgh.  159 

oBtfndantfy  jrielding  food  for  man  and  beaft,  men  grafp  ia 
joyful  expedation  that  halcyon  era^  when  the  fpears  of 
eyery  land  (hall,  as  here,  be  beat  into  plough-ibares,  and 
the  *^  (till  voice"  charm  the  warriors  confufed  noife  into 
perpetual  filence.  Mufing  over  the  razed  foundations  of 
Roxburgh,  once  the  fourth  burgh  of  diftinftion  in  Scotland ; 
die  traces  of  thofe  halls,  which  rung  twice  feven  days  in 
honour  of  Royal  births  and  nuptials  ;  and  the  rubbifli  of 
domes,  where  Prii^c^and  Nobles  were  wont  to  fit  in  ftate, 
the  heart  feels  for  the  tranfient  nature  of  fublunary  joy  or 
greatnels,  and  the  Chrifiian's  foul  afpires  after  manfions 
above,  where  moth  and  ruft  corrupt  not  *• 

*  Such  as  wifli  for  t  full  tcconnt  of  this  place,  may  confult  the  Hifiorj 
of  Scotland,  Redpath^s  Border  Hiftorf,  Pennant*s  Tour,  and  particularly* 
a  manaTcript  Hiftory  of  Roxburgh,  formerly  in  the  Advocate's  fjbraift 
Edinburgh,  and  the  writer  fuppofes  may  ftiU  be  ieen  there. 


NUM- 


1^0  Statyiical  Account 

NUMBER   IV. 

CITY   OF   ABERDEEN^ 

(County  or  Aberdeen); 

From  the  Communications  of/everal  Gentlemen  ofibat  Citym 

I 

IntroduBion. 

\^ 

ABERDEEN,  the  metropolis  of  the  northern  divifion  of 
Scotland,  and  the  capital  of  the  conntj  of  Aberdeen, 
is  fituated  at  the  influx  of  the  rivers  Don  and  Dee  into  the 
German  Ocean ;  and  in  57^  9'  north  latitude,  as  takea  at 
the  Aftronomical  Obfervator j  belonging  to  the  town  *. 

The 

^  There  have  beeo,  in  this  century,  three  mtpi  made  of  Aberdeen.  The 
fiift  by  G.  and  W.  Paterfon  in  1746,  which  is  titled*  «  A  Svrvey  of  Old 
••  and  New  Aberdeen,  with  the  adjacent  country  between  the  rivers  Dee 
*<  and  Don.**  It  makes  a  fingle  flieet  map,  and  is  prefixed  to  No.  III.  of 
Bibliotheca  Typographica  Britannica,  410.  The  fecond,  publiihed  in  1773, 
by  Captain  Taylor,  comprehends  Old  Aberdeen,  and  moft  of  the  parifli  of 
Old  JVlachar,  with  all  the  fields  lying  between  Dee  and  Don,  to  about  three 
miles  from  the  mouth.  The  third,  on  a  larger  fcalc  than  either  of  the  for- 
mer,  publiOied  in  1 790,  by  Alexander  Milne,  is  intended  chiefly  as  a  map 
•f  the  tovni  and  harbour  of  Aberdeen,  with  the  nearcft  circumjacent  fields. 


of  Aberdeen: ^  141 

The  etymologj  of  Aberdeen^  the  ancient  as  well  as  mo- 
dem name  both  of  the  town  and  pariih,  is  doubtlefs  from 
the  ancient  Britifh.  Aber^  according  to  Cambden,  when  ap- 
plied to  a  river  or  brook »  fignifies  the  mouth,  ojiium^  the 
place  where  it  falls  into  the  fea,  or  into  any  lake  or  river. 
The  earlieft  mention,  probably,  of  this  place,  is  in  a  Roman 
itinerary  of  the  incuriion  made  by  Severus,  if  we  mifiake 
not,  into  the  northern  parts  of  the  ifland,  in  the  beginning 
of  the  3d  century.  The  town  is  there  called  Devana^  and 
the  river  De'oa.  But  whether  the  name  Devana  was  ufed 
hy  the  natives  may  reafonably  be  queflioned.  It  appears 
more  likely  to  have  been  given  it  by  the  Romans  from  its 
fitoation  on  D^a,  the  Dee.  What  ferves  to  confirm  this 
opinion  is,  that  the  Dee^  a  river  of  the  fame  name  in  the 
weft  of  England,  is,  by  Ptoleipy,  alfo  called  Deva^  and 
Cbefter^  the  only  city  of  note  upon  it,  is,  from  th^t  circum- 
fiance,  called  Devana^  a  word  which  has  no  affinity  to 
Cbejler^  or  to  any  name  by  which  it  feems  to  have  been 
known  to  the  natives*  Probably,  therefore,  Abtrdetn  ;is 
the  firft  name  by  which  this  town  was  diftinguiihed,  and 
that  before  the  introduftion  of  Chriftianity  into  the  country* 
It  is  much  more  probably  derived  from  the  ancient  Britijb 
than  from  the  Erfe.  To  the  former,  the  oldeft  names  of 
towns,  rivers,  and  mountains  in  this  country  have  a  greater 
affinity  than  to  the  latter,  which,  though  but  a  different 
dialed  of  the  fame  language,  the  Celtic  came  much  later 
than  the  other  into  the  eaftern  parts  of  the  country,  from  a 
colony  oilri/bf  whence  it  has  had,  time  immemorial,  the 
name  of  Erfe.  If  the  Pi£b  were,  as  fome  of  our  antiqua- 
ries ftippofe,  a  tribe  of  the  ancient  Britons,  the  name  is 
doubtlels  to  be  afcribed  to  them.  But  if,  as  is  maintained 
by  others,  the  Pifis  were  originally  Scandinavians  or  Ger« 
mans,  the  name  Aberdeen^  with  many  others,  mud  have  had 
its  origin  before  their  invafion,  and  muft  be  attributed  to 

the 


t4l  Siatifitcal  Account 

the  firft  known  inhftbitants  of  the  \vhoIe  ifland,  the  ancient 
Britons.     Another  argoment  that  it  is  from  the  old  Briti/t 
or  IFeicb,  not  from  the  Iri/b  or  Erfe^  that  Aberdeen  is  de- 
rived, is,  that  in  no  place  where  the  Er/e  has  been,  time 
immemorial*  the  vemacnlar  tongue,  do  we  find  any  name 
of  fimilar  derivation  ;  whereas  we  find  many  in  thele  parts 
where  the  other  language  was  known  to  have  prevailed. 
Iii  Scotland,  for  example,  all  the  j/ieri  are  on  the  eaft  fide« 
There  we  have  Aberdeen,  Aberdour,  Aberbrothoick,  Aber- 
lemnj,  Abemethy.    In  Wales  they  abound — Aberavott, 
Aberconway,  Aberfraw,  Abergely,  Abergerlick,  and  Aber-» 
yftwitK.    In  the  neighbouring  weftem  parts  of  England— 
Aberford  and  Abergaveny.    But  not  any  that  we  know 
in  the  eaftem  parts  of  £ngland,  none  in  Ireland,  nor  on  the 
weft  of  Scotland,  the  country  of  the  Highlanders,  where  the 
£rfe  has  been  the  language  of  the  people  for  many  ages« 
It  may  feem  ftrange  that  there  fliould  be  fto  example  of 
this  Britiih  idiom  on  the  eaft  coaft  of  England,  of  which 
the  Britons  were  to  long  in  pofleflion.    We  know  no  way 
thb  can  be  accounted  for,  btft  by  obferving,  that  when  the 
country  was  fubdued  by  the  Saxons,  the  old  inhabiunts^ 
were  not,  as  is  common,  fufiered  to  remain  and  intermingle 
with  the  conquerors,  but  were  cruelly  expelled,  and  forced 
to  take  refuge  in  the  mountains  of  the  weft,  a  traft  of 
country  comparatively  barren,  and  alrooft  inaccefiible.    It 
IS  this  total  and  fudden  extermination,  by  which  alone  we 
can  account  for  fo  ftrange  a  fad,  that  few  places  in  the 
caftem  parts  of  England  retain  their  old  Britiih  names. 
That  the  ancient  Britons,  and  the  Irifli  or  Scots  (for  the 
name  Scott  was  for  ages  ufed  indifferently  of  both)  were 
originally  and  equally  Gaulifti  colonies,  there  is  no  room  to 
doubt ;  but  as  they  have  come  off  at  different  times,  and 
probably  from  diftant  parts  of  the  extenfive  countries  peo* 
pled  by  the  Gauls,  the  dialefis  of  thefe  different  colonies, 

though 


of  Aberdeen.  I43 

ckoogfa  refembliiig,  as  fprung  from  a  comnum  dock,  are  not 
to  £ur  coincident  as  that  the  tongue  of  the  one  nation  ihould 
lie  intelligible  to  the  other.    That  our  Scotch  Highlanders 
are  originally  from  Gaul  is  manifeft  from  the  name  Gaelic 
which  they  have  always  given  to  the  language  they  fpeak* 
This  is  not  le(s  evident  of  the  ancient  Britons,  from  the 
name  univerfally  given  to  the  country,  to  which,  after  the. 
Anglo-Saxon  conqueft,  they  were  obliged  to  confine  them- 
felves.    It  was  called  GaUta^  which  in  the  Saxon  idiom  is 
Walis  i  the  people  Gallu  Welchmen.    For  let  it  be  obfer- 
Ted^  that  thofe  who  fpoke  any  of  the  Teutonic  dialeSs  al^ 
ways  changed  the  hard  g  of  the  fouthem  languages  into  w. 
Thus,  of  th^  French  guerre  they  made  war;  from  their 
guarJien^  we  have  jvarden  ;  their  GuiUamme  is  our  William  ; 
and  Guabere  is  Walter.    And  converfely,  he  who  is  in 
Britain  Prince  ofWales^  is  in  France  h  Prince  de  Gallee. 
To  (ay,  therefore,  that  one  fpeaks  Wel/b^  muft  have  denoted 
the  fame  originally  as  he  fpeaks  Gaul{/b^  or  Gaelic,  no 
other  alteration  being  made  on  the  word  than  what  the 
adapting  of  it  to  the  Saxon  pronounciation  rendered  necef« 
fiiry.     It  is,  therefore,  no  improvement  in  modems  to  con- 
found with  it  the  dialeA  of  the  Highlanders,  by  giving  it 
the  name  Gailic\  for  though  this  application  may  be  jufii« 
fied  from  confidering  the  origin  of  the  people,  yet  as  the 
mdre  familiar  name .  Erfi  ferves  both  to  difcriminate  the 
dialed  of  our  Highlanders  from  the  ancient  Britifli,  and  to 
point  out  its  coincidence  with  the  Irifli,  it  is  every  way 
preferable.    It  b  not  meant  to  intinxate,  that  thofe  names 
which  have  commonly  been  cohGdered  as  of  Iriih  extrac- 
tion, are  all  originally  Britifh.    Some  of  them  are  mani* 
&ftly  of  the  former  dialed.    In  Erie,  the  word  inver^  for 
example,  correfpoads  to  the  Britilh  aber.    Now  we  have 
foveral  imoere^  as  Invemeis,  Inverury,  Inverbervy,  all  un- 
q[uefiionably  from  the  £rfe  9  only  with  regard  to  thefe,  we 

have 


144  Staiifiical  Account 

hftTe  reafon  to  think  they  are  of  much  later  origin  than  the 
cither.  Strain  or  Stratb^  in  Britifhy  denoting  a  valley  en- 
clofed  by  hills,  and  lying  along  the  banks  of  a  river  or  lake. 
'Rtnct  Strmbearn,  Stnabrnwe^  Strathdon^  Siratbfpey^  &<:• 
Nearly  equivalent  to  Strath  is  Ghn  in  Erfe,  'and  Dalt  in 
Anglo-Saxon*  Thus,  what  with  us  is  ClydeUale,  was  by 
tiie  ancient  inhabitants  called  Straicfyde. 

This  place  is  frequently  known  by  the  name  of  the  OU 
and  Niw  Town^of  Aberdeen ;  the  former  is  chiefly  fitiia<« 
ted  near  the  mouth  of  the  Don,  the  latter  near  the  moudi 
of  the  Dee.  The  two  rivers,  at  their  influx  into  the  fea, 
are  diflant  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  \  but  this  intervening 
fpace  is  moflly  occupied  by  regular  ftreets  and  bnildings, 
which  form  the  prefent  city  of  Aberdeen, 


OLD   MACHAR. 

The  pariih  of^Old  Machar  was  originally  a  deanry, 
called  the  Deanry  of  St  Machar,  and  comprehended  the 
parilhes  of  Old  Machar,  New  Machar,  and  Newhilb.  In 
times  of  Popery,  they  do  not  feem  to  have  been  divided 
into  feparate  parifhes,  but  to  have  been  chapels  in  the  dcan^ 
ry,  at  which  chapels  divine  worfhip  was  regularly  perform- 
ed^ as  the  inhabitants  of  fo  extenfive  and  populous  a  diftrid 
could  not  coirveniently  meet  in  one  place  for  public  worifaip* 
New  Machar  feems  to  have  been  ereded  into  a  feparate 
parifli  about  the  time  of  the  Reformation;  and  Newhills 
about  the  year  1663.  This  pariih  is  now  called  Old  Aber- 
deen,  or  the  Old  To%vn  pariih,  from  the  city  of  Old  Aber* 
deen,  in  which  the  cathedral,  now  the  pariih  •church,  is 
iituated. 

a  The 


of  Ahetdetn.  145 

'  lliif  extent  of  this  parifli  is  great,  and  its  form  in«- 
gvkr.  Its  feuth-eaft  comer  forma  the  nonh  and  wA 
boondariea  of  the  city  of  Aberdeen,  or  p^rifb  of  St  Nicho- 
las. It  extends  about  three  mile^  up  the  Dee^  by  whieh 
river  it  is  bounded  on  the  loath,  and  divided  from  the  pa« 
rifli  of  Nigg,  and  connty  of  Kineardine.  The  wefteni 
booDdary  ftretcbes  in  a  crooked  tine  from  the  Dee  to  th^ 
Don,  at  the  diftaiiee  0f  aboat  two  miles  and  a  half  froan 
the  pariflitchurch.  By  this  line  ii  is  dildded  from  the 
pariiheS  of  Nether  Baochory  and  Newhills.  Crofling  the 
Don,  it  extends  a  mile  and' a  half  farther  up  the  river,  ma- 
king in  all  fonr  hiiles  Brom  the  river's  mouth.  On  this 
part,  the  Don  divides  it  from  the.  pariflies  of  Newhills  and 
Dyoe}  l.s  northern  boundary  pafles  by  thu)  .pariflies  of 
New  Machar  and  Belhelvie,  till  it  joins  the  fea  at  the 
Black  Dog  *,  f<^ming  a  fweep,  every  part  of  which  is  di^^ 
llaat  from  the  pariflnchurch  at  Jeail  four  miles.  Oo  the 
eaft  it  is  bounded  by  the  fea  from  the  Black  Dog  tQ<  Aber« 
deen,  the  extent  of  coaft  being  about  five  miles.  Its  great- 
eft  length  from  north  to  foiith  may  be  from  fevea  to  eight 
miles,  and  its  greateft  breadth  about  four  miles. 

This  parifli  rifes  in  a  gentle  flope  from  the  fea,  and  though 
there  is  no  emmence  in  it  that  deferves  the  name  of  a  moun- 
tain, its  furface  is  beautifully  diverfified  by  rifing  grounds. 
The  windings  of  the  Dee  and  the  Don,  the  roanufa&ories, 
and  the  woods  on  the  banks  of  the  latter,  fome  detached 
dumps  of  Ranting  on  the  rifing  grounds,  interfperfed  with 

■  a  number  of  gentlemens  feats  and  villas;  together  with 

the  various  profpe&s  of  the  fea,  the  rivers,  the  cities  of  Old 

Vol.  XIX.  T.  and 

*  The  Black  Dog  ii  a  ToHtary  rock  of  a  black  colour,  in  the  fands  of 
fidhelne,  witfaia  high  water  mark.  When  the  tide  U  mit,  one  may  waUc 
RMnd  it  on  ^  fand ;  tnit  >irheii  die  tide  is  in,  the  fummit  of  it  appean 
above  the  water  like  the  bead  of  a  black  dogt  and  to  this  fj|cmnftanfc  it 
litsi 


146  Smt^kt^  Aecwnt 

'^nd  -'Ne^  Aberdeen,  gnd  the  villages^  of  GilC€ltt8iMi  anl 

'flardgat^,  %\^h  a  "(ileaCidt  Vafiety  to  the  jetieral  appeatante 

tli  this-parifli«    'Tlie^e^  and  rugged  haokks  of  the  ;DoD| 

'from  tile  hoDfe  6f  Seaton  till  belofr  die  bridgeware  fo  truly 

rbmanticy  that  thty  feldom  efoape  the  ftranger's  notice. 

"Thefcf  rocks,  abounding  witii  an  immenfe'  variety  of  herbs, 

covered  partly  with  wood,  and  partly  with  fufze,  aft>rd 

'Ample  gratification  both  to  the  botanift  and  the  lover  of  ru- 

'ral  beauty*     Winding  in  a  femicireularform,  as  you  walk 

-along  their  fummits,  you  command  in  one  diredion,  coa- 

fiantty'  Varying,  vie\vs  of  the  fea,  and  of  die  oU  lo&y 

'Gothid  arch  which  is  thrown  over  the  river ;  while,  on  the 

'  oppofite-dir^ftion,  you  have  as  diverfified  views  of  the  old 

'Cathedral,  the  fpires  of 'Aberdean,  and  the  various  manu^ 

-feftories  on  the  different  meanders  of  the  Don.    Thefe 

profpeds,  if  y6tt  look  down,  are  dttightfillly  viuried,  by  the 

'fiflier^en  plying  their  Iktle  boats,  at  thft  depth  of  jo  or  60 

feet  below.    This  phuse  has  been  coospared  to  die  beauti- 

fill  and  wild  fcenery  inS'wiuerland. 

On 'the  fouth  fide  of  the  parifli,  near  to  FerryhiUs,  are 
many  curious  1  ttle  Sandhills,  lying  in  all  different  direc- 
tions, and  moulded  into  various  forms,  ieemingly  by  the 
retiring  of  f9me  immenie  quantity  of  water.  Among 
tbefe  one  called  the  round  O  deferves  to  be  particularly  no- 
ticed. It  rifes  by  itfelf  in  acircular  form,  from  the  level 
of  a  mois,  and  has  a  hollow  in  it  of  confiderable  depth,  like 
an  inverted  fugar-loaf.  This  hollow  is  macihy  in  the  hot* 
torn.  As  to  its  caufe  I  have  heard  no  conjefture.  About 
this  place  are  feveral  beautiful  villas;  and  it  affords  excel- 
knt  fituations  for  many  more. 

The  foil  in  this  parilh  is  in  jfome  places  naturally  fertile, 
in  others  barren ;  and  many  parts  of  it  have  been  forced 
into  fertility  by  aftoniihing  labour  and  espence*  Where 
it  has  aot4>een  melioratied  by  art,  it  is  in  general  fhallow, 

iandy. 


tf  Aberdeen.  147 

0&djv  aad  bU  of  ftooes.  To  this,  fonpiefpots  on  the  giar^ 
IP  of  the  Doo,  ind  tlie  fiekjs  from  the  eaft  fide  of  the  ckj, 
of  OU  Aberdeen  (o  .the  fea,  fomi.  ezcep^oa$ ;  althangh  the 
Coil  of  thefe  laft  be  light,  it  has  for  a  fublbil  a  very  deeg 
ftratom  of  excellent  clay.  In  many  places  to  the  pfnih  of 
ihe  Dpn,  eipec^y  toiyarjds  the  coaft,|  a  deep  mols  qf  an^  in- 
4iffercnt  qwlity  is  fimnd  under tbip  foil;  and  in  fome  plaoes 
i^uneoCe  beds  of  land* 

l^e  air  la  generally  healthy:  imd.VJce,  that  of  other 
'{places  on  the  ooafl^  is  neitber  fo  l>pt  in  fcunmer«  nof  fo  cold 
^f  as  in  oioreialsnd  parts.of  tho country.  .^ 


ABERDEEN,  or  St  NrCHOLAS. 

Tab  poriik  k  fiMtfetiiM  called  the  pariOi  9i  Si  Ntebbi^kf 
4^  tutelar  fidnti  .to.  whom  the  gmar  chnrch  in  ithe  city, 
whidb  was  very  ancieDt,  but  o£  whoTe  age  we  hare  00  re* 
cord,  had  been  dedicated.  Thci  chuccb  was  pnlkd  down 
wd  rebuilt  about  the  waddle  of  the  prefent  ceatiiry»  buti 
fiill  retains  the  name  of  iS!^  NicMdt  from  tt^e  former  dedi; 
cation.  As  to  the  origin  of  this  namet  it  is  lequifite  only 
to  obCerre,  that  though  there  have  been  in  the  church  many 
I>odors  named  NieMmst  the  Bifliop  of  Myra  in  Lycia  is 
the  only  one  of  the  name  who  has  obtained  a  place  in  the 
Salendar,  an4  ia-  there&re  to  he  accounted  the  tutelar 
Cnat  intended*  The  name  St  NkbUas^  as  given  to  the 
iwiik,  cannot  be.  fitppoled  to  have  befcn  from  the  begiiw 
sing.  We  even  fnlpeft  the  (aiot  is  yonnger  than  the  pa* 
fifli.  Pt'obably  tfiis  appellation  is  no  older  than  the  late 
wUfice  that  bore  the  name.    In  primitive  times  it  would 

have 


148  StatiJHcal  AtcQiint 

have  bceo  thought  a  ipecies  of  idolatrf  ;  to  dedicate  a  dmrdi 
to  aoj  but  God«  The  origin  of  chb  natney  therefore,  ms  a 
name  of  the  church  or  parilh,  may  not  implaafibfy  be  at* 
tribnted  to  Tome  of  the  dirk  a^,  the  tenth,  efevestbt  or 
twelfth  tentuf jr. ' 

The  Extent  of  the  parifli,  in  pmnt  of  territory;  it  not 
great,  being  confined  to  the  boonds  of  the  citj  on  itvtrf 
fide,  except  th^  fouth-eaft,  where  it  extends  to  the  month 
of  the  riVer,  and  inclades  a  fmall  fifliing  village  caHed  Fut^ 
tky  (or  Footdii^  as  fome  of  late  afleft  to  ^11  it  from  a  mi- 
staken etymology),  whidi  lies  along  the  river,  between 
Aberdeen  and  the  fea,  and  is  (he  only  village  in  the  parilh. 
.  In  other  diredUons,  even  what  may  hfi  called  the  liiborb^ 
of  the  town,  are  not  in  the  parilh.«-As  to  the  form,  thougl^ 
yery  irregular,  it  conges  nearer  a  triangular  figure  than  any 
other  we  can  thinik  <JL  In  this  yiew  we  reckon  the  quay, 
and  that  part  cf  the  ftreet  which  leads  from  the  weft  end 
ci  the  quay  to  the  Bow-bridge,  (which  is  She  loiireft  and 
maft  foutherly  part  of  the  town),  the  bafe  of  the  triangle  t 
the  angle  fubtended,  which  makes  the  top  of  the  triangle, 
and  is  the  highcft  part  of  the  town,  is  at  the  Gallowgate- 
port,  which  is  in  like  manner  the  northern  extremity.*— -The 
length  of  the  parifii,  reckoning  from  the  loweft  dwelling* 
hoofe  npon  the  Dee,  next  the  block-houfe,  to  the  moft 
northern  Ijpufe  in  Can&y-end,  is  about  two  Englifli  miles. 
The  breadth,  reckoning  from  Sommer's  houfe  eaftward, 
behind  North-ftreet,  to  the  Infirma^,  which  is  in  the  moft 
weftem  port  of  the  town,  about  one  mile.-— It  is  bounded 
on  thefouth  by  the  pariih  of  Nigg,  from  which  it  is  fepa* 
rated  by  the  river ;  the  only  boundary  on  the  eaft  is  the 
iea ;  on  the  north  and  weft,  quite  roond  from  the  fea  to  the 
river,  it  is  bounded  bjr  the  pariih  of  Old  Machar,  or  Old*  ' 
town  pafilhf  as  it  is  here  commonly  called.^^The  circnm« 
jacent  country  is  hilly,  but  not  mountainous  ;  and  though 
'   '       '  it 


^Aberdeen.  249 

it  abounds  in  ftone-foarries,  there  are  hoprojefliiig  rocks'of 
•nj  magnitade.  The  town  itfelf,  which  is  about  a  mile 
firom  the  fea,  ftands  mofllj  on  fonr  little  hills,  gently  rifing 
finom  the  river,  to  wit,  Caftlebill,  St  Catharine's  hiU,  Port- 
hill,  and  Schoolhin. 

The  ground  weft  ward  rifes,  for  a  confiderable  wa j,  b j  at 
wtTf  fenfibl^  though  eafy  afcent.  A  great  part  of  the 
GraflB^an^mountains  is  in  view.  They  run  acrois  the 
wh<^  country,  thmr  difefiion  being  from  north-eaft  to 
Iboth-weft.  The  !fulloe-hiU,  on  the  fouth  fide  of  the  river^ 
in  the  pariOi  of  Nigg,  may  jufUy  he  confidered  as  the  ter- 
mination of  that  traft  rf  moumtaitts  en  the  eaft  towards  the 
German  ocean.  *  Thb  hill  is  covered  with  (hort  heath  and 
looTe  flones  j  and  has  on  it  an  eminence  called  the  Kairm  of 
lAorJlam^  which  fronts  the  to¥m  on  the  fouth.  The  high* 
.cr  and  mere  diftant  Grampians,  on  fome  of  which  are  huge 
rocks,  are  chiefly  covered  with  heath  and  moflTes.  The 
Stocket,  or  high  ground  weft  of  Aberdeen,  already  men- 
tioned, was,  ^ot  many  years  ago,  covered  with  ftones  and 
heath,  but  is  bow  converted  into  rich  fields  of  gnds  and 
com* 

The  foO,  in  this  neighbourhood,  is  naturally  rather  bar- 
fen  and  thin,  being  moftly  gravel  and  (and ;  but  by  means 
of  the  manure  conftantly  fumiflied  by  fo  populous  a  city^ 
is  rendered,  in  aconfidcrable  degree,  both  deep  and  fertile.^  ^ 
Some  places  abound  in  clay,  and  in  others  there  is  plenty 
of  black  earth.— The  air  is  commonly  fliarp,  dry,  and 
healthy,  as  may  reafonably  be  ezpeAed  from  the  ezpofure 
and  fituation  of  the  town.  The  wind,  from  whatever  quar- 
ter it  blows,  has  a  free  circulation.  There  is  not,  however^ 
in  this  refpcA,  a  perfect  equality  in  all  parts  of  the  town. 
In  thofe  on  the  eaft  fide,  which  are  moft  ezpofed  to  the  iea 
air,  there  is  greater  dampnels,^  and  a  flower  vegetation  ia 
the  gardens. 

Thcrt 


Tkett  u  a  ftc«l  muMral  wmtcr  9^  tbc^  vccft  fid^  of  die 
t^iwriij  neiir  thff  lafirqiu:/,  cooimoalj^  called  die  Wdlt^Spa^ 
apt  fo  firopg  aa  the  Peterhe»d  water,  whicli  haa  bicen  thoa^it 
oi  lecviee  ia  (hofb  ea&s  wbfqrein  recooriie  ia  had  to.  diaJjw 
beate  fprings.  An  eflay  on  the  Tirtucs  of  tbia  water  wap 
ppbliQied'by  Dr  B»rckj,  about  tli«  bef^iag  of  the  laft 
oenturj.  A  mineral  rpjiag,ui  (he  groiiiKfeof  Mr  Mbir<«f 
Scotilown*  in  the  parifh  of  Old  MKhatt  WBa»  foaae  yoeit 
1^^,  auidh.fireqaeoted  bj  the  lower  ch4oi  of  people,  pwtiji 
fac  health  and  partly  for  aoM^nieiir;  but  it  waa  filled  op 
\rf  the  proprietoc,  in  the  ootir&  of  isoproTuig  hia  laada. 
Ode.  has,  by  the  tetiaal,  beca  opened  op  in  the  oeig|iboiu> 
hood«  and  feveral' people  drink  the  water*  although  it  ianol 
thought  to  be  fo  good  as  the  forcner*  There  ia  another  ini> 
neraliwell  neaf  Gordon's  miUs.  Both  ftre  weak  chalybeatta^ 
md  may  be  of  fame  (ervice  in  aU  oal)e%  in  which  a  weak 
jUution  of  iron  with  fixed  air  can  da  good. 

There  are  no  lakes  in  the  parifh*  That  commonly  caO* 
td  the  Jj>ch^  lyiitg  weft  of  the  Gallow^tOt  ia  no  other  than 
%  miUdam,  where  the  water  of  a  brook  is  coUefted  and 
confined  for  the  ufe  of  a  malt  and  flour  mill  in  the  town. 
One  pr  two  fmaU*  lochs,  on  the  weft*  fide  of  the  city  of  Old 
Aberdeen,  have  been  completely  drained,  andnowproduca 
excellent  crops  of  grain.  A  rivuletf  called  the  Denbom, 
divides,  for  a  (hort  way,  thb  parifli  from  Old  Machar»  on 
the  fouch-weft,  and  falls  into  the  river  Dee,  'a  litde  above 
the  quay. 

The  river  Don  is  navigable  to  the  bridge,  hiit  has  ne 
barbottr.  It  is  navigated  by  one  fiaall  floop,  which  ia  em- 
ployed in  bringing  coals  to  the  brick-kiUis  that  are  near 
the  water-mouth.  In  a  little  time  there  will  certainly  be 
wiore*  Boats  of  a  very  large  fi^Le  might  eafily,  at  fiill  tidey 
be  brought  nearly  as  far  as  Seaton  houfe.  This  cinnioi* 
fiance  would  be  of  great  importance  were  there  any  ma* 

nu£i£toricf 


wf  Aherdeifu  '  arji 

BUfitOori^  ftt  KethiMik's  mills,  on  tlie  ^ate  of Traieiiekl^ 
which  is  oppofite  to  Seatoo,  and  vrhere  there  is  an  excelleiit 
haugh,  tvith  a  command  of  water' fuAcieot  for  driTing  mk^ 
chineiy  to  any  extent.  Goods  might  be  eafily  exported 
diredlj  from  f he  manufaftory^  and  materials  imported  to 
it,  without  the  trouble  and  expence  of  land  carriage. 

The  Dee,  which  abounds  with  excellent  falmon  and  trout, 
u  navigable  for  (hips,  fo  far  up  only  as  the  harbour  of 
Aberdeen,  into  which  (hips  of  about  200  tons  burden,  if  of 
a  proper  con(lru£lion,  or  veflels  of  10  feet  draught  (as  it  is 
•ailed)  can  come,  at  high  water,  to  the  upper  quay  :  and 
this  only  fince  building  the  north  pier,  for  before  that  time 
the  river  was  not  only  much  {hallower  at  the  mouth  than 
at  preleht,  but  after  a  dorm  from  the  eaft  or  north-eaft,  was 
liable  to  be  blown  up  with  (and,  which  formed  a  bar  at  the 
'4epth  of  little  more  than  three  feet  from  the  furface,  and 
proved  a  great  obflruAion  to  the  entrance  of  large  veflTek* 
The  water  is,  by  means  of  the  north  pier,  not  only  con- 
fined and  deepened  to  18  feet  and  upwards,  but  the  harbour 
Iheltered,  in  a  great  meafure,  from  the  dorm.— Below  tho 
town's  quay  are  two  harbours,  one  on  the'  north,  and  the 
•dicr  on  the  fouth  fide  of  the  river,  to  both  of  which  fhips 
of  much  larger  burden  than  thofe  already  mentioned  have 
acceis ;  the  'one  on  the  fouth  fide  is  the  harbour  of  Tory,  a 
filhing-town  in  the  parilh  of  Nigg. 

Whether  the  river  could  be  rendered  navigable  farther 
up  than  Aberdeen  is  not  certain ;  and  it  is  probable  that 
any  attempt  to  this  purpofe  would  anfwer  no  good  end* 
The  tide  feldom  or  never  flows  higher  up, than  to  the 
bridge,  which  is  little  more  than  two  miles  from  the 
mouth  'f  and  there  is  not  commonly  fuch  a  quantity  of  wa* 
ter  in  the  river,  as,  without  the  aid  of  the  tide,  would  ferve 
for  any  ufeful  navigation,  efpecially  as  there  is  no  town  or 
village,  except  Aberdeen,  on  the  river. 

-     X  The 


X52  Staii/Hcal  Aee^Mat 

Thegreateft  flood  in  the  J)ee,  withio  die  memory  of 
m«ii«  was  in  the  year  1768.  Bot  althoogh  the  river  roie 
•  to  aa  amaaung  hei^t,  it  did  not  reach  anj  of  the  hoofes, 
even  in  the  ftreet  caOed  the  Gmm^  which  is  the  loweft  and 
colj  part  of  the  town  that  appears  to  be  in  any  danger 
from  inundatioos  or  land-floods.  Bnt  the  haughs  on  bodi 
fides  of  Don  and  Dee  are  liibjeft  to  them,  and  have  feme* 
times  fufiered  confiderablj.  * 

Bridges  ofDtm  and  Det. 
In  xaSi,  Henry  Cheyne  (nephew  of  John  Comyn,  who 
was  killed  by  Robert  Brace  at  Dumfries  in  1305)  fuc- 
ceeded  to  the  biflioprick  of  Aberdeen*  After  Comyn*s 
deathi  Biihop  Cheyne,  (from  his  being  fo  near  a  relation  to 
Comyn)»  as  well  as  many  others  in  Scotland,  were  gready 
enraged  at  Robert  Bruce,  upon  account  of  Comyn's  deathy 
and  openly  efpoufed  the  intereft  and  party  of  the  Comyns. 
]^or  thi$  reafon,  after  Bruce  became  fettled  in  the  throne ' 
and  government,  Biihop  Cheyne  was  obliged  to  fly  into 
England,  and  remain  there  for  (everal  years,  during  which 
time  the  revenues  of  this  biflioprick  remained  unapplied. 
But  King  Robert  having  been  afterwards  reconciled  to  Bi« 

^fliop  Cheyne,  was  pleafed  to  allow  hfm  to  return,  and  pof* 
fels  the  fee  of  Aberdeen  as  formerly.  The  biihop  was'fo 
happy,  upon  hb  being  again  received  into  the  King's  fa- 
vour, that,  upon  his  return  home,  he,  with  the  concur- 

'  rence  and  approbation  of  his  Sovereign,  applied  the  whole 
rents  of  his  biflioprick,  which,  during  his  abfence  in  £ng- 
land,  l^d  accumulated  to  a  confiderable  fum  towards  build- 
ing the  bridge  over  Don  of  one  large  Gothic  arch,  where 
it  now  ilands,  upon  the  great  high  road  leading  northward 
from  Aberdeen,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  built  about  the 
year  1320.    Bifliop  Cheyne  died  in  X329. 

Bifliop 


of  Aberdeen,,  153 

BUhop  William  Elphingfton  left  a  confiderable  legacy  to 
build  a  bridge  over  the  river  Dee,  near  Aberdeen,  as  well 
as  for  the  ere&ion  of  an  univerfity  at  Old  Aberdeen,  where 
the  biihop's  cathedral  ftood,  but  died  in  15 14,  before  any 
thing  was  done  in  the  building  of  the  bridge.  Gavin  Dun- 
bar, fon  of  Sir  James  Dunbar  of  Cumnock,  by  Elizabeth 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  uncle  to  Gavin 
Dunbar,  Archbifliop  of  Glafgow,  having  fucceeded  to  the 
biiboprick  of  Aberdeen  in  1518,  he  ibon  thereafter  caufed 
coUeft  and  receive  the  money  which  had  been  left  by  Bi- 
ihop  Eiphingfion  for  the  building  of  this  bridge ;  and  ha-  ' 
ving  alfo  contributed  himfelf  a  confiderable  fum  of  iponey 
to  that  work,  he  caufed  ereA  the  greateft  part  of  the  bridge 
where  it  now  ftands,  of  feven  arches,  about  the  year  1530, 
although  it  was  not  finiflied  till  after  his  death.  Thjs 
bridge  having  gone  into  decay  about  the  year  172c,  was 
rebuilt  out  of  the  funds  belonging  to  itfelf  by  the  Magi- 
ftratee  and  Town^council  of  Aberdeen,  from  1720  to  1724, 
and  is,  at  this  day,  one  of  the  neateii  of  any  in  Scotland. 

Harbow^. 
The  extent  of  fea-coaft  in  the  pariflies  of  Old  Machar 
and  St  Nicholas  is  about  fix  miles,  and  is  commonly  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Bay  of  Aberdeen.    The  fhore  b  flat 
and  fandy.    The  harbour  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Dee 
was,  till  of  late,  always  very  much  interrupted,  and  fome- 
times  almoft  entirely  ihut  up  by  a  bar^  or  large  bank  of 
fand,  upon  wh^h,  at  low  tide,  there  was  fometimes  not 
above  t8  inches  or  two  feet  of  water,  and  at  the  higheft 
tides  not  more  than  13  feet.    As  this  bar  was  frequently 
Ihifting  its  fituation  and  varying  its  form,  according  as  it 
was  aded  upon  by  dorms  from  the  fea,  or  floods  from  the 
river,  few  (hipping  were  in  fafety  to  take  the  harbour,  un- 
til firft  it  was  founded  by  a  pilot,  and  the  fituation  of  the 
VoL^XIX.  U  bar^ 


154  StoHflkal  Account 

btfi  as  well  as  the  depth  of  the  watert  aibertained.  Tbefe 
pbflacles  have  in  a  great  meafore  been  remored  bj  the  e* 
reclion  of  a  new  pier,  executed  according  to  a  plan  fur* 
niflied  bj  John  Smeaton,  Efq^  engineer*  It  extends  in 
length  laoo  feet  along  the  north  fide  of  the  river,  and  a 
coniiderable  way  into  (he  fea.  It  was  began  to  be  built  in 
June  I775»  and  was  finiflicd  in  Odober  1780.  Since  which 
tioiCi  however,  it  has  received  fome  additions^  bj  the  ad* 
vice  and  diredion  of  Mr  Sme  .too ;  particularly  a  jetty 
for  flielteriog  the  Shipping  within  the  harbour^  firom  the 
violent  inrun  of  the  fea,  in  firong  eafterly  winds.  Th€  cofi 
of  the  whole  amonnted  to  about  L*  x8,ooo  Sterling.  This 
czpence  has  been  defrayed,  partly  by  fome  fmall  foods 
fiurmeriy  belonging  to  the  harbour,  but  chiefly  will  be  paid 
by  doubling  the  (hore  and  haboor  dues  upon  the  trade  and 
ihipping  of  the  place,  in  confeqoenoe  Kit  mn  wEt  of  Parlia- 
ment obtained  for  that  purpofe  i  but  without  any  poblic 
aid  or  contribution  whatever. 

By  the  ereftion  of  this  pier,  although  itis  aoo  feet  Ihorter 
than  in  Mr  Smcaton'^riginal  plan,  the  navigation  channel 
mt  the  entry  of  the  harbour  has  been  deepened  and  impro- 
ved to  a  degree  much  beyond  any  thing  that  was  previouf- 
ly  ezpeded.  Now,  fmall  veflels,  drawing  7  or  8  feet,  can 
come  into  the  haVbonrat  low  water;  and  at  high  water,  or 
fpring  tides,  there  is  from  18  to  ax  fieet  at  the  entry,  as  the 
above  mentioned  bar,  or  bank  of  fand,  is  noW|  by  the  con- 
finement of  the  river,  and  the  increafed  velocity  of  the  cor* 
aent,,  carried  out  into  the  fea,  at  leaft  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
fiirther  than  it  formerly  was ;  fo  that  we  now  fee  vefieb  4|f 
confiderable  burden,  in  the  violence  of  a  dorm  blowing 
right  upon  the  land,  failing  with  fafety  into  the  harbour, 
even  without  the  affiftance  of  any  pilot,  which  no  flitp 
pould  have  attempted  before,  without  the  greateft  danger 
of  being  wrecked  on  the  bar»  or  fome  parf  of  the  adjacent 

CQ^fi* 


of  Aherdeen.  155 

edaft.  Oa  the  nortli  pier-head  the  MagiftrRtes  have  recently 
ereded  ^Jignalfiuff^  on  which,  when  there  is  9  feet  water 
dn  the  bar,  will  be  hoifted*  in  the  day  time,  a  plain  redjlagf 
amd  in  the  night  a  iigbted  lamp  and  a  rtflcQor.  They  will 
continue  hoifted  till  high  water.^-Veffela  will  have  the 
harbour  open  when  the  light,  or  flag-ftaff  bears  W.  and  by 
S.  in  which  diredion  they  will  ileer  clear  of  the  Shortnefs. 
The  beft  anchoring  ground  in  Aherdeen  Bay  is  m  fix  or 
fcven  fathoms  water,  with  the  two  town's  fteeplcs  in  one, 
or  the  light  bearing  S,W.  by  W.  J  W.— In  times  of  great 
land  floods,  or  in  any  other  circnmftancc  which  would  make 
it  dangerous  to  approach  the  harbour,  neither  the  Jlag  nor 
Ugii  will  be  hoifted. 

Natural  ProduBions. 

This  plaee  aflbrds  few  examples  of  uncommon  quadm« 
peds,  birds,  or  fiifaes.  The  fwallow  and  martin  make  their 
appearance  about  the  end  of  April,  and  difappear  before 
the  equinox.  Moil  of  the  fowls  that  commonly  frequent  a 
low  iandy  fearcoaft  in  the  northern  *parts  of  the  ifland,  as 
goUs,  £ea  fwallows,  fiuid  larksj  herons,  cormorants^  &c. 
are  found  here. 

A  confiderable  variety  of  fi(h  are  caught  in  the  vicinity 
of  this  place,  as  haddock,  whiting,  cod,  ling,  turbot,  ikate, 
flounders  of  diflerent  kinds,  halibut^  plaife,  foal,  mackerel, 
dog-fiih,  and  occafionally  herrings.  The  fiihermen  of  Foot* 
dee  and  Torrie  colled,  at  low  water,  great  quantities  of 
laod*eclB,  on  the  fliore  about  the  mouth  of  the  Don ;  thefe 
are  nfed  as  bait.  Some  excellent  ibrimps  are  got  with 
drag-nets  in  the  fmall  lakes  or  holes  which  the  tide  leaves 
10  the  land ;  they  are  i(bld  for  about  8  d.  the  pint  Scotch* 
The  market  is  well  fupplied  with  fifli  upon  very  reafonable 
terms.  This  is  a  great  relief  to<the  poor,  as  fiih  makes  a 
principal  part  of  their  food.  The  nature  of  the  coaft  pre- 
vents 


1 56  Siatifiicai  Account 

▼ents  fea-ware  from  growing  upon  it  in  ubimclanoe.  The 
quantit J  of  this  marine  produAion  that  may  be  driven  to 
land  by  fe vcre  ftorms  is  not  fo  great,  or  of  fo  good  a  quality, 
as  to  be  very  ferviceable  either  for  manure  or  the  mano- 
faAore  ot  kelp. 

As  the  parilh  contains  little  arable  ground  but  what  ia 
occupied  in  gardens,  and  thefe  moftly  for  the  fnpply  of  the 
market,  few  things  refpeAing  agriculture,  or  the  vegetable 
fyftem,  are  worthy  of  remark.     The  gardens  have  long 
abounded  with  common  pot  herbs,  as  cabbages,  carrots, 
turnips,  fpinage,  cucumbers,  &c.    The  fruits  here  are  m^* 
ly  of  common  and  hardy  kinds.    It  has  been  found  by  re- 
peated triab,  that  the  more  delicate  kinds,  as  the  vine, 
peach,  nefiarine,  &c  do  not  in  general  fucceed.     SmaU 
fniit,  as  goofeberries,  currants,  and  rafps,  agree  well  with 
the  climate.    The  fame  may  be  faid  of  the  moft  of  flowers, 
both  indigenous  and  exotic,  that  are  cultivated  for  orna- 
ment in  gardens  in  the  north  of  Scotland.    The  gean  and 
roddan  (mountain  afli)  are  here  in  abundance  and  perfec- 
tion.   But  the  varieties  of  barren  timber  are  neither  very 
numerous  nor  plenty.     They  chiefly  confift  of  aih,  elm, 
beach,  maple,  birch,  lime,  willow,  and  holly,  planted  in 
hedge*  rows  round  inclofures.    Gkirdeners  have,  for  fome 
time  pad,  found  their  account  in  laying  out  a  confiderable 
proportion  of  their  ground  in  nurferies  of  foreft-trees,  ss 
oak,  elm,  pine,   Scotch  fir,  larch,  laburnum,  and  many 
others,  with  which  they  fupply  not  only  this  country,  but 
fend  annually  many  thoufands  of  their  plants  to  England, 
where  they  can  afford  to  underfell  the  Englifh  gardeners. 
It  is  obferved  by  old  people  in  this  place,  that  notwith- 
ftanding  the  great  rife  of  the  price  6f  provifions,  and  of  the 
rent  of  land,  the  difference  of  the  prices  of  all  the  moft  ne- 
ceffary  pot-herbs  and  roots  is^  as  far  as  their  memory  reach- 
es, but  inconfiderable.    By  this  obfefvation  it  would  ap- 
pear, 


of  Aberdeen.  157 

pear,  that  great  improvements  have  been  made  here  iii  the 
art  of  gardening.  In  the  few  fields  within  the  limits  of 
the  pariQi  are  fown  oats,  bear,  or  big,  rarely  wheat,  rje, 
peafe,  or  beans ;  which,  from  the  general  difufe  at  prefent,  it 
may  be  concluded  that  their  culture  here  has  not  anfwered 
expedation.  Flax  is  fometimes  tried  with  fuccels  ;  clover 
and  r je-grais  are  frequently  fown  ;  and  fome  fmall  fpots  of 
ground  have  been  laid  down  with  faintfoin  and  lucerne,  by 
way  of  experiment. 

In  the  pariih  of  Old  Machar  are  two  limeftone-quar- 
ries,  one  at  Silverbum,  and  another  about  a  mile  north 
from  it  on  the  Old  Meldrum  road.     Neither  of  them  have 
been  wrought  to  any  great  extent.    Nihe  men  will,  in  ten 
days,  quarry  and  break  ftones  to  fill  and  fire  the  kiln  at  Sil- 
verbum.   Each  kiln  will  require  13  bolls  Englifh  coals, 
or  18  bolls  Scotch  coals  under  duty.     The  average  pro- 
duce of  a  kiln  is  between  150  and  ^180  bolls  of  flacked 
lime,  water  meafure.    Each  boU  of  fliells  will  yield  one 
and  a  half  boU  of  powdered  lime.     Such  flones  as  are  not 
burnt  are  thrown  into  the  next  kiln.     The  quarry  at  the 
other  kiln  b  in  all  refpeds  fo  fimilar  to  this,  that  the  fame 
remarks  may,  with  fufiicient  accuracy,  be  applied  to  both. 
The  limeftone  of  thefe  quarries  is  not  rich ;  it  does  not 
fweli  much  in  burning,  and  it  has  in  it  a  confiderable  pro* 
portion  of  fand  ;  it  anfwers  well  in  building,  but  is  not  fo 
good  for  manure,  efpecially  in  fandy  foil  like  ours.     The 
tackfman  of  thefe  quarries  defilled  for  fome  time  from 
working  them  on  account  of  the  rife  on  labourer's  wages, 
and  the  high  price  of  coals.     Since  the  tax  on  coals  was 
taken  off*,  he  has  again  opened  them  ;  and  when  his  leafe 
expires,  which  will  be  foon,  they  will  probably  be  wrought 
to  a  greater  extent  than  formerly. 

Granite  abounds  in  the  parifh.   There  are  excellent  quar- 
ries of  it  at  Rttbiflaw,  Loanhead,  Pitmuxton,  and  other 

places, 


158      ^  Statifiicai  Account 

plac^a^  bcfides  pkntj  of  oodajets  in  the  hill  of  Grandliome« 
The  prefenc  rent  of  tbefe  amounts  to  about  L.  80  Sterling 
inouaUjt  and  about  100  men  are  conftantlj  employed  ia 
working  them ;   foo&etimes  more,  and  fometimes    fewer 
hands  are  employed,  in  proportion  to  the  demand  for  the 
ftones,    Manj  of  thefe  ftones  are  uled  for  building  in  Aber- 
deen and  its  neighbourhood ;  but  by  far  the  greater  part 
are  fent  to  London,  and  there  ufed  for  paving  the  flreets. 
Nor  b  this  trade  likely  to  fail ;  for  notwithfianding  the  un- 
common durability  and  hardneis  of  thele  flones,  fitch  is  the 
prodigious  intercourfe  of  carriages  in  that  immenfe  metro- 
polis, that  a  ftreet  paved  with  them,  will  in  a  few  years  be 
fo  broken  as   to  require  great  quantities  of  new   pave- 
ment.   Some  hottfes  in  and  about  London  hare  alfo  been 
built  of  Aberdeen  granite.    Our  granite  is  much  harder  tor 
work  than  freefione,  and  is  capable  by  much  labour  of  re- 
ceiving a  very  fine  poliib^     It  is  generally  of  agrej  colour, 
and  is  mixed  with  ibining  talky  particles,  which  give  it^ 
when  well  dreiTed,  a  confiderable  degree  of  Infire.    About 
)a,oco  tons  of  flone  are  annually  exported  from  Aberdeen, 
and  are  valued  at  14  s.  per  taOp  amounting  to  L.8400. 
Sometimes,  however,  the  e^cportation  is  confiderably  greater. 
Befides  the  granite,  our  land  abounds  with  a  coarfe  bard 
fione,  which,  though  it  may  be  broken  by  the  hammer, 
cannot  be  wrought  by  the  pick  or  the  ehiflel,  and  is  there- 
fore little  ufed  in  building*     Colleded  in  immenfe  quaoti- 
ties  from  the  barren  fields,  which  are  trenched  or  drained  in 
the  courfe  of  improving  the  land,  it  is  chiefly  employed  in 
filling  the  drains,  or  in  raifing  dry  ftone  fences  for  inclofing 
and  fubdividing  thefe  fields.     Sometimes  the  quantities  of 
thefe  whinftones  (as  they  are  called)  are  fo  great,  that 
they  cannot  be  exhaufted  by  fencing  or  draining.    In  thc£e 
caies  they  are  colleded  in  Cairns,  or  the  fences  are  made 
« immoderately  thick.    In  fome  grounds  they  are  fo  nmne- 
a  TWit 


qf  Aberdeen,  159 

roQS  and  large,  as  to  rcDder  the  land  utterly  incapable  of 
unproTement,  even  bj  planting.  Thefe  obfervations  are 
not  appropriated  td  this  place  onljr,  but  will  too  generallj 
appljr  to  man  J  places  all  over  the  county  of  Aberdeen,  and 
|he  northern  part  of  the  Mearns. 

No  mines  have  as  yet  been  found  in  this  place.  We 
have  no  coals  but  what  are  imported  from  England  and 
the  frith  of  Forth.  Lately  an  ore,  feemingly  rich,  has  been 
found  at  the  haugh  of  Grandhome,  in  digging  a  lead  for 
bringing  in  water  to  a  manufadory  about  to  be  eftabliflied 
there.  The  ore  has  been  fmelted,  and  turns  out  to  be 
manganefe,  equal,  if  not  fuperior  in  quality  to  any  imported 
from  England.  There  are  feveral  veins  of  it ;  one  of 
them  about  four  inches  thick,  and  all  of  them  pafling  ob« 
liquely  between  layers  of  hard  and  folid  rock.  John  Paton 
of  Grandhome  is  proprietor  of  the  field  in  which  it  is 
foQnd*^ 


CITY  OF   ABERDEEN. 

All  hiftorical  accounts  «gree,  that  this  city  was  ereAed 
into  a  royal  burgh  towards  the  end  of  the  ninth  century 
by  King  Gregory  of  Scotland,  fumamed  7£r  Great.  But 
the  original  charter  of  eredion,  and  all  the  more  ancient 
title-deeds  and  records  of  the  burgh  were,  together  with 
the  town  itfelf,  burnt  and  deftroyed  by  the  Engliih,  as  after 
noticed ;  a  very  £ew  charters,  and  other  grants,  however, 
have  been  faved,  the  oldcft  of  which  is  a  charter  by  King 
William  the  Uon  in  favour  pf  the  burgefles  of  Aberdeen, 

<    and 


|69  Statiftical  Account 

and  odicsB  benorth  the  Montb\  This  charter  was  granteil 
at  Perth,  there  called  Pert^  but  withoat  aoy  date  or  year, 
though  it  nmft  have  been  towards  the  end  of  the  twelftla 
centorji  as  that  King  began  to  reign  in  x  165. 

There  are  other  two  charters  granted  by  the  iame  King 
IVilliam  to  the  burgeflfes  of  Aberdeen,  of  the  toll  of  tfadr 
chatties  through  the  whole  kingdom,  both  dated  at  Aber- 
deen the  aSth  Auguft,  without  mentioning  the  year  of  Grod 
or  of  the  King«s  reign,  although,  from  the  writing  and  feals, 
they  appear  to  be  of  a  later  date  than  the  former,  and  have 
probably  been  granted  during  the  King's  refidence  here,  as 
he  certainly  built  a  palace  and  remained  fome  time  with  hb 
Court  at  Aberdeen.  It  ftood  upon  the  fite  of  the  preCent 
Trinity  Church  and  Trades  Hofpital  in  the  Shiprow ;  and 
upon  King  William's  leaving  the  country,  he  founded  in 
the  fiimc  pj^e  a  monaftery  for  the  Trinity  or  Red  Friars, 
which  was  burnt  and  deftroyed  along  with  the  town.  It 
was  afterwards  rebuilt  about  the  year  1633,  by  Dr  Wil- 
liam Guild,  minifter  in  Aberdeen,  who  bequeathed  and 
left  it  for  an  hofpital  to  decayed  tradefmen,  befides  fome 
other  fubjeds  for  burfaries  at  the  Marifchal  College,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Convener-court. 

About  1306-7,  (according  to  Hedor  Boece),  the  citi- 
zens of  Aberdeen,  who  had  always  fteadily  adhered  to  and 
fupported  the  intereft  of  King  Robert  Bruce,  being  rendered 
defperate  by  the  cruel  ufage  of  a  ftrong  Englifti  garrifon 
kept  in  the  caflle  here  by  Edward  I.  they,  along  with  a 
number  of  others,  adherents  to  Bruce's  intereft,  furprifed 
and  ftormed  the  garrifon,  and  put  them  to  the  fword,  and  at 

the 

*  It  is  fuppofed  this  tlludes  to  the  Month  or  high  ridge  of  hills  nev  to 
Fettercaim  in  Kinctrdineihire,  through  which  the  high-road  called  thr 
^airn  of  Month  road  pallet  from  Brechin,  6cc.  towards  the  river  Dee. 


ofAherdeem  iti 

the  lame  time  laid  the  caAle  in  ruins,  to  prevent  the  Eng-^ 
lifii  from  returning.  A  party  of  the  Englifii,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  in  the  neighbourhood,  came  immediately  td 
revenge  the  difafler ;  hut  they  were  met  and  engaged  by 
the  Aberdonians  and  their  afTociates,  in  the  church-yard  of 
St  Nicholas,  where  the  Englifh  were  totally  defeated,  with 
great  flaughter. 

The  firft  charter  now  extant,  in  favour  of  the  burgh  it- 
£elf,  is  granted  by  King  Robert  Bruce,  anno  1320,  which 
cootains  alfo  a  gift  and  conveyance  to  the  community  of 
the  Royal  Foreft  of  the  Stockit.  Beiides  this,  he  granted 
various  other  privileges  and  immunities  to  the  citizens  and 
burgh  of  Aberdeen,  fundry  of  which  are  ftill  extant,  from 
1314  to  1324. 

In  X333«  Edward  III.  of  England  having  fent  a  fleet  ot 
(bips  to  ravage  the  eaft  coaft  of  Scotland,  a  body  of  Englilh 
landed,  and  by  furprife,  attacked  the  town  of  Aberdeen,  in 
the  night  time,  killed  a  great  number  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  burnt  and  deftroyed  the  town  for  fix  days  together,  in 
revenge  for  the  feveral  defeats  which  their  countrymen  had 
tbere  received. 

Anno  X336,  Edward  III.  invaded  Scotland,  and  marched 
vrith  an  army  as  far  north  as  Invemels,  during  which  time 
tbe  citizens  of  Aberdeen  went  out  and  attacked  a  party  of 
£nglilh  forces,  who  had  landed  at  Dunnoter,  and  killed 
their  general.  In  revenge  of  which,  Edward,  upon  his  re* 
turn  from  Invemels,  made  a  violent  attack  upon  the  town 
of  Aberdeen,  put  the  greateft  part  of  the  inhabitants  to  the 
fword,and  again  burnt  and  deftroyed  the  town«  At  which 
time,  as  well  as  anno  1333,  many  of  the  more  ancient  char* 
ters  and  records  belonging  to  the  community  were  loft* 
Some  years  after  the  town  was  rebuilt,  and  confiderably 
enlarged,  particularly  towards  the  hills,  upon  which  the 
principal  part  of  it  now  ftands,  vi%.  The  Woolmanhill,  St 

Vai.  XIX.  X  Catharine's 


162  Statijlical  Account 

Catharine's-hill,  the  Port-hiU,  and  the  Caftlehlll,  (the  old 
town  having  lain  along  the  Green  and  Shiprow,  &c.  eaff- 
wards)^  and  in  this  the  citizens  were  greatly  afliRed  b/ 
King  David  Bruce,  for  their  (lead j  loyalty  and  attachment 
both  to  himfelf  and  his  Ssither.  The  fiune  King  David  re- 
fided  for  fome  time  at  Aberdeen,  where  he  ereded  a  mint, 
as  appears  from  fome  pieces  of  money  coined  there ;  and 
the  whole  town,  after  being  rebuilt  as  above,  was  afterwards 
called  Tie  New  Town  of  Aberdeen,  in  contradiftinftion  to 
the  oUf  which  had  been  burnt  down. 

In  September  1644,  during  the  tioie  of  the  civil  wars, 
the  Marquis  of  Montrofe,  with  a»  army  of  about  1000  men, 
having  approached  the  town  of  Aberdeen,  and  fummoned 
it  to  furrender  to  him,  the  magillrates,  after  advifing 
with  Lord  Bnrley,  who  then  commanded  in  the  town  a 
force  nearly  equal  in  number  to  the  aflTailants,  refufed  to 
give  np  the  town ;  upon  which  a  battle  enfued  within  half 
an  Englifli  mik  of  the  Town,  at  a  place  called  the  Crab- 
ftone,  near  to  the  Juftice-mills,  where  Montrofe  prevailed, 
and  many  of  the  principal  inhabitants  were  killed.  An 
account  of  this  engagement  is  contained  in  the  council-re- 
cords. 

The  city  of  Aberdeen  has  received  various  grants  from  four- 
teen different  Sovereigns  of  Scotland,  from  King  William  the 
Lyon,  downward  to  Kingjames  VLinclufive,  all  extant  is  the 
town's  chartulary,  and,  in  1638,  the  whole  of  thefe  preceding 
charters  and  grants  were,  by  a  charter  from  King  Charles  I. 
not  only  ratified  and  confirmed,  but  alfo  the  burgh  was  of 
new  erefted ;  and  by  the  fame  charter  the  Provoft  and 
Bailies  are  conftituted  Sheriffs,  Coroners,  and  Juftices  of  the 
Peace,  within  the  burgh,  and  whole  bounds  of  the  freedom- 
lands,  and  falmon-fiihings  on  Dee,  holden  burgage  of  the 
Crown,  the  Provoft  being  named  Sheriff  and  Coroner*5 
principal^  and  the  Bailies^  SherifiSi  and  Coronets  depute ; 

which 


of  Aberdeen.  *   163 

whkb  iSeveral  offices  of  Sheriff  and  Juflices  of  the  Peace 
the  magUlr^ea  of  Aberdeen  have  been  in  the  conflant  prac- 
tice of  exercifing  to  the  prefent  da^,  in  all  caufes  coming 
before  them  in  thefe  capacities,  and  of  holding  quarter* 
feflions  fot  the  burgh  in  the  fame  manner  as  the  juftices  of 
the  county.  The  magiftratcs  have  farther  granted  to  them 
by  the  fiiid  charter  the  fame  powers,  jurifdi&ion,  and  antho* 
rity  within  the  port,  hairbour,  and  flood-mark  of  Aberdeen^ 
and  whole  boonds  thereof^  as  well  as  within  the  rivers  Dee 
and  Don  to  the  two  bridges,  as  they  have  within  the  bargh 
idelf  and  liberti^,  and  have  always  ezercifed  Uiat  jorifdic* 
tion  and  authority  accordingly. 

The  Xown-Gouncil  and  Dean  of  Guild  of  Aberdeen  have 
like^ife,  by  the  fame  charter  from  King  Charles  I.  full 
power  and  authority  committed  to  them,  of  vifiting,  eza- 
miaiilg  an<)  trying  all  weights  and  meafures,  ufed  in  buy* 
iog  and  (elling,  not  only  in  the  town,  but  alfo  through  the 
wl^ole  county  of  A1;»erdcen,  which  they  have  been,  in  like 
manner,  in  the  praAice  of  exercifing,  and  holding  circuit 
and  itinerant  courts  for  that  purpofe,  in  the  different  prin- 
cipal country  towns,  where  any  kind  of  trade  or  merchan* 
difiB  is  carried  on. 

The  forefaid  charter  and  confirmation  by  Kmg  Charles  I* 
with  the  wthole  other  writs  and  title-deeds  therein  confirm* 
edy  and  rights  and  privileges  thereby  granted  to  the  borghy 
were  afterwards  fokmnly  ratified  by  different  a£b  of  Par- 
liament of  Sootlaiid,  particularly  by  two  ads  in  1641  and 
i68k. 

from  the  1336,  when  the  town  was  laft  burnt,  to  the 
1398,  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  public  re* 
cords  regularly  kept.  But  from  the  laft  mentioned  |)eriod 
to  the  prefent  time,  (except  for  about  twelve  years  in  the 
beginning  of  the  1 5th  century),  there  is  a  regular  and  unin* 
termpted  icries  of  records  of  the  a£b  and  proceedings  both 


164  Siaiiftical  Account 

of  the  Towo-council  and  Bailie-coutts,  all  in  good  order 
and  condition,  confiding  of  above  70  volomes,  remaining 
in  the  town's  chartulary,  containing  in  whole  a  conncded 
period  of  near  400  jears. 

Before  the  Reformation,  there  were  Ceveral  chapcb  with- 
in the  burgh  and  rojaltj,  annexed  to  and  dependent  upon 
the  parifli-church,  particularly  St  Mary's  Chapel,  onder  the 
Eaft  Church,  where  the  Highland  Congregation  now  meets 
for  worihip  \  St  Catharine's  Chapel,  which  ftood  upon  the 
hill  of  that  name;  St  Ninian's  Chapel  at  the  Caftlehill, 
part  of  which  (till  remains,  and  St  Cleinent's  Chapel  at 
Futtie,  which  has  been  lately  rebuilt,  and  is  fiill  occupied 
as  a  place  of  worfhip  under  the  patronage  of  the  council. 

There  were  likewife  mpnafteries  of  feveral  different  or- 
ders  of  friars,  eftablifl^ed  in  Aberdeen,  befide  the  Trinity 
and  Red  Friars  already  mentioned,  viVb.  The  Black  Friars 
in  the  Schoolhill,  where  Gordon's  Hofpital  and  the  gram- 
mar-fchool  now  ftand.  The  Carmelite,  or  White  Friais* 
along  the  fouth  fide  of  the  Green,  and  the  Gray  Friars  in 
the  Broadgate,  where  the  Marifchal  college  and  church 
are  now  fituated. 

The  batteries  erefted  by  the  town  in  1781  and  1782, 
for  defence  of  the  ihipping  and  harbour,  have  coil  about 
L*  12 00,  and  they  have  mounted  upon  tliem  ten  new  iron 
cannon,  12  pounders.  The  town  has  likewife  two  bra£i 
field  pieces,  3  pounders,  with  a  proportionable  quantity  of 
ihot  and  ammunition.  They  have  alfo  400  ftand  of  iinaU 
arms  or  muikets  depofited  in  the  town's  armory,  and  kept 
always  in  excellent  order  by  a  tradcfman,  who  has  a  yearly 
falary'for  that  purpofc. 

With  refpe&  to  the  prefent  municipal  conftitution  and 
form  of  government  of  the  burgh  of  Aberdeen,  which  has 
now  fubfified,  and  been  invariably  obferved  for  no  lels  than 
^irp  centuries  downward  to  this  day«    It  is  founded  chiefly 


of  Aberdeen.  165  ' 

upon  the  a&  of  Parliament  1469  and  1474,  bj  which  all 
cftfficers  and  members  of  the  conncik  of  burghs  are  appointed 
to  be  annually  elefte(l :   ^  That  the  auld  council  of  the 
'*  town  (hall  chnfe  the  new,  in  fie  number  as  accords  to  it ; 
^  and  that  the  new  and  auld  councils  together  (ball  chufe 
**  all  the  £ud  o(Hcer8 :  That  ilk  craft  (ball  chufe  a  perfon  of 
**  their  number,  that  (hall  alfo  have  a  vote  in  the  eleftion 
^  of  the  officers,  and  that  four  worthy  perfons  of  the  auld 
^  council  for  the  year  before  (hall  be  chofen  yearly  to  fit 
**>  with  the  new  council/'    It  appears,  however,  that  the(e 
afis  of  Parliament  were  not  in  any  part  obferVed  by  the 
town-council  of  Aberdeen  for  above  120  years  after  they 
were  pafTed.     On  the  contrary,  they  perfifted  in  following 
what  they  called  the  ancient  form  of  government  and  auld 
confuetude  of  the  burgh,  by  which  it  appears,  that  the  num- 
bers of  the  members  of  council  often  fluftaated,  and  yaried 
very  much,  from  20  to  36,  and  that,  when  once  they  were 
eleded  or  a(rnmed,  they  were  in  general  continued  during 
their  life,  or  fo  long  as  they  did  not  differ  with  the  perfons 
who  had  aflumed  them  ;  and  that  the  five  firft  magiftrates 
or  officers  of  the  burgh,  vi%.  the  ProvoR,  (^for  many  years 
flyled  Alderman),  and  the  four  Bailies,  were  alone  eleded 
annually  at  head-courts  of  the  citixens,  called  Curia  Capu 
taUsj  although  fometimes  without  mentioning  by  whom 
the  eleftion  even  of  thefe  officers  was  made,  but  for  the 
moft  part  ezpre(red  to  be  cum  communi  omnium  lurgtnfium 
ctmftufu  ft  ajfenfu  ei  votot  which  eleftion,'  however,  was 
equally  illegal,  and  agatnfi  the  direAions  of  the  afis  of  Far* 
liament,  as  the  continuing  the  members  for  life. 

This  ancient  cuftom  was  at  laA,  1590,  openly  challenged 
snd  complained  of  as  arbitrary  and^  illegal  by  a  Mr  John 
Cheyoe,  then  a  member  of  council,  who  infifted,  that  they 
^ould  make  an  annual  eledion,  in  terms  of  thefe  flatutes, 
irbich  they  not  only  refulcd  to  comply  with,  but  expelled 

him 


l66  Statifiical  Account 

bim  from  the  couqcU,  as  a  perfon  unfit  and  improper  to  be 
pf  their  number.  He  was,  however,  foon  joined  by  a  Mjt 
ErV^en,  find  man^  other  burgefies  of  equally  patriotic  priiw 
ciple^,  who  raifed  a  profecuiion  againft  the  magiftrates  and 
council  before  the  Courts  of  Scilioa  and  ^xcl^equcr,  with 
concurrence  of  his  Majefty's  Advocate,  for  obliging  thena 
to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  forefaid  ftatotes.  Tba 
coiifeguence  of  which  w^,  that  the  cwncil  at  lafi,  in  OSo- 
ber  159^,  (after  lamenting  the  fall  of  what  they  declared 
to  be  the  auld  confuetude  and  ancient  form  of  Govemiacat 
of  the  burgh),  agreed  to  follow  the  direfiiona  of  the  faid  &a- 
tutes,  and  accordingly  made  an  eleftton  in  the  terms  there- 
pf  for  the  following  year,  ending  at  Michaelmas  1599. 

It  appears,  however,  that  Mr  Cheyne  and  his  afiToctata 
did  not  get  into  power,  upon  the  new  conftitution,  which 
tl^ey  had  the  merit  to  produce,  and  that  at  the  enfuing  Mi- 
chaelmas they  aflembled  in  arms  in  di£brent  parts  of  the 
lQwn»  in  purpofe  to  overawe  the  proceedings  of  the  council  ^ 
for  compofing  of  which  violent  animoiities,  a  conference 
enfued  betwixt  a  certain  number  of  the  council  and  the 
leaders  of  the  citizens,  the  refult  whereof  happily  produced 
a  fubminion  by  the  Deveral  parties  concerned,  qf  all  the 
matters  in  difpute  betwixt  them  to  his  Majefty  King 
James  VI.  as  overfman,  and  twelve  others  as  arbitrators  ; 
ivbo,  by  a  decreet-arbitrali^  of  date  9th  December  13919 
fubfcribed  by  them  and  the  parties  themfelve s,  in  teftimony 
of  their  ;tpprobation ;  fixed  and  appointed  the  m^agifirates 
and  council  for  that  year,  ending  at  Michaelmas  1593  bj 
name,  confiding  of  nineteen  perfons,  v/s;.  feventeen  guild* 
brethren  and  two  craftfimen,  and  ordained  and  appointed 
that  the  ads  of  Parliament  concerning  the  election  of  ma* 
giibrates,  council,  and  office-men  within  the  burgh,  ihould 
be  predfely  Qbferved  in  all  time  thereafter. 

This 


of  Aberdeen.  16  j 

This  decreeNarbitral  vrhs^  in  a  few  days  ifter  Its  datCf 
read  to  and  unanimouflj  ratified  bj  the  whole  burgefles 
and  citixens  of  the  town,  convened  together  for  the  pun> 
pofe,  who,  at  the  fame  timey  folemnlj  fwore  to  obtemper 
and  obey  the  decreet  thereafter  in  all  points ;  and  which, 
with  another  decreet-arbitral,  pronounced  by  the  commilBon- 
ers  of  Burghs  in  July  Z596,  finding  the  craftfrnen  entitled 
to  ten  votes  in  the  annual  ele&ion  of  the  magiftrates,  dean  of 
guild,  and  treafurer,  forni  together  what  is  now  called  the  Sett, 
or  Municipal  Conftitution  of  the  burgh,  which  has  been  uni- 
formly obferved  as  an  invariable  rule  and  (landard  in  the  an- 
nual eledion  of  magifirates  and  council  to  this  day.  By  it  the 
conftituent  members  of  the  town-council  confift  of  nineteen 
in  number,  feventeen  whereof  are  guild-brethren,  and  two 
[  of  them  deacons  of  crafts.  Four  jof  the  merchant-council- 
lors only  are  continued  by  eleftion  for  another  year,  and 
the  remaining  fifteen  members  are  annually  changed  and  go 
out,  and  all  of  them  are  yearly  eleded,  without  any  pre- 
ference or  difcrimination,  from  a  roll  or  lift  of  the  whole 
burgeiTes  of  guild  in  town,  and  of  the  fix  deacons  of  trades 
previoafly  made  up  for  the  purpofe,  from  which  the  leets 
of  the  new  council  are  taken,  and  determined  always  ac- 
cording to  the  majority  of  votes  of  the  council,  upon  the 
day  of  the  annual  eleftion,  which  b  held  upon  the  Wednef- 
day  preceding  Michaelmas  day. 

After  the  eleftion  of  the  nineteen  members  of  the  new 
council,  the  magiflrates  and  office-bearers  for  the  enfuing 
year  are  eleded  the  fame  day  out  of  the  feventeen'  mer- 
chant-cotmcillors  by  the  majority  of  votes  of  the  new 
and  old  council  together,  and  fix  deacons  of  crafts,  con- 
fiding of  forty  perfons  in  whole,  viz*  thirty  guild-bre- 
thren, and  ten  craftfmcn ;  and  in  cafe  of  an  equality  of 
"votes  io  any  of  the  flops  of  ele£Hon,  the  Provofl^  or  fe- 
nior  magiftrate  prefent,  has  a  decifive  or  cafting  vote, 
befides  his  own  individual  and  proper  voice*    In  cale  any 

of 


l68  Statijlical  Account 

of  the  thirty  guild-brethren,  or  of  the  ten  trades,  be  ab&nf 
from  the  eledlion,  the  town-council  and  the  craftfmen  are 
rcfpeftively  authorifed  by  the  fett  to  elcft  any  other  quali- 
fied perfons  of  the  fame  clafs,  to  fupply  the  place  of,  and 
to  vote  for  fuch  abfentees.  Upon  the  whole,  it  is  believed, 
from  a  comparative  examinationi  that  the  prefent  munici- 
pal conflitution,  or  fett  of  this  borough,  will  be  found  not 
only  to  be  a  perfed  contraft  to  its  own  more  arbitrary  and 
ancient  fjftem  of  government,  but  alfo  to  be  much  more 
liberal  and  free  than  moft  of  the  other  royal  burghs  of 
Scotland ;  becaufe,  in  many  of  them,  fome  of  the  members 
of  council,  and  even  magiflrates,  do  ftill  continue  in  office 
during  life,  or  fb  long  as  they  agree  with  the  party  in 
power ;  and  in  others,  feveral  of  the  members  of  council 
are  entitled  to  keep  their  feats  without  eledion  for.a  fecond 
year,  in  confequence  of  their  having  enjoyed  certain  offices 
for  the  preceding ;  whereas,  in  Aberdeen,  every  magiftrate 
and  member  of  council,  even  the  old  four,  muft  be  annually 
elefted,  without  regard  to  any  office  which  they  may  have 
formerly  held,  and  fifteen  of  the  whole  number  are  yearly 
changed,  and  go  out  *. 

The  laws  refpcfiing  the  police  of  the  city  are  contained 
in  an  ad  of  Parliament,  granted  in  1795.  According  to 
this  aft,  thirteen  perfons  are  to  be  elefted  and  appointed 
commiffioners  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  city.  None,  how- 
ever, can  have  a  vote  unlefs  he  pays  at  leaf!  L.  5  yearly  of 
houfe-rent.  The  Prdvoft  for  the  time  being  prefides  at 
the  eleflion,  and  has  the  calling  vote.  The  commiffioners 
continue  in  office  for  the  fpace  of  two  years.     Eight  only 

go 

•  The  principal  liiftorical  fa^s  in  the  above  narrative,  which  do  not  ap- 
pear in  any  of  tiie  town's  records,  are  taken  from  a  fmaU  treatife,  entxdcd, 
««  A  Survcf  of  the  City  of  Aberdeen,"  printed  Mid  publiflied  in  1685,  under 
the  fignature  of  PbHo-^oUtinfj. 


4>f  Aberdeen.  169 

go  oat  ftl  the  new  elodioD^  and  fiVe  remaiBy  which  five 
fhall  invariably  be  of  the  nnmber  of  thofe  eight  commiC* 
fiooen  who  were  ele^d  two  years  before,  and  Ihail  be 
cho&n  to  continue  in  office  by  the  coUedive  body  of  the 
other  commiffioners,  by  figned  lifts  to  be  given  in  by  a  ma« 
joiity  of  them  tb  their  prefics  or  clerk,  fourteen  -^ys  pre* 
vioitt  to  the  then  next  ^eral  meeting  for  ekSien;  fe  as  to 
pre&rve  as  nearly  as  .p<^ble  an  equal  rotation  in  duty. 
Thefe  ooimniffioners  have  lidl  -power  to  nominate  .and  ap- 
point treafurers,  clerks,  colIeAors,  fcavengers,  lighters  of 
hmpl,  and  other  fervants  proper  and  neceflar y  tihder  them 
in  the  execution' of  their  offite.  This  oJEce  refpeOn  chiefly 
the  paving,  lighting,  and  cleanmg  the  ftreets,  and  fnpply- 
ing  the  city  with  water*  'The  mtmey  neceflary  for  de- 
fraying the  expence  in  executing  thefe  public  matters  is, 
by  the  aft,  to  be  rsifed  by  an  afleflment  upon  the  in6abi- 
tsatsofthe  city  of  is.  Sterling  in  the  pound  yearly  fbf 
every  dwelling*houfe,  or  ihop,  cellar,  warehoufe,  or  other 
building  within  the  city  and  royalty,  aftually  occupied  and 
pofleflcd  at  the  time  by  any  one  perfon,  which  ihall  be  efti- 
mated  at  or  above  L.  i,  5-8.  Sterling  of  yearly  rent.  A 
xent-roll  of  inch  houfes,  &c.  is  to  be  annually  made  up  by 
fifteen  perlbns  chofen  for  that  puipofe.  This  atfeflment  is 
to  be  paid  by  the  tenant  or  occupier  of  the  houfe ;  and  if 
the  money  thus  raifed  is  found  not  to  be  fiifficient  for  an* 
fwering  the  purpofes  of  widening  and  improving  the  ftrcQts, 
and  anfwering  the  other  purpofes  of  the  police  for  which 
the  aft  was  obtained,  the  commiffioners  are  authorifed  and 
empowered  to  raife  and  increafe  the  laid'aiTeirment  of  i  s. 
Sterling  in  the  pound  of  houfe-rents  yearly  (for  a  certain 
nnmber  of  years  then  to  be  fixed  by  fuch  general  meeting 
of  die  inhabitants)  to  any  fum  or  rate  not  exceeding  i  s.  6  d. 
Sterling  in  the  pound  annually  of  the  houfe-rents  afore{iaid. 
This  police-aft  u  to  continue  for  th^  term  of  2z  years,  and 
Vol.  XIX.  Y  from 


syp  St0tyHc0l  Atcount 

4watimt»¥t^v4  of  the  ifani  aezt  feftNi «f  Atfln' 

PMIt. 

From  ^  Uft  tWKtntt  dK  roots  •ppour  <•  be  L.  is«5oo 

It  i«  apt  kiwfm  thtt  there  an  mi  aat  snjr  xwondg  wfasch 
ip^tain  (Ins  teae  nHt\m  p^pwlgtioo  «f  iki»dif  tt  esyidtasiir 
porio4f  Tbb  p0(nil«4ii9n,  h^wt^er*  •wing  chkfljtii  tho 
I9pi4  profrffc  9f  mtnufaflnfcft,  kae  gftsatljrucfMfecl  trfiUs 
tbeie  40  yean.  In  17559  »PQor<ii>g  feo  i)r  Wdifar**  ao^ 
^Hiaf » ir  im»  lP»4S9f  k  «ppeaii,  a«09f4iag  cp  liAft  tolcM 
IIP  l»j  oilier  of  tba  miaiAerB  yi  17899  that  eke  smber  of 
fo^  ia  wbat  I*  oalle4  St  Nkbdae  pariibt  aaioainad  to 
i£,38(S.  Aecor4ing  to  a  lift  of  the  wihabtoiats.  withift  the 
ftrid  lu&ita  of  the  cttji  «as  dmded  inm  fenr  qoarteta,  taken 
la  the  month  of  July  ^^9Sf  by  a  eootmitiee  appoiniod  by 
^n  a^  pafled  ii|  the  left  ftflion  of  Parliamont,  fcr  flriakiog  op 
the  firft  rent-*rol),  and  fuperiscending  the  firS  nloftion  of 
foma^iSooecs  of  pe|icf,  the  popniatian  waa  aafiaUonra : 

^/M^.         iFtntiei.    Under  xotvmi-     TftaL 
$ven  Q^arteir,         1548 
Foot  Pee  Quaater^  loaj 
Qreen  (garter,  87a 

Cirooked  Q^artefi    9387 

Totals,    4830  7601  3689     ^  x6yi20 

.  From  tbr  rogilier  of  baptifmsy  which,  owing  to  the  ne- 
^led  of  Diflentersy  aii4  other  caulc?,  is  extremely  defieOive, 
no  accunite  lift  of  birdis  can  be  obtained ;  but,  aecprding  to 
an  eztrad  from,  the  baptifmal  regifter,  Xach  aa  it  19^  the  an* 
nual  average  fron^  xft  October  1771  to  xft  Odober  1790 
amounted  to  no  more  than  149.  As  no  regifter  o^  burials 
IS  kept  here,  the  number  of  deaths  is  not  known.  The 
annual  averaj;e  of  marriages,  as  Uiken  from  a  pretty  exaft 
regifter,  is  about  izi. 

Of 


*}%% 

tlj3 

5«5» 

1534 

744 

Sjoi 

»495 

647 

SOU 

fftae 

214^ 

4753 

tf  Akerite§, 


171 


Of  tlie  ancient  fiate  of  the  population  of  OldMachar 
tbe  feffion-recofds  make  na  mention.  It  iB^ould  af^peaft 
however,  from  the  many  houfts  that, have  lately  been 
boQty  and  nunnfadnres  eftablifiied»  thai  the  population  hus 
greatly  increafed  within  the  laft  50  years.— The  population 
in  I755t  accordidg  to  Dr  Webfter's  account,  was  only  4945* 
In  tbe  year  1790  it  amounted  to  Sio^,  of  whom  3555  were 
males,  and  457a  females;  of  th^fe,  there  refided  in  the 
city  of  Old  Aberdeen,  including  the  Spittal,  1713 ;  in  the 
town  frfGilcomftooy  1134;  and  in  the  country,  including 
tbeTiQag^a  st  WindoMUbrae,  H^rdgate,  Bridge  of  Don» 
and  PmtfieMy  4x6o«  As*  the  numbers  iir  thv  hft  men- 
tioned villageB  are  not,  in  the  minifteia  lifb^  difiinguiflied 
from  ifccfe  in  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  country,  it  is  impof* 
£ble,  with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  to  feparnte  them  hero» 

lli#  MMn90#  01  narrioges,  uaptxims,  occ*  tn  the  parim  ee 
Old  Macfhar  wiH  be  feen  in  the  following  tables  x 
TkUg  tftlt  Bapiifms^  Marriages^  and  Burials  in  the  Parijk 
ofOtdMacbarfor  Tttn  Tears  after  tbe  Tear  xyal. 


Aioirrtages* 

Baftifms. 

Burials 

wOi/| 

^ 

MaClarCi.j^J.^ 

t 

1.1 

i 

l 

f 

1 

1 

3 

«7»3 

7 

u 

27 

s< 

35 

93 

38 

i<^ 

.  6 

100 

«7M 

lA 

7 

6 

25 

64 

49 

I '3 

51 

4» 

17 

n6 

n«$ 

3 

10 

rs 

s» 

4« 

rcj6' 

55. 

54 

10 

ri9 

17U 

II 

S 

16 

35 

4* 

i4# 

.r. 

J^ 

4« 

a 

112 

\^ 

13 

»3 

3a 

61 

47 

53 

37 

^ 

69 

a 

4 

II 

31 

4; 

% 

V 

4» 

35 

5 

-  82 

»7«f 

3' 

«4 

33 

3*' 

^4 

41 

<S 

It 

"7 

rm 

a 

16 

30 

4* 

S9 

8* 

3« 

3» 

6 

7« 

■•731 

— 

— 

— 

— 

43 

4* 

85 

37 

19 

8 

84 

»73j 

"- 

— 

— 

— 

3» 

37 

69 

3« 

4» 

•   6 

80 

7x^ 

ii 

97 

111 

aS4 

441 

9?6 

4A3. 

446 

.5^1 

955 

20 

o  The  Uft  two  yean  are  wanting  in  the  re gifter  of  marriages,  and  there- 
1x1  tie  total  is  only  for  ci^ht  years,  dedudling  the  number  in  the  fccoful 
iolamn  as  properly  belonging  to  ot^er  parilhes,  the  total  for  8  yean  will  be 


7Z 


Statiftkat  AecomU 


^O  ^6  >o   a»  cl^  Oft  «a  a»  ob  o» 
»   X   O  >C    OQ.^  0\tr\  4>  o« 


^  cn  €0  i»  M  p\U*  «o  a^vQ 


Os  »»  w  «eot  o  M  >o  »»  O 


CO  oe<st  w>  <#*  N4  Crt  ^  «  \M 


a»'3.?"S<?5g;it 


«o^  M^^  M\et«t<a  Oi 


•  4\u  o  «•«» 


C4  »ao*o>c;(u>c»»cn  MO« 


•ftasft-6*a'fe?irt 


refidinz  in 
the  panfli    • 


refiding  in 
thci 


refi. 

diofin  the 


Toul  of  sft 

tndjd  co- 

IVOIAS*       


I: 

8 


Gntnd  totu. 


VO  o^    Qs  ONtr»  >4  vX  Cn  V#«  U> 
•1  so««»  o»  >e  •^  «»a  Cn  O  O^ 


Males. 


T" 


.r^^aaa^.'Si^.^l^ 


•feKt^t.tt'Sft* 


to 


U*  en  '•^  >0  M  ov  ^4^  C*»  O 


^    P  »°  ^  •**    *"^  ^   00  CO 


Totftf. 


0\  O   »»^  •f'    «0O   «OM 


i»OMOmhOOmm 


U  >6  M  M  ^  •-•  ^o  C9VO  M 

4^    M^OHUiQ-^^    •«    M 


;5i 


0»   M 


Malei. 


Fonals. 


eevf  o  ^o»<>44kta«  00 


Ot  4k.  .^  Ln    OsO»  ^  ^  ^  . 


known. 
Total  of  xft 
and  id  co- 
lumns. 


^^^^4^ 


^^^^^j 


Grand  totaL 


r 


2»»'  »a  <0 


»   C^9^^ 


4    M     M    » 


t^Cfi^vo  «oO  «bO  I 


«*»  ^i  0\V»  -  4i,  o»  o»  -^  S; 


0^0^^* 


»i|At»iai>ii»h>l.>t» 


1  M  M 


I  I  I  M 


Mill 


lint 


r  I 


V  Males. 


Females. 


M  |>  »•  |»   !»■  b»-»> 


Sexna- 

linown. 

Total  of  lit 

and  sd  co- 


GnmdtXMaL 


Sex  un- 
known. 


Tboagh 


;    i^AJbmrde^n.       ^  173 

Thioagh  the  preceding  tsiblef  ar«  as  accurate  as  can  be 
mfKle  from  oar  regtfier9».  they  are  bj  no  means  perfe^j 
corTed. '  That  no  perfon  roaj  be  mifled  bj  forming  calcu- 
lations from  tbemy  I  have  therefore  deemed  it  expedient  to 
iabjoin  the  following  remstrlcs : — From  the  regifter  of  mar« 
riages  I  have  given  in  the  firft  column  of  the  tables  the 
namber  of  marriages  in  iv.hich  the  man  only  reiided  in  the 
partih;  in  the  feoond.  colamny  the  number  in  which  the 
woman  only  refided  in  the  pariih^j^din  the  third,  ith/e. 
nooiber  in  .whi<^  both  parties  belonged  to  the  parifli*  .  A$ 
in  moft  roarriage|»  ip  wl^ch  th^  pames  refide  in  different 
pari(heS|,the  woai^an  is  fappofed  to  leave  he;-own»  and  to  go  * 
to  her  hufband's  parifh,  I  c^mfider  the  foorth  colomn,  which 
gives  the  f i^m  of  the  firft  and  thirdi  as  conti^iniag  the  num<* 
ber  of  marriages  which  properly  belox^  to  thi$  pariih,  -iU,  * 
however,  feveraLinfiaoces.ha've  occurred,  in  which  the  man- 
has  come  to  refide  in  the  parifli  of  the  wpman^  this  mode  of; 
reckoning  may  not  be  perfe^y  accurate  \  I  have  therefore, 
cbolen  to  add  the  fecood  and  fifth  columns,  thatxvery  per- 
Ibo  m^  calculate  frpm  the  tab]e  upon.any  principle  hemajf 
incline  to. adopts    I. mud  f)airther  obferve,  that  the  number 
of  marriages  mentioned  in .  the  table,  efpeciaUy  during  the  > 
laft  ten  years,  is.confiderably  ihort  of  the  truth.    This  is 
owing  to.many  loofr  apd  diforderly  perfon^.  who  are  ;an« 
nually  fined  for  irregular  marriages  by  the  juftices  of  peace. . 
In  fuch  inftances  the  .ignorant  parties  always  confider; the 
magiSrate,  and  avowedly  fpeak  of  him  as  the  celebrator  of 
the  mairiageji    They  are  tempted  to  have  recourfe  to  this 
ahfiml  and  irregular,  ipethod  of  obtaining  marriage,  becaufe 
It  maj  he  accompIi(hed  with  greater  fecrecy  and  expedi'* . 
tioo  than  by  obfcrving  the -legal  ceremonies.    It  is  there* 
fore  frequently  adopted  in  this  place,  .when  the  confent  of 
parents  cannot  be  obtained,  when  the  woman  is  pregnant, 
or  when  .prudence,  or  the  laws  of  the  country  prcTeot  anj 

obftacle 


174  StMt^imt  Accnnt 

oMbdedMtwooMfioporreCiidtlieaiiiriige.  IkMvm 
iaftMoe  in  t  neigbbmiriog  partfli  in  wlttdi  pwdtt  wiikia 
the  forbidden  degrees  of  oonfimgDiniry  were  thai  OMrricd. 
When  %  yooog  coopk  meet  with  any  obOade  to  thdr 
iimon^*->wheo,  from  wantomieft  or  hnmOur,  they  fpom  all 
xegtthr  fivrmB,— 4nr  when  they  are  too  impatient  to  wait  for 
proclamations^  they  apply  to  the  procnrator-fifeal  to  get  a 
jttftio^  of  peace  to  marry  diem.  He  inftmds  them  to  tell 
the  jnftice  that  they  were  married  at  foeh  a  time,  but  to  re* 
ftife  to  name  the  cdebrator  and  witneflTes.  Whereapon  the 
jodge  Hrft  decerns  thea^  to  pay  the  legal  fine ;  and  netc, 
upona  reprefentatioa  of  their  poverty,  &e.  by  virtoe  of  hia 
or  their  power  as  jviBce  or  jnfticea  of  peacet  modify  this 
fine,  fotoetimes  to  half  agoinea,  fometimes  tojs.  and  fame- 
times  even  to  much  leb.  They  get  an  extraft  of  thi&  fdi- 
tence,  pay  the  procnrator-fifeal,  and  the  eeremoay  is  over. 
Can  any  idea  be  moae  ridicokns,  than  that  a  peffim  flioiM 
apply  to  a  poblic  profecutor^  pay  him,  and  be  inftnided  to  taU 
a  lie  to  the  magiftrate,  merely  to  get  himfelf  pnniflied  far  a 
crime,  which  he  is  confiaons  he  never  committed.  Many 
of  thefe  poor  creatnres  are  afterwards  fo  aftamed  of  this 
farce,  that  they  apply  to  dieir  parifli-minifiers  to  be  tegn* 
larly  married.  To  what  length  the  abfmil  and  wanton  ir- 
regolafity  of  juflice  of  peace  marriages,  as  they  are  calied, 
may  be  carried,  and  what  diforder  they  may  introdnce  into 
f($dety,  if  not  checked  by  the  Legiflatnre,  it  is  hard  to  fay. 
>  Sorely  the  laws  againft  irregular  marriages  were  intended 
to  prevent,  not  to  enconrage  fnqh  pra&ices.  While,  how- 
ever, they  are  thus  executed,  if  this  can  be  called  execnting 
them,  they  are  fo  managed  as  to  defeat  their  own  end.  I 
know  of  no  chnfe  in  all  the  a£b  of  Parliament  rehtiog  to 
fudi  marriages  that  permits  the  jufiice  to  mitigate  the  fine. 
On  the  contrary,  they  are  expreUy  appointed  to  fabSitute 
certun  corporal  punifliments  in  place  of  the  lepil  fine,  when 

die 


^  ^  AUrdftn.  .175 

tfce  panics  are  wabje  to  pay  it.  XC  iJ^ejr  wooU  adlums  to 
this  altemfttive^  the  laws  would  be  r^ftored  to.tbcir  proper 
cfficapy,  and  this  braocb  of  their  jorilili^oii  would  fooQ  sf- 
&rd  them  vecy  little  employment*  But  while  they  affiirae 
powers,  with  which  they  do  mt  leem  to  me  to  be  eDtnified 
bj  the  laws  of  their  countryy  I  vfk  onder  a  nieceffity  of  cw^ 
fidertog  them  as  aOiog  ia  theie  iaftaiices,  aot  as  the  goaf^ 
diaos  of  order,  but  «b  the  perverters  of  the  law,  «ad  the 
pramotsfs  of  c^^on..  We  have  here  {pme  joftioes  of 
iperdy  grow^ ;  but:  I  F^d  be  wantivg  ia  caadoor,  if  \ 
did  aot  ackaowlegtt  that  the  realgaiikmm  of  this  coaaty 
bava  io  geaend  eon$d^ed  it  as  beaeath  the  di,piitjr  of  tbeir 
cbaiaAer  to  take  aay  concera  in  irrcgalar  marriages,  that 
they  aaifbrmly  refide  fiieh  applicatioas,  aod  that  whea  fpcb 
af|4ieatioos  have  been  made  to  them,  their  good  advtoe 
has  often  prevailed  with  the  parties  to  have  reeoarSs  to  tha 
forass  wbieh  the  laws  of  the  cooatry  prefcriibe* 

As  to  the  regifter  of  baptifms,  no  tronblc  has  beea  fpared 
10  render  it  correft.  The  two  parochial  mtaifters  ieldooi 
bepti£e  a  child,  without  caofiag  the  psreat  briag  aa  atteflan 
tion,  that  be  has  paid  for  having  his  child's  naaie  r^giflared ; 
aad  the  ounifter  of  the  Qupel  of  £afe  keeps  an  aocnrata 
lift  of  the  children  baptiCed  by  him,  which  he  iends  annual- 
ly  to  th(e  iei&oa-elerk.  Several  peiibns  are  aUb  employed 
to  procure  infoqaatioa  of  thole  who  are  baptiiiBd  by  difleat* 
ing  dergymen^f  different  deaomiiiatio^  Notwithfianding 
all  this  Q^stt  feveral  baptifms  annually  occur,  which  are  not 
recorded.  Befides,  the  ebildren  of  a  very  few  Quakers  who 
are  never  baptifed,  aod  Come  who  are  either  bom  dead,  or  die 
lb  foon  after  their  birth  that  they  cannot  be  baptifed,  can- 
not  be  mentioned  in  the  regjbfter  of  bapt^ms.  The  anaaal 
births  in  the  pariih  muft  therefore  exceed  the  numbers 
4i|t^  in  the  tableSj  1  fuppoie,  by  a  do^ca  at  leaft. 

Thert 


1^6  Ste^yOcal  Account 

There  are  Aree  burymg  grounA  in  Old  Mcdiar,  die 
•  chorth-yard,  the  Sptttal  borjing  ground,  belonging  to 
Alexander  Moir,  Efq;  of  Scotftown,  ind  the  Snow  church- 
yard, belonging  to  the  King's  College.  Of  the  bnriab  in 
the  two  firdy  tolerably  correft  regifters  are  kept.  Of  tbe. 
Imriak  in  the  laft,  no  accurate  account  can  be  had,  but  by 
'fearching  the  accounts  of  the  common  procurator  of  the 
Colleg^^y  bj  whom- 1  am  infermed,  that  the  average  num- 
ber of  burials  m  it  doed  not  exceed  two  in  a  year.  This 
burying  ground  is  ufed  chiefly  by  Papifts;  I  could  find  no 
regifter  o&  burials  iot  the  Spittal  during  the  two  firft  pe- 
riods meatiooed  in  the  tables ;  I  have  therefore  in&rted  for 
tfaefie  periods  only  the  burials  in  the  pariih  church«yard, 
snd  thbfe  in  the  Snow  church-yard  in  a  fingle  colnnm,  en* 
titledi  Sex  unknown.  The  number  of  burials  for  the  Spit- 
tal church  yard  may,  however,  be  afcertaihed  and  infcrted 
in  the  blank  taUee,  by  calculating  from  the  proportion  of 
the  average  burials  in  the  church-yard  to  that  of  the  Spittal 
burying-ground  during  the  laft  ten  years,  and  in  this  manner 
the  average  number  of  the  whole  burials  in  the  pariih  for 
the  firft  two  periods  may  be  found.  In  all  the  regifters  of 
bnriah  fome  inftances  occurred  in  which  the  fex  .of  the  per« 
fon  buried  was  not  afcertained ;  in  thefe  cafes,  either  the 
fimame  (Xily  of  the  perfon  buried  was  mentioned,  or  the 
keeper  of  the  regifter  charged  himfelf  for  the  huriatiair{p2LVt) 
of  a  child,  without  mentioning  whether  it  was  male  or  female. 
To  afcertain  with  any  tolerable  degree  of  accuracy  the  pro- 
pordon  of  the  fexes  buried  in  the  pariih,  I  was  therefore 
obliged  to  infert  in  the  tables  of  burials,  in  diflind  columns, 
the  numbers  in  which  the  regifters  mentioned  the  fex ;  and 
to  ihow  the  whole  ntmiber,  I  have  added  a  third  column, 
entitled,  Sex  unknown.  I  have  only  to  obferve  farther 
with  regard  to  the  burials^  that  many  who  die  in  this  pariih 
ate  buried  in  other  pariibes^  but  that  a  far  greater  number 

are 


of  Aberdeen.  lyj 

art  bitmght  from  other  pariihes,  efpecially  from  Aberdeen, 
and  buried  here.  This  is  owing  partly  to  their  forefathers 
having  lived,  died,  and  been  buried  in  this  parifh;  and 
partly  to  the  bnrial  lairs  being  mnch  cheaper  here  than  in 
Aberdeen.  From  the  manner  in  which  the  regifters  are 
kept,  it  is  impoifible  to  determine  how  many  of  the  per* 
fons  buried  belong  to  the  parifh,  and  how  many  are  firan- 
gen,  otherwife  I  flioald  have  marked  this  diftindion 
by  inferting  their  refpe6tive  numbers  in  feparate  co« 
lomns.  By  thefe  obfervations  it  will  appear,  that  no  cal- 
cohtions  refpeding  the  general  population  of  the  pa- 
rifli  can  be  juftly  founded  on  the  tables  of  burials*  and 
diat  the  rule  of  multiplying  the  burials  by  36  would  lead 
us  greatly  to  over-rate  the  population  of  the  place.  But  as 
by  hx  the  greater  number  of  firangers  buried  here  are 
brou^t  from  Aberdeen,  and  as  the  fame  caufes  render  the 
number  of  females  in  both  places  fuperior  to  that  of  the 
males,  calculations  from  the  deaths,  intended  to  elbbliOi, 
not  the  real  number  of  people,  but  the  proportion  of  the 
fexes  adnally  living  in  the  parifli,  though  not  accurate, 
will  come  nearer  the  truth. 

As  the  numbers  who  annually  come  from  other  places 
to  refide  in  Old  Machar  are  greater  than  the  numbers  who 
emigrate  from  it,  and  as  the  number  of  baptifms  inferted 
in  the  regiRer  falb  ihort  of  the  real  number  of  births  in  the 
parifli,  the  rule  of  multiplying  the  number  of  births  by  26 
would  lead  us  to  under-rate  the  population  of  the  place. 
As  in  this  infiance,  the  errors  Ariiing  from  this  mode  of 
calcnlarion  are  eafily  accounted  for  by  the  daily  influx  of 
ftrangers  into  a  large  city  and  its  neighbourhood,  perhaps 
thefe  paXc9  for  ascertaining  the  population  of  a  country 
nay  be  found  to  hold  with  fufficient  accuracy,  if  the  births 

Vol.  XIX.  Z  upA 


178  Stat\ftual  Account. 

and  bnriah  for  Aberdeeii,  aad  a  large  diftnft  rowd  it»  are 
taken  into  the  acomuit. 

With  regard  to  the  population  of  this  paiiih,  it  nay  be 
proper  farther  to  obferrei  that  firom  what  is  already  cdca- 
tioned,  it  appears  that  the  females  exceed  the  males  bj 
Z0379  which  is  more  than  an  eighth  part  ef  the  whole 
number.  That  this  remarkable  dirparitj  in  the  number 
of  the  diflerent  fexes  reallj  ezifls  in  thu  parHb  is  e^idcat 
from  the  minifter's  rolls,  which  are  as  accurate  as  the  veiy 
flttduating  ftate  of  the  people  in  lb  populous  a  place  will 
admit  of.  It  cannot  be  e^Iaioed  either  by  the  births  or 
burials.  For  from  the  preceding  tables  it  appearsi  that  dn- 
ring  three  diftinft  periods  often  years  each,  the  number  of 
males  bom  in  the  parifli  has  coofiderably  exceeded  that  of 
females.  If  they  all  had  continued  in  the  parilh,  the  ba- 
lanoe  ought  certainly  to  have  been  in  favour  of  the  nsales, 
which  is  the  reverfe  of  the  hlBu  If  thu  difparity  were 
owing  to  any  extraordinary  mortality  among  the  males,  it 
couM  only  be  temporary,  and  would  appear  by  their  form* 
i^g  a  majority  in  the  regifier  of  burials,  which  the  ta- 
bles ihew  to  be  alfo  the  reverie  of  the  b&.  It  may, 
however,  be.  Cuisfadorily  explained  by  the  following  ob- 
fervat  ions  :  Moft  of  our  manufadures,  efpeciaUy  the  bleach- 
log  and  thread-making  buiinefles,  employ  a  much  greater 
number  of  women  than  of  men ;  and  the  great  manu&c- 
tore  of  the  place,  the  knitting  of  ftockings,  is  carried  on  al- 
moft  entirely  by  females.  Accordingly,  while  moft  of  our 
women  remain  at  home,  m&ny  of  oui*  young  men  emigrate 
to  other  places,  in  queft  of  more  lucrative  employment 
than  they  can  find  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Befides,  the 
temptations  of  cheap  and  c(»Bmodious  houfes,  of  eafy  ac- 
cels  to  fuel,  and  to  all  the  necefiaries  aad  comforts  of  life, 
from  our  vicinity  to  the  port  and  market  of  Aberdeen^  and 

of 


of  the  high  probability  of  finditig  e0)pl(i;^fiieot  &om  fom« 
c£At  many  tnaoufiiQures  carried  00  in  the  neigbbourbood^ 
iadooe  many  old  women,  and  many  of  the  widows  and 
draghtefs  of  farmers  and  tradefmen,  to  leave  the  country, 
and  rofide  in  this  pariib,  wiiik  their  (bns  have  either  fettled 
as  farmers  in  their  native  place,  or  gone  abroad,  or  ente|[cd 
into  the  army  or  navy.  If  to  thefe  obfervations  we  add, 
that  in  all  parifhes,  in  which  there  are  feveral  large  towns 
and  viUages,  mod  families  need  more  female  than  male  for- 
vants,  the  majority  of  females  in  this  pariih,  great  as  it  is, 
^will  be  fuflSciently  accounted  for. 

The  annual  average  of  baptifms  for  ten  years  immediately 
after  2722,  ia90^;  for  ten  years  after  the  1752^  89^1 
and  for  ten  years  after  1782,  124-,^.  To  this  average  12 
at  leaft  fliould  be  annually  added  to  make  up  for  thofe  not 
inferted  in  the  regifter. 

The  annual  average  of  burials  for  ten  years  immediately 
after  the  1722  is,  in  the  parifii  church-yard,  95iVt  ^^i  i^ 
the  Snow  church*yard,  2 ;  for  ten  years  after  the  1752,  ill 
the  parifli  church-yard,  57tV»  *°d  in  the  Snow  church-yard, 
2 1  for  ten  years  after  the  1782,  in  the  parifh  chnrch-yard, 
104-^,  in  the  Snow  church-yard,  2  i  and  in  the  Spittal 
chm^h*yard,  2411*9 ;  in  all,  348^. 

The  average  number  of  marriages  properly  belonging  to 
the  pariih  for  eight  years  immediately  after  the  1722  13, 
251V »  for  ten  years  immediately  after  1752,  it  is  331^^ 
aad  far  ten  years  immediately  after  the  17  82,  it  is  51.  In 
calculating  the  above  average  of  marriages,  tho£e  in  whieh 
the  women  only  refided  in  the  pariih  are  excluded,  and  no 
allowance  is  made  for  the  jufUce  of  peace  marriages,  feveral 
of  whidi  annually  occur. 

Ft0B  the  above  ftatements  of  tha  population  of  the  city 

and  parilhes  of  Aberdeen,  it  appears,  that  the  whole  in 

3  iX790-9S» 


rto 


Stat^al  Accoma 


1790^59  amounted  to  24,493,  making  an  increafe,  if  Df 
Webfter*8  accoimt  is  to  be  relied  on,  of  no  Ie£»  tbaa  9060. 

The  people  in  general  are  indttftrions  and  fober;  andnoc 
a  few  arrive  at  an  advanced  period  of  life.  Several  wo- 
men died  latclj  above  90  yean  of  age,  and  one  above 
loo*. 

Tbis 


•  StaU  rfthe  Popmiaiian  o/tbe  Tvwm  cf  AktrUtnfnm  1758  to  1770. 


X7S9. 

1760, 

i7^i# 
176a, 

17^3.^ 
X7^4i 
17«S, 
I7^<5. 
«7^7. 
i7«. 
2769, 

^770. 


«4S8 

^444 
6366 

^S34 
J634 
6898 

7«5^ 
7308 
7*4S 
7757 
7795 
8133 
$551 


EpifcopaL  Seceden 

Pipiib. 

Quakers. 

Jndfpff*Vf?^ 
orGlaffits. 

1787        - 

iti 

«7 

45 

1717 
1619 

s6i 

"3 

19 

^% 

^95 

"7 

33 

57 

1907 

y>i 

«37 

42 

3S 

Z846 

170 

115 

18 

»3 

189S 

188 

Z18 

18 

21 

AOlft 

310 

«34 

12 

«7 

Z968 

334 

115 

»7 

*3 

1938 

3«9 

134 

17 

»7 

10S9 

33« 

«37 

14 

29 

1067 

34« 

140 

«S 

3» 

.     ^164 

354 

158 

'5 

29 

2l6« 

303 

"7 

*7 

a7 

TotQf 

perfi 
8468 

8639 
8707 

«93« 
8916 

P*3» 
9^61 

9775 
10090 
10328 
10390 

«0853 
ZZX98 


J^Miari/.— The  above  Hate  compvehcnds  the  three  paftoral  charges  int* 
which  the  town  of  Aberdeen  is  divided.  Thefe,  together  with  the  village 
of  Futtie,  which  (being  under  the  charge  of  a  diftin^  catechift,  who  has 
'  lutberto  beeli  ordained,  but  not  reckoned  a  miniiter  of  Aberdeen)  is  not 
included  in  dus  Hate,  make  up  the  pariih  of  St  Nich<to.  It  comprehends 
none  of  the  extenfive  fuburbs  weft  and  fouth  from  the  Denbam*  they  ha- 
ving belonged  to  the  deanry  of  Aberdeen,  and  now  to  the  parilh  of  St  Ms- 
char,  commonly  called  Old  Machar,  or  Old  Aberdeen.  In  thefe  there  has 
been  a  very  great  increafe  of  inhabiunts  within  th^  laft  forty  yean. 

The  above  ftafie  takes  in,  not  the  number  of  foub,  but  only  of  exami- 
nable peifona,  as  the  minifters  included  not  clvldren  in  their  lifts.  They 
leckoned  them  examinable  as  foon  as  they  had  learned  to  md»  and  could 
flmfwer  |fome  of  the  common  queftions;  fo  that  their  lifts  contained 
St  leaft  all  perfons  of  fhre  years  old  and  upwards.  In  calculating  ftom 
tiiefe^  the  number  of  foub,  it  is  to  be  dbferved,  that  in  Aberdeen  (and 
peihapi  in  moft  towns)  the  number  of  children  bears  a  left  proportioo  to 
that  of  fouls  than  in  countiy  pariflie^ ;  one  reafon  of  which  is,  that  many 
aged  perfons,  particularly  (ingle  women,  retire  to  towns,  and  accommodate 
Cfacnfelvei  ia  iinaU  rooms.    Hus  is  foubd  to  hold  in  Abefdcen;  for  one  of 

the 


of  Aberdeen.  181- 

This  town  and  neighbonrhood  is  not  remarkable  for  an  j 
nacommon  or  epidemical  diieale.  A  certain  kind  of  po* 
trid  Ibce  throat*  howevery  raged  lately,  and  cot  off  many  of 

the 

the  fflioiilent  for  ^  few  yean  of  the  above  period,  took  an  account  of  the 
whole  foals  in  the  part  of  the  town  onder  his  eharge,  and  was  furprifed  that 
thofe  under  the  examinable  age  were  fo  few  in  comparifoo.  Fioin  his  lifia 
the  number  of  fonls  in  the  other  charges  might  have  been  nearly  calculated, 
but  he  negle&ed  it  at  the  time,  and  as  he  has  been  dead  for  fome  years,  we 
do  not  know  whether  kny  of  his  lifts  can  be  now  recovered. 

The  incrriife  of  inhabitants  during  the  above  period  arofe  m  a  good  mea- 
fare  from  the  intrcMladion  and  eztenfion  of  manufadhirrs,  and  alfo  firoin 
the  great  demand  for  ihmes  for  paving  the  ftrceu  of  London;  which 
brought  a  nmltitnde  of  labourers  from  all  parts  of  the  coimtry  to  Aber- 
deen and  its  neighbourhood ;  and  after  that  demand  (Iackened»  many  uf 
thcfe  remained  with  their  families  in  Aberdeen,  as  a  proper  place  for  ob- 
taining employment  as  day-labourers.  Many  Ukewife,  who  have  come  up 
as  patients  to  the  infinnary,  have,  after  being  cured,  fettled  with  the  lame 
▼iew.  Hiefe  circumftances  have  alfo  contributed  to  a  great  increafe  of  por 
pulation  in  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  parifh  of  Old  Machar. 

For  fome  years  previous  to  the  above  period,  there  had  been' a  confidera- 
ble  increafe  in  the  population  of  Aberdeen,  owing  chiefly  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  manufadlures,  but  partly  alfo  to  the  extenfive  cultivation  of  land* 
fbrmeily  wafte  in  the  environs,  which  found  occupation  for  many  addi- 
tional hands. 

Aberdeen  affords  a  fignal  confirmation  of  the  vaguenefs  of  conjeAuxal 
accounts  of  the  number  of  inhabitants  of  a  town,  and  of  its  always  hx  ex- 
ceeding the  truth.  For,  during  the  above  period,  the  urrlter  of  this  account 
happened  to  aik  a  gentlenAn  who  had  been  in  a  public  ftarion  for  near  fifty 
yean,  and  had  beftowed  fome  attention  on  the  ftate  of  the  town,  What 
was  in  his  younger  days  reckoned  the  number  of  inhabitants  >  And  what 
the  proportion  between  Prefbyterians  and  Epifcopalians }  His  anfwer  wa^ 
that  the  examinable  perfons  were  always  reckoned  at  leaft  10,000 ;  and  the 
Preibyterians  and  Epifcopalians  nearly  equal  in  number:  But  for  a  few 
years  previous  to  the  period  of  the  above  ftate,  there  had  been  a  very  great 
increafe  of  population,  (in  one  of  the  three  paftoral  charges  in  one  year,  n^ 
le6  than  about  500),  and  yet  at  the  beginning  of  that  period  they  fell  far  ftioit 
of  the  number  (pedSed ;  and  through  the  whole  period  the  PreAyterians 
were  nearly  to  the  Epifcopalians  as  3*  to  i,  and  to  all  Diilenters  together 
(of  whom  the  Secedcrs  were  originally  Preibyteriass)  as  2*  to  one. 


lS2 '  StatiJHcal  Account 

die  young  of  both  fexes.  In  the  jesr  17^9,  Ae  geBntne 
DyfenUria  broke  out  in  Fooctie«  tod  raged  with  coafiifo- 
rable  Tiolence-  The  onlj  check  to  it  that  proved  efedaat 
was  by  removing  the  infcded  perfons  into  a  temporary 
faofpital,  where  they  received  medical  aid,  and  every  necef- 
lary  accommodation  at  the  public  expence,  the  money 
being  raifed  by  fublcription. 

The  provincial  dialed  of  the  EngUfh,  which  at  fjtmt^ 
rally  fpoken  here,  is  not  commonly  confidered  as  being 
very  pure.  Owing,  however,  to  a  much  greater  inter- 
courfe  with  the  Englilk  than  formerly,  a  fenfible  change  to 
the  better  has  taken  place  in  the  idiom.  Some  old  peopk 
remember  when  many  broad  Scotch  words  and  phrafis 
were  current,  even  in  the  bcft  companies,  which  are  now 
fcarcely  ever  to  be  heard  in  the  loweft.  The  confideration 
alfo  that  this  is  a  place  of  education,  the  feat  of  an  uaiv«r« 
fity  of  confiderable  eminence,  has  proved  an  indncement 
to  fieveral,  efpecially  to  thofe  who  have  entertained  thoughts 
of  pttbliihing  in  Engliih,  to  make  the  proper  idiom  of  the 
language  more  a  matter  of  ftudy  than  was  ever  done  at  an j 
former  period,  a  circumftance  that  has  not  fiuled  to  pro- 
duce good  eSeds. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  original  language  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  place ;  and  whatever  may  have  been  the 
changes  which  at  different  periods  it  has  undergone,  it  is 
undeniable,  that  for  many  centuries  back  the  old  Scotch 
dialed,  whofe  affinity  to  the  Englifh  is  manifeft,  has  been 
the  language,  not  of  this  place  only,  but  of  all  the  eaftem 
coaft  of  Scotland.  Now,  though  the  oldeft  names,  fuch  as 
thofe  of  mountains,  rivers,  towns  of  high  antiquity,  and 
trafts  of  country,  are  probably,  as  was  already  hinted,  from 
the  ancient  Britiih )  and  though  fome  names  of  a  lower 
epoch,  from  the  intercourfe  of  the  inhabitants  with  High* 
landers,  or  Ifiih  Scots,  are  doubtlels  from  the  £rfe  \  yet  by 

far 


4(f  Aberdeen.  183 

fax  the  greateft  number  of  names  of  places  are  from  the  0I4 
Scotch  dialed^  which  has  been  now  for  many  ages  the  laof 
goage  of  the  country.  Not  any  more  remarkable  inflan- 
ces  of  fucb  derivation  in  this  parifb  can  be  given,  than  the 
names  of  the  ftreets  of  the  town,  the  principal  of  which  are 
the  Caftlegate,  the  Braidgate,  the  Overkirkgate,  the  Ne- 
therkirkgate,  the  Gallowgate.  Add  to  thefe,  the  Gaift* 
raw,  the  Shipraw,  the  Rottenraw,  the  Dubbyraw,  the 
Chcckeraw,  the  Narrow-wynd,  the  Badc-wynd,  the  Cor- 
refidoo-wynd*  Thefe.  with  Putachie's-fide,  and  the  Green, 
are  almoft  all  the  old  names  of  ftreets  and  lanes  in  the 
town.  We  cannot  give  a  better  example  than  in  this  very 
tbiog  of  the  ad|pnces  noticed  in  a  former  article,  which  we. 
are  daily  making  towards  Englifli.  We  almoft  never  hear 
now  of  the  Braidgate  and  the  Caftlegate.  They  are  become 
nnivcrblly  the  Broadftreet  and  the  Caftleftreet.  The  Gal« 
lowgate,  for  what  good  reafon  we  know  not,  has  not  yet 
Ihared  in  this  reformation,  for  nobody  ventures  upon  Go^ 
iowftrat.  The  Kirkgaies  too  remain  the  fame  as  ever* 
They  are  never  called  Cburcbfireets^  though  we  more  com* 
mooly  fiiy  the  Upper  than  the  Ovir  Kirkgate.  There  is 
little  or  no  change  made  on  the  other  paftages  called  wynit 
and  raws.  Only  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  in  all  thofe 
which  have  been  made  in  the  city  or  fuburbs  for  at  leaft 
fifty  years  paft,  we  have  neither  ^o/fi  nor  wynds;  they  are 
all  JlreetM  and  lanes.  Thus  we  have  within  that  period 
got  $iueen'Jlreet^  MarJhaUfireet^  Ncrtb-^treet^  Shoe-lanif 
Juftice-lanef  lie.  i^c.  If  the  fame  hamoor  prevails  in 
other  places  of  the  country,  we  may  conclude,  that 
the  words  gate  and  wynd^  occurring  in  any  compound 
names  of  the  paftages  through  a  city  or  town  in  Scotland^ 
win  ferve  as  evidences  of  an  antiquity  higher  at  leaft  than 
the  middle  of  the  i8th  century.  As  to  the  names  of  the 
Sew  bills,  gentlemen's  featSi  &c.  lying  near  the  town,  they 

appear. 


]  S4  Statijlical  Accoufit 

sppear,  as  £ir  as  we  can  difcover,  to  be  of  the  lame  origiiL. 
Thus  Ferry-hUL,  FrofterJnll^  (the  word  Frqfier  probabljr 
corrupted  from  Forrefier)^  HUiou^  Robflaw^  King^s-tceilr^ 
CouniefC-wtOsy  Wbiiemires,  Some  are  more  obfcure  in 
their  orxfpn^  as  Pttmucifton^  RodrieftoHj  Twry^  Futtie^  i^Cm 
Of  this  laft  it  was  obferved,  that  fome  refolve  it  into  Fooi^ 
Dee^  the  foot  of  Dee.  But  this  is  diredl j  contrary  to  the 
common  rule  of  analogy  in  the  derivation  of  words.  Whea 
an j  thing  is  exprefied  bj  one  word  in  our  language,  (and 
this  holds  in  both  dialeds^  Englifli  and  Scotch)^  reprefent- 
ing  it  as  a  part  or  member  of  fome  other  thing,  that  other 
thing  makes  the  firft  part  of  the  compound  name,  and  the 
part  or  member  makes  invariably  the  laft  part.  Thus  di^ 
mouth  of  the  Wey  is  Wtymoutb^  not  Mouibwey ;  and  thmt 
the  Scotch,  in  this  formation  of  words,  is  the  fame  with 
the  Englifli,  appears  from  fome  names  of  places  in  this 
neighbourhood.  Thus  we  have  Loanbeadf  not  Htadhau^ 
for  the  head  of  the  loan  or  loaning ;  Craiglug^  not  Lugcraig^ 
for  the  lug^  that  is,  the  ear  of  the  craig.  If,  therefore^ 
thej  mean  to  call  the  place  the  foot  of  the  river,  it  woald 
have  been  unqueftionablj  Btefoot^  not  Fooi-Dee.  But  we 
are  not  even  certain  that  the  mouth  of  a  river  is  either  in 
Scotch  or  Englifli  ever  called  theybo/. 

RccUJtaJiicdl  State  of  Aberdeen. 
The  two  principal  churches  of  this  citjr,  which  at  pre^ 
fent  are  called  the  Eq/l  and  Wejlt  were  forrtierlj  called  the 
Old  and  New  Churches.  The  church  which  flood  where 
the  Weft  Church  now  ftands  was  called  the  Old,  and  is  fup- 
pofcd  (though  upon  what  evidence  is  not  certain)  to  have 
been  feveral  centuries  older  than  the  other.  The  ftile  of 
architeflore,  though  both  were  Gothic,  was  very  different 
from  that  of  the  Eaft  (formerly  called  the  New)  Church, 
ftUl  ftanding,  and  which  likewife  is  of  an  uncertain  date. 

The 


^f  Aherdftn^ 


»8i 


The  Old  Church  was  paUed  do^n,  and  reWlt|  about  the 
year  1754.— The  College  Chtireh  belonged  to  the  Grey 
Friars,  and  was  purchafed  b^  the  Magiftrates  from  the 
College.     There  is  no  account  wheil  it  was  built. 

In  the  cit^  of  Aberdeen  are  three  parochial  charges^ 
and  one  la  the  village  of  Futtie.  There  are  two  charges 
in  Old  Machar.  The  exaft  ^ue  of  the  livitlg  is  L.  126 
Sterling /«r  awmm  to  each  parochial  minifter,  without  any 
manfe  or  glebe.  The  patronage  ia  vefted  in.  the  Magi- 
Orates,  and  Town-cooincxl  for  the  time  betrtg. 

The  foUowing  table  contains  a  lift  of  the  miniftets  of 
Aberdeen  fince  the  year  1673 : 


1673  David  Lyal. 
16S0  WiUiam  BUin 
2716  John  Olbura. 
1749  Thomas  Forbes. 
1785  Duncan  Shaw. 


1673  Pat.  Sibbald. 
.1686  Andrew  Bucnct. 
1696  }ame&  Ofburn. 
1703  Colin  Campbell. 
1719  James  Ogiivic. 
1776  Wm.  Faiquhar. 
1779  James  Sheriffs. 


1^73  George  Meldrudi. 
1681  George  Gordon. 
1694  Thomas  Ramfay. 
1700  llio.  Blackwall. 
171 1  Francis  Mclvil. 
1716  James  Chahnen. 
1728  JobnBiflet. 
1757  Geo.  Campbell. 
1771  Geo,  Abercrombie» 
X791  Hugh  Hay. 


Bciides  the  parochial  churches,  there  is  a  chapel  of  eafd 
io  the  College  Church ;  another  in  Futtie ;  one  lately 
joined  the  Eftablifliment  from  the  Relief;  the  Trinity  Cha- 
pel of  Eafe,  and  the  Gadic  Chapel,  all  belonging  to  the 
£fiabli(hmeDt.-— In  this  place  are  three  congregations  be-^ 
longing  to  the  Engliih,  and  two  to  the  Scotch  Epifcopal' 
Church.-— Of  the  Seceders,  is  a  congregation  of  Burghers^ 
aad  another  of  Antiburghersi  and  one  belonging  to  the  Re- 
lief..^*Hcre  the  Roman  Catholics,  the  Methodifts,  the  Be^ 
reansy  and  Independentsi  have  each  a  cor(grcgation.<-^The 
Quakers  have  a  meeting  In  this  place :  and  ^  hoofe  ha^ 
lately  been  opened,  and  occupied  as  a  place  of  worihip  by 
%  Dr  Chandlen 


Vol.  XIX. 


Aa 


Smt 


\$6  Statical  Accwm 

Siate  of  tie  Poor. 
The  number  of  poor  at  prefent  in  Aberdeen,  who  re- 
ceive fiated  and  occafiooal  fiippltes  firoai  public  charitable 
fundsy  amounts  to  481 ;  befidet  25  boys,  who  are  main- 
tained in  the  Poor-hou£e.  The  funds  appropriated  for  their 
ufe  are  at  an  average  about  L.  829  Sterling  f^r  amnum* 
Of  this  fum  L.  2x0  Sterling  are  allowed  for  the  fnpport  of 
the  Poor-houfe»  in  which  are  a  mafter,  mifireft,  and  fer- 
vants.  to  fuperintend  the  education,  &c*  of  the  boys.  The 
fum  of  L.  15 1»  5  s.  of  the  remainder  is  allotted  to  the  ex^ 
dufive  management  of  the  kirk-felfion,  which,  after  pay- 
ing the  falaries  of  their  officers,  thej  diftribute  among  poor 
families^  who  have  no  ftated  fupplieafirom  other  funds. 

Hofpitab,  Infirmary y  6r. 

The  inhabitants  of  Aberdeen  fecm  to  have  been  alwajs- 
diftbguiihed  :fbr  geoeroas  and  humane  adions.  Several 
very  ample  mortifications  and  donationa  for  pious  and  cha- 
ritable purpofes  were  made  by  difl[erent  perfons,  belonging 
to  this  place,  in  the  laft  century.  But  as  a  full  and  accnrau 
account  of  thefe  cannot  be  given^  notice  ihafl  only  be  taken 
of  (bmc,  which  have  been  made  fince  the  beginning  of 
this. 

Robert  Gordon,  merchant  in  Aberdeen,  by  deeds  of 
mortification,  of  date  I3.th  December  1729,  and  the  a9th 
September  1730,  founded  an  Hofpital  for  the  maintenance 
and  education  of  indigent  boys  in  Aberdeen,  being  the  fons 
and  grandfons  of  borgefies  of  guild,  or  the  fons  and  grand- 
fons  of  tradefmen  of  the  faid  burgh,  being  freemen  or  bur- 
gefles  thereof^  and  fi>r  the  purpofes  of  it  he  affigned  his 
whole  eftate,  perfonal  and  real*  to  the  Provoft,  Bailies,  and 
remanent  members  of  the  Council  of  Aberdeen,,  and  the 
four  minifters  of  Aberdeen,  whom  he  appointed  perpetual 
Patrons  and  Governors  of  the  HoQiitaL 

X  'Mr 


tf  Aberdeen.  iSy 

Mr  Grordon  having  diej  about  the  year  X73i«  his  af&g- 
i  obtaiDed  pofleflion  of  liis  funds ;  and  from  the  produce 
x>f  them  parchafed  an  acre,  and  bdk  a  proper  houfe  for  the 
Hofpitak  When  the  foods  had  accumatated  to  a  proper 
degree,  they  took  in  boys,  and  the  inftituti(m  has  gone  tm 
finoe  with  remarkable  faocefi ;  and  there  ase  at  prefent 
flBatntained,  clothed,  and  educated  in  it  60  boys,  at  the  an- 
imal expeoce  of  upwards  «f  L.  1000  Sterfing,  which  the 
<3oTeraort  are  now  enabled  to  afford,  by  the  early  pnrchafe 
•of  laods^  and  afterwards  feuing  them  out  to  great  advan- 
tage* 

The  branches  of  -education  tanght  «i  this  faofpital  are, 
Teadiag  -Eoglilh,  Englifli-grammar,  writing,  arithmetic, 
book-keeping,  the  elements  of  geometry,  atnrigation,  geo- 
graph  J,  French,  chureh-mnfic;  and  fbch  of  the  boys  as  dif- 
cover  E  genius  for  it,  are  inflruAed  in  drawing  alfo.  Thefe 
4>ranches  of  education,  together  with  a  proper  inftruftioQ 
in  the  principles  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  are  carried  on 
under  the  dtredion  of  three  mailers,  who  conftantiy  refide 
in  the  hottCe  \  tho  drawing  mafter  being  only  employed 
<wcafionallyY  and  mofily  during  the  fummer ;  and  the  ma- 
iler for  chorch-mufic  attending  twice'or  thrice  a-week. 

The  boys  muft  not  be  under  nine  years  of  age  when  ad* 
tnitted  into  the  Hofpital,  and  muft  leave  it  at  16  years  of 
age.  They  are  put  to  proper  trades,  under  the  direftioa 
of  die  Governors ;  L.  8  :  6  :  8  Sterling  are  allowed  for  ap« 
prentice-fee  -,  and,  upon  finifliing  their  apprenticeihip,  they 
nre  allowed  each  L.  5  Sterling  to  ailift  them  in  entering  ia- 
to  bofineis. 

Anmo  1772,  the  Governors  judged  it  proper,  for  remo- 
ving objedions  to  tlieir  management,  to  apply  to  his  Ma« 
jefty  for  a  -charter  of  incorporation,  and  it  was  obtained,  ih« 
corporatiog  them  under  the  name  and  title  of,  Th9  Pr^fideni 
^amlGavernan  ofRobtrt  Gordon's  Hojpkalitt  Abtrdnn. 

Anno 


j«8  StatiJ^l/fcMunt 

tion  of  er&Siiag  ^i^  Infirmac/,  in  iVb^rde^Oi  for  rtb«  bene&t 
of  the  difeafed,  iu  ^U  tibje,:nQithcrii  p^art^,  of  the  kingdom. 
Forcarrjmg  this  purpofe  into  e^jecutioo^  fub{pripuoo$  were 
fat  Qa  fooiV  ^nd  the  freU  diiipofedn;^ere^  foltbefftl  in  pro- 
^QlUflg  this  luous  deiigDy  th;|t  -^  .part,  of  the  rhoufe for. the 
juxomrnQd^tioii  <}f  ^padeiits  ^as  §nip\t4  attm>:xf4^'i  in  a 
plaio  but  deceqt  manner^  Aiv  ^44itioii  was  made  tb  tbe 
jhoufe  00190  17459  \^y  whicb  (bey  vre^e  enabled,  tor  i»dmit  « 
greater  n^Ribfir  .of  patitrots.  i  iin4  ^ft«:iyfMrd%  &oi|i  Jdte  great 
number  of  patients  who  applied,  they  were  under  tb«  nf- 
fieifity  of  addjtig  another  jtvipg..,ia,lAe  year  Xf^^  o J9  the 
year  177a,  t.b^y  appli«4  ^o.tbo  QrAYtn  for,  ^  ph|^|t«d« 
^ha^rter  of  incorporalioQ.       *"      ♦,  ,      ,.;..:   v.. 

;  The  xuun^er  p(  thofe  admitted.  in&Oi jlb^ .  In&f 0rfci|[j'^Minu- 
jfdly,:at  au  avera|;e  for  thr^  years  {^/l^  atnouDts  t.Q  ii2$* 
^Out  patients. receive  advice  and  medicioes.  to  (he. number 
p£  about  3500, 

The  ai|.Qa^  .expence  of  the  hou£e,  at  ao  ^iverage  for  fome 
jyears  paft,  Jha^  ^aoiouDted  to  L.  1300  bfevling,  Their  fixed 
funds  are  about  L.. 400  Sterling;  and  for  the  other  L.  900 
they  depepd  ppon  coUedioos  through:  different  parilhes, 
find  upon  donations. 

jiana  j^T^^)  Baillie  James  (!raickfbank,  merjchant  in 
this  cicV»  represented  to  the  n^anagers,  that  fotpe  perfons, 
defirou^  of  promoting  the  ppofpericy  ^nd  fuccefs  of  the  la- 
firnaary,  (but  who  wiih  to  xemaia  UQknown)|  bad  refolved 
to  eafe  it^  in  ^  great  meafurei  q^  the  debt  it  then  laboured 
under,  by  paying  a  fum  of  L.  500  Sterling  for  that  purpofe. 
He  alfo  informed  them,  that  fome  perfons,  had  iigreed  to 
piiake  a  donatiqn  of  L.  1500  Sterling,  to  be  flocked  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Infirmary,  and  the  inter.eft  thereof  for  ever 
IP  be  applied  for  the  ufe  of  the  patients  in  general;  and  be 

defired 


t>f  Aberdeen.  X89 

defired  thac.iib'lHiBlic  notice  flioaldle  tsfkeir  of  thbfe  doni- 
tions  in  the  newfpapers. 

A  fiw  jit%u  ago,  a  day-labourer,  WiUiain  Mnk,  yiAio  a 
good  many  yetir^ago'^had  been  a  patktit  in*  the  Infirmary, 
and  reosiTed1>cncfic:fron)  it,  had  gtVen  to  the  Infirmary  nb 
lefi  a  film  than  L«  135  Sterling,  as  die  beginning  of  a  food 
ibr  boflding  a  fnnr  vjatd^  referving  f to  himfelf,  and  Ms 
wife  only,  if  (be  fnrvive  him,  the  intereft  of  the  abbirt 
fom,  andhe  fiill  cootinoes  to  work  for  his  own  and  fitmi« 
Ij's  fub£aeiR:a. 

'Ann^  174I9  Mr  Jdtin  R«chart  of  AchHecant,  by  a  deed 
•  4>f  feldem^nt,  of  d^e  the  ^oth  of  Odober,  ordained,  that 
Rafter  the  payment  ^i  certain  legacies,  mentioned  in  faid 
deed)  the  r^ltidndef  ^f  his  executry  flioald  be  paid  towards 
endowing  an  Infirmary  and  Work^hoofe  in  Aberdeen.    Af- 
ter the  death  of  Mr  Richart,  it  was  fomid  that  the  remain- 
der of  his  efiate,  aftei>  paying  all  the  legacies  mentioned  in 
his  will,  amounted  to  about  L.  417a  Sterling,  one  half  of 
tvbich,  VMS.  L.  20M  Sterling,  was  to  be  applied  towards 
endowing  a  Workhoufe.    For  this  purpofe  the  Magifirates 
aad  Councir  (the  executors  of  Mr  Richart's  will)  bought 
the  ground*right  and  ruins  of  an  6ld  tenement  tA  honfes 
and  a  garden,  and  afterwards  repaired  iaid  houfe,  and  built 
fome  additions  to  it,  at  a  confiderable  ezpence,  all  of  which 
was  pud»  partly  by  the  Magifirates,  and  partly  by  volon* 
tary  contributions  from  the  difierent  corporations,  and  from 
private  individuals  in  town,  without  breaking  in  upon  Mr 
Richart's  mortification. 

To  the  above  mortification  the  Magifirates  added  a  morti- 
fication under  their  management,  legateed  by  Mr  John  Kemp, 
<yf  the  parifli  of  St  Martin's  in  the  Fields,  in  the  county  of 
Middletex,  apothecary,  anno  1713,  the  annual  produce  of 
whiob  is  aboat  L.  48  Sterling,  and  defiined  by  the  morti- 

fler 


190  Statifikal  AcctnM 

i«r  for  vitioti^iiiAg  a  iirec-ldioQl  lor  cdociitiBg  and  Iniog- 
ing  up  poor  children. 

.TbeJPgorVUoQiiial  was  opened  the  laft  day  of  OAober 
V74X,  for  the  reception  of  iiach  idk  and  flrolliog  vagrants 
te  fliould  be  fbond  in  town,  and .  the  poor  inhabitants,  who 
bad  no  vifiUe  way  of  earning  their  bread ;  alfo  far  boys 
«nd  girls,  the  children  of  poor  inhabitants,  and  for  deftitnte 
erpbans,  who  had  no  relations  to  take  care  of  them.  Every 
perfon  in  the  hoiife  was  to  be  employed  in  work  or  laboor 
•f  fome  kind,  according  to  their  firength  and  capacity. 
The  children  to  attend  the  ichool  in  the  hoofe  for  certain 
hours  every  day :  the  boys  Co  be  taught  reading,  writing, 
arithmetic,  and  inftru&ed  in  the  principles  of  Chrifiian 
knowledge,  and  bound  to  trades  when  they  came  to  a  cer* 
tain  age.  *  The  girls  to  be  taught  knitting  of  ftockings, 
and  other  branches  of  female  education,  to  qualify  tbem  for 
being  good  fervants.  The  various  kinds  of  labour  carried 
en  within  the  houfe  were,  picking  of  oakum,  beating  hemp, 
carding  and  fpinning  coarfe  wool  and  flax,  manufafturing 
coarfe  cloth,  and  knitting  dockings. 

The  managers  of  the  Hofpiul  were  the  Magiftrates  and 
Council  for  the  time  being,  and  fome  of  the  mod  refpefi- 
able  inhabitants  chofen  annually  by  the  Magiftrates  and 
Council  out  of  the  diffisrent  focieties  and  perfuafions.  After 
carrying  on  the  inftitution  on  the  above  plan  for  fome 
years,  it  was  thought  more  proper  for  the  health  of  the 
poor  inhabitants,  to  allow  them,  at  their  own  houfes,  what 
the  charitable  funds  and  contributions  could  afford.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  manufadure  was  difcontinucd,  and  the  num- 
ber in  the  Hofpital  is  now  reftri&ed  to  15  boys,  who  are 
maintained  and  educated  in  the  houfe,  and  are  the  fons  of 
poor  inhabitants.  The  annual  expence  of  the  houfe  amounts 
to  about  L.  2  to  Sterling,  which  is  paid  in  part  from  the 
annual  produce  of  Mr  Richart  and  Mr  Kemp's  mortifies^ 

tions, 


Hf  Aberdeen.  i^t 

doosy  md  the  deficiencj  from  oiher  monies  belonging  to 
the  poor* 

Anno  I759t  Alexander  Michie,  wright  in  Aberdeen, 
difponed  a  tenement)  confifting  of  two  froall  dwelling-houfcs 
and  a  garden,  in  £|Vour  of  the  Poor's  Hofpital,  which  now 
rent  at  between  L.  i  x  and  Xi.  la  Sterling  annuallj. 

Mr  James  Man,  mafter  of  the  Hofpitaly  who  died  anno 
1761,  afker  appointing  certain  legacies  to  be  paid  by  his 
€zectttors»  or  to  the  amount  of  his  effeds,  ordained  the  re< 
matnder  to  be  paid  to  the  managers  of  the  Poor's  Hofpital, 
to  be  pat  out  at  intereil,  and  the  annual  rent  to  be  fpeciallj 
applied  to  the  pajing  of  apprentice-fees  for  the  boys,  who 
flionld  be  brought  up  in  the  hoofe,  and  bound  to  trades* 
The  amount  on  Mr  Man's  effeds  (after  paying  all  his  lega- 
cies»  debts»  and  funeral  charges)  was  L.  95  Sterling.  The 
intereft  of  this  fum  was  allowed  to  accumulate,  titt  the  whole 
amounted  to  L.aoo  Sterling,  the  annualrent  of  which  is 
now  applied  to  paying  apprentice-fees  for  boys,,  brought  up 
in  the  Poor's  Hofpital,  and  bound  out  to  trades,  at  the  rate 
of  10  s.  annually  for  each  boy  during  hb  apprenticefliip, 
which  is  generally  fix  years. 

By  an  account  we  had  from  the  late  clerk  of  the  Poor's 
Bofpital,  anno  1784,  there  were  no  lels  than  36  charitable 
focieties  in  this  town,  befides  the  corporations ;  and  their 
anooal  diA>urfements  to  the  poor,  amounted  to  L.  1183 
Sterling. 

Mr  John  Burnet,  late  merchant  in  Aberdeen,  did,  by  a 
deed  executed  by  him,  February  i.  1785,  difpone  to  the 
minifiers  of  Aberdeen  of  the  Eftabliflied  Church,  and  the 
other  members  of  the  kirk»fe(fion  of  Aberdeen  for  the 
time-being,  and  their  fucceflbrs  in  office,  and  four  other 
truftees  named  by  himfelf,  and  a  delegate  to  be  chofen  from 
the  Infirmary  and  Poor's  Hofpital  annually,  two*thtrds  of 
^  yearly  free  produce  of  the  lands  of  Kionadie,  and  others 

mentioned 


f93  Staifftk^t  Recount 

IDeatUMied  in  the  deed  of  mottificftiioo^  for  the  relief  of 
fach  perfonsy  lining  in  the  town  and  parilh  of  Abetdeea 
oMfyi  ^bo  are  unahle  to  fiifiain  tbemfiBlves,  and  who  are 
bedrids,  or  afflided  with  bodily  difeafes,  that  are  fiippofed 
to  be  incurable,  and  failing  fuch,  for  the  i^Uef  of  any  other 
fick  poor  people,  and  particularly  fuch  as  are  af&ifted  with 
lingering  difeafies  ;  and  fiiiling  fuch,  for  any  other  indigent 
and  poor  people,  and  particularly  the  aged,  living  in  the 
town  and  pariih  of  Aberdeen,    • 

jiMno  1782,  November  ad,  a  fubfcription  was  opened 
for  obtaining  a  fupply  of  grain  to  the  poor  of  Old  and  New 
Aberdeen,  and,  in  a  few  weeks,  to  the  great  praife  of  the 
inhabitants,  as  well  as  relief  of  the  poor,  the  fubfcription 
amounted  to  no  lels  than  L^iyaS,  13s.  Sterling.  Two 
gentlemen  were  fent  to  England  topurchafe  grain :  A  com* 
mittee  was  appointed,  and  met  once  a- week,  for  attending 
to  and  relieving  the  diftrels  of  the  poor  while  it  continued  : 
To  encourage  importing  meal,  peafe,  flour,  potatoes,  boun- 
ties were  granted ;  the  ordinary  cuftom  on  meal  was  dif- 
penfed  with,  and  the  price  of  the  meal  lowered  from  time 
to  time,  and  given  out  in  proportion  to  the  numbers  and 
neceffities  of  the  poor  families. 

j/nno  X787,  three  fifhermen  were  drowned  in  attempting 
to  eater  the  harbour  of  the  Cove.  A  fubfcription  was 
opened  for  their  widows  and  children,  which  amounted  to 
L.  36  :  17  :  9  Sterling. 

uinno  1790,  May  17th,  a  boat  belonging  to  the  Cove,  in 
the  pariih  of  Nigg,  and  neighbourhood  of  this  city,  was  loR. 
Five  of  the  men  in  the  boat  were  married,  and  left  widows 
and  25  children ;'  the  fixth  man  was  unmarried,  but  left  an 
aged  mother,  who,  in  a  great  meafure,  depended  upon  him 
for  fubiifience.  The  CoUedii^is  andfubfcriptions  made  for 
them  in  Aberdeen  amouuted  to  L,  103  .-4:3  Sterling. 

Mr 


i^  Aberdeen.  193 

Mr  James  Thain,  merchant  In  Aberdeen^  about  three 
years  ago,  made  Ofver  to  truftees  named  by  him  Im  400  Ster* 
ling ;  the  intereft  he  appoiptp  as  a  ialarj  for  a  mailer,  who 
fkall  teach  the  children  of" the  poor  of  this  city  reading, 
i^ridng,  aad  arithmetic,  and  inftruA  them'in  the  principles 
of  the  Chriftian  religion,  without  demanding  anj  fees  from 
ihern*  Forty  boys  and  girls  are  taught  at  this  fchool, 
and  the  worth j  founder,  who  is  ftill  alive,  frequently  vifits 
it,  and  is  more  happy  in  ob&rving  its  continued  iuccels, 
than  if  he  had  received  a  much  greater  fnm  to  himielf 
than  he  has  given  fd^  this  laudable  inflitution. 

Difpenfary. 

The  Aberdeen  Difpenfary  was  inftituted  in  the  year 
1781,  for  the  purpofe  of  attending,  at  their  oWn  houfes, 
fnch  patients  as  could  not  be  admitted  into  the  Infirmary : 
It  is  fupported'by  the  boofity  of  the  public,  and  is  under  the 
ynanagement  of  contributors;  Dr  Gordon,  the  prefent 
phyfician,  has  had  the  charge  of  it  for  ten  years. 

The  utility  of  the  inftitution  to  the  poor  will  appear 
from  the  following  abftrafis. 

But  it  is  calculated  to  be  extremely  ufeful  in  other  re- 
fpeSs ;  aamdy,  as  bein^  an  excellent  fchool  for  the  educa- 
tion of  medical  fludents,  and  on  account  of  the  ample  field 
it  pxefinits  for  obfervatlon,  and  the  acquifition  of  prafiical 
knowledge,  affording,  of  courfe,  the  heft  of  opportunities 
for  improving  the  {cience  of  medicine.  To  make  it  ufeful 
in  all  thefe  refpeds  has  been  the  ftudy  of  the  prefent  in- 
cumbent, and  the  public  will  judge  of  his  fuccefs  from  the 
annexed  tables. 

His  fnccels  is  very  confpicuous  in  acute  difeafes,  but 
efpecially  in  fevers.  What  led  to  this  fucceis  was  the  fre- 
quent occurrence  of  that  dais  of  difeafes ;  Tor  other  difeafes 
•ccurred  only  occafionally,  but  fevers  oonflantly.     The 

VOL^XIX.  Bb  hutnan 


194  Siaii/Kcal  jfyccuni 

boman  body  is  liable  to  be  uShBed  witb  many  dtfealiea  mij 
once  in  life,  but  it  may  be»  and  often  is,  ivpcatedly  aflEsfied 
with  fevers.  Hie  fiudy  of  £evers,  therefore,  enga^  Dr 
Goi*don's  particular  attention,  and  the  numerous  ttlcs  wbacb 
every  daj  OQcurred,  afforded  ample  ibope  for  obfiBrvadon. 

He  wss  mortified  to  find,  that  the  method  of  treatment 
commonly  pradliied,  and  recommended  by  the  mod  oele- 
braftd  nuklerm  proftffon^  fo  frequently  fiiiled  of  fisocefs^ 
and  that  many  more  recovered,  when  left  to  the  efforts  of 
unafflited  nature,  than  when  treated  according  to  the  moft 
approved  rules  of  art.    He  was  therefore  naturally  Jed  to 
entertain  fufpidons  ^th  refpeft  to  the  propriety  of  thoie 
rules  \  and  was  foon  ccmvinced  by  obfervation  and  ezpe* 
riencc,  that  it  was  impoflible  for  jiim  to  be  fuocefafnl  in  the 
treatment  of  fevers,  without  imitating  the  method  by  which 
liature  cured  them.    For  which  pnrpoCe  he  made  it  his  bu- 
finefi  to  pay  particular  attention  to  nature's  operations  and 
metnod  of  cure,  in  order  that  he  might  make  that  mothod 
the  model  of  his  prafiice.    Andhis  pradice,  when  thus  re- 
gulated, was  attended  with  great  fucceft,  and  enabled  him 
to  make  fcmie  very  important  difboveries  with  regard  to 
the  nature  and  treatment  of  fevers.    Tbefe  diicOyeries  he 
propo&sto  lay  before  the  puW,  as  foon  as  he  has  fulfilled 
his  engagement  to  hb  pupils^  who  have  urged  him  to  p|i- 
blifli  a  test-book|  which  he  is  preparing,  and  will  Xbon  have 
finiflied. 

The  method  which  was  foimd  fo  efficacious  in  the  core 
of  fevers,  was  applied  to  many  other  acute  difeafes  npoa  the 
fame  principles,  and  with  iimilar  fucceft,  as  may  be  ieen 
from  a  perufal  of  the  tables  already  referred  to.  This  ibsli 
glfo  be  laid  before  the  public  as  fpeedily  as  polfible. 

At  prefent,  it  (hall  only  be  ob&ryed,  that  the  general  prifl- 
^iple  which  pervades  and  guides  the  whole  of  .his  praftice 
is  to  imitate  and  follow  the  footfieps  of  fligture,  to  nuske  srt 

^bficrvicat 


^f  Aberdeen. 


193 


fublervient  to  nature,  and  tbrory  ta  praAice.  This  method 
is  oot  new,  though  of  late,  too  much  negleded ;  for  the 
fame  principle  has  been  tlie  guide  of  all  grezt  fra&ical  piy^  .- 
JUiams,  bocih  of  ancient  and  modfecn  times.  And  it  is  by  . 
this  method  only  that  the  art  of  phjfic  can  be  improved 
and  brought  to.perfeftion.  It  is  not  to  be  improved  byhy- 
potheles  and  ingenious  theories  formed  in  the  clofet,  but  bj 
obfervarions  accurately  made  in  the  chambers  of  the  fick* 

The  aimexed  tables  are  excraded  from  the  records  of  the 
Difpenfary,  which  contsun^  every  patient's  name,  date  of 
admiffion,  age,  refidenoe,  difeafe,  cure,  or  death,  with  the 
names  of  the  recommenders ;  and  all  the  recommendations 
are  numbered,  preferved,  and  profented,  along  with  the 
bo«ks,to  a  general  meeting  of  the  fublcribers  for  examina* 
tioa,  by  whofis  orders  the  returns  are  annually  printed, 
and  difperfed  among  the  citizens  of  Aberdeen.  The  re- 
tnnu  of  1794  afford  a  melanchcdy  proof  of  the  power  of 
pvejudioe ;  for  in  that  year  35^  or  more  than  half  of  the 
deatlia  were  of  the  natural  imidl-poZft  notwith  (landing  Dr 
Gordon  had  given  public  notice  of  his  readings  to  inocu- 
late gMOa  the  childioi  of  the  poor* 


TABLE    I. 
f.  an  Alrflna  of  the  PttioMs  admitted' t»  dw  bmefit  of  Ae  Abcf- 
dccn  Bilpealaiy,  for  nine  ihccaffive  jean. 


»«r. 

1786 

17B7 

1788 

1789 

1790 

1791 

X791 

1793 

1794 

. 

No.  idaitted. 

«33» 

14x0 

t437 

1309 

1048 

i59i 

1489 

X150 

iiS3Totxa9«5 

Naoncd, 

1*77 

1348 

1379 

*"7, 

I9»5 

«537 

*44l 

xix6 

10B9 

11319 

Ko.d^ 

tfi 

62 

58*     ,il 

133 

5f 

48 

34 

«4 

eo6 

TA 

BL£ 

ig6 


StMifHcal  Account 


TABLE   n. 

SbtWmg  die  State  of  die  Btfeifcs  whidi  occurred  in  die  year  17^^/ 


DISEASES. 

Feven, 
^  Scarlet  Ferexs, 

Eryfipelas, 

Inflammatory  (ore  diroat, 

Inflnensa, 

Small'pox, 

Meafles, 

CnmcoQg^  • 

Fltties, 

RheumatiAoy  •• 

Flcurify, 

Pcripneumony, 

Cholera, 

AfUima, 

Dropfy, 

Stomach  compUmli, 

Worms, 
'  Accidents, 

Various  otber  complaiatt. 


Admittid. 

Cmd. 

Dead. 

190 

aS4 

6 

61 

5« 

3 

10 

ao 

0 

«3 

«3 

0 

a 

« 

0 

^ 

55 

1% 

9 

9 

0 

-       79 

70 

9 

39 

39 

0 

»7 

»7 

0 

«5 

15 

0 

56 

53 

3 

4 

4 

0 

So 

45 

5 

4 

4 

0 

54 

54 

0 

19 

«9 

0 

49 

49 

0 

470 

447 

«5 

noporuoBi 
I    m     4S 


5 
f 

10 


^    a« 


TABLE    m. 

Shewing  die  State  of  the  Difeafes  which  occurred  in  the  year  lyfy. 


DISEASES. 
Fevers, 
Scarlet  fever, 
Eryfipelai^ 

Iiiflammatoty  fore  throat* 
Malignant  ditto, 
Influensay 
Small-pox, 
Ghtncougb, 
Khues, 
Hhcumatiiin, 
Plcurify, 
Pcripncnmony, 
Afthma,       •  . 
Bropfy, 

Stomach  complaints, 
Worms, 
Accidents, 
Various  Other  compUinti, 


f» 

Adnittdl. 

Cund. 

Dead. 

38a 

367 

X5 

«3 

IX 

a 

a 

a 

0 

«4 

*4 

0 

3 

a 

X 

3 

3 

0 

67 

49 

x8 

9 

8 

X 

37 

37 

0 

26 

26 

0 

7 

7 

0 

^ 

37 
59 

4 

7 

X 

X 

0 

^7 

67 

0 

xa 

X2 

0 

65 

65 

0 

5«5 

57» 

14 

PrapQitioa. 

\  1  1 

o 

o 

I    —     3 

o 

X    —     3 

X    «^     f 

o 
o 

X      —      10 

X    —      9 

o 

o 

o 

o 

X    —    4< 


^T  A  B  L  E^ 


^Ahcrdetn. 


tpy 


TABLE    IV. 

Sltfwiiig  the  State  of  the  Di(eaft«  which  occimed  tn  the  yev'  178^. 


DISEASES. 
F\tven» 
ScarlA  fever, 
Eiyfipeltf^ 

Infltmmttoiy  fore  throat. 
Malignant  ditt^ 
tnftuensa, 
SmaU-poxi 
ChtckcD>pQai, 
Blleailes, 
Chincoagh, 
tluxci,         - 
Rheiunatifhi, 
PkiiiifT. 
PeripoeunMnj, 
Cholria, 


Dfopfj,       -  • 

Stomach  eompUnti, 

IVonnft 

Accidents, 

Variooi  other  complaint^ 


Admitted 

CuRd. 

Dead. 

348 

340 

8 

30 

a6 

4 

6 

6 

0 

*5 

a4 

z 

6 

6 

0 

55 

55 

0 

33 

»5 

.8 

6 

tf 

0 

%o 

20 

0 

ax 

x8 

3 

.     43 

41 

2 

IS 

'5 

0 

7 

7 

0 

<4 

«4 

0 

X 

z 

0 

70 

70 

0 

a 

a 

0 

79 

78 

z 

3 

3 

•0 

45 

44 

z 

558 

SaS 

30 

Propoition. 
X    m     43 

X    —      7 

o 

z    ^    as 

o 
o 

«    —      4 

o 

o 

X    .—     7 

z    — i    az 

o 
o 

o 

O 

o 

I    —    7^ 

o 

z    -^    4S 

z    «—    18 


TABLE    V, 
Shewing  the  State  of  the  Difeafes  which  occoncdin  die  year  Z789. 


DISEASES. 

FCVtfSy  • 

Scariet  fever. 

Childbed  fever, 

Eryfipelas, 

Iiiflsaunatoiy  foreduoat. 

Malignant  ditto, 

Inihienaa, 

Ditto  of  inlanti, 

Stnall-poz, 

Chidcen-pos. 

Meaflcs, 

Chiocoogh, 

FloJies, 

Rheontattfin, 

Plcuriry, 

PeripaeniBOny« 

Cholen, 


pfopfy.  ,     • 
Stomacb  complauitif 

^)|flicnat  QCDtXttOllt 

Worma>  * 

M^f ctflencvB 

Tahous  otlKT  coi»pbiBt»t 


Admitted* 

Cuied. 

Dead. 

'a35 

03 

2 

3 

3 

0 

6 

3 

3 

7 

7 

0 

as 

25 

0 

60 

37 

43 

z 

z 

0 

68 

68 

0 

'7 

13 

4 

1 

z 

0 

35 

34 

z 

3* 

30 

a 

73 

7« 

'3 

16 

»S 

z 

4 

3 

z 

»S 

a4 

z 

z 

z 

0 

60 

47 

13 

4 

z 

3 

<54 

^4 

0 

7 

7 

0 

5 

5 

0 

«? 

27 

0 

S33 

.4jtf 

35 

Proportion* 

z    m    XX7 

o 

t    —     a 

o 

o 

X    -*•     a 

o 

o 

X    —      4 

o 

«    —    35 
I    —    x6 

Z      —     24 

z    ^    z6 
«    —      4 

»    —    *5 

o 

«    —      4 
3—4 

o 
o 
o 
o 
X    -    n 

TABLC 


x$f8 


Staii/Hcat  Accoma 


TA3XE   yt 
te  State  of  the  ])ifittii»  wfaiclk  Oficuned  ia  Ae  fear  I7|0( 


DJSEASIS. 

Scftrlet  feller. 

Epidemic  childbed  fefer^ 

£|iidqnuc  etyfipelai, 

IfiflammAtory  tore  diroat, 

Milignant  ditto, 

AuricuUr  Bort^catiofi* 

Infliimn  among  infaiMs, 

SmiU-poz, 

Chicken-poB,  « 

Chincottgls 

Mmapiy 

Fluxes, 

Kheumatifiiij 

Plennfy, 


Afthm«,  . 

Diopfy, 

Stomach  compkims» 

Bifiiciiit  dofttitioD, 

Worms, 

Acadcnta, 

Yaiioua  other  coo^lakitSy 


Admitted. 

Cmd. 

Dead. 

613 

608 

«5 

«8 

as 

1 

«3 

IS 

.      54 

Sa 

',8 

P« 

39 

34 

7 

4' 

ao 

19 

111 

3^ 

*5 

5 

6 

»5 

aa 

z 

t 

41 

3fi 

33 

33 

34 

^3 

>9 

18 

a> 

a 

76 

5? 

17 

9 

6 

176 

i7« 

te 

S4 

la 

II 

63 

61 

490 

45^ 

34 

FtepORlOB. 

t  m  4a 

I  —  9 

«  —  3. 

o 
o 

«  —  3 

I  —  it> 

'  —  5 

o 


—  S 

—  •♦ 

—  19 

—  4 

—  3 

— •  10 

—  la 

—  3^ 

—  14 


TABLE    Vnft 
Shewinf  the  State  of  the  IKfeafet  which  occoned  in  the  year  1751. 


DISEASSS. 
Fevcis, 
Scarlet  fjever. 
Epidemic  childbed  ferer. 
Epidemic  eryfipeks, 
Inflammatory  fore  throat, 
Malignant  ditto. 
Auricular  mortitation, 
Small-poz, 
Chincough, 

Mumpi,        -  •• 

Fluxes, 
Rheamatifin, 
Fleurify, 
Teripneumony^ 
Afthma, 
Dropfy, 

Stomach  complaiiits, 
Difficult  dentition, 
j^idemic  perlpnouaony,. 
Worms, 
Epilepiy, 
Accidents, 
^  Yanooi  csher  complaiatif 


Admitted. 

€ured. 

Dead. 

3SO 

349 

I 

7 

7 

0 

28 

«7 

K 

4» 

40 

50 

50 

4 

3 

i  ' 

a 

4* 
6a 

41 

5<J 

19 

19 

3* 

3tf 

4 

4: 

la 

la 

60 

59 

iitf 

107 

«9 

i» 

t%6 

"7 

S^ 

41 

3a 

3X 

5 

5 

6 

6 

••q 

60 

60 

S44 

53« 

ProportioiL 

I    m    350 

o 

X    —    at 

I    —    4C 

o 

«    —     4 

o 

«    —     f 
I    —    10 
o 
o 
o 
o 

'l  —  to 
I  —  13 
I  —  19 
X    —    14 

X  —  5 
I    ^    5» 

o 
o 
o 
I    —    po 

TABLE 


qf  jiberdMi^ 

TABLE    Vm. 

Oewiiv  the  State  of  the  DHeaiet  wbkh  occaned  k  die  yetr  1792 

DISEASES. . 

Adniitted, 

Cored* 

Deid. 

*  ittportion. 

¥evcf% 

aoo 

198 

2 

X    m   100 

48 

'    44   i 

4 

X    •-•    za 

CbiUbcd  ferer. 

5 

5 

0 

0 

Eryfipelaip 

x« 

xa   • 

0 

0 

It^imnuitor^ibre  ftroat, 

14 

%• 

0 

0          , 

Malignant  ditto. 

•        10 

1 

»    —      5 

X     —      x 

Aiirictilar  Mortificttion,     ! 

t 

0 

X 

Influennv                        / 

Co 

60 

0 

0 

Smatl-pos, 

10 

61 

9 

X    —      8 

Chickeo-poz, 

xo 

10  - 

0 

0 

CllUIGODg]|,               • 

»o 

x8 

a   ' 

X    *»    zo 

Flaxes,                  •     . 

50 

5« 

0 

0 

Rhnimitifm, 

h 

•  38 

0 

0 

Pleurify,        . 

l« 

zo 

X 

X      —      XI 

Pcnpneiiiiioayy, 

6q 
10 

59 
10 

z 
0  , 

z    —    tfo 

■0 

Xftlima,           ,    . 

So 

73 

7 

I    —    zz 

Dropfy. 

XX 

XI 

0 

0 

Stomach  complainfi^ 

88 

88 

0 

0 

Difficult  dentition, 

85 

34 

X 

'    — "    35 

Wonns, 

zo 

xo 

0 

*** 
0 

Accident^ 

50 

SO 

0 

0 

Various  other  complainti, 

638 

6ao 

z8 

»    —    35 

«9f 


TABLE    IX. 


Shewing  the  State  of  the  Dtfeafcs  which  occumd  in  the  year  1793, 


DISEASES. 
Fereitf       »    • 
Scarlet  fever. 
Childbed  fever, 
Eryiipelas, 

Inflammatory  fore  throat, 
Small-poK, 
Meaflc9» 
Chincoagh, 
mnoips,  • 

&idemic  dyfenteiy,     " 

yw  ipfleaiwooy^ 


Dropfy, 

Stomach  compkinti. 
Difficult  dcodtton,        • 
.  W^onns,        • 
E^lepfy, 
Accidents, 
Varioos  other  cofaphunti^ 


Admitted. 

Cured. 

Dead. 

aa8 

an 

4 

z 

I 

*    0 

a 

X 

X 

xa 

la 

0 

xo 

10 

0 

3 

a 

X 

iS6 

«54 

a 

«5 

xa 

3 

a 

a 

0 

«4 

80 

4 

»5 

«5 

0 

3 

3 

0 

S6 

35 

X 

47 

4» 

5 

6 

6 

0 

41 

4« 

0 

35 

H 

0 

6 

c 

0 

a 

a 

0 

»5 

35 

0 

413 

400 

«3 

Praportioii. 

X    u     57 

o 

f    —      a 

o 

o 

«    —     3 

I    -    78 

«    —     5 

o 

z    —    ax 

o 

>• 

I    -    3« 
X    —      9 

o 
o 

o 
o 
o 
o 

I  —  3a 

TABLE 


zoo 


StatiJUcal  Account 


TABLE    X. 
Sbewitig  the  Stste  of  the  Difeafcs  i^ch  ocanred  ai  4ie  year  1794* 


DISEASES. 

FCVCTSf 

Scarlet  fettr, 
Epidemic  childbed  fever, 
Epidemic  ery^elu. 
Inflammatory  wtt  throatf 


SmaU-poz, 

Chincouf h. 

Mumps, 

Epidemic  dyfeotierf , 

Rheumatifia, 

Fleurify, 

Cholera, 


Dropfy, 

Stomach  cootplaioti^ 

Difficult  deimtioiw 

Wormii 

EpUcpfjr, 

Accident^ 

Variotti  other  complaints. 


Admitted. 

Cured. 

Dead. 

8tf 

82 

4 

a 

a 

0 

9 

9 

0 

n 

15 

0 

'      %6 

%6 

0 

^l 

39 

0 

•i 

X03 

35 

4tf 

4 

•4 

4 

0 

80 

80 

0 

S7 

S^ 

X 

10 

10 

0 

9 

9 

b 

f* 

S« 

4 

11 

ta 

0 

44 

44 

0 

3» 

19 

3 

la 

11 

0 

3 

3 

0 

3« 

3« 

0 

41a 

409 

13 

Propoitioii. 
t    u     at 


la 


—  57 

—  IX 

—  3» 


■vrr 


Meuttjfathriu 

The  principal  manufa&ire  of  Aberdeen,  prior  to  the 
year  17451  was  knitted  dockings  which  were  mo&ly  ex? 
ported  to  Holland,  and  from  thence  difjperfed  through  Gerr 
many.  After  that  period  the  Unen-manu&Aure  was  in- 
trodncedy  and  brought  to  confiderable  perfedion. 

The  fpinnitig  of  linen-yam  in  diis  place,  for  maauiiic- 
tnres,  arofe  from  a  fmall  beginning.  Some  patriotic  gentle* 
men,  a  few  years  after  the  battle  of  CuUoden,  being  defi- 
rous  to  fpread  thb  ufeful  art  more  excenfivf^ly  in  the 
northern  diftrid,  applied  to  the  Board  of  Truftees  at  Edin- 
burgh, who  fent  a  woman  here  qualified  to  inibuft  others 
%  is 


€f  Aherdefm  aot 

in  the  art  of  fpinning*  She  was  accompanied  with  all  th# 
implements  n^celfary  for  her  purpofe.  As  a  proof  that 
her  exertions  were  crowned  with  fucccls,  it  may  be  obfer* 
ved  that  the  fpinning  of  linen-yarn  has  arifen  in  this  town 
to  the  extent  of  nearly  loo^ooo  fpindles/ft^r  annum.  This 
is  accompliihed  mollly  by  the  wives  and  daughters  of  me- 
chanics and  labourers,  and  procures  them  a  yearly  income  of 
aboat  L.  jooo  Sterling.  Much  Unen-yari^  is  befides  brought 
to  Aberdeen  from  the  country  round  to  a  coniiderable  ex- 
tent. The  quantity,  however,  of  linen-doth  made  here 
and  in  the  neighbourhood  is  very  fmaU,  owing,  it  is  be- 
lieved, to  the  Irifh,  who  have  engrofled  the  greater  part  of 
that  branch  of  trade,  both  at  the  Englifb  and  foreign  mar<> 
kets,  not  on  account  of  the  fuperior  Quality  of*  their  goods, 
but  of  the  encouragement  given  by  their  Parliament  to  the 
linen-manufafhire,  which  enables  them  to  underfell  us  even 
in  our  own  country.  A  coniiderable  quantity  of  the  coar- 
ier  kinds  of  this  yarn  is  exported  to  Perth,  Dunfermline, 
Glafgow,  and  other  manufaduring  places  to  the  fouthward^ 
Meffrs  Collifon,  Thomfon  and  Company,  of  this  pdace,  lately 
began  the  manufacture  of  brown  flieetings,  olhaburghs,  and 
laiUcloths,  and  are  the  only  manufacturers  of  fuch  goods  here. 
They  have  already,  by  unremitting  attention,  brought  their 
brown  (heeting  and  ofnaburghs,  to  as  great  perfedion  as 
any  made  in  Scotland.  Their  fail-cloth  madufa&ory  only 
commenced  in  17951  and  what  they  have  yet  made  has 
been  fold  to  the  fail-makers  in  this  place,  who  acknowledge 
it  equal  in  quality  to  the  heft  that  comes  from  the  fouth- 
eoontry.  The  iheetings  and  ofnaburghs  are  (hipped  for 
London,  and  from  thence  are  chiefly  fent  to  the  Weft  In« 
dies  and  America.  From  the  fatisfadion  thefe  mann&c* 
tares  have  given,  they  are  greatly  on  the  increafc,  and  bid 
&ir  to  be  carried  to  a  coniiderable  extent.  The  flax  ufed 
in  the  linen  branches  here  is  chiefly  imported  from  Hoi- 
Vol..  XIX.  Cc  land. 


102     '  Stati/Hcal  Account 

fandy  and  fome  from  Eogland.    But  the  Baltic  ttax  is  nfed 
for  brown  fheetingSi  ofbaborghs,  sind  other  Cdftrfe  goods* 

^read  ManufaBure.^^n  the  ardck  of  thread,  particit- 
Farly  white  and  colonred  pound  threadis,  the  Scotch  ftand 
unrivalled,  and  they  mnft  maintain  their  fuperioritj  by 
local  advantages,  which  no  other  country  at  prefcnt  can 
poflefs,  and  the  manu&Aure  b  carried  on  to  an  ctteat  eqnaf 
to  any  demand.  Aberdeen  exceeds  in  quantity  diat  of  any 
other  town  in  Scotland ;  and  none  have  fnrpafled,  if  they 
have  yet  come  up  to,  their  fabric  in  quality.  AB  die 
threads  made  here  are  fent  to  the  EngHfli  market,  and  far 
the  greateft  part  dired  to  London,  and  from  thence  ta 
many  difierent  places  abroad^  Befides  pound  thread  there 
is  made  here  a  confiderable  quantity  of  the  finer  thready 
called  •una  or  nufifs  thread,  from  their  having  been  made 
by  ntins  in  France  and  Flanders  before  the  manufa&xre 
was  introduced  into  this  country.  The  principal  thread- 
manufadurers  in  Aberdeen  are,  Milne,  Cruden  and  Com- 
pany,  for  ftitching  and  ounce  threads ;  Leys,  Mafibn  antf 
Company,  for  ftitching  and  coloured  threads ;  and  Yoong 
and  Walker,  for  coloured  threads  only. 

Thefe,  with  feveral  lels  extenlive  adventurers  in- the&itfe 
trade,  and  including  a  few  who  manufaAufe  fiBen^yam 
only,  employ  nearly  loo  boys  under  14  years  of  ^ge,  who 
tarn  each  from  is.  8d.  to  as.  6d.  a- week;  600  men, 
earning  from  5  s.  to  12  s.  a- week  each;  and  not  under 
2000  women,  who  have  conftaht  employment,  mfoftty  bn 
their  own  houfes^  in  fpinning  yam,  doubling  and  twift- 
ing  thread,  Sec.  Many  women,  who  work  within  the  ma- 
nufadures,  will  earn  from  53.  to  6s.  a- week;  but  tiiofe 
who  work  in  their  own  houfes  cannot  earn  nearly  fo  much,, 
a  confiderable  part  of  their  time  being  taken  up  with  fa- 
mily matters,  and  other  aTOcatioos.  But  additional:  to  the 
I  perfona 


9f  Aber4€in.  aoj 

i  jnft  now  menttoned,  who  dwell  in  the  ciQr  and  liil>- 
ivbeg  the  &r^*maQofB£hires  here  give  occafionally  em* 
likymeat  4oat  lead  10,000  women  in  this  and  other  north* 
cm  cooatica  in  Ipianing  linen-yarn.  Their  employment 
in  fptaning  for  manu&dures  can  only  be  called  oecafional^ 
bccanle  in  Jhmmer  they  are  generally  employed  in  pro« 
cuing  fuel,  acd  fpinning  wocd  and  flax  for  £unily  aie. 
Thdr  labour  is  alfo  required  in  the  field  during  harvelU 

WwJbm  Manufa&mrei^  V^.— -In  die  beginning  of  this 
ccBCory,  the  woollen  manufsdures  of  Aberdeenihire  were 
diiefly  coarfe  flight  cloths,  called  plaideos  and  fingroms, 
which  were  fold  firom  5  d*  to  8  d.  ptr  ell,  and  ftockingt 
firom  Sd.  to  a  s.  6  d.  pir  pair.  Thefe  were  manufadured 
hf  the  &nnecB  and  cotta|^r$  from  the  wool  of  their  own 
flicep,  and  by  the  citiaens  from  the  wool  brought  to  the 
market  from  the  higher  parts  of  the  country.  The  goods 
were  bought  op  by  the  merchants  of  Aberdeen,  at  a  weeklj 
market  held  ki  town,  and  at  flated  periodical  fairs  held 
throngh  the  country,  and  which,  in  regard  to  manufac* 
tnre,  were  under  the  regulation  of  the  Dean  of  Guild  of 
Aberdeen,  who  regularly  attended,  and  who,  being  inveft* 
ed  with  legal  authority,  confifcated  fuch  goods  brought  for 
fi||e«  as  were  deficient  in  quality,  fize,  or  meafure*  The 
chief  market  for  exportation  was  Hamburgh,  from  which 
place  was  brought  over,  at  the  public  charge,  and  placed  in 
m  pnblic  warehoule,  a  preis  or  machine  for  packing  of  bale 
goods,  by  which  400  or  450  dozens  of  men's  dockings  maj 
he  pot  into  a  portable  package ;  but  are  made  feldom  to 
contain  above  300  doaens,  forming,  when  packed,  an  ob- 
leog  Iquaie,  and  meafi«ing  about  50  cubic  feet,  and  weigh* 
iag  13  cwt.  grols. 

Soon  after  the  rebellion,  anno  1745,  a  fpirit  of  agricoU 
tmid  improvement,  as  well  as  of  commercial  enterprize, 

took 


S04  Statiftical  Aceoumt 

took  place.  The  firft  had  one  efleft,  particolarly  ^  the 
low  country,  which  will  be  queftioned  as  an  improvemest. 
By  obliging  the  fanner  to  wtntcr-herding,  he  was  difcoa- 
raged  from  keeping  a  ftock  of  flieep  on  his  Imrm,  oo  many 
•f  which,  where  large  flocks  were  formerly  kept,  not  one 
is  now  to  be  found. 

The  fpirit  of  commerce  happily  flived  the  mannfaftnres 
from  the  confequential  want  of  the  raw  material,  which 
that  fyflem  of  farming  threatened. 

The  woollen  manufadure  is  now  carried  on  more  ifbme- 
diately  by  the  merchant,  who  imports  from  London  and 
Newcaflle  the  raw  wool,  which  he  eaofes  to  be  combed^ 
and  given  out  to  the  fpinfters  and  knitters  throughout  the 
country,  from  ftattons  in  every  parifli  which  they  refiularly 
tttend,  either  weekly  or  monthly,  as  fuits  heft  with  the 
circumflances  of  the  place,  or  convenience  of  the  manu£KC« 
turer. 

By  this  revolution  in  the  woollen  manafaAure,  a  greater 
iraricty  and  better  quality  of  goods'  are  made,  particularly 
of  liockings,  which  is  now  the  principal  article  of  the 
woollen  export 

The  phidens  and  fingroms,  which  were  fbrmerly  the 
great  ftaple  articles,  are  now  almoft  quite  out,  aitd  no  more 
is  exported  than  is  fufliciont  for  under-wrappers  to  the  bales 
of  ftockings. 

Several  manu&durcs  of  cosrfe  cloths  are  fet  on  foot,  bat 
as  the  quantity  made  does  not  mnch  exceed  the  demand  for 
home  confumption,  a  fmall  quantity  only  is  exported. 
'  The  ftocking-manufa&ure  is  confiderably  increafed.  It 
is  thought  rather  to  exceed  L.  100,000  Sterling  annually,  of 
which  about  two-thirds  are  fent  to  Holland  and  Germany, 
f^nd  one-third  to  England,  Pprtugal,  and  America* 

pqe-foarth  of  the  whole  yalue  may  be  reck<med  to  the 

WW 


§f  Aberdeen,  105 

niw  material^  fo  that  fi^m  L.  70,000  to  L.  80,000  ^Sterling 
is  lud  oat  on  labour  for  foreign  confdinpt. 

About  400  perfons  are  employed  in  wool-«oinbing,  and 
30,000  accqfionalfy  employed  in  fpinning  and  knitting.  It 
is  fiud  occqfionaify  employed,  becaufe  a  great  proportion  of 
thefe  are  frequently  ocherwife  occupied,  particularly  at  bar* 
veil,  at  mob,  and  in  the  fummer  feafon,  providing  fome 
pieces  of  clothing  for  themfelves  or  fiimilies. 

The  advanuges  peculiar  to  thb  branch  of  manufadure 
are,  that  children  at  the  age  of  ten,  and  people  vtxj  fiur  ad- 
vanced in  li£e»  may,  and  often  do,  though  in  a  icanty  mea* 
fiire,  maintain  themiielves  by  their  labour  at  this  work,  and 
the  knitting  can  be  carried  on  while  travelling  or  watching 
cattle  or  the  like  -,  nor  does  it  require  much,  or  at  leaft  not 
conftant  light,  many  carrying  on  their  work  throughout 
the  winter  evening,  with  the  fainted  light  ifluing  from  a 
few  tur&,*-a  circumftance  much  in  favour  of  a  country 
trhere  the  nights  are  long,  and  the  inhabitants  poorly  fup- 
plied  with  fuel  or  light.  From  thefe  circutnfiances,  per- 
haps, it  is,  that  the  flocking  manufadure  finds  hands,  and 
has  its  work  done  at  a  dower  rate  than  fome-  other 
branches  of  manufadures,  a  good  knitter  not  being  able  to 
cam  more  than  a  s.  per  week,  and  the  average  not  exceed- 
ing I  s.  6  d,  « 

There  are  a  few  ftocking-frames  in  Aberdeen,  but  no* 
thing  confiderable  is  done  in  that  way. 

When  fpeaking  of  the  extent  of  the  ftocking  manufac- 
ture  of  Aberdeenihire,  it  muft  be  underfiood,  that  what  la 
sianubdured  in  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  ihire  of  MtarnSf 
to  the  diftance  of  i  a  or  15  miles  on  the  coaft,  is  included^ 
as  all  that  trade*  centers  in  the  eity  of  Aberdeen,  and  is 
carried  on  by  the  mercbaiits  and  manufadurers  refiding 
there, 

Th9 


^o6  Siatffik^i  Jbcmu 

The  W9«l  niMi  ia  th»  ft#cfc|iifH»>»rtM»te  i»  faw^ 
from  London  and  Ncwoifile.  TIhe  ivM^  qoaiuity  of  woij 
importoi  muaaikj  uiCQ  Abcpdtea  is  Mt  kfr  thw  98oo 
kftgs,  of  t40  lb»  Moh* 

If  the  Tolne  of  the  ftockings  ei^oiUd  ii  tU^wed  |o  b# 
L.  101,000,  eod  i;he  avenge  prtoe  u  the  late  qt  %$  upsr 
4oBen  of  mcas  ftockings,  the  qumitj  of  wool  coafuaied  ia 
that  article  will  be  S500  hags :  the  fioep  c^ifiuned  10  waAi* 
iog  the  wool,  and  icouring  the  ftoekingi  wiU  be  aboat  37 
tons,  and  about  35  tons  of  oil  nied  in  combbg  the  wool : 
Bo  that  diere  ii  c^tpcnded  in  AbetdeeniUie,  and  part  of 
the  Meams  adjacent,  on  the  nuuui&Am  of  ftoekwgs  Cor 
fcreign  eonftinipt,  yearly, 

On  3500  bags  of  Brittlh  wool,  at  an  avorage  ef  L.9  pm 

pack,  (Sterling),        -  «  L.  aa,500    o     o 

On  37  tons  of  firitifli  foap  at  L.50  pir  ton,      1850     o    o 

Qn  35  toni  of  foreign  oil  at  L.  40 /«r  ton,         1400     o    • 

In  all,  for  materials^         -  -         L.  23,750     o     p 

For  labour,  •  -  -  77*15000 

The  fuppofed  annual  amount  of  ftockings  for 
exportation,  -  -  L.  103,000     o    6 

It  has  been  obferrcd,  that  300  dozens  of  mens  fiockings, 
when  packed,  weigh  X5cwt.  and  meafure  about  50  cabit 
feet ;  five  feet  go  to  a  barrel  bnlk.  The  quantity  manu- 
fafhired  woald  therefore  afbrd  laftage  for  no  more  than 
five  veflels  of  a  hundred  tons  burden,  and  the  wool  and 
other  materials  nfed  in  die  manufadure,  Cargoes  for  13 
Teflels  of  trie  fame  tonnage. 

Allowing  the  linen-yam  manufaftnre  to  be  of  the  fisme 

amount,  it  is  prefumed  the  laftage  is  much  the  fiune  with 

•  the 


die  WMDe»,lMtt  ilw  mafeerkl  ctfchefonntrwMldifoc  flSbri 
laftage  for  above  fbroi  veflUs  of  on  hondrad  f ons.  Henoe 
both  tbefe  branches  of  manu&dare,  which  form  the  prin- 
cipal (taple  articles  of  export  from  the  port  of  Aberdeen 
would  only  employ  30  vefiels,  or  rather  afford  50  cargoes 
for.  a  veflel  of  that  tonnage ;  and  hence  it  may  be  accounted 
for  why  the  pr6pk>rtion  of  fliipping  belonging  to  the  port  of 
Aberdeen  is  fo  much  inferior  to  places  in  Scotland  of  le& 
trade  and  population. 

When  it  is  fidd  above,  that  the  ftocktng-manufadure  is 
ef  fnptrior  quality  now  to  what  it  was  formerly,  it  is  to  bft 
vnderflood  of  the  fibricin  general :  there  were  touch  high- 
ix  priced  worfted  ftoekings  anade  about  50  years  ago  than 
at  prefent.  They  were  the  work  of  women  of  the  better 
fiM.  We  have  heard  of  two^  or  three  guineas  )»>-  pstir  ha- 
ving been  paid ;  but  there  were  but  few  of  futh  quality 
knitted;  and  fuch,  it  is  apprehended,  were  more  for  curio- 
fity  than  ufe,  and  the  value  more  itnaginary  than  reaL 
There  were,  till  of  late,  a  good  many  itfade,  which  brought 
from  6b s.  to  90s.  ^«r  dozen,  and  were  both  a  neat  and 
comfortable  wear;  but  the'filk  m&nufaffture  has  leflened 
tke  demand  for  thefe  at  pfdifent,  ftnd  tbey  are  only' fought 
for  by  thofe  who  feek  for  convenience,  rather  than  follow 
fidhion. 

In  the  year  i^Sp,  a  water-mill  was  firft  erefted  near 
Aberd^aa,  tritfa  machinery  for  Ceaffing,  fcrnbUing,  carding, 
and  rowing  of  wool,  and  jennies  for  fpinning  the  fame  to  Aa- 
ifttfafture  into  cloth.  Previous  to  this  period  the  manufac- 
torer  wasr  obliged  to  import  his  warp-yams  from  the  north 
of  England*  The  V)oft  was  chiefly  fpun  by  old  women^ 
and  If' at  ontyfrcfm  backings  or  Haits^  as  they  were  not 
able  to  card  the  wool. 

While  the  manu&finre  of  cloth  was  in  this'  fituation, 

there 


aoS  Stati/Hcal  Account 

there  were  not  aboye  1500  ftones  of  wed  mattn&ftored  iii 
m  year.    But  there  has  been  maiiii£a&iired« 

Wool,  ]hu:kings» 

t4  Ib.>.  ftone.  16  lb  /.  ftooe. 

From  Nov.  i;  179a  to  Nov.  i.  1793,    435°  ft-    345©  *• 
From    ditto    1793  to    ditto     17941    5160  a8o6 

From    ditto     1794  to    ditto     1795,     5970  2350 

About  half  of  the  above  wool  comes  from  Northumber- 
land, a  &nall  part  from  LondoD,  and  the  reft  is  Scotch. 

The  decreafe  of  the  manufiiduring  of  backings  is  owing 
to  the  flocking-manufadorers  of  Aberdeen  (from  whoia 
they  were  got)  doing  very  little  bufinels  fince  the  French 
over-ran  Holland,  which  was  the  principal  market  for  the 
woollen  fiockings. 

The  country  people,  xo  miles  round  Aberdeen,  manu^ 
fadure  about  900  ftone  a-year  of  Scotch  wool,  mofily  for 
their  own  ufe. 

Cloths  manufaftured  from  the  above  wool  are  fix  quar- 
ters broad  duffles  ;  fix  quarter  broad  blue  milled  cloths,  at 
from  4S.  to  10%. per  yard;  three  quarters  to  yard  broad 
leys,  iarges,  Ihafts,  plaidings,  baizes,  linfey  woolfeys,  jefl>« 
mies,  and  ftripped  apron  ftufts.  The  colours  are  chiefly 
dark  and  light  blues,  with  a  few  mixtures  and  drabS| 

The  above  cloths  are  fold  along  the  eaft  coaft  of  Soot- 
land,  betwixt  Perth  and  Tain,  and  10  miles  up  the  country. 
A  few  of  the  broad  cloths  are  fenc  to  London  and  Ame- 
rica. 

The  only  inconvenience  that  the  woollen-manufafhireia 
in  Aberdeen  labour  under  is  the  want  of  weavers,  particu- 
larly for  broad  cloths,  which  indeed  is  the  only  bar  why 
they  do  not  extend  their  manufadure  of  cloths,  oi  the 
quality  of  the  Yorkfliire  broads  and  Rachdale  baizes,  for 
e^qnurtatiop. 

Milliog, 


9f  Aberdeen.  209 

Milling,  dying,  and  dreffing  of  dotb,  is  done  in  the  fame 
manner  as  at  Leeds* 

At  a  period  when  the  aids  wanted  by  GoYernment  are 
fo  confiderable,  'the  Legiflatune  ought  to  do  every  thing  to 
encourage  apd  fireogthen  the  manaiaAnres  of  the  country. 
In  178s,  Parliament  granted  a  drawback  of  the  duty  of 
foap  uled  in  bleaching  and  cleaning  linen  and  other  goods. 
But  a  fetrther  drawback  is  yet  nece^ary  with  refpeft  to 
mjbts  ufed  in  bleaching,  which  drawback,  although  very 
trifling  to  Government,  wo]ild  be  of  cpnfequence  to  mann- 
fiiAnrers  in  many  reTpefl^.  The  member  of  Parliament 
w^o  will  give  l^imCdf  the  trouble  to  examine  into  the  uti* 
lity  of  this  drawback,  and  ftep  forward  to  procure  it,  will 
deiierve  better  of  his  country,  than  the  man  who,  by  a  con- 
tinual oppofition  to  Government,  endeavours  to  raife  9 
\  name  to  himfelf,  by  pretending  to  be  the  people's  friend. 
The  people's  heft  friend,  b  the  man  who  contrives  to  itr 
cure  their  property, 'and  juicreafe  their  trade  by  un&ttering 
their  m  an  nfaftiirrtf 

Trodlr  and  Cfmmirctf 

The  flate  of  the  trade  and  commerce  of  this  city,  at  dif- 
ferent periods,  will  be  £een  from  the  following  ts^bles  of  tbi; 
Aiipping,  &c*  of  the  Port  of  Aberdeen. 


Vot.XIX.  P4  PoKT 

I 


flO 


Siaiiftical  Account 


Port  of  Aberdeen^ — ^An  Acconnt  of  the  Qamdty  and 
Species  of  Merchtodife  exported  from  tkis  Port  in  the 
Year  17x2,  ihewiog  the  particiilar  Countries  to  which 
exported^  the  Dumber  of  Vefieb  enployed,  their  Too- 
nage,  and  Niioiber  of  Men. 


to  what 

1^0.  of  ' 

No.o^ 

l^a.or 

country 

Wflkls 

tons. 

jien. 

Species  and  Qsu^^^  of  Goods. 

exported. 

employed. 

1087  V4^  quarten  oatmeal. 
1501.  ditto  buley. 

4  ditto  peafe. 

NoTWty, 

13 

406 

«4 

951  3-8tbs  ditto  malt. 

,14^  hmidied.  1  qr.  and  spo  cod  4od  limg  fUh  at 

6  fcorc  to  the  hundred. 
J  tmfles  worfted  ftockinga. 

479barrebfalmon. 
i  7  hoglheads  tobacco. 

WkA 

6 

i3« 

^ 

359  ooe-half  baneU  pork. 

X04  tmlTes  woollen  cloth  &  worfted  lladkiB|S. 

' 

10  caikrhog  lard. 

398  bars  lead. 

10  chaldrons  coals. 

Portugal, 

1 

85 

«4 

la  trufies  woiftod  Aockioeai 

3S0  cod  and  ling  6(h. 
373  barrels  Talmon. 
18,690  cod  and  ling  6flu 

Sweden, 

1 

100 

«3 

• 

1 1 5  3*€ths  ooarten  oatmeal. 
197  3-8ths  ditto  malt. 
90  barreU  hemqgt. 
69  one-halfbarrels  ialmoa^ 

Spain, 

ft 

'SO 

^7 

%4f05t  cpd  and  ling  fiOi. 
31  parcels  worfted  ftockings. 
76  barreb  herrings. 
79  3-8th$  quarten  oatmeal. 
loo  quarten  malt. 

Germany, 

I 

40 

4 

95  5-®*»  <litto  barley. 
766  one-halfbarrels  &lmon. 
a  boxes  ftockings. 
90,000  ftock  fi£. 

luly, 

4 

300 

53 

47»r6o  cod  and  ling  fifli. 
68  barrels  herrings. 
480  ban  lead. 

Total, 

30 

U'pl 

103 

• 

Port 


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Fijbery. 


ti6  Statiftical  Aecwni 

Fi/berj^^r^The  fidmon-fifluogs  at  Aberdees  employ  a 
pcmfiderable  number  of  men,  and  are  attended  with  no  imall 
profit  to  the  perfons  concerned  in  them.  Thej  commence 
annually  on  the  nth  ot  Pecember,  and  end  on  the  igtfa 
of  September.  The  fiflitngs  on  that  part  of  the  river  Dee 
which  belongs  to  the  pariib  of  Old  Machar,  confift  of  feTca 
Caveli : 

Two  upon  Mid  Channel,  let  for  '  I*  360  o  o 

Two  upon  Pot  Water,        -          •  120  o  o 

Two  upon  Fords,            «            -  no  o  q 

One  upon  Qridge  Water,            .  20  o  o 

L.  620    o    o 

'The  other  lUhings  on  the  north  fide  of  Dee  belong  pro-  * 
perlj  to  the  pariih  of  St  Nicholas,  and  are  of  great  valae. 
Thofe  on  thf  fouth  fide  of  that  river  are  in  the  pariih  of 
Nigg,  the  (latiftical  hiftorj  of  which  contains  an  ezcellept 
account  of  the  fiOieries  at  this  plaoe  and  neighbourhoocL 
The  fifliing  on  thfe  upper  part  of  the  ^orth  fide  of  the  river 
Don,  in  Old  Machar  parifli,  belongs  (o  ^IrPatpn  of  Grand- 
home,  and  is  appropriated  to  ihp  amufeinent  of  the  pro- 
prietor, and  of  fuch  Gentlemen  as,  by  his  permiifion,  angle 
on  that  part  of  the  river.  Below  that,  all  the  way  down 
tio  QeatCHiy  the  river  on  both  fides  belongs  tp  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  cruive  filhing.  The  cmives  lie  at  Crordon's  Mills* 
They  are  put  into  the  river  as  foon  as  the  weather  will 
permit,  after  the  commencement  of  the  filhing  feafon,  and 
taken  out  when  it  i^pifes,  that  the  lalmon  may  get  up  the 
river  to  fpawn.  The  reguladoq  of  the  cruives  has  occa- 
fioned  perpetual  difputes  and  law-pleas  between  the  heri- 
tors on  the  upper  parts  of  the  riv^r,  and  proprietors  of  that 
fifiiing.  T^  put  an  end  to  thefe  contentions,  the  parties 
have  entered  into  an  Agreement,  by  whicl^  the  proprietors 


^/Aberdeen,  a  17 

of  the  cruivc-fifliing  arc  allowed  to  rtgulatc  their  cruives 
as  they  pleafe,  on  paying  annually  a  ftipulated  indemnity 
to  the  upper  heritors,  and  this  agreement  is  to  laft  for  nine- 
teen years.  Formerly  the  cruives  would  have  let  through 
fomc  fmall  fiflies,  but  now  they  will  confine  a  trout  of  2  lb. 
weight.  Formerly  they  were  left  open  from  fix  o'clock 
on  Saturday  night  till  about  fun>rifing  on  Monday  morn- 
ing ;  but  now  they  are  kept  conftantly  (hut. — The  proprie- 
tors of  the  cruive-fifliing  employ  an  overfeer,  who  is  allow- 
ed a  fuitable  falary,  and  has  under  him,  conftantly  three 
men,  and  occafionally  feveral  more.  Their  property  is 
divided  into  eight  fliares,  which  may  be  feparately  bought 
or  fold,  or  let.  One  perfon  may  hold  one  or  more  of  thefe 
fliares.  Some  of  them  are  at  prefent  let  for  L.  40  Sterling 
annually.  EAimating  each  fhare  at  this  rate,  the  annual 
rent  of  the  whole  filhing  will  amount  to  L.  320  Sterling. 
.  Moft  of  the  fi(h  are  caught,  not  in  the  cruives,  but  with  nets 
below  the  cruive-dikes.  The  proprietors  have  a  houfe  at 
the  cruives,  in  which  they  cure  and  keep  their  falmoa. 
They  meet  once  every  month  during  the  fiihing-feafon,  to 
examine  their  books,  to  give  diredions  to  their  fervants, 
and  to  regulate  the  other  bufinels  of  the  fifhing. 

Nearly  oppofite  to  the  houfe  of  Seaton,  the  Nether  Don 
filhing  commences.  It  includes  both  fides  of  the  river,  and 
extends  to  the  fea,  comprehending  a  fmall  part  of  the  coaft 
on  each  fide  of  the  river.  The  tide  flows  up  the  river 
nearly  as  far  as  this  fiihing  extends.  Some  parts  of  the 
river  can  therefore  be  filhed  only  in  certain  ftates  of  the 
tide.  During  feveral  hours  about  the  time  of  low-water, 
while  fome  are  fifliing  in  the  river,  others  are  fifhing  in  the 
fea.  ^hc  boats  and  nets  Vith  which  they  fifh  upon  the 
fea-coaft  are  larger,  and'  require  more  men  to  work  thetri, 
than  thofe  which  are  ufed  on  the  river.  This  fifliing  is  di- 
vided into  two  diftinft  properties,  the  one  called  the  King's 

Vol.  XIX-  Ec  Cavel, 


21 8  Siatjfiical  AuQunt 

Cavel,  and  the  other  the  BiOiop^  CaveL    In  each  pfel 
there  are  fix  (hares  called,  Halfnets,  and  all  the  ihares  are 
nearly  .of  equal  value,    llie  proprietors  of  eytcb  cavel  em- 
ploy an  overfeer,  who,  in  the  beginning  of  the  feafon,  has 
deveu  men  under  him,  but  after  the  ift  of  June,  twentj 
men,  and  occafionally  a  greater  number*    Both  the  ^vcla 
fifli  alternately  the  fame  water.    It  often  happens,  indeed, 
that  both  fiih  in  different  places  at  the  &me  time.    Verj 
curious  rei^ulations  are  adopted  by  both  cavels  for  fixing  the 
periods  at  which  they  fucceed  one  another  on  the  tea,  and 
on  the  different  fifhing  ftations  op  the  river.   Thefe  regula- 
tions have  no  conne£lion  with  the  dated  hours  of  the  day 
and  night,  but  are  ingenioufly  calculated,  according  to  the 
ebbings  and  Sowings  of  the  tide,  to  give  both  the  cavels  an 
equal  chance  for  filh.     The  produce  of  both  properties 
are  accordingly  at  die  end  of  fome  leafoos  very  nearly 
equal.    Such  b  the  general  principle  on  which  thefe  regu- 
lations are  founded ;  but  they  cannot  be  particularly  ex* 
plained  without  an  accurate  map  of  the  river,  accompanied 
with  a  long  and  minute  detail,  which  would  be  very  untn* 
terefling  to  the  public.     Befides  the  fiih  caught  by  thdr 
nets  and  boats,  they  fet  fliort  nets  cuMtiffeti^  in  fome  cor- 
pers  of  the  river,  and  falmon  ar^  often  found  entan^ed  in 
the  malbes  pf  thefe  nets.    At  the  fouth  end  of  Don  Bridge 
the  proprietors  have  houfes,  in  which  they  cure  and  keep 
their  lalmon  till  they  are  ready  for  exportation.    They 
meet  once  every  fortnight  during  the  filhing-feafon  to  fa- 
perintend  their  bufinefs,  and  give  direftions  to  their  fer- 
vants.*-None  of  the  (hares  of  either  cavel  are  let  \  it  is 
therefore  impoflible  to  fay  with  accuracy  what  rent  this 
fifhing  wonld  yield.    It^  value  is  very  great.    A  fingle 
^  ibare  (old  lately  for  L.35CO  Sterling,    Efiimating  each  of 
the  twelve  (hares  at  this  rate,  the  value  of  the  whole  &(k« 
ing  of  both  paveb  wpuld  be  l««  3O9O00  Sterling. 

The 


The  fifindrantage  \sf  which  this,  and  of  confequence  the 
cmcve-fiflnngy  is^moft  apt  to  faffer,  arifesrfirom  the  precarious 
ftate  of  the  river's  mouth.  Many  years  ago^  the  river  near 
the  fea  took  a  long  turn  to  the  footh,  which  rendered  it  fo 
fliallow,  that  often  the  fiilaion  could  with  difficulty  enter  it* 
The  proprietors' of  the  fifliings  were  aHvious  to  deepen  the 
mouthPof  the  rivertby  ikiakiojf;a  (Iraightcut  through  the  fand- 
baak,  at  the  turn  of  the  rvver,  between  it  and  the  fea.  This 
was  undertaken  for  %  fmaU*  fum  of  money  by  Dr  Gregory, 
then  oae  of  the  profefibra  of  King's  College.  He  accord- 
ingly built  a  ftone  bidwark,  part  of  which  is  ftill  extant, 
aliBoft  acrols  the  old  channel  of  the  river,  jufi  where  it 
tamed  to  the  fouth*  This  caufed  the  ftreanfi  to  pulh  di- 
refilj,  and  with  great  force,  againft  the  fand-bank,  which 
lay  iaifiiedtately  betweea  it  and  the  fea.  Eneibracing  aa 
opportonit  J  of  a  great  flood  in  the  river,  he  made  a  fmall 
cntacnsls  the  iiand-bank,  which  the  flood  water  foon  entering, 
fwejK  away  for  itfelf  an  excellent  channel  direfily  into  the 
iea.  Ha^g  eflfeded  this  important  fervice  to  the  Don 
iSkSmg^  at  an*  cxpenoe  confiderably  below  the  Aipulated 
fhsiir  the  Dofior  generoufly  gave  the  reaaainder  of  the  mo* 
ney  aa  a  Alnd  for  the  fupport  of  fuperannunted  falmon* 
f  fhtiai  add  fome  of  them  now  draw  fironr  that  fiind  L.  a 
Scaiiihg  airaoaUy.— Though  there  is  now  little  danger  of 
the  river  rafuming  ita  did  circaitous  and  fliallow  eourfe,  as 
it  ftill  enters  Che  fea  through- a  large  bed  of  foft  fand,  its 
mouths  varies  almofr  every  feafon,  and  often  with  every 
vsolentlioivicane'of  wind*  It  is  ftill  fometimea  fo  ihalloiw 
ac'kiw  wattT-thar  no  large  fiflies  can  enter  ir.  The  only 
naathod  of  deepening  it^.  is  by  caufing  it  to  run  into  the 
iiea  in  at  fttaight  a  ftream  as  poflible.  For  this  purpofe,  as 
ics  tendency  is  (till  to  turn  to  tfae^  fonth,  though  at  a  place 
much  nearer  to  the  fea  than  its  former  winding,  the  pro- 
[priaMisa  of  the  fifliing  have  erected  a  new  bujwark  of  flakes 

and 


^20  Staiifiical  Account 

and  heath,  ktpt  down  with  ftoncs,  in  an  ohliqne  dire£Boii,  on 
the  fouth  fide,  of  the  river,  a  good  way  into  the  chanaeL 
This  fecms  alreadj  to  have  good  effeds,  bj  turning  the 
ftream  to  the  north,  and  deepening  the  river's  mouth.  It  is 
daily  gaining  additional  flrength,  becaufe  the  weather  is 
driving  the  fand  dofe  behind,  and  thereby  fi^poiting  it. 

The  falmoD  in  Dee  and  Don  are  thought  to  be  in  the 
higheft  perfedion  in  April  and  May.  For  feyeral  years 
pafi  they  have  not  been  fold  here  at  any  time  under  3  d. 
per  pound ;  and  until  the  beginning  of  July,  when  the  an- 
nual contrad  of  the  proprietors  of  the  fifliings  with  the 
Aberdeen  merchants,  who  fend  the  falmon  to  the  London 
•  market,  expires,  none  are  to  be  had  under  6d./#rpoand. 
To  obtain  them  even  at  this  price  we  mnft  fend  t»  the 
boil-boufe  in  Aberdeen.  It  is  hard,  that  while  onr  rivers 
abound  in  fifb,  their  whole  produce  ihould,  for  five  or  fix 
months  in  the  year,  be  fold  to  one  or  two  Aberdeen  mcr* 
chants,  at  about  4  d.  or  even  under  that  fum,  and  that«  du- 
ring that  period,  none  of  the  inhabitants  can  obtain  a  fingle 
pound  under  6  d.  and  that  only  in  the  way  of  favour  from 
the  merchants.  Laft  year  our  (almon  were  falling  in  tba 
London  market  cheaper  than  we  could  buy  them  at  Aber* 
-deen.  Was  not  this  carrying  on  a  monopoly  at.  once  to 
the  difad  vantage  of  the  merchants  and  the  country?  It  has 
been  alleged,  that  the  proprietors  of  the  fiifliop's  Cavel 
wer^  once  obliged  to  ofitr  their  fifli  for  fsde  in  the  mfarket 
of  Old  Aberdeen.  If  ever  thb  commendable  pradice  took 
place,  it  has  long  ago  fallen  into  diinfe.  TwOiihirda  of  the 
produce  go  to  the  London  market;  iand  the  catch  of  Joiy, 
Auguft,  and  September,  is  falt^d,  and  exported  in  bsirrek  to 
France  and  Flanders,  where  they  have  a  charafter  fnperior 
to  the  fiAi  of  other  rivers,  which  occaficms  a  difference  of 
price  at  home  of  xo  9.  to  15  s.  per  barrel.    From  xao  to  150 

filhenneB 


ofAberdeenr  aai. 

ftOitf  OKU  aK  lemployed  on  the  rivers..  The^f  wagqiy  at  an 
avenge,  are  from.I<^  5  to.  L»'I5  pfr  wmupr*^  . 

The  gnSSts  come  into  oar  riven -about  t)ie  middle  or  end 
of  June,  and  continue  till  September,  The(e  majgeoe^. 
raOlj  be  boogbt  at  about  2  d;  or  about  pfc^d.  /ler  pounds — : 
The  fiih  oaught  in  Julji  Auguft,  and  September,  ai^e. failed. 
and  exported. 

The  white  troot  and  finnocks  cau^t  in  the  iaImoQ-fi(ber^ 
nets  are  ezoellent.  They  belong  as  a  pei^jquifite  to.the  filher- 
men,.  by  whom  they  are  Ibid  at  about  2  d^ptr  pound,  and 
ibmetimes  at  a  lower  rate,  to  the  inbabitanu  .  of  both. the 
town  and  neighbourhood.  '  Many ,  finnocks  are  caugl^t  in 
the  Don  by  Cmall  feeibs^  which  the  filbermen  fet  for  .(hat 
porpofe  after  the  feafpn  of  the  filinon-filbiog  is  over.  It 
is  thought  that  tbefe  fuihs  do  not  tepd  to  prevent  the  fal* 
anon  from  conwg  up  the  river  tojpawn,  becauie  they  arcL 
too  finall  in  the  malhes  for  entangling  Isurge.fiihesi  .uid  be-, 
caoie  they  are  never  fo  far  extended  into  the  river  as:to 
Under. them  from  paffing. 

Nail  Mamffa£htre.'^Th!t  chief  branch  of  the  iron  mann- 
fiiAore  carried  on  here  is  the  niaking  of  nails.  This  work 
was  efbblifhed  about  the  year  1780,  and  employs  from  ao 
to  30  hands,  who  earn  very  high  wages.  Other  branches 
of  the  iron  manufadure  might  now,  that  the  coal-duty,  is 
taken  off,  be  c(^ried  on  here  to  advantage. 

JHfiilkriis^^Tht.  fmall  ftiUs  in  Aberdeen  and  i|3  ni^igb* 
bcurhood  were  lately  either  given  up,  or  removed  to  thfj 
Highland  diftrifts.  All  the  whHky  made  in  lucb  AiU9.i% 
liable  to  be  feized  as  fmnggled  goods  when  bfo^ght  to 
Aberdeen  \  fo  that  the  city  depends  entirely  on  the^  large 
diiUUeries  in  the  fo^tb  of  Scotland  for  fuppUes  of  wb^^j^ 

the 


j»4  Stdti/ikat  Account 

Theqintitltjr  I«potted  bHbre  the  tale  proMWtory  diftBiDg 
tft  was  great,  and  iii  gtneril  of  a  verjr  bad  quality. 

A  diftiUerj,  on  a  ptettjr  extenfive  fcale,  was  lately  crrefi* 
ed  near  Aberdeen ;  it  wasr  cote^leted  on*  the  39th  Septem- 
ber 1794.  It  is  fituated  near  Don  Bridge.  The  chief  in* 
dncement  for  erefting  it  there  was  the  comnland  of  water^ 
38  feet  perpendicular  upon  the  banks  of  a  narigable  viver. 
It  was  intended  x6  dillil  annually  the  produce  of  sa,obo 
quarters  of  com,  but.eould  domneh  more.  Thiafeafbii^ 
(1795),  owing  to  oblhruftiona  from  the  ft  verity  of  thcr 
weather  during  the  lafl  Winter  and  fprmg,  the  enriiargo^ 
ihrd  th^  prohibition,  only  8115  quarters  were  brewed^  P^*^ 
ing  npon  import^on  to  London  L.  26,800  Sterling,  with 
about L.  1000  niore  for  duty  uponmak.  The  principal 
part  of  the  com  grew  ii^  Aberdeenfliire ;  the  reft  waa  ioo^ 
ported  from  the  adjacent  diftrifis.  The  whok  was  the 
gfowtk  of  Scotland. 

'  It  would  be  of  great  public  utility  if  dIAUleriel  upon  » 
moderate  fcale  were  ereAed  in  different  counties  diroagh«i 
out  the  united  kingdoms,  infiead  of  being  concentered  in 
and  near  London,  in  ten  great  hoofef.  Moft  of  the  fpent 
wa(h  or  burnt  ale,  and  much  of  the  dang,  u  thrown  into  the 
river,  which,  befides  injuring  the:  water,  is  a  lofi  to  foctety. 
More  cattle  and  hogs  would  be  fed;  and  all  damaged  or  ilC- 
harvefted  com,  unfit  for  exportation,  would  be  turned^  ftti 
the  utmoft  advantsige ;  the  manure  would'  enrich  the  lands 
contiguous.  This  diftiUery  would  well  keep  at  the  rate  of 
400  cattle,  or  1000  hogs,  yielding  fufficient  manure  to  ferd- 
Eze  annually  from  15  to  20  Scotch  acres!  of  the  moft  bAN 
f^n  land;  but  call  it  at  a  medium  ao  £nglr(h  acres,  as  the 
contents  of  the  waflr-ftill  here  amounts  oniy  to  1650  gal« 
Ibnr,  every  100  gallons  ought  to  manure  nearly  one  Eng^ 
lilh  acre ;  and  confvqnently  the  London  diftilleriesy  w^ofe 

waih 


waft-Ailb  ut  at  loAft  ioo,ooo  ^aUoas  in  conteotir  o^gbt  (a 
SeHilize  lOQO  acres  per  anwm. 

Throwing  away  the  bottoms,  as  thej  are  caUed,  ia  a  great 
public  lois.-«-SoK><^fc  ^  boufe  to  brew  daily  lOO  quarters, 
ahis  would  produce  about  io»qoo  gallons,  of  worts  or  woih, 
or  zoo  gallons  from  a  quarter^.  Whan  the  fermeotaticA 
ccalest  the  waib  is  fit  for  difUIlation ;  about  one-tenth,  or 
xoco  gallons,  of  which  will  be  a  thick  fediment  or  bottom, 
vcbich  in  England  is  frequently  thrown  into  the  river,  in 
the  prefence  of  the  oflScers  of  'excife,  thereby  faving  the 
duty  of  9  d.  per  gallon,  and  avoiding  the  danger  of  humifig 
the  ftill.  In  Scotland  it  is  thrown  away  to  avoid  the  bum* 
ing  only.  It  couU  eafily  be  proved  how  much  com  is  thos 
totally  loft  annually;  it  is  probable  fuU  50,000  qoarters. 
This  muil  be  the  cafe  until  the  Legiflature  make  it  the  in* 
tereft  of  the  cora-diftiUer  to  extrafi  all  the  fpirit  in  and 
from  the  com,  without  running  the  riik  of  burning  the 
fiilL 

In  this  diftiUery,  half  barley  and  haii  bear  are  made  ufis 
of;  unqueftionably  there  is  more  fsrina,  or  iaccharine  mat- 
ter, in  barley  than  in  bear,  and  it  is  that  only  which  produ- 
ces fpirit*  Potatoes  are  lefs  fit  for  difiillation  than  barley ; 
the  ffvnx,  produced  is  much  fouler ;  and  it  is  not  believed 
.that  they  would  aiifwer  upon  a  large  fcaie.  Rye  may 
be  ufed  to  advantage  with  malt  and  ha*  ley,  hut  it  muft 
be  in  a  finall  proportion.  All  barley  ufed  by  difliU 
iocs  would  be  malted  if  there  were  no  duty  upon  malt,  be. 

•  caufe 

•  Tofreveitt  throwing  €eway  the  hettmt^'  two  methodi  ooly  sppetr 
digible :  Diilillen  to  be  allowed  a  ftill  of  fuitable  or  propoctiontte  gaU 
loRSy  under  proper  regulatioiu,  for  csovd^ing  the  fpirit  from  the  bottoms, 
witboat  b^g  obliged,  as  now,  either  to  thraw  them  away,  or  oiiz  and  dlfti,! 
diem  with  ihe  wa(h.  Or,  to  be  allowed  a  proper  number  of  lours  to 
work  their  iUlls^oa;  leTs  rapidly  tha^  they  axe  now  obliged  u>  do.  Hia 
flit  appean  by  far  the  moft  eligible. 


214  Stati/Hcal  Account 

cture  xoo  grains  of  malt  will  yield  more  faecharine  matter 
than  100  grains  of  barley,  but  it  occupies  more  fpace;  it  is 
the  intereft  of  the  diftiUer  at  prefent  to  ufe  as  much  raw 
grain  as  poffibte,  faring  thereby  tbedaty  op  the  malt ;  and 
it  b  certain,  that  the  grains  or  refofe  for  feeding  the  cattk 
or  hogs  b  the  better  the  le&  fpirit  that  is  taken  oot  of  it : 
As  the  fpirit  extraded,  however,  would  be  mpch  finer  and 
wholefomer,  and  as  it  could  not  poffibly,  under  proper  re- 
gulations, be  attended  with  any  lois  to  the  revenue,  it  may 
be  worthy  the  eonfideration  of  Parliament,  whether  it  would 
not  be  advifeable  to  enad,  that  in  fixture  ipudts  ^ould  be 
^xtrafted  from  malted  graiii  alone. 

Brtweries.-^The  firft  public  brewery,  for  brewing  ale 
for  the  confumpt  of  this  town,  was  ereded  by  Meflrs  Wil- 
liam  Black  and  Company  about  the  year  1768.  Their 
work  is  very  confiderable,  and  there  is  fcarce  any  thing  of 
the  kind  in  Scotland  fo  complete.  They  brew  table-beer, 
flrong-ale  and  porter.  Their  ftrong-ale  is  of  fuch  excellent 
quality,  that  a  great  deal  of  it  is  fent  to  London,  and  feve- 
ral  places  abroad ;  and  their  porter  is  generally  fuperior  in 
quality  to  the  Liondon  porter  which  is  brought  here  for 
fale ;  but  fuch  is  the  effed  of  prejudice,  that  people  will 
drink  London  porter  of  the  worft  kind,  before  good  frefli 
porter  brewed  s.?  home. 

There  are  now,  befides  MeiTrs  William  Black  and  Com- 
pany's brewery,  no  fewer  than  fix  public  breweries  in  this 
town  and  pariih  of  Old  Machar.  Two  of  them  in  town, 
MeiTrs  George  Annand  and  Company,  and  Meflrs  Brebner, 
Gibbon  and  Company,  do  a  great  deal  of  bufineis,  and 
they  are  all  in  a  thriving  way. 

Before  there  were  any  public  breweries  in  this  place,  the 

people  who  kept  publtc-houfes  brewed  all  the  ale  and  beer 

which  they  fold  ;  and  it  was  then  cullomary  for  private  fa- 

a  milies 


of  Aberdeem  ii^ 

Ibilies  to  brew  for  theii:  own  life,  but  prirate  brewing  is 
now  laid  afide. 

Cotton-Clotb  Manufai^urt^  U^r.— t*here  is  carried  on  ty 
fome  gentlemen  in  this  town  a  very  extenfive  manufadore 
in  fpinning^  weaving,  atid  printing  cotton-cloth  in  the 
greateft  variety  of  patterns.  l*he  printfield  and  work* 
houfeSy  where  this  manuladure  is  principally  carried  on, 
lie  in  the  parifli  of  Old  Machar.  This  work  has  added 
coniiderably  to  the  population  of  the  town  and  neighbour- 
hood. 

Frice  ofProvifionSj  i^c. — fhc  price  of  beef  and  inuttte 
about  4  d.  per  lib.  \  veal,  5  d. ;  pork,  3I  d. ;  geefe,  i  s.  6  d. 
each ;  ducks,  is,  8  d.  per  pair ;  butter,  8  d.  per  lib.  or  18 
#ances;  cheefe,  5  s.  per  (lone,  or  28  pouilds;  chick^iis, 
10  Alper  pair. 

The  wages  of  a  labourer  ^^  day  sire  from  xod.  to  i  tf.  4  d. ; 
a  carpenter,  bricklayer,  or  roafon,  has  1  s.  6  d.  aday,  and  a 
Wright  commonly  i  s.  3  d.  The  wages  of  a  female  fervant 
IS  commonly  about  L.  i,  10  s.  and  for  a  male-fervant  from 
L.  4  to  L.  j  in  the  half-year* 

The  moit  memorable  battle  in  this  neighbourhood  was 
that  which  was  fought,  in  the  lad  century,  between  Mont- 
rofe  and  the  Covenanters,  on  Friday  the  ijth  of  Septem- 
ber 1644,  ii^  which  viftory  declared  for  the  formc;r,  and 
the  latter  were  purfi.ed  with  great  flaughter  from  the  field 
of  battle,  which  was  about  a  mile  weliward  to  the  town* 
A  gentleman  of  this  place,  proprietor  of  fome  ground  in 
the  Schoolhill,  which  had  been  time  immemorial  employed 
as  garden-ground,  intending  to  build  on  it,  dug  pretty  deep 
for  a  foundation,  when,  to  his  great  furprife^  he  came  on  « 
place  in  which  there  were  found  many  human  bones,  and 
among  them  14  or  16  fculls.    What  is  very  remarkable  is, 

Vol..  XIX.  Ff  Ibac 


ai  6  Statiflicat  AtcowA 

tfutt  on  fome  tX,  the  (cotti  there  vha  fixind  long  jdbw 
bur,  neatly  wrapped  round  and  plaited  with  an  woolkn 
fillet  or  ftring  in  form  of  a  queue,  which  did  not  appear  to 
be  rotten.  As  there  were  no  remains  of  anj  coffin,  and  in- 
deed no  appearance  from  the  pofition  of  the  bones  that  the 
bodies  had  been  regularly  interred,  and  as  this  field  is  at  the 
weft  end  of  the  town,  exadly  in  the  line  of  the  purfuit  from 
the  field  of  battle,  it  is  conjedured,  that  on  that  occafioo 
the  bodies  of  many,  who  had  fallen  near  the  place,  had  been 
huddled  together,  and  promifcuoufly  thrown  into  this  clay 
pit,  for  fuch  it  appeared  to  have  been.  It  was  on  that  oc- 
cafion  that  Montrofe  gave  up  the  town  to  the  pillage  of  the 
foldiers,  who  were  mofUy  Iriih,  and  cruelly  maflacred  many 
of  the  harmlels  inhabitants,  infomuch,  that  the  women  only 
durfi  appear,  and  take  concern  in  burying  the  dead.  It  is 
about  twenty  years  fince  the  dilbovery  of  tbefiB  fcuUs  and 
other  human  bones  was  made. 

Intended  Canal, — ^There  are  at  prefent  no  navigable  ca- 
nals in  this  place,  unleis  the  lead  at  the  printfield  is  conii- 
dered  as  one,  and  it  has  been  uled  as  fuch,  only  for  bring- 
ing ftones  from  a  quarry  to  the  buildings  of  the  manuEac- 
ture.  A  fubfcription  has  been  raifed  to  obtain  a  furvey  of 
a  canal  from  Aberdeen,  up  Don  fide  to  Monymuik,  with  a 
branch  up  the  water  of  Ury,  through  the  Garioch,  to  Infch. 
The  furvey  is  made  by  Captain  George  Taylor,  and  the 
undertaking  found  to  be  praAicable.  A  finall  cut,  twenty 
feet  wide,  by  three  feet  and  a  half  deep,  bfintended  to 
carry  boats  of  twenty  or  thirty  tons  burden.  The  locks 
and  bridges  will  be  fewer,  and  leis  expenfive  than  mofi 
people  acquainted  with  the  grounds  are  apt  to  fuppole.  Tbe 
ezpence  is  within  reach  of  the  gentlemen  proprietors  of 
the  lands  adjacent.  The  quantity  of  goods  now  carried  by 
land  is  fufficient  to  pay  a  reafonable  intereft  for  the  money 

required. 


iff  Aherdcen.  227 

re^iredy  «t  little  more  than  half  the  expence  of  bod-car- 
liage.     So  favonrable  is  the  fpirit  of  the  people  to  this  on- 
4ertakbg9  and  fo  evident  its  advantages  to  the  poblic,  that 
manj  farmers  propofe  to  fubfcribe  for  ihares.    The  canal 
will  pafs  for  three  miles  through  tbeparilh  of  Old  Machar, 
from   the  harbour  of  Aberdeen,  and  communicate  with 
Gordon's  mills  field,  the  printfield,  and  Parflej  bleachfield, 
the  moil  exteniive  manofaflures  in  this  part  of  the  coontrj. 
The  benefit  which  the  manufadurers  on  the  banks  of 
J>on9  both  in  this  parifli  and  the  pari(h  of  Newhins,  would 
reap  from  this  canal,    mufl  indeed   be    great ;  both  bj 
the  cheap  carriage  of  coals,  and  all  the  heavy  and  bulkj . 
articles  nfrd  in  their  feveral  branches,  to  their  manufac- 
mrcs,  and  by  the  eafy  conveyance  of  their  goods  to  Aber- 
deen, on  the  arrival  of  which  in  a  given  time  they  might 
fecurely  depend.    As  there  are  many  fine  haughs  and  wa* 
ter-£alls  along  the  Don,  and  adjacent  to  the  courfe  of  th^ 
inteoded  canal,  it  may  in  time  be  the  means  of  eilabliihing 
ufiefid  manu&dures  at  a  confiderable  diflance   from  the 
tovrn,   where  the  immenfe  expence  of  fire  and  carriage 
renders  foch  undertakings  at  prefcnt  impradtcable.    But 
its  beneficial  influence  on  agriculture  will  be  more  infian« 
taneoufly  confpicubus.     Almoft  the  whole  labour  of  the 
farmerst.aod  of  their  (ie;rFant||knd  horfes,  from  feed-tifM  to 
harveft,  is  employed  in  digging,  drying,  and  carrying  hon^^ 
peats  and  turf  for  their  winter-fuel.    This,  by  difcpuraging 
the  onrrjagie  of  lime  a^d  other  manure,  and  by  putting  it 
out  of  their  ^  power  to  attend  properly  to  gr^en  crops  and 
fidlow,  has  exceedingly  retarded  the  improvement  of  the 
bads  at  a  diftance  from  the  town.    By  mean^  of  the  cana!^ 
^stxy  farmer  along  the  banks,  and  to  the  diftance  of  two 
or  three  miles  from  thefe,  might,  at  a  cheap  rate,  and  in  a 
few  days,  lay  in  his  winter- fuel  of  coals,  and  have  abun- 
dant leifure  to  attend  to  the^improvement  of  his  land.    It 

would 


92|  Stati/lical  Account 

lyottld  alfo  afford  him  a  cheap,  eafy,  and  expedittoaa  am* 
yeyanoe  of  linie  apd  other  manure  from  Al^rdeen,  while  % 
£nji^le  fervant  could,  at  comp^ativelj  little  expence,  attend 
}iis  graiOy  miral,  poultry^  butter,  cheefe,  milk,  and  all  the 
produce  of  bis  fartp,  to  market^  in  doing  which  he  muft  at 
prefent  employ  maqj  horfes  and  carts.    It  would  thus  re- 
dound to  thp  advantage  of  the  proprietd^s  of  the  adjacent 
Ismdsy  not  only  by  fertilizing  their  foi},  extruding  tbeir 
Urable  land,  and  increafing  their  rents  ^  but  alfo  by  en* 
^bling  them  to  open  with  profit  many  quarries  of  excellent 
granite,  fom^  of  lime  aqd  fame  of  date,  which,  on  account 
of  the  expence  of  the  carriage  to  town,  are  as  yet  unwrought. 
By  fiirnilhing  a  cheap  and  expeditious  convieyance  to  mar- 
]cet  for  the  wood  of  many  fine  and  e^tenfive  plantations 
adjacent  to  its  courfe,  and  which,  for  want  of  fuch  convey* 
anpe,  cannot  now  be  fold  to  a^vantagCf  it  would  greatiy 
increafe  the  value  of  thefe  plantations,  and  encourage  their 
Owners  to  extend  them  over  many  large  tracks  of  other- 
wife  bljcaj;;,  barren,  and  unprodufHve  ground.    Thus  would 
|t  tend  at  once  to  increafe  population,  to  enrich  both  the 
landholder  and  the  tenant,  and  to  beautify  the  hct  of  th^ 
fountry. 

This  place  gave  birth  to  Mr  George  yamiefon^  a  portrait- 
painticr  of  the  moft  diftinguifiied  eminence.  He  was  bom 
of  refpeftable  parents  about  the  end  of  the  16th  century. 
Having,  at  an  early  period  of  life,  difcoyered  an  uncom- 
jnon  genius  for  portrait-painting,  he  went  abroad,  and  du- 
eled under  the  celebrated  Reubens,  during  which  time  he 
made  great  progrefi  in  his  profeffionl  About  the  year 
1620  he  returned  to  his  native  city,  where  he  fettled  as  a 
portrait-painter,  and  afterwards  married  an  Aberdeen  lady 
qf  the  name  of  Ifobel  Toafli,  by  whom  he  had  fcveral 
children,  both  foris  and  daughters.  It  appears  that  all  his 
Tons  died  when  young.     His  only  daughter  whofe  defcend- 


of  Aberdeen.  229 

flsts  are  now  Ihring,  was  caQed  Mary.  Her  firft  hufbaiid 
was  Mr  Burnet  of  Elrick,  in  the  countj  of  Aberdeen.  She 
was  afterwards  married  to  Mr  James  Gregory,  the  eminent 
jnathematician,  and  profeflbr  of  mathematics  in  the  Uni- 
Terfities  of  St  Andrew's  and  Eidinbnrgh,  and  great  grand* 
lather  of  Dr  James  Gregory,  prefent  profeflbr  of  medicine, 
Univcrfity,  -Edinburgh.  Her  third  marriage  was  to  Bailie 
George  Eddie  of  Aberdeen.  By  all  of  them  ihe  had  chil- 
dren. Many  of  the  defcendants  of  the  two  firft  have  nume- 
rous  families  in  this  county.  She  appears  to  have  inherited 
a  confiderable  portion  of  her  father's  genius  for  portrait-re- 
prefentation,  chiefly  on  tapeftry,  many  fpedmens  of  which 
{till  remain,  particularly  feveral  large  Scripture  pieces,  in 
different  compart;ment8,  which  now  decorate  a  part  of  the 
High  Church  of  Aberdeen. 

Jamiefon's  charader  and  ftyle  of  painting  foon  became 
generally  known  and  admired  all  over  the  kingdom.  He 
appears  (as  may  be  feen  in  the  fubjoined  lift)  to  have  paint- 
ed a  great  number  of  portraits,  among  which  are  King 
Jtmcs  VI.  and  Charles  I.  It  is  faid,  that  when  taking  the 
portrait  of  Charles  I.  the  King  ordered  him)[to  keep  on  his 
hat.  Owing  to  this  circumftance,  or  perhaps  in  imitation  of 
Reubens  his  mafter,  in  all  the  piftures  of  himfelf  he  is  re- 
prelented  with  his  hat  on. 

Mr  John  Alexander,  grand*nephew  of  Mr  Jamiefon, 
iieems  to  have  been  the  only  one  of  his  defcendants  who 
pofleffed  his  genius  for  painting.  He  praftifed  in  Aber* 
deen  as  a  portrait-painter  till  a  copiiderable  time  after  the 
jear  1730.    Many  of  bis  paintings  alfo  are  highly  efteemed, 

George  Jamiefon  was  a  nephew  of  David  Anderfon  of 
Fiozeauch,  merchant-burgefs  of  Aberdeen.  He  was  com- 
monly called,  Davie  do  a'  things  on  account  of  his  very 
great  and  exteniive  genius  for  mechanics,  and  moft  other 
X  br^ch^ 


%jp  Stat^kal  Aammi 


of  AHDxa]  pbito(bpbj»  wbidi  be  ciniwBtTy  ££> 
|tijt4  ia  araB J  diflerefU  mfiuiccs  at  Abcxdeca* 

Mr  AnicrSotk  wa»  bora  abovt  ibe  1575,  and  aMiricd  to* 

ipards  the  cod  of  Ihst  ceiitiirj»  to  Jean  Goild,  Ja»ghrrr  of 

.  Matthew  Catkl*  hiur^e&  ef  Abcrdcciiy  bj  whooa  be  had 

Jtvcral  cbiUrta,  parikakrijr  three  daughters^  all  ouvried  !• 

£ffi»reat  g^jUlesacA  in  the  town  and  coontj  q£  Afaerdeeiu 

Alter  hk  deatb»  hk  widow,  Jean  Guild,  witb  tbe  coi»- 
Moxitn^  and  approbation  of  her  daughten  and  their  hu£- 
laed»»  mortified  the  greatcft  part  of  a  coofiderabk  property 
af  ber  owa^  for  tbe  maiDtcnaace  <rften  poor  oipbans,  at  tbe 
sale  ci  30  merk»  jearlj  to  each,  pader  tbe  patromf  e  of  tbe 
jMagifirates  asd  Towa-council  of  Aberdeen.    Her  brocber, 
Jh  William  Guild,  Prioctpal  of  Kia^'s  CoUege,  alfi>  de- 
ifined  a  eoofiderabk  fum  of  mooe j  for  the  like  pious  pQr« 
pofe,  and  under  tbe  fame  patronage ;  from  tbe  produce  of 
whicfa^  atid  the  great  inprovemeata  and  attention  wbicb 
bave  been  made  and  beflowed  upon  them  bj  the  patrons, 
about  40  uecefiitons  orphans  are  at  prefent  in  a  great  mea- 
ikCe  (upported  in  tbe  town  nf  Aberdeen,  and  which  they 
see  eatitkd  to  enjoj  from  their  eariieft  io&ncj  till  they 
bacMW  a6  jcaca  <tf  age. 


CAtALQGXJl 


0f  Ahcrnt^^ 


is* 


CATAMO0E  iifjome  rfthe  UTorki  ^GxoaoE  J^MlSMi^ 
PaimUr. 


MCTWRES. 


iT^  „i^7  cwi^^i.  •»*'»: 


} 


<wn;   }«nicfen's 
lirad;  two  fea-views 


,^.  wtfe;    another 
Pcrfrwaxid  Anira-< 


Sir  Cearee  CHilmcrs,   pgintag, 
tnamcd  to   j'amieya  .§««- 

►EaiiofF«idtocr>a{tBarfr€at!lk. 


tobttd, fuppofod  hi*  wift's pfeantc  ^     g«i4-fM»t .pandfim. 


|iflik!fi»irs 


I; 


XaxiofBicadafii 


EarlofStraAmooe. 
HerrioeiHofpitaL 


Sir  Daacaa  Gunpbell. 
WiUiao^  £arl  of  Airih. 

TuhnDukcofRoAtt.  ^ 

Tunes  Marquis  of  HamiRim. 

Archihaldl^iAlfafif/. 

WiUiamEarlofManfehaL 

Eari  of  Loudon.  Ix)rd  High  CauaceUof- 

TboouaLocd  Bianag. 
[oha  Eaii  of  Mar. 
Jir  Robert  Campbell. 

lyof  Locbow. 
Two  of  the  Family  of  Argyle, 
LordGlamiSt 

^TJKxandcr  Erito^,  CambuflOBneth. 
Sir  Charles  Erfkinc  of  Al^ia, 
Sir  John  Erikioe  of  Otterftown. 
Ai4ir  ErflLine,  Scotfcraig.  ,  ^. 

WaUam  Erfkioc,  maftcr  <>/ Ckwteihoufe. 
MaiT  ExflLine,  CounteCi  of  Manfchal,  and  1 

^ . ofPaamurc.  I    f 

Marrarct  Countcfe  of  Kothes. 
Mardia  Coumnefcof  Stiathmow. 
AweLadyBinnmg. 
Hcffy  Prince  of  Wales. 

Icaofofdecifiom.  -^  Coantcfs  of  Rothes. 
Same  petfon.    ^    .    .-,    .   _ 

Ji«e*£rfluneEarlofBuchan.  7EarUf  Buchan. 

fc^  Erlkine.  Locd  of  Dryburgh.  C  £arl  Vi  Ducaau. 


^LordAhia. 


PICTURES. 


2$2 


Siaij/UcMl  jtccoum 


^Morifim  of  Bognie. 


^Mr  Jtmiefoo, 
,     Leith. 
Sir  John  Dalrymple. 


Aleztnder  Fnfer  of  Philordu  i 

WiUuun  Foibes  of  Tolqukon.  f  ^^^  Saltoo. 

Sir  Tbomat  Hope,  Lord  Advocate.  Z 

S^  John  Hope.  Lord  of  Seffion.  fMr  ScOtt^bteofRoffic 

Margaret  Murrey,  hu  wife.  >  -»— «w««ik. 

5ir  Adam  Gaidon.  cj-  e-.,-*  rv..ju-.   n.^ 

Dr  Dun,  founder  of  the  gnmottr^chool  ^^  j  ^"^  *'™*  ^^*»*^  ^•**- 

Aberdeen.  JBifa,] 

Crichton.  Vifcount  Frendrtmgfat. 
Sutherland,  Lady  Frendraught. 
Marquis  of  Mootrofe. 
Urqubart  of  Cromarty. 
His  wife. 

Leflie,  Lady  Freadranght 
Charles  L 
Jamiefon  himfelf. 

?W  ^^^  £?/ r*  ^"^^^  ^r.      -*.  juou  A^airympie. 
Three  guts,  aged  fix,  feven,  and  cirht,  of  the  ^„  .\  /«4«' 

fiimilies  of  Argyle,  Errol,  and  KannouL        5  ^"^  ^^  Auchmeddoi. 

^7—  ^       Gordon. 

Sir  Thomas  Hope,  Loid  Advocate. 

Dr  William  Johnfton,  brother  of  Dt  Arth^. 

Forbes,  his  wife. 
Br  Anhur  Johnflon. 
Mr  Andrew  Cant,  miniiief. 

Gordon  of  Straloch,  pnbliiherofmaps. 
Sir  Paul  Menzies,  Piovoft  of  Abexdeen. 
A  head  unkaown. 

Patrick  Forbes,  Biihop  of  Aberdeen. 
Profeflbr  Sandilands. 
Profeflbr  Goidon 

The  Sybels,  fome  of  them  fuppofed  to  be  of 
Jamiefoh*s  hand. 

Charles  L  >Mr  Campbell,  Royal  Baal* 

Two  Sandilands  of  the  Torphichen  fiunily. 

Sandilands  of  Cottown. 

General  David  LcOie. 

Sir  Alexander  Frafcr  of  Fraferlburgh. 

Wilham  Forbes,  firft  Bifliop  of  Edinburgh. 

Sir  Thomas  Nicolfon,  Lord  Advocate. 

Earl  of  Huntly,  caUed  Luckenhand. 

Jamei  VI.  iuU  length. 


>  Duke  of  Gordon. 
£artofHopetoun. 
^Andrew  Skene  of  Dyce» 

>iMari(dua  College,  Aberdees^ 


>King's  College,  AbcfJeen. 


Waochope  of  Niddrie. 
7  Late  Mr  Andrew  Paul  of  Aber- 
3     deen. 

>  William  Urquhart  of  Craigftoxr. 

FarlofKinnoul. 

}  Counters  Dowager  of  Aberdeen. 
Said  to  be  fold  to  a  family  ib 
Kagiaod. 

FICTURSS 


^     tf  Aberdeen.  ^3^ 

^  t  C  f  tJ  R  £  S.  Perfonx  to  wbom  they  belong. 

CinegieofSotttlieik.  ^ 

Cunegk  of  Northdk,  f  Sir  David  Carnegie  of  South- 

Cunegie  of  Craigs.  f     eik. 

Cirn^teofDuimidiefL  ^ 

Patrick  Fot1>es,  Biihop  of  Aberdeen.  Sir  William  Fori>es,  Craigicvar. 

Dtrid  Anderfon   of   Finzeaoch,    merchant,^ 
tmrgels  of  A)t)erdcexi»  commonly  Qalled, 
**  Davie  do  a*  diing/*  uncle  to  Jamiefon. 

Mr.  Akzander  Roberaon,  town-clerk  of  Aber- 
deen. 

Aootfaer  not  known* 


Charles  Bannnerman,  Advocate 
in  Aberdifen;  married  to  a 
neat  -  great  -  great  -  grand- 
aauffht 


ughter  of  Mr  AiideiTon*s. 


The  above  catalogue,  and  .the  materials  from  which  the  account  of  Mr 
Jimiefon  was  taken,  were  communicated  by  Alexander  Carnegie,  £fq; 
town^lerfc  of  Aberdeen. 


N.  B,  It  b  propoied  to  give  an  tccoubt  of  the  Univerfities  of  Aberdeen 
ii  another  part  of  this  work. 


Vol.  XIX.  Gg  K-pM- 


*» 


Staiifiieal  AecwH 


NUMBER  V. 


{"ARISlI   O^  Atil^ESS, 


(County  akd  ^vkod  of  Ross,  anb  PusBTT^tf  mK 
Dikowall). 


By  the  Ri9.  Mr  Akous  BcTSUirs,  MMJht. 


Origin  ofiht  Namt. 

ALNESS  fignifies  the  Promontory,  a  headfeM  of  the 
brookr  or  river,  being  compounded  of  the  words 
jluiltf  brooki  orjimhainf  river,  and  Nifi^  s^  headland,  which 
m  the  termination  of  many  names  of  places  where  there  is 
a  headland  or  promontor  j.  The  name  correfponds  with 
ihe  fituation  of  the  pariih,  which  ilretches  along  a  river, 
fermerlj  eaUed  Averon^  but  now  known  bj  the  name  of 
the  Water  of  Alnefi^  and  tenmnatea  in  a  narrow  point  or 
promontory^ 

Situation^  Extent^  Soil  and  Pro^srcf.— -The  parifli  is  fitu- 
ated  in  the  county  of  Rois,  and  belongs  to  the  preibytery 
of  Dingwall  and  Synod  of  Rofi.    It  is  of  a  very  irregular 


(ifAlnefs.  9^g 

Sam ;  to  £6mc  parts  no(  ^boyc  two  miles,  9nd  la  others 
more  tl^n  ibpr  miles  J^road,    It  is  19  miles  long,  extending 
&om  Alneis  poiat,  fia  the  ihore  of  tkfi  frith  of  Crpmartj, 
its  lb|ith-call  bppndftr^,  ^  qiO&d^able  w^y  into  the  mor^ 
faighl|Lnd  p^rjts  of  jthe  epuntTT;    In  the  lower  part  of  tbtp 
parilli,  lying  co)atigjiou8  to  tbp  fea,  and  about  two  miles  up* 
wards,  the  ground  i^  mo^ljr  arable,  and  of  vaHpus  ^ualities^ 
The  toil,  however,  is  generally  light,  and  thopgh  it  feldont^ 
produces  l^xurial^t  crof^,  yet  ^arbeo  the  farmeirs  are  iaduf- 
trioQs,  thfiyr  l^bou^  is  |:ew^rdpd  by  a  middling  return  of 
oatt,  b^Iey,  and  peafe,  and  abundant  crops  of  potatoes  i 
and  there  cai^  be  little  doubt,  if  the  farms,  which  are  almoft 
all  open-fifdd,  were  i^c^ofed,  aad  a  dii^fereat  mode  of  farm- 
ing adopted  froqn  that  generally  pradifed  in  this  part  of 
the  county,  but  the  foil  would  produce  at  lead  a  third 
more  grain  than  it  does  at  prefen^.    The  higher  parts  of 
the  parifiiy  lying  beyopd  %  ridge  of  hills  ^bich  conceals 
them  from  the  eye  of  the  traveller  on  the  public  road,  con- 
Aft  of  ftraths  jot  glens,  producing  fome  bear  and  black,  oats, 
bot  chiefly  adapted  for  pafturage,  and  in  which  a  confider- 
able  Bomber  of  black  cattle,  and  fome  fmall  horfes,  ara 
reared.     Adjoining  to  thefe  ftraths  are  two  beautiful  frefli* 
vater  Jpcbs  or  lakes,  which  have  a  pleafant  effeA  to  the 
^je,  and  abound  with  a  variety  of  trout.     Each  loch  is 
about  two  miles  lohg,  and  nearly  a  mile  broad.    Higher  up 
the  coontry^  and  beyond  thefe  lochs,  is  a  very  eztenfive 
traft  of  rich  heath,  affording  pafture  in  the  fummer  time, 
not  only  to  the  graziers  in  the  braes,  but  for  the  oxen  and 
young  ftore  of  the  farmers  in  the  lower  part  of  the  pariih 
^d  neighbourhood,  who,  not  having  fufficient  pafture  of 
their  own,  mud  fend  their  cattle  to  feed  for  the  fummer 
months  to  thefe  grazings. 

Sheep-farming  has  been  lately  introduced  on  thefe  higher 
grounds,  extended  heaths,  and  fome  of  the  glens  *,  but  the 

plan. 


93$  Statijlical  Account 

plan,  however  juftifiable  in  itfelf,  and  on  the  part  of  th» 
proprietors,  was  unpopular,  becanfe  it  occafioned  the  remo- 
val of  the  native  pofleiTors  of  thefe  fargia  and  grazings,  and 
excited  a  diforderlj  and  tumultuous  (pint  among  the  coon- 
trj-people,  which  it  becamie  neceflaiy  bj  legal  and  for« 
'  cible  means  to  fupprels.  fbis  gave  rife  and  rapid  circula- 
tion to  a  report,  as  injurious  as  it  was  groundlels,  that  the 
proprietors  treated  thefe  poor  tenants  with  oppreflkn  and 
cruelty.  In  juftice,  however,  to  the  proprietors  of  this  pa* 
rilh,  who  have  let  an  j  part  of  their  eftates  &r  iheep-&rm- 
Ing,  it  is  proper  to  affure  the  public,  that  fuch  tenants  as 
had  been  removed  from  their  pofleffions  for  that  purpofe, 
were  otherwife  provided  in  farms  bj  thefe  gentlemen,  ei- 
ther on  their  own  eftates,  or  on  fome  others  in  their  vici- 
pity ;  and  that  to  thb  humane  objeft  they  paid  every  at- 
tention in  their  power,  feeling  themfelves  particnlarlj  inte* 
refted  in,  and  folipitous  for,  the  accommodation  of  the  few 
tenants  whom,  with  a  view  to  encourage  the  introdudion 
of  fheep-farming,  the^  had  foi^nd  it  neceC&ry  to  remove. 

Heritors  of  the  Pari/t.-^The  proprietors  of  the  parifli 
are  6eneral  Sir  Hedor  Munro  of  Novar,  K.  B.  Captain 
Duncan  Munro  of  Culcaim,  Captain  Hugh  Munro  of  Tea<* 
ninich,  Mifs  Mackenzie  of  lochcoulta,  and  Andrew  Munro 
of  Lealdie.  Of  thefe.  General  Sir  Heftor  Munro  and 
Captain  Hugh  Munro  pf  Teani^iph  have  their  family^feats, 
and  arc  reiidenc  in  the  pariOi. 

The  place  and  family-feat  of  Novar  has  been  highly  cul- 
tivated and  improved  by  Sir  Heftor  Munro,  at  a  very 
great  cxpcnce,  and  with  much  and  approved  tafle.  It  is 
indeed  a  great  and  a  finilhed  place,  the  moft  complete  in 
the  north,  and  the  admiration  of  all  travellers  to  this  coun- 
try. It  is,  too,  very  advantageoufly  fituatcd,  confiderably 
elevated  above  thp  frith,  pot  a  mile  diftant  from  it,  and 

^ommai^dlng 


•/  AJneJs.  %yj 

commanding  a  ftdl  and  eztenfive  view  of  the  neighbouring 
country,  and  of  the  bay  |and  headland  of  Cromart jy— ob« 
jeds  greatly  admired  for  their  lingular  beauty. 

Valuation  and  Rent.  —The  valued  rent  of  the  pariih  if 
L-aSpi  Scots,  and  the  real  rent  about  L«  laoo  Sterling. 
The  rent  has  not  been  much  increafed  of  late,  iheep-farms 
excepted,  which  have  been  confiderably  augmented.  No 
additional  rent  has  been  laid  on  the  tenants  of  Novar  eilate 
fince  it  came  into  the  pofleflion  of  Sir  Hedor  Munro,  nor 
for  feme  time  before  that  period.  A  laudable  example  ta 
other  proprietors,  and  highly  deferring  of  imitation,  and  a 
certain  method  of  fecuring  the  inviolable  attachment  and 
affsdion  of  the  tenants. 

Population.'^Th^  number  of  perfons  now  living  in  this 
pari(h  is  iiai ;  of  thefe,  800  are  examinable,  or  above  fe- 
ven  years  of  age. 

Abflrad  of  the  baptifms,  marriages,  and  burials,  for  the 
four  years  immediately  preceding  the  i ft  of  January  1795  % 
Years.  Baptifms.  Maniage^  Buriak. 

1791,  -^  30  —  II  -^  10 

1792,  —  27  —  5  ~  8 
i793f  -r  31  —  9  —  II 
1794*   —   a8   —    8   —    13 

The  population  is  rather  on  the  increafe,  the  population 
in  1755  amounting  to  1090 ;  the  difference  only  31. 

Previous  to  the  admiffion  and  (ettlement  of  the  prefent 
incumbent,  which  took  place  in  September  1771,  the  mi- 
nifters  of  this  parifh  fince  the  Revolution  were,  Mr  John 
Frafer,  Mr  Daniel  Mackilligan,  and  Mr  James  Frafer,  all 
worthy  and  excellent  men,  and  fuccelsful  preachers  of  the 
QofpeL  The  laft,  in  particular,  was  a  clergyman  of  pro- 
3  found 


%^%  Statijlical  Account 

fiuwd  cmduioQ  9s  well  m  piety,  and  djfliigniftrd  for  gnmt 
%t4U{j  and  acute ne|a  in  facred  criticiftn* 

^/^f  of  tie  Cbttrchf  i^r.— The  church  was  rebuiit    15 
^aTB  ag/9»  and  n^ajtlj  fipiibed.    I(  ftiU  contioiie^  (o   be  a 
dacpnX  ai^d  ^xm^fortable  place  of  woribip.    A  new  DAauifc, 
fpf^ior  to  th«  ganeralitj  of  n)jiuA|:ni  boujes,  has    beo^ 
built  two  y^an  ago ;  and  ib  cprdiallj  were  the  bcritois 
difpofed  ^  grant  A^  good  aiccommpdaponi  that  no  appJi* 
cation  was  made  to  thp  pre(byterjr  for  th/eir  iot^erpofitioo. 
Hktr  flipend  is  128  bplls  of  vidual,  L^siS,  xjqs.  Sterling  ip 
money,  with  an  allowance  of  L.  5  Sterling  for  comnMuiioa* 
cicn^ents  \  and  as  ibe  m;nifter  feels^  £q  he  .cannot  help  c^* 
prefling,  much  gratitude  to  all  the  heritorp^  who,  far  fnm 
oppoiing  his  getting  an  augmentation  of  (Upend,  voluntarily 
concurred  an  his  application  to  the  Cpmr^  of  Teinds. 

State  of  the  Poor. — The  number  of  poor  upon  the  roil 
of  the  pariih  is  confiderable,  being  above  70  pierfons.     The 
fund  for  their  partial  fupport  and  relief  arifes  from   the 
weekly  coUedions,  which  will  amount  to  about  L.  ao  Ster- 
ling ^^r  a/i/r»/n,  and  the  intereft  of  Ln  124,  a  late  donation 
by  pious  perfons  conneAed  with  the  pariih.     Since  the 
year  17749  General  Sir  HeQor  Munro  of  Novar  has  order- 
ed a  very  liberal  and  charitable  bounty  of  12  bolls  oat-meal 
to  be  annually  diftributed  among  the  poor  of  the  parifhi^ 
which  freqaeptly  proves  a  very  (eaipnabU  fupply  ^ ;   fl^d 
it  is  owing  to  the  dated  and  exeonplary  attendance  of  the 
refiding  heritors  on  public  woriUp,  that  the  weekly  col- 
ledions  amount  to  the  fum  already  mentioned,  which  is  tar 
fuperiof  to  tb(  colledions  of  neighboariog  country  pariflies. 
One  inftance  this  of  die  laany  happy  e^eftsi  of  which  tbe 

regular 


tfjintfs.  gj^ 

tegular  fttteMboice  bf  th^  higter  Yaaks^  oa  the  ia«r«d  infii- 
muoB5  of  reUgieiii  would  be  prodd&fve* 

Sctoolj.''^Thert  are  three  fchools  in  the  pariih.  A  pa- 
rochial fichool  near  th^  chorch,  iii  whiob  60  ehiUren  are 
nfinUjr  tatight.  The  fdhoolfilafter'»  fakry  is  206  mtrkM 
Scota;  but  hb  iaeomey  iadtidtng  bis  appointmeiits  of  fef- 
fion-ckrk  aad  preceatori  together  with  the  emolutncilts  of 
the  fehoolt  wiU  bo  above  Lb  %o  Sto^liogt  In  tha  higher 
parts  of  Ihc  i^arifh^  there  ate  two  fehboie  eflablifhed  bj  the 
Hoooarabie  the  Society  iti  Scotland  for  Propagatimg  Cht^ 
flitn  Knowledge  $  one  for  inflrudiilg  childrea  in  rt^dbngf 
writing,  and  arithmetici  and  another  for  teaching  joiing 
girk  fpinningy  fewing,  and  knitting  flockings.  In  both, 
there  are  above  60  bojs  and  girls  generally  taught. 

Ores. — On  the  property  of  Andrew  Munro  of  Lealdie 
bas  been  difcovered  an  iron  ore,  which,  from  appearances, 
lieems  to  be  of  confiderable  extent.  It  is  alfo  of  a  rich  qua* 
lity.  A  fample  of  it,  which  has  been  fent  to  the  Carron 
Company,  at  their  own  defire,  produced  75  lb.  iron  per 
cwt.  The  rock  is  of  eafjr  acceis,  but  is  three  miles  diftant 
from  the  ihore.  It  may,  however,  at  fome  future  time, 
become  a  fource  of  confiderable  benefit  to  the  proprietor. 

CbaraSer  of  the  People. — The  people  are  naturally  judi- 
oioDs  and  acute,  pofleffing  confiderable  vigour  of  mental 
facalties.  They  are  alfo,  on  the  whole,  induftrious  and 
fober,  and,  with  a  few  exceptions,  of  good  morals.  They 
abftain  carefully  from  profane  fwearing,  and  rarely  utter 
an  oath.  To  the  Sabbath  they  pay  a  iacred  regard ;  many 
of  them  are  devoutly  difpofed,  and  feem  to  feel  deep  im- 
preflions  of  religion  on  their  hearts.  They  all  belong  to 
the  Eftablifhed  Church,  and  difcover  no  particular  propen- 
iity  to  fanatical  fe^rifm^    It  muft  be  confcfiedi  however, 

that 


540 


Statijlical  Account 


that  Come  of  them  do  not  diftingailh  os^they  ought, 
the'means  and  the  end  of  religion ;  an  error  not  i 
where  religion  is  moft  profefled- 

languagi^f'^Die  Gaelic  or  Erfe  language 
fpoken  b J  the  country  people,  and  is  their  native  1 
The  Englithi  however,  has  madeyerjconfiderable  ] 
^  in  the  pariih  for  ao  years  back,  owing  to  the  I 
ceived  from  the  number  of  Ichools  planted  in  it  mnch^ 
that  time.    The  heritors  and  higher  ranks  ieldom 
Gaelic,  but  fome  of  them  nnderfiand  it  to  well,  as 
able  to  convctie  with  fuch  of  their  tenants  as  have  i 
liOi. 


MUM. 


1 ; 


lt\*/h'Hf fit9t/r    *JJ./,  /.  /.    \   '^ 


ofStornowqv.    .  '    241 

NUMBER  VL 

PARISH  OF  STORNOWAY, 

(CoUKTT  OF  Ross,  Stkod  OF  Glekzlg,  Presbytery 
OF  Lewis). 

My  thi  Riv.  Mr  Colin  Mackekzie. 


Namtf  SUuaiiofi9  and  ExttttL 

SToRNowAY,  or  StronevaidHi  is  focalled  from  its  being 
ficuated  on  the  nofe  or  point  of  a  baj.  Tke  inhabited 
parts  of  this  parifli  maj  refemble  the  figure  of  a  triangle, 
one  fide  of  which  extends  ten  miles  north-eafl,  along  the 
north  fide  of  an  arm  of  the  fea,  called  the  Broad  Bay,  and 
another  along  a  neck  of  land,  inhabited  on  each  fide,  ex«, 
tending  (even  miles,  and  fituated  betwixt  the  fouth-eaft  fide 
of  the  Broad  Baj  and  the  channel  which  divides  it  from 
t^e  continent.  It  is  fituated  in  the  ifland  of  the  Lewis, 
county  of  Ro(s,  withip  the  bounds  of  the  Synod  of  Glen^ 
elg,  and  pteibytery  of  Lewis.  It  is  bounded  on  the  weft 
by  the  pari(h  of  Barvas  from  which  it  is  divided  by  a  traft 
of  ten  compute^  miles  of  m.ofs  or  waile  xpoor  \  on  the 
Vol.  "AXty  H  h  north, 


249   '  Statijiical  Account 

north,  by  Nefs  and  the  ocean  ;  on  the  eail,  bj  the  cbanari ) 
oo  the  fouth,  by  the  channel  and  the  river  Creed,  which 
divides  it  from  the  pari(h  of  Loohs.  It  confilb  of  three  di* 
flri^,  namely,  Stornowaj,  Ui,  and  Grre(s«  At  the  head 
of  this  triangle  ftands  the  well-known  village  of  Stpmowaj, 
whofe  origin  b  very  old,  and,  like  other  towns,  from  a 
fmall  beginning,  is  now  arrived  to  fome  diftinfiion  and  uti- 
lity. On  an  plevated  fitvialion  on  the  other  fide  of  the  bay, 
near  and  oppofite  to  the  town,  is  built  Seaforth  Lodge,  for 
the  reception  and  accommodation  of  Seaforth,  the  proprie- 
tor of  this  ifland,  when  he  chofe  to  come  and  vifit  thb  part 
pf  his  eftate,  find  y^here  th?  prefent  proprietor.  Colonel 
Francis  Humberfione  Mackenzie,  a  gentleman  untverfally 
Known  for  benevolence  and  a  public  fpirit,  did  refide  for 
fome  years  with  his  family  *,  who,  with  his  lady,  when  here, 
took  pleafure  in  dire&ing  and  fuperintending  their  people 
to  habits  of  induftry  and  happinefs,  until  he  was  called  a<p 
way,  at  the  commencement  of  the  prefent  war,  to  ferve  hb 
King  and  country,  by  raifing  two  battalions  of  infantry  for 
Government.  This  manfion  is  delightfiilly  fituated,  and 
commands  an  extenfive  view  both  of  fea  and  land. 

Stomoway  is  furnifhed  with  an  excellent  and  well-fre- 
qttented  harbour,  where  veiTels  of  every  defcription  may 
anchor  with  fafety  *.  The  attention  and  induftry  of  its  prin- 
cipal inhabitants  are  chiefly  directed  to  filhing  pf  herrings, 
of  which,  in  fuccefsful  years,  they  take  fome  thoufand  bar- 
rels, and  have  about  thirty-five  veflels  from  20  to  80  tons 
burden,  annually  fitted  for  the  bounty  at  a  great  expence, 
and  by  the  profits  anting  from  them  they  are  chiefly  fup- 
portcd.  In  fome  late  years  notwithftanding,  their  utmoft 
endeavours  have  been  almoft  wholly  Froftrated  by  the  fail- 
ing of  the  fifhing  \  of  cpnfequence,  they  muft  be  great  fuf- 
ferers  by  their  adventures  in  this  bufineis,  as  the  bounty- 
fponey  will  not  defray  their  expence.  The  houfes  are  bnilt 

f  ^  Ydnt  of  this  town  snd  haiiKmr  is  aoncxe^ 


of  Stombwayi  243 

A  m  eon^derable  coft,  becaufe  all  the  materiab  are  import* 
cd,  the  ftooes  not  excepted,  and  therefiire  fuch  as  are  vs* 
cant  muft  be  fet  to  tenants  for  higher  rent  than  in.  moft 
other  places.  Good  honfes  are  let  at  from  L.  13  to  L.  25 
p€r  annumt  and  rooms  and  leiTer  dwellings  in  like  propor- 
tion. Some  of  the  land  aboat  the  town  is  let  for  36  s.  fer 
acre  yearly* 

'  ^r^oo/r.— -There  are  two  ti^.ell-frequented  ichook  in  the 
town»  provided  with  able  teachersi  ,good  accomouxiatioOf 
and  good  (alaries, '  The  one  is  parochial,  and  the  other  is 
fupported  bj  the  Society  for  Propagating  Chriftian  Know- 
ledge. The  yearly  falary  of  the  parochial  fchool  is  L.  40, 
of  which  the  mafter  has  L4  25,  and  his  affiftant  L.  15.  The 
mailer  has,  together  with  the  emoluments  of  his  fchool,  a 
dwelling-houfe  and  garden  rent-free,  and  fome  land  from 
the  proprietor.  The  fees  arc,  per  quarter,  for  £ngli(h  and 
writing,  fts.  6d.}  for  arithmetic  and  Engliihi  3S.1  for 
I<atin,  writing,  arithmetic  together,  4  s.  ^  for  a  courfe  of 
geography,  los.  6d.;  for  navigation,  L.  i,  zs. ;  and  for 
each  let  of  book-Jkeeping,  zo  s.  6  d.  The  number  of  fcho« 
lars  is  40.  The  Society  fchoolmaller's  dwelling-houfe  and 
ichooUhottfe  are  lately  built  with  ftone  and  lime,  and  cover- 
ed with  date  at  Seaforth's  expence.  The  ialary  is  L.  17  to 
the  mafler,  and  L.  8  to  his  affiilanc.  The  quarter-fees  are, 
for  reading,  z s.  6 d. ;  writing,  2  s. ;  arithmetic,  as.  6 d. ; 
book-keeping,  s^\f  menfuration,  5  s.;  navigation,  zos. 
The  number  of  fcholars  is  Z29. 

Befides  thefe,  there  is  a  fpinning-fchool  eftabliflied  by  the 
Society ;  the  accommodation  confiiliog  of  a  garden  and  a 
'flatcd  hottfe,  with  L.  6  ialary  granted  by  Seaforth,  and  L.  4 
falary  from  the  Society,  to  the  miftrefs.  To  this  fchool, 
and  two  others  of  the  fame  kind,  ereSed  in  this  pariih,  but 
now  laid  afide  for  want  of  the  requifite  number  of  fcholars, 
Mrs  Mackenzie  of  Seaforth,  a  lady  eminently  difiinguilhed 

'      for 


244  Statiftical  AccfwU 

for  great  homanit j  and  charity,  gave  much  ooonteiianct 
and  encouragementi  bj  diftribating  fiberal  premiums  among 
the'  fcholan  akid  miftrefles,  and  bj  perfenallj  vifiting  them, 
and  taking  particular  cognifance  of  their  proficiencj  and 
fisveral  performances  in  fpinning  and  knitting  of  ftockings^ 
therebj  incitinf  them  to  emulation  and  diligence.  She  has 
now  the  fatisfia£tion  to  find,  that  bj  her  kind  interpofition 
and  benevolent  exertions  to  introduce  and  pronaote  fpin« 
ntng  of  yam  in  this  ifland,  manj  poor  girb  have  been  ref- 
cued  from  habits  of  idlenefi  and  vice,  and  trained  to  induf- 
try  and  virtue. 

Cuftomhoufi. — Here  there  is  a  cuftomhoufct  the  revenue 
of  which,  after  pajing  incidental  charges,  will  not  amount 
to  L.  20  \  and  alfo  a  King's  cutter,  sis  a  check  to  finugglbg 
among  the  Hebrides. 

Pacia  oMd  Pojl'ojke^— There  is  a  packet  eflabtiOled  by 
Grovernment  fince  the  year  1759,  which  for  fome  yean 
went  to  the  oppoiite  coail  once  a  fortnight  for  themail^  by* 
letters  and  paflbigers,  and  on  occafions  carried  cattle  and 
horfes ;  but  bufinefs  and  correfpondence  greatly  increafing, 
it  was  found  neceflary  that  it  fliould  fail  oftener  for  Hhe 
mail.  Accordingly,  the  old  packet  was  fold  lately,  and  a 
new  one  purchafed,  which  goes  weekly  for  the  mail,  the 
expence  whereof  annually  amounts  to  L«  X30,  of  which  L.70 
is  paid  by  Government,  and  the  balance  of  L.  60  paid  by 
Seaforthy  except  what  is  colleded  by  the  freights  of  paflen- 
gers,  which  cannot  be  great :  Freight  from  a  s.  6d.  to  4  s.  6d. 
each  paflenger.— There  is  alfo  a  poft-office*  The  amount 
of  pofiages  charged  from  the  General  Pod-office  at  Edin- 
burgh to  Stomoway  was,  in  1791,  L.  50,  and  is  now  increa- 
fed  to  about  L.9o.    The  amount  of  letters  fent  from  Stor- 

noway 


(ff  StOTtttwiP^* 


^AS 


nowaj  wilt  be  nearly  equal  to*  the  receipts'  frofm  Edin- 
burgh. 


Papulation  and  Numher  o/Houfis^  Uc. 


Stqla0«rqr  and 
Bajbetd. 

76© 


ftflift  or  Couooy.    Goathill  aii4 
Imeriligacli. 

Families,                 287  130 

Total  fouk,           1199  ^  580 

Males,                    625  229 

Females,                 674  3x7 

Under  6  years,       218  74 

Between  6  &  14,    225  63 

Between  14&  60,   700  31^ 

Above  60,              X  j6  90 

Cattk,                  236X  79 

Sheep,                  2576  — 

Horfes,                   556  i— 


Slated  inhabited  bonfes  in  Stomowaj, 
Built  of  which  fince  X784, 

Refiding  tradefmen :  Joiners, 
Mafons* 
Carpenters, 
Smiths,  in  the  town, 
■  I     ■       in  the  country, 
Tailors, 
Shoemakex9, 
Weavers, 

Turners  or  wheelwrights, 
Gardeners,  *  - 

Shopkeepers, 
Innkeepers, 

Total, 


TotaL 

2639 
854 

9fr 
afT 
288 
X019 
X46 

«^440 
2576 

556 

6j 
26 

XX 

4 

7 

2 
2 

XI 

16 

2 

4 
8 


85 
Baptifms 


^46  Stati/Kcal  Account 

Bipdfint  in  1792,  in.the  whole  pariih : 

Males,  *  -  70 

Females,         -  -  65 

Total,         -  .  135 

Marriages,        -  -        ao 

Borials,  about  •  %o 

Fopuladoii  accordmg  to  Dr  Wehfier  in  1755  was        i8ia 
The  popuhtion  in  1796,  is  -  ^639 

locreafis^        S27 

Fj^mef^— The  feUovring  table*will  give  the  reader  fome 
idea  of  the  Fiiheries  carried  on  in  this  neighbourhood : 


An 


I  I 

o  >  r 

Oi  .S  ^ 

S  g  s 

.«  -  «« 

tJ  a,  .S 

W  ^  S. 

»*<  wi  S» 

«  «  O' 

9  oa  u 

«  rg  ^ 

S  <  Q* 

^  M  ^ 

-g  6  S 

Si  *^  cy 


•e 


€ 

0 


^ 


11 

p4    2 


of  Stornaway, 


\ 


9»^ 


■t4 


h 


to  M  e9  li,  li,  Ct 


I  r*  1 1 1 


O  C«  tt%m  OHM 


0\V0  ^  «t^  OS  »^ 


v^-«  d^r^  wjr^ 


«:0  ^  ^SO  NO  vo 

Ct)  M    C^    M    M«    C9 


M  t  I  I  i 


1 


Q  C«  €«  O  O   O 

M    M    M    M 
00  «Ot>-Cl   OSM 


2i& 


wpoe  CI  i#^  ^  «^ 

O  00   f^  ^  M>C 

•*^  ^  *^  ^o 


i=^ 


3 


1 1  I  1 1  ^ 


11*111 


O    O    M    M    rt)  M 

VO  «^  ^eooseo 


r^  w^ci  2^  -»  00 
000  totn^ef 

M    »*•  «»  COM 


•^  1  '^.  ^  «n^O 
0\  ^  Ov  0\  ON  o^ 


247 


■4p'*»*«rw 


a^t  Statiftieal  Account 

jlgrietJHfMmm^TY^Tt  aie  about  twelve  hr^  fimm  ia 
the  parifli,  «ad  what  portion  of  eac^  of  them  is  npt  occn- 
pied  by  the  tackfoian  himielfy  is  let, to  {iibteiit«t$»  who  paj 
to  hinni  mh  peribiiy  from  L.  i,  to  s.  to  L.  3  of  jrearly  rent» 
asd  II  daj9  fenricc*  Many  of  tbdie  fab-tenants  are  em- 
ployed in  filhilig  lin^  which  they  fell  to  th^  mafters  at 
5  d.  each ;  engaging  on  board  the  herring-bnfics  at  L.  i  per 
month ;  ia  munufirfhiring  kelp  at  L.  i»  xes.  per  ton ;  and 
working  at  road-makings  and  other  labour,  at  8  d.  a-day. 
By  thela  nioana^  and  the  prodnte  of  thek  landa,  they  are 
enabled  to  pay  their  rents,  and  prfcnre  a  tolerabla  fiibfift- 
ence.— *The  foil  is  <tf  difierent  kinds,  fome  iandy,  fome 
mofly,  fume  black  rich  foil,  and  fome  light  gravd,  aQ  lying 
on  a  hard  c^y  bottom,  fo  very  impenetrable,  that  a  pike 
win  fcafcely  pieiice  it.  Rain  can  with  difficulty  enter  into 
it,  but  remains  mixed  with  the  foil,  or  runs  over  the  far- 
face,  tin  it  be  arieJup  in  the  fpring  feafon  by  the  infloence 
of  the  fun  and  wind.  To  thb  caufe,  and  the  frequent  hea- 
vy rains,  may  be  attributed  the  uncommon  wetaels  and 
coldneft  (tf  tfte  ibil  of  this  ifland,  and  the  late  fpring  and 
harveft.  The  plough  made  ufe  of  in  general  is  an  awk- 
ward inftrumenty  not  onlike  the  Chinefe  plough,  and  de- 
fcribed  already  in  this  work  by  a  clergyman  in  Orkney ; 
but  the  principal  tackfmen  ufe  the  Scotch  and  Engliih 
ploughs,  of  which  there  will  be '  a  dozen  in  the  paridi. 
Horfe-loads  are  for  the  moft  part  carried  in  fmall  creels 
one  onieach  fide  of  the  horfe,  and  fixed  by  a  rope  to  the 
crook-Qiddla ;  but  ^oup-carts,  of  which  there  are  aboat  %o 
in  the  pariftu  ve  made  ufe  of  by  the  gentlemen,  and  are 
drawn  by  lgi:ger  horfes  than  th.ofe  found  in  the  pariih. 
There  is  a  general  ^mode  of  tuning  the  ground,  called 
timidbf  or  making  lazy«beds,  at  which  two  perftns  are 
employed  on  each  fide  nf  the  ridgej;  of  tbefe,  two  are  cat- 
ling, and  two  lifting  the  dods,  whi^hi  to  a  ftranger,  will  ap- 
pear 


9f  Stornaway.  249 

pear  mbfordy  tedious,  and  laborious,  but  here  is  found  to  be 
oeoeflmiyy  and  productive  of  the  greateft  returns,  in  regatd 
tiiat  it  gacheiB  the  ground/  and  raifes  it  from  the  reach  of 
the  rifing  and  running  water,  with  coii  of  which  the  fields 
dMNittdy  and  which  otherwife  would  fink  and  dettroy  the 
iSsed.  The  feed  fown  is  black  «ats  and  barley.  With  the 
utmoft  diffiadty,  about  40  years  ago,  the  people  were  pre- 
vailed on  to  plant  potatoes,  but  of  which  they  now  plant 
great  quantities,  by  the  plough  and  by  the  ijpade,  and  find 
them  to  be  the  moft  ufefol  of  all  crops  raifed  in  the  pariih. 
They  are  ibid  at  from  3  s.  to  5  s./#r  barrel.  In  no  ieafon  is 
the  produce  of  thb  pariih  fufficient  to  maintain  its  inhabit 
tants,  who  would  often  be  in  danger  of  fu£Fering  through 
want,  were  it  not  for  the  extenfive  importation  of  meal  tP 
Stomoway* 

Air  andClimott.'^Tht  air  is  extrendy  moiil,  ^nd  the 
dtmate  very  rainy.  The  dampneis  of  the  air  is  fo  great, 
tiiat  poliihed  iron,  where  conftant  fire  is  not  kept,  will  ctm* 
traft  mft  in  le&  time  than  14  houn.  The  inhabitants  of 
this  ifland  might  live  in  comfiortable  drcumftances,  were  it 
not  for  the  frequent  and  heavy  rains  which  &H  in  it  all  the 
ieafons  of  the  year,  and  more  efpedally  in  harveil,  where- 
by  the  hopes  of  the  hufi>andman  are  often  blafted,  and  the 
fruit  of  his  toil  and  induitry  loil.  Such  a  climate  may  na- 
turally be  expeAed  in  a  fituation  fo  far  to  the  north,  and 
fiirrounded  by  an  eztenfive  traft  of  deep  wet  mofs  on  the 
one  fide,  and  the  ocean  on  the  other,  though  no  high  bilk 
are  here  to  break  tiie  clouds,  as  on  the  oppofite  msdnland* 
The  oldeft  people  afiirm,  that  fince  their  youth,  the  cli- 
mate and  feafons  are  greatly  changed  for  worfe.  Never- 
thelefr,  the  inhabitants  are  healthy,  and  Uve  to^as  great  age 
as  they  do  in  a  better  climate,  fome  living  to  the  age  of  9b 
or  looyeafk 

Vol.  XIX.  I  i  The 


ajr  Staiiftk^l  Jtcnnt 

Tbe  £HifilD#«id  weifther  Ate  ve^y  vmyMMi  M^  wnt  h^ 
ito  depended  o»«  We  b^ve  lifHfe  w^mb  er  b«?fe  ia  iw^ 
ftier  ;*  aatiH^o  ia  rftioy ;  the  winlfer  uiu&Ujp  not  fo  fevere  aai 
on  tte  q0otjneiit)»  but  mons  opes^  «»d  fr^oC ffhnr  MHlfr4»AU 
Oar  ijpikig  i*  oftct^  we«  ftiid  cold.  Sowifi|^  of  <iBCf  com*' 
nuenee^ Il6re^ ma' drjr fprifigi  ^i^ f^kne few indiviAl^als^  w 
tbe  be9inaiRK;of  MaiKb,  but  not  in  ^jHiertl  titf  «feftt  ifar 
llkiddle  of  April.  Bftrie j  ia^  f<iw»  from  the  bcginauig  off 
May  eo  the  aid  of  JoHeL  Potatoes  are  flanted  from  the 
middle  of  Ap#il  to  the  aoth  day  of  Ifay.*  Harvltft  gm«- 
rally  b^as  ahbui  the  middle  of  Seplembor.  ind  the  cr6g 
is  not  totftHj  gat  iiHo  tbe  beratf  and  baffs-yifda  bofaro  No^ 
v€mbor. 

Li/eaJis^iryTlkp  only  local  and  pecnHar  diftemper  pirr»t 
lent  in  this  parifb,  it  a  diforder  which  fcizes  new- bom  io- 
faota  about  the  fifth  night  after  their  birtb*  aftd  carriea 
them  off  by  coavulfive  fitaj  but  tbis  fpe^es  of  fickneis  m 
^ooie  leis  frequent  than  it  baa  been  hentdfore.  Rbeii- 
ffiatifm  is  often  complained  pf.  Inoeulatioo  iA  .performed 
here  with  fuco^fs  by  the  ikiUaDd  attention  of  Mr  John  Mil- 
lar, fqrgeon. 

Ecclejajical  State  of  the  Pari/b.-^Tha  prefent  inctin^^ 
bent,  Mr  Colin  Mackenzie,  was  admitted  minifief  of  Stor- 
poway  the  a7th  day  of  Augufi  1789.  His  predeceflora 
were,  Mr  Donald  Monfon  ;  Mr  Johi^  Clark,  who  was  ad- 
piitted  the  xgth  day  of  Fel^ruary  1747,  and  dixA  loch  day 
,pf  Auguft  177a;  Mr  John  Downier  now  mimafr  of  Ur- 
niy,  who  was  admitted  2  2d  day  of  Joiy  I773t  and  traaf*- 
lated  to  h}s  prefent  pariQi  the  a5th  day  of  September  ijiS^ 
which  lafl  Mr  Mackenzie  fucceeded  ia  the  charge.  He 
has  been  married  near  two  years,  and  has  one  fon.  By  the 
jatc  augmentation,  the  living  confifts  of  L,  88  :  13  j  4  Ster- 

liB|f> 


ling,  -wkh  tt-ittMfTei  and  flebe\0f  eight  acfes,  vtAiktA  «t  L.  5. 
The^fft  maiife  Aiidgkfbe  were  aK  StOFOowuy  ^  theprefoDC 
glebewtaidtfiigiied^tMre  at  t'eog^  on  the  jtb'dey  of  Oftg- 
<ber  r758,  and  the  mftAfe  4>uilt  ihereoo.  The  flianfe  wm 
4>ailt  yj.ytars  ago,  has  often  been*repaifeily  and  needs  nov 
to  be  rebmh.  The^fitaaCien  k^ld  and  Wet.  The  ehnreh 
is  new  bnik,  and  Wegantlj-finMipd.  No  «paridi>ftands  in 
greater 'Want  tff  a  milliensH'jthftn  ihk,  there  •being  upwar<}» 
of  x  000  todh  who  have  not  an  opportimkjr  <>f  4mne  wolw 
ftip,  and  ihe^>enefit  erf*  public  inftradion,  'exoepi  «n.everj 
fifth  Sabbath.  In  order  to  acconinaodate  the  nnber  two  dU 
ftrids  of  the  pariih  with  divine  ferviee  akematelj  erevjr 
fifth  Sabbath,  the  chnrch  at  Stornoway  muft  be  vacant  on 
that  day,  which  k  felt  as  no  faiall  grievance  and  disadvan- 
tage to  the  intereft  <sf  religion  vmong  fo  nuineroo8«a-90tt« 
gregation. 

^6i  -Poor.— A^ilft'Mrs  Mackenzie  df  Seaforth  refidedin 
this  parUh,  the  moft  indigent  and  infirm  of  the  poor  were 
fiipported<by  a  bounty  of  me^  given  by licr,  and  tfiftri- 
'bnted  weiekly  to  theni'in  proportion  to* their  Several  neceC- 
"fities,  in*lteu  of  which  Seaforth  gives  them  an  annual  dona- 
tion of  ten  guineas,  to  be  laid  out  in  mealfor  their  ufe^ 
thb,  with  the  weekly  colleftion,  amounting  yearly  to  about 
X.  10,  nndds,  and  the  annual  rent  of  a  fund  of  (L.  ico  gra^ 
dually  made  up,  is  all  they  have  to  depend  upoa  from  the 
kitk-feffion.  Their  number  is  f  27,  fixty-three  of  whom 
five  about  Stornoway. 

f/fce  oftcihour^  an'i  Wages  o/Setvofits.'-^ert,  indeed, 
by  reafon  of  the  multitudes 4e vied  for^the  army  and  navy, 
the  great  number  of  fub-tenants,  and  the  many  hands  want- 
ed for  the  filhingboats,  labourers  and  farm-fervants  are  be- 
come very  icarce  and  difficult  to  be  found.    The  wages  of 

men- 


25it  Statyikal  AcamM 


rlsboarea  m  8  d*  n-daj  without  meat,  aad  6d.  widb 
two  mtals  of  moat  and  a  dram.  Women,  6d.  a^daj^  or 
4d.  with  two  meak  of  meat.  The  daj-wages  of  acerpen- 
tarandmaioB,  is.  6d.  with  vidnak;  finith^is.}  tailor, 
a s.  withaat,  or  6d.  with  meat  \  jobait^  i  s.  6 d.  /«r  daj; 
ikoemaken,  to  d*  and  i  s»  /«r  daj*  Mea-fervaott  for  &nn- 
worL  from  L.  a,  to  L.  5  per  annmm^  and  a  pair  of  fhoes  at 
78.;  for  womeA4in:vant8,  from  xos.  to  aos.  and  a  pair  of 
•Ihoes-at  Su  Herds,  for  looking  after  cattle,  from  6  meiks 
to  8s.  and  a  pair  of  flioes,  with  other  finall  perqoifites. 
The  wages  of  domeftic  fervants  are  nearlj  the  iame  widi 
ihpfe  of  farm-fervaat8» 

JloMbyV^it— Road-making  was  onlj  began  in  this  illand  in 
179X }  and  a  road  b  made,  £oar  miles  diftance  from  Stor- 
noway,  acrofi  a  deep  mois  of  10  computed  miles,  to  the 
other  fide  of  it.— Near  to  Stomoway  there  k  an  annnal 
tryll  &r  cattk,  where  feme  hnndreds  are  bought  and  ez« 
ported,  at  from  L.  i,  xos.  to  L*  3  a«head. — ^Beef  iafoU  in 
.Stomoway  from  x{  d.  to  3  d.  per  lib.  \  mutton,  5  s.  and  6s. 
per  wedder  \  (keep,  3  s.  4  s.  and  4  s.  6  d.  each  %  kmbs, 
X  s.  8  d.  and  a  s.  each.  Butter,  la  s.  and  14  s.  per  fiooe^ 
cheefe,  4s*  and  5  s.  per  ftone.  Veal%  1  s.  6  d.  each  \  pork, 
%d.per  lih.\  fowk,  4 d* acock,  and  6d.ahen;  ducks, 6d. 
and  8  d.  %  geefe,  x  s.  6  d.  and  a  s. — ^The  fpecies  of  animsk 
here  are  of  a  (mailer  fize  than  in  moft  other  places.  In  this 
ifland  are  found  no  fezes,  badgers,  nor  hares,  till  of  kte 
years  five  hares  were  introduced  by  Seaforth,  which  are ' 
now  increafed  to  almofi  as  many  hundreds.  Sea-fbwli^  and 
birds  ef  the  iaoae  kind  with  thofe  on  the  continent,  are  to 
be  met  with,  except  partridgesi  robin-red-breafis,  rod^ 
and  magpies^  .^  ^ 

Rffnarlobk 


.  qfSiprnowaj.  253 

Ranarlahk  Inftance  o/Prefirvf^m.'^'Eight  yeap  ago,  a 
father  and  child,  (a  girl  aboat  eight  years  of  age)b  .going 
£rom  Stomoway  acrols  the  moor,  in  company  with  federal 
others,  the  father  having  forgot  to  execute  fome^part  of  his 
bufine(s  in  the  town,  hailily  returned*  and  committed  the 
eare  of  his  child  to  thofe  in  company  with  her,  till  he  would 
overtake  them  ;  the  child  iqadyertently  falling  behind,  was 
not  mifled,  till  the  travellers  had  proceeded  far  on  their 
way,  and  the  &ther  had  overtaken  thein ;  who  .a$  foon  aa 
be  found  that  his  child  waa  not  in  company^  ii^ftantly 
flew  away  like  one  diftcafied  in  quefi  of  her,  and  with  all 
the  pangs  of  paternal  Torrow,  returned  again  to  J^tomoway, 
late  at  night,  weary  and  dilappointed.  Next  day*  inany 
people  went  &r  and  near  in  fearch  of  her,  through,  deep 
foow,  and  a  tracklels  moor,  repeating  their  diUgence  and 
mbuteft  fcrotioy  for  feveral  days  fucceffively  without,  ef- 
&6L  When  they  had  utterly  defpaired  to  find  her,  .(^o- 
conceivable  to  believe  it  I)  on  the  eighteenth  day  after .Ihe 
was  lofit  the  helpleis  an4  unwary  wanderer  was,;  by  a  man 
axd  dog,  found  near  the  lea-fide,  alive  and  in  motion,  but 
lb  fiunt  and  exhaufied  by  cold  and  hunger,  that  (he  could 
aot  walk.  She.  was  carried  to  the  town,  humanely.  re« 
ccived,  and  all.neoeffary  means  u£Bd  to  reftore  her  ajmoft 
expiring  life  to  health  and  ftrength.  She  was  too  y9ung  tq 
give  any  diftind  account  of  the  maoner  in  which -flie  was 
enabled  to  fubfift  fo  long  without  food  and  ibelter  from  the 
cold.  She  is  now  in  the  fervioe  of  Mrs  Mackenzie  pf  Sea- 
forth,  at  Seaforth  Lodge,  who  has  been  remarkably  kiqd 
to  her  from  the  time  of  the  above  accident. 

JVood.^Jievt  no  woods  grow  to  any  u(eful  height  or 
fize.  The  proprietor,  fome  years  ago,  planted  a  variety  of 
trees  in  a  weU<(hcltered  fpot  of  ground  near  his  houfe,  which 

have 


t54  Siaf^/Hra!  Acctnmt 

iMnre-vH  'fiHedy-ezcept'ttie  dar,  and  moiUMiin-alh  or  tiioi^ 

€fatrF.-iNot  brfrom  theTarm  df  Greb,  there  is  a  large 
evre,  accifflble  only  from  the  fea,  Where  there  was  aboot 
50  years  ago  %  tA  namber  dffeals  lulled  annually^  and  the 
prfllSftice  is  fSM  continuedi  but  now  feldom  more  than  leven 
or  twcSve  are  dellroyed.  The  method  of  killing  is  this :  - 
A  number  of  people  ifflemfble  about  low  water,  and  carry 
aboat  into  the  cave  as  far  as  ihe  can  proceed  ;  they  take 
from  the'boat  a  pot,  whichthey  have  'filed  with  live  coil« 
anflwith  which  ftey  light  their  torthes;  they  dien  MH 
upon  the -poor  feals  without  mercy,  with  dubs  Ihod'  with 
iron.  The  entry  of^tbe  cave  is  veryiteep  and  narrow  on 
itfrfides,  and  does-not  admit  «more  than  the  breadth  6t  a  fix- 
oared  boat.  After  going  in  a  great  way,  -the  light  xttd^j 
becomes '  fomeWhat  dbfonred,  and  they  tStttn  meet  with  m 
large  pillar,  which  Umdes  the  eare  -afthis  iHace  into  two 
large  openings  or  arches,  by  one  of  which^they  enter,  mil 
Wilk'm  long  way  under,  where  they  meet  with 'large  torn- 
bling  round  fiones,  fiirrounded  in  part  with  water.  As 
they.advanee  further  in,'they  come'toa'finepleafiuitbeacAp 
where  they  ^meet*  with -the  feals;  fiirther'in  ftill,  there  ta-m 
find!  chaniber,  which  by  the  light  of'the  tordhes  appears  re- 
markably-white,  its  roof  being  all  covered  with  white^ftm^ 
la£Bt«,  whidi  ere  hanging  from  the  roOf,  like  to  large  ici*. 
cks  *,  .£>me  of  them  put  on  the  figure  of  hieroglyphics,  anil 
each  Of  them  feems  perforated  from  the  bafe  to  the  poiat 
with  a  fmall  tube.  It  is  within  very  high,  and  founds  very 
loud,  when  the  voice  is  exalted,  but  has  no  particular  echo. 
FromHhe  outer  entry  to  the  i^nermoft  part  of  it,  is  no  left 
thaa  one-eighth  of  an  Englilfa-mile. 

I  SUP. 


9f  Stornowaf.  »5  « 

SUPPLEMENT, 

By  another  Hand^ 

Stronowat  has  its  modern  name  from  the  fituation  of 
the  village,  which  is  built  on  a  point  jutting  into  the  har- 
bour, and  in  the  language  of  the  country  called  Stron  a 
Bbaigl^  or,  the  Nofe  of  the  Baj,  from  which,  by  an  eafy 
traniition,  comes  Stomoway.  Ui  was  the  ancient  name  of 
the  parifli.  There  is  in  it  a  place  called  Ui,  which  was  of 
otd  the  only  place  of  worihip  in  the  parifli,  and  is  fituated 
on  a  narrow  neck  of  land ;  every  fuch  neck  of  land,  or  iflh- 
mus«  whether  formed  by  creeks  of  the  fea,  or  by  the  appro- 
ximation of  frefli-water  lakes,  is  in  Lewis  called  Ui,  which, 
in  the  DaniQi  language  fignifies  any  fuch  neck  of  land ; 
and  t)ie  particular  Ui  already  mentioned  having  been  in 
former  rime  the  only  place  devoted  to  divine  wor&ip,  gave 
its  ancient  name  to  the  parifli. 

The  extent  of  it  is  ten  computed  miles  in  length,  and  it9 
breaddi  in  feme  places  feven.  It  is  bounded  by  the  parifli 
of  Barvas  on  the  north  ;  on  the  north-eaft  by  the  channel 
between  Lewis  and  the  main  of  Scotland ;  and  on  the  fouth 
and  weft  by  the  parifli  of  Lochs.  The  general  appearance 
*»f  it  is  a  fiat  moor,  of  little  utiUty  to  beafts,  and  of  none  to 
man,  all  covered  with  heath.  The  ifland  is  compared  to  a 
gold-laced  hat ;  the  internal  part  of  which  confifts  of  this 
foft  and  ttfelefs  moor,  and  the  circumference  of  which  is  in 
part  more  or  left  cultivated  at  the  fea-lide.  Near  the  town 
of  Stomoway  the  foil  is  a  light  black  mould,  forced  into 
feme  culture  from  mofr;  to  the  northward,  the  foil  is  co- 
vered by  drifted  fand  ;  but  farther  back,  of  fimilar  quality^ 
to  that  near  the  town.  Neither  of  thefe  foils,  when  pro* 
perly  drained  and  roaouredi  can  be  called  unferule. 

The 


256  Statijlkai^  Account 

The  air  U  moift,  but  agrees  weD  with  the  natives.  The 
prevailing  diftempers  are  the  fame  with  thofe  ftated  in  the 
account  of  the  pariifa  of  Uig.  The  moor  in  this  pariih 
abounds  in  lakes.  There  are  fix  fxnall  rivulets.  The  freih« 
water  lakes  contain  great  quantities  of  fmall  trout.  Three 
of  the  rivulets  produce  fome  £almon  and  (ea-trout*  The 
£i|nion  is  fold  frefii  at  i  d.  per  EngUfli  pound  in  Stomowaj. 
Their  fifh  is  vtrj  poor ;  thej  are  beft  in  July  and  Augufi. 
The  length  of  the  fea-coaft  is  a^omputed  miles ;  the  ihore 
in  feme  places  is  rocky,  and  in  fome  flat  and  £uidy. 

There  it  a  great  quantity  of  ling  oir  the  coaft,  and  a  few- 
cods,  both  of  which  are  well  cured  and  drif  d  by  the  conn- 
try  people  ;  they/c|l  thtm  at  above  L.  14  Sterling /^r  tcxi 
to  the  Stomoway  merchants^  who  fend  them  to  foreign 
markets.  They  are  all  caught  with  long  lines  \  the  hooks 
are  baited  with  pieces  of  fmaller  fifties.  The  utmofi  quan- 
tity fifliedy  one  year  with  another,  does  not  exceed  from  ao 
to  30  tons.  They  are  m<^  in  feafon  in  fpring.  Herrings 
are  caught  in  Loch  Stomoway,  fome  years  in  great  abun« 
dance,  and  fome  not.  The  cod  a|id  ling  are  always  ftacion« 
ary  here.  There  are  30  decked  vefiels  belonging  to  this 
I>ort,  from  10  to  80  tons  burden  each,  which  are  employed 
in  the  fummer  feafon  in  the  herring  bounty-fifliing,  and  at 
other  timte  in  the  coafting  trade*  They  are  manned  with 
natives  of  the  iiland,  and  are  always  victualled,  except  ]» 
to  the  article  of  beef  only,  in  the  country.— Common  ica* 
weed  is  always  ufed  for  manure.  A  few  tons  of  kelp  are 
manufadured  every  third  year  in  the  pari(h«— The  prin* 
cipal  Bays  are, — Broad  Bay,  South  Bay,  Loch  Storno- 
way,  and  Loch  GrimOiader ;  the  laft  is  a  fafe  harbouf 
for  fmall  vcfiels/,  the  firft  but  an  indifferent  otie.  In 
South  Bay  veflels  fometimes  ftop  for  a  tide,  but  it  is  no 
harbour.  Loch  Storooway  is  a  famous  harbour  for  £hips 
of  any  burden  ^  the  ground  is  good,  and  no  weighty  iea  can 

ever 


ofSiornoway^  257 

ever   come  in  to  it.     The  four  principal  headlands  are 
TolOa-head,  Seller-head,  Tiumpan-head,  and  Pebble-head. 
In  this  parifli  there  is  a  remarkable  cave,  into  which  the 
fea  goes  at  high  water.      When  it  was  firft  noticed,  vaft 
numbers  of  ieals  were  killed  in  it ;  and  the  pradice  is  ftill 
continued  once  a-year,  about  Michaelmas.     It  is  only  ac** 
ceffibk  from  fea ;  the  people  land  from  dieir  boat  oppoiite 
to  the  cave  in  time  of  low  water,  at  ipring-tide ;  they  walk 
forward,  and  being  fnraiihed  with  fire,  they  light  torches 
at  the  entry  to  die  cave,  which  is  dark  far  in,  and  they 
knock  to  death  all  the  (eals  found  there  with  heavy  blud- 
geons armed  with  iron.     At  firft  it  was  not  uncommon  to 
£ee  50  killed  at  a  time  \  but  now  the  number  4oes  not  ex- 
ceed from  7  to  I  a.    At  the  brtheft  end,  there  is  a  fmall 
apartment,  the  top  of  which  is  lined  with  ftalaSits,  ot  icicles, 
of  a  very  firm  confifience ;  it  is  about  an  eighth  part  of  an 
Englifh  mile  in  length,  and  its  height  is  variable.*— The 
otter,  and  tighan  or  foumart,  are  found  in  this  parifiiu  Moor- 
fowl,  plover,  and  wild  pidgeon,  are  in  great  abundance. 

la  the  country  part  of  the  parifli  are  fpua  and  Hvovea  all 
the  cloth  neceflary  for  labourers,  and  make  all  the  broags 
nfed  there.  Mrs  Mackenzie  of  Seaforth  gives  encourage- 
ment in  this  as  well  as  in  the  other  pariflies  of  X^ewis,  to 
indnftriotts  females,  in  the  ipioning  of  flax,  &cl  and  be* 
flows  L.  10  yearly  on  the  poor. — ^In  this  parifli  these  is  one 
attorney,  and  one  folitary  Roman  Cathdic  prieft,  without 
an  individual  of  a  £ock.  In  the  town  thore  aise  many  bat- 
chelots  among  the  fuperior  rank.  The  number  of  inhabit- 
ed flated  houfes  in  this  town  is  6,7.  They  are  all  made  of 
the  beft  materials ;  fome  of  them  large,  commodious  and 
well  fumiflied;  they  are  generally  two  ftories  high  and 
a  garret;  there  is  a  cuftomhoufe,  with  all  its  proper 
officers,  a  town-honfe,  an  aflembly-room,  and  two  fchool- 
hoo£es;  one  for  the.  parochial  grammar-fchool,  and  the 
yoj..XIX.  Kk  other 


1)5  8  Statifticai  Account 

other  for  the  Sorictj  fchool  eflibliflied  'there.— On  the 
north-weft  fide  of  the  town  there  are  upwards  of  twentj 
thatched  houfes,  which  have  ftrong  walls  and  gables,  with 
glafs-VPindowSy  all  in  a  Kne,  frontiojg  the  fide  of  the  bay 
where  it  grows  narrow.     On  the  north  fide  of  the  town 
there  is  a  great  number  of  miferable  thatched  huts,  bcca* 
pied  by  failors,  filhers,  and  other  people,  with  their  fiimi- 
lies,  '  The  poor  inhabitants  of  thofe  huts  have  boQc  mors 
coihmodioQj  thatched  hoofes  along  the  fliore  of  the  baj»  eaft 
of  the  town  \  and  Mr  Mackenzie  of  Seaforth  gives  evcrj 
head  of  a  family  one  guinea  to  encourage  them  to  remove, 
and  to  help  them  in  defraying  the  expences  incurred  on  the 
occafion.     He  gives  thofe  poor  people  30  years  leaTe  of 
their  dwell ing-placesi  to  each  of  whicb'a  fioiiall  garden  b 
joined,  and  they  pay  three  S<?otch  merks  yearly  for  every 
fuch  houfe-room  and  garden.    He  gives  them  full  liberty 
to  cultivate  as  much  as  they  Can  of  a  neighbouring  moor, 
and  exads  no  rent  for  feven  years  for  fuch  parts  thereof  as 
they  bring  into  culture.-f-In  this,  and  all  the  other  pariihes 
of  the  Ifland,  the  women  carry  on  as  much  at  leaft  of  the 
labours  of  agriculture  as  the  men  \  they  carry  the  manure 
in  baikets  on  their  backs  ;  they  pulverize  the  ground  after 
it  is  (own,  with  heavy  hand-rakes,  (harrows  being  feldom 
iifed),  and  labour  hard  at  digging  the  ground,  both  with 
crooked  and  ftraight  fpades.-«^Tbe  people  of  the  rown  fel- 
doni  have  menfervants  engaged  ibr  the  yes^* ;  and  it  is  a 
puripps  circumflance,  that,  time  out  of  Remembrance,  their 
maidfervants  were  in  the  habit  of  drinking,  every  morn- 
ing; a  wine  glafs  full  of  whiflcy,  which  their  miftrefs  gave 
them  ;  this  barbarous  cpftom  became  fo  well  efiaUiOied  by 
lengtb  of  tune,  that  if  the  pra^Uce  of  it  fliould  happen  to 
be  ne^v'  fted  or  forgotten  in  a  family,  even  once,  difcontent 
find  idlenels  throughout  the  day,  on  die  part  of  tfae^maid  or 
jnaids,  )fvould  be  fte  fpre  confequence.    However,  fincc  the 

ftoppj^ge 


flO{>^ge  of  th^  diflilleries  took  place,  the  pe6ple  of  the 
town  foahd  it  neceflary  to  unite  in  th^  refolucioa'.df  i^bo* 
lilhing  the  pradice,  by  withholding  the  dear  Cordial  from 
their  female  domeftics/  but  not  without  the  precaution  o^ 
making  a  compenfation  to  them  in  mode j  for  their  griev^ 
out  lofs;  and  it  is  iaidj  that  even  this  is  not'&tis&&or7^ 
and  that,  in  (bme  families,' the  dram  isflillgiveaprivatelyi 
to  pre&rve  peace  and  gbod  order. 

About  200  jards  from  the  town,  on  the  ^pofite,  or 
fouth-weft  fide  of  the  bajr,  and  upon  an  eminence^  flahds 
Stafortb  Lodge^  a  neat  modem  houfe. 

The  ohlj  crops  in  this  pariih  are  fmall  oats,  batley,  and 
potatoes.  Ttie  pariih  never  fnpplies  itfeif  with  fofiicientgr 
of  provifion,  but  always  imports  1^  great  deal  from  Caith^ 
aeis,  Berwick,  &c.  and  is  at  this  time  (1796) in  great  diftreisi 
without  a  probability  of  a  fpeedy  rupply.-*Black  cattlo 
are  bought  by  dealers  from  the  fouth  yearly  in  this  and 
the  other  pariihes  of  the  tfland,  and  driven  to  England^ 
where  they  thritre  amazingly,  although  the^  breed  is  bntf 
fmalL — A  little  flax  and  hemp  is  raifed  berfc.--'They  ion^ 
in  April  and  May,  and  f^p  in  September  and  O^ber.i-^ 
There  is  no  wood  of  any  kind.  The  whole  ifland  i'eems^ 
in  ancient  time,  to  have  been  covered  with  wood,  as  ia 
proved  by  fiumps  of  large  trees  and  hazltMiot  fhells  bein^ 
found  at  the  fides  of  rivulets,  and  in  the  moor,  at  the  depth  of 
14  feet,  where  the  people  dig  peats.  According  totraditiony 
the  Norwegians  fet  the  whole  uoods  on  fire  When  thty 
took  poffeffion  of  the  country.— The  great  difadvantage  of 
this  and  the  neighbouring  pariQics  arifes  from  the  poverty 
of  the  foil,  and  the  badnefs  of  the  climate,  the  latter  of 
which  this  ifland  experiences  in  common  with  aU  the  other 
ifl<inds  and  Highlands  of  Scotland. — If  the  circumftances  of 
the  people  in  the  country  part  of  this  pariih  could  admit 
of  it,  they  might  derive  great  advantages  from  the  gowi- 

nc& 


26d  Staii/Hcat  Accwnt 

nefi  of  the  harbour  »(  Stornoway,  as  well  as  from  the  vic^ 
mxj  of  the  vUlage.-^The  Gaelic  laagoage  is  principalljr 
fpokeOy  and  the  names  of  places  are  eyidently  derived  firooi 
the  Danifli  and  Norwegian.— The  value  of  the  living,  the 
glebe  not  inclodedy  is  L.  86.   It  is  ia  the  gift  of  the  Grown. 
Mr  Colin  Mackenzie  is  minifter  i  he  b  a  married  man,  and 
has  one  fon.— A  very  elegant  church  was  lately  boik  at 
Stornoway ;  the  internal  eeconomy  of  it  is  very  nearly  E- 
niihed  ;  the  expence  of  the  whole  work  is  faid  to  amount 
to  L.  900.   This  fabric  does  great  honour  to  the  proprietor. 
The  manfe  is  old,  but  commodious.— Francis  Humberfioa 
Mackenzie  of  Seaferth  is  fole  heritor  of  the  landed  proper- 
ty in  this  pariih.-^The  poor  are  fupported  by  the  inhabi- 
tants when  they  come  to  their  houfes  in  courfe ;  the  kirk- 
feffion  dillributes  among  them  fuch  fums  of  money  as  ari& 
ffom  the  coIlefHons  00  Sabbath-days,  and  fines  from  irre- 
gular perfons«— The  country  people  commonly  iell  cattle 
alive  to  the  inhabitants  of  Stornoway  at  di&rent  prices, 
confiormed  to  their  fize  and  (juality,  and  to  the  demand  for 
fuch  in  other  parts  of  the  kingdom.    When  they  fell  them 
by  weight,  they  draw  from  2  d.  to  3  d.  per  lib.  Small  wed- 
ders  are  fold  at  5  s.  and  6  s.  each  -,  and  the  common  fowb 
at  6  d.— When  the  feafon  for  cutting  peats  comes  00,  the 
fervice  of  the  country  people  cannot  be  difpenfed  with  by 
thofe  in  the  town.     The  former,  both  males  and  femalesi 
come  forward  in  great  numbers,  and  receive  from  4  d.  to 
6  d.  per  day,  and  they  muft  be  feafted  on  the  occafion, 
otherwife  the  work  Ihall  be  found  very  defie^ive.     When 
the  peats  are  dry,  the  people  are  again  called  upon  to  lead 
them  home,  which  work  is  condu^d  with  equal  expence. 
The  wages  paid  to  labourers  in  huibaodry  is  much  about 
the  fame  here  as  in   the    neighbouring    parifbes. — Ytvt 
ploughs  are  ufed  here.     They  have,  in  this  country,  the 
moft  awkward  inflniment  of  tillage  ever  applied  to  the 
I  purpofe^ 


of  Stormway.  a6i 

ptupole;  it  is  drawn  by  hprfes,  and  bears  but  a  fiunt  re* 
femblance  to  a  ploogh,  having  only  one  ftilt ;  the  ufe  of  it 
is  prodttfiive  of  great  fatigue  to  men  and  horfes  \  and  after 
ally  the  groond  is  wretchedly  ill  turned. 

On  a  (mail  point  near  the  town,  there  is  a  veftige  re- 
maining of  a  caftle  built  for  the  proteAion  of  the  place,  by 
the  Macleodsi  the  ancient  pofleflbrs  of  the  ifland.  Not 
far  from  it  there  was  another  tower,  built  by  Cromwell  te 
awe  the  neighbourhood ;  no  'part  of  this  one  remains. 
The  people  are  not  fond  of  a  military  life ;  but  early  habit 
reconciles  them  to  fea-faring,  and  from  that  element  they 
derive  their  chief  fubfifience. 

There  is  a  road  begun  and  carried  on  for  a  few  miles 
from  Stornoway  towards  the  parifb  of  Barvas,  which  lies 
in  a  northern  diredion.  The  moor  acrols  the  ifland  from 
Stornoway  to  Uig  is  fo  eJLtenfive  and  foft,  that  it  would  re« 
quire  the  labour  of  many  ages  to  open  a  road  through  it. 

Some  years  ago,  a  young  girl,  in  attempting  to  go  from 
one  part  of  the  country  to  another,  loft  her  way  in  the 
pathieis  moor,  and  could  not  find  it  i  when  her  ftrength 
failed,  ihe  dropped  down,  and  notwithftanding  the  induftry 
of  the  country  people  in  quefi  of  her,  flie  was  not  found 
until  the  eighteenth  day  after  her  departure  from  home. 
To  the  aftonifliment  of  all  who  heard  her  ftory,  life  was 
found  remaining  \  and  by  the  afliduity  of  the  furgeon,  ihe 
was  reQored  to  good  health  and  ftrength.  This  wonder- 
fill  cafie  is  recorded  in  the  I2th  or  14th  volume  of  the 
^edlcal  Effays. 

The  common  people  of  this  ifland  marry  very  early, 
and  when  death  feparates  thjein,  if  the  furviving  party, 
whether  male  or  female,  finds  it  convenient  to  engage  a 
iccond  or  third  time  in  that  ftate,  fome  of  them  remain  a 
lew  weeks^  and  fpme  only  a  few  days,  ia  widowhood ;  fo 

tl^at 


^S&i  StatifHcal  Acamnt 

diu  grief  for  die  lob  of  huibtiid  or  wife  is  an  afflidioft  little 
known  among  the  lower  clals  of  people  here. 

A  woman,  in  this  coontry,  whofe  hulband  fliot  bim&lf 
accidentaUy»  bj  an  ungoarded.  management  of  a  finlocki 
fettled  her  contraA  of  marriage,  in  the  wajjbt  tho^ghiju^ 
before  the  body  of  her  late  hniband  was  interred,  nod  was 
married  the  liext  Bay  after  ihe  performed  that  laft  AvScj  to 
the  deceaied. 


NUM. 


ofBarods,  ^363 


NUMBER  Vir. 


PARISH   OF  BARVAS, 


(CouKTT  OF  Ross,  Stkod  OF  Glekelg,  Prisbttert 
AND  Island  of  Lewis). 


JBy  tie  Rev.  Mr  Donald  Macdonald,  Minifter.  ^ 


Nami^  SittuOumf  and  ExinU, 

npHE  parilh  of  Stfiras  does  fiot  fbrnilh  much  room  for 
'^  'fiattiBcal  inTcftigation,  and  the  few  obfervations 
which  occur  rc^pefiing  it,  may  be  comprehended  within 
minrow' bounds.  As  to  the  origin  of  its  nune,  little  but 
coojefkure  can  be  advanced ;  it  is  generally  thought  to  be 
I>a*idi  or  Norwegian^  as  thenamca  of  fereral  other  placea 
on  this  coaft  indubitably  are.  It  is  fituated  in  the  weftem 
extremity  of  the  county  of  Ro&,  fynod  of  Glenelg,  and 
pre(bytefy  of  Lewis.  -  It  is  very  eztenfive,  being  in  length 
from  eaft'to  weft  14  oomputed  nulcs,  and,  upon  an  average, 
9  miles  ioi-breadtb  i  bounded  on  the  weft  by  a  difiiid  oi  the 


a64  Siatiftkal  Account 

pariib  of  Lochs;  on  the  norths  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean;  ot 
the  eaft  bj  the  Minch ;  and  on  the  fimth,  bj  the  parilbes 
of  Stornoway  and  Lochs. 

Suffati  and  5o£f.-— The  forfaee  of  the  whole  parifii  ii 
pretty  plain,  except  a  few  hills,  at  a  coafiderable  diflaooe 
from  the  feai  and  fome  fmall  glens  or  vallies  through  which 
rivulets  run.  The  foil,  as  may  naturally  be  fuppofed  is 
fuch  a  vail  track  of  ground,  is  various.  The  diftrid  called 
.Claddoch  is  light,  thin,  Ipouty  ground*  and  in  many  plaoei 
fo  full  of  iloncs,  that  the  plough  cannot  go  through  it 
Nefs  confifls  of  fine  large  level  fields,  compoGed  of  Ioixd, 
iand,  gravel,  and  deep  day,  iwhich,  in  good  feafons,  pro- 
duce tolerable  crops,  and  in  the  hands  of  more  ikilfbl  and 
fubftantial  tenants  might  be  turned  to  a  very  good  account. 
The  fea-coaft,  taking  in  the  various  points  that  jut  out  into 
the  fea,  may  be  reckoned  about  30  computed  miles ;  it  is 
bold  and  rugged,  having  a  tremendous  furf  or  fwcll  upon 
it,  when  the  wind  blows  from  the  weft  and  north-weft. 
There  is  not  a  fingle  harbour  where  a  veflel  can  aochoTi 
and  but  a  few  creeks  where  boats  can  land,  even  in  the 
fineft  weather. 

CKmatt  and  Diftafis.^-Ax.  is  well  known,  that  a  great  deal 
•f  rain  fidls  in  moft  parts  of  the  weft. and  north^weft  ^ 
Scotland  \  there  is,  however,  left  here  than  upon  the  main- 
land coaft,  or  even  in  the  adjacent  pariflies,  the  hi(^  hilb 
which  collet  the  vapours,  and  break  the  clouds,  being  st  s 
confiderable  diftance.  The  froft  is  feldom  very  imenfe; 
the  fiiow,  in  general,  not  deep,  or  of  long  continuance.  The 
air,  though  moift,  is  fiilubrious.  Rbeumatifm,  the  geaeni 
complaint  of  all  moift  climates,  is  very  commoo;  it  is  n- 
ther  matter  of  furprife  that  it  is  not  more  frequent,  confi- 
dering  their  d^mp  and  dirty  houfes,  bow  much  the  inlia- 

bitantt 


*     i>f  Barvas.  165 

Mttfmsare  expofed  to  rain  and  cold,  and  their  clothing 
poor.  Flannel- (hirts,  which  arc  in  general  worn  by  the 
common  people,  may  be  a  good  antidote  againft  it.  Fevers 
knd  fluxes  are  not  uncontmbri ;  arid  many  infants  die  of  a 
complaint  called  the  five  nights  ficknels,  from  their  dying 
of  it  upon  the  fifth  or  fixth  liight  \  there  are  nb  inftances 
of  any  who  have  been  feized  with  it  that  efcaped,  nor  has 
the  nature  of  this  uncommon  difeafe  been  as  yet  fully  com- 
prehended by  the  moft  fkilful  upon  this  ifland. 

Riversy  IVoods^  t/r.— *There  is  not  a  fingle  tree,  or  even 
any  brufliwood,  to  be  feen  in  the  whole  parifii.  There  are 
feveral  fmall  lakes  or  lochs,  and  fome  rivulets,  but  no  ftreatn 
that  deferves  the  name  of  a  river.  In  thefe  are  various 
kinds  of  trout,  and  in  a  few  of  them  fome  falmon.  Upon 
the  minifier'6  farm  is  a  fmall  water,  where  a  few  fine  fal- 
mon,  though  of  a  fmall  fize,  are  caught,  from  the  month  of 
May  till  Auguft.  There  are  a  few  cod,  ling,  and  haddock, 
taken  upon  the  coaft;  but  the  principal  fifiiing  is  that  of 
dog-filh,  from  the  liver  of  which  they  extrafi  a  confidcr- 
able  quantity  of  oiL  Upon  an  average,  there  are{aboot  8832 
Scotch  pints  annually  manufaftored  of  it,  and  fold  to  the 
Stomoway  merchants  at  from  6  d.  to  8  d.  per  pint.  Five 
of  the  annual  bounties 'or  premintns  given  by  the  Truftees 
for  encouraging  this  trade,  «re  generally  gained  by  boats  in 
this  pariih.  The  feafon  for  it  is  from  the  beginning  of 
May  to  the  latter  end  of  Auguft,  when  the  weather  proves 
favourable  ;  indeed,  it  muf^  be  vtty  moderate  before  they 
can  venture  to  fea,  which  makes  them  exceedingly  cau- 
tious i^hen  the  wind,  blo^s  off  the  land,  left  they  be  driven 
to  the  northern  ocean.  It  is  very  aftoniihing  how  few  ac- 
cidents happen,  confidering  the  terrible  feas  they  encoun- 
ter, and  the  badneis  of  the  creeks  where  they  land.  The 
number  of  boats  employed  in  this  fifliing  is  about  42^  from 
Vol.  XIX.  LI  j6 


266  StatiJHcal  Actouta 

i6  to  Z9  £eet  keel,  fome  of  8,  aad  others  of  6  oars*    Their 
onlj  impkmeot  is<a  hand^line,  with  two  large  hooks. 

Agt'UttUure^  Cattle^  iyc.  —There  are  in  the  parifh  about 
90  ploughs*  and  all,  except  ooe  (ufed  by  the  mini&er,)  of  a 
fingular  conftruftioD  *,  they  are  made  of  a  crooked  iiaiiall 
piece  of  wood,  oo  the  top  of  which  is  fixed  a  fiik  or  handle ; 
the  man  who  holds  it  walks  by  its  fide,  and  direds  it  bj 
this  ililt.  As  no  oxen  are  ufed  here,  it  is  drawn  by  four 
fmall  borfes ;  the  driver,  if  he  can  be  fo  called,  goes  before 
the  horfes,  ^nd  pulls  them  on  by  the  halter.  In  fome  pla- 
ces the  ground  is  turned  up  by  two  inftruments  well  known 
in  the  Highlands,  called  crooked  and  even  fpades;  in  moft 
of  thefe  parts,  the  ground  is  fo  rugged,  and  full  of  ftooes, 
that  the  plough  cannot  go  through  it.  There  are  no  carts 
ufed  in  the  pariih,  except  by  the  minider.  The  manures 
are  cow-dung,  and  tangle  or  fea-ware ;  there  is  another 
kind  univerfally  ufed  here,  perhaps  not  known  elfewherc; 
their  houfcs  are  thatched  with  ftubble  and  heather  ropes, 
(ropes  made  of  heath),  their  roofs  are  fo  low  and  flat,  and 
they  burn  fuch  quantities  of  peat,  their  only  fuel,  that  the 
ftubble  is  abundantly  covered  over  with  foot ;  in  the  lat- 
ter end  of  May,  when  the  barley  brard  (blade)  appcarj, 
they  take  this  footy  ftubble,  and  ftrew  it  thinly  upon  it, 
which  fometimes  produces-  9k  tolerable  crop,  but  muft 
fcourge  the  ground.  The  only  crops  reared  here  are  black 
oat^,  bear,  and  potatoes,  fown  in  April  and  May,  and  res^jcd 
In  September  and  Oaober.  The  returns  are  in  general 
poor,  owing  to  the  poverty  of  the  foil,  and  the  cold  and 
boiftcrous  gales  from  die. northern  ocean,  to  which  the  lands 
arc  niuch  expofed.  The  pariOi  abounds  in  horfes,  black- 
cattle,  and  Ihecp,  perhaps  too  many  for  the  pafture-  There 
is  no  faying,  with  minute  exaftncfe,  what  the  number  of 
each  may  be.  Horfes,  according  to  a  furvey  lately  made, 
were  calculated  at  I050;  black-cattle,  2670-;  Ihcep,  339»- 
a  The 


c^Bt^rvas.  267 

The  horfes  and  cow9  are  of  a  very  fmall  fixe,  partlj  owing, 
to  the  pafturc,  but  more  fo  to  the  little  attention  paid  to. 
the  proper  fele£lipn  of  bulls  and   ftallionSi  by  which  thej 
are  yeady  decraaiiAgy  and  moft  continue  fo  to  do  till  this 
cviL  b^  xemediedi 

All  tiie-  ifaeep^  except  a  few  of  the  blac^.faced  kind  in- 
trounced,  by  the  minifter,  are  xemarkably  fmall.  They- 
roam  at  krge  through  the  moor,  without  any  herdGnan  to 
attend  thtra.  Though  v^ry  wild^  they  are  in  general,  how- 
ever, £0  far.ume,  that  (hey  Cin  be  driven  iatp  fnnll  inclo- 
fiicesy  where  the  wool  i9;puUed  off,  a  terbafon».cuftoin, 
wbicb.cerUinly  muft  be  d^iirinaieiital  to  the  aoima}  and  iu 
WQoJi.and  io4eed  proves  fatal',  when  the  weather  happens 
to  be  fevere  in^Qiediately  after  ih^s  pliu:king.-— The  horfes^ 
thoogh  finaaU,  ar^rwiarkably  bardy^aud  iii<tcled*)^The.beef 
an4  Q&utton  fwee(  and  ^iv^ll  Savoured**— Hok^es,  upon  an 
a^ve^g^,  fell  a^  L.  2,  i^aa;  ^.  cows  aijd.  i^ot^  mX^  %^  5.9. 4  ;and 
(beep « 3  s,  ei|chf  ^  i  ^ 

Pcfuiatiou^^Jx  is  iJQp^fiAb}^  10  lay  what  nufhbet  of  fouls 

aught  bt^ye  be^n  in  the  pari^ij  a§  there  never,  were  any  regit 

fterskept.    Popu^ationj  ^oweyer^^  is  aUowe4  to  be  on  the  in« 

preafe,. chiefly  owing  to  fhe  farms  being  much  fmaller  than 

in  former  times.     There  are  in  the  parifh,  439  families, 

aoo6  fouls,  914  n(iale$,  aopa  females:  Souls  under  6  yeara 

oldi  334 ;  ditto  betwixt  6  and  14  years,  407  i  ditto  betwixt 

14  and  60  years,. 1067.1  and  above  60,  198.     In  1755,  the 

population,  by  Dr  Web&^r's  lid.  was  X995»    There  are  14 

weavers)  5  tailors,  7  blackfmiths,  340  fifhers,  and  i  miller. 

There  is  not  one  man  by  profei&on  a  flioemaker ;  the  moft 

of  the  inhabitants  fupply  themCelves  with  ihoes  or  brogues; 

nor,  indeed,  do  aoy  of  the  above  tradefmen  depend  wholly 

iipon  their  occupations,  all  of  th^m  having  fmall  farms. 

There 


268  StatiJHcal  Account 

There  are  two  women  liring  in  the  ]Murifli|  one  of  wboqi 
fays  tba(  fl»e  is  xoo  years  old,  and  the  other  102. 

Churchy  ScioolSf  4md  Stipernds^-^^^th^  Crown  is  Patron  \ 
Colonel  Francis  Humberflone  Mackenzie  of  Seaforth  Ible 
heritor.  All  the  inhabitants  are  of  (be  ^(Ubliibed  Church 
of  Scotland.  There  zik  two  places  of  worlbip  in  the  pa* 
viih.  The  church  clofe  by  the  manfe  is  a  perfed  niin,  and 
is  to  be  rebuilt  firft  fummer.  The  one  in  the  diftrifi  of 
Nefst  about  za  computed  miles  from  the  manfe,  an  old 
Fopiih  churchy  called  St  Peter's,  was  enlarged  and  rebuilt 
Jaft  year  i  it  is  thatched  with  heath.  The  rent  of  the  pa- 
riib  is  about  L.  900  Sterling,  befides  kelp,  which  was  never 
attempted  here  till  within  a  few  years  back.  It  is  thought 
the  Ihores  will  produce  60  tons  once  in  three  yeaia.-^Tfao 
ftipend,  till  this  year,  was  only  xoco  merks  Scots,  and 
L.  5  Sterling  for  a  glebe,  to  which  Colonel  Mackenzie 
added  L.  20  Sterling.  The  prefent  incumbent,  Mr  Do* 
paid  Macdonald,  was  fettled  in  1790.  His  predeceffors 
were,  Meflrs  Alexander  Mackay,  and  Murdoch  and  Do- 
paid  Morrifons.  The  manfe  is  fmall ;  was  boilt  about  aS 
years  ago,  and  repaired  lafi  year  at  a  confiderable  cxpence ; 
the  kitchen,  which  is  the  only  office-houfe,  was  repaired 
and  flated  at  the  fame  time. 

Thtre  has  not  been  a  parochial  fchool  here  for  many 
years  back  ;  but  Colonel  Mackenzie,  who  is  vtry  defirous 
to  have  fchools  ere&ed,  contracted  with  an  undertaker  two 
years  ago,  to  build  a  fchool-houfe  near  the  manfe,  but  ow- 
ing to  various  circumftapces,  it  has  not  as  yet  been  accom- 
pliftied.  There  has  been  a  charity-fchool  eftabliibed  in 
the  diilrijt  of  Nefs  by  the  Honourable  Society  for  many 
years  back ;  it  is  to  be  lamented,  that  the  people  in  gene- 
ral have  as  yet  fo  little  tafte  for  education*  There  are  only 
about  20  fcholars  who  attend  j  though,  from  the  compafi- 

*  '  ndi 


of  Barvas^  369 

pe&  of  the  difirid,  triple  that  number  might  attend  daily 
from  their  parents  houfes.  The  fchoolmafier,  however, 
b  of  great  fervice  in  foch  a  remote  comer,  bj  bis  diligence 
in  catechifing  and  reading  to  the  people  on  every  Lord's 
day,  when  the  minifter  is  not  there. 

Mrs  Mackenzieof  Seaforth,  whofe  zeal  for  the  good  of 
her  people  is  confpicuous  upon  all  occafions,  has  ereded 
two  fpinning-fchoob,  with  a  falary  of  L.  6  Sterling  to  each 
of  the  miftreiles«  To  aid  her  in  this  laudable  undertaking, 
the  Honourable  Society  refolved  to  pay  one-half  of  laid 
falary.  The  girls  aric  tzught  gratis^  have  xo  d.  for  every 
fpindle  they  fpin,  and  to  encourage  them,  they  have  their 
wheels  at  a  low  rate  *,  many  of  the  poorefi  have  them  gra^ 
tis.  She  allows  1  lb.  of  coarfe  lint  for  themfelves  to  begin 
with  \  befides,  as  a  fpur  to  induftry  and  emulation,  adnual 
competitions  are  held,  when  premiums  are  given  to  the 
beft  fpinners. 

Poor.-»There  are  80  upon  the  poor-roll,  who  are  chief- 
ly fopported  by  the  charity  of  the  inhabitants,  by  begging 
from  houfe  to  houfe  ;  any  fupport  they  get  from  the  kirk- 
feffioa  is  by  no  means  adequate  to  their  maintenance. 
There  is  about  L.  4  annually  diftributed  amongft  them, 
(arifing  from  the  weekly  colleftions  and  molds),  together 
with  five  guineas  of  a  yearly  donation  from  Mrs  Macken« 
zie  of  Seafortfa,  whofe  benevolence  and  charity  have  been 
of  nniverlal  good  throughout  this  whole  ifland.  She  has, 
befides,  upon  her  lid,  two  very  great'objeAs  in  this  pariih, 
to  each  of  whom  (he  allows  three  bolls  of  meal  annually. 
There  is  another  mode  here  for  fupporting  the  poor,  which 
fliewa  the  charitable  difpofition  of  the  inhabitants  \  being  in 
general  fcarce  of  money  for  the  weekly  colle&ions,  tliey, 
f  very  fpriog,  coUed  a  certain  quantity  of  grain  or  feed, 

which 


270  Stati/Hcal  Account 

vAnth  b  regularly  divided  by  the  kirk^feflbw  aOUMfgft  tkft 
objeflB  upon  their  rolL 

t4nei2¥i^HS* — Several  ruins  of  Popiih  chapels  or  churches 
are  to  be  fs:en  in  the  parifli  \  round  mofi  of  them  are  bury  tog- 
grottods>  which  are  to  this  day  ufed  for  t^t  p^rpole.  A  few 
of  them  can  only  be  traced  by  the  fqi^iidation-ftoiics  \  the 
walls  of  others  are. pretty  entire.  The  lar^il  and  moH 
entire  is  tha(  at  ^px'^pie  to  Neis,  dedi^f ted  to  St  Mulvay  ^ 
it  fee  ms  to  haye  been  ^e;  principal  one,  and  undoubtedly 
ufed  us  a  plaise  of  wprfliip.  It  is  59  feet  :loog»  94  brood, 
and  I  ^  feet  in  the  fi^S  wallf  ^  the  people  around  it,  paij  it 
as  ytt  a  great  deal  of  fivperftitious  veneration^  a|id  indeed 
fome  of  them  retajq  fl^U  a^w  of  tl^e  Popiib  fupefftitions. 
A. little  to  Ibe  north  pf  it  ftood  St  Ronan's,  and clofe  hy  it, 
to  the  fouthy  ftood  a!.hou£e,  built  by  one  of  the  Macleods, 
once  the  proprietors  of  this  ifland  ;  there  is  ftill  a  piece  of 
wall  (landing,  called  by  them  Macleod's  Gate.  The  fiones 
are  iboftly  ciuxied  away  by  the  tenants  for  building  their 
bonfes.  Some  bundled  yards  to  the  fqutb  of  tha(  |s  ^,  inaaU 
mount,  which  evidently  bears  the  mark  of  having  01^  a 
building  upon  it,  called  Catftel  Oigrtf  (i.  e^J  Olaus  his 
CaiUe.  The  names  of  the.  reft,  which  are  but  fmall  in 
comparifon  to  St  Mulvay's,  are,  St  Peter's  ^n  Habo|^  St 
Thomas's  in  Swainboft,  St  Clement's  in  Nortl^  DcU>  Holy 
Crofa  at  South  Galfoo,  St  Bridget  in  Boirve,  St  Peter's  io 
l^wer  Strather,  St  Mary's  in  Upper  Barvas,  and  St  John 
the  Bapiift's  in  Bragir.  Betwixt  B^rye  and  GaUbn,  upon 
an  eminence  at  a  fmall  diftance  from  the  fea,  may  be  feen 
the  mips  of  a  pretty  large  dpn,  or  Danifli  fort,  of  a  circular 
form,  witli  paflages  and  fmall  apartments  in  the  walls ;  the 
oniyi entry. was  from  the  top.  Tradition  fays,  that  there 
was  a  fubterraneous  communication  to  it  from  the  fea,  of 
which  no  veftige  can  now  be  traced.     There  is  another  of 

the 


of  Barvas.  '  371 

the  lame  kind  in  a  lake  at  Bragir,  called  Loch  Duin,  but 
not  fb  large.     Three  more  are  to  be  feen  in  three  {mall 
lakes  behind  Strather  and  Borve,  at  a  confiderable  diftance 
from  the  fea,  i6ach  of  them  having  a  catifeway  leading  to 
theniy  which  are  vifible  in  dr  j  weather.    Betwixt  Barvas 
and  Strather,  in  the  middle  of  a  deep  ftiofiy  where  no  other 
ftones  are  to  be  feen,  and  at  a  confidihiable  diftance  from 
the  fea,  there  is  a  verj  large  ftone  flanding  npright,  called 
Ctaeh  i  DruJbiU  famons  for  nothing  but  its  fize,  being  18 
feet  above  ground,  and  14  feet  in  circumference,  having  no 
figures  upon  it,  as  erroneoufi j  related.    The  vulgar  tradi- 
tion concerning  it,  is  too  abfurd  and  fnperftitions  to  deferv^ 
anj  notrce.    The  ifland  of  Rona,  fituate  in  the  northerfa 
ocean,  about  x6  leagues  difiant  from  Eorapie  Point,  or  the 
butt  of  the  Lewb,  (which  is  reckoned  the  furthefl  to  the 
north-weft  of  anjr  in  Europe),  belongs  to  this  parifli.     It  is 
reckoned  a  mile  in  length,  and  half  a  mile  in  breadth ; 
there  is  a  temple  in  it  dedicated  to  St  Ronan.    It  is  rented 
by  one  of  the  Nefs  tackfmen  at  L.  4  Sterling  ptr  annum^ 
who  regularly,  every  feafon,  fends  a  large  open  boat,  and 
brings  from  it  fome  corn,  butter,  cheefe,  a  few  iheep,  and 
fometimes  a  cot)^,  befides  fome  wildfowl,  and  feathers. 
There  were  once  five  families  refiding  upon  it,  but  now 
only  one,  who  are  employed  by  the  tackfman  as  fervants. 

The  rock  Snliflcer  lies  4  leagues  to  the  eaft  of  Rona  \  it 
is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  circumference,  and  abounds  with  a 
great  variety  of  fea-fowL  The  boat  which  goes  to  Rona, 
generally  touches  there  for  fowls  and  feathers.  There  is 
in  Nels  a  moft  venturous  fet  of  people,  who  for  a  few  years 
back,  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives,  went  there  in  an  open 
fix-oared  boat,  without  even  the  aid  of  a  compals.  There 
is  no  place  in  it  where  they  c.in  draw  up  their  boat ;  fome 
of  them  continue  in  it,  taking  flieltcr  under  the  lec-fide  of 
the  rock,  whilft  the  reft  are  bufy  m  taking  the  birds,  who 

arc 


a*fi  Stati/lical  Account 

are  fo  tame,  that  tliej  knock  them  down  with  fticksi  theif 
feathers  fell  at  Stornowaj,  at  from  9  to  xo  t.  per  ftone. 

MifcJlttwous  Oifirvaiions^-^Thert  are  neither  moles^ 
frogSy  foxes,  or  weafels,  in  the  pariih,  nor  any  hares,  till  of 
late  a  few  made  their  appearance  from  a  breed  introduced 
into  the  ifland  hj  Seaforth.  It  abounds  with  pidgeob,  plo- 
ver, (hipe,  and  a  vaft  variety  of  wild-geefe  and  ducks.  The 
fwan,  woodcock  and  green  plover,  appear  in  their  feafos. 
The  oQail  abounds  with  a  variety  of  tea*fowls^  Eagles, 
corbies  and  crows,  are  numerous,  and  often  prove  defiruo- 
tive  to  the  young  lambs.  The  greateft  difadvantage  this 
pariih  lies  under,  is,  the  want  of  roads  and  bridges.  From 
this  fide  of  the  ifland  to  the  village  of  S^ornoway  is  rec- 
koned from  ]  a  to  18  miles  of  a  broken  fwampy  moor, 
without  fo  much  as  the  form  of  a  road  acrols  this  long  and 
fatiguing  fpace  |  the  poor  people  are  under  the  necei&ty  of 
carrying  every  article  almoll,  to  and  from  Stornoway ,  upoa 
their  backs.  Colonel  Mackenzie,  who  is  very  eager  to  re- 
medy this  evil,  has,  for  a  few  years  back,  begun  a  road  to 
open  a  communication  betwixt  both  fides  of  the  iiland,  and 
carried  it  forward  about  five  miles  at  a  great  expence.  la 
place  of  the  fUtute-labour,  every  man,  from  16  to  60  years 
of  age,  pays  is.  6  d.  There  is  only  one  annual  hir  fi>r 
felling  cattle  held  in  this  whole  ifland,  confeqnently  the 
fellers  are  under  the  neceffity  of  difpofing  of  them  at  that 
time,  "having  no  chance  of  feeing  any  other  buyer  during 
that  feafon,  except  for  fucb  fat  cattle  as  are  purchafed  By 
the  Stornoway  merchants.  Until  there  be  a  cod^fbrtable 
communication  opened  betwixt  both  fides  of  the  ifland  ^ 
until  the  breed  of  cattle  of  every  kind  be  improved,  and 
ibme  mode  contrived  for  a  better  market  lor  them  ;  this 
parifli  muft  labour  under  great  difadvantages.  On  the 
other  band,  it  is  no  fmall  advantage,  in  fucb  a  high  and  cold 

latitude. 


f^  Baroas.  273 

Udhide,  to  have  fuch  abundance  of  very  fine  peats  clofe  bj 
their  hoofes  in  general.  The  fiih  of  different  kinds  are  moil 
beneficial,  efpeciallj  that  of  the  d(^-fiih|  the  oil  of  which 
brings  a  confiderable  fum  of  money,  and  the  fi(h,  \^'l.en 
proper]  J  curedi  has,  by  long  experience,  been  found  to  be 
Vfholefome  food. 

The  fnow  feldom  lies  deep  or  long;  a  circumflance 
highly  favourable  to  Iheep  and  black-cattle.  As  the  lands 
were  never  meafured,  it  is  impofiible  to  fay  with  any  cer- 
tainty what  the  number  of  acres  may  be,  but  the  extent  of 
the  cultivated  land  bears  no  proportion  to  die  uncultivated. 
The  common  language  of  the  pari(h  is  Gaelic.  The  names 
of  places  are  derived  from  the  Norwegian  language,  and  by 
thofe  who  underfiand  it,  are  allowed  to  be  very  exprelRve 
•f  their  fitnation. 


Vol.  XIX.  Mm  N  U  M- 


274  Statijlical  Accouni 


NUMBER  VIII. 


PARISH   OF   LOCHS, 


(County  or  Ross,  Synod  or  Glbmelg,  Island  and 

P&E8BYT&&Y  or  LSWIS). 


By  the  Rev.  Mr  Alexander  Simson. 


Namit  Situation^  He. 

THIS  parifh  derives  its  name  from  the  oumerons  har- 
bours which  are  in  it,  and  which  are  always  in  this 
countrj  called  Lochs.  The/  are  fo  well  fecured  from  the 
fea,  that  many  of  them  are  very  well  adapted  for  places  of 
anchorage  to  vefiels  of  confiderable  burden,  and  the  whole 
of  them  for  fmall  veflels,  and  are  excellent  landing-places 
for  open  boats.  The  parifh  may  alio  derive  its  name  in 
part  from  the  innumerable  bodies  (lochs)  of  frelh  water, 
fituated  in  the  moor,  lall  of  which  abound  witli  Cmall 
trout  of  excellent  quality.  It  is  fituated  in  the  county  of 
Rols,  within  the  bounds  of  the  prefbytery  of  Lewis,  and 
2  fynod 


ofLocbu  275 

fynod  of  Glendg.  The  extent  of  the  pariih  in  length  is 
aboat  18  computed  miles,  not  including  the  feveral  ferries 
acrofi  the  forelaid  harbours  which  intervene  in  that  firatgbt 
line.  The  extent  of  the  fea-coaft,  following  the  ihore  in  all 
its  direftionsy  is  90  computed  miles.  In  a  country  fo  much 
interfeded  by  numerous  arms  of  the  fea,  the  breadth  muft 
be  various,  but  at  an  average  it  holds  at  about  8  or  9  miles. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  fouth  by  Loch  Seafbrth,  which  fepa* 
rates  it  from  the  pariih  of  Harris  \  on  the  weft,  by  the  pa- 
rifb  of  Uig }  on  the  north,  by  the  pariih  of  Stomoway ;  and 
on  the  eaft,  by  the  channel,  which  feparates  this  ifland  from 
the  continent  of  Rofii.  Along  the  coaft  it  has  a  bold  and 
rocky  appearance  -,  farther  back,  there  is  a  great  extent  of 
fofit  flat  moor.  There  is  no  foil  but  what  the  indefatigable 
indoftry  of  the  inhabitants  has  forced  into  fome  culdvacion, 
near  the  creeks  of  the  fea,  with  the  aid  of  fea-weed  forma* 
nure.     The  air  is  very  moift,  but  not  unhealthy, 

2)^M»/^#.«— The  rofe  or  erylipelas,  colds,  and  rheumai- 
tifms,  are  the  mod  common  diftempers  prevalent  in  tliia 
country  -,  fometimes  very  infedious  and  epidemical  fevers 
rage  here,  which  terminate  the  lives  of  a  great  many  of  the 
inhabitants. 

Ft^eries^'^Cod  and  ling  conditute  the  principal  fifliing 
on  the  coaft,  of  which  kinds  of  fiOi  there  are  caught  annually 
at  an  average,  34  tons.  The  ling,  when  cured,  fells  at 
L.  15,  10 s.  per  ton,  and  the  cod  at  L.  xo  v  it  is  fold  to  the 
merchants  of  Stomoway,  who  export  it  to  the  bed  market 
they  can  find ;  both  the  cod  and  ling  are  in  the  greateft 
perfedion  from  February  to  May.  All  the  other  kinds  of 
fifhcs,  which  are  commonly  met  with  on  the  coaft  of  the 
iflcs,  and  which  are  fit  for  immediate  family  ufe,  are  caught 

here 


2j6  Stati/lical  Account 

here  in  great  abundance.    Between  45  and  50  tons  of  kelp 
are  manufadured  annually.    The  flood-tide  iovariablj  rana 
from  fouth  to  north,  both  on  the  fliore  and  at  fea,  and  of 
courfe,  the  ebbtide  in  the^  cootrarj  diredtoo.    Loch  Sea- 
forth,  Lochihell,  and  Locherifort»  are  the  principal  harbours. 
Arrofs  the  entry  of  each  of  the  two  latter,  there  is  an  iflaod, 
\v}iich  aiakes  them  fecore  retreats  for  veflels  in  all  kinds  of 
weather.     In  the  channel  between  Lewis  and  Skj,  a  third 
of  the  waj  nearer  the  former  than  the  lattert  are  three 
iflands,  named  Sbaint  or  Holy  Iflands*  well  known  to  nia« 
riners  ;  one  of  them,  in  particular,  leems  to  have  been  de- 
dicated to  the  Virgin  Mary  \  it  is  named  Moatr,  or  Mary's 
Ifland;  in  it  there  are  the  remains  of  a  Popiih  chapeL 
Black-cattle  are  paftured  on  them  all,  and  they  are  fiunoos 
for  fattening  flieep*  but  particularly  fome  finall  rocks  in 
their  neighbourhood,  which  have  grais  on  their  tops.  There 
is  one  family  refiding  on  the  largeft  of  the  iflands,  tar  the 
purpofe  of  attending  the  cattle.     The  head  of  this  family 
has  been  fo  unfortunate  as  to  lofe,  at  dil&rent  timea,  hif 
wife,  a  fon,  and  a  daijghter,  by  £ming  down  great  preci- 
pices ;  the  mother  and  fon  met  with  this'catafiropbe  in  fol- 
lowing  fheep,  and  the  daughter,  by  gpipg  in  qucft  of  wild- 
fowl  eggs,— Keback-head,  and  the  point  of  Rainii(li«  are 
the  two  principal  headlands  on  thecoafL    Moftoftheparifii 
is  covered  with  hea^b* 

Popvlation^'^Tht  whole  amount  of  thp  population  in 
thib  pai  iih  is  1 769  perfops,  of  which  number,  845  ars  males, 
and  923  are  females.  Population  in  1755,  byDrWeb- 
Iter's  lilt,  appears  to  have  been  ia67.  Inftances  of  kmge* 
yity  occur  often  ;  a  woman  died  a  few  days  ago  aged  104. 
1  he  nuniber  of  families  is  366.  Mod  of  the  inhabitEnts 
^re  fifliers  and  nctmakers.  There  are  38  kelp-makers, 
f  6  lyeavers  of  coarfc  cloth,  a  boat-carpenters,  3  tailorst  an^ 


ofLocbs.  277 

m  blackfmitha,  in  the  parifli.    Everj  individnal  here  as  of 
the  £fiftbliflied  Church.  .    , 

Hu/basidry. — The  number  of  black-catde,  not  tndoding 
the  calves,  is  3488 ;  the  number  of  fheep,  4000 ;  the  nnm^ 
ber  of  horfesy  348.  The  different  kinds  of  cattle  are  of  a 
ioiall  breed,  which  adapts  them  well  to  the  rough  ground 
on  whidi  they  pafiure.  *  There  is  very  little  com  raifed  in 
this  parifli.  Their  {maU  crops  are  fown  in  the  months  of 
April  and  May,  and  reaped  in  September  and  Odober* 
The  inhabitants  rely  principally  on  filh  f or  their  fubfift- 
cnce* 

XoisifaM^/^— The  Gaelic  language  is  their  mother  tongue  \ 
maxkj  of  the  names  of  places  are  derived  from  the  Daniik 
and  Norwegian  languages. 

itmf.-— The  land-rent  of  the  pariih  is  L.  zoao,  5  s. 

Eecl^JliciJ  Staii  of  the  Pari/b.— The  value  of  the  mi* 
nifter's  livbg,  including  the  glebe,  is  L.  80.  The  King  is 
patron.  Alexander  Simfon  is  now  minifter  of  the  pariib» 
and  was  fettled  there  three  ytars  ago.  His  immediate  pre« 
deceffor  was  John  Frazer }  before  whom  were  James  Wil« 
ton,  Alexander  Mackay,  and  Colin  Mackenzie,  who  was 
the  firft  minifter  of  the  parifli.  The  prefent  incumbent  is 
married,  and  has  3  boys  and  a  girl.  A  new  manfe,  two 
churches,  and  a  parochial  fchoolhoufe  were  built  laft  year, 
and  offices  for  the  manfe  are  to  be  built  this  year ;  there 
was  a  Society  fcboolboufe  built  three  years  ago.  Colonel 
Francis  Humberfion  Mackenzie  of  Seaforth  is  fole  heritor 
pf  the  pariih. 

Po9rm 


378  Statifikal  Account 

' '  JFVoTw— There  ave  about  58  poor  people  who  receive  die 
fmall  coUedions  made  at  the  chordi-doory  together  inritii 
five  guineas,  as  a  doaation  from  Mrs  Mackenzie  of  Seafbrtli 
jeakljf  and  all  the  money  arifing  from  fines  infltfied  on  de* 
linqoefttai. 

Mi/ciUamfut  Oi/ervaiioMS,^^Thc  fhel  ufed  here  is  peat. 
There  is  no  plough  in  the  partfli ;  the  little  ground  that  is 
tilled,  is  by  the  crooked  and  ftraight  fpades.    There  are  70 
fiihing4>oat8  belonging  to  the  pariffli.     The  people  from 
dieir  jouth  are  accufiomed  to  a  fea-faring  life  ^  they  are  of 
humane  difpofitions,  and  ihew  great  hofpitality  to  firangeis. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  poor  parifli  might  be  greatly  meliorated  by  the  itttro- 
dnftion  of  mannfaftures^     In  this  particular,  Mrs  Colonel 
Mackenzie  of  Seaforth  has  already  made  fome  confidenihle 
advances,  by  direding  the  induftry  of  the  female  inhabitants 
to  the  ufeful  and  rational  occupation  of  fpinning  flax.    Se- 
veral merchants  at  Aberdeen  fend  a  great  quantity  of  flaic 
annually  to  a  truftee  at  Stomoway,  who  diftributes  it  to  be 
fpun,  not  only  to  this,  but  in  all  the  pariflies  of  Lewis.  In 
this  parifli  there  are  'two  fpinning  fcbools,  the  midrefles  of 
each  of  them  are  paid  jointly  by  Mrs  Mackenzie  of  Sea- 
forth, and  the  Society  for  Propagating  Chriftian  Knowledge. 
The  forementioned  truftee  has  a  yearly  falary  paid  him  by 
Mrs  Mackenzie  and  the  faid  Society.    To  encourage  the 
young  women  to  acquire  the  perfed  knowledge  of  fpinning 
there  is  an  annusl  competition  at  ^ach  of  the  fchools,  and 
premiums  given  by  Mrs  Mackenzie  to  the  beft  performers, 
for  the  purpofe  of  exciting  a  laudable  emulation.     The 
premiums  are  held  oiit  to  all  the  taught  fpinfters  in  the 
ifland  *. 

»  The  encouragement  thus  given  to  promote  the  induftry,  the  iinprore- 
ment,^  and  confeqoently  the  real  happinefs  of  fo  many  of  our  fellowciei- 

turca* 


*    <it  Locbs.  1(79 

tores,  wlio,  from  local  circnmfiAnces,  ue  fecludcd  from  die  more  cuU 
tiTtttcd  part  of  fociety,  unquestionably  zcfle^s  a  high  degree  of  honour  on 
the  worthy  perfOn  by  whom  it  is  fo  generoufly  beftowed,  and  (hall  in- 
fallibly prove  a  fource  of  unfpeakable  confolation.  The  memory  of  the 
haughty,  and,  of  courfe,  the  cruel-hearted  daughters  of  diffipadon,  IhaU 
be  utterly  forgotten,  or  if  mentioned,  fliall  be  mentjpned  with  abhorrence : 
whilft  that  of  the  generous,  whofe  kind  efibrtf  are  well  directed  for  the 
pcnnanent  good  of  mankind,  Ihall  be  blefled  on  the  earth  for  many  foe- 
ceeding  ages. 


NUM. 


oto  Statiftical  Accouia 


NUMBER  IZ. 


PARISH   OF    UIG, 


(COUVTT  OF  R0S8»  SyNOD  OF  GlBHXLO^  PuSBTTtfT  OF 

Lkwxs). 


Bj  thi  Riv.  Mr  Hugh  Mokro. 


If  ami  ami  SituaiuM. 

UIGt  in  the  eommon  acceptation  of  the  word,  figntfieSf 
in  many  parts  of  the  Highlands,  a  folitary  placet  nmcb 
ftqueftered  from  the  public  eye }  which  feems  to  apply  with 
particular  propriety  to  the  local  fituation  of  this  parifh,  it 
bieing  fcparated  from  the  pariih  of  Stomoway  and  Lochs, 
which  lie  on  the  eaft  and  fouth-eaft  coaftof  the  ifland,  by  an 
cxtenfive  flat  and  foft  moor,  no  le(s  than  la  computed  miles 
an  length ;  on  the  fouth-weft  it  is  bounded  by  the  moon* 
tains  of  Harris ;  on  the  weft,  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean  j  and 
on  the  north,  by  a  part  of  the  pariih  of  Lochs,  which  in 
that  place  runs  acrofs  the  country  from  eaft  to  welt.  It  is 
fituated  in  the  county  of  Rofs,  illand  and  prelbytery  of 

Lewxsi 


«nd  f  jnod  of  Glenelg.  The  length  of  the  parifh  is  ten  com- 
-pmted  mil^,  not  induding  the  wide  entry  of  Loch  Roag, 
which  rans  into  the  heart  of  the  parifh  from  the  weft  ward  ; 
its  breadth  is  nine  miles.    The  interior  part  of  it  is  hilly^ 
much  more  fo  than  any  of  the  other  parilhes  in  the  ifland, 
and  along  the  fliore  it  is  almoft  flat.    In  many  of  the  farms 
along  the  fea-coail  the  foil  is  ikndy ;  fartlter  back,  it  is  of 
a  thm  light  kind,  mixed  with  a  little  clay,  and  a  great 
part  of  it  feems  to  be  the  laft  ftratum  of  mofe  which  has 
been  cut  away  for  fuel,  and  which  pit>duce8  forced  crops^ 
with  the  affiftance  of  fea-weedfor  manure.-— The  air  is  moift^ 
and  healdiy  to  the  inhabitants.    The  moft  prevailing  diftem- 
pers  are  rhenmatilm,  eryfipilas,  cholics,  andkpilepfy  among 
infants  from  the  fifth  to  the  eighth  day  alter  dieir  birth  ; 
if  they  are  not  affbSed  with  the  difcafe  befere  die  eighth 
day,  they  are  not  afterwards  fubjed  to  it.     The  furgeon  in 
this  country  declares,   that  the  laft-mentioned  diflemper 
proved  fatal  in  every  cafe  which  came  within  the  compre- 
henfion  of  his  knowledge,  two  only  excepted,  in  which 
the  furgeon  attended.    One  of  the  children  which  efcaped, 
fuffered  fb  much  from  the  violent  exertions  of  the  mufcles, 
during  the  continuance  of  the  fits,  that  its  arms  and  legs 
are  diftorted,  and  the  whole  frame  is  in  a  debilitated  Hate, 
and  likely  to  continue  fo.    It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
the  infjBints  of  fuck  parents  as  come  to  this  ifland  from  the 
neighbourmg  continent  or  illands,  or  from  anj  part  of  Bri- 
tain, are  not  troubled  with  this  affli&ion,  until  fuch  parents 
refide  for  many  years  in  this  country ;  and  indeed  few  of 
them  are  at  all  troubled  with  it.  -  This  difiemper  prevails 
over  all  the  ifland. — ^This  parifli  abounds  with  fmall  lakes 
aod  rivulets ;  trouts  are  to  be  found  in  all  the  lakes,  but 
bmewhat  inferior  in  tafle  and  flavour  to  thofe  on  the' main- 
land.   There  are  four  rivulets  in  which  fsdmon  are  caught 
in  fmall  quantities,  and  ufcd  by  the  inhabitants. — The 
Vol.  XIX.  Na  length 


^1  StatifiictU  Acctmnt 

iMgthordieeMft,  fcUowiag  die  (^<mioidliU' 
around  Loch  Kong,  is  40  confMel  miks;  ibe  IWbb  is 
jTockj.     Oogfiiht   cod,  lisg»   aad  cokfiOi  axo  tlwfcnt 
here.    Gteat  qnancitics  of  herriiigf,  of  osioooumbIj  large 
fize,  have  begun  to  be  cfioght  in  ihis  loch  wkhin  ihcfie  ^pw 
years,    llie  henriqgs  moke  their  appeanaoe  stboot  the  aoth 
of  December,  and  remnin  to  Che  middle  of  Jemnry  \  tlus 
]aft  year,  (i794)»  upwards  of  90  fiul  came^firom  iHftniiit 
pavls  of  the  kingdooi ;  thej  both  fifiied,  and  faoqgha  the 
lierring  frdh  &om  the  countrj^^eople,  at  the  great  priee  of 
from  9  8.  to  xa  s.  f$r  €rmu^  (which  is  dK  full  of  a  banel 
of  green  ftih,  as  taken  out  of  the  net).    The  onoonuDDfla 
gales  of  wi^d  whidi  pvevailed  dus  winter,  bacaaie'fittl  to 
fome  of  die  fifliers,  and  aendered  'their  Ibocefr  npao  the 
whde  mudi  left  than  it  was  any  year  finoe  die  fiflnag  laft 
commenced.    Forty  years  back,  and  long  faefiore,  tbere 
was  an  immenfe  herriog^filhing  in  Loch  Roag.    Sweden 
was  then  the  only  mariiet  for  the  fifli,  aad  the  abandamy 
was  fuch,  that  the  country-people  fold  diem  £»r  I  s.  fer 
fore£ud  crane.    The  cod  b  very  plenti&d  in  this  loch  da* 
ring  the  herring-fifliing,  and  when  the  herrings  emigrafte, 
they  foon  diiappear.    The  cods  are  fold  &eih  by  die  coon- 
try. people  at  a  d.'each.    Such  <rf  the  inhabitanta  as  indiae 
to  take  the  trouble  of  curing  them,  can  be  fapplicd  with 
jalt  for  the  purpofe  from  two  ftorehoafes  erefied  there  by 
Mr  Macken^  of  Seafordi,  in  which  &k  is  kept  fior  the 
benefit  of  the  people.    Mufdes  are  found  fo  plentifiil  diat 
lime  is  made  of  their  ihells.      Oyfters,  dams,  and  coc- 
kles, are  foimd  here.    There  are  ai>out  140  tons  of  kelp 
annually  made  at  JiOch  Roag,  which  is  fuperior  in  quafity 
to  any  other  kelp  in  the  Hi^ands  of  Scotland ;  this  is  fbf- 
ficiently  evinced  by  its  felling  for  at  leaft  a  giunea/«r  ton 
snore   than  any  other  kelp«-— Gallan-head  is  oae  of  the 
chief  promoutorics;  i|  lies  at  the  footh-weft  eatry  to  Lodi 


Rottg.    The  Flaftnan  Ides  lie  in  a  north- weft  diseffion  from 
GaBait^heftd,  about  12  or  13  miks  in  the  ocean  v  they  are 
not  inhabited^  and  are  famous  for  fattening  iheep,  each  o£ 
which  have  always  at  a  time  two  lambs  every  fealbn.   The 
iflands  are  feven  in  number,  and  are  the  fame  which  Bu^ 
channan  calls  Infulce  Sacra,  becaufe  diey  feem  to  have  been 
the  refidence  of  ecdefiyftics  in  time  of  the  druids  ;  fome 
of  their  temples,  built  without  any  mortar,  are  0iU  extant. 
Sheep  brought  from  thofe  ifles  do  not  live  for  any  time  on 
the  continent  of  Lewis.     The  people  of  the  farms  to.  which 
the  ifles  ate  connefied,  go  there  once  a-year  to  fleece  their 
iheep,  and  to  kill  fea-fowb,  both  for  food,  and  on  account 
of  their  feathers.    In  the  iflands  there  is  to  be  found,  in  the 
fummer  feafon,  a  migratory  bird,  called  by  Martin  coU^ 
by  others  edder  duck^  famous  for  its  elaflic  down,  which  it 
plucks  off  its  own  bread,  and  with  which  it  lines  the  neft.— ^^ 
Loch  Roag,  being  the  only  one  worthy  of  particular  notice^ 
is  two  leagues  acrois  at  the  entry,  and  runs  up  in  a  fouth* 
eaft  diredion  about   12  miles  through  the  ifland.     This 
loch  b  covered  with  iflands,  feveral  of  them  inhabited,  and 
one  of  them  is  about  eight  miles  long;  its  name  is  Large 
Bemera.    The  whole  of  this  ctu-ious  loch  abounds  with 
dsfe  places  of  anchorage,  fufiicient  to  hold  the  whole  firi-* 
tilh  navy,  naj,  I  may  fay  the  navj  of  Europe.    The 
whole  parifli  b  covered  with  heath,  except  the  inhabited 
grounds  at  the  £e4-fide. 

Population^  lie*  oftbt  Parijb  ofUigf  Auguji  1792. 
Families,  «  .  387 

Souls,  *  *  1898 

Malesi  -  •  898 

Females,  -  >  icxoo 

Soub  under  6  years  old|  -  314. 

Ditto  under  14  ditto,  •  542 

Soub 


iflif  Stati/Hcaljtcctnmt 

Souls  between  14  and  60,  -  99^ 

Above  60,  -  -  S5a 

In  X755»  the  populatioQ^  aceordbg  to  Dr  Webfter,  wa» 
131a. 


There  are  in  the  pan£hyNetnnkeiSt 

a75 

KelpmajjLen, 

a99 

Weavers, 

%6 

Wrights,. 

9 

Tailon, 

7 

SladdJaniths, 

S 

Calves  rearing, 

641 

Milch-cows, 

914 

Cattle, 

2007 

Sheep, 

5044 

GoatSy 

304 

Horres, 

681 

Filhing-boats, 

73 

There  are  at  prefent  more  inltances  of  longevity  here 
(as  is  always  the  cafe),  than  in  any  other. parilh  in  the 
ifland;  feverab  near  90,  and  fome  above  that  age^are  at  pre- 
fent alive.  They  marry  very  young,  and  barrenneis  is 
fcarcely  known.-~AU  the  people  dwell  in  little  farm-villa- 
ges, and  they  filh  in  the  fummer-feafon^  ^e  women  do  not 
fiih ;  but  almofl  at  all  times,  when  there  is  occaiion  to  go 
to  fea,  they  never  decline  that  lervice,  and  row  powerfully. 
When  they  go  to  the  hills  with  their  cattle,  all  defcriptions 
of  fex  and  age  angle  on  the  frefli-water  lakes.  All  the 
woollen  and  linen  cloth  ufed  for  common  purpofes  is  fpun 
'  and  wove  in  the  parifli.  There  is  only  one  furgeon  in  the 
whole  ifland.  All  the  inhabitants  are  of  the  Eftabliihed 
Ghurdk    In  the  parifli  are  four  or  five  boat-carpenters, 

sad 


ofuig.  285 

feveral  perfons  who  make  broags  of  leather  tanned  bj 
the  inhabitants  with  tormentil-root. — ^There  are  no  in- 
fiances  known  of  filicide. — ^Many  of  the  people  in  the  p»- 
rifli  are  employed  in  manu&fturing  kelp,  and  many  of 
them  go  for  the  fame  purpofe  to  Harris  and  Uift.— There 
sure  no  trees  to  be  feeo,  nor  any  kind  of  braihwood. 

Agricmbun* — The  pariOi  never  fupplies  itfelf  wkh  fa£- 
fidcncy  of  provifion.  The  people  (^ve  lately  acquired  a 
fnperior  knowledge  and  pradtice  of  the  culture  of  potatoes  * 
to  what  they  formerly  had,  and  in  proportion  to  the  in« 
creafe  of  this  ufefiil  |pot,  their  buying  of  prorifion  dimi- 
niihes,  and  bears  a  (mall  pr^ortion  to  their  outlays  in  for- 
mer years.  About  15  years  ago,  the  prefent  minifter  was 
obliged  to  give  over  the  cultivation  of  potatoes,  Except  a 
little  £9r  bis  own  private  domeftic  iife,  becanfe  prejudices 
hindered  the  people  from  eadng  them ;  but  his  per&ve- 
ranee  in  ufing  them  in  his  own  family  at  laft  convinced  the 
people  of  their  error,  and  of  the  vaft  utility  of  that  article. 
A  finall  quantity  of  fiax  and  hemp  is  fown  in  different 
parts  of  the  parilh,  owing  to  the  particular  attention  of  Mrs 
Mackenzie  of  Seaforth,  who  makes  exertions  to  direft  the 
indufiry  of  the  females  of  this  and  the  other  pariihes  of  the 
ifland  to  fuitable  objeds,  and  has  ereded,  at  a  confiderable 
expence,  threes  fpinning-fchools  in  this  pari(b»  Here  thej 
fow  fmall  or  black  oats  (the  only  kinds  nfed)  in  the  months 
of  March  and  April ;  they  reap  ig  September  and  OAo- 
fcer ;  they  fow  here  a  little  earlier  than  in  any  other  part  of 
the  country,  in  order  to  be  employed  in  mannfaduring 
kelp  as  foon  as  poilible.  Barley  b  fown  in  May,  and  reap- 
ed in  the  latter  end  of  Auguft,  and  fome  of  it  in  Septem- 
ber. The  oats  are  all  cut  with  the  fickle,  but  the  barley 
is  plucked  ;  the  reafon  for  their  plucking  the  latter  is,  that 
the  root  of  it  makes  good  thatch  for  their  hou&s  ^  and  al- 

tboug|i 


§M$  StaHJlkat  Account 

liioagh  tliej  ^odc  it  k  niny  weather,  when  dwgr  ooMt 
cany  on  aoj  other  harveft^work,  it  sever  heata,  and  i»eafif 
dried  with  the  firft  &ir  weather.  Kail  or  cabh^  of  any 
kind  \a  not  ufed  here  %  fince  their  prejudice  agaioft  potatoct 
has  heen  overcome,  the j  chnfe  to  beftow  their  mamve  oa 
the  latter  rather  than  the  former.  The  mibifter  ia  sa  a  &• 
milar  predicament.  That  part  of  the  parifli  which  lies  far- 
theft  oat  to  the  oeean  id  verj  defiitate  of  fiea^wato  ;  Ae  is* 
terior  parts  tire  abundantlj  fopplied  with  cot  ware  fior  amh 
ilttre* 

Ltu^gmage.i'^Th^  Gaelic  is  the  only  haguage  fpokett^  »- 
oept  by  a  few  tackfmen  }  but  it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  die 
Engliih  langniige,  and,  of  conrie,  the  knowledge  of  books, 
ihall  become  more  prevalent,  as  two  fchook  were  btelj 
eroded  in  the  pariflu— >The  names  of  places  are  derived 
from  the  Norwegian  or  Icekndic  tongues,  fnch  as  Kenvicki 
Kirkiboft,  &c. 

durcb^f^Th^  value  of  the  minifter*s  living,  indDdiflg 
the  glebe,  and  after  a  late  and  voluntary  augmentadoa  of 
ftipend  given  by  the  proprietor,  is  L.  8o«  The  King  is 
patron.  Hugh  Munro  is  miniftcr ;  be  is  the  third  fince  die 
erefiion  of  the  pari£b.  Macleod  and  Normand  Morifoa 
were  his  predeccfibrs.  The  prefent  incumbent  has  beea 
fixteen  years  fettled }  he  is  a  widower,  and  has  three  daa^^ 
ters  and  one  fon.  The  manfa  was  built  about  fooiteca 
years  ago.  Two  kirks  were  built  two  years  ago»  Ses^ 
forth  is  lole  proprietor. 

Poor.— There  are  50  poor  people  who  aik  alma  among 

the  parifliioners.    Mrs  Mackenzie  of  Seaferth  gives  Us 

annually  to  meliorate  their  condition,  and  the  mulfis  of  de^ 

3  linqooflts 


Jiaqiicfits  are  laid  ODt  to  tlie  fiuM  pnrpde.    All  the  people 
«re  semarked  for  a  cbarkaUe  difpoition. 

Prkt  ofLahmr^^K  boat-cafpenter  here  gets  i  s.  a-day 
wmA  bb  viAoak;  a  mafioti  die  fBwie;  a  anale-iervant  haa 
L  %firtmnmt9h  with  coarle  iboes«  and  has  vidnab;  a  fe« 
jnale-fervaot  firom  5  s.  to  lot.  annoaUj,  with  ihoes and  vie- 
inalt.P*^There  is  not  a  plough  in  the  parifti ;  all  the  tiUage 
is  Qoadnded  with  crooked  and  firaight  fpades*  No  carta 
nor  waggons.    The  foel  is  wholly  peat. 

Jirmdical  TimpJe^  Vc.— *At  a  place  caUed  Galarnilb,  not 
Sax  from  Loch  Roag,  there  is  an  entire  draidical  pbwo  of 
wo^hjpt  of  which  I  iubjoin  a  ikctcb: 


/ 


—  I 


\ 

\ 


%*-       Entry.       — 


Someoftfae  fion^  are  verj  large^  efpeciallj that  in  tha 
oentK  of  the  circle  i  they  all  fiaod  on  end  at  Ibme  diOance 
tcQBk  eaeh  other,  and  art  whoU^  in  a  rough  natnial  ftate* 
ae  taken  froaa  the  iboce« 

AC 


aS8  Statiflkal  Account 

At  Mdifia  are  the  xemains  of  a  mmiierj,  called  ffill  ia 
the  language  of  the  coontrji  Teagb  ma  u  cailicbam  dom^  or^ 
The  houfe  of  the  old  black  women.  At  Carlawaj  there  is 
%  Danil^  forty  or  doitne,  with  a  doubk  wall  of  drjr  fioDc ;  it 
i8»  perhaps,  the  moft  entire  of  any  of  the  kbd  in  Scotland; 
it  is  Tery  broad  at  the  bafe,  and  towards  the  top  coatrads 
in  the  form  of  a  pyramid ;  the  height  of  the  wall  it  39 
feet}  the  fabric  is  perftdly  circolar.— In  ancieot  times 
there  were  many  battles  fought  in  this  pariih  between  the 
Macaulays  and  Morifons,  who  had  perpetual  feuds* 

This  pariih  gave  birth  to  the  father  of  Alderman  Mac- 
aolay,  now  living  in  London,  whofe  uncle  George  Mac- 
aolay  is  ftill  at  Galstfnifli.  The  people  of  this  pariih  are 
remarked  for  their  cleanlineis  and  hofpitality  more  than 
their  equals  in  any  other  part  of  the  ifland.— The  number 
of  boats  is  not  below  a  hundred.— Two  or  three  open  boats 
go  annually  £rom  this  pariffli  to  Glafgow  with  &lted  beef| 
dry  falted  ifii,  tallow,  &c. — The  people  are  vtxj  economi- 
cal|  and  are  not  fond  of  a  military  life, 

MifceUamous  Ohfirvatioat. — If  maaufiifiures  were  intro- 
duced here  upon  a  great  fcale,  they  would  tend  to  melio- 
rate the  condition  of  the  people,  becaulie  fiich  employment 
would  afford  bread  to  the  increafe  of  population  which  pre- 
vails here,  as  well  as  in  all  the  pariflies  of  the  Highlands.-* 
Very  near  the  maniie  there  livea  a  woman,  who  hasfoordi- 
ftinft  breafts  or  mammae.  She  has  had  feveral  ftout  health/ 
children,  and  fuckled  each  of  them,  and  like  wife  one  of  the 
minifier's  children.  She  has  nipples  and  milk  in  each  of 
the  four  breafis ;  the  two  upper  are  fituated  immediately 
under  the  arm-pits,  and  by  being  diftended  with  milk,  are 
very  troublefome  to  her  for  the  firft  two  or  three  months 
lifter  her  delivery.  Such  a  lu/us  nature  is  very  uncom- 
mon*^ 

NUM. 


ofKbyme  and  EJjtt^  289 

NUMBER  X. 
PARISH  OF  RHTNIE  AND  ESSIE, 


CCOUHTT  •F  ABkftDEBV,  StVOD  OpMoKAT,  FusBTTSRY 

OP  Stkathbogie). 


Frmm  Commmmeaiimis  hy  the  Rn.  Mr  James  Milhe* 


THE  pariflies  of  Rhynie  and  Effie  were  united  at  a  re- 
mote  period.  The  chnreb  of  EiBe  was  contiaaed  as 
a  place  of  worlhip  till  abont  30  yean  ago»  when  it  became 
rainoos;  fiace  that  time  the  pari(h  has  been  generally 
known  by  the  name  of  Rbyaie  on^.  It  b  fitnaled  in  the 
county,  of  Aberdeen,  Synod  of  Moray,  and  Prelbytery  of 
Strathbogie.  This  prefbytery  was  disjoined  from  the  fy- 
nod  of  Abcvieea,  and  annexed  to  that  of  Moray  in  1700 : 
A  disjnnAion  the  more  remarkable,  that  feveral  of  the  pa- 
riflies were  in  the  connty  of  Aberdeen,  idid  one  of  them, 
Morxlicb,  was  originally  the  (eat  of  the  biihoprick,  which 
was  afterwards  temoved  to  Old  Aberdeen. 

Vou  XIX#  O  o  Boundaries. 


290  Statyilcul  JccnM 

Boundaries, — The  pariih  of  Rhynte  is  bounded  by  the 
pariihes  of  Cairniei  C^brach,  Auchbdore,  and  Gartlj. 

Exttttt  and  Contents^  (/r.-— The  figure  of  the  pariih  is 
nearly  fquare^  it  being  5  Englifh  miles  long,  and  nearly  ns 
broad,  it  contains  8  of  the  48  davochs  or  davdcht  of  the 
lordihip  of  Strathbogie.  A  davacb  contains  3a  oxen- 
g^es  *  of  13  acres  each,  or  416  acres  of  arable  land.  At 
thisi  rate,  the  whole  lordihip  of  Strathbogie  anciently  wa« 
e&imated  at  19,968  acres,  or,  in  round  numbers,  20,000 
acres  of  arable  land.  About  one-third  of  this  is  infield  or 
croft-land,  and  two-thirds  outfield* 

Lordjbip  0/  Strathhogii. — As  this  lordihip  was  one  of 
the  five  divifions  of  the  county  of  Aberdeen,  ancicntlj 
called  Lordlbips  or  Thanages,  as  it  included  the  whole  ori* 
ginal  eftate  which  King  Robert  Bruce  gave  to  the  noble 
^mily  of  Gordon,  and  as  it  has  been  overlooked  bj  Dr 
Anderfon  in  his  Survey  of  the  County  of  Aberdeen,  the 
writer  of  this  account  tilings  himfelf  bound  to  tal^e  notice 
pf  it.  The  wliole  lordihip  of  Strathbogie  comprehends 
120  fquare  miles,  including  both  the  arable  and  unculti* 
vated  lands.  It  lies  on  bdth  fides  of  tiie  river  Bogie« 
which  empties  it&lf  into  the  Dteveron,  near  IKintly.  In 
1424,  when  the  proprietor  of  it  was  one  of  the  hofta^  for 
the  ranfom  of  Kinf* James  I.  his  rt*nt41  was  Rated  to  be 
L.  400  Scotch  diohcy  of  that  age,  ^iXt  thebdat^  of  the 

High 

«  JB7  ta  of MnruQt,  March  tz.  isfs,  sn  wei^tte,  sf  «s|iR^  amiite 
13  acres,  4  qxcngate  a  twcnty-lhilKn^  land,  8  oxa^gite  a  tanttflnnhit 

land.  Some  of  the  oxengates  in  the  lordftiip  of  Strmthbfigie  ane  not 
6  acres;  others  above  19  'acrw.-~'nic  hills  are  icfs  cultivated,  and  the  low 
grounds  formerly  in  wood-,  -are  now  rntore*  iti  enltnre.  '^tt  his  probably 
pccafione4  the  inequalitf  .  Theicfpre,  in  the  abort  aecoatt,  iStif  l^al  met- 
fures  of  a  dayocb  and  ox|^tte  are  preferred  to  iadeiimt^  xoeafores. 


i>/  Rby^e  and  Ejfftei  stgi 

ttigh  Cotidftble  of  Scotland,  afterwards  Efttl  of  Errol»  And  ^ 
of  the  Great  M^rifchil,  afterwards  Earl  Marifcha!;  were 
onlj  valued  at  L.  8eo  Scotch  each. 

t^9  Igriihip^^x^^  4  ^{^  ftr^ji^  ^*.  Stqithbpg^ip.  .  The  {q\\ 
of  the  pariih  is  Tarious;  loamj  near  the  ri^cer  Bogie  f. 
ftonnj  and  gravelly,  jet  very  fertile,  near  the 'bottom  of 
tl^ hSJ^^i-^  inXQipp%w.gfQjlftds^5cJ^3r,  iqtoth^i^a  n^of- 
fy  foiL  'Agri^vlfipirf  Ijas  not^jpt  p^dq  gfjat  gdya^ciy^, 
there  t^moglly^fibojUiUnjcf^  ofe  tumipi.apd.^  acres  o( 
fown  grafs,  in  the  whole  of  this  extenfive  parifti.  Yifptbe 
farmers  are  beginning  to  improve  their  iands ;  and  to  en- 
able U^efn  tQ  4oJo,  there  i^^ab^nd4QQ?-p(»|tfBe4oi^  m^%n« 
of  ^he  ^lgtU)QHfii)g  pwifl^Jf  '  ;  I  ^  .  :         ,m::V/ 

Moufl^qi^* — Thpugh  tbere  arc  ff veral  Ijills^  tber?  is  ^T., 
one  of  tl^efe  which  deferve^  the.  name  of  ^-  mountain.  It 
i^  C^cd  the  b^l]  of  Nqth ;  and  is  of  a  conical  Ihi^pe,  fpring-^ 
ing  frpm  its  batfe  about  ^ojs  feet,  and  atlcaft  loco  feet  above 
tbejeyel  of  the  fea.  TJi^.  whole  parift  i?.  <;}eva^ed  above ; 
(bat  lev^l  a]t  lead  400  fe^t.  ;  ^s  a  proof  of  this  elevation» 
the  river  pady  riles  near  (be  bor|ler9  of  this  pariib,  and 
after  fallii^  iptp  the  Uryi  and  aloiig  with  it  into  the  Don* 
runs  into  the  fea  at  Aber()een,  after  a  courfe  of  30  miles 
to  the  fouth*ea(l ;  ^nd  t^e  rircr  Bogie,  which  runs  through 
the  pariih,  after  mixing  its  waters  with  the  Deveron,  and 
running  alfo  nearly  30  miles  in  a  north*weft  dirediou,  falls 
into  the  Moray  Frkb  at  B/M^ff*  ^ 

Population^  Rent^  ?/r.— The  number  of  pei^fons  in  this 
pariih  is  68x  ;  but,  according  to  Dr  Webfler'k  lift  in  X755, 
it  amounted  to  836,  The  number  of  horfes,  17a  ;  of  black* 
cattle,  882;  and  of  flieep,  2255. — T\\i  rent  of  the  parifh 
is  about  L.  700.     The  minifter's  itipend  is  two  chalders  of 

meal. 


09%  Sta^ftkal  AeaniM 

Voxi/Lf  and  L.  74 : 8 :  loA*  The  fiAoolmaSer'*  &lirf  is 
7t  bolb  of  aictl,  which  it  pud  id  (iaall  gwitkifs  bj  the 
tenants.  The  coUedioos  iac  the  poors  iodadiiig  wkuX  m 
made  at  the  commonioii,  amount  to  about  L.8  jearij, 
which,  with  the  intereft  of  L.  15  of  fiinded  monej,  and 
from  L. 3  toL.4  of  leat-ients,  has  been  feond  adequate  to 
their  fopptj. 

ITirieors,  5/f .— The  whole  parift' is  now  the  piopeitjr  of 
tile  Duke  of  Gordon,  who  is  patron  of  Rhyme  :  But  Knrt 
Fife*  as  patron  of  Effie,  has  a  vice  patftmage  of  the  united 

pariihes. 

*  AHtiywiiin,i^^On  the  top  of  Noth  are,  according  to  Mr 
Williams,  Dr  Anderfon,  and  others,  -the  ^mainsof  a  iri* 
trified  fort.  Some,  however,  are  of  opinion,  that  this  ia 
only  the  mouth  of  an  extinguiflied  volcano.'  The  conical 
ihape  of  the  ^hill  favours  the  idea  of  a  votcitoo;  but  the 
ftones  and  remains  of  a  building  are  rather  favourable  to 
the  fuppofition  of  a  vitrified  fort.— There  is  a  tradidon  of  a 
battle  having  been  fought  at  a  remote  period  aboot  Cbe^ 
middle  of  this  pari{fa.  And  a  large 'fibne,  about  five  feet 
diameter,  on  which  there  are  fome  hieroglyphical  cbai^r- 
ters,  an*d  ftanding  on  the  moor  of  Rhynie,  b  (aid  to  have 
bden  ereded  in  memory  of  the  engagement.  Part  of  this 
lione  has  been  lately  broken :  But  it  is  certainly  very  an- 
cient. 

Eminent  Men.-^^As  this  vras'the  feat  of  a  great  many  of 
the  Gordons  during  tlie  tkuds  of  the  clans,  this  parilh  gave 
birth  to  many  brav^  fellows,  eminent  in  days  of  turbulence^ 
but  now  configned  to  oblivion.  Two  anecdotes  relative 
to  the  hiftory  of  thofc  times  are,  however,  worth  prcfcrviog, 
««*Huntly's  fc^condfongottbe  lands  of  Scurdarg  in  thi:>,  and 
'   •  afterwards 


afterwirds  thoie  of  Pitlorg  in  a  neighboiiriiig  porifii.  The 
male  heir  of  the  Earii  fiuled  in  the  time  of  James  III.  and 
the  heirefs  was  married  to  a  jounger  fon  of  the  Lord 
Seton,  afrerwairds  Earl  of  Wioton,  Mr  Seton  was  created 
£arl  of  Haatly,  and  was  a  man  of  great  abilities.  When 
the  £ark  of  Douglas  and  Crawford  had  joined  in  a  kagoe 
ivhich  ihook  the  dirone.  Lord  Hnntly^  who  was  Lieutenant 
of  the  North,  led  on  his  troops  to .  the  battle  of  Brechin. 
Bat  in  marking  out  the  commanders  of  the  clans,  he  appoint- 
ed his  iecond  £00,  the  laird  of  Gight,  to  head  the  Gordons* 
According  to  the  ideas  of  that  age,  the  Earl  himfelf  was 
caily  a  Seton,  and  Pitlnrg  was  chief  xji  the  Gordons.  The 
daD,  therefore,  infifting  that  Pitlorg  fhooU  march  at  their 
bead,  he  applied  to  Lord  Hontly,  and  claimed  his  ri^t. 
Huntly  refoicd ;  and  Pitlurg  took  off  his  Uack  bonnet  ^^and 
waving  it,  cried,  ^  ji*  tiat^s  comt  0'  mi^foUova  me ;"  imme^ 
diately  the  whole  clan  went  off  with  him,  and  left  Hontly 
alone.  The  Earl,  with  admirable  prefence  of  mind,  came 
up  to  them,  and  (aid,  '*  Gentlemen,  you  have  overcome 
^'  me ;  I  yield  it  to  yon.  Pitlurg,  command  the  Gordons. 
^  And.  now.  Gentlemen,  that  you  have  got  the  better  of 
**  me,  let  me  fee  if  you  will  beat  Lord  Crawford."  The 
Gordons,  in  high  agitation  of  fpirits,  attacked  the  enemy ; 
and  Earl  Huntly,  after  a  mod  glorious  and  important  vic« 
tory,  got  the  lands  of  Badenoch  and  Lochaber,  for  hadding 
(boldiog)  the  Crown  on  the  King*s  Head.  From  that  mo- 
ment the  family  of  Huntly  became  the  greateft  in  the 
north  ;  and  this  contention  with  the  clan,  by  making  them 
feel  bold,  was  fuppofed  to  have  contributed  not  a  little  to 
the  viftory  at  Brechin. 

The 

•  A  black  bonnet,  ancicntij  the  drefs  of  a  Highland  Chiefuin,  is  now 
v«rn  by  tbe  moorland  farmers  in  Mid>tothian,  to  dUUnguilh  them  from 
iSieir  ferrants. 


294  Statytkal  Atc99tai 

The  other  anecdote  regards  a  fecond  fon  of  Fidotg,  -who 
got  the  lands  of  Caimborrow.    The  daj  before  the  battle 
of  Glenlivet,  the  Marquis  of  Huntlj  came  to  Caimborrow, 
and  applied  to  his  ladj,  who  was  fuppofed  to  role  the  roaft, 
for  her  aSiftance.     She  iaid|  Ihe  had  got  Ihort  warnings 
bnt  that  her  old  man,  with  his  eight  fona,  with  a  jackmaa 
and  a  footman  to  each,  flioald  attend  him  immediatelj. 
Htintly  thanked  her;  and  after  fome  more  conirerfation 
widi  her,  defired  Gairnborrowi  who  had  never  fpoke  a  word, 
to  ftay  at  home,  telling  him,  that  at  his  advanced  jears  it 
was  not  proper  to  take  him  along,  efpecialljr<as  be  had  fe 
man  J  of  his  fons.     The  old  man  heard  him  out,  and  frmg- 
ging  up  his  (honlders,  laid,  **  Na^  ua^  my  Lord,  PO  Uead 
*^  ibi  wbetps  my  fell;  tbtftt  bite  ibe  beHer.'*     This  was  rt 
once  the  reply  of  a  fportfman  and  a  foldier ;  and  the  whole 
frmily  went  to  battle  with  the  laird  at  their  head.     Thej 
defeated  Argjle,  and  returned  all  fafe  to  Caimborrow  *• 
In  mountainous  diftrids,  fenttments  of  liberty,  and  of  per- 
fonal  bravery,  are  very  prevalent. 

jtdvantages  of  tbe  Parijb  of  Rhynie,^--T\\tk  are,  good 
foil  in  general,  and  fhclter  from  the  high  hills,  which  ren- 
ders the  greater  part  of  the  cultivated  lands  very  warm  and 
fertile. 

Difadvantagis* 

#  The  writer  of  this  tecoant  has  been  faTOored  with  a  curioas  mun- 
Script,  in  which  the  names  of  the  father,  mother,  and  eight  font,  ase  aJl 
mentioned :  **  John  Gorden  of  Caimbome  married  Seflle  Cordon,  daughter 
*<  to  the  Laird  of  Buckie,  with  whom  he  begat  eight  fons  and  three  daugh- 
«<  ten.  His  fons  were,  ift,  John,  laird  of  Caimbome,  afterwards  of  Edii^ 
*<  glaffie;  i.  George  Gorden  of  Sorbach ;  3.  James  Gorden  of  Fcrmaghtie; 
«  4.  William,  who  coft  (bought)  Caimborrow;  5.  Mr  Arthnr  Gorden; 
*«  6.  Thomas  Gorden  of  Aitloch ;  7.  Robert  Gorden  of  Gollachie ;  S.  P»- 
<«  trick  Gorden  of  Craigfton  in  Sutherland.  Allthefe,  with  their  father,  asd 
**  nine  jackmen  and  as  many  Ibotmen,  went  to  Glenlivet  battle." 


of  Rbjfnid  ani  Ejfie^  305 

Di/advaniagis^'^Thete  are,  the  diftance  from  market, 
want  of  capital  in  many  of  the  fiirmers,  and,  in  fome  cafes, 
mill-multures ;  but  thefe  laft  are  aU,  by  the  Duke  of  Gror« 
don,  to  be  abolilhedi  when  the  prefen^  leafes  expire ;  and 
the  carrying  up  a  canal  from  Aberdeen  to  the  head  of  the 
Garioch,  or  from  Huntly  to  Rhjnie,  will  in  time  render 
the  markets  more  acpeflible. 

CbaraBer  of  the  P^tf/Zr.— Thej  are  fober,  induftrious, 
peaceable,  and  contented  with  their  condition.  They  en« 
]oy  not  the  luxuries  of  cities,  but  they  have  the  neceflaries 
and  fome  of  the  comforts  of  life,  along  with  health  of  body 
and  animation  of  charader;  and  they  add  more  to  the 
ftrength  of  the  countrjr  than  four  times  their  number  of 
difcontented  and  debauched  manufadurers,  or  mobbiih  po- 
liticianp  cap  do,  in  any  time  of  public  or  national  danger* 


NUM. 


9)6  Siatifiicml  ActmA 


NUMBER  XI. 
PARISH  OF  ABOYNE  AND  GLENTANAR, 


(Couvn  AV]>  SrvoD  of  Abirbekh,  Pusbtts&t  or 

KlMCARBlUX). 


By  u  Frumi  !•  Stati/iieal  InquirUs^ 


Origin  ofibi  Name. 

THE  origia  of  the  name  of  Abojnc  is mikiiown.  Tlui 
of  Gkntanar  is  evidently  derived  from  the  rivulet 
Tmar,  and  fignifies  the  glen  or  hollow  oocafiooed  b j  thst 
rivulet. 

Glcntanar  and  Infchmamoch,  at  a  remote  period,  mtde 
one  parifli ;  but,  from  the  poomeis  of  the  living,  they  were 
disjoined,  and  Infchmamocb  was  funiL  in  the  onitedpa^ 
riflies  of  Glenmuick,  Glengom,  and  Tullich.  Glentaaar 
vras  united  to  Abo jne ;  bat  after  the  bnilding  of  a  centrical 
church  at  Abojrne,  the  name  of  Glentanar  was  alfo  fook; 
and  the  pariih  is  now  genendlj  known  bj  the  name  of 
Abojae* 
L      -  Situatinfif 


I 


tf  Ahoyne  and  Glentanar.  297 

Situation,  Extent^'  C^c.-^Thefe  pariihes  are  fituated  ia 
the  county  and  fynod  of  Aberdeen,  and  prefbjtery  of  Kin* 
cardine.  The  church  is  30  Engliih  miles  fouth-weft 
fromt  Aberdeen,  and  nearly  the  fame  diftance  north-weft 
frond  Brechin.  The  cultivated  part  of  thefe  pariihes  ex- 
tends four  miles  from  eaft  to  weft,  and  three  miles  from 
north  to  fouth  ;  but  the  hills  of  Glentanar  extend  five  miles 
farther  to  the  fouth-weft.  The  river  Dee  is  generally  the 
boundary  between  the  two  parifhes,  Glentanar  lying  on  the 
fouth,  and  Aboyne  on  the  north  of  that  river.  Only  the 
lands  of  Balnacraig,  and  two  infulated  farms  in  the  pari(h 
of  Aboyne,  furrounded  on  all  fides  by  the  parifh  of  Birfe, 
ate  fituated  on  the  fouth  bank  of  the  Dee.  The  parifh  of 
Lochlee,  in  the  county  of  Angus,  whofe  church  Is  above  16 
miles  from  that  of  Aboyne,  bounds  this  parifh  on  the  fouth* 
weft.  In  the  county  of  Aberdeen  it  is  bounded  by  the  pa- 
rifhes  of  Glenmuicki  TuUich,  Coul,  Coldftone,  Logie,  Kin- 
cardine, and  Birfe. 

Ancient  Divifion  of  the  County.'^'The  different  hills  which 
nature  has  marked  out  as  barriers,  were  the  ancient  boun- 
daries of  counties  and  diftrids.  In  modern  times,  the  di« 
vifion  by  rivers  has  gained  ground.  But  in  thefe  pariihes 
the  county  of  Aberdeen  crofTes  the  river  Dee,  and  follows 
the  divifion  by  hills ;  and  in  this  dii{ri£t,  the  ideas  of  a  High- 
lander ftill  favour  the  divifion  bj  Mils  and  mountains.  The 
people  uniformly  call  all  that  extent  of  ground  which  is 
bounded  by  the  fenfible  horizon  by  the  name  of^  country. 

Mountains. — The  parifh  of  Aboyne  has  no  confiderable 
hills.  Glentanar  is  altogether  hilly,  and  approaches  to 
mountainous.  The  higheft  mountain  of  Glentanar,  called 
y^t  Fir  Mouthy  is  about  2500  feet  above  the  level  of  the  fea  ; 
and  commands  a  profpedl  of  Aberdeen,  Montrofe,  and  Ar- 

VoL.  XiX.  P  p  broath. 


fipS  Statijikal  Accwint 

1>roath*  Another  of  thefe  mountains,  Month  KeaUf  tf 
feen  firopi  the  coaft  of  Bttchan,  at  the  diftance  of  above  40 
miles,  and  ferves  as  a  barometer  to  the  interjacent  country. 
When  the  ^conical  top  of  Montb  Ktan  is  covered  with  a 
cloudy  the  people  in  the  lower  pares  of  the  count j  feUom 
fail  to  have  rain  within  24,  or  at  moft  36  hours. 

Rivers. — The  principal  river,  which  runs  through  the 
whole  extent  of  thefe  pariifaesi  is  the  Dee,  which  abounds 
in  falmon,  fea-trout,  and  bum<4rout9  or  fireih-water  trout. 
Thefe  are  only  caught  with  the  rod;  and  fell  at  from  3d.  to 
4  d.  per  Ih.  according  to  the  feafon  of  the  year.  The  infe- 
rior rivers  are  the  Feuch,  which  runs  along  the  lands  for« 
rounded  by  the  pariih  of  Birfe,  and  fiiUs  into  the  Dee  aboat 
II  miles  below  Aboyne;  the  Tanar,  and  the  AUacfajy 
which  runs  into  the  Tanar,  and  along  with  it  falls  into  the 
Dee  about  a  mile  above  Aboyne.  All  thefe  rivers  are  re- 
markably clear,  but  very  rapid,  and  fwell  fuddenly  to  a 
great  degree,  which  renders  them  very  dangerous. 

^00^.— Befides  a  confiderable  quantity  of  different 
kinds  of  wood  pianted  in  the  pari(h  of  Aboyne,  there  is  s 
very  large  fdreft  of  natural  wood  in  Glentanar,  the  gitareil 
length  of  which  is  //n,  and  the  breadth  fix  Engliih  miles. 
Thb  foreft  produces  Scotch  fir  (a  fpecies  of  pine)  of  a  very 
good  quality,  which  grows  on  the  fides  of  the  hills  \  but 
from  the  great  elevation,  no  wood  grows  near  the  top  of  the 
higheft  mountains.  There  is  a  great  demand  for  this  woodi 
which  brings  Lord  Aboyne  from  L.400  to  L.  500  yearly. 
It  was  fold,  till  lately,  at  3  d.  per  cubic  foot }  but  for  feme 
years  pad  at  4  d.  in  lots,  or  prizings^  as  they  call  it,  and  m 
picked  trees  at  5  d.  per  cubic  foot;  within  thefe  few  wecb 
(in  June  1796)  it  has  been  raifed  to  6d.  the  foot«  The 
axe-men  are  particularly  alert  in  picking  out  and  cutting 

down 


0f  Aboyne  and  Glentanar,  299 

down  the  largeft  trees.  But  the  expeoce  of  getting  tbem 
out  of  the  foreft  is  very  confiderable  ;  and  as  the  trees  are 
always  fquared  with  the  axe,  the  wood  is  not  fo  economi- 
cal! j  managed,  as  if  there  were  a  faw-mill,  and  proper  ma- 
chinery for  carrying  the  large  logs  from  the  foreft.  As  a 
proof  of  the  finenefs  of  the  wood,  the  writer  of  this  account 
numbered  130  concentric  circles  on  a  tree  of  zi' inches 
diameter  *• 

A  Canal  propofed. — ^If  a  canal  could  be  made  out  from 
Aberdeen  to  Aboyne,  this  extenfive  foreft  would  produce 
Ij«  1500  a-year  to  the  proprietor.     Perhaps  fuch  a  canal  is 
not  only  pradicable,  but  could  be  made  at  much  leis  ex- 
pence  than  might  be  expefted,  from  the  rapidity  of  the 
rivers,  and  the  great  elevation  of  the  pariih  of  Aboyne ; 
but  it  (hould  9ot  be  attempted  near  the  banks  of^  the  Dee. 
The  writer  of  this  account  believes,  that  by  raifing  ji  canal 
from  Aberdeen  at  once  to  the  level  of  Hazlebead,  there* 
would  be  almoft  a  ^tzA  level,  and  at  any  rate,  no  occafion 
for  more  than  one  lock  for  fix  miles  above  Hazlehead.  This 
canal  (hould  probably  be  carried  paft  Cannieglirach,  Hirn, 
Rameir,  ^aflel,  and  Kincardbe.    A  branch  of  it  could 
be  cooduded  paft  Skene,  Cluny,  Mooymuik,  and  perhaps 
pearly  to  Alford  \  and  till  the  increafing  commerce  of  the 
county  enabled  the  proprietors  to  make  out  locks  from 
Hazlehead  to  Aberdeen,  a  diftance  of  two'tpiles,  a  carriage- 
way could  be  ufed  at  a  moderate  expence.    With  a  little 
more  public  fpirit,  and  alfo  by  laying  out  their  money 
with  economy,  the  proprietors  of  land  in  Aberdeenihire 
may  make  out  canals,  where  they  at  prefent  account  them 

impraAicable. 

*  The  foreft  of  Glentanar  has  been  twice  burned ;  once,  as  was  fuppo- 
it^  by  accident.  The  yonng  wood  fufiered,  but  the  old  wood  received  i^o 
hurt,  except  being  a  little  iioged. 


300  Statijlical  Account 

impraSIcable.  And  from  the  great  extent  of  wafte  or  im« 
ini|. roved  land,  on  which  a  very  fmall  quantity  of  lime 
ivould  operate,  they  would  foon  be  indemnified  by  the  rife 
of  their  rents  for  the  expence  of  any  canal  which  wts  can- 
dncted  on  /ational  principles.  In  the  pariih  of  Aboyne,  in 
p:.!  dcttlar,  firom  the  rife  of  both  the  rent  of  the  lands,  and 
of  t)ie  price  of  wood,  a  canal  to  Aberdeen  would  be  at- 
tended with  moft  beneficial  efie&. 

Soil  and  .^^^fVtf/ffire.— Much  cannot  be  faid  in  behalf  of 
either  of  thefe.  The  foil  of  both  parUhes  is  (andy  or  gra- 
velly. In  fome  parts  it  is  loamy,  but  very  little  of  a  clay 
foil  is  found  in  either  of  thefe  pariflies.  In  rainy  ieafons 
abundant  crops  are  produced  ;  but  it  has  long  been  obfer- 
ved,  that  Dee-fide  needs  a  Ihower  every  34  hours,  from 
May  to  Auguft.  And  in  very  dry  Teafons,  from  the  qua- 
lity and  thinneis  of  the  foil,  this  difirid  is  very  deficicot 
*both  in  corn  and  draw.  Harvefts,  of  courfe,  are  earfier 
than  in  moft  parts  of  the  county.  When  the  foil  of  die 
lands  adjacent  to  the  two  principal  rivers  of  Aberdeenfiiire, 
the  Dee  and  Don,  are  compared,  the  latter  has  manifefily 
the  advantage  on  the  whole.    Hence  the  old  rhyme, 

A  foot  of  Don*s  worth  two  of  Dee, 
Except  it  be  for  fifli  and  tree. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  pariih,  however,  by  felling  their 
wood,  in  more  diftant  parts  of  the  county,  at  high  prices, 
contrive  to  live  comfortably.  At  the  £ame  time,  it  mv& 
be  confefTtd,  that  this  traffic  in  wood  is  a  lois  to  agrtcul« 
ture ;  and  fince  the  introdudion  of  the  new  hufbandry,  this 
diftrid,  which  is  admirably  adapted  for  raifing  barley,  tar« 
nips  and  potatoes,  receives  yearly  a  confiderable  quantity 
pf  lime,  which  goes  a  great  way  in  the  thin  foil  of  this  di- 

ftrift. 


of  Aboyne  and  Qlentanar.  30X 

fiiiCL      The  application  of  lime,  however,  to  this  foil,  (hould 

only  be  for  turnips,  potatoes,  or  bear  fown  out  with  grais. 

Y^et  the  farmers  do  fometimes  apply  it  to  fuccei&ve  crops 

of  oats  ;  a  mode  of  farming  which,  if  not  fpeedily  checked, 

muft  foon  reduce  the  foil  of  Dee>fide  to  a  caput  mortuum. 

Though,  among  the  farmers  in  general,  there  is  no  rotation 

of  crops,  nor  approved  method  of  hufbandry,  yet  the  Earl 

of  Aboyne's  perfonal  farm  is  in  very  high  cultivation.     It 

coniUb  of  nearly  400  acres,  all  inclofed  by  excellent  Hone 

fences,   lined  with  hedge-rows,  and  alternately  producing 

white  and  green  crops  \  and  it  proves  what  can  be  done, 

even  on  Dee-fide,  by  the  proper  application  of  foil,  manure, 

and  good  ploughing. 

PopmUutofif  lie. — ^The  number  of  inhabitants  is  1050. 
In  1755,  by  Dr  Webftcr's  account,  they  were  1695.  There 
are  foar  heritors,  vi%.  The  Earl  of  Aboyne,  who  is  patron, 
and  generally  refides  in  the  pariih,  Mr  Jones  of  Balnacraig, 
Mr  Farquharfon  of  Finzean,  and  the  Earl  of  Aberdeen. 
The  two  laft  have  only  a  fmall  farm  each.  The  Earl  of 
Aboyne  is  proprietor  of  five-fixtbs  of  the  parifh.  The 
whole  land-rent  is  about  L.  1200. 

Burgh  ^/"jSaroff;^.— Charleftown  of  Aboyne  is  a  pleafant 
little  town,  and  a  burgh  of  barony.  It  had  once  a  weekly 
market.    It  ftill  has  four  fairs  or  yearly  markets. 

Goat'Vjbey  garters. — In  the  parifli  of  Glentanar  agreat 
many  goats  are  kept,  and  perfons  afflifted  with  confump- 
tions  frequently  refort  to  goat-whey  quartets  in  that  pariih* 
Goatmilk  is  fold  from  4  d.  to  6  d.  per  pint.  It  is  alfo  made 
fpto  cbeefe;  and  is  much  efteemed  by  connoiiTeurs. 

Antiquities, 


302  Siati/iical  Account 

jinttquities.^^There  is  a  hill  ia  the  pariQi  of  Aboyne, 
called  Mullach's  hilli  in  which  there  are  a  great  nomber  of 
cairnsy  faid  to  be  burial-pla^es,  after  a  gfeat  battle,  in  which 
osie  Mnllach  was  killed. 

Proprietors  qffhe  EJlcUt  of  J^oyne,'-^T\m  effaite  ancient* 
Ij  belonged  to  Frafer  the  thane  of  Cowie.  The  Earl  of 
Marifchal  married  the  heirefs  of  that  eftate,  and  the  Mar- 
qnis  of  Huntl^  her  only  daughter,  IVfarifdial  kept  the 
lands  of  Cowie,  and  Huntlj  got  Aboyne,  which  he  gave  to 
{lis  fecond  fon.  That  young  nobleman  was  burned  to  death 
in  the  houfe  of  Frendraught,  where  he  and  fome  of  his 
friends  were  on  a  yifit.  Lady  Frendraught  was  fufpeded 
of  having  fet  fire  to  that  part  of  the  houfe  in  which  he 
lodged ;  but  it  is  flill  doubtful  whether  his  death  was  wil- 
fnl  or  accidental.  The  eftate  and  the  title  of  the  Earl  of 
Aboyne  were  given  to  another  fon  of  the  family  of  Hunt- 
ly.  But  in  a  few  generations,  the  Earls  of  Aboyne  were 
fo  much  reduced  in  their  clrcumftances,  that  the  lad  Earl 
fent  his  baggage  to  Paris,  becaufe  he  faw  he  could  not  hve 
in  Scotland  fuitably  to  his  rank.  Unwilling,  however,  to 
abandon  his  country,  he  ordered  it  to  be  brought  back,  and 
by  attending  to  the  management  of  his  eftate,  and  the  faie 
of  his  wood,  and  fclefting  able  overfeers  for  bis  pcrfonal 
farm,  he  foon  retrieved  his  affairs.  And  after  a  life,  not 
remarkable  for  its  length,  but  for  its  activity,  intelligence, 
and  fleadinefs,  he  left  a  clear  eftate  of  L.  6000  a-year  to  his 
eldefi  fon,  and  another,  about  the  third  part  of  that  value, 
to  his  iecond  fon.  In  an  age  in  which  diilipation  is  fo  pre- 
valent, a  cbarader  of  this  kind  ought  to  be  mentioned  with 
rcfpcft;  and  in  a  Statiftical  Account,  the  following  parti- 
culars regarding  Lord  Aboyne's  rural  economy  are  worthy 
of  notice. — He*  built  eigbtein  miks  of  a  boundary  to  his 
farm  and  plantations.  The  whole  ftone  fences,  including 
2  fubdivifioDS, 


of  Ahoync  and  Glentanar.  303 

fabdivifions,  muft  be  at  lead  40  Englifii  miles  in  length,  or 
above  feventy  tboufand  yards.    The  fences  are  about  five 
feet  in  height,  extremely  well  executed,  and  were  all  done 
by  days  wages,  or  by  men  hired  by  the  feafon.     He  dif- 
approved  of  bnilding  fences  by  the  piece,  as  they  are  (el- 
dom  durable.     He  lived  in  a  diflrid  where  the  price  of  la- 
bour was  low**,  bat  where  the  people  were  indolent.     By 
giving  them  employment,  and  introducing  overfeers,  and  a 
few  fisrvants  from  other  places,    where    agriculture  Was 
known  and  induftry  praAifed.  he  enabled  his  people  to  pay 
the  rife  of  their  rents,  and  taught  them  how  to  improve 
their  own  farms ;  and  by  generally  refiding  on  his  efiate, 
hb  rent /was  fpent  among  his  tenants,  and  enabled  him  to 
command  an  additional  quantity  of  their  labour  ^  at  the 
fame  time,  he  was  refpe&ed  in  a  much  higher  degree  than 
he  would  have  been,  if,  in  place  of  fpending  his  rents  in 
ufoful  and  productive  labour,  he  had  either  been  a  prodigal 
abroad,  or  a  mifer  who  lived  at  home,  but  would  not  part 
with  his  money  to  ornament  or  improve  his  eftate*    It  is 
only  proper  to  add,  that  the  writer  of  this  account  was  un- 
der no  obligations  to  him,  and  lives  30  miles  from  Aboyne, 
fo  that  he  can  have  no  motive  for  ftating  thefe  fa£b,  but  a 
defire  to  influence  our  young  nobility,  and  heirs  to  great 
eflates,  to  imitate  thefe  good  qualities,  and  to  be  at  once 
ufeful  to  them/elves  and  to  fociety.     For  let  it  be  remem* 
bercd,  that  private  vices  are  not  fo  great  public  benefits  as 
private  virtues  are  found  to  be.     The  eflute  of  a  prodigal 
is  often  |dcfiroyed,  without  employing  fo  much  ufeful  la« 
hour,  as  is  exerted  in  improving  the  eilate  of  a  man  of  a£li- 
vity,  intelligence,  and  public  fpirit. 

• 

Oai  Ship.^-At  would  be  improper  to  omit  mentioning, 
that  a  (hip,  entirely  of  oak  taken  from  Lord  Aboyne'i 

s  woods, 


304  Statifiical  Account 

woodSi  was  latelj  built  at  Aberdeen.  She  is  called  the 
Couateis  of  Aboyne.  It  were  to  be  wilhed  that  more  d- 
couragement  was  given  to  the  raifing  of  oak  than  is  com- 
monly given  in  this  country. 

Chara&er  of  tie  FiopU. — They  are  fober  and  alert ;  bnt 
not  fo  patient  of  labour  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  low  coon- 
try.  They  are  generally  very  decent,  and  regular  in  at* 
tending  on  religious  ordinances. 


NUM. 


^fBqyndie^  305 


NUMBER  XIL 


PARISH   OF    BOYNDIE^ 


(COUHTT  «  BaIT^F,  STWOD  OF  AbERDEEK|  PRESBTTEILT 

OF  Foedtge). 


From  Matiriats  eommunieated  by  tie  Aev.  Mr  Alexander 
MiLNEy  tie  Minifter. 


Namef  Situatitm,  He. 

THE  origin  of  the  name  b  unknown.  The  parifh  is 
bounded  bj  the  Murray  Frith  on  the  north  and  north- 
-weft;  by  Banff  on  the  eaft;  by  Ordiequhill  on  the  fouth, 
and  Fordyce  on  the  weft.  It  is  of  fmall  extent,  being  only 
five  Engliih  miles  long,  and  from  a  mile  to  a  mile  and  an 
half  in  breadth.  It  contains  abont  3000  acres,  above  one 
half  of  which  are  arable,  and  400  acres  are  planted  with 
'Wood  of  different  kinds,  but  chiefly  with  Scotch  fir. 

Vol.  XIX.  Q^q  Soil 


3o6  Statical  Account 

Soil  and  Agricuhure.^^TYi^  foil  of  the  parifli  is 
The  agriculture  is,  on  the  whole,  pretty  well  couduAcd. 
Though  the  parifli  is  of  fno^U  extent,  yet  there  are  generaOy 
from  60  to  70  acres  of  turnips,  and  300  acres  of  fbwn 
grais.  This  parifli  was  one  of  the  firft  in  the  north  of  Scot* 
land  in  which  the  new  hufbandry  was  attempted,  and  car- 
ried 00  with  fuccefi.  The  late  Earl  of  Fuidhiter  was  the 
author  of  all  thefe  early  improvements.  The  farm  of 
Craigholes  was  firft  improved  by  bis  Lordlhip  aboot  X754 ; 
and  after  improving  this  fariPt  to  (hew  whatcoold  be  dooc, 
he  took  every  method  of  excitiag  bit  tenants  to  follow  his 
example.  He  gave  them  long  leafes  of  38  years  and  a  life* 
time.  A  better  method  could  not  have  been  devifed.  The 
certain  period  of  3$  years  gave  his  tenants  a  fecuricy  for 
carrying  on  their  improvements.  The  uncertain  period  at 
which  the  leafe  terminated,  naturally  deterred  them  £ram 
fcourging  their  farms  when  once  improved,  becaufe  every 
man  flatters  himfelf  with  the  hopes  of  a  long  life.  From  the 
example  and  the  encouragement  of  Lord  Findlater,  the 
Hct  of  this  and  fome  of  the  neighbouring  pariihes  was 
fpeedily  altered.  But  though  turnip  and  green  crops  were 
encouraged,  and  flour- mills  wtre  built,  yet  a  regular  rota- 
tion of  crop  h^  not  been  eftabliflied,  nor  has  much  wheat 
been*  raifed  in  this  difirifi.  It  is  probable,  however,  that 
the  high  prices  of  flour  will  occafion  wheat  to  be  rsufcd  in 
greater  quantities,  though  for  a  light  foil  a  crop  of  turnips, 
and  another  of  barley,  is  lefs  fcourging,  and  generally  more 
produdive  than  the  Ibuth  country  praftice  of  kllow  and 
wheat. 

Rent. — The  rent  of  the  parifli  is  mofily  in  vifiual,  and 
varies  from  L.  1000  to  L.i200. 

Populaticn. 


rf  BbytuRe.  307 

Pofmlaiim. — The  number  of  inhabitants  is  1260;  of 
which  there  are  800  nearlj  in  the  countrj  pariihy  and  460 
in  the  fea-town  of  Whitehilk.  The  population  in  1755,  is 
flatcd  bj'Dr  Webfter  at  994  foub. 

Sea-town. — ^The  town  of  Whitehills  is  chiefly  inhabited 
by  fifliers.  There  are  feven  boats  employed  in  the  fiihery  ; 
and  they  are  generally  -vety  tuecefsftiL  llie^  ^iiikb  of  fifh 
principally  caught  are  cod,  ling,  and  haddocks ;  and  be- 
fides  coofiderable  quantities  fold  in  the  town  of  Banff,  and 
in  the  coontry  around^  the  fiiheis  generally  carry  tvtrj 
jet^  to  the  Frith  of  Fofth  cod  and  ling  to  the  amount  of 
L.  joo  or  L.  6oo. 

Siifmd,  C^»« — ^Tho  miliiftetHS  ftipead  is;  ioHfoney,  L.  39, 
and  in  vidual,  60  bolltf.  Th6  colledions  for  the  poor 
amount  to  about  L.25  yearly,  including  the  intercft  of 
L.  aoo  of  lent  money.  The  fchoolmafter's  falary  is  only 
9bollsofmeaL 


CbaraBer  oftbt  PeofJe, — ^They  are  fober,  induftrious,  and 
charitable.  From  the  long  leafes,  and  reafonable  rents  of 
the  farms  in  this  parifh,  the  people  have  not  that  fpur  to 
exertion  which  racked  rents  produce  for  a  feafon.  Bnt 
they  have  every  inducement  to  fteady  and  regular  induftry, 
wbieh  improves  both  tlieir  bodies  and  their  minds;  and 
they  are  ftrangers  to  that  defpondency«  hffitude,  and  dif- 
jgnSir  which,  after  a  few  years  unavailing  exertion,  take  pof* 
felfion  of  the  difpiritedi  hard-toiling,  and  difcontented  far- 
raer,  who  is  oppreiTed  by  a  rack-rent  and  fhort  Icafe,  and 
at.laft  becomes  carelefii  of  every  thing,  when  he  lees,  that 
with  all  his  induftry,  he  is  unable  to  pay  his  landlord  and 
maintain  bifs  family. 

NUM. 


3o9  Siati/Hcal  Accwnt 


NUMBER  Xin. 


PARISH  OF  SOUTH  KNAPDALE, 


(COUKTT  AKD    StNOD    OV  AroTLK,   PrESBTTE&T  Of 

Invzrart.) 


From  Mtatrialt  eomnnmieaied  fyjome  Gmtltmin 
m  thi  Parijb. 


Natni^  Situation^  lie. 

THAT  portion  of  Argylelhirc,  which  is  co&tiined  bc: 
tween  the  iftbmi  of  Crinan  and  Tarbert,  b  knows 
by  the  general  appellation  oiKnapdale^  or  Cnapadah^  a  term 
it  owes  to  the  flriking  inequality  of  its  furface.  It  is  bound- 
ed on  the  north  by  the  loch  of  Crinan,  and  track  of  the  in- 
tended  canal;  on  the  eafl  by  Lochgilp  and  Locbfine;  on 
the  fouth  by  the  ifihmus  and  lochs  of  Tarbert ;  and  on  the 
fouth-weft  and  weft  by  the  Sound  of  Jura.  Its  extreme 
length  from  north  to  fouth  is  about  x8  miles,  and  iu  great- 

eft 


ofSouib  Knapdale.  309 

eft  breaddi  firom  10  to  la.    It  is  interfieded  ftom  the  fouth 
hj  the  lochs  of  CaoEfport  and  Cafilefwen.    The  firfly  and 
moil  eafterly,  penetrates  about  £oixr  miks  into  the  cooi>- 
trjr,  and  derives  its  name  from  iu  narrownefs.    The  fecond 
owes  its  title  to  a  cafile,  ficnated  near  its  mouth ;  tvhich»  to- 
gether with  others  on  the  weftern  coafi,  were  ereded  as 
fiortrefles  hj  Swen,  the  Daniih  conqueror.    The  loch  ha- 
ving paffed  this  place  about  two  miles,  fends  off  a  branch 
to  the  weftward ;  and  continuing  its  courfe  for  two  or  three 
miles  fiirther,  expands  fuddenlj,^  and  fplits  at  once  into  fe>» 
▼eral  branches,-  refemUing  the  palm,  thumb,* and- Sogers  of 
the  hand.     The  Intervals  between  thefe  branches  are  finely 
diverfified  with  woods,  rocks,  fields,  and  (heets  of  water, 
wbich,  viewied  from  the  road  leading  from  Inverloflay  to 
Gliiflbrj,  exhibit  an  affemblage  of  contrarieties'  fe  wildly 
grotefque,  that  fane  j  can  hardly  image  a  landfcape  more  ez- 
quifitely  deHghtfuL    The  divifion  of  Knapdale  weftward 
of  tfai^  loch,  called  Rois,  is  of  excellent  quality.    Could  the 
foil  and  rocks,  with^which  it  is  unfortunately  ioterfperlied,  be 
feparated,  there  would  not  perhaps  be  a  more  fertile  fpotin 
Scotland.    The  country  to  the  eaftward,  if  we  except  the 
eftates  of  Caftlefwen  and  Hl^ap,  the  low  grounds  of  Inver- 
neil,  Ceannlocheaolifport  and  Ormfary,  th^  extenfive  plains 
round  Kilberry  Caftle,  and  a  few  patches  along  the  fea« 
coafts,  forms  a  counter-part  to  that  of  Rofs.    It  fwelJs'tnto 
high  and  rugged  mountains,  incrufted  with  mols,  and  ihroud« 
ed  with  heath.     The  ihore,  however,  where  not  arable, 
is  generally  covered  with  wood  ;  which  furniihes  excellent 
flielter,  and  proves  very  convenient  for  the  wiuter-pafiure 
of  black  cattle. 

•  Knapdale,  to  the  fouth-weft,  juts  out  into  three  great  pro- 
montories or  headlands.  The  moft  wefterly  is  called  the 
point  of  Kilvicoharmaig,  Its  fi  j^rc  is  fomewhat  like  that 
of  a  crefcent,  between  which  and  the  beautiful  peninfula  of 

Daona 


5IO  MmyUcid  Aee^wu 

Dumft  li€8  the  hirfaoor  of  Lochatkilk,  u  wakatmgt  Wd 
known  to  mtriiieffs.  Betwtea  the  lodit  of  GaAfe  aad  6i^ 
difport  is  the  ceture^pronmitoryt  or  poiat  of  Knap ;  aarf 
tho  pbiat  of  Ardpttiick  is  formed  by  a  baj  to  the  aoitliK 
weft,  ft&d  the  weft  lochof  Tarbert  to  theibath. 

Eeclifiafiical  SutU  lifihe  Pon^.— This  coantry  was  £ar* 
merlj  a  parfoaage  depeodaot  upon  the  abbots  of  Kihriimiiig. 
When,  at  the  IUfbrmatioa«  that  abbacy  was  converted  ia- 
Xo  a  temporal  lordfliip,  a  large  triao^  of  Knapdak,  adja- 
cent to  the  mouth  of  Weft  Lochtarbert,  was  anammd  to 
Kilcolmonel.  The  remainder  was  ereAed  into  a  paxiik, 
confiftiag  of  fix  feveral  places  of  WQsftup»  amoag  wUdi 
the  paftor  perCoraied  a  fort  of  cooftaat  iti^ra«y.  The 
incoavenieocy  of  a  charge  fb  extenfive,  and  (b  lateffaAad 
by  arms  of  the  fea,  was  equally  £elt  by  the  miaifter  and 
people  \  and,  upon  application  being  made  iAaot  75  yaass 
ago,  the  parifli  of  KnapdaJe  was  divided  iafo  the  pariftMs 
ef  Sooth  and  North  Kaapdales,  by  a  line  of  ieparatioa  ori- 
ginating at  the  fhore,  (oath  of  GafilefwcPf  rifing  about  a 
mile  due  eaft»  and  running  north  along  the  tnouatains  ciQ 
it  tenaioates  in  the  trafi  of  the  canal,  a  mile  eaft  of  Loeh- 
Crinan.  By  this  partition,  the  whole  point  of  Knap,  and 
.  glen  of  Caolifport,  was  included  in  South  Knapdale ;  but, 
4  though  it  had  acquired  nearly  double  the  extent,  the  fa- 
periority  of  North  Knapdale  fitted  it  tp  fupply  the  occa- 
fions  of  a  much  grca'ter  population. 

jlncUnt  ProfrietorSf  l^^.— -Power  alone,  in  the  ruder 
ages  of  fociet J,  conftituted  a  right.  No  other  title  was  ne- 
ceflary,  either  to  its  acquifition  or  maintenance.     The  Mac- 

.  millans  were  anciently  proprietors  of  Kilhamacgand  Knap. 
The  lali  of  the  name,  to  prevent  the  proftitution  of  his 
wife,  butchered  her  admirer,  and  was  himfelf  obliged  to 

. .  ,.:;  abfcond. 


^  Sautb  Knapdalc.  311 

abCcood.  Hia  charter  was  inferibed  in  the.Gacfie  ]aiiga;ige 
Mid  charaAer  npon  a  rock  at  the  eztremitj  of  his  eftate. 
It  proved  but  a  feeble  fecunty  agaiaft  the  rapacit  j  of  a 
barbarous  age.  The  property  was  coateSed  for  by  the 
Campbells  and  Macoeils,  the  latter  of  whom  were  a  power- 
fill  dan  in  North  Kaapdale,  and  decided  in  fiivour  of  the 
ibrmer  by  compromife*  It  continued  in  the  fame  finmily 
tiU  the  yeas  17 75*  when,  after  the  death  of  the  tenth  pof- 
feflToTi  the  eftate  was  purchafed  by  the  late  Lieutenant-Ge- 
aeral  Sir  Archibald  Campbell  of  InvemeiL  The  fword'of 
MacmWan  is  iaid  to  be  ftill  in  prefervation.  But  it  is  fin- 
oerely  to  be  regretted,  thift  the  infcription  was  defaced  by  a 
collateral  of  the  Knap  fsmily  about  30  years  ago.  Unlefs 
prompted  by  the  vanity  of  having  his  anceftors  confidered 
in  fotnre  as  the  aborigines  of  their  property,  it  is  difficult 
to  affign  a  probable  motive  to  an  aftion  fo  gothic*  Mac* 
millan's  mode  of  inveftment,  in  heritable  right*  is  not  with- 
out precedent.  The  Macmurachies,  of  old,  were  proprie* 
tors  of  Tcrdigan  and  Kilberrie,  lying  in  that  part  of  Knap- 
dale  annexed  to  Kilcolmonel.  Their  charter  is  alfo  engra- 
ved|  in  the  fame  language  and  charader,  upon  a  rock  near 
the  ihore  of  thefe  lands.  From  this  very  ancient  family, 
if  we  may  credit  the  popular  legend  of  the  country,  b  de- 
ficended  the  prefent,  but  unfortunate,  royal  line  of  France. 
Macmafier  of  Ceanolochcaoltfport,  Achahoiih,  and  Eilary, 
became  mailers  of  thefe  lands,  at  a  very  cariy  period,  by  the 
murder  of  Macavcrn,  the  ancient  proprietor.  A  pool  of 
the  river,  where  he  was  a-fifiiing  at  the  time,  and  cairn 
where  he  fell,  ferve  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  fatal 
cataflrophe.  llie  pool  is  c«tlled  to  this  day  Lin-eam-vica- 
vem,  I.  e.  the  Pool  of  Macavcrn '3  CHiro.  The  pofteriiy  of 
Macm»lter  were  eminent  fo:  their  dexterity  at  the  fword, 
and  their  activity  in  repelling  the  incurfions  of  neighbour- 
ing 


311  Siatiftkdl  Account 

iog  depredators.  Their  eftate  was  fold  hj  RonaU,  tUe 
laft  of  the  race,  to  the  late  Sir  James  Campbell  of  Achna- 
breck^  and  by  him  ^oiivejed  to  Campbell  of  ShirTen,  in 
the  poflefEon  of  whofe  familj  it  now  is.  The  Macneils 
and  Macmillansy  after  having  efiabliflied  themfelyes  along 
the  eaftem  coaft  of  Caolifport»  were  gradually  fopplanted 
by  the  Campbells*  The  formet  found  means  to  preferre 
the  property  of  two  or  three  farms  in  that  part  till  towards 
the  beginning  of  this  century,  when  they  were  ezcambioo- 
ed,  with  the  then  Argyle,  for  the  ifland  of  Coluflnay*  But 
by  far  the  moft  coniiderable  family  in  South  Knap^ale  was 
the  Macalafters  of  Tarbert.  Cantire  Ivas  at  that  time  beU 
by  the  Maodonalds;  and  the  Macalafters,  who 'are  allowed 
to  be  a  tribe  of  that  clan,  poflefled  almoft  all  the  lands 
around  Tarbert,  and  along  the  coaft  of  Lochfine  and  Locb* 
gilp,  to  the  extremity  of  the  pariih*  They  were  interrupt- 
ed in  the  poiTei&on  of  their  property  by  the  M acivers,  a 
reftleis  tribe  of  the  Campbells,  inhabiting  a  part  of  Glailarj, 
who  effe&ed  a  iettlement,  and  ereded  a  fort  of  fort  on  the 
weft  fide  of  Lochgilp. 

The  inroads  of  thefe  invaders  were,  for  fome  time,  ex- 
tremely vexations  to  their  fouthem  neighbours;  till  at 
length  they  were  overcome,  and  almoft  extirpated  in 
two  bloody  conflifis;  firft  with  the  Macneils,  neir  the 
mouth  of  Weft  Loch-Tarbert,  and  afterwards  with  the 
Macalafters  on  the  fliore  of  Lochfine.  The  fanguinaty  po- 
licy which  deprived  the  Macdonalds  of  Cantire,  gradually 
diminiflied  the  authority  of  the  Macalafters*  The  Mac- 
alafters became  mafters  of  Dael  and  Craiglafs,  now  the  pro- 
perty of  Macarthur  Stewart  of  Milton;  and  a  Peter  Dow 
Campbell,  taking  the  title  of  Kildufclan,  of  all  their  other 
lands  north  of  Inverneil.  Thefe  lands,  after  paiOng  through 
the  hands  of  the  Campbelb  of  Bamicarry  and  Aikemil, 
were  purchafed,  about  three  years  ago,  by  Mr  Macneil« 

late 


f>f  South  Knap4aie*  3 13 

late  wiittr  at  Inverary.  Four  other  fEurms,  belonging  to  the 
Macalafiersy  in  the  vicinitj  of  Tarbert,  are  now  in  pofleffion 
of  Macfarlan  of  Muckroj ;  and  three  more  in  that  of 
Campbell  of  Kintarbert.  The  remainder  of  the  eftate,  with 
the  manfion-houief  burnt  down  bj  accident  about  two  years 
fince^  was  purcbafed  by  the  late  Mr  Campbell  of  Stone- 
field.  Not  a  fingle  acre  is  now  in  poflefiion  of  the  Mac« 
alafters ;  and  the  ancient  dock  of  Macneils,  once  all  power- 
ful in  North,  and  numerous  in  South  Knapdale,  are  matters 
of  no  more  than  two  fiurms  in  the  former,  and  one  in  the 
latter  pariih,— ^ 

Sic  tranfit  gloria  mundi !  4 

When  northern  ferocity  had  involved  the  weftem  wdrld 
in  darkneisy  and  buried  the  arts  and  learnbg  of  venerable 
Rome  in  its  ruins,  it  was  the  peculiar  felicity  of  the  firft 
planters  of  Chriftiahity  in  Argylefhire  to  have  refaied  the 
facred  fpark  of  Science  from  eztinftion,  and  lighted  up  her 
torch  in  the  diilant  ifland  of  loHA.  Benevolence  feels  the 
generous  glow  of  fatisfadion  lyhen  it  reflet,  that,  whil^ 
the  ambitious  priefis  of  other  countries  were  defolating 
ftatesy  and  dethroning  princes,  the  devout  of  this  were  dif- 
feminating,  in  fequeftered  iflands  and  folitary  caves,  the  ge- 
nuine truths  of  that  religion,  which  announced  peace  on 
earthy  and  good  will  towards  men.  The  purity  of  its  doc« 
trines,  we  admit,  were  at  length  contaminated  by  foperfti- 
tion  and  legendary  fable  ;  but  the  gibbet  has  never  been 
ereAed,  nor  the  faggot  lighted  up,  for  the  deftrudien  of  the 
human  race. 

Monuments  of  primitive  Chriftianity  are  numerous  in 
Argylefhire,  but  no  where  more  frequent  than  in  South 
Knapdale,    Of  thefe  pious  relicb  there  are  four  ancient 

Vol.  XIX.  R  r  chapcb^ 


3T4  Statiftkdl  Account 

chapebf  which  have  fuffered  but  littk  from  the  nift  of  dme. 
A  fifth,  was  removed  by  the  MacaKfters  of  Ceannlochcaolif* 
port,  on  account  of  its  oontiguttj  to  their  houfe.  A  fixth 
at  Kilmalifaig,  and  a  feventh  at  GlenakiHe,  where  there 
are  burying-grounds,  may  poi&bly  have  ikared  a  fimilar 
&te.  Of  tbefe,  the  chapels  of  C0V5  and  IJUmimon  Ceem 
to  bear  marks  of  the  greateft  antiquity. 

Sk  Columbus  and  St  Patrick,  lays  tradition,  having  qaar- 
relied  about  a  point  of  faith,  determined  to  part*  The  for- 
mer, difgufied  with  Ireland,  fwore  never  more  to  (ee  it, 
and  fet  fail  for  Scotland.  He  landed  on  the  weft  coaft  of 
Iiocl^caolifport,  where  be.  built  the  chapd  of  Cove^  the 
walls  of  which,  till  of  late  years,  had  undergone  but  littfe 
dilapida^on.  Near  the  eud  of  th{»  church  is  a  cooiecntted 
cave,  which  gives  naioe  to  the  farm,  in  which  it  is  fitoatc^ 
I^  altar  and  font  iUll  remain^  and  over,  them  a  crols,  cut 
QQ  the  folid  rock,  by  no  uomaflcrly  cfaiflal.  Traditiflii 
a4di,  that  Columbus  having  diicovered  the  Irifll  coaft  from 
a^  adjoining  eoiinence,  deferted  the  plf  ce»  and  afierwaxdir 
founded  the  renowned  femioary  of  IcainmkilL 

The  following  anecdote  of  the  fain;,  whether  aaihcntie 
ot  i^ot,  ferves  tQ  prove  the  precarious  tenure  of  proper^  in. 
this  country  during  the  middle  ages  :-«»A  book  being  ab*. 
4ra£ted«  which  the  faint  particularly  valuedyhe,  in.  the 
overflowing  of  his  refitment,  dcnouooe4f  Uu»»  anarhe roak 
ffgainft  the  culprit : 

''  Fhir  athttgnaoo^molcabhar,^ 
^*  Gu  m  boidheach  a  bhios  do  bhean  ^ 
<*  Gu  ma  h  ard  a  bhios  do.  tbi^; 
**  Gu  lua  luath  a  bhios  do  threabhadh 
"  Agus  gtt.nio.dtas  a. bhios  doi  Uiailc.'' 

«  Thou 


of  South  Knapdale.  .    315 

^  Than  purloiner  of  mj  book,  be  thy  wife  handfome, 
^  and  thy  hoofe  lofty;  thy  tillage  eafyi  and  thy 
^  faxm  Ueft  with  a  hxppj  ezpofare/' 

Who  then,  in  the  iesercife  of  his  fober  fenlb»  t^ould  iU- 
tempt  to  break  the  b<mds  of  civil  fociety,  when,  by  intto- 
blueing  anarchy,  he  muft  convert  the  moil  darling  objedi  of 
^efire  into  our  greateft  ciirfe?  But  to  return. 

Near  the  well  coafi  of  Knap  lie  a  group  of  fmall  ifland^ 
the  mod  confiderable  ivhereof  is  Ellanmorekilvicohannaij^. 
Carmaig  wa3  an  ancient  proprietor  of  this  ifland.  Hb 
whole  family  confifted  of  a  grand-daughter,  Whb  ufed  t6 
amufe  herfelf  by  angling  on  the  Ihore,  which  is  furrounded 
Vrith  currents,  and  frequented  to  this  Say  by  VaUt  crouds  df 
filh.  It  happened  upon  an  occalion  of  this  kiiid,  that  a 
bone,  in  place  of  a  fifli,  came  out  with  her  line ;  ihe  uh« 
hooked,  and  threw  it  back  into  the  fea.  Again  and  again 
it  came  out  in  like  manner.  Chagrined  with  difappoint- 
menty  (he  carried  it  home,  and  put  it  into  the  fire.  Th6 
whitenels  of  its  a(bes  Aruck  her  fancy.  She  •endeavoured 
to  preferve  them ;  but,  burning  her  finger  in  the  attempt, 
tnflindively  dapt  it  into  her  mouth.  By  this  means  fhe 
became  pregnant  of  the  faint,  whofe  fupernatural  gifts  were 
to  long  to  furvive  himfelf.  He  founded  Kilvicoharmaig, 
the  mother  church  of  Knapdale  ;  and,  after  a  life  i^ent  in 
aAs  of  piety  and  devotion,  was  buried  in  hss  native  iiland. 
His  tomb,  %  little  oblong  building,  elevated  about  three 
feet  above  the  ground,  remains  uninjmred  by  time.  The 
fiunt  b  faid  to  refent,  with  the  rooft  fummary  vengeance, 
the  leaft  indignity  ofiered  to  this  monument.  Near  his 
tomb  is  a  (mall  chapel,  built  by  himdelf.  It  is  arched  over, 
and  covered  with  flags.  Within,  in  a  recels  of  the  wall,  is 
a  (lone  colGn,  in  which  the  prieds  are  (aid  to  have  been 
depofiied.    The  figure  of  a  naked  man  is  cut  on  its  cover. 

The 


3 1 6  Statijiical  Account 

The  coffin,  alfo,  for  ages  back,  has  feryed  the  faint  as  i 
treafurj;  and  thb,  perhaps,  might  be  the  purpofefpr  which 
it  was  originally  intended.  Till  of  late,  not  a  firaogcr  fet 
foot  on  the  ifland,  who  did  not  conciliate  his  fisToor,  bj 
flcopping  a  fmall  coin  into  a  chink  between  its  cover  and 
fide*  Upon  an  eminence,  not  bx  off,  is  a  pedeftal  with 
a  crois,  and  the  figure  of  a  naked  man  \  and  near  to  the 
profs  is  a  cave,  pofieffing  the  wonderful  power  of  franfing 
llerility  in  every  perfon  who  dares  to  enter  it.  This  ma- 
gic iiland,  if  we  may  believe  the  legendary  (lory  of  the 
&int,.  poflefled  many  fingular  qualities.  Nothing  coold  be 
jilolen  from  it  that  did  not  of  itfelf  retom.  The  mafter  of  a 
vefiel,  conceiving  a  liking  to  the  crofs,  carried  it  along  with 
him  \  b^t,  being  overtaken  by  a  ftorm  at  the  Mull  of  Can- 
tire,  was  obliged  to  throw  it  overboard  ;  it  floated  back  to 
a  creek  of  the  iiland,  called,  from  that  circumftance.  Port* 
nacroijb^  i.  f •  the  Harbour  of  the  Crois.  Miracles  were 
performed  by  the  faint  for  many  ages  after  his  death.  At 
length  a  woman,  labouring  under  a  dyfentry,  addrefied  him 
from  the  oppofite  fhore,  in  the  following  verfes^ 

<*  'S  mife  bean  bhochd  a'  Braidealban 
<'  A  m'  iheafamh  air  lie  Mba*  Charmaig 
*'  So  naomh  ann  an  Eilean  na  fairge 
*^  Thig's  tog  a  bhuineach  o  m'earbal." 

It  was  an  unlucky  bufinefs  for  the  invalids  of  thofe  days, 
The  faint  granted  her  requeft ,-  but  was  fo  fcandalifed  by 
^he  indelicacy  of  her  language,  that  he  became  deaf  to  the 
prayers  of  his  votaries  ever  after. 

The  cave  preferved  its  reputation  till  of  late  ;  and,  but 
for  the  following  untoward  accident,  would  have  remained 
an  objed  of  terror  tfll  this  day.  A  pair,  more  folicitoos 
about  gratifying  thi^ir  paflions  than  promoting  the  political 

intercil 


of  South  KnapdaU.  3^7 

intereft  of  their  countrj,  went  into  it,  with  a  Tiew  to  bring 
its  infloence  to  the  teft  of  experiment.  They  were  dilap- 
pointed.  The  female  became  pregnant,  and  the  whole 
■eighbourhood  fceptics.  Though  the  miraculous  excellen- 
cies of  this  ifland  have  now  ceafed,  they  are  amply  com- 
penfated  to  the  proprietor  by  a  natural  one.  Not  a  patch 
in  the  Highlands  is  fitted  to  produce  beef  or  mutton  of  a 
fuperior  quality. 

The  chapel  or  church  of  Kilmory-knap  feems  to  have 
been  the  moft  confiderable  in  South  Knapdale.  Its  walb 
are  almoft  entire.  A  beautiful  obiliik,  or  crois»  (lands,  on 
the  north  fide  of  the  burying-ground.  It  confifts  of  a  fin- 
gle  ftooe,  neatly  cut,  and  twelve  feet  in  height ;  On  one 
fide  is  reprefented  a  fiag-chace ;  and  on  the  other,  the  cruf 
cifixion  of  our  Saviour,  fufpending  a  balance.  There  is 
alio  an  infcription,  which  the  compiler  of  this  account  had 
not  time  to  examine.  It  is  faid  to  be  in  the  Hebrew  or 
Gallic  charader. 

Kilduflan  is  a  fmall  chapel  on  the  fliore  of  Lochgilp.  It 
exhibits  nothing  ftrikbg ;  and  tradition  has  forgot  to  inroU 
it  in  her  ample  page. 

About  25  years  ago,  the  tenants  of  Ceannlochcaolifport 
difcovered  fix  or  feren  fione  coffins  in  a  potato-field,  not 
far  from  the  place  where  the  chapel  formerly  ftood.  They 
were  of  difierent  fixes  *,  but  all  of  them  too  (hort  to  contain 
a  human  body.  They  were  placed  in  the  dire&ion  of  eaft 
and  weft,  and  all  empty,  except  one,  in  which  a  fmall  frag- 
ment of  human  bone  was  found.  Perhaps  tlie  cuflom  of 
burying  the  dead,  with  the  head  towards  the  weft,  was  an- 
terior to  the  aera  of  Chriftianity,  and  borrowed  by  the  pri- 
mitive Chrii^ians  from  fome  pagan  fuperftition.  Th^fe 
coffins  may  have  been  placed  by  the  Druids,  as  receptacles 
for  the  afties  of  their  dead.  The  bone  difcovered  may  have 
))eeo  rendered  Icfs  perifliable  by  a  pmiial  calcination.     Ic 

muft 


51 8  Siaiffiicml  Accwmt 

mnSi  becottfcfledt  however,  that  though  the  drnidiad  teiB' 
pics  he  fceqneat  in  Argjleihuey  and  coamonly  suet  wiA 
io  plaifii  like  this,  jct  not  the  leafi  veftife  of  any  is  te  be 
^cohere* 

The  followiiig  cooplet  has  been  handed  down  by  the  ge« 
WsdogaOs  of  this  place : 

Colmonel,  Clan  A  gorrj,  Barrj,  Clan  Mnradiie, 
Mac  Charmai|^  Clan  Neill»  Martin,  Clan  Dooachie* 

It  is  addnced  in  evidence  that  Saintt  Cohnonel,  Banj, 
Macoharmaigt  and  Martin,  were  of  the  clans  therein  roca- 
doned.  The  probability  b,  that  thefe  fathers  floDriifaed  st 
a  period  OHich  anterior  to  oor  earKeft  accounts  of  thefe 
clans )  and  that,  infiead  of  being  of  the  fame  race,  they  hsd 
been  adopted  as  their  tutilaries.  The  bell  of  St  Barry's 
Chapel  is  ftill  io  prefervation  at  Kilberry  Cafile,  and  hal 
been  long  prollitated  to  the  ignoble  pnrpofe  of  fiunmoniog 
the  fervants  of  that  family  to  their  meab.  It  is  in&ribed 
with  the  laint's  name,  in  the  Lstin  language  and  Saxon 
charader,  but  unfortunately  without  date.  The  reviva]  of 
bell-founding,  if  loft  in  the  middle  ages,  and  the  period  st 
which  the  Saxon  alphabet  was  introduced,  might  {throw 
light  on  its  antiquity.  T*here  are  very  many  Kilmorys, 
and  not  a  few  Kilbridcs,  in  this  part  of  the  Highlands.  Tbe 
former  have  likely  been  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  aod 
the  latter  to  a  faint,  whofe  fame  has  reached  far  and  wide, 
fince  we  find  that  there  are  not  only  farms,  but  pariflies,  of 
this  name  in  the  low  country.  It  may  reafonably  be  coo- 
oluded,  that  they  are  of  le(s  remote  antiquity  than  fome  d 
thofe  already  mentioned.  It  was  not  till  the  church  be* 
came  grolsly  corrupted,  that  the  Virgin  was  recogoifed  in 
an  intercefTory  charader ;  and,  as  the  fame  of  modeft  merit 
rarely  extends  to  a  difiance,  there  is  caufe  to  believe  that 

St 


^fbutb  KnapJhU.  3  tf 

St  Biicfe  might  either  be  one  of  thefe  miracTe-xnaking  jug- 
glers, which  too  often  difgnced  religion ;  or  that  her  me- 
Bory  has  been  manufaftared  by  fubfequcnt  prieftcraft,  to 
miniRer  to  the  occafions  of  its  vanity  or  its  avarice. 

The  collifion  of  oppolite  dodrioea,  and  the  cruelties  in- 
tided  by  the  orthodox^  previous  to  the  Reformation  of  re«- 
Kgiottt  were  unknown  here.  Motives  of  intereff^as  well'as 
reafon,  induced  our  chie&  to  become  of  the  Proteftant  per- 
fuaiion^  and  their  example  was  readily  followed  by  the  po- 
pulace. Common  fenfe  was  infolted  by  our  clergy ;  but 
in  no  other  refped  had  they  injured  us.  The  cafe  was  d^^ 
Cerent  with. the  reformed  of  other  parts.  They  had  expe- 
rienced the  full  force  of  hierarchical  tyranny.  Their 
wounds  were  ftill  bleeding,  and  they  were  hurried  by  re- 
ientment  into  exceflesy  hardly  inferior  to  the  abufes  they 
affeded  to  corred.  It  is  to  our  honour  that  the  fame  doc- 
trinal unanimity  continues  ftill  to  prevail  among  us.  Of 
the  fix  pariflies  which  conftitutes  the  preftytery  of  Inve- 
rary,  there  is  hardly  a  fingle  diflcnting  native,  either  of  the 
Komifli  or  Seceding  church  \  and  the  fum  total  of  ftranger 
Ctfholics  in  South  Knapdale,  amounts  to  no  more  than  one 
^rwonoaa  from  Perthftiirie. 

ExieMif  l^f .— This  pariQi  is  in  length,  from  fouth  to- 
north,  about  10  computed  miles,  and  16  in  breadth.  It  is' 
fituated  in  the  county  aod  fynod  of  Argyle,  and  preiby tery 
of  Inverary.  The  foil  is  chiefly  of  a  mofly  nature,  incum- 
bent on  aifaratum  of  land ;  but  in  the  lower  grounds  it  ia 
a  good  loam.  Very  little  of  the  parifli,  however,  is  arable ; 
and  that  which  is  ploughed  or  dug  with  the  fpade,  produ- 
ces in  general  fo  very  light  crops,  that  it  is  reckoned  more 
profitable  to  throw  it  into  (heep-walks,  or  pafture-land  for 
cattle.    The  grains  chiefly  fown  are  oats  and  bear.    Every^ 

where 


320  Statyiical  Accomt 

where  potatoes  are  culdTated  with  great  care,  and  of  late 
Che  J  conftitttte  the  principal  food  of  the  inhabitants* 

Cltmaii  and  DiJia/is^'^Tht  country  being  mountainous 
and  adjacent  to  the  weftem  ocean,  heavj  rains  ate  fre- 
quent  in  fpring,  fummeri  and  autumn.  The  winter  is  ex- 
tremelj  fiormy ;  fnow  is  (bmetimes  veiy  deep,  and  htA  is 
generallj  of  (hort  duration.  The  inhabitants  are  common- 
Ij  very  healthy,  and  many  of  them  live  to  a  confiderable 
old  age.  The  moft  prevalent  di&a&s  are  the  (inall-poZy 
fevers,  and  colds. 

Riv€rs.^TheTt  are  feveral  rivers  in  the  parifli,  all  of 
which  abound  with  trout  of  an  excellent  flavour.  In  dry 
weather  aU  the  rivers  are  fordable ;  but,  owing  to  the  heavy 
rains  that  fall  on  the  mountains,  they  often  rife  very  fud- 
denly  to  a  great  height,  which  renders  them  wholly  na* 
paflable. 

Roads.'^The  roads  are  extremely  bad,  efpecially  in  win* 
ter.  The  befl  is  a  part  of  the  great  road  on  the  call  fide  of 
the  pariih,  which  leads  from  Inverary  to  Campbelton.  It 
was  made  by  the  fpirited  exertions  of  the  Duke  of  Argyle, 
affifted  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  county.  In  fome  places 
it  is  formed  on  the  fea-ihore,  through  a  ridge  of  ruggid  rocks, 
24  feet  at  leaft  perpendicular  above  the  fea. 

Minis  and  Mineral  Springs. — In  that  part  of  the  parifh 
that  belongs  to  Sir  James  Campbell  of  Invemeil,  there  is  a 
lead  mine  that  had  been  wrought  feveral  years  ago.  In 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  mine  a  few  mineral  fprings 
make  their  appearance ;  but  no  experiments  on  the  virtue 
of  their  waters  has  yet  been  made. 

Moutttainim 


iff  South  Knapdak:.^  521 

Moatttauu^'^f  thefe  there  is  no  fcarcitj.  The  moft 
remarkable  are  Cruacb  Lufacb^  u  e,  the  hill  of  plants  or 
herbage,  from  the  great  number  of  herbs  growing  on  it ; 
and  Siiabb  Gavf//(a  mountain  feparated  at  both  ends).  It 
is  twelve  miles  long,  and  eight  broad  4it  the  bale  \  it  be- 
longs to  the  Duke  of  Argyie. 

Wooib  and  Caves^-^^mt  parts  of  the  parilh  abound  with 
natural  woodsy  or  coppices  of  oak,  aih,  birch,  and  hazeL 
Several  of  them  are  well  inclofed  with  proper  fences*-^ 
Although  there  are  not  a  few  caves  in  the  parilh,  yet  none 
are  of  confequence  but  one,  near  which  i§a  chapel,  with  an 
altar  and  foot.  The  farm  in  which  it  is  fituated  is  called 
the  Cove. 

Ecebfiafiiedt  State. — ^This  parilh  <:ontaios  three  jdaces 
of  worftiip.  One  is  at  Tarbert,  thirteen  computed  miles 
from  the  church  at  which  the  minifter  refides.  In  this 
ehapel  it  was  the  cufiom,  till  of  late,  for  the  roinifter  to 
preach  every  fixch  Sabbath  :  Now  a  miifionarjr  is  eftablifli- 
<d  there  by  the  Society  for  Propagating  Chriftian  Know- 
ledge. There  is  another  chapel  about  five  miles  from  the 
church.  The  prefent  incumbent,  Mr  Daniel  Hyndman, 
was  admitted  to  the  charge  in  1771.  His  predeceflors 
were,  Mr  Patrick  Pollock,  firft.  miniller  of  this  parifh,  after 
the  disjundioR  from  North  Knapdale;  and  Mr  Hugh 
Campbell,  now  ndniiler  of  Kilmartin.  The  Xing  b  pa- 
tron. 

The  prefient  incumbent,  when  he  came  to  the  pariih, 
found  neither  axhurch,'or  proper  place  of  worihip,  in  the 
whole  bounds.  There  was  not  a  glebe  nor  manfe.  The 
fiipend  was  only  L.  47,  with  L.  i^  x6  s.  for  communion- 
elements.  In  the  year  I772»  he  was  under  the  neceffity  of 
'^uing  the  heritors  at  law  before  he  could  prevail  upon  them 

Vol.  XIX.  Sf  to 


ioMlizkifk.  ^ti^£oiMM,ftr  the^^oTAlfyteip 
ft  ftei^  Hi  tb€  fields.  Iir  flk^  jcf«r  17^0^,  h^  ^sftervi  a 
jAh^ffof  augmeftttftioA  agsMrft  thieter;  atM  hi  x77j>  ob- 
taiara  a  ck^reet  of  te'ooifitenoii  rot  fboBfi  €tt€  Sptnit  A 
Ibur  cHaiAfn  of  viftiid;-  oml  hdf  dft-ifteil,  ih£  MxethaS 
heart  with  L.  600  Soots,  and  L.  40  Stdts  §6^  tomfltaniMi^ 
elements ;  a  fum  by  far  too  finall  for  defrajing  the  czpen- 
teaf  of  Ai:  Commnqioi^  lA  fo  popMoftf  a  piii^.  At  there 
hrnoxibinfe»  th6  herrtorii  aUdw  L.  10  St^rHAg  pir  mm/tim 
WtS  one  i»  buIK. 

ki^iiffri^  6^e.Mfth€Hi  ate  eleven  fflbptieim  in  tke  p»- 
JftRtt  dl  #KMif  t^o  onlj  are  #e1ideAt.  There  sve  four  te- 
nants who  occupy  eztenfive  iarms.  One  of  theoa  psyi  of 
rent  yearly  L.  256,  another  L.  105,  a  third  L.  103 ;  all  ez- 
plufiie  6t  pMBt  hutdcns;  Th<r6  a  tf  MrfideHrble  bmiaber 
pf  fihalfer  tenants. 

Poor. — The  number  of  poof  on  the  parifb-r^  is  15. 
They  are  fupported  by  thtf  inteteft  of  L«  ao»  which  ws 
mortified  by  the  lat^  Cath^bell  of  Stonefiild.  To  this 
Y^ry  £h&all  (vitn  is  added  f he  coB^dions  at  the  dnirch,  which 
fire  eztremdy  inconfidcrable. 

Population  0/ South  Kkapdah  hi  ihiynar  1 79$. 


Maki, 

FemuleSf 

Under  10, 

255 

Under  10, 

107 

From  10  to  ao. 

Z18 

From  10  to  10, 

^ 

From  ao  to  50, 

aSi 

Froin  20  to  50, 

307 

From  jo  to  70, 

95 

Frohi  50  tb  76, 

109 

From  70  to  90, 

30 

From  yo  to  92t 

20 

Total  malwi  7^9        totsd  Fem»le»,  73J 

f  (!tt3  populafiofi,        1^14, 


Of 


oy  South  Kngp49i^^  ^i 

Pf  theie,  236  are  married;  15  widowers,  9^4  ^9  T^^- 


Marriages  in  Z793f 
Births  in  1793, 

« 

10 
3^ 

Na.  of  Clerg J,  parochial  aad 
Refiding  heritors, 
Tackfinen  •, 

miPoaary^            ^ 

4 
3 
7 

S€tM>oto«fier99 
Tenants, 

Cottagers,                * 
Male  lervants^ 
FjBipale  ferv^tSf 
Mafonsi  ftraogcrs, 
M^ons,  Hiffhlande;?, 
Joiners,  ftran^ers. 
Joiners,  natives. 

^ 

3 

89 
»58 

«4 
»9 

i 
4 
5 

; 

Shepherds,  flrapgersi 

Shepherds,  natives. 

Improvers,  EngHfli, 

Gardeners, 

Smiths, 

MiUeis, 

Shoemakers, 

• 

a 
«4 

3 
S 

5 

6 

«3 

Dyers, 

* 

X 

No. 

«  Bf  taekfiucii  it  imdeiaoodi  Ibob  m  Jm&'Om  qTjd^  frivt ;  4iid  .1^ 
tearatt,  fbdb  as  nept  only  ao  Iwlf,  fi  fwtb^  fv  m  ^g^lh  ()f ^^  <AVn..  ^iQOfg 
C9tt^9Hiy;^e  inclfvMt  J^Ot  9n|]r  d^y4«b<mren,  bvt  aU.ftnraflts,  w)io,  ^. 
Tuig  famijif^  receivf  liverj  meal  for  their  board.  There  ve  few  men  in 
the  parifli  who  have  not,  at  one  time  or  other,  ferred  in  the  boanty^'fiihing 
vdSeb ;  and  by  boonty^fifliefs,  it  nieant»  fuch  as  wm  ip  .d«t  cnphiy  das 
ftafioQ.  Htf  f4ydc,<ftrr»  is^jw  mijpdlpoil,  t|i^  cawvy  of  iUc^  ^^9  ft 
pucfiie  t^^Okii)|(  ip  the  <Ht^  ^  Ciy^,  i^id  l9c|^  ^9ipiiVK»  during  tl^ 
Ceaibn  ;  and,  by  Caolifport  and  Knap  iUhen,  fnch  as  attend  to  it  QO  lonftf* 
tlwi  ^|)U«  the  hmngi  coDtiinit  in  LodHcaolifi^oit, 


324                   Statical  Acconi 

No.  of  Tailors, 

19 

Weavers, 
Soldiers, 

»9 
4 

Bounty  fifhers, 
Frith  of  Cljde  fifliers, 
Caolifport  and  Knap  fiflien. 
Boat-carpenters, 
Publicans, 

5^ 

40 

80 
3 
9 

Comparative  Population  ofSouib  Knapdak. 
No  documents  are  to  be  found,  whereby  the  general  po> 
pularion  of  South  Knapdale,  at  any  former  period,  can  be 
ezaflly  afcertaincd ;  nor  are  there  toy  records  of  births, 
marriages,  and  deaths,  from  which  conclnfions  of  that  kind 
can  be  drawn.  The  compiler  of  the(e  has  feleded  cmt  the 
fiu-ms  in  which  the  greatelt  variation  has  happened,,  and  ob- 
tained lifts  of  their  former  inhabitants  from  tenanta  pof- 
fiefling  them  at  the  time*  fpeoified : 

KilmalieaigandDrimdriIhaig,in  X768'r    &x  b  X796,  52 

Ormfray,                   .                      1784,  149^  » 

Lochhead,                 -                     I77«»  108  34 

Barmore,         -                     -         »77S»    4^  5 

Invemul,                 -                      1768,  147  34 

Oacfield  and  Brackley,                 X782,  191  81 

li6  239 

Diminution  of  population  in  thefe  farms,  477. 
In  the  year  1772,  when  the  prefent  incumbent  took  the 
lift  of  the  inhatntants  of  the  parith  with  a  very  particular 
exaftnels,  the  population  confided  of  x6oo  fouk.  Accord- 
ing to  Dr  Webfier's  lift^  in  X755>  it  amounted  to  1292.  In- 
creafe  fince  that  period,  188. 

The  emigrants  to  America  fince  X763,  amount  to  X75  ^ 
of  thefe,  about  100  emigrated  in  1774  and  fince  the  pre- 
fent war  commenced. 

Hclding^ 


rfSotdb  KnapdaJe.  325 

RoUing  of  South  Knapdab. 

Sbccj^                .                    -  -             yooa 

Black  cattk,                 .                         •  3000 

Horfes,                 -   .                     -  .               25a 

Henfial  in  177a,  -  •  L 1003    o  ^  o 

Rental  in  1796,  -  2335     5    C 

The  (Upend  of  South  Knapdaie,  as  eftabliihed 

by  decreet  of  modification  anno  i775»  is, 
Vidoal,  four  chalders,  half  bear  half  meal, 

converted  at  -  -  L-  33  ib    • 

Money,  -  .  .  53    4    o 

Total,        L.86  14    o 
Scfaoohnailer's  falar j,  -  -  L.  7    o    o 

Za«^trii^^.— -The  Gaelic  is  the  preTailing  language  fpo» 
ken  in  the  parifli.  The  Engliih  has  of  late  fpread  coniider*^ 
ably,  oiving,  tn  a  great  meafure,  ta  young  people  travelling 
to  the  low  country,  and  returning  home  after  they  acqui* 
red  the  language^ 

CharaBer  of  the  PeopA^^^Thc  inhabitants  are  in  general 
adive,  induftricus,  and  humane.  They  are  extremely  fet 
dom  guilty  of  any  kind  of  immorality,  that  can  ezpofe 
them  to  puniihment  by  law. 

fj^mfi.— The  herring-fiOiing  occupies  a  confiderable 
inmber  of  people.  The  fifli  annually  frequent  an  arm  of 
the  fea  on  the  weft  of  the  parifli.  It  is  called  Loch^aoHf 
poftf  which  fignifies  a  fmall  loch,  with  a  harbour.  The 
berrings  alfo  frequent  Loch -fine,  which  bounds  the  parifli 
•n  the  nordi-eaft     The  value  of  tbefe  fiflabgs  will,  it  is 

believed 


90^  SiaiiMirai  d^^^mt^ 

bdkved,  be  incrfpfej  1^  U^e  .Cn9U  ^Cftnil,  t  copfidenilile 
part  9f  which  rnns  through  the  parifli. 

Jiifaivamiagit^-^The  peopk  here  labour  under  many 
dUadvantages,  which  are  great  obfiades  to  their  preient 
happiaeis  asd  inproTeineiit.  The  want  of  fraper  ichods 
fdr  the  edncatioQ  of  youth  is  none  of  the  leaft.  Thcte  ii 
not  a  parochid  ichool^  ^^  .diofe  ^Mifhrd  byjtjbe  So- 
ciety cannot  accooMnodfilp  gSi  tl^e  chil^reoi  JBMpj  of  whom, 
owing  to  local  fituations,  h/trc  if  JD|ot  j^  tfixir  |(ower  tp  ^• 
t^  tl^eau— The  diftance  from'market^towns^  9faA  jtik  bvd 
^e  f)f  tf^e  roads,  aie  complained  of  as  very  great  Iiar4(^ps> 
—The  icarcity  of  'good  fuel  is  feverely  felt  by  all  the  io- 
habitants ;  peat  and  turf  are  univerlally  uliMl ;  but  whea 
tli^  b^Io^  for  cafimg  them  is  wet,  which  js  not  ^(mfiqp^ueDtljr 
the  caCe,  the  poor  people  (aStt  beyond  de&ription;  and 
evm  ddiough  thf  fcafen  is  frT^Nxrab^  ip  pn»=&  ,cf  ^ 
time  is  necejOarily  ipefit  ix^  preparing  f^Oft  peats^  ibpt  m^ 
tWngs  of  impoMnos  j»  i^gFiciikiVR^  4^  m^  ))e.qfQMtf|Dd. 


NUM. 


i^  <i  friin/i  to  Staii/licai  En^ulrbs. 


SHuaiitm^ 

IN  Stonnoiity  a  beautiful  and  fertile  fubdi\afion  of  Pertd- 
fhiret  is  pleafantly  fituated  the  parifli  of  KincIaveUi 
It  is  under  the  ecclefiaftical  jurifdiftioa  of  the  prefbyterj  of 
Dttukcldy  and  fynod  of  Perth  and  Stirling.  l*he  bounda- 
ries arc,  Csrgill  on  the  eafi;  Caputh  ot  the  north}  and 
Anchtergaven  on  the  weft  and  fbuth. 

Climate  and  Sail. — The  climate  is  not  greatly  ezpofed  to 
the  fttdden  and  frequent  viciflitudes  of  heat  and  cold,  rain 
and  droughty  which  feldom  fail  to  afied,  in  no  fmall  degree, 
the  agricultural  operations,  in  diftrifis  adjacent  to  the  w^ftem 
cMfis  of  Scotland^  or  in  the  immediate  vicinitj  6f  the  high 

motmtaiffii 


DKNiiitaiiis  and  eztcnfire  ridges  of  hillt  in  PeidiftiR. 
Owing  in  a  great  meaiiire  to  the  mildnefr  of  the  climate, 
and  partlj  perhaps  to  other  caufin,  this  plafce  is  believed  aoc 
to  be  produftive  o^  or  to  fofler,  any  epidemical  diftemper 
mmongft  the  inhabitants,  who  are  generally  firong  and 
healthy.— The  foil  is  moftly  light  and  iharp,  contsining 
great  numbers  of  water-worn  ftones,  many  of  which  are,  is 
ibme  places,  fo  large,  as  to  obftnid  the  operations  of  tbe 
plough.  The  moorlands,  and  higher  parts  of  the  paiiih, 
contain  in  their  foils  a  fmall  proportion  of  moOy  earth.  A 
rich  black  loam  conftitutes  the  foil  of  fome  of  the  grouods 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Amtully.  The  furfiwe  is  diver- 
fified  with  a  few  rifing  grounds,  all  of  which  are  acceffible 
to  the  ploogh,  «nd  are  not  elevated  to  a  great  height  above 
the  level  of  tbe  fea.  From  fome  of  them,  however,  the 
profpeds  are  diverfified,  and  very  pleaianc 

.^d^^arftsr^.— Agriculture  is  here  carried  on,  in  feveni 
places,  with  confiderable  knowledge  and  ezerti^m.  A  ro- 
tation of  crops,  fuitable  to  the  foil  and  climate,  is  adhered 
to  by  mod  farmers.  Farms  in  general  are  fmall,  being 
from  about  20  to  50  acres  arable.  ,  One  of  the  moft  eztco- 
five  arable  farms  is  Innemytie ;  it  is  rented  at  about  L.  isj 
Sterling  per  annum.  Some  places  are  parcelled  out  into 
fmall  paffles.  or  farms,  few  of  which  are  above  30  seres 
each.  The  occupiers  of  moft  of  them  are  under  the  necef- 
fity  of  following  fome  other  occupation  than  that  of  farm- 
ing. A  confiderable  number  are  weavers ;  each  of  whom 
has  a  loom  or  two  in  the  corner  of  the  houfe,  which  is  ge- 
nerally low  and  ill  conftruQed.  They  employ  tbemfcives 
at  the  weaving  bufinefe,  chiefly  during  winter.  Their  atd^ 
fils  are  far  from  being  always  in  the  beft  order,  or  made 
after  the  moft  approved  modeL  Thej*  are,  however,  good 
enough,  for  the  fabric  of  the  cloth  woven,  which  is  moftlj 

coarfe 


coarfe  Unena* for  th^' Perth  mdrket.-  ^ve^ral  loondd  'Are  M&r 
pK>i^ed%y  mamtffi£hiti<r9  iiy'Ferth,  wfro  fiirni(h  the  yanr, 
aad^^^'a  ^ntttii  pike  "for!  tHe  yard' weaving^*  Som&'of 
tlKfe'ftxntfiAirffi!ers'**o|:<pafleYs  ate  arttftoes  employed  WTth 
»k^if  h»ife»'  tnd  tAfkr^-kht  toads/  iStt!;  By  thid  frugal  1 
fyftem, -imiiiyiiiunMrottlf'fairiiKes  are  trained  up  in  habitsof 
ifiddfliry<aiid'«cdnotny,  though  not  with  that  eUgtfnte  atid 
IttKliry^MAch,  of  bte,  feivebeeofriae  the  ^hai^Ocriftid  marki» 
4ȣch0iflte  if  Hiiingf*  adopted  by  extenfive  farmers. 

Tbcfecmdefiaieiivor  firAers,  or  by  wh«!evcr  name  th^ 
may  l)ecsdled»  are.cfaeir  owi]:niafters,  arid,'o?  confequerttfe, 
pofle&anriadtpendenc  ^ic,  ivfaich  'is  veryfeldom  to  tie 
feafid  ommigftxfae  menial  hinds  and  othei*  ferrants  of  gte&t 
farmecs. .  They  pay  a  rent  for  their  lanid  greater  in  propor- 
tion«  ptilfaaps,  than  could  be'  got  by  the  laiidlordi  were  their 
fmall  poffcffions  throws  into  large  fsmA';  "and  many  of 
them  are. improving  tlietc  lands  With  coiiiiderable  (kill  and 
sfiivityw*— More  than  the'  half  of  the  parifii,  however,  is 
not  inclofed,  a  circuaoiboce  noG  much  to  the  credit  or  pip- 
fit  either  of  the  proprietors  or  tenants.     Many  acres  of 
moor  or  wafle  land  yet  remain  to  be.  improved.    Thefe 
neglefted  fpots  abound  irt  prcfent  with  heath,  whins,  bent* 
broomi  &c.  thac  affbrd  but  a  coarfie  and  fcanty  pafture  for 
cattle.    The  foil,  lAmoft  pgrts  of  the  parifh/  feems  to  be 
iiatiirally  well  adapted*  for  the  growth  of  broom;  in  Ibme 
places  that  plant  rifes  to  the  height  of  {even  or  eight  £eet, 
and  makes  a  kind  of  .(belter  as  well  aa  fence  to  corn-fieUs* 
Arntully  moor  is  the  moft  extenfive  piece  of  wafie  land  ia 
4be  parifh.    It  b  chiefly  occupied  as  a  common  for  paftu* 
ring  cattle  belonging  to  the  neighbouring  farmers.  A  great 
part-of  the  comn^pn  of  >  Arntully -was  abont  ao  years  ago 
Subdivided,  (gUhiif  ac€Oi*diiig  to  tft^  provincial  language), 
anil  convenient  farm-houfes  ai^d  offices  ^b,uilt  on  the  fubdi- 
vifions.    The  foil,  in  general,  will  i^^mit  of  coniiderable  im« 
Vol.  XIX,   '  T  t  ^  provemen^. 


provemeak.    It  a.^ervtUo  hem  ^90%  at  ki  lawy 

pAttx  places  of  Scochad,  that  whea  ibe  flBoait  are  pared  or 

'^t  for  tut^   they  nataraUj  prodaee  ■hnniianr  orape.  af 

gmiU,  (cbtji/imtbemmn  fi^mn)t  ep*-*  few  ac|M  ploBis, 

which  are  qot,  until  the  IWardI  is^cat  awajr,  ibualTgiowiag 

20  the  place.    This  is  efpecially  the  cule  ta  thefe  «ooni 

.that  bud  ancientlj  been  in  tillage.    It  is  bdievad  that  the 

feeds  of  the  gQiid  will,  when  buried  in  the  gtoigad,  actaiii 

their  vegetative  power  for  a  great  lepgth  of  lSaaa»  but 

when  ezpofitd  to  the  influence  of  the  weather,  will  readilj 

vegetate.     This  is  certainij  true,  not  00I7  with  re^ieft  tn 

the  feeds  of  this,  but  of  many  other  l^antSf  To»  madi  care, 

thereforci  cannot  be  taken  to  dit  dofwn  thcfe  weeds  iwhsdi 

.  are  hurtful  to  egricultare  befi>re  the  feeds  arrive  ta  tnata^ 

rity.    It  is  grofsly  abfurd  in  fitfdien  to  allow  tiniles,  &c. 

to  grow  without  moleftation  no  way-fides,  or  other  onod- 

tivaied  places.    The  fe^s  are  moftly  carried  into  die  ad- 

•  jacent  fields,  and  occafion  much  trooble.  Many  of  thetn 
periA,  but  millions  are  buried  in  the  earth  by  die  ploagb, 
and  afterwards  vegetate  with  great  luinriancy  wtien  raificd 
vp»  even  at  the  diftance  of  many  years,  to  the  influence  of 
heat,  iigbt,  and  rain.     Fanners  hi  this,  and  all  the  neigh- 

'  bouring  pariflies,  are  reprehenfible  for  not  checking  more 

*  than  they  doi  the  progrefr  of  tbefe  plants,  ifrhicb,  whatever 
their  medicinal  virtues  may  %e,  are  very  hurtful  to  agri- 

.  caltnre.r-TAlthough  much  of  the  foil  in  Kinclaven  is  fit  for 
the  turnip  hu(bandry,  yet  a  vttj  fmall  portion  of  it  is  hid 
out  for  the  cultivation  of  that  nfelbl  root.  The  grains  com- 
mqnly  cultivated  are  oats,  barley,  wheat,  b^ans,  and  peafe. 
The  produce  is  generally  good ;  barley  frequcndy  yields 
eight  returns,  that  commonly  gives  meal  for  grain*  In 
ibme  places  the  old,  but  abfurd' coftom  of  fowing  peafe,  to- 
gether with  oats,  in  the  lame  field,  is,  by  fomc  fflovehly  far- 
piers,  Aill  continued.    It  generally  happens  that  the  one 

•  grain 


gruia.i)  ripo  fiooaer  thali  tbk  other.  Ixi  delence  of  thii 
caOom  it  is  allc^d,  that  i^  owing  to  the  weath«r»  one  of 
the  iundtf  fail»  the  oth^r  wilibe  tolerably  good.  -  Every «x^ 
perimoed  farmer,  will  coqfider  this' argument  w^extrtanely 
incxmolBfive. 

<  Fo/miatioaf^^Tbm  niunber'  of  inhabilaais  in  -  the  yea* 
^7SSf  ^7  Dr.Wehfter's  acooUnty.  was  993^  At.  prefect,  it 
is  aboot  izjo. 

.  Qki^fiki  &4o^»— rThe  parilh  kirk  is  in  good  tepair;  tho 
nwUip  oot*  DruQ^aaood  of  Logie*. Almond  is  patron,  Tho 
Rev.  Mr  John  Scott  is  the  prefent  incumbent*  The  ftlf 
pend  is  1000  merks  with  4  chalders  of  viftual.— A  meet* 
ing-h^ofey  behmging  to  tho  Antiburgher  dais  o£  Scceders, 
wasereded  about  a  mile  oaft  :of  ArntuUy^  in  the.  year  17441 
and  is  frequented  by  n  numerous  congregation  £roa\  tbi$ 
and  the  qeighbouring  pariihes,  ^ho  proire  thenUelirei^  by 
their  lan^ahk  behaviour,  ta  be  good  meiiilfera  of  Society.?— 
There  are  two  fchools  in  the  parifh,  both  of  \f hjeh  arc  veU 
frequented.  The  falary  annexed  to  the  parochial  fehool  is 
L  80  Scotch. 

VUlqgu.^--Th^  Qhirf  in  the  pariib  is  ArotuUy,  commilnly 
pronounced  as  if  wrilten  AmtiUy»  It  isTuua^  i  Uw 
miks  weft  of, the  church,. and  |)9a^  of  abon;,  60  qr  79 
dwcllitig«ho»ifes  Mattered  iaetcrydire^n,  and  exhi^K^ 
ing  a  ftrikiag  pidurfipf  moiciu.  i^lli^glQff:  i|i  9^9^  parU4>f 
the  kingdom.  The  roKds  and  ps0^gdB  amo»gft  the  hpu(b 
ace  iiico9ceiYa))ljPl  bad,  elpecii4ty  in.  wet  yfpti^t.  Whap 
addacoaiiderably  to  ttljbir  iiiiferable  ftati;i  it  t))f  at^omiqab^ 
bfUiiloo  geiwral  pradipcf  .o(  pluctng  :thr  .fl#pghiU..Xwi^4eq- 
hole,  ^mtgarJjn)  befeire  ibf  doofs  of  thr  d  welling^^uifMrfnffaar 
of  which,  la  every  paiar^fju^Wi;  much  APWi^iwi^^ba 
3  2tuatioa 


33^  StaHJHcai  Acanmt 

iitttiition  in  which  they  are  placed*  The  coontj  of  Berdl^ 
were  k  poflefled  of  no  other  ipot  of  a  fimiUr  defcriptiooi 
Ihould  allpw  AmtttUj  to  remain  in  itf  prefent  ftace»  that  a 
proper  contrail  might  be  drawn,  betiwcen  a  neat  modcra 
village,  and  one  upon  the  old  conftmfiion.  Moft  of  the 
inhabitants,  many  of  whom  are  weavers,  occupy  a  fmaU 
kit  of  ground  adjoining  to  their  iMofin,  whidi  fiuniihes 
them  with  garden  Auffi,  &c«  by  whid^  aiaoy  of  diem  are 
enabled  to  keep  milch-cows.  This  they  vexy  jnftty  confi- 
der  as  a  great  help  to  their  families.  They  (eem  to  be 
oontented  with  their  domeftic  condition.  Befides  AmtuDy, 
the  parifli  contains  a  few  very  fmall  TiUagei,  as  Knock* 
ftinaa,  &c«. 

fPoMb.— This  diftrift  is  ornamented  with  letreral  cop 
pices,  or  aatnrat  woods,  chiefly  of  oak,  birch,  and  haae). 
They  are  cut  every  nm^een  or  twenty  years,  for  the  iake 
of  the  bark,  which  at  Perth  brings  a  good  pri^»  There 
are  fome  plantations  of  pines  and  foreft^trees,  generally  in  a 
thriving  ftafie.' 

RtverSf  FiJtings.^^'Iht  Toy  is  the  only  river  here  that 
merits  notice.  It  runs  in  winding  diredions  for  the  fpace 
of  feveral  miles  on  the  nor^  and  eaft;  no  where,  iniu 
whole  oourfe,  has  St  made  fiftsh  ravages  on  the  land  aaia 
this  pariih,  driefly  on  the'eftate^of  Mr  Dmmmfond  of  Logic 
Almond.  It  has  at  feverat  timds  forced  its  way  through 
the  banks,  and  made  ^gre^t  excavations  in  the  eom-fields^ 
where  it  has  formed  fpacioaa>  traAs  for  itf^  Three  <^ 
Ibnr 'of  thefe  vn£t%i  being  now  abandbned  by  the  ri^er,  re- 
ftiain  laftitig  monuments  what  the '  Tdy  in  its  fiory  can  do* 
It  is  probable,  that  at  no  great  length  of  time  it  will  make 
ftin-'more  eztenfive  dftvaftations  on  the'  richeft-  and  noft 
beantiful  psUrt  of  the  purifli.-^Thef'fifliing^  on  the  fiTer  ase 

cf 


'^^'tf  Kincltwen.  5.5J 

of  (bme  importance.  One  at  the  Linn  of  Campfie,  on  a 
rerj  fmall  extent  of  the  water,  brings  L.  80  per  annum  to 
Lord  Danmore  the  propfieton  The  '&11  of  water  is  no^ 
high,  but  the  Linn  is  very  deep,  and  contains  great  quanti- 
ties of  excellent  ialmOn.  On  the  Tay,  about  a  mile  from 
the  kirk,  it  EiiCAaven  fdrt)",  nrhjch  occnpieif  tfaf<e  ferry 
boats,  one  for  foot-paflengers,  one  for  horfes,  and  another 
for  carriages.  At  the  ferry,  is  a  good  and  commodious  inn» 
on  the  Kinqlavfu  fide  of  the  xiyen 

MiUs, — ^The  parifli  is  fomiflied  with  feveral  com-milk^ 
to  which  the  land  in  general  is  thirled  or  aftrided.  The 
thirlage.  in  fome  places  u  confiderably  high.  This,  kind  of 
fervipide  is  here,  as  well  as  almoft  every  where  elfe  in 
Scotland,  confidered  as  a  great  hardihip,  and  an  obftacle  to 
agricultural  improvements.  Thefe  thirlages  or  mukures, 
at  the  firft  ereAion  of  corn-mills,  might  have  been  very 
juft  and  neccflary.  Now  they  are  quite  the  reverfe.  Wfiy, 
therefore,  fliould  an  improved  fociety  fuff^r  an  univerfally 
acknowledged  grievance  any  longer  to  exift,  and  impede 
the  moft  beneficial  improvements  of  the  country? 

Ct^ffi.r^mUtt^  Caftle,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tay,  re- 
mains  in  ruip^H;  .Tfaq  .walls .are  about  eight  or  ten  ikec 
high ;  andnnlefadeftrqyed  by;fbme  modern  Goth,  will  con- 
tanue,  for  agef,  tx>  ei^bit,  an  example  of  the  ancient  ifiroqg- 
hobd  in  Scotland. ..  p 


I.) 


354  Statt/Hlktif  JccouiH 


PARISH   OF   BENBOiTHT, 


(County  of  Perth,  StvoD  of  AwbtJi  Aitu  Mcarks, 
Presbytery  of  Meiole.) 


By  tbc  Rev.  Mr  James  Platfair,  Minifier. 


Situatittt. 

THIS  parifli  lies  near  the  eafttril  bcmhdar^of  Penh- 
tfaire.  The  church  fisnds  lA  N.  Ist.*  56^  33'.  and 
'long.  5  in  in.  6f  a  degree-  W.  from  I^lhibar^  ;  being  a 
mile  and  an  half  N.  from  Ctipar  Angus ;  6  miles  W.  from 
Meigle  ;  14  miles  N.  £.  from  Perth ;  and  17  nuiles  N.  W. 
from  Dundee.  It  is  fituated  on  part  of  the  loweft  grounds 
of  Strathmore,  (Great  Strath),  being  that  extenfive  flat 
ivhicb  runs  almoft  in  a  (Iraight  line  from  the  fea  at  Mon- 
trofe/bj  Forfar,  Cupar  Angus,  Perth,  and  Stirling,  to 
Dunbarton,  and  the  mouth  of  the  frith  of  Clyde,  in  a  di- 
reftion  nearly  N.  E.  and  S.W.j  and  is  bounded  by  the 

Grampian 


erat^iaftn  immonafaa^  00  the  N.  W. v  ]kn4  bythif  Stdrrtrf 
and  QohiA  Hilbtoa  the  &.  £4;  tbiei^r«^«IA  of  tte •anth  kbH 
cweenbeiiiggQOerall^ifroiPiySio^S'Siiiei.  •      ; 

tight  bank  of  tii«  riv^r,  lila,  ,p«rt  of  the  ureter  of  Whkh 

rifes  in  the  loch  of  Forfar,  where  is  .tbe^igheftjproiuidicC 

the  flat  between  this  and  Mootrofe,  (about  200  feet  above 

the  fea).    The  coi|rff  c^  th^  wat^r  frdpi  the  Mh  of  For- 

lar  is  through  Deao,  Ua,  and  p^rt  of  Tay,  in  a  line  firom 

fi.  E.  to  S.  W.  aj^ng  the  middle  of  Stcathmore.  The  Tay^ 

after 'ft  gradual  winding  to  the  left  by  Perth »  runs  by  the 

Carfe  of  Qowrie  fiod  Dundee  to  the  German  Ocean, 'in  a 

direAion  nearly  parallel  to  the  abo^v  portion  of  the  tra& 

of  the  Ifla  inveite^    The  Ifla  itfdf  rifea  ia  the  Gram- 

piaii  moontaiaft  and  russ  generally  S.E.  with  a  rapid  cut- 

rent  till  it  is  joiniod  by  the  Dean,  after  Which  it  runs  S.  W. 

(paft  the  Iputh  fide  lof  this  pariib)  into  the  Tay.    At  tfae 

church  of  Bendothy  the  Ifla  is  75  yards  broad,  and.  a  yai^ 

.deep  at  the  ford.    It  is  no  where  deeper  than  9  or  10  feet 

in  Ibmmer ;  and  its  bsinks  are  nearly  the  fame  height  abov^ 

its  ordinary  furfaee.    At  high  floods,  it  rifes  13  or  14  feet 

above  its  Uimmef  l^vel  i  this  is  io  pan  owing  to  the  Tay, 

below  this,  being  contraded  for  foor  miles  by  high  and 

narrow  banks.    The  Ifla  here  is  100  or  no  feet  above  (he 

level  of  the  fea.    It  runs  with  an  infenflble  hJL 

River 

*  Gnxnptan  moontains  are  from  zooo  to  4000  feet  and  upwaxds  above 
the  level  of  the  Tea.  Originally  and  Tulgarlf  called  Grandi-bem  (Great 
Moaataim).  See  Boetlmis*i  Intrododhon  or  Prcfa€e»  and  Buchanoan^s 
biex. 

•  f  Sidliw,  (Snd-Iaw;  or  ScnA-Ulk),  fo  called  from  their  pofition  whh 
.    ftfyfik  to  StrtthoMR'    Th^  9Xt  sbc«t  1000  or  1400  ftet  above  tile  leyd 
fftbeies* 


53<f  Statifitfcal  Accotni 

I  Jb*^  Er6a'^  tfcErichL^^-^Thk  riv^f  Mb'lufb  the  right 
fidt  of  the  lila  in  thb  pariifa.  It  alfe  iffid^sfrom  t(^e  Gi^m- 
pians.  It  is  compoM  of 'the  united 'ffreamis .  pf  Shee  and 
Ardky  which  lad  feems  to  be  a  contraftion  of  Erochdde. 
The  6hee,  called  alfo  Blackwater,  fii)ls  intothe  left  fide  of 
tbeArdle.  Thefe  rivers  generally  nin  S.'E.  all  of  them 
with  a  rapid  current.    '  ' 

Divifions  of  the  Pori/hl^^Tht  river  Erodi  divides  that 
part  of  the  parifh  which  is  in  continuation,  nearlj  into  two 
«qual  parts.     One  ot  thefe  parts,  lying  W.  of  Eroch  and 
N.  pf  Ifla,  is  embraced  on  other  fides  by  the  parifh  of  Blair- 
gowrie ;  and  the  other  of  thefe  pans,  lyitig  E.  frbm  Erbch, 
and  N.  from  Ifla,  is  embraced,  on  other  fides,  by  the  parifli 
of  Alyth  on  the  E^  and  by  the  pariih  -of  Rattray  partly  on 
the  W.     The  pariih  of.  Cupar  Angus  bounds  the  Wflol^ 
along  the  Ifla,  on  the  S.     That  part  of*  the  parifli  which  it 
in  continuation,  is  6  mile^  long,  and  a  mile  and  an  half 
acrois.    The  church  itands  in  thte  middle  of  the  wefiem 
divifion.    Befides  thisi  there  are  two  other  parts  of  the  pa« 
rifli,  infulated  entirely  by  other  pariflies,   and  feparated 
from  one  another.*    One  of  thefe  parts,  compofed  of  Pcrfy, 
.  on  the  Shee,  and  Cally  on  the  Ardle,  lies  in  the  angle  of 
confluence  between  the  Shee  and  Ardle«  the  neareft  part 
being  7  miles  from  the  parifli  church.     The  other  infulated 
part,  Drimmie,  lies  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Eroch,  being  a 
mile  from   the    former  part,  and  feven   miles   from  the 
church.      Thefe  two  parts,  taken  together,  are  about  a 
fourth  of  the  whole  parifh. 

Name.^^Tht  name  of  the  ^arill),  in  the  preftytcrj 
books,  during  the  laft  century,  is  written  Bennethy  or 
Benathy ;  the  iiril  of  which  exprefles  the  pronouociation  at 
the  place,  and  aUb  the  etymology  (Nether  hill)  ;  on  the. 

fonth 


tfStndotby.  337 

Cootb  declivity  of  which  hill  the  church  ftands.  It  has 
1>een  fome  time  written  Bendochy,  being  a  'corruption  of 
the  form  of  writing,  which  occurs  in  the  preftyterj  book, 
the  e  having  been  therein  written  backwards,  the  end  of 
Second  n  turned  above  the  line,  and  the  i  written  very 
fiiort.  The  navie  infcribed  on  the  communion  cups  and 
places  is  Bendothy,  A.  D.  1786. 

Wtjlem  Divifiw. — That  part  of  the  parifh  which  is  in 
continuation  is  almoft  all  under  cultivation.  That  part  in 
which  the  church  ftands,  W«  of  the  confluence  of  £roch  and 
Ida,  is  generally,  eafy  level  grooad.  It  confifts  chiefly  of  a 
gentle  ridge,  rifing  with  an  almoft  infenlible  afcent  from 
the  river  Eroch,  and  running  from  thence  fouth-weftward^ 
parallel  to  the  Ifla,  having  its  higheft  fummit  at  Muirhead, 
oppolite  (he  church,  from  whence  it  declines  again  to  the 
weft  ward.  The  fides  of  this  ridge  decline  gradually  to- 
wards the  Ifla  upon  one  fide,  and  to  the  Monkmire  on  the 
other,  which  feparates  it  from  the  parifli  of  Blairgowrie. 
Its  higheft  fummit  is  80  or  90  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
Ifla.  It  is  compofed  entirely  of  that  red  clay  Iiibftance, 
called  mortar  here,  from  its  ufe  as  a  cement  in  building. 
Between  the  above  ridge  and  the  Ifla,  there  is  another  in« 
ferior  ridge,  which  runs  a  imall  way  parallel  to  the  greater 
one ;  on  the  S«  fide  of  which  (former)  the  church  ftands* 
The  inferior  rifes  about  60  £eet  above  the  Ifla.  It  is  compo- 
fed entirely  of  gravel,  or  water-driven  ftones  and  land.  It  is 
broken  off  a  fmall  way,  and  then,  in  the  fame  parallel  line 
to  the  fouth- weft  ward,  an  inrulated  ridge  of  the  fame  ma- 
terials occurs  at  Couty,  which  the  water  of  Ifla  fomfetimes 
nearly  forms  into  an  ifland#  '  There  is  befides  a  good  deal 
of  pcrfedly  level  ground,  efpecially  near  the  banks  of  the 
rivers.  This  divifion  of  the  parifli  wefiward  of  the  Eroch 
is  poflefled  by  three  proprietors. 

Vol.  XIX*  U  u  Coupargrange, 


j3t  Statiftical  Aecimni 

ConpargrangCy  on  the  E.  b  held  hy  the  heut  of  the  late 
Dr  Young,  Profeflor  of  Midwifery  in  Ediaborglu  R«C 
paid  by  the  tenants  is  L. 651  Sterling;  and  valued  rent, 
L.  .T411  Scotch. 

Gouty  and  Bendothy,  on  the  W.  held  by  the  Hoooor- 
able  James  Stewart  Mackenzie,  Lord  Privy  SeaL  Rent 
paid  by  the  tenants  lately,  L.  338  Sterling;  and  valued 
rent,  L.958  Scotch* 

Mudhall,  in  the  middle,  worth  L.  71  Sterlbg  annually ; 
valued  rent,  L.  125  Scotch* 

Thefe  ^Dates  contain  about  1500  acres,  rented,  or 
worth  annually,  L.  1080  Sterling,  befides  100  acres  of 
fir  planting ;  they  are  divided  and  fubdivided  by  thorn* 
hedges ;  but  there  are  few  fencible  inclofures.  There  is  a 
great  variety  of  foil.  The  foil  of  the  heft  lands  of  Couper- 
grange,  efpecially  the  level  ground  near  the  confluence  of 
the  rivers,  but  now  40  feet  at  leaft  above  their  floods,  is 
compofed  of  a  deep  black  earth.  This  black  earth,  com- 
pofed  in  a  great  meafure  of  the  rottings  of  vegetables,  is 
more  generally  incumbent  on  fand  than  on  mortan  In  the 
grounds  of  Coopargrange  it  is  above  clay ;  but  there  b  a 
ftratum  of  fand  between,  which  drains  off  the  water.  The 
lands  of  Mudhall  are  compofed  of  three  feet  bUck  eardi  at 
top,  and  then  pure  white  fand  for  more  than  40  feet  down, 
as  may  be  feen  at  the  place  where  Ifla  has  puihedtin  its 
flioulder  and  undermined.  There  b  a  black  foil  fimilar  to 
this  on  fome  parts  of  the  Lord  Privy  Seal^  eftate,  bot  it  is 
generally  on  lower  ground  there,  and  within  flood-mark  of 
the  Ifla.  It  is  on  fuch  ground  that  the  feed-oats  grow, 
which  have  got  a  name  through  all  the  country.  They 
are  called  the  Coupargrange  Oats.  They  are  the  common 
oats  of  the  neighbourhood ;  but  rife  cleaner,  whiter,  and 
fnore  fubftantial,  from  deep  cherifhing  foil. 

Where 


tf  Sehdoiby.  339 

"Where  the  mortar  *  is  uppermoft,  as  in  feveral  |.Iaces  of 
tbeiie  groimds,  efpeciallj  fuch  as  are  highefiy  it  proves  a  wet 
poor  foil.  In  fome  places^  which  had  formerly  been  moor, 
there  is  a  thin  Uack  furface  above  the  morcar,  which  hsis 
been  produced  by  rpiten  fog  and  mots  \  this  proves  a  very 
wet  backward  foil.  From  fmall  experiments  it  appears* 
that  fttch  foil  would  be  greatly  improved  by  trenching. 
flarth  that  has  once  been  trenched^  will  never  again  acquire 
the  impenetrability  and  (blidity  which  it  had  ristained  from 
its  firfi  formation ;  befides,  in  fuch  foil,  there  is  no  good 
ground  to  lofe  from  the  tep,  by  trenching.  The  rock  be* 
low  mortar,  which  is  alfo  of  a  red  fubfiance^  when  dog 
from  the  bottom  of  wells«  ihoulders  in  the  air,  and  feems  to 
be  rock  marl.  Ground  that  has  a  bottom  of  gravel  and 
fand  has  commonly  a  very  thin  foil  above.  This  is  the 
only  fort  of  foil  that  baffles  induftry.  The  Ifla  floods  be- 
tween 200  and  300  acres  of  thefe  eftates.  At  high  floods 
it  covers  the  breadth  of  half  a  mile  from  one  fide  of  the 
river  to  the  otheri  Water-made  ground  is  generally  dry 
and  fertile ;  more  £b  than  moft  of  the  other  grounds  that  are 
above  the  flood-mark  of  the  river.  There  is  no  vegetable 
mould  under  the  latter,  in  general ;  the  former  is  in  a  great 
meafure  compofed  of  vetegable  mould ;  this  is  fome  com- 
penfation  to  the  farmer  for  extraordinary  trouble  and  great 
rifles  in  harveft,  when  the  watery  element  threatens  to  pof« 
feis  his  property.  Some  farmers  drag  their  corns  to  higher 
groaiids  when  cut }  others  truft  to  the  feafon,  and  fome- 

times 

*  That  red  coarle  clay,  c«lled  mortar,  is  the  bafis  of  all  the  grounds 
in  this  part  of  Stratbmore.  Upon  digging  to  a  proper  depth,  it  will  always 
be  found  at  the  bottom,  either  in  the  form  of  clay  or  rock.  Sand,  gravely 
pure  clay,  black  earth,  are  always  incumbent  on  it,  never  otherwife.  ■  Ora- 
tel  IS  found  on  ground  near  to  rivers,  (and  on  fiat  ground,  which,  though 
remote  from  them,  is  not  many  dozen  of  feet  above  their  level^,  rathCT 
than  elfewbcjT. 


2^  StatiJIkal  Accovmt 

time»  efcapci  but  at  other  times  the'  overflowing  tfoo^ 
IWeeps  all  before  it.  Two  neighbours  bad  taken  tbe£e  op- 
pofite  methods :  One  jeered  the  other  for  want  of  faith  in 
Providence  ;  in  a  few  days  the  rain  defeended  and  the  flood 
came,  and  the  provident  farmer  retorted*  Where  is  yoac 
faith  now»  neigh liouv?  h  is  down  the  water  with  yoar 
com.  tn  feme  inftancesi  the  proprietors  of  thefe  eflate» 
have  given  very  liberal  bene&ftions  to  their  tenants,  for 
damage  done  bj  the  river  in  harveft ;  particularlj  in  bar* 
▼eft  17749  when  die  river  rofe  two  feet  higher  than  ever 
was  known.  It  was  within  fix  inches  of  the  top  of  the 
loweft  arches  of  the  bridge  at  Cootj.  It  kft  the  boctona 
of  the  furrows  bare  where  wheat  had  been  newlj  ibwa 
that  feafon;  and  that  place  was  nine  years  of  leeovering  its 
foil  and'  vegetable  powers.  There  is  a  lidce  of  marl  on  the 
N.  W.  boundary  of  thefe  eftates,  called  the  Monkmire, 
which  is  for  the  prefent  exhaufted;  The  Stormont  loch, 
at  the  W.  comer  of  Lord-  Privy  Seal's  eftate*  contains  marl  \ 
this  loch  is  not  yet  dninedw  There  is  an  ifland  in  it,  which 
has  probably  been  a^laec  of  ftores.  The  difirifi  called  Stor- 
mont lies  between  that  pkce  and  Dunkeld. 

Eafiem  Lhifion^-^ThAt  part  of  the  parifli  (in  continua- 
tion) which  lies  eaftward  of  the  confluence  of  £roch  and 
Ifla,  rifes  with  a  gradual  afcent  from  the  Ifla  and  Eroch  to 
the  N.  and  N.  W.  terminating  in  a  rifiog  ground,  which 
forms  part  of  a  front  ridge  of  the  Grampians.  The  higheft 
part  may  be  from  600  to  800  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
Iba.  There  are  about  1000  acres  in  this  divifion  of  the 
parifliy  rented,  or  worth  annually,  L.998  Sterling.  It  is 
poflefled  by  twelve  different  proprietors,  four  of  whom  re- 
fide.  Six  of  thefe  proprietors  pofleik  the  Grange  of  Aber- 
hothry,  which  lies  in  the  angle  of  the  coiifiuence  of  the 
livers^  and  is  much  of  it  low  ground  i  200  acres  of  it,  at 

teafl,. 


cfBendoiby.  .  341 

« leaftf  flooded  by  both  rivers.  The  proprietors  of  the 
Grange  of  Aberbothry  are :— -Mr  Macdonald,  bte  reiit^ 
L.  X05  Sterling  \  prefient  rent  nearly  double  that  fum ;  va» 
lued  rent,  L.  355  :  18  : 8  Scots.  Mr  Murifon»  late  rent, 
L*  50  Sterling ;  valaed  rent,  L.171 :  7  : 2  Scots*  Mr  Jamie* 
Chalmers,  rent  L.  60  Sterling ;  valaed  rent,  L.  123  : 8  :  o 
Scots.  Reverend  William  Chalmers,  rent  L.  55  Sterling  ^ 
vahied  rent,  L  •  116: 17  i^s  Scots.  Mrs  Geckie,  rent,  L.  74, 
145.  Sterling  \  valued  rent,  L.  133  :  17  :  7  Scots.  Mr  Ro- 
bertfon,  rent,  L. 49  Sterling;  valued  rent,  L. laa  Scots* 
Mr  James  Chalmers  and  Mr  Robertfon's  lands,  are  the  only 
lands  of  the  Grange,  altogether  above  the  floods  of  the 
rivers. 

The  other  eftates  of  this  part  of  the  pariifa,  lie  on  ground 
aibending  to  the  north-weftward  from  the  Grange.  The 
names  are :  — Blacklaw,  Mr  Kinloch,  late  rent,  L.  224  Ster^ 
ling;  valued  rent,  L. 643  Scots.  Polcalk,  Mr  Thomas 
Whitfon,  worth  L.  50  Sterling ;  valued  rent,  L.  lox :  xi :  8 
Scots.  Muirtown,  Provoft  Halliburton,  rent,  L.  xaj  Sterling  ; 
valued  rent,  L.  138  :  6 :  8  Scots.  Thorn,  Mr  Rattray,  rent, 
L.  39  Sterling ;  valued  rent,  L.  179, 13  s.  Scots.  St  Fink, 
Mr  James  Anderfon,  worth  L.  88  Sterling  ;  valued  rent, 
L.  187  Scots.  TnHyfergns,  Mr  David  Millar,  worth  L.  ^% 
Sterling ;  valued  rent,  L.  293  : 6 : 8  Scots. 

The  eftates  of  Grange  of  Aberbothry  are  all  level,  ma^ 
nageable  ground,  with  a  gentle  afcent  north-eaftward.  They 
are  all  open  and  unindofed.  Not  above  30  years  ago  the 
boufes  were  all  cluttered  in  a  village,  and  the  eftates  were 
in  runrig.  Moft  of  the  lands  of  Grange  are  of  clay,  of  a 
whitifli  nature  in  the  bottom ;  but  much  of  it  is  changed 
above  into  a  darker  vegetable  mould,  alio  fiunous  for  pro- 
ducing feed*oats.  Some  of  the  grounds,  efpecially  in  the 
haughs,  are  i^^qdy.  The  whole  haughs  here  retain  the 
marks  of  old  trads  of  the  Eroch,  which  runs  in  floods  with 
3  • 


f4^  Statiftkai  AccmuU 

a  noft  rapid  airrtiit,  and  hat  eren  litdded  the  Ifla  fior  femft 
waj  ynAk  gravel ;  the  Ifla  bwtg  dcftitate  of  gravtl  all  ihm 
m%y  above  the  confluence.  The  fuperiority  of  the  foil,  on 
fcMne  of  the  low  grotrads  of  this  parifli,  ieems  to  have  origi* 
Aaced  from  their  vicinity  to  the  rivefa,  though  now  above 
the  reach  of  their  higheft  floods.  The  foil  of  the  other 
eflates  of  this  divifion,  which  lie  N.  W.  from  Grange,  as 
BlacklaWy  Polcalk,  and  Muirtown,  coofifla  of  a  foottoai, 
and  generaUy  a  top»  of  mortar,  or  that  red  coarfe  clay, 
which  is  the  mother  earth  of  this  part  of  Strathmore,  and 
iDoft  generally  foond  in  the  neighbourhood.  Thele  grounds 
rife  brifldy  from  the  Grange,  and  form  part  of  a  ridge  of 
die  Grampians.  Thofe  parts  of  this  afcent,  which  are  nM>ft 
level,  have  the  blackeft  and  molt  beneficial  earth.  Thofe 
paits  which  have  the  ftcepeft  afcent  have  redefl  earth,  and  moft 
of  the  colour  of  the  bottom.  Here  and  there,  efpedally,  in 
the  fteepeft  afcent,  appears  a  red  rock,  mixed  with  fmall 
rounded  pebles.  There  are  many  detached,  rounded,  whin 
or  moor-ftones  in  thefe  grounds,  blue  and  hard,  a  fort  of 
porphyry,  from  one  foot  to  three  or  four  feet  diaooeter, 
which  have  no  mother  rock  here.  The  farms  on  the  eilate 
of  Blacklaw,  are  divided/rom  one  another  by  thorn  hedges  t 
and  there  are  fome  ftone-dike  inclofures  on  Muirtown  und 
St  Fink.  There  are  not  above  lOO  acres  of  this  divifion 
uncultivated.  On  thefe  grounds,  and  neighbourhood,  cfpe- 
cially  at  St  Fink  and  Chapcltown  and  Little  Drum,  there 
are  many  of  thefe  Angular  ridges  ,of  nature,  called  here 
HrvLXM^ (dorfum)  i  perhaps  xo  or  ta  of  them  within  a 

fmaU 

•  There  ue  many  of  thefe  dnmis  in  the  neighboorbood,  in  the  pariOics  .of 
Alytb  uid  Rattray,  and  in  the  Stormont,  which  have  the  fame  ptraUeUfm 
and  pofition  with  the  above.  The  Garr}'druiDs  in  the  Stonnont,  which  are 
delineated  by  their  dales  and  rills  in  Stobie*s  map,  are  among  the  moft  ir- 
markable,  being  a  mile  and  an  half  long  each,  aboot  loo  feet  higlk,  mxA 
^00  feet  broad  at  bafe,  and  riiing  above  one  another,  according  to  the  im- 

t»r»l 


ef  Bendoiby.  344 

finall  fpace  of  each  other.     They  *haTe  all  a  paraUofifm  t» 
one  another,  and  decline  eaftward.    The  rills  between  them 

rom 

lonl  afcent  of  the  j;round  in  die  neigbboiiriiood.  Indeed,  drums  .occnf^ 
over  all  this  part  of  Strathmore.  On  the  S.  fide  of  the  Ifla,  their  length  it 
N.  £.  and  S.  W.  parallel  to  Strathmore.  It  is  evident,  that  they  have  not 
been  produced  bf  rilb,  fince  their  length  is  not  parallel  to  the  line  of  do- 
fccot  of  the  mountain,  on  the  fide  of  which  they  ftand,  but  generally  pe»> 
pendicular  to  it :  Befides,  frequently,  though  not  always,  the  water  mn^ 
from  the  dale  at  both  ends.  And  in  level  ground,  in  many  cafes,  the 
drum  raifes  its  back  high  above  all  grounds  adjacent.  Whatever  caufo 
may  have  produced  the  mountains  themfelves,  and  the  great  vale  of  Strath- 
more between  diem,  thefe  drums  in  Stradimore  appear  plainly  <o  have  been 
produced  by  the  tides  of  the  ocean,  of  which  Strathmore  was  then  a  cham 
neU  and  to  have  been  formed  (like  banks  in  channels  of  the  fea)  by  the  tido 
of  flood,  coming  by  Forfar  from  the  E.  end  of  Strathmore,  and  fearching 
partly  weftward  along  the  ftrath,  and  partly  fearching  diagonally  up  among 
the  Grampians ;  and  again  by  the  tide  of  ebb  retummg  the  fame  way  by  ' 
which  the  tide  of  flood  went  up.  Agreeably  to  this,  not  only  the  rills  and 
bums,  or  brooks^  are  all  parallel  to  the  drums,  but  the  riven  Tay,  Eiocb, " 
and  Ifla,  as  they  come  out  from  the  Grampians  into  the  ftrath,  all  point 
paftward,  and  even  their  bendings  among  the  mountains  are  towards  the  £.  \ 
aotwttbftandtng,  that  afterwards,  in  the  middle  of  Strathmore,  they  run  ii^ 
one  body  fouth-weflward :  In  coming  out  from  the  mountains,  the  riveci 
run  in  the  diredlion  of  the  tide  of  ebb,  and  after  becoming  j:onfiderable 
bodies  in  the  middle  |0f  the  Strath,  they  run  in  the  dire^ion  of  the  tide  of 
^lood ;  circumftances  which  can  be  eafily  apprehended.  That  the  drums 
and  courfes  of  brooks  and  riifers  have  been  formed  in  this  manner,  is  an 
opinion  which  I  have  weighed  maturely,  which  has  prefled  upon  my  mind 
for  (everal  years,  and  which  I  have  feen  a  good  many  paru  of  Scotland  to 
afcertain  the  truth  Qf ;  which,  being  an  hilly  country,  full  of  ftraths,  is 
better  for  determining  a  point  of  this  nature,  than  a  champain  country,  likf 
molt  of  England.  It  is  an  opinion  which  I  have  put  to  the  teft  of  expert- 
Bent,  by  judging  before  hand,  as  the  higher  grounds  of  a  province  opened 
|o  view  what  muft  be  the  pofitlon  of  the  drums  between ;  and  where  the 
premises  were  right,  there  wi^  no  error  in  the  conciufion.  To  enlarge 
ppon  this  point  would  be  foreign  to  the  fubje^t  of|this  paper.  Suffice  it  to 
fay,  that  drums  are  parallel  to  the  ftraths  in  which  they  lie.  And  whero 
fhere  are  no  ftraths,  they  are  parallel  to  the  bafe  of  the  adjacent  mountains. 
Thf  druffli  ^  rivers  are  commonly  parallel  to  each  other.    Iq  this  caf(^ 

(h^ 


344  Statiftical  Account 

sun  £•  They  ane  in  length  perpendicnlmr  to  the  line  eg 
Bktnt  of  the  Grampian  ridge,  on  which  they  lie,  or  ncarlj 
fo :  The  W.  end  of  them,  however,  inclining  fomewhat  to- 
wards the  Grampian  ridge,  on  the  sifcent  of  which  they 
lie,  and  the  £.  end  of  them  being  in  the  fame  proportioa 
turned  away  from  it.  They  are  in  that  part  of  the  aicent 
which  is  flatted ;  thofe  parts  which  are  fteepeft  hare  them 
more  rarely*  In  the  grounds  of  Polcalk  there  is  a  dak 
and  drum  along  the  very  top  of  the  fieepeft  declivity. 

Higblafid  DiJlriBs.'^The  infulated  and  cultivated  put 
•f  the  parifli  at  Perfy,  is  a  level  fpot  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Shee,  or  Blackwater,  poflcfled  by  two  proprietors. 
North  Perfy,  Mr  Farquharfon,  rent,  and  worth,  L.  58  Ster- 
ling ;  valued  rent,  L.  156  Scots.  South  Perfy,  Mr  Stewart* 

rent 

the  riven  tre  ftreigbt.  It  is  alwijs  a  crooked  river  tbat  nms  acrois  the 
drums ;  fometimcs  following  the  dale,  and  fometimes  breakihg  over  die 
drum.  And  fnffice  it  farther  to  obferve,  that  the  centre  of  gravity  of  die 
earth,  depends  on  the  relative  pofition  of  the  materials  thereof ;  fo  that  if 
the  water  enveloping  the  north  pole,  were,  by  fome  means,  tranfported  xm 
the  fouth  pole,  a  new  center  of  gravity  would  be  thereby  formed ;  and  die 
waters  would  never  return  to  their  old  bed,  but  would  adhere  to  die  new 
center. 

I  would  farther  add  upon  this  head,  a  paflage  from  Dr  Edmund  Hallcj's 
Aftronomy  of  Comets  >-^*  Hitherto  no  comet  has  threatened  the  earth  'wiih 
'*  a  nearer  approach  than  that  of  1680,  (whofe  period  is  575  years).  For 
"  by  calculation  I  find,  that  November  nth,  xb  6',  that  comet  was  not 
"  above  the  femidiameter  of  the  fun  to  the  northward  oi  the  way  of  the 
"  earth ;  at  which  time,  had  the  earth  been  there,  the  comet  would  have 
**  had  a  parallax  equal  to  that  of  the  moon ;  this  is  fpoken  to  aftrononaen. 
<•  But  what  might  be  the  confequence  of  fo  near  an  appnlfe,  or  of  a  coa- 
<'  tatfl,  or  laiUy,  of  a  fliock  of  the  celeftial  bodies,  (Mrhidi  is  by  no  meaus 
**  impoilible  to  come  to  pafs),  I  leave  to  be  difcufled  by  the  iludious  of 
"  phyfical  matters.**  Another  return  of  this  comet  may  clear  up  itshiftoiy, 
and  that  of  the  chknges  of  the  earth.  Its  8th  bygone  vifitation  of  the  earth, 
happened  four  years  after  die  dme  vulgarly  affigned  for  the  univcxJid  dv* 
)Ti|;e.    Four  of  thefe  vijltadoni  have  been  recorded  in  hiflory. 


ofBendotby.  345 

rent,  L.  80  Sterling;  valued  rent,  L.  160  Scots.     Mr  Far- 
qoharfon  has  a  houfe  here,  and  has  inclofed  much  of  his 
araUe  land  with  (lone  dikes,  as  Mr  Stewart  has  likewife 
done  ;  whin  or  moor  (tones  having  at  firft  been  plentiful  on 
the   grounds.     Cally  is   polTeffed    by  one  proprietor,  Mr 
Macdonald;  rent,  L.  91  Sterling-,  valued  rent,  L.^228,  17s* 
Scots.     The  cultivated  part  of  Cally  is  a  level  fpot  on  the 
left  back   of  the  Ardle.     It  is  rather  lower  ground,  and 
drier  than  Perfy,  but  uninclofed.     Floods  of  the  rivers  do 
no  damage  to  the  grounds  or  corns  in  thefe  parts,  as  they  ' 
never  reach  fo  high.    There  is  a  large  hill  or  ridge  between 
Perfy  and  Cally,  uncultivated,   and  level  at  top,  being  a 
continuation  of  the  hilly  ground  adjacent,  and  having  nearly 
the  fame  elevation  with  other  high  grounds  in  the  neigh* 
bourhood.     Thefe  high  grounds  feem   to  have  been  the 
original  furface  of  the  country ;  the  above  cultivated  parts 
among  the  Grampians  having  been  fcooped  out  by  bodies 
of  water  running  in  thefe  beds.     Perfy,  Cally,  and  Drim- 
mie,  belonged  of  old  to  the  monks  of  Cupar  Angus :  CaU 
ly,  for  this  reafon,  was  named  Monk's  Cally.     The  infu- 
lated  part  at  Drimmie  is  chiefly  a  fteep  ridge  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Eroch,  and  running  parallel  thereto,  on  the 
N.  fide  of  which  ridge  there  is  a  hollow,  and  then  again  a 
fecond  afcent.     This  eflate  is  either  cultivated  or  inclofed 
pafture.     The  fences  are  of  moor-ftone.     Much  of  the  foil 
is  wet  mortar.     It  is  better  foil  near  the  river,  where  Mr 
Murifon,  the  proprietor,  has  a  lodge.     Rent,  L.  160  Ster- 
ling \  valued  rent,  L.  308  213:4  Scots.     Drimmie  pays  no 
ftipend  to  the  minifter. 

The  real  rent  of  the  whole  pari(h,  as  above,  is  L.  2467 
Sterling.  The  valued  rent  in  the  ceis  books,  L.6045,  14  s* 
Scots. 

Vol.  XIX.  X  x  Runrig 


34^  Statijlical  Account 

Runrig  formerly 4 — ^Therc  is  properly  no  village  in  the 
pariQi.     About  40  years  ago,  the  fiarm  houfes  laj  togetbcr 
in  clufters»  from  the  ancient  policy  of  felf-defence  agatnft 
depredators,   and  from   the    convenicncy  of  keeping   the 
cattle  on  common  pafture.     The  farms  lay  in  runrig,   that 
is,  each  field  was  divided  into  as  many  parts  or  ridges  ss 
there  were  farmers  in  the  village  ;  by  which  the  gocxi  and 
bad  land  was  equally  divided  among  all ;  and  in  winter,  or 
when  in  graCs,  all  the  ground  was  common  paihirage.     Dif- 
ferent properties  were  thus  occupied,  as  well  as  different 
farms  on  the  fame  property.     A  muliiplicity  of  ioterferiog 
interefts  difcouraged  any  attempt  at  a  change.     There  vras 
not  then,  nor  indeed  could  there  be,  any  winter  turnip, 
fown  grafs,  or  wheat ;  neither  was  there  any  fallow   nor 
potatoes.     Lord  Privy  Seal,  whofc  property  lay  by  itielf, 
was  the  firft  that  divided  and  inclofed  his  farms  fcparately. 
He  was  next   followed   by  the  owners  of  Cupar-grange, 
originally  diftributed  among  twelve  pofTcflTors  ;  but  eleven 
parts  of  the  twelve  were  now  become  one  property.  Afrer 
which,  the  Grange  of  Aberboihry  was  divided  ;  onginaily 
the  equal  property  of  eight,  now  of  fix  perfons  unequally. 
There  were  formerly  balks  between  the  ridges  ;  there  was 
no  grais  private  property  but  what  grew  on  the  balks. 
There  are  now  no  balks.     Formerly  they  ploughed   with 
eight  oxen,  or  with  four  oxen  and  two  horfes  before  them  ; 
at   preftnt  they  plough  entirely  with  horfes,  commonly 
two  in  a  plough.     What  com  they  had  was  not  much  in* 
ferior  to  what  grows  at  prefcnt.     They  ploughed  always 
deep,    cleaned  the  ground  in  the  fpring,    and  dunged  it 
for  barley.     The  whole  of  the  dung  was  laid  on  the  infield. 
The  outfield,  which  was  the  greater  proportion,  never  got 
any  dung.     It  yielded  a  crop  now  and  then,  af^er  lying 
feveral  years  in  grafs,  or  rather  in  a  flate  of  nature ;  the 
crop  was  private  property,  but  the  grafs  was  common  paf- 
3  tttragr. 


qfBendoiby.  347 

turage.  Formerlj  tbey  ufed  tumbler  fledges  for  carts; 
the  wheek  and  axle  being  all  of  one  piece  \  thej  now  ufe 
carts  of  a  proper  confirudion.  Almoft  all  this  parifli  was 
abbey  lands.  At  the  Reformation,  the  monks  fold  the  lands, 
and  the  tenants  who  reiided  generally  became  the  purchafers. 
The  circumftance  of  their  purchafe  made  little  alteration 
on  their  manner  ^  living.  Anciently  there  was  no  glai$ 
in  the  windows,  but  only  wooden  boards;  now  every 
window  has  fome  glafs.  There  are  fix  gentlemen's  houfes, 
auid  five  farm  houfes  two  (lories  high.  The  inhabitants 
formerly  had,  and  fome  ftill  have,  vile'  fmoaky  houfes  for 
ivant  of  vents.  This  has  begun  to  be  remedied  in  fome 
low  thatched  houfes,  by  building  a  three  feet  wide  chimney 
of  mafon-work,  fix  feet  high,  and  fetting  a  clay  and  flake 
vent  above  it  to  go  out  at  the  top,  three  feet  wide  within 
every  way ;  narrow  vents  of  mafon-work  being  found  to  be 
dangerous  in  thatched  houfes. 

^acis ' — In  the  low  country  part  of  the  parifli,  the  tenants 
have  all  tacks  of  19,  or  a  fmaller  number  of  years ;  and 
their  rent  is  paid  commonly  after  the  crop  is  fold  and  (}if- 
pofed  of.  In  the  Highland  di(lri£b  they  fcarcely  have  any 
tacks,  and  as  the  tenant  may  go  when  he  pleafes,  the  rent 
is  paid  commonly  before  the  crop  is  off  the  ground,  ac- 
cording to  iht  pradice  of  the  neighbouring  Highlands.  For 
fome  time  bygone,  the  tacks  of  Lord  Privy  Seal's  tenants 
have  been  renewed  two  years  before  their  expiration.  A 
reafonable  rent  is  fixed  on  by  the  heritor,  in  which  the  te- 
nant finds  it  his  intereft  to  concur.  The  confequence  is,  they 
are  all  old  tenants  on  this  oflate.  One  family  has  feen  out 
the  century  in  the  fame  place.  In  the  eftates  of  fome 
other  proprietors  of  the. pari Ai,  fome  fiirms  have  been  let 
(by  newfpaper  adveriifemencs  for  private  offers)  to  the  • 
higheil  bidders ;  this  makes  landed  property  an  objed  only 

of 


34*  Statiflical  Account 

of  commerce,  which  is  not  fo  favonrable  for  the  folidit  j  of 
fociety,  as  that  mode  (refulting  from  the  principles  of  the 
feudal  fyfteni)  by  which  the  tenant,  bom  at  the  fame  cradle, 
and  living  on  the  fame  foil,  wiflies  to  lie  in  the  fame  grave 
with  his  fathers.  Whereas  a  tenant,  who  has  been  prc- 
fered  becaufe  he  was  the  higheft  bidder,  thinks  he  owes  daty 
to  no  man  after  he  has  paid  his  rent.  There  is  one  family 
on  tHe  Cupar-grange  eflate,  which  has  alfo  been  there  a 
century.  The  former  tenant  in  that  family  kept  a  piper 
,  to  play  to  his  {hearers  all  the  time  of  harveft,  and  gave  him 
his  harveft  fee  :  The  floweft  (hearer  had  always  the  drone 
behind  him.  In  the  firll  part  of  this  century,  the  tenants 
not  only  lived  together  in  one  village,  but  each  village  was 
aimed  entirely  of  one  family,  allied  together  by  marriage 
and  blood. 

Rotation  of  Crops. — Though  every  pcrfon  purfues  a  rota- 
tion  of  crops  of  his  own,  there  is  no  rotation  common  to  all. 
The  tenants  on  the  eftate  of  Cupar-grange  are  bound  to 
a  rotation  of  fix  years;  three  to  be  white  crops,  wz. 
oats,  barley,  and  wheat ;  and  three  intermediate  crops  re- 
fpeftively  to  be  green  crops,  fuch  as  grafs,  peafe,  flax,  tur- 
nip, potatoes,  or  fallow.  The  tenants  on  Lord  Privy  Seal's 
eCtate  are  bound  to  have  no  more  than  two  thirds  of  their 
land  in  crop,  and  to  have  one  third  in  grafs  \  the  grafs  to 
He  four  years  ;  they  are  alfo  bound  to  have  half  of  their 
ground  in  grafs  during  the  lafl  five  years  of  the  tack. 

Sowing  mid  Reaping. — Wheat  is  fown  in  the  months  of 
OAober  and  November,  a  boll  to  an  acre.  Ii  is  fown  after 
dunged  fallow,  or  after  potatoes  that  have  been  dunged. 
The  quantity  of  dung  to  an  acre  is  from  30  to  40  cart- 
loads. Thofe  that  are  near,  purchafe  fome  Cupar  Angus 
dung;  which,  when  unmixed  with  earth,  is  a  valuable  ma- 

Dure, 


of  Bendotby.  349 

sure.     It  is  purchafed  at  i  s.  6  d.  or  2  s.  the  cart-load.     A. 
load  of  marl,  at  four  miles  diftance,  would  coil  50  d.  coa- 
taming   5   bolls.     A  load  of  lime,  at  fix  miles  difiance, 
woald  coft  I2S.  6d.  the  5  bolls.     There  is  little  or  none  of 
the  two  latter  at  prefent  ufed  here.     Wheat,  though  lately 
introduced  here,  is  raoft  congenial  to  the  climate  of  any 
grain  ;  as  it  alone,  of  all  of  them,  ftands  the  winter,  and  is 
fooneft  ripe,  and  read  j  to  be  removed  from  the  autumnal 
ftorms.     It  is  begun  to  be  cut  down  about  the  end  of  Au« 
guft,  or  beginning  of  September.     It  has  not,  however,  fuc- 
ceeded  on  high  mountainous  grounds.     Four  or  five  hun- 
dred feet  of  difference  of  elevation,  makes  a  very  great  dif- 
ference of  climate  ;  and  of  grounds  of  the  fame  elevation, 
thofe  neareft  the  mountains  are  the  coldeft  and  dampeft  foil* 
Oats  are  fown  in  the  end  of  March  and  beginning  of 
April,  (a  boll  to  an  acre),  frequently  after  grafs.     They 
never  get  any  dung,  as  they  grow  more  luxuriantly,  with 
lefs  fatnefs  of  foil,-  than  any  other  crop  can  do.     They  are 
reaped,  laft  of  all  the  crops,  about  the  end  of  September  or  " 
firil  of  October.     There  is  almoft  no  market  for  oats,  ex- 
cepting feed  oats,  which  fell  higher  than  the  price  of  other 
oats  \  but  oats  are  firil  converted  into  meal,  and  then  fold. 
The  common  people  live  on  oatmeal  pottage  twice  a-day« 
It  is  the  mod  wholefome  and  palatable  of  all  their  food, 
being  purely  vegetable ;  notwithftanding  the  reflexion  in 
Johofon's  DiAionary,  that  *'  oats  are  eaten  by  horfes  in 
*'  England,  and  in  Scotland  by  men."     Such  food  makes 
men  ftrong  like  horfes,  and  purges  the  brain  of  pedantry. 
It  produces  hardy  Highlanders,  who  by  their  (Irength  and 
drels  are  fo  formidable  to  their  enemies,   that  they  call 
them,  *'  Les  diables  des  Montagnes." 

Peafe  arc  fown  in  the  end  of  April.  They  are  not  con- 
fidered  as  a  valuable  crop,  except  on  account  of  the  ftraw ; 
they  are  precarious  to  win  in  harveft* 

Barley 


\ 


350  Stati/lical  Account 

Barlej  b  fbwn  about  the  beginning  of  May,  a  boll  to  an 
acre.  It  is  fown  commonlj  after  turnip,  or  other  green 
[  crop,  and  is  reaped  about  the  middle  of  September.  Barlej 
needs  to  be  dunged,  if  the  ground  has  not  been  dunged 
the  preceding  yean  Barlej,  fo  called,  has  two  rows  in  tbe 
bead  like  rye  :  That  which  has  more  rows  in  the  head  than 
two,  is  called  Cheftcr  Barley.  The  Cheiler  is  that  which 
has  been  moQ  anciently  fown  here,  and  which  is  ftill  moll 
in  requeft  in  the  high  grounds  ^  bot  barley  is  thought  the 
Aoft  advantageous  crop  in  the  low  country. 

Flax  is  fown  about  the  end  of  April,  after  a  ihower,  or 
when  the  ground  is  wet.  They  fow  about  lo  pecks  of 
lintfeed  on  an  acre.  The  flax  is  pulled  about  the  end  of 
Augufi,  and  yields  from  18  to  24  fione  of  flax  the  acre. 
There  is  but  little  lintfeed  faved*  The  flax  is  laid  for  ive 
or  fix  nights  in  the  water,  and  lies  afterwards  two  or  three 
weeks  on  the  gVafs. 

Potatoes  are  planted  about  the  end  cf  April  ^  that  moft 
commonly  ufed  is  the  kidney,  an  egg-ihaped  white  potatoe. 
There  are  likewife  fcvcral  other  forts  here.  Two  or  thiee 
bolls  of  potatoes  are  cut  and  planted  on  an  acre,  a  yard  be- 
tween tbe  rows,  and  a  foot  between  the  fets.  They  yield 
from  20  to  30  bolls  and  upwards  an  acre.  The  ground  it 
twice  ploughed  at  kail  before  planting;  and  they  are  hoed 
and  drilled  with  the  plough  two  or  three  times  after.  They 
are,  or  ought  to  be,  taken  up  before  tbe  end  of  September. 
The  rows  are  taken  up  by  the  plough,  and  gathered  with 
children  and  others ;  ploughed  again,  and  harrowed  before 
and  after  ploughing,  and  gathered  at  all  thefe  times.  They 
are  kept  in  winter  generally  under  ground,  but  fometimcs 
imperfedly,  on  account  of  the  moiflure  getting  down  among 
them,  and  caufing  them  to  rot,  heat,  and  ihoot  in  thefpring. 
If  they  were  to  be  kept  dry  in  an  ice  houfe,  they  would 
be  preferved  all  the  year  over  from  frod,  damp,  and  vege- 

•  tatioD. 


of  Btndotby.  351 

taticn.  Tbi&  is  propofed  as  a  fubjefi  for  a  premium  by  the 
Highland  Societ  j.  But  I  doubt  the  fingularity  of  my  pro* 
jed  would  operate  againit  my  pretenfions, — ^to  keep  «  thing 
from  froft  in  an  ice-houfe ! 

The  potatoe  is  the  true  root  of  Scarcity,  which  promifes 
to  fet  Famine  at  defiance.  The  poorer  lort  of  people  dine 
and  fup  chiefly  on  potatoes,  in  the  feafon  of  them.  But 
thofe  that  are  in  a  flate  of  fervitude,  are  commonly  above 
eating  potatoes.  Potatoes  *  are  ufeful  for  hoifes  in  the 
fpring  ;  they  eat  them  raw. 

Turnips  are  fown  the  firft  week  of  June  in  drills,  the 
ground  having  been  ploughed  (and  cleaned)  two  cr  three 
times  before  fowing.  There  is  the  fame  fpace  left  between 
the  drills  and  between  the  plants,  as  in  the  cafe  of  potatoes  ; 
and  they  are  cleaned  and  drefied  in  the  fame  manner.  Sow 
them  when  the  ground  is  wet,  or  prepare  your  ground^  and 
wait  for  rain,  cv€n  a  fortnight.  They  are  ready  to  take 
up  by  the  middle  of  November ;  fome  of  the  balls  of  them 
are  a  foot  diameter,  feldom  lefs  than  6  inches.  An  acre 
feedb  %  cattle,  and  puts  L.  3  Sterling  worth  of  beef  upon 
each.     Both  turnip  and  potatoes  are  dunged. 

Clover  and  ryegrafs  f  are  often  fown  out  with  barley, 

fometimea 

*  I1ie  fttbibuice  called  (hot  ftars  is  nothing  eUe  than  frofted  peutoes. 
A  night  of  hard  froft,  in  the  end  of  autumn,  in  which  thofe  meteors  called 
falling  ftars  are  fccn,  reduces  the  potatoe  to  the  confiftence  of  a  jelly,  or 
foft  pulp,  having  no  refcmblance  to  a  potatoe,  except  when  part  of  the  ikin 
of  the  potatoe  adheres  below  undifiblved.  This  pulp  remains  folt  and  fluid 
when  all  things  elfe  in  nature  are  confolidated  by  froft  ;  for  which  reafon  it 
is  greedily  taken  up  by  crows  and  other  fowls,  when  no  other  fuftenance  is 
to  be  had,  fo  that  it  is  often  found  by  man  in  the  a^hial  circuroftance  of 
having  fallen  from  above,  having  its  parts  fcattered  and  difperfed  ry  the 
fall,  according  to  the  law  of  falling  bodies.  This  has  given  rife  to  the 
name  and  vulgar  opuiion  concerning  it. 

t  Mye-^afi.'-^Thit  moft  troublefome  weed  to  fanners,  and  which  it  it 
tht  objcA  of  fallow  chiefly  to  ddtroy,  is  that  ibrt  of  graf^  called  ^icAen^ 

which 


35^  Stati/iical  Account 

Ibmetiines  with  other  crops;  i61b.  of  clover  feed  €m  an 
acre,  and  two  buftiels  of  r jegrais ;  the  produds  oa  good 
ground  is  200  ftooe  of  haj. 

^antity  and  IV eight  of  Grain. — ^There  arc  about  1500 
acres  to  the  W.  and  1 800  acres  to  the  £.  of  the  confluence 
of  Eroch  and  Ifla ;  in  all  3300  acres ;  of  which, 
896  acres  are  fown  with  oats ; 
421  with  barlej  or  bear ; 

X48  with  wheat; 

XI9  with  peafe; 

58  with  potatoes ; 

43  with  flax ; 

87  with  turnip ; 

130  in  fallow; 

12^0  infowngrals; 

158  in  natural  grab ; 

3300  acres. 

The  eftates  of  Drimmie,  Perfy,  and  Callj,  fow  befides 
about  260  bolls  of  oats,  and  150  bolls  of  bear.  The  ave- 
rage produce  in  the  low  country  part,  is  5  bolls  the  acre  of 
oats  and  bear ;  8  bolls  of  wheat ;  3  bolls  of  peafe,  Linlith- 
gow mcafure ;  20  to  50  bolls  potatoes,  being  4  heaped  bar- 
ley firlots  the  boll,  or  20  (lone  raeal-weit^ht.  In  the  High- 
land diflrifls,  the  produce  of  oats  and  bear  is  3  bolls.  Oats 
weigh  12  or  13  ftone  meal-weight,  (in  the  low  country)  ; 
barley  18  (lone,  and  wheat  14  ftone,  the  boll,  Linlithgow 

zneafnre ; 

which  propagates  by  flioot9  from  its  roots,  which  fpread  andrr  groand.  Tliis 
grafs  is  fo  like  rye-grafs,  that  however  well  fanners  know  its  roots,  I  fcarcely  • 
know  any  of  them  that  can  dlltin^iih  the  grafs  of  it  from  rye-grafs.  The 
quicken  grafs  grows  with  the  feeds  of  it  arranged  in  the  manner  of  wheats 
while  the  feeds  of  the  rye-grafs  are  arranged  in  the  manner  of  rye.  I  be- 
lieve the  feeds  of  this  weed  are  apt  to  be  fowir  for  iye<gni(s  by  mifiake. 


qfBendotby.  353 

metfnre ;  the  oat  and  barley  firlot  being  to  the  wheat  and 
peafe  firlot  as  3  to  a  nearly ;  the  ftandard  wheat  firlot  is 
very  nearly  equal  to  the  Engliih  bufliel,  being  iioth  part 
larger.  Good  oats  yield  a  boll  of  meal  of  8  ftone  for  a  boll 
of  oats.  Good  barley  yields  a  boll  and  a  half  of  meal,  or 
II  ftone,  for  a  boll  of  barley.  By  the  above  weights,  I 
mean  meal^wei^t,  or  Seoteh  avoirdupois,  a  done,  or  s6  lb. 
of  which  are  equal  to  17  lb.  6  ounces  Englifii  avoirdupois. 
The  firlot  of  the  parifli  b  the  Dundee  barley  firlot,  which  is 
3  lippiea  in  the  boll,  or  a  aoth  part  larger  than  the  Perth 
firlot.  The  Perth  firlot  is  a  a5th  part  larger  than  the  true 
ftandard.  Some  farmers  of  late  keep  two  barley  firlots, 
one  for  Dundee  and  another  for  Perth.  The  Perth  wheat 
firlot,  which  is  ufed  here,  is  alfo  faid  to  be  a  30th  part  lar« 
ger  than  the  true  ftandard  *.  The  prices  of  vidual  have 
been  fo  variable  of  late,  that  nothing  particular  can  be  faid 
of  them.  The  average  of  wheat  fome  years  bygone  was 
L.  xSterKng  the  boil;  of  oatmeal,  138.  4d. ;  of  bear,  148. 
or  15  8.  In  this  year  of  foarcity^  we  have  fiecn  the  wheat 
at  50 6.  the  boll;  the  bear  at  27  s.  and  the  oatmeal  at  34 r. 
the  boll,  from  the  failure  of  crop  x 795* 

Cattle. — ^There  are  x  a  29  homed  cattle  of  all  ages  and 
fezes  in  the  pari  (fa.  1  have  no  other  general  name  to  them ; 
but  many  of  them  are  doddcd,  that  is,  wanting  horns  :  We 
call  them  Cattle,  to  diftinguiOi  them  from  horfes,  of  which 
the'  e  are  232  in  the  parifli,  young  and  old.  Cattle  weigh 
from  10  to  40  ftone,  meal- weight.     A  fat  ox  of  40  ftone, 

Vot.  XIX.  Y  y  ;laft 

•  If  a  rod  of  63' inches  77  decimal  part5,  vibrating  47  times  in  a  minute, 
were  adopted  as  an  univerral  Aandard  of  meafitre ;  the  length  of  the  rod 
woald  be  equal  is  t  chord  of  the  equator,  fubtendin^  the  ugle  of  accelera- 
tion of  the  fixed  ftan  in  the  time  of  one  vibration.  So  that  the  iengtli  of 
the  rod,  maUiplied  by  the  number  of  its  vibrations  in  a  year,  would  be  equal 
to  a  great  circle  of  the  cuth  meafured  along  the  equator. 


354  Statijlical  Aecpuni 

laft  year,  bixMight  L«  zo  Sterling.  Horict  leU  from  L.  is 
f o  Lm  20  Steriing ;  a  borie  wUl  drair  So  floee  of  coab 
froin  Perth,  on  a  cart.  There  are  no  ibcep  kept  in  the  low 
country  part  of  the  parifli,  bat  fbme  in  the  Highlands.  We 
have  no  afiea  here,  but  Come  fwiae. 

Butter  and  Cifi/i^^^Thtn  m  a  good  deal  of  hbtter  and 
checfe  made  i  but  the  cbeefe  is  hb  yaloabk  than  it  woold 
be,  by  wanting  the  fubftaace  of  the  hotter.  Butter  fells  at 
xo  d.  the  pound  of  so  ounces  Scotch,  equal  to  %%  ounces 
Englilh  avoirdupois.  Merchants  retail  it  faked  doriDg  win- 
ter, giving  i6  ounces  Eogliib  for  a  pioond,  by  which  the 
unwary  purchafrr  lofes  6  ounces.  Cheefe  is  Cold  by  die 
country  peopk  (al  lb.  Englilh  avoirdopob  to  the  ftoiie) 
at  4s.  6  d.  and  is  retailed  by  thi^  merchants  at  x6  of  theft 
pbuods  to  the  (tone.  Tbefe  are  grievous  evils  to  the  poor, 
and  originate  from  not  refiri&ing  the  inhabhtnts,  ^ca* 
cioufly,  to  the  uie  poly  of  one  weight  apd  one  n)e$fiune.  I 
have  known  an  inftance  in  churning  butter,  in  which  thf 
cream,  after  more  than  ordinary  labour,  call  ap  only  one 
pound  of  butter  inftead  of  four,  which  it  ought.  By  ftanding 
a  while  to  cool,  and  having  the  labour  repeated  over  again, 
it  csft  up  the  other  thre^  pounds  of  butter. 

When  Kitty  kimcd,  and  there  nae  butter  came. 

Ye,  Matife,  gat  a'  the  wyte.  Alla^t  Raksai. 

TVire.— -There  is  a  good  deal  of  %1inen  yam  fpun  in  the 
parifli,  and  fome  of  it  is  weaved.  The  women  fpin  widi 
both  hands,  19  hairs  a-day.  The  price  of  yam  has  been  as 
variable,  of  late,  as  that  of  viAnal,  from  %$  d.  to  43  d.  die 
fpindle.  They  fpin  12  hairs,  fale  yarn^  out  o(  the  Engliih 
p9Uffd  aVG^rdupo^. 


$/Sendotiy4  JS^ 

MUls.'^Thetejm  two  lint-mills  in  the  parifh,  and  font 
ebin-milb,  for  grinding.  There  are  three  mtlis  ereded  iti 
the  poriOi  for  threfking  cbrn.  Each  mill  is  driven  hy  three 
cyr  ^fonr  horfes*  It  threlhes  a  holl  in  ten  more  out  of  wheat 
than  is  done  by  flaib.  But  the  mill  breaks  the  wheat-draw 
much,  and  unfits  it  for  thatch.  *"  llie  expence  of  mounting 
one  is  L*  30  or  L.  40  Sterling.  One  of  thefe  has  about  80 
revolutions  of  the  threihing-drum  for  one  revolution  of  the 
horfe*s  wheel.  But  as  the  horfe^s  traft  is  eight  times  lar^- 
ger  than  the  eircumference  of  the  threfliing-drum,  th« 
threlhers  move  with  only  ten  times  the  velocity  of  the 
horfes.    lliefe  mills  give  fatbfadion. 

Reiti  and  Produce.-^The  whole  rent  of  the  pariih  is 
L.  1467  Sterling.  The  crop  and  annual  ifaduftry  of  thd 
people  is  worth  about  four  times  that  fum,  little  fiiort  of 
L.  10,600  Sterling.  Of  this,  one-fourth  goes  to  fow  the 
ground,  and  fiimifli  implements  of  hufbandry ;  one-fourth 
to  pay  the  rent ;  one-fourth  to  pay  and  maintain  the  fer- 
▼antSi  (men^s  wages  being  from  L4  to  to  L.  13,  and  wo- 
men's wages  L.  4  Sterling)  3  and  one-fourth  to  fupport  the 
farmer's  &mily.  Before  the  farms  were  divided,  and  die 
late  mode  of  farming  adopted,  there  was  only  *'  ane  to  faw^ 
**  and  ane  to  gnaw,  and  ane  to  pay  the  Laird  witha'."  This 
is  fometimes  the  cafe  flill.  The  flock  and  tiend  of  the 
whole  pariih,  according  to  the  valuation  of  the  prefbytery 
of  Meigle,  A.  Di  1630,  was  84  chalders  3  bolls  a  pecks  of 
iriftual,  and  Li  3 131  : 4  :  10  Scotch  of  olon^y ;  aiid  turning 
the  money  into  vidual,  at  L.  100  Scotch  thft  chalder,  (which 
feems  to  have  been  the  rule  then  ufed  in  the  valuation,  the 
whole  flock  and  tiend,  eftimated  in  vidual,  was  C15  chal« 
ders.  But  the  prefent  rent  being  L.  1467  Sterlings  would' 
be  equal  to  193  chalders,  at  16  s.  Sterling  the  boU«    Ihe 

talW 


356  Stati/Hcal  Account 

value  of  the  parilh  at  that  time,  thereforCf  was  littk 
than  half  its  prefent  value. 

Stipind^ — ^The  ftipend  b  6i  chalders  of  vilEhia],  two  pofts 
oatmeal,  and  third  part  barlej,  and  L,  33  : 6 : 8  Sterling  of 
monej.  The  prefent  incumbent,  who  is  a  native  of  the 
parilh,  was  fettled,  A.D.  1785.  Mr  Alexander  Dun  was 
minifter  for  36  jears  before  that ;  and  Mr  James  Ram&y, 
before  him,  was  47  years  mini&er  of  this  pariih.  He  be- 
fjui  with  the  century,  and  was  the  firfi  Prefbjterian  mini- 
iter  after  the  Revolution  :  The  people  having  retained  the 
Epifcopal  minifter  xi  years  after  the  Revolution,  and  ha- 
ving adhered  to  him  fome  tim^  even  after  the  fettlemcnt 
•f  his  fucceflbr.  His  name  was  Mr  Rankin^— The  age  of 
the  church  is  not  known  \  it  was  newly  feated  about  ao 
years  ago.  The  wood  of  the  roof  is  xoo  years  old.  The 
manfe  was  repaired  five  years  ago.  It  is  moftly  all  new,. 
except  the  cupples  and  joifts,  and  floors,  and  part  of  the 
fore  and  back  wall.  It  has  ftood  about  70  years.  The 
fchool  flands  at  Cupar-grange.  The  falary  is  now  aoo 
merks  Scotch.  Englifli,  arithmetic,  and  writing,  are  taoght 
by  the  prefent  fchoolmaller.  I  believe  there  is  no  native 
of  the  pariih  who  has  not  been  taught  to  read. 

CbaptL — A  chapel  of  eafe  was  built  about  eleven  years 
ago  at  North  Perfy,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  people 
in  the  neighbourhood.  It  c<^  L.  150  Sterling,  railed  by 
contributions  in  the  country.  It  is  dated,  (bated,  and  cod* 
tains  400  people.  The  feat-xents  and  colleAions  amount 
to  about  L.  30,  which  maintains  the  preacher.  Applica* 
tion  was  made  for  aid  firom  the  Royal  bounty,  and  from 
the  Society  for  Propagating  Chrifiian  Knowledge,  without 
cfied.  In  thb  laA  cafe,  the  &ilure  was  partly  owing  to  the 
want  of  concurrence  on  the  part  of  landed  gentlemen,  to 
3  comply 


efBendotly.  357 

complj  with  the  rules  of  the  Society,  which  require  half  of 
the  preacher's  falary  to  he  made  good  by  them.  There  is 
a  borial'ground  at  Cally.  The  chapel  at  Ferfy  is  nine 
miles  firom  the  parifli-church.  ^ 

JPoor.F— There  are  at  prefent  7  poor  perfons  on  the  llilt 
who  get  from  2s.  to  5  s.  monthly  i  in  all,  L.  i :  2 :  6,  month- 
ly. The  monthly  colleAions  are  8  s.  L.  6  Sterling  b  raifed 
by  an  afleflment  of  2  s.  yearly  on  the  L.  xoo  Scotch  valued 
rent,  paid  equally  by  the  heritors  and  tenants.  The  kirk* 
feffion  had  lent  L.  100  Sterling  to  Mr  Robertfon  of  Strath- 
loch»  alias  Baron  Reid,  which,  aftenhis  failure,  lay  25  yeart 
in  captivity  in  the  hands  of  his  truilee,  till  it  amounted  to 
L.  147  Sterling,  when  it  was  again  recovered.  Moft  part 
of  that  fum  had  not  been  three  months  in  the  hands  of  Ber- 
tram, Gardner,  and  Company,  when  it  was  again  unfortu- 
nate. The  fei&on  have  L.  40  at  intereft  beiides  the  above. 
The  fei&on-clerk's  fee  is  L.  x  yearly.  Five  (hillings  of 
monthly  penfion  is  only  2  d.  a-day ;  when  the  poor  peoplo 
have  no  other  fupport,  it  cannot  detain  them  long  from  that 
country,  where  the  weary  are  at  refi. 

H^a^r/.— When  people  are  well,  and  in  health,  they  do 
not  provide  for  the  days  of  infirmity,  which  may  be  many, 
nor  think  of  the  years  of  which  they  Ihall  fay,  they  have 
no  pleafure  therein.  L.  5  Sterling  were  great  wages  tea 
years  ago.  Twice  that  fum  is  the  common  hire  of  men 
lervants  at  prefent ;  and  fome  have  the  &ce  to  aflc,  and  the 
luck  to  obtain,  near  three  times  that  (um,  befides  food.  The 
wages  of  a  day-labourer  are  &  d.  or  xo  d.  a-day,  befides 
food  \  of  a  Wright  or  mafon,  x  s.  8  d.  or  x  s.  10  d.  without 
meat  \  of  a  man  fliearer  for  the  harveft,  L.  2  Sterling  ^  of  a 
woman,  above  L.  x,  and  meat ;  of  a  man  (hearer  for  a  day, 
I  s.  6  d.  i  of  a  woman,  x  s*  and  meat.    It  is  too  little  the 

praAioe' 


3S8  StaHJikal  Jc€ount 

praAioe  of  fiutnen  to  keep  cottan,  bj  wlikh  meaas  {teople 
are  not  railed  on  the  grounds  infficient  to  perform  the  work. 
Thej  think  it  mote  profitable  to  import  them  from  the 
Highlands.  A  new  cart  cods  L.  6  Sterling;  hameffiag  fcr 
it  cofis  L.  %f  10  $•  An  iron-headed  plough,  and  caft  metal 
monld-boardy  cofts  L.  a.  A  new  harrow  oofia  7  a.  The 
threihing  a  boll  of  oats  cofla  the  ajth  bolL 

Firr/«—Moft  of  the' people  bring  any  peats  they  ufe  from 
Ae  mols  of  Cochridgei  in  the  pariih  of  Kinloch,  being  feven 
hours  in  going  and  returning.  Coalsjfrom  Dundee  or  Perth 
are  the  chief  fuel  uied  by  thofe  that  haire  carta  to  dri-ve 
them. 

Bridg$9.^^Thmt  was  a  bridge  built  over  the  Ida,  on  the 
road  from  Cupar  Angus  to  Fort  George,  by  Government, 
in  1766.  The  arches  are  five.  The  middle  arch  is  30  feet 
above  the  fummer  water)  and  the  road  over  is  15  feet 
wide.  The  road  is  fometimes  impaffablci  on  the  foutb  fide, 
at  high  floods.  The  bridge  is  built  nearly  over  the  only 
two  natural  great  (tones  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  called 
the  riding  Jlont  and  thie  wading  Jlonti  and  as  works  of  na- 
ture outlive  thofe  of  art,  they  may  (hew  the  place  where  it 
ftood  after  it  is  gone.  There  is  another  bridge  over  the 
Ardle  at  Cally,  on  the  fame  road,  and  a  bridge  at  Stron. 
over  the  Sbee,  on  another  road,  both  of  one  arch.  '  There 
is  a  boat  over  the  Eroch  at  Cupar-grange  for  foot  people^ 

jB^jg|ife#i^/.«^Bendothy  was  the  pariih  church  of  Capar 
Angus  before  the  abolition  of  Popery.  The  church  was 
then  more  centrical  for  the  pari(h  than  it  is  at  prefent.  The 
feats  of  Keithick,  in  that  pari(h,  ftood  in  the  chnrch  here 
before  die  late!  repairs.  There  is  a  fione  in  this  chwch 
upon  Nicol  Campbell,  proprietor  of  Keithick,  fim  of  Do- 
ftal^i  abbot  of  Cupar,  and  grandfon  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle, 

who 


ifBendotby.  35^ 

who  £ed,  A.D.  i587»  aged  70.  Hk  brother,  David  Camp* 
bell,  proprietor  of  Denhead,  (in  Cupar  parifib),  is  alfo  buried 
here.  Hedied,  A.D.  1584,  aged88.  There  is  aUb  a  (tone  on 
Leonard  Lellie,  (entitled,  Doimus  di  Cupro)^  commenda*. 
tor  of  Cupar,  who  died,  A.  D,  1605,  aged  81.  There  is  a 
figure  in  the  wall  of  John  Cummin,  proprietor  of  Couty,  ui 
this  parilby  drefled  in  a  coat  of  mail.  A*  D.  x6o6. 

Si  Fini^ — There  has  anciently  been  a  chapd  at  St  Fink>  * 
dedicated  to  that  faint.  That  rpart  of  th^  parUb  which  ia 
eaftward  of  the  confluence  of  Eroch  and  Ifla,  would  feem, 
from  its  fituation,  to  have  belonged  to  this  chapel.  The 
houles  near  to  it  are  called  the  Chapeltown,  and  the  foun- 
dation of  the  chapel  remains  at  St  Fink.  There  has  an- 
dentlj  been  a  burying-ground  round  the  chapel.  The  pit- 
(ent  proprietor  dug  out  fome  heads,  without  a  body,  (each ' 
indofed  between  four  fquare  Hones,  fitted  to  hold  the  head ^4 
probably  the  heads  of  people  who  had  been  flaia  at  a  dif*' 
tance  in  battle.  There  was  a  cairn  of  ftones  on  his  cfiate*. 
which  he  alfo  opened  up,  and  below  the  ftones,  among  the 
loofe  earth,  which  was  black  with  burnt  albes,  he  found 
human  bones,  which  had  undergone  fire  \  and  upon  digging 
down  into  the  firm  ground  below,  he  found  two  inverted 
urns,  which  had  been  placed  in  pits  dug  for  them,  each  urn 
containing  human  bones ;  the  bones  and  urns  were  in  per- 
feft  prefervation*  The  urns  were  large  enough  to  hold  the 
thigh  and  leg  bones,  and  other  bones,  entire.  They  were 
adorned  with  rude  fculpturei  but  had  no  infcription. 

PiOiJb  luUdings^^n  digging  in  the  grounds  of  Mudball 
feveralfubterraneousbuildings  were  uncovered,  which,  when 
cleared  of  the  afhes  and  earth  with  which  they  were  filled, 
were  found  to  be  about  6  feet  wide  within  walls,  5  feet  deep, 
j|od  40  ^et  loBg»  or  more.  They  were  built  in  the  fides,  and 

paved 


36a 


Statiftical  Account 


psved  in  the  bottom  witb  rough  whrn-ftooet.  la  tftdr 
kngth  they  were  not  ftratght,  bat  a  portion  of  a  circle. 
It  would  feem  that  they  had  been  roofied  with  wood,  and 
covered  above  with  earth  and  turf.  They  anfwer  to  Ta- 
citos's  deibription  of  the  buildings  of  the  Germans :  **  Tliey 
**'  dig  caves  in  the  earth,  where  they  lay  up  thrir  grain, 
*'  and  live  in  winter.  Into  thele  they  alio  retire  firom  their 
"  enemies,  who  plunder  the  open  country,  but  cannot  dif- 
•*  cover  thefe  fabterraneous  recefles.*'  Be  Mar.  Germ^c.  i6. 
If  people  were  obliged  again  to  creep  into  a  hole,  they 
would  know  the  value  of  good  Cyoveroment  by  the  want 
of  it.  Their  creft  and  edifice  would  not  tower  fo  high  as 
they  do  at  prefent. 

Pofitt/atioM. — There  are  in  the  pari(h  i8i  Caimiliea,  con* 
faining  878  fouk.  The  return  to  Dr  Webfier  in  I7S5«  was 
1193  fouls;  fo  that  the  population  has  fufiered  a  diminu* 
tioQof4t7. 

A  JJJI 0/  Famlitj. 


5  proprietors  rending,  poflcuin 
Sth  of  the  v&lucdient. 

g  to 

5  Wrights, 
a  Ibitbs. 

1  fanner,  rent  from  L.  zao  to  L.  140 

5  tailors. 

4 

lOO 

110 

23  labourers. 

3 

80 

100 

•12  (enrants. 

€ 

60 

80 

6  millers- 

9 

40 

60 

2  mxnifter  and  fchoolfflafter. 

«x 

10 

40 

2  boatman  and  heckler. 

9 

10 

20 

10  widows. 

9 

s 

to 

11  unmarried 

women. 

13 

under 

s 

under 

xo 

iSz&milies. 

Ai  da4y  weavers. 

Nttmitr 

o/Ptr/oms  m  Famay. 

ramily. 

Perfons. 

Family. 

PeribMi 

1         of 

H 

x8 

of 

6 

*          3 

«3 

19 

5 

IS 

30 

4 

IX 

3X 

3 

lO 

«S 

a 

9 

XI 

t 

<4 

8 

M^ 

7 

181  familiea 

of  Bendotby,  361 

Jn  A,  Z).  1648  were  y^  Baptifms. 


31702, 

4a  1 

baptilins.          | 

1779.                ao  baptiims. 

»749. 

33 

\         17^SV                 " 

MaUi. 

FemaUi.  " 

Relative  Situationi. 

160 

» 

^6. 

»    .. 

\  women  bearing  childrea* 

<5S 

vpmcQ  paft,  and  not  bearing* 

«9 

widows. 

IX 

unmarried  women  keeping  houfc 

7 

— 

weavers  not  boafefaolden. 

.a 

.. 

wngbts  .ditto* 

tftf 

•« 

male  relations  of  the  bouie. 

206 

female  relations. 

100 

-« 

male  fervants. 

74 

female  fervants. 

105 

males  under  lo  jeaif. 

97 

females  under  lo  yean. 

tf^a^M 

•HO 

43* 

nuiles  and  females. 

438 

— 

females. 

»7» 

foals. 

Ages  0/*  the  People. 

^crfons. 

Tean. 

Years.             | 

Perfons.        Years.     Years. 

102 

froin    0    tc 

10 

52    from    60    to   70 

jya  • 

10 

ao 

9              70           «o 

«47 

«o 

30 

X         above          %o 

lao 

30 

40 

•a-... 

94 

40 

SO 

Inali,87S(ba]a. 

7S 

50 

60 

Kelijious  Ferfuafions. 

^96    Eibibliflimcnt. 

3    EpiTcopals, 

143    Scccders. 

ft    Papifts. 

3  a    Relievers. 

Ilnall^  878    fouls. 

Languagi^-^s  the  common  Scotch,  which  has  not  al- 
tered .'much  in  pronouhciation  and  di&ion  fince  Gavin 
Douglas's  *  tranflation  of  the  /Eneid  in  that  language.  It 
is  a  provincial  dialed  of  the  Englifh.     Some  words  are  of 

Vol.  XIX.  Zz  Greek 

•  There  are,  in  diis  tradlation,  a  great  many  learned  and  foreign  words 
ifom  the  tatin  and  other  languages,  which  (in  the  manner  of  Johnfon^s 
pfcrafeology)  do  not  e germinate  from  ^le  vernacular  tongue. 


^6%  StoHJHcal  Accomt 

Creek  original.  JKm,  is  Bm9i$  ^  hiH ;  irod^^  (about  tht 
moon),  is  fipo^o(»  m  chain  about  the  neck ;  Itofi^  is  Bgi»9K9 
meat.  C^r  d!r  Jii/.  Go/.  /i2. 6«y^  xj,  14.  (i^ys,  the  Opuds 
in  Gaul  fpoke  the  Grpek  laogaage,  tbpir  (chook  bpin^ 
formed  on  tlie  model  of  thole  in  Britain,  Some  words  are 
of  French  original ;  Uancbeamf  (milk  and  water),  is,  bbmcbi 
eau^  white  water;  ma'gr^^  (in  fpite  of),  is  malgm  ingk^ 
(the  fire),  majr  be  traced  in  the  Xajon  tgnU.  The  celebrar 
ted  author  of  the  Wealth  of  Nations  obfenrcs,  that  people 
who  live  in  the  country  have  more  intelligence  tilian  thofe 
in  towns.  Farming  does  not  require  many  words,  bat 
much  reflcdion  and  obfervation,  and  great  exertion  ^d  in- 
duftry.  People  that  live  in  retirement  ar^  not  fo  expert 
in  the  ufe  of  words  as  they  that  live  in  fociety  are  ;  but 
their  tongues  are  better  indexes  of  their  hearts.  TIkj  do 
not  need  to  live  on  little  traffic,  which  is  a  great  enemy  to 
truth  and  morals ;  and  are  not  always  a  match  for  tbofb 
arts  of  trade,  by  which  towns-people  fometimes  take  them 
in. 

ReligtQM,  life. — There  is  more  of  the  external  form,  and, 
I  believe,  real  fubftance  of  religion,  here  in  Scotland,  at 
lead  on  one  day  of  the  week|  than  is  to  be  feen  in  other 
places  out  qf  Scotland.  The  clergy  commonly  repeat  their 
fermons  from  memory,  that  they  may  avoid  tl^e  preju- 
dices which  would  Qtherwife  arife  againft  them  from  faf« 
pefted  want  of  ability  and  infpiratiQn,*-prejudices,  which, 
however  groundlefi  they  ipay  be  in  their  caufe,  are  r^ 
in  their  ponfequeocea.  Socrates,  a  wife  man  in  liis  li&i 
was  certainly  a  fopi  at  his  death,  which  was  occafioned 
by  his  defpifing  the  opinions  of  the  people.  Such  as  are 
difaffcfted  to  the  church,  are,  more  commonly.  i;han  other- 
wife,  very  indifferent  about  the  ftate.  It  is  fingular  to  lee 
91*  \ie^v  9f  them  liftin|(  up  one  hand|  in  their  own  waj,  to 


9f  ienJoifyi  36J 

it&plore  »  bleffing  on  the  gofpeU  and  flretching  ont  di<r 
other,  to  the  tnemj,  to  help  to  poll  it  down.  Thej  ftomble 
on  that  blocks  which  bean  the  infcription,  that  the  Pope  is 
Antichrift.  But  who  is  Antichrift  now  ?  He  or  his  ene* 
mies  ?  The  Revelation  of  St  John  decides  it  t  '^  He  is  An« 
*'  tichrift  that  denieth  the  Father  and  the  Son."  Whj/ 
my  friends,  yon  care  as  little  for  the  gofpel  and  the  Sab« 
bath-day,  as  yon  do  for  the  Pope,  or  the  Eftabliflnnent ; 
otherwife  yon  wonld  not  expole  the  (bame  of  your  naked- 
neis,  by  jobing  with  Sans  Cullotes,  to  dance  with  them  upon' 
the  decade.  One  word  more  on  this  fubjefii  and  I  havo 
done.  Babylon  was  a  great  city,  and  no  better  than  it 
(honld  be*  Rome  was  a  great  city,  and  the  whol*e  of  Baby* 
Ion.  Beware  of  making  cities  too  great.  They  are  ca^ 
pable  of  making  fudden  tnmults.  It  was  not  France,  but 
Paris,  that  twice  overturned  the  Government,  and  leiit  eVe« 
ry  man  to  do  that  which  Was  right  in  his  own  eyes.  To 
prevent  the  exorbitant  growth  of  eities  may  be  done  by  in-* 
dividuals,  but  is  not  to  be  attempted  by  (lateOnen.  If  the 
property  of  the  nation  were  fpent  by  its  pofleflbrs  in  pro- 
vincial towns,  (rather  than  all  coUeAed  at  the  metropolis), 
property  would  be  lefs  liabk  to  the  efled  of  fddden  con* 
vnlfions.  The  moft  defpotic  and  cruel  of  all  governors 
were  the  mobs  of  Athens  and  Rome.  From  fuch  inhu^ 
man  matters,  CSood  Lord  deliver  us  1 

Camaltn^K  canal  would  be  very  beneficial  to  this  coon^ 
try.  It  coald  be  brought  from  Perth,  along  the  tiA  bank 
of  the  Tay,  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  Stormont-ficld  oanal  9* 
and  coold  from  thence  be  carried  on  higher  grounds  to  Cupa^ 
Angns,  from  whence  is  level  ground  all  along  to  the  IakH 
of  Forfar,  which  is  not  ^uite  aoo  feet  above  the  level  o£ 
the  feai 


364  Siati/iical  AccouM 

Ciimaie.^^Tor  two  months  of  fammer  there  b  a  flroiig  ttfU 
light  all  night,  fo  that  one  can  read  ordinarj  print  hy  it  ia 
die  open  air  at  midnight ;  the  fun  being  onlj  xo  degrees 
ttnder  the  horizon.  In  furomer,  in  the  ihade>«  the  thermo- 
meter  flands  at  about  60^  on  Farenheif  s  feale,  in  warm 
weather  above,  and  in  eold  weather  bebw  that  pcunt* 
There  is  aknoft  no  difierenoe  between  the  ftate  of  the  ther- 
mometer here,  and  that  at  Edinburgh,  as  printed  in  the 
newfpapers ;  in  winter,  the  diermometer  is  rerj  variable* 
One  night,  in  December  1794,  it  was  down  24^  below 
freezing.  This  was  very  uncommon.  The  W.  wind  13 
the  moft  common  ;  it  is  a  dry  wind.  The  N.  wind  is  alfo 
dry,  and  blows  in  winter.  The  £.  wind  is  accompanied 
with  rain  v  but  in  (pring  it  is  fouKdmes  dry.  The  S.  wind 
16  a  wet  windv  and  feldom  blows.  The  S.  W.  wind,  which 
blows  in  the  direAien  of  the  ({rath,  b  the  moft  common  of 
all  others.  The  air  is  often  ftill  at  evening  and  morning, 
and  then  the  S.  W.  wind  Mows  at  mid-day,  and  in  the  af- 
ternoon a  good  gale.  The  barometer  is  high  ia  good  wea- 
dier  and  froft,  and  falls  after  wind  and  rain.^ 

A  great  fall  of  fnow  in  winter  feems  to  change  the  cli- 
mate above  it  from  the  time  of  its  fall,  while  it  contimxes 
upon  the  ground.  It  prevents  the  cold  of  the  atmofphere 
ftt>m  defcending  to  the  earth,  and  the  heat  of  the  earth  from 
afcending  to  the  atmofphere.  Grronnd  that  is  not  frozen 
when  the  (how  falls  on  it,  will  not  freeze  after.  One  day 
a  good  many  years  ago,  I  faw  the  hoar^froll  on  the  ice  of 
the  river,  in  the  morning,  half  an  inch  long.  It  was  fea- 
thered like  fern,  and  had  great  refemblance  to  vegetadon. 
The  icy  particles  at  that  dme  clouded  the  atmofphere,  and 
individually  were  vifiWe  to  the  eye.  Though  the  froft  in 
l)ecember  17^4  was  the  moft  fevere  ever  known,  there 
was  a  pool  of  ftiil  water  in  Ida  river  that  did  not  freeze. 
I  think  that  a  complete  coat  of  ice  alters  the  temperature 

3  ^ 


o/Bendotbj.  ^. 

of  the  water  nnder  it,  and  prevents.it  frpm  being  cooled  b^. 

the  atmofphere,  fo  that  it  h^s  not  the  fame  difpofition  to 
freeze  as  it  had  before  it  was  covered.  If  hedges  or  dikes 
were  raifed  30  yards  from  the  road  fide,  that  fpace  would 
hold  all  the  driven  fnow,  and  the  road  would  be  free  from 
it. 

The  crop  17951  having  been  a  bad  crop,  and  having  rai'' 
fed  the  oatmeal  to  24  s.  and  the  wheat  to  50s.  the  boll,  a, 
iketch  of  the  weather  may  not  be  unacceptable.  The  froft  ^ 
began  on  the  i8th  December  1794,  and  continued  to  the 
4th  of  January.  It  began  again  on  the  loth  of  January  -y 
fnowed  on  the  19th  and  aoth,  and  continued  deep  fnow.^ 

.  Marcht3.  there  was  fome  blacknefs  on  the  ground  \  March  x  I. 
the  river  ice^broke,  and  went  down;  March   19.  wreaths 
fiill    in    hollows;     Sidlaw    hills    fliU    continued    white 
March  23.  ploughs  going;    March   31.  rain  and  flood 
April  4.  fowing ;  April  15.  fnow  nearly  otf  Sidlaw  hills 
May  9.  fnowing;  thermometer  about  48^  all  May;   all 
fummer  below  60^  except  a  day  or  two.     The  harveft  dry 
till  the  9th  of  Odober,  and  wheat  and  barley  partly  in ; 
on  the  9th  of  Oftober  a  flood,  wind  S.  £. ;  on  lOth,  ano- 
ther flood;  barometer  about  29^;   rain  continued  to  the 
i8thy  wind  S.  £. ;  barometer  29! ;  thermometer  50^.   Oc- 
tober 23,  24.  dry,  high  wind,  S.  W.;  barometer  28{;  ta- 
king in  the  corn  ;  the  ears  of  the  uncut  oaU  fprung,  (land- 
ing upright  in  the  fields. 

Pbenomenon.^^n^  night  I  obferved  in  the  air  a  long 
narrow  flripe  of  a  whitilh  cloud,  one  end  of  which  was  near 
me ;  its  pofition  was  horizontal.  The  end  next  to  me«  as  it 
advanced,  became  more  red,  bent  into  a  curve ;  then  re« 
volved  upon  itfelf  with  a  very  quick  fpiral  motion,  and 
the  appearance  of  intenfe  fire ;  and  though  it  was  quite 
calm  where  I  flood,*  the  phenomenon  was  attended  with  the 

found 


S^S  SotttJUcat  AccoulU 

tend  of  a  whirlwiod,  which  I  would  h%fz  pcfrcnvcd  it  ^6 
have  beai»  had  it  been  daj^^Iighc,  and  a  dond  of  daft  to 
make  it  vifible. 

Artificial  Apptatanct^'^  bdiev^  much  of  die  mrakzi- 
tion  of  the  Aurora  Borealis  proceeds  from  itflefiioo  in  the 
•tmofphere.  One  night  I  perceived  the  atmofphere  iUn- 
mined  in  cpiick  focccffion  of  red  flalhes,  like  die  Amm/ra^  to 
^n  angle  of  20^  or  30^  elevation,  and  found  it  was  done 
bj  boys,  burning  pob-tow,  about  a  mile  dilhuit»  and'  that 
the  fuoceffive  corrufcadons  of  the  atmofphere  were  ooca* 
fioncd  b J  the  tollings  of  the  tow. 

ConjeBuri*^-^!  have  fomedmcs,  in  very  deat  nights,  per- 
ceived the  SGlky-wajr  to  be  a  great  circle  in  the  heavens* 
pafling  near  Aquila,  Cygnas,  Sirius ;  and  I  find  it  goes 
through  the  fouchem  hemifphere  in  the  fame  circle  conn^ 
nued.  Its  plane,  therefore,  *is  a  plane  which  pafles  through 
the  centre  of  the  earth.  The  conjedure  I  have  founded  on 
this  is,  that  the  Milky-way  exhibits  to  us  the  pofidon  of  the 
univerfe,  which  is  a  plane  (of  Imall  comparative  thiduieis) 
lying  in  the  pofitton  of  the  Milky-way.  What  fiipports 
diis  conjefture  is,  that  the  (mall  motion  which  the  fan  has 
among  the  fixed  ftars,  is,  in  this  plane,  towards  Aqaila» 

Difiajis  inciiini  to  Wbtat^-^rt  the  black  and  mS.  The 
black  is  the  moft  hurtful*  The  covering  of  the  grain  is  en- 
tire, btit  within  it  b  all  black  powder,  which  afterwards 
blackens,  and  hurts  the  found  wheat.  If  yon  pull  up  a 
blacked  fialk,  all  the  ftalks  that  rife  with  it  from  the  fame 
root  are  blacked  like  wife.  It' is  moft  common  in  ndny 
lummers ;  no  eSedual  remedy  is  found.  Potatoes  ate  fome- 
timei  liable  to  the  Icab  or  cttrl,  efpecially.  if  the  ground  be 

poor< 


of  Bendathy.  367 

poor,  tod  they  be  burned  wifji  the  fif mqer'^  dnmgbt.  Ift 
ifeems  to  proceed  from  animals  *  fcniping  the  fl^fn,  w)i9^ 
they  can  get  nothing  elfe  to  live  on. 

Difiafes  inciifent  to  Children '-•zrtt^  t^ht  fm^-po^  eUlk 
cooghy  meafles.  The  ague,  formerly  frequent  here,  ii  now 
ieUom  known.  It  feems  to  have  arifen  from  colds,  and 
working  too  early  in  the  meming  to  avoid  the  heat  of  tlie 
day.  There  are  fome  fevers  that  are  epidemical.  &  end 
(bme  are  infedious  to  thole  of  the  iame  Uood  and  fimily, 
bat  not  to  others. 

Siormoni. — ^The  StonBont  Loch,  at  the  cpi^et  of  tliie 
jttrilb,  has  been  thought  by  fome  to  give  name  to  the  du 
ftrift  of  Stormont,  which  lies  between  that  place  and  Dun* 
keld.  But  the  word  Stour  fignifying  a  fight  or  battle,  (fi^e 
Johnfon's  Diftionary  on  the  word),  that  name  feems  rat^ 
to  have  arifen  from  the  Stormont  having  been  the  field  of 
battk  t  between  Agricola  and  Galgacus  in  the  Si^th  year  of 

th^ 

#  The  qiiiefpilliuri  are  Ibipetuiia  lu^^  Thcvdf 

mils  I  fpctk  of  begin  at  the  leaves  next  the  root  of  the  biiih»  and  cat  evcijp 
kaf  aa  they  proceed,  fraduaily  up  to  tlie  top ;  and  when  tlie  bufli  u  madf 
bare,  tliey  defcend,  and  begin  at  the  bofli  next  adjacent,  proceedinf  firon 
botUHS  to  top  in  the  ftme  manner.  To  faye  the  bnlbeir  make  a  lope  of 
tinfy,  aboot  the  grofiieis  of  pne'i  arm,  and  lay,  one  npon  the  gnmnd,  ■! 
the  root  of  each  bulh,  fo  as  to  epcompais  ^  ftalk  of  the  buih  complrtdf, 
f ts  ImcU  is  oifen&ve  to  the  animals,  add  prevents  them  &om  afccadaii^ 
Prohaffm  ijt, 

t  The  account,  which  was  tranAnitted  to  the  editor  hereof  fofneyeaif 
a^o,  of  this  parilh,  and  of  the  traces  of  the  above  event  in  the  Stormont, 
having  been  loft  or  miflaid,  and  the  clergy  more  ifunediately  conceme4 
having  concurred  in  the  opinions  therein  fuggefted,  it  will  be.  tumeceflar|^ 
(pj  me  to  do  more  than  glance  on,a  few  leading  points,  and  to  tompare  tb( 
^i4ory  of  Tacifns  wyth  the  a|>ptiianccs,  and  both  thefe  with  the  account  of 


568  Statiftical  Account 

Chriftian  sera.  Of  this  battle  there  are  traces  at  Maofe  er 
•Maws,  on  die  road  from  the  church  of  Bendochj  to  the 
chapel  at  Perfj. 

*  SoeAiios,  which  came  to  dsy  hand  and  knowledge,  after  I  had  fonierly 
*<rMiiJnitted  to  tha  editor  hereaf  the  fnbftance  of  what  fbUowi. 

TacJtiis,  in  the  life  of  Agrioola,  £iy»»  that  Agriccda  **.  ad  montem  Gn- 
'*.  pUmi  pervenit,  qtiem  jam  hoftes  inredmnt;*'  accrued  at  Moont  GximpBH, 
where  tlic  Britons  had  already  fat  down ;  which  muft  be  fome  place  on  tk 
fide  of  the  Grampian  moantains,  where  they  rife  from  Strathmore.  Tbat  it 
was  beyond  the  eflaary  of  the  Tay,  may  be  meant  by  the  words  of  Agikoh 
on  the  occafion,  **  txanfifie  cftuaria.**  It  was  within  the  psovinoeof  CheHfr 
rcfti,  the  boandary  or  '*  finis**  of  which  extended  to  the  ihore  and  the  fleet, 
("  deduxitexercitum  in  fines  Horeftorum  ;**)  from  which  he  letonied  sgaa 
through  the  territory  of  the  newly  conquered  people :  this  cannot  accord 
.with  any  other  placetban  Angni,  and  part  of  Perthdnie,  eaftward  of  tk 

The  Buzzart  Dikes  on  G«rTydnims»  in  the  parifli  of  Kinbcfa,  (kiB; 
earthen  dikes  of  8  or  10  feet  high,  inclofing  great  part  of  a  fqnare  piik), 
we  take  to  be  the  place  of  Monnt  Gramptus  where  the  Britons  hid  alrodf 
bt  down,  **  quern  jam  hoftes  toiederant,'*  and  which  contitned  the  "  bets 
"  pneda  vidtoribus.**  This  place  is  near  the  mmitli,  aiy)  the  appeanocnof 
the  field  of  aAion,  and  it  is  four  miles  N.  from  the  Roman  camp  at  Mickk- 
hour.  As  the  camp  flood  on  the  grounds  of  the  Horeiti,  the  latter  pan  0: 
the  word  Micklehour  is  the  word  a^ied  at  by  Tacitus.  The  Roman  cvop 
of  Micklehonr  is  formed  by  the  confluence  of  Tay  and  IStt ;  it  fbitcbs 
two  miles  along  the  Tay,  two  miles  along  the  Ifla,  and  two  miles  and  i 
half  along  the  dike  that  inclofes  it.  ;  It  contains  a  prtetorium  on  the  fi& 
next  the  lila.  The  above-mentioned  dike  is  called  Cleaven  Dike,  (tibat  is, 
the  dike  of  the  fork  or  confluence)  ;  a  mile  and  a  half  of  it  is  fHll  ffcuxiisg 
towards  the  Tay.  There  is  a  draught  of  it  in  Stobie*s  snap  of  Fothibiie; 
but  it  cannot  be  traced  within  half  a  mile  of  the  pnetorium ;  the  oop 
ftretches  it  oat  too  far  on  the  end  next  the  pfsetorium.  The  Tay  had  vx- 
merly  ran  nearer  the  W.  end  of  the  dike  than  it  does  at  prefdiL  Ckava 
Dike  is  ao  feet  broad  at  prefent,  and  about  5  feet  high,  and  has  been  maot 
out  of  two  parallel  trenches  that  arejao  yards  from  the  dike  on  tbe  oppo£te 
fides  of  it.  Cleaven  Dike  has  openings  at  the  W.  end,  and  the  middle,  isr 
the  egrefs  and  ingrefs  of  an  army.  The  camp  has  a  finall  exploratory  for- 
tification within  it,  on  the  top  of  an  eminence.  It  lies  in  the  pariib  of  Ca- 
puth.  Cleaven  Dike  is  the  *<  vallum"  of  Tacitus.  Hb  exprcffion  vouli 
not  be  accurate,  but  in  9  cafe  like  this,  where  there  is  only  one  line  of  dike 


tfBendotby.  369 

to  Ac  cunp.  The  Roman  legioiu,  lie  fays,  were  dnwn  np  <'  pro  vallo,*' 
before  the  Taillam  of  Cletven  Dike,  at  fuch  diftance  behind  the  battle,  that  - 
they  could  be  of  no  immediate  fervice  there;  and  therefore,  upon  feeing 
the  number  of  the  enemy,  many  advifed  to  bring  up  the  legions,  "  plcrique 
•<  admonebant  arceflendas  legiones."  A  mile  and  a  half  weft  from  Midde- 
hour  is  another  Roman  camp  at  Inchtuthill,  a  proud  in£h  or  illand  within 
the  high  flood-mark  of  the  Tay  ;  and  which  the  watch-place  (or  trencher 
called  i3bt  Steed's  Sulls,  in  the  parifli  t»f  Chmy),  was  intended  to  orerloek  i 
The  faid  trenches,  8  in  number,  fit  to  hold  and  conceal  loo  horfes,  being  in 
a  ftiaight  Jiae  between  Buzzart  Dikes  and  InchtuthiU.  Another  watch- 
place  on  the  fame  eminence  overlooks  the  camp  at  Micklehour. 

The  Stour-mtntt  or  main  battle,  happened  in  the  heart  of  tlie  Stormont; 
upon  afcending  ground,  in  the  pariflies  of  Kinloch,  Cluny,  and  Blairgowrie* 
at  the  places  called.  Cairns,  Upper  Balcairn,  Nether  Balcairn,  Cairnbutts, 
and  Craig  Roman,  on  the  fide  of  the  Grampian  ridge,  between  3  and  4  milet 
N.  from  Micklehour,  (Cairn  being  a  common  name  given  to  aitificial  col- 
lemons  of  ftones  and  earth  laid  over  the  dead).  The  afoent  b  interfedled 
by  many  finguli^r  ridges,  or  drums,  that  run  parallel  to  the  bafe  of  the 
mountain ;  theiie  are  the  *'  colles**  noticed  by  Tacitus,  *«  erigere  in  coUes  aciem 
**  coepere."  The  Garrydnims,  on  whichche  Caledonian  campof  Buzzart  Dikes 
lies,  are  very  fingular  ground,  being  feveral  high  and  narrow  ridges  or 
drums,  (of  which  the  farmer  that  occupies  them  obferved  as  follows,  **  Gtn- 
**  tlemen  that  eome  to  iee  this  place  fay,  that  they  never  faw  the  like  of 
**  them  in  any  country.**)  Thefe  drams  are  mentioned  by  Tadtus  in  the 
words  following :  *'  Britanni,  qui  adhuc  pugnae  ezpertes  fonuna  colUum 
**  infedeiant,  degredi  paulatim  et  circumire  terga  vincentium  coeperant.** 
The  Here  Cairns  of  Gormak,  below,  and  immediately  contiguous,  lying 
<lofe  together,  about  80  in  number,  and  about  15  feet  each  by  5  in  height, 
mark  the  conteft  that  followed;  *'  quantoque  ferocius  accurierant,  tanto 
**■  acrius  pulfos  in  fugam  disjeciflet.*' 

The  Aight  i»  (till  to  be  traced  by  numerous  tomuli,  through  Maws,  in  the 
parifh  of  Blairgowrie*  along  the  track  that  lies  between  the  mofs  of  Cocfa- 
ridge  on  the  W.  and  the  river  Eroch  on  the  E. ;  **  graode  et  atroz  fpe^cu- 
**  lam,-TCorpora,  et  laceri  artus,  et  cruenu  humus.**  The  Great  Cairn  of 
Mavfs  lies  in  this  tradl,  not  far  from  ihe  woody  banks  of  the  Eroch :  **  Ini 
'*  virtufque  vidlis ;  poftquam  filvis  appropinquanint  *,  colledli,  primoscir- 
"  cumvxnicbant."    This  cairn  is  17  yards  broad,  and  about  four  ibet  high. 

It 

*  Wbtn  m  troubUfome  per/on  ab/tazns  from  figbting,  upon  finding  that 
l>c  is  like  to  meet  vnth  bit  mqfter,  the  fight  itfcid  to  be  "  let  sube/pr  let 
"  9^,liketbefigU£fMawt." 

Vol.  XIX.  3  A 


370  Statijlical  Accwni 

It  was  opened,  in  the  centfe,  by  the  writer  heicof,  and  fimnd  to  contain  hu- 
man teeth  found,  and  a  great  quantity  o/  human  bones  much  reduced,  which 
were  mixed  with  charcoal,  and  lodged  among  lo6re  earth,  hairing  under- 
gone the  fire,  which  contributes  to  the  prefcmtion  both  of  the  bones  lad 
charcoal.  This  is  the  grave  of  the  340  Romans  who  fell.  The  Bcitons  loft 
10,000.    I  found  burned  bones  alfo  in  a  fmall  tumulus  adjacent. 

Compare  what  has  been  above  (aid  with  the  words  of  fioethins  tbe  hif- 
torian.  '*  Romani  ad  Taum  baud  procul  a  Calcdonis  caftro  (Dnnkeldea) 
**  confedere.  Tulinam,  ne  Romanis  dediu,  ilUs  refugium  foiet,  coocre- 
**  marunt  (Btitanni),  Locum  Inchtuthil  noftra  aetas  vocat,  coojuges  ft 
*<  onmem  rem  pecuariam,  in  Grampium  tranilulerunt  nDOotem.  Fa<^a 
<*  confenfu,  eo  devenere,  ut  imminenti  hyeme,  pncUis  abftenerentnr,  et  pro- 
**  hiberent,  ne  Pi^orum  agros,  cis  Taum,  Romani  occuparent.  Secandum 
**  hsBc  Galdus  (Scotorum  Rex)  AthoUana  hyemavit,  Pi^ns  vera  ct  Giido 
'*  munitionibus,  quse  tum  in  Horeftia  erant,  baud  procul  a  Xao,  hfttaam 
'•  tramegcre.  Sequente  sedate,  Agricola  ligneum  pontem  in  caftris  fecit, 
•*  eo  Tao  fiuvio  ftrato,  univerfum  Romanum  eseicitum  tranfpomtuB,  id 
-•  campo^  baud  procul  a  Grampii  montis  radicibus  deduxit.  Perculit  rd 
**  fama  Pi<5lomm  copias,  qui  proximis  villts  et  munitionibus  kycmabant,  at 
**  Galdum  periculi  facerent  certiorem.  Caldus,  cum  exercitn,  Gninpio 
f*  monte  fuperato,  in  vallem  dcveniens,  Pi^orum,  Noruegonun,  Danorum- 
**  que  copiis  eft  adjondlus,  loco  baud  procul  a  Romano  exerdtn  di^rcrib, 
*<  Atrox  pugna  donee  fera  nox.  Multa  prodigia  in  Albione,  antequin 
**  Galdus  cum  Romanis  pugnam  iniret.    Natum  Tulinae  monftrum.*' 

On  the  year  following,  be  fays,  *'  Romani  nodhi  Tulinam  adicre,  inde 
*^  pontem,  quem  Tao,  proximo  anno,  impofuerant,  dirueiunt.'* 

Concerning  his  authority  he  fays,  "  £x  quibus  banc  hifboriam  coU^. 
'  noftrae  ^entis  peculiariter  Veremundus  Archidiaconus  S.  Andrew,  u- 

rione  Hifpanus,  qui  ab  exordio  hiftoriam,  ufque  ad  Malcolmi  10.  tern- 

pora  cui  opus  dicavit,  contexuit,  (A.  D.  1066) ;  Turgotus,  CampbcUcs 
**  quos  tres,  ex  lona  infula,  ad  nos  comportU)dos  curavimns.*'  And  in 
another  place,  *'  Veremundi  rude  vetuftate  hiftoria,  abund^  omnia  coa- 
•*  ple^ens,  quem  authorem  fumus  infequuti." 

It  is  unnecelTury  to  obferve  on  the  above,  that  Boethius  means  diat  Afri- 
cola  fought  Galgacus  in  the  Stormint,  near  Inchtothill,  and  the  eaft  baak 
of  the  Tay.  It  is  a  pity  tliat  Veremund  (hould  be  loft.  Hb  book  nuj 
perhaps  yet  exift  in  the  library  of  Aberdeen  College,  of  which  fioethnis 
was  Principal.  More  refpe^  is  due  to  Boethius,  as,  an  hifiorian,  than  is 
commonly  granted  to  him.  They  are  his  fa(fb,  and  not  his  prodigies,  or 
opinions  of  the  day,  by  which  we  are  to  acquit  or  condemn  an  hiftorian. 

Mr  Cant,  the  editor  of  Adamfon*s  old  poem,  in  his  notes  thereon,  bcfides 
leaking  fcveral  curious  obfervatioos  and  difcoveries  on  Roman  antiquities, 

wentioa 


ofBendotby.  37 1 

omtioiis  the  fcene  near  Blairgowrie  as  the  moil  likely  place  where  AgrU 
cob  foaght  Galgacns :  FubliOied  A.  D.  1774,  at  Perth. 

Fmgal,  the  hero  of  O0Ian,  is  mentioned  by  Boethhis,  and  his  dme  con. 
jedured  to  be  about  the  departure  of  the  Romans  from  Britain.  '  *<  Conji- 
**  ciuDt  quidem  in  hsec  tempora  Finanum  filium  Coeli  (Fyn  Maccoul,  vol- 
**  gari  ▼ocabalo)  virum,  uti  ferunt  immani  datura,  Scotict  fanguinis  vena- 
'*  toria  arte  infignem.*'  Compare  with  this  Mr  Bank$*s  defcription  of  the 
ifland  of  Staffa,  and  a  celebrated  cave  there.  **  We  aiked  the  name  of  it ; 
**  the  Ca^e  of  Fiuhn,  faid  our  guide.  What  is  Fiuhn  ?  faid  we.  Fiuhn 
**  Maccool,  replied  he,  whom  the  tranflator  of  Offian*s  works  has  called 
**  FingaL  How  fortunate,  that  in  this  cave  we  Ihould  meet  with  the  re- 
**  membraoce  of  that  chief,  whofe  exiftence,  as  well  as  the  whole  epic 
**  poem,  is  almoit  doubted  in  England  !** 

I  was  fo  imprefied  with  the  records  of  Boethius  having  a  foundation  in 
fad,  that  I  fought  for  Fmgal,  and  found  him  there ;  but  was  fomewhat  dif- 
appointed  to  find,  that  Boethius  knew  more  of  him  than  he  chofe  to  tell ; 
for  he  aifo  is  among  the  crowd  of  infidels,  conceming  the  marvellous 
achievements  of  that  hero. 


NUM- 


57 1  Stati/lical  Acco 

NUMBER  XVL 

PARISH  OF  tannadice; 


(County  of  Forfar,  Stnod  of  Ahous  anb  Mearks^ 
Presbttert  of  Forfar). 


By  John  Jamiesov,  D.  D.  Forfar. 


Hatnty  Situation^  lie, 

OnH£RE  is  no  evidence  that  the  name  of  thb  parifli  has 
-^     been  changed.      The  more  ancient  orthography  is 
Vannadys  or  Tannadyfi,     This  name  is  moft  probablj  of 
Gaelic  origin. 

It  needs  fcarcelj  to  be  obferved,  that  this  pariih  is  fitn- 
ated  in  the  county  of  Forfar,  in  the  prefbytery  of  For&r, 
and  in  the  fynod  of  Angus  and  Mearns.  It  extends  about 
twelve  Englifli  miles  from  £.  to  W.  s  in  fome  places  it  is 
eight  or  ten  miles  broad  \  but,  at  an  average,  about  foor* 
It  is  bounded  by  the  pariih  of  Cortachie  on  the  W. ;  bj 
Outhlaw  and  Aberlemno  on  the  S.  *,  by  Fern  and  Carrald- 
ftone  on  the  £. ;  and  by  Fern  and  Lethnot  on  the  N. 

The 


•f  Tannadice.  ^    373 

The  greateft  part  of  the  ground  is  hilly  or  mountainous. 
The  foil,  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  parifli,  is  in  general  ^ood. 
It  is  more  inclined  to  claj  than  fand,  except  on  the  brink 
of  the  river  £lk.  The  air  is  dry,  pretty  (harp  in  winter, 
bat  in  general  wholeforoe.  In  former  times  the  ague 
prevailed  much,  efpecially  in  one  diftridt,  called  the  Glea 
of  OgiL  But  now  the  cafe  is  otherwife.  The  mod  com« 
mon  diilemper  is  the  low  nervous  fever,  which  may  indeed 
be  confidered  as  the  charaderiftic  diflemper  of  this  county. 
Twenty  or  thirty  years  ago,  what  is  commonly  called  the 
louping  ague  greatly  prevailed.  This  difeafe,  in  its  fymp- 
toms,  has  a  coofiderable  refemblance  to  St  Vitus' s  dance* 
Thofe  afieded  with  it,  when  in  a  paroxyfm,  often  leap  or 
fpring  in  a  very  furprifing  manner,  whence  the  difeafe  has 
derived  its  vulgar  name.  They  frequently  leap  from  the 
floor  to  what,  in  cottages,  are  called  the  baulks^  or  thofe 
beams  by  which  the  rafters  are  joined  together.  Some- 
times they  fpring  from  one  to  another  with  the  agility  of  a 
cat,  or  whirl  round  one  of  them  with  a  motion  refembling 
the  fly  of  a  jack.  At  other  times  they  run,  with  aftoniih- 
ing  velocity,  to  fome  particular  place  out  of  doors,  which 
they  have  fixed  on  in  their  minds  before,  and  perhaps  men- 
tioned to  thofe  in  company  with  them,  and  then  drop  down 
quite  exhaufted.  It  b  faid,  that  the  clattering  of  tongs,  or 
any  noife  of  a  fimilar  kind,  will  bring  on  the  fit.  This 
melancholy  diforder  ftill  makes  its  appearance ;  but  it  is 
far  from  being  fo  common  as  formerly.  Some  confider  it 
as  entirely  a  nervous  affeftion ;  others  as  the  effeft  of  worms. 
In  various  inftances,  the  latter  opinion  has  been  confirmed 
by  fads. 

There  are  feveral  mineral  fprings  within  the  bounds  of 
this  parifli,  but  none  of  any  confequence.  It  contains  no 
lake.  But  the  want  is  apnply  fupplied  by  the  beautiful 
South  Eflc,  which  in  fome  places  forms  the  boundary  of  the 

pariih, 


374  Statifiical  Accouni 

parilliy  and  in  othets  runs  through  it  \  mnd  by  die  limpid 
Noran,  a  dream  which  feeks  its  waj  from  the  hiOs  to  £ik 
over  a  very  clear  and  pebbly  bed.  The  name  of  £lk  is 
common  to  a  number  of  rivers  in  Britain  ;  and  the  reafoB 
is  obvious,  as  it  literally  fignifies  water;  bemg  the  Celtic 
word  Uifc  or  Ifc^  with  very' little  variation.  The  manoer 
in  which  the  people  of  this  country  generally  fpeak  of  the 
North  Elk  evidently  refpcfb  the  meaning  of  the  name; 
for  they  call  it  the  North  Water.  It  b  at  leaft  highly 
probable  that  South  £(k  may  be  viewed  as  a  daffical  river, 
as  the  Aejica  of  the  Romans.  In  the  Itinerary  of  Richard 
of  Cirencefteri  ad  Aeficam  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  Ro- 
man ftations  in  the  province  of  Vefpafiana ;  and  it  is  mark- 
ed as  twenty-three  miles  diftant  from  ad  Taoym^  or  one  of 
their  ftations  on  Tay.  Now,  although  there  are  remains 
of  a  Roman  camp  at  Kethick,  near  North  Efk,  the  diftanoe 
does  not  anfwer ;  whereas  there  is  a  Roman  camp  at  Battle- 
dikes,  on  the  other  iide  of  the  river  from  Tannadice  *• 

The  banks  of  Eik  prefent  a  variety  of  delightful  and  ro- 
mantic fcenes.  By  far  the  greater  part  of  this  pariih  lies 
on  the  north  iide  of  the  river.  Here  many  falmon  and  (ea- 
trout  ufed  to  be  catched  ;  but  of  late  years  their  number  is 
much  diminiflied.  This  is  greatly  owing  to  the  height  of 
the  dam-dikes  erefted  further  down  the  river.  It  is  alfo  a 
general  complaint  with  thofe  who  are  fond  of  fifliing,  that, 
where  there  are  cruives^  no  regard  is  paid  to  the  old  equi* 
table  law  concerning  the  Saturday's  Sloppe. 

Here,  a  good  number  of  years  ago,  a  confiderable  fi(hing 
was  carried  on  in  Eik  for  the  frelh  water  oyfter,  in  order  to 
procure  pearls.  Some  of  thefe  were  fo  valuable,  that  L.  4 
have  been  given  for  one  at  the  firft  market.     One  was  got 

nearly 

*  Thb  ctmp  is  dercribed  in  No.  35  of  the  Bibliotheca  Topognphica 
Britaiuuca  ;   and  in  Cough's  edition  of  Gaiabden*9  Britannia. 


ofTannadice.  375 

nearly  as  large  as  the  ball  of  a  pocket  piftol.  Thej  were 
generally  bought  up,  from  thofe  who  filhed  for  them,  by 
people  from  Brechin ;  and  it  is  faid  that  this  trade  turned 
out  to  good  account  to  fome  individuals  engaged  in  it. 
More  than  twenty  years  ago  it  was  given  up ,  fome  fay^ 
that  there  was  not  the  fame  demand  for  the  pearls  as  for- 
merly* It  is  aflerted,  however,  that  the  fliells  were  nearly 
exhanfied,  by  reafon  of  the  great  number  of  hands  employ- 
ed in  colle&ing  them. 

The  only  remarkable  mountain  in  this  pariih  is  St  Ar- 
nold's feat ;  on  the  top  of  which  there  is  a  large  cairn.  The 
hills  are  covered  with  heath,  but  are  not  rocky.    The  pa* 
ri(h  exhibits  no  appearances  which  may  be  called  volcanic, 
in  the  common  fenfe  of  the  term.     But  one  natural  pheno- 
menon deferves  to  be  mentioned.    Near  the  eallern  extre- 
mity of  the  parifli  is  a  fpot  of  ground,  commonly  caUed, 
the  DeiTs  Hows^  1.  e.  the  DeviFs  Hollows,    It  ha9  received 
this  name  from  its  being  fuppofed  that  the  devil  has  here 
given  fome  remarkable  difplays  of  his  prefence  and  power. 
It  is  a  fmall  hollow,  furrounded  with  moorilh  ground.    At 
different  tiroes,  within  the  memory  of  fome  alive,  pieces  of 
earth,  of  150  or  160  (tones  weight,  have  been  thrown  out 
from  the  adjoining  ground,    without    any  vifible  caufe^ 
Upon  examining  the.  fpot,  however,  and  digging  to  the 
depth  of  a  foot  and  a  half,  or  two  feet,  there  appears  a 
firatum  of  a  yellowiih  colour,  mixed  with  fmall  ftones, 
thoroughly  impregnated  in  the  ikmt  manner.    At  firft  it 
feemed  that  the  occafional  eruptions  might  be  partly  owing 
to  fome  fulphureous  fubftance  confined  here.    But  in  con- 
(equence  of  fubjeSing  one  of  the  (tones  to  a  chemical  pro- 
ce(s,  it  appears  to  contain  no  fulphur,  nothing  but  argilla- 
ceous earth  and  iron.    When  calcined,  the  fubftance  forms 
a  good  red  ochre.    I  have  been  informed  by  one  who  has 
tciided  many  years  in  the  neighbourhood,  that  fuch  erup- 

tioni 


37^  Statijlical  Account 

tions  have  taken  place  in  this  fpot  three  or  four  times  with- 
in his  recoUeflioDy  at  the  diftance  of  twelve  or  fixteen  jears 
from  each  other. 

I  have  heard  of  no  figured  flone  but  one,  which  -was 
lately  found  in  the  foundation  of  an  old  hoafe ;  the  back 
of  which  houfe  formed  part  of  the  wall  of  the  church- jard. 
It  exhibits  the  figure  of  a  man,  verj  rudely  cut,  with  his 
head  uncovered,  and  having  a  loofe  garment,  like  a  High- 
land plaid^  thrown  over  his  Ihoulders.  With  the  one  hand 
he  lajs  hold  of  the  mouth  of  an  animal,  which  has  been 
thought  to  be  a  lion,  but  has  more  appearance  of  a  wild 
boar.  With  the  other,  he  brandifbes  a  fword  or  dagger, 
with  which  he  threatens  deftru&ion  to  his  prej.  There 
has  been  an  infcription  over  the  head  of  this  figure,  as 
would  feem,  in  Saxon  charaders.  But  only  two  or  three 
of  thefe  are  now  difcemible;  as  the  ftone  has  not  onljr  been 
broken  into  two  pieces,  but  has  been  otherwife  mutilated, 
hj  the  unfparing  hands  of  fome  workmen  employed  to 
repair  the  wail.  It  is  not  improbable,  that  this  might  be 
an  ancient  grave-done. 

la  a  rock,  at  the  weftem  extremity  of  the  pariih,  exafUy 
on  the  north  fide  of  the  bridge  of  Cortachie,  a  very  coarfe 
kind  of  marble  is  found,  in  fmall  veins.  Not  far  (irotn  this, 
in  the  parifli  of  Cortachie,  is  a  rock,  the  ftones  found  in 
which,  f/om  the  defcription  given  of  them,  fcem  to  rcfem- 
ble  quartz.  They  have  fomewhat  the  appearance  of  gold, 
mod  probably  in  confequence  of  metallic  impregnation; 
whence  the  rock  itfelf  is  called  the  Golden  Craig^  The  pa- 
rifh  of  Tannadice  abounds  with  free-done  and  moor-fione. 
The  large  ftones  found  in  the  field  in  detached  pieces,  arc 
here  generally  called  outliers^  to  diftinguidi  them  from 
thofe  found  in  beds.  There  is  alfo  abundance  of  the  ftonc 
vulgarly  called  fcurdicy  the  fame  which  is  commonly  known 
bjr  the  name  of  vohin  in  the  wedern  parts  of  Scotland,  and 

ufed 


ofTattnadice.  377 

ofed  for  paving  ftreets.  A  bed  of  this  kind  of  ftone  is  faid 
to  extend  to  this  parifli,  from  the  Milntown  of  Mather,  a 
place  in  the  county  of  Kincardine,  between  Montrofe  and 
John's-haven.  Slate,  of  the  grej  kind>  is  foond  in  the  Glen 
of  Ogil. 

Inundations  are  not  frequent  here.  About  twentj  years 
ago,  however,  all  the  houfes  in  the  farm-town  of  Jufting* 
haugh  were  fwept  away  by  an  inundation  of  the  river  £&. 
Since  that  time  a  good  deal  of  money  has  been  expended  in 
this  quarter,  in  forming  what  are  called  beads^  or  angular 
banks  of  ftone,  for  keeping  off  the  water  on  the  north  fide 
of  the  river* 

This  parilh  boafts  of  no  remarkable  quadrupeds.  The  land 
is  infefted  with  foxes,  and  the  water  with  otters.  Roes 
fometimes  come  down  from  the  hills,  and  lodge  in  the 
woods;  they  are  very  common  in  the  higher  parts  of  the 
parilh.  There  even  the  red  deer  abound.  Befides  par- 
tridge, groufe,  the  fieldfare,  and  other  common  birds,  they 
have  one  called  the  ofwald^  or  nfwat^  very  much  refembling 
a  blackbird.  This,  I  fuppofe,  is  what  the  Englifli  call  the 
otf/^4  and  defcribe  as  the  very  fame  with  the  blackbird. 
What  b  here  called  the  ofwald,  however,  paffes  for  a  dif- 
ferent fpecies.  Various  birds  of  paffage  make  their  ap- 
pearance here,  as  wild  geefe»  fwallows,  lapwings,  woodcocks^ 
dottreb,  &c. 

Many  cattle  are  bred  in  this  parilh.  They  arc  of  an  or- 
dinary fixe.    An  ox  fully  grown  often  weighs  40  or  50 

ftones. 

By  reafofi  of  the  parilh  being  vacant,  no  exaft  account  of 
the  population  can  be  obtained.  By  Dr  Webfter's  account 
in  X7S5,  it  amounted  to  1470.  Fifty  or  fixty  years  ago 
there  were  400  communicants ;  now  there  arc  generally 
between  500  and  600.  At  an  average,  there  are  annually 
15  births,  and  8  or  9  deaths.    In  the  year  1794,  however. 

Vol.  XIX.  3 »  3© 


^yi  SiatifticalAccwnt 

30  died.  This  was  not  the  confequeAoe  of  any  partknlar 
dilteroper ;  but  this  jear  proved  fatal  to  a  number  of  oM 
people.  AnouaUy  there  are  about  ao  marriages.  None 
have  died,  for  a  confiderable  time  paft,  who  have  exceeded 
86  years  of  age.  But  there  is  one  perfon  living  in  the  p»> 
riih,  who  is  above  90. 

As  far  as  I  can  learn,  the  only  Difleaters  are  a  few  of 
the  Epifcopalian  communion.  The  parifli  includes  about 
106  farms,  but  net  the  lame  number  of  farmers^  as  fome  of 
them  poiTefs  more  than  one  farm.  There  has,  it  is  iaid» 
been,  of  late  years,  a  decrcafe  as  to  population,  in  cooie- 
quence  of  the  converfion  of  fmall  farms  into  larger,  and 
the  removal  of  a  number  of  cottagers  from  their  poilef- 
fions.  None,  indeed,  have  been  under  the.neceffitj  of 
leaving  the  parilh  for  want  of  employment.  Tbofe  who 
have  left  it  have  generally  done  fo  from  the  caaies  already 
mentioned,  whence  they  have  been  obliged  to  remove  into 
towns.  It  is  fuppoFed,  that  there  may  be  about  aoo  plooghs 
in  the  parifli.  In  the  lower  part  of  it,  they  are  generally 
fuch  as  are  drawn  by  two  horfes.  In  the  higher,  four  are 
nfed.  The  ploughs  are  moftly  of  the  new  conftruQioo, 
with  iron. heads,  and  what  are  called  metal  boards.  There 
are  at  leaft  between  200  and  300  carts.  The  bed  arable 
land  is  let  at  L.  t,  or  L,  x,  is.;  inferior*  at  from  5  s.  to 
15  s.per  acre.  From  what  has  been  already  faid,  with  re- 
fytGt  to  the  converfion  of  fmall  into  large  farms^  it  muft  be 
evident  that  the  nnmber  pf  farms  is  dinfiiniflring. 

There  is  not  much  ground  inclofed  with  (lone  fences. 
The  farmers,  indeed,  are  univerliiUy.  convinced  of  the  ad- 
vantages arifing  from  proper  ioclofures.  But.  they  are  un- 
willing to  fubmit  to  the  expcnce )  and  fome,  even  to  pay 
the  intereft  of  the  money  which  the  proprietors  might  ex- 
pend for  this  porpofe*    The  old  plw  of  inolofing  with 

csrtheci 


of^unnadice.  379 

earthen  fences  is  g^trerallj  given  up,  except  for  proteQiiig 
yonng  trees. 

Not  above  one  lidf  *of  the  land  k  laboured.  The  reft 
confifts  of  mountains,  mcrors,  and  plantations.  The  parifli 
not  only  generally  fuppliesitfetf  with  proviiions,  but  fpares 
a  confiderable  overplus  to  other  places.  In  the  years  1782 
and  1783  thete  was  lefs  fcarcity  than  during  laft  winter. 
The  fapply  6f  meal,  given  by  Government  anno  1783,  for 
allifting  thofe  parilhes  which  were  ftraitened  for  provifions, 
was  found  unneceflary  here.  Notwidifianding  the  general 
fcarcity  this  year,  little  grain  has  been  imported  into  the 
parifli. 

No  hemp  is  raifed  here.  But  a  confiderable  quantity  of 
ground  is  employed  in  the  culture  of  flax.  Although  this 
of  ntc^ffity  varies,  it  is  fuppofed  that,  at  an  average,  there 
may  be  4c  or  50  acres  annually  fown  with  flax-feed.  With* 
in  the  memory  of  fome  flill  living,  no  grais-feeds  of  any 
kind  were  fown.  Now,  a  great  deal  of  land  is  laid  out  in 
this  manner. 

A  fmall  quantity  of  marl  was  found,  fome  years  ago,  in 
a  pit  on  the  farm  of  Deirachie.  But  it  was  all  expended 
on  that  farm.  Very  little  lime  is  ufed,  becaufe  of  the 
great  length  of  carriage  \  but  a  good  deal  of  marl,  which  is 
brought  from  the  Loch'  of  Kinordie,  in  the  parifli  of  Kirry- 
muir.  Some  of  the  ground  is  s^xj  produAive.  This  year, 
in  a  haugh  on  the  eflate  of  John  Ogilvy,  Efq;  of  Infliavan, 
I  counted  2 1  (talks  of  oats  growing  from  one  root,  the  moft 
of  thefc  from  5  feet  8  inches,  to  6  feet  high,  and  fome  of 
them  carrying  between  140  and  150  grains  each. 

A  confiderable  part  of  the  parifli  is  employed  in  paflore. 
The  hills  aflbrd  excellent  pafturc  for  flieep.  Wedders  are 
fometimes  brought  down  from  the  Glen  of  Ogil  in  the 
month  of  Auguft,  which  weigh  lo  lb.  j^rr  quarter,  and  give 
to  lb.  of  tallow. 

Tenpcnce 


380  Stattjlkal  Account 

Teopence  or  i  s.  with  meat,  is  the  ordinarj  wages  for  % 
dajr-labourer  in  hoibandrj,  whether  mak  or  femak.  i  s.  is 
the  ufual  wages  daring  harveft.  A  miJe-fervant  10  hnf*  , 
bandry,  befides  board,  receives  L.  10  or  L.  X2  per  jtn  ;  a 
female,  between  L.4  and  L.  5.  Few  carpenters,  mafoos, 
£{£.  regularly  labour  in  this  pariih.  A  tailor  works  for 
10  d«  a-day,  with  meat.  The  people  are  in  general  verj 
induftrious.  There  are  a  few  weavers,  fome  of  whom  are 
employed  in  the  Ofnabnrgh  trade;  hot  the  generality  in 
what  is  called  cou  ry  work^  for  the  u£e  of  families.  There 
has  been  a  great  alteration  in  drels  within  the  laft  twenty 
years.  It  is  now  far  more  ezpenfive  than  formerly.  A 
great  many  articles  of  drefs  are  bought,  which  people  nfed 
(Q  manufafhire  for  themfelves. 

The  fuel  ufed  in  the  higher  parts  of  the  pariih  confifis  of 
peat  and  turf  \  in  the  lower,  of  coals,  furze,  and  broom. 
The  greateft  difadvantage  under  which  this  pariih  labours, 
(he  lowe<  part  of  it  at  leaft,  is  the  want  of  fuel.  Coals  moft 
be  brought  from  Montrofe  or  Arbroath,  both  about  twenty 
miles  diftant. 

The  roads  are  gfeatly  improved  of  late.  This  year, 
L*  105  have  been  expended  in  making  and  repairing  pri« 
vate  roads,  leading  to  the  turnpike-road  newly  formed  be- 
tween Forfar  and  Brechin,  part  of  which  lies  in  this  pariih. 
The  general  opinion  is  in  favour  of  the  turnpike  roads. 

The  prices  of  provifion  correfpond  to  thofe  of  the  neigh* 
bouring  pariihes.  Butter,  this  year,  (1796),  feUs  at  x%.  per 
lb.  The  price  of  cheefe  is  from  j  s.  to  6  s.  8  d.  per  flooe, 
according  to  the  quality. 

The  broad  Scotch  is  the  only  language  fpoken  here.  Some 
pf  the  names  of  places  are  of  Gaelic,  and  others  of  Gothic 
origin  \  although  the  former  feems  to  abound  mdBL    To 
this  clals  the  following  evidently  belong :  Coul^  Memust  or' 
MmUt  Ogil^  Kinaliiff  BaUt^ciie^  BalgiUof  ^uiecit  Caim^ 


of  Tannadice.  381 

Imjbtnan^  Aehhuehrit*  Injbavan  is  {aid  to  fignify  tbt  ifland 
fitrrounded  with  water,  Befides  the  evident  taatology  of 
fach  a  defignation,  there  is  no  reafen  to  fuppofe  that  it  was 
ever  defcriptive  of  the  fituation  of  the  place.  The  mean- 
ing given  to  Acblouebrie^  which,  it  is  faid»  means  the  cow* 
haugb^  is  .more  natural,  as  it  correfponds  to  the  local  fitua^ 
tioQ  ;  for  a  confiderable  part  of  the  grounds,  which  receive 
thu  name,  lies  low  on  the  border  of  £lk.  Barthyaris^ 
yufiing-bau^i  Wbitewall^  &c-  are  evidently  Gothic.  Murt- 
baOittmA  to  acknowledge  the  fame  origin. 

The  real  rent  of  the  pariih  is  between  I1.3000  and 
L.4000  Sterling.  There  are  thirteen  heritors,  three  of 
whom  00I7  are  refident.  The  valued  rent  is  divided  in 
the  following  proportions,  in  Scotch  money : 


Cairn,  Newmiln,  and  Quarriehill,                  L.  256    0 

0 

Whitewall, 

X4J     0 

0 

Infhewan  and  Eafler  Memus, 

533     6 

0 

Wcfter  Ogil, 

700    0 

0 

Coul,  the  property  of  Mr  Ogilvyof  Iflabank, 

12x7  10 

• 

Findoorie, 

567  10 

0 

Glenquiech, 

zoo     0' 

0 

Forfechy,  and  the  Miln  of  Cortachie, 

230 13 

4 

Ncthertown  of  Balgillo  and^Muirtown, 

180     0 

0 

Wefter  Memus, 

166  13 

4 

Balgillo, 

166  13 

4 

Eafter  Ogilj 

300    0 

0 

Kinaltie,                .                .                , 

282    12 

7 

I- 4845  19    3 

The  patronage  of  this  pariih  belongs  to  {St  Mary's  Col- 
lege St  Andrews.    One  of  the  Popes  made  a  grant  of  the 
lands  of  Tannadice,  for  the  erefiion  of  this  College  \  but  in 
what  year  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn.    In  a  leifini  da- 
ted 


381  Statifticdl  Account 

t«d  anno  1614,  thej  are  defigned  ^be  tcete/tajlicai  ffmds  of 
^nmtaiyfi.     The  tithes  are  fill  eKhaufted.     Thr  old  ftipeod 
cotffifted  of  onc-third  of  the  Talae  of  the  tithes,  amoinN 
tffg  ^  YCC3  merks  Scotch,  with  100  for  providing  ele- 
ments.    The  ftipend  has  been  \ntelj  augmeiKed  to  L.  xoo 
Sterling,  exclufive  of  the  glebe. 

The  oldefl  regrfler  extant  reaches  no  fartber  back  than  to 
the  year  1693.  Mr  George  Lyon,  who  ieems  'to  have  been 
Epifcopaiian  miniUer  iiere  for  manj  years,  was  allowed  to 
continue  till  the  year  1715 ;  when,  on  account  of  the  ftxte 
of  public  matters,  many  minifters  of  this  perfuafion,  who 
had  been  fbrmerly  fuffered  to  keep  pofiti&on  of  the  parifti 
ohurchesi  and  to  enjoy  the  liviags,  were  turned  out.  He 
was  fucceeded  by  a  Preibyterian  ininifter  of  the  name  of 
Oliphant;  and  he,  anno  1724,  by  Mr  John  OgihFie,  for- 
merly mloiiter  of  Cortachie  and  Clova,  Mr  John  Weath 
was  fixed  here,  anno  1743  ;  and  was  fucceeded  by  Mr  John 
Bulk,  anno  1767.  He  died  in  March  lad.  The  church  b 
prefently  vacant.  During  Mr  Weath's  incumbency  both 
the  church  and  manfe  were  repaired.  The  church  is  fup- 
pofed  to  be  pretty  old )  but  it  is  not  known  when  it  was 
built. 

Eleven  or  twelve  perfons  ufually  receive  alms.  The 
contributions  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  annually  araoont  to 
about  L.  30.  A  fmall  fund,  which  produces  L.  i  per  year, 
was  Lft,  for  their  benefit,  by  Mr  Ramfay  of  Kinaltie. 

This  parifli  furniflies  very  little  to  plcafe  the  taftc  of  an 
anti^iiary.  On  the  north  fide  of  £fk,  very  near  the  pl<ice 
where  the  bridge  of  Sheaihill  now  (lands,  foriperly  flood 
the  caftle  of  Quiech,  the  refidence  of  the  Earls  of  Buchan, 
who,  in  ancient  limes,  had  an  extenfive  property  in  this 
county.  The  fituation  is  romantic;  and  was  (till  more 
atlaptcd  for  being  the  feat  of  a  feudal  chieftain,  by  the  fecu- 

rity 


o/Tannadice.  383 

rity  which  it'  promlfed,  than  by  its  plcafantncfs.  The 
caftle  was  baik  on  a  precipitous  rock,  immediately  oveiu 
hanging  the  river.  This  rock  appears  as  if  infalated  fay  na<^ 
tare.  A  ftream  pours  down  through  a  deep  chafm  on  each 
fide  of  ih  Thtt9  it  fcarcely  required  any  artificial  means  of 
defence.  Ni>  vefttges-  of  this  ancient  cafUe  are  now  dif- 
cemible.  A  humble  cottage  occupies  its  place.  Within 
thefe  few  years,  part  of  one  of  the  walls  of  the  chapel  was 
(landing.  It  was  neatly  built  with  hewn  (lones.  But  they 
have  been  lately  carried  ofi,  and  applied  fpme  other  way. 

A  hill,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Achlouchrie,  receives 
the  name  of  tb^  CaJllebilL  Like  the  fite  of  the  cafile  of 
Qniech,  it  overhangs  the  river,  which  here  runs  in  a  deep 
bed,  by  reafon  of  the  high  rocks  on  either  llde.  A  foiTe, 
ftill  twelve  feet  deep  and  thirty  wide,  forms  a  femicircle 
round  this  hill.  This,  it  is  fuppofed,  had  been  dug  with  a 
defign  to  bring  in  water  from  the  river  for  defending  the 
place.  It  would  fecm,  however,  that  there  never  has  been 
any  building  here»  as  there  are  no  marks  of  foundations. 

Near  the  village  of  Tannadice,  there  is  a  place  called  the 
Caftie  of  Barnyards,  According  to  the  tradition  of  the 
country,  a  gentleman  of  the  name  of  Lindfay  began  to  ereA 
a  caille  here  ;  but  having  killed  the  proprietor  of  Finhaven, 
in  a  quarrel,  near  this  place,  was  obliged  to  fly.  Thus,  it  is 
faid,  the  building  was  never  finiihed.  Within  thefe  few 
jears,  fevcral  of  the  vaults  were  fianding;  and  fomeof  the 
walls,  from  five  to  feven  feet  in  height.  But  the  ftones 
have  been  employed  for  building  on  the  farm.  Some  cen- 
turies ago,  great  part  of  this  county  was  in  the  poflefBon 
of  the  Lindfays,  whofe  chief,  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  had  his 
refidence  at  Findhaven,  a  little  way  from  this,  on  the  other 
fide  of  the  river.  The  Lindfays,  formerly  of  Glenquiech, 
pretended  to  be  the  proper  heirs  of  the  lands  of  Barnyards. 
3  There 


384  Statijlical  Account 

There  are  vmrious  Laws  in  this  parifli ;  as  theLftWof  Bal- 
gilloy  the  Law  of  Balduckie,  the  Law  of  Cool,  and  fevcol 
•thers. 

About  twenty  years  ago,  a  confiderable  nomber  of  coins, 
both  gold  and  filver,  were  found  at  BalgiUo.  fiat  it  is 
not  known  to  what  countryi  or  to  what  age,  they  be- 
longed. 


NUM- 


tf^otbiemay.  385 


NUMBER    XVII. 


PARISH  OF  ROTHIEMAY, 


(^CouKTT  or  Banff,  Synod  of  MoraYi  Presbytery 
or  Strathbogie). 


By  the  Rev.  Mr  Ja^es  Simmie. 


Situation^  i^c. 

THE  parifli  of  Rothicmaj  is  bounded,  on  the  E.  and 
N.  E.  by  the  parifli  of  Marnoch ;  on  the  S.  and  S.  E. 
b J  Inverkeithnie,  Forgue,  and  Huntlj ;  on  the  W.  and 
S.  W.  by  Cairny ;  on  the  N*  and  N.  W.  by  Grange.  Its 
greateft  length  is  from  7  to  8  miles ;  its  greateft  breadth 
from  5  to  6. 

The  northern  part  of  this  parifli  is  inferior  to  the  reff» 
both  in  fertility  and  beauty.  Befide  fome  hilly  ground, 
and  fome  plantations  of  fir,  it  confifts  of  a  large  plain,  con- 
taining partly  arable,  partly  paflure-ground,  and  an  exten* 
five  mob  that  fupplies  with  fuel,  not  only  the  parifliioners. 

Vol.  XIX.  3  C  but 


3  S5  Statijiical  Accmnt 

but,  in  a  great  meafure,  the  town  oF  Huntly  *,  wbich  is 
diftant  about  6  miles.  From  this  plain  is  a  gentle  declivi- 
ty of  more  than  half  a  mile,  on  the  W.  and  S.  W.  to  die 
Ifla,  and,  on  the  S.  to  the  Devoran  ;  a  river  adorned  widi 
plantations  and  natural  woods  on  its  banks,  and  aboonding 
with  common  trout,  eel,  and  falmon.  About  a  mile  be* 
low  its  confluence  with  the  Ifla,  the  Devoran,  mnniog  eaft« 
ward,  divides  the  pariih  into  two  parts,  of  which  the  nordi-' 
em  follows  the  courfe  of  the  river  more  than  two  miles^ 
the  ibuthern  near  two  miles  farther.  At  this  point,  where 
the  Devoran  begins  to  divide  the  parifli,  and  on  its  nordi- 
ern  bank,  are  the  Milltown,  a  fmall  village  containing 
about  an  hundred  fouls }  the  houfe  of  Rothiemayf ;  the 
church  and  manfe ;  and  a  bappy  mixture  of  well-indofed 

fields 

^  *  When  the  parifhionen  carry  peats  out  of  the  paxidi,  they  do  fo  claih 
dsftinely,  or  merely  by  indulgence  of  their  landlords, — not  by  ftipuUtiM 
and  right.  It  is  much  to  be  wifhed,  that  both  they,  and  others  whom  tbcj 
lupply  with  peats,  would  ufe  fewer  peats,  and  more  coal  and  wood,  not 
only  becaufe,  in  wet  feafons,  peats  are  a  very  uncertain  fuel,  but  beeanie 
the  preparation  of  them  confumes  much  of  their  time,  which  oight  be 
more  profitably  devoted  to  various  agricultural  improvements. 

t  There  is  a  tradition  here,  that  the  unfortunate  Mary,  Qnecn  of  Scos* 
paired  a  nig^t  in  this  hou(e»  and  her  bed-room  is  ftill  pointed  ooS.  T>» 
Uadit^on  is  conQrmed  by  the  authority  of  Buchanan,  who,  ddcribir^ 
Mary's  journey  to  Invemefs,  fays,  "  Proxima  nox  ad  Hothrmaittm,  A^(- 
"  netkioritm  ^ittam,  fatis  tranquiUi  tranfaOa  ejk  .•"  Ifift.  Rer.  Scot 
tib.  17.  cap.  36.  Tbe  Abcmethies  here  mcotio^ed  were  L^cds  Abcr- 
ni-thies,  a^r>vards  of  Saltoo.  The  tngkal  fate  of  one  pf  Uwm  is  ctk- 
hrated  in  a  popular  ballad,  called  Frennet-haU.  Next  to  the  Abemethki, 
a  family  of  Gordons  were  proprietors  of  Rothiemay  till  the  end  of  lail  (X 
the  beginning  of  this  century,  when  it  was  purchali^  by  Opivie*  whoie 
foQ  (afterwards  0/  Inchm.artin  in  Ferthflu^)  fold  it  to  WBliam  Lord 
Biaco,  father  of  tlie  prefent  Earl  of  Fife.  The  moft  a&ciept  part  of  the 
lioufe,  which  was  going  fafl  to  ruin,  his  l^rdfliip  has  lateljr  taken  down. 
and  has  repaired  and  fumithed  the  red  in  a  manner  which  docs  faoooor  :• 
histaae. 


of  Kothtemay.  3S  7 

fields  and  woods;  which,  whh  woods  and  corn-fields  oil 
the  oppofite.llde  of  the  river,  rifing,  by  a  gradual  afccnt,  to 
a  great  height,  forAi  a  beautiful  rural  fcenery,  equalled  by 
few,  and  perhaps  excelled  by  none,  of  equal  extent,  in  the 
kingdom. 

5oi7,  Produce^  Rent. — Plantations  and  natural  woods  oc- 
cupy a  confiderable  part  of  this  parifh.  They  confift 
chiefly  of  fir,  birch,  aifa,  elm,  and  aller  *,  which,  in  confe- 
qaence  of  the  fcarcity  of  thefe  in  moft  of  the  neighbouring 
parifhes,  are  fold  at  high  prices,  and  bring  the  proprietors 
from  L«  100  to  L.  200  a*year.  And  it  may  be  prefumed^i 
<hat,  fome  years  hence,  they  will  bring  much  more,  as 
many  of  them,  efpecially  firs,  now  young  and  thriving,  will 
Chen  be  ready  for  fale  -,  and  as  the  proprietors  not  only  fup« 
ply  from  their  nurferies  the  places  of  thofe  they  fell,  but 
are  carrying  this  kind  of  improvement  iliU  farther,  by 
planting  fuch  parts  of  their  efiates  as  are  lefs  fit  for  culti- 
vation or  pafiure. 

The  pafture  bears  only  a  fmall  proportion  to  the  arable 
land  of  the  parifh.  It  is  fuch,  however,  as  renders  it  pro- 
fitable for  fome  farmers  to  rear  a  few  flieep,  and  all  a  few 
black  cattle,  for  the  market. 

The  foil,  in  general,  is  rich  and  fertile.  It  produces  ex- 
cellent oats,  bear,  peafe,  and  lint,  the  common  crops  of  the 
parilh ;  and  in  fuch  abundance,  that  large  quantities,  parti- 
cularly of  oats,  oatmeal,  and  bear,  are  exported  annually. 
A  great  part  of  the  bear  finds  a  good  market  at  difiilleries 
in  the  neighbouring  pariihes.     Part  of  it|  as  well  as  oats 

and 

•  Befide  thcfc,  u  a  grctt  variety  of  excellent  larch,  oak,  beech,  Sec. 
particularly  on  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Fife,  whofe  example  io  pLanting, 
and  cHhcr  improvemeots  is  well  entitled  to  the  imitation  of  other  proprie- 
tors.    Some  old  afli,  belonging  to  his  LonUtiip,  are  of  an  uncommon  fi2f , 
neafuring,  in  dlamete  r,  four  feet. 


388  Stati/iical  Jccount 

and  oatmeal,  is  parchafed,  by  commiffion,  for  merchants  b 
other  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  ihSpped  at  Portfby,  which 
is  la,  Banfl^  which  is  15,  or  Macduff,  which  is  16  miles 
diihnt. 

Mod  farms  are  fmall,  onlj  five  or  fix  being  rented  above 
L.  4O1  of  wluch  one  is  rented  at  L.  no,  another  at  L.  140. 
Few  leafes  exceed  19  years.  Crajfums  are  in  ufe.  Per* 
fonal  fervice  *  and  harveft-labour  are  no  longer  exafied. 
Of  late,  a  great  part  of  vidual-rents  were  converted  into 
money  at  the  rate  of  X2  9*  6  d.  a  boll  \  and  multure-rent, 
formerly  every  thirteenth  peck,  is  now  3s.  6d.  for  every 
pound  of  farm-rent,  Converfions  not  lels  favooiahle  in 
their  confcquences  to  tlie  progreis  of  agriculture,  than  to 
the  immediate  iotereft  of  the  farmer.  The  miller's  fee 
(which  ren^ains  to  be  converted  into  money)  is  every  eigh- 
teenth peck.  Af^ridions  to  particular  mills  prevail  here, 
as  in  pther  part?  of  Scotland ;  and  thp  grain  of  one  of  the 
beft  di(lri£h  of  the  pari(h  is  aftriScd  to  a  mill  in  a  neigh- 
bouring pariih,  and  belonging  to  a  different  proprietor. 
Would  it  be  any  difadvantage  to  fociety,  if  mill-aflridicos 
of  every  kind  being  aboUflied  by  a  juft  compenfadon,  every 
one  were  at  liberty  to  choofe  his  miller,  as  well  as  his 
fmith,  his  carpenter,  or  any  other  mechanic  ? 

The  valued  rent  of  the  pariih  is  L.  3170  Scotch.  The 
whole  pariih  is  the  Earl  of  Fife's,  except  about  a  tend; 
part,  the  property  of  Major  Alexander  Duff  of  Mayeo. 
His  Lordfliip  occafionally  vifits  his  property  here.  Major 
Duff  f  conftantly  refides  in  the  parifli* 

*  AdvatUagUi 

^  By  perfenal fir^ice,  m  different  from  harreft-Uboiir,  xs^tneant,  gw^ 
on  errands,  and  the  like.  The  fervice  of  carrying  the  huidlord*s  meii  to 
the  (here  is  (lili  retained ;  nor,  indeed,  could  it  be  conveniently  difpeni'ed 
with,  where  vidliuil-rents  are  paid,  ,and  efpeciaUy  where  the  landlord  does 
not  refide. 

I  The  Major,  befide  fome  very  laudable  improvements  of  his  eftate  by 
planting  and  iuclofingi  has  lately  built  an  eWant  and  commodious  houie. 


qf  Rotblemay.  3S9 

Advantages^  \Sc. — Our  chief  advantage,  refpefting  agri. 
cultore,  is  the  neameis  of  lime.  In  the  ileighbouring  pa«i 
riih  of  Grange,  it  is  bought  at  the  quarry  for  \\  d. ;  at  die 
kihi  for  8  d.  and  fometimes  7  d.  a  boll  *,  The  abundance 
of  peat  here  induces  mod  farmers  to  buy  it  at  the  quarry, 
and  enables  fome  of  them,  befide  fupplying  themfelves,  to 
bring  a  profit  by  .retail.  There  «re  about  50  lime-kilos  in 
the  pariih. 

To  this  advantage  I  wifh  I  could  add  good  roads ;  but 
the  proper  method  of  making  and  repairing  thefe  is  not 
even  underftood  here.  Inftead  of  ufing  for  this  purpofe 
that  abundance  of  metal  and  gravel  which  nature  has  fup- 
plied,  the  ftatute-labour  is  employed  in  throwing  on  the 
middle  of  the  roads  the  contents  of  the  ditches  on  their 
fides,  which,  being  clay  or  foft  earth,  fo  far  from  impro- 
ving them,  (unleis,  perhaps,  during  the  heat  of  fummer), 
generally  makes  them  worfe  than  before.  Though  inclo- 
fing  is  far  advanced  in  this,  compared  with  neighbouring 
pariflies,  flill  thefe  is  much  room  for  this  kind  of  improve- 
ment :  A  proof,  among  others,  that  a  great  part  of  our 
land  has  not  yet  reached  half  its  value.  Nor  has  draining 
by  any  means  obtained  that  degree  of  ^attention,  which  a 
great  part  of  our  land  evidently  requires,  though  to  this 
kind  of  improvement  its  natural  fituation  is,  in  general, 
very  favourable  f . 

Population^  ISc, — The  number  of  inhabitants  is  11 25  ;  of 

whom,  481  are  males,  644  females.     In  1755  it  was  iigo. 

The  average  of  marriages  for  the  laft  10  years  is  10  ;  that 

of  births,  for  the  fame  period,  19  \  of  deaths  there  is  no  re- 

gifter. 

Of 

f  The  boU  of  lime  here  conlifts  of  i  fiilots  only. 

f  The  mode  of  fannin;;,  and  tie  prices  of  the  various  kinds  of  provifioo9« 
ire  Uie  lame  here  as  in  tl«c  neighbonring  parilbes. 


390  Statifiical  Auwni 

or  the  iahabitaats  1067  are  of  the  EAaUUhed  Caiiirdi ; 
a$  are  EpiicopBli«is  \  %j  Seoeden ;  end  6  RoHmiq  Cidio- 
Iks.  The  oecttpadons  6£  part  of  theony  wHh  cHhtr  partiett- 
bra  which  Ihew  the  ftate  of  die  parifli,  will  appear  from  the 
ioUowieg  table : 


Ciergjman, 

Tailors,        - 

6 

Schoolmaficr, 

Shopkeepers, 

7 

Mafons, 

Innkeepers, 

3 

Dikerf, 

Butdiers^ 

a 

Wrights* 

10 

Meal-mills, 

1 

Turnerst 

Meal-millers, 

3 

Coopers, 

LioMhill, 

I 

Sa&iths, 

Lint-millers, 

3 

Slaters, 

Wauk-milk, 

a 

Fhz-dreflkrsy 

Ferry^KMts, 

a 

Weavers, 

27 

Horfes, 

.       260 

Dyers, 

3 

Sheep, 

500 

Shoemakers, 

13 

Blackroattky 

iao8 

All  the  men  who  are  not  tradefmen  and  mechanics,  are 
empfojed  in  agricultare ;  and  tradefmen  and  nccfaaaics, 
who  are  honfekeepera,  likewife  cultivate  a  few  acrea  Sor 
the  accommodation  of  their  families.  The  women,  when* 
tbey  are  not  employed  in  the  mols  in  fummer,  or  the  6M 
in  harveft,  fometimes  knit  flockings,  but  commonly  fpin 
linen-yarn  for  the  merchant,  who  buys  it.  By  comnaiffion, 
for  the  manufafhirer  in  Glafgow,  Paifley,  or  foae  other 
difiant  part  of  the  kingdom.  Bcfide  maintenance,  a  fvm^ 
fervant's  yeariy  wages  are  from  L.  7  to  L«  9 ;  a  maid^fer- 
vantls  L.  2,  xo  s.  or  L.  3.  A  day-labourer's  wages  vary 
with  the  kind  of  his  labour  *,  vis.  for  mols-labour,  a  man"^ 
8d.  a  woman's  6d«  with  viAnak;  for  harveft-labonr,  a 
man's  10  d,  a  woman's  6  d.  with  vidoals ;  for  hay-couing, 

XS.J 


pfRotbieamy.  39X 

IS.;  and  for  commoa  labour,  fach  as  delving,  9d.  without 
vidoab.  A  mafon's  day's  wages  are  is.  6  d  1  a  wright'i, 
1 1.  both  wilifaout  vifioals ;  a  tailor's^  8  d.  with  ▼iOuals  ;  m 
piker's  work  is  hired  by  the  piece.  By  fpinniog  linen- 
yam,  a  woman  earns  3)  d.  at  moft  4  d.  a-day !  A  poor  pit- 
tance, indeed!  and  till  manufaQares  be  eftablilhed  here, 
(a  thing  more  to  he  defired  than  expeded)«  there  is  little 
reafon  to  hope  that  female  Uboar  will  find  a  better,  at  kaA 
an  adequate  reward. 

Cburcb^  School^  6t.-- The  pari(h-cburch,  built  about  40 
jears  ago,  is  commodious  and  well  lighted.  The  Earl  of 
Fife  is  patron.  By  a  late  decree  of  the  Court  of  Teinds^ 
the  minifier's  ftipend  is  ''  106  boUs  3  firlots  of  vidual,  half 
^  meal  half  bear,  and  L.  533  : 6 : 8  Scotch,  with  \^  60 
^  money  forefaid  for  furnifliiDg  the  conimunion-elements/' 
The  fchoolmafler's  falary,  which  is  aoo  merks  Scotch*, 
and  the  fchool-fees,  with  precenter's  and  feifion-clerk's  fees 
and  perquifices,  do  not  exceed  L.  20  or  L.  ai  a-year.    The 

parochial 

0  TiH  widiin  thcfe  two  ^ean,  it  was  only  loo  meilD  Scotdi.  The  Utt 
Rer.  Mr  Bmcc  of  ]>iinbtr,  who  received  the  principles  of  his  education  at 
this  fcbool»  gcneroofly  propofeil  to  augment  it  by  a  donation  of  L.  loo  Ster- 
ling. 00  tU  foUowiag  terms:  \P,  That  the  hcritofs  fliould  become  tniifcees 
of  his  donationt  paying  to  t^e  ichooimafter  tlie  legal  intereft  of  at ;  aad« 
a4{Kf  'T^^^  tlvey  ihould  augment  the  falaiy  to  the  maximtm,  or  aoo  merks 
Scotch:  Though  the  beritort  complied  with  thefe  terms  as  foon  as  propo- 
fed*  and  though  afterwards  Mr  Bruce,  u^foaafd  of  this,  piomiied  that  his 
donatioo  (hould  U  forthcomng  at  a  time  mentioned,  yet*  not  long  afieo 
be  dicdf  without  having  fiilfiUed  his  benevolent  puipoic,  and  (lb  far  as  I 
bavc  yet  bren  able  to  difcover)  without  leaving  the  fulfilment  of  it  in  truft 
to  bis  heiis  or  teftamenury  csecutors.  It  is  hoped*  however,  that  fnffirieni 
ipoocbei^  of  his  puipofe  and  promiie  being  produced,  his  heirs  (who  are 
happily  In  fuQcieot  circumftances)  will,  from  due  refpedt  to  his  memory, 
cOeem  hlf  will,  refpe^ing  this  matter,  as  facred  as  if  it  1»ad  been  aipreffitd 
with  aU  tb«  ciccumlUnccs  of  legal  fotmality. 


3JP  Statiftieal  Account 

parodiial  poor  (34  *  at  an  average  of  the  laft  twelve  jeirr) 
are  aflifted  from  the  Intereft  of  L.  160,  the  rents  of  one  of 
the  church-galleries,  the  weekly  coUedioiiSy  fines  ia£  mif- 
demeaoors,  £cc.  \  the  whole  forming  a  jearlj  fimd  of  L.  25 
or  I*  %6  Sterling. 

Antiquity^  an  Eminent  Ci&ara^rr .—Ahont  a  furlong 
north  from  the  hoafe  of  Rothiemaj  is  a  Dnudical  temple, 
which,  though  fituated  in  the  middle  of  a  beautiful  and  fer- 
tile field,  a  veneration  for  antiquit  j  has  hitherto  prefcrved 
entire.  Mr  James  FerguiTon,  well  known,  among  men  of 
fcience,  for  his  publication  on  aftronomj,  was  a  native  of 
this  pariih  f . 

CharaBtr. — The  inhabitants  are,  in  perfon,  .flendcr  ra- 
ther than  robuft  \  in  mind,  acute  and  fenfible.  Thej  ex- 
cel their  forefathers  lefs  in  the  luxuries  of  the  table  than 
elegance  of  dreis  *,  are  generally  very  healthj ;  and  live 

manj 

•  In  1783  and  17841  the  nnmber  of  poor  was  45.  In  1785,  tibe  Idrk- 
feiBon  expended  L.  70  of  the  poor's  fund  in  purchafiog  foreign  gnia. 

f  To  certify  this,  it  may  be  proper  to  fabjoin,  that  my  infonnadoo  of 
Mr  Fcrgu(1bn*s  being  a  native  of  this  pariih  I  feceived  from  his  brolhcr. 
John  Ferguflbn,  who  was  an  elder  of  this  pariih,  and  died  very  lately.  He 
told  me,  that  his  father^s  name  was  John  Ferguflbn,  his  mother's  Elipet 
Lobban;  that  they  dwelt  at  the  Core  of  Mayen;  that  both  he  and  his  bro- 
ther James  were  bom  there ;  that  he  himfelf  was  bom  in  1708 ;  and  that 
his  brother  James  was  two  years  younger.  Accordingly  the  feflion-record, 
which  is  now  before  me,  confirms  this  information  in  every  particnUr. 
James  Ferguflbn  was  bom  April  45.  1710. 

I  do  not  recoiled  every  particular  related  in  the  Memoirs  of  Mr  Fergnf- 
fon,  prefixed  to  his  works,  not  having  fecn  them  for  feveral^ years;  bnt 
John,  his  brother,  who  had  read  thefe  Memoirs,  faid,  that,  diough  generally 
agreeable  to  faA,  they  were  not  equally  corredl  fai  every  particular. 


of  Rotbiemdy.  39} 

knmy  oi  them  80,  and  fome  90,  yetrt.  Devoted  to  agri- 
bolture  and  the  mechanical  arts,  they  are  very  little  bdined 
either  to  a  military  of  a  iea-faring  life;  They  are  fober 
and  induftrioiu,  refpedfol  to  fuperiors,  obedient  to  the  laws, 
charitable  to  the  poor,  and  praAife,  among  themfelves, 
the  virtues  of  integrity  and  friendfhlp.  Of  the  form  of 
godlineb  tkey  are  itnOlj  obfervaht ;  and  jfaftice,  as  well 
as  candour,  forbids  me  to  believe  that  they  are  defiitnte  of 
its  power. 


% 


VoL.XIXi  3D  NUM. 


394  Staii/tical  Accmnt 


NUMBER    XVin. 


PARISH  OF  ORPHIR, 


(COUMTT    A»n   StKOD   OF  OnKMET,   PuSBTTZaT  OF 

Cai&stoh.} 


By  tie  Riv.  Mr  Udddt^  Mimfier. 


Ori^  of  the  Name. 

ORPHIRt  or,  according  to  the  Icelandic  hifioriaas.  Jar- 
Jior^  is  componnded  of  the  Norwegian  words,/ofA 
land,  and^or,  fire.  This  etymology  is  the  nnore  probable, 
as  the  parifli  of  Orphir  ferves  the  neighbouring  towns  di 
Kirkwall  and  Stromneis  with  a  fpecies  of  peats,  diftingnilb- 
ed  by  the  name  oiyar/o^  that  b,  fire-Iand|  or  earth  fit  fcr 
burning.  And  to  the  prefent  day,  there  is  a  houfe  ac4 
diftriA  called  Tarfon  from  its  neighboiuhood  to  a  large  mc& 
•f  this  dcfcriptioiu 

SituiUhn 


ofOrpbir.  395 

Skuatiott  and  Eximt. — This  p^i(h  k  flmated  ia  the 
county  and  fynod  of  Orkney,  and  in  the  preftytery  of  Caar- 
fton,  and  makes  a  part  of  the  ifle  of  Pomona,  commonly 
caUed  Mainland,  from  its  being  the  largeft  of  the  Orkney 
iflands. 

It  is  bovnded  on  the  N.  W.  and  N.  by  the  p^riihea  of 
Stemea  and  Firth,  from  which  it  is  divided  by  a  range  of 
lofty  hills  i  by  the  parifli  of  Kirkwall  on  the  N.  £* ;  and 
oo  the  £•  S.  and  W.  by  the  Orkney  Mediterranean,  gene- 
rally known  by  the  name  of  Scalpa  Flow. 

It  is  abont  eight  Englifli  miles  long,  and  from  two  to 
three  miles  in  breadth ;  lying  along  the  fea-(hore,  nearly 
in  the  direfiion  of  N.  £,  and  S.  W.  and  enjoys  a  fine  ex- 
pofure. 

Xhe  face  of  the  pariih  is  diverfified  with  hills  and  dales 
through  which  many  rivulets  flow.  The  foil^  in  a  few 
places  near  the  coafi*  is  a  rich  loam,  mixed  with  llone% 
and  tolerably  ferdle }  but,  in  general,  it  ii  day  or  mo&i  or 
a  mixture  of  both ;  and  when  well  manured,  though  but 
indiflBcrently  cultivated,  is  more  than  fnfficient  to  maintain 
the  inhabitants. 

The  upper  part  of  the  pariih,  except  a  few  fmaU  hxwMt 
near  a  lake,  called  the  Loch  of  Kirbifter,  is  hilly,  and 
chiefly  covered  with  heaCh,  intermixed  with  coarfe  graft, 
and  wdl  adapted  for  the  breeding  of  flieep  and  fmall  cattle. 
The  lower  part,  toward  the  S.  £•  S.  and  W.  and  extending 
about  a  mile  firom  the  hills  to  the  fea-fliore,  ii  in  general 
plain,  and  beautifully  diverfified  with  corn-fields,  meadows, 
and  green  paftnre.  The  eaftem  diftriA  is  interfperfed  ^th 
rifing  grounds,  oovered  with  heath,  and  large  peat-mofles^ 
which  fhmifli  the  inhabitants  with  fuel,  and  enable  them 
to  fttpply  the  neighbouring  town  of  Kirkwall. 

C/imatt, 


39(^  Stad/Ucal  AceowH 

CSmnii^'^fom  the  fimatioii  of  diefe  iflands,  in  «  nonb- 
em  htimde,  and  farroanded  by  the  occtn^  the  diiea&s  in- 
^dent  to  a  cold  and  damp  dimate  might  natnrallj  he  ex- 
peAed ;  hot  the  reverfe  happens.  The  agoe  is  not  known 
here,  and  icorbntic  complaints  fcldom  Occor ;  owing*  pcr- 
hapty  to  the  abapilance  of  fiiel»  to  the  frequent  ufe  of  v^e- 
tables,  and  of  malt  liquor;  and  above  all,  to  the  faluhnoos 
tBa-breezes,  which  cool  the  air  in  {nmmier»  and  coontenA 
the  frofis  in  winter,  and  render  the  climate,  upon  die  whole, 
more  temperate,  than  in  many  places  of  a  more  footherlj 
latitude  upon  the  continent.  The  imall-poz  was  mncb 
dreaded  h^e  previous  to  the  1757,  when  inocuIatioD  wis 
mtrodooed,  and  has  ever  fince  been  attended  with  uooom- 
mon  fucceb.  Confumptions  are  not  frequent.  The  noU 
prevalent  difiempers  are  fevers,  which  frequently  prove 
fatal,  efpedally'  in  years  of  fterility.  Rheninarifins  have 
become  more  f^quent  of  late  years,  owing,  it  is  fappofed, 
to  the  fobftitotioo'  of  the  linen  fliirt  for  the  woolcsi  Waifi- 
coat,  formerly  worn  by  the  coipmon  people. 

Mineral  S^ug$~'9it  to  be  met  with  in  erery  dtfirifiof 
the  parifli.  £nt  the  one  moft  in  vogue  is  the  water  of 
Scoridale,  which  has  been  fiioious  for  time  immemorial,  aod 
as  fuppofed  to  cure  all  difeafes.  It,  like  all  the  otben,*  is  of 
the  chalybeate  kind,  without  any  mixture  of  fnlpbur.  It 
is  of  a  diuretic  and  antUcorbotic  quality,  and  helps  to  pro- 
mote digeftion. 

Lakest  Coq/lst  I/Umis^  amd  Fi/birisu^^T^trc  are  in  this 
parifli  feveral  fmall  rivulets,  but  only  one  lake,  calkd  the 
Loch  of  Kirbifier.  It  is  between  two  and  three  miles  in 
circumferenccl^  and  is  well  ftored  with  fea*troQt  of  .an  ex- 
cellent quality.  The  fidl  from  this  lake  is  very  confider- 
$bltf  knd  turns  one  of  the  fineft  mills  in  the  country.   Here 

was 


p/Orpbir.  397 

>Fas  fbrmerljr  a  waukmtUy  but  it  was  fuffered  to  go  info  d&- 
pay,  after  the  introdadion  of  the  linen  manufadure.  There 
are  two  other  mills  in  the  parifli,  which  go  under  the  naotiQ 
of  Dubmills.    Thefe  are  of  no  ufe  in  the  fummer  feafon. 

The  fea-coaft  forms  a  circuitooa  coorfe  of  about  ii  miles, 
^qd  is  finely  indented  with  bays  and  creeks,  where  Teflclt 
.  may  anchor ;  one  of  them  in  particular,  called  the  Bay  o£ 
Houton,  is  proteAed  by  an  ifland  at  the  entrance,  and  forms 
a  fefe  harbour  for  imall  veflels.  The  fliore,  except  in  the 
bays,  is  in  general  bold,  confiding  of  rocks  of  from  40  to  j« 
feet  high  \  and  compofed  partly  of  whin,  but  chiefly  eC 
freeflone.  The  water,  within  a  gua-fliot  of  the  ihare,  is 
from  12  to  20  fathom  deep. 

Scalpa  i'Vbui."— The  £ea  oppofite  to  this  coaft  is  a  moft 
beautiful  piece  of  water,  being  a  fmall  mediterranean,  of 
about  50  miles  in  circumference.  It  is  furrounded  with 
\%  diflferent  iilands,  through  which  are  feveral  outlets  to  the 
Bentland  Firth,  and  German  and  Atlantic  Oceans.  Thia« 
particularly  in  time  of  war,  is  the  great  thoroughfare  for 
fiiips  coming  north  about.  It  abounds  with  iafe  roadfleads 
and  fine  harbours  *,  fuch  as  Holm  Sound,  Floxa  Sound,  St 
Mar^raret's  Houp,  I'an  Houp,  and  Long  Honp  in  the  Ifland 
of  Walls ;  where  there  is  good  anchorage,  and  a  fuflicient 
depth  of  water  for  the  largeft  fliip  in  the  Britifli  navy.  The 
principal  entrance  to  Scalpa  Flow,  is  through  Holm  Sound 
on  the  £•  and  Hoynveuth  on  the  W. ;  near  which  fiands 
the  village  of  Stromaefs,  a  (ea-port,  too  well  known  to  need 
defcription  here,  and  poilefied,  for  its  fize,  of  one  of  the 
lincft  natural  harbours  in  the  world. 

Two  miles  diftant  from  tl*-  foutbmoft  part  of  Orphir 
lies  the  ifland  of  Cava,  a  mile  long,  and  about  a  quarter^ 
a  mile  broad.  There  are  only  three  families  in  the  ifland, 
^fitting  at  prefent  of  19  perfons.  The  foil  is  a  mixture 
6i  clay  and  mod,  which,  as  they  have  plenty  of  lea-wqfc» 
^  -    leldom 


398  StatiJHcal  Account 

feldom  fiiik  to  produce  a  good  crop.  Befidet  9  horfei  lad 
x6  cows  ix^ith  their  calves,  they  .have  a  few  rabbits,  and 
peats  in  abundance.  The  few  inhabitants  frequent  the  ps* 
rilh  churchy  and  are  very  regular  in  their  attendance  opoo 
divine  worihip.  There  is  a  ruinous  chapel  in  the  iflandi 
round  which  is  a  church-yardi  where  they  formerly  u&d  to 
bury  their  dead. 

In  this  fequeftered  fpot»  feemingly  pointed  out  by  nature 
as  a  place  for  religious  retirement,  in  the  memory  of  people 
now  alive,  have  been  committed  two  rapes  and  one  mur« 
den  The  murder  is  faid  to  have  happened  in  Celf-defeiiGe. 
The  rapes  were  committed  by  Gow  the  pirate's  people, 
who  cajrried  off  two  young  women  from  the  ifland ;  sod 
after  keeping  them  for  fome  days  aboard  their  (hip,  re- 
turned them  to  their  friends,  loaded  with  pielenti;  and 
they  both  foon  afterwards  got  hufbands. 

There  is  another  finall  ifland  in  this  parilli,  fit  only  for 
flieep*pafture,  called  the  Hobn  of  Houton  ^  a  name  general* 
ly  given  to  fmall  uninhabited  iflands 

About  a  mile  £•  from  the  ifland  of  Cava  lies  a  rock,  or 
ikerry,  well  known  to  feamen,  called  the  Barrel  of  Hotter ; 
here  was  formerly  a  feal-fifliery,  for  which  the  neighbour- 
ing furmer  paid  the  proprietor  a  barrel  of  oil  yearly,  natil 
the  frequency  of  fliipping  feared  them  from  the  rock ;  then 
the  proprietor,  determined  not  to  lofe  his  rent,  converted 
the  tack-duty  into  a  barrel  of  butter ;  which  is  ftill  paid  by 
the  tenant,  and  thence  the  rock  is  frid  to  derive  its  name. 
Its  ancient  name  was  Carlin  Skerry. 

The  principal  fifliery  on  the  coaft  of  Orphir  is  the  dog- 
fiihory,  which,  for  the  time  it  lafls,  is  highly  beoeficiat. 
Thefe  fifii  arrive,  in  fucceffive  flioals,  about  the  time  of 
new  and  foil  moon,  and  are  obferved  to  travel  weflwardi. 
They  make  their  appearance  about  the  middle  of  June,  aad 
fontinue  for  a  few  days  only  at  a  time,  until  die  end  of 

Augufii 


^  Offbir.  399 

Aiigiift.  They  «e  ttken  wiAin  hilf  a  mile  of  the  ihort, 
inborn  %o  to  30  fiathons  wMler,  ivhh  a  common  hoiid-Iiiie 
of  half  a  crown  vBlne.  One  man  will  fometiaes  catch  fif« 
teen  ficore  in  a  day.  Thej  yield  a  great  deal  of  oil ;  and 
when  cured  and  finoaked,  axe  thought  to  refemble  kipper. 
Thdt  Talue,  per  hundred,  may  amount,  at  an  average,  to 
5  s.  There  are  in  this  filhery  about  24  boats  employed, 
with  4  or  5  men  in  each.  When  the  dog-6fliiog  faib, 
which  fometimes  happens,  the  people  are  in  the  utmoft  dif- 
trefi  for  want  of  oil}  which  then  ri&sfrom  6d«  or  8d«^ 
Scotdi  pint,  to  x s.  or  even  is.  6 d.  During  the  reft  of 
the  year,  they  feldom  catch  any  thing  but  a  fioudl  fifh  call- 
ed keiths  or  fiUocks.  Thefe  fiih  (moaked,  together  with 
the  fiUocks,  conftitute  a  great  part  of  the  food  of  the  inha* 
bitants. 

Scalpa  Flow  abounds  with  many  other  kinds  of  filb, 
fttdi  ts  fcate,  flounders,  haddocks,  mackrel,and  occafionally 
berringi.  But  the  inhabitants  are  fo  much  employed  in 
making  of  kelp,  which  is  the  great  article  of  Orkney  com- 
merce, that  they  have  not  leifure  to  attend  to  this  fiihery. 
The  common  kinds  of  fhelLfiih  are  alfo  to  be  found  here^ 
fuch  as  lobfters,  partans,  fpouts  and  cockles ;  there  are  like- 
*wife  a  few  feals,  and  otters,  whofe  flcins  are  valuable. 
Sometimes,  too,  the  £mall  whales,  called  the  bottle-nofed, 
make  their  appearance  on  this  coaft,  and  when  embayed, 
are  furrounded  with  boats,  and  forced  on  ihore# 

There  are  no  fewer  than  fifteen  fmacks  employed  through^* 
out  the  feafon,  in  fifliing  and  carrying  lobfieis  to  the  Lon- 
don market,  all  of  which  rendezvous  in  one  or  other  of 
the  harbours  of  Scalpa  Flow.  .  This  filhery  u  confidered  as 
very  beneficial  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  adjacent  coaft,  who 
are  chiefly  employed  in  catching  the  lobfters,  and  receive 
from  1  d.  to  ifd.  per  piece.  The  boats  fitted  out  for  this 
purpofe  meafure  xa.£eet  of  keel,  and  together  with  the  nets, 

coft 


400  Staij/licai  2fcc6uki 

coft  nbotu  L.  6;  Tb^re  au%  two  nien  in  each  hatti  wb6 
will  cleaTi  at  an  average,  L.7  Sterling  a-piece»  durin; 
the  fiOung-feafony  which,  including  that  of  the  fpring  and 
batvellj  does  not  laft  abotre  fix  months  in  the  year. 

Aj^.— Of  this  atticle,  about  50  tons,  at  an  average,  tre 
inanufaAured,  and  exported  yearly;  The  moft  expert 
kelp-burners  in  Orkney  are  fuppofed  to  belong  to  this  pa- 
rifli ;  the  confequence  of  which  is,  that  they  are  uiiiverfallj 
employed.  One  &rmer  in -particular^  Nicol  Slettar  in 
Yarfo,  by  his  fuperior  Ikill  in  furveying»  and  fixing  with 
|irecifion  the  value  of  (bores,  has  delerved  well  of  his 
conntry,  having  thereby  confidencbly  augmented  the  in- 
cdm'e  c(f  many  6f  the  proprietors.  This  man,  by  dint  of 
experience  alone,  and  natural  fagacity,  without  the  aid  of 
edhcation,  n^ill  afeertain^  with  aftonifiiing  exadneis,  the 
greateft  quadtity  of  kelp  to  be  produced  from  any  diftrift 
of  fiiores,  which  he  is  employed  to  ftfrvey ;  biit^  like  moft 
men  of  merit,  he  has  been  poorly  rewarded. 

Of  this  great  flaple  of  Orkney  commerce,*  much  might 
.be  faid  :  But,  as  the  fubjeA  has  been  already  anticipated  ra 
former  Statiflical  Accounts,  the  author  of  the  prefent  re- 
port would  only  wifli  to  add,  for  the  fake  of  his  countrj- 
men;  and  upon  the  authority  of  the  firft  manufadurcr  in 
NewCafile ;  **  That,  excepting  barilla,  which  is  fometimcs 
not  to  be  purchafed  for  any  money,  the  bed  crown  glais 
cannot  be  made  without  a  certain  proportion  of  Orkney 
kelp ;  and  that,  if  the  proprietors  would  be  at  the  pains  to 
prep^te  this  article  in  the  bed  manner,  artd  to*  preferve  It 
pure  and  nnadultetated^  the  price  it  would  bring  at  market 
is  fcarce'credrble; 

The  tang,  or  fea-weed,  which  grows  oh  this  and  the 
neighbouring  coaib,  is  found  to  be  fit  for  burning  only  once 
in  three  years ;  whereas,  in  the  ifland  o^  Sanday,  and  fonfe 

o£ 


ofOrphir.  401 

of  the  fmaller  iflands,  the  fame  kind  of  fea-weed  is  burnt 
yearly.  This  is  generally  afcribed  to  their  proximity  to 
the  ocean,  and  the  rapidity  of  the  tides ;  but,  as  there  are 
many  iimilar  fituations,  from  which  the  fame  effefi  is  not 
produced,  it  is  more  reafonable  to  afcribe  this  phenomenon^ 
either  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  rocks  on  which  thefe 
weeds  grow ;  or,  with  greater  probability,  to  the  fitnation 
and  foil  of  thofe  iflands,  which  are  fo  narrow,  flat,  and  fan- 
dy,  as  hardly  ever  to  attrad  a  cloud,  or  produce  the  ftnalleft 
rivulet  from  one  end  to  the  other ;  by  which  means  the 
fea-weed,  being  preferved  from  frelh-watcr,  which  is  its 
greateft  enemy,  is  permitted  to  grow  in  its  utmoft  perfec- 
tion* 

TRdiSf  Bayst  Headlands^  and  Wneis. — ^The  tide,  at  its  en- 
trance into  Scalpa  Flow,  is  uncommonly  rapid  *,  but  it  |^a« 
dually  fubfides,  until  it  becomes  fcarce  perceptible.  The 
conrie  of  tbe  flood,  with  a  little  variation,  is  from  W.  to  E. 
There  is  one  part  of  the  coaft,  adjacent  to  the  houfe  of  Mr 
Hooyman  of  Graraa&y,  where  the  current,  intercepted  by 
a  reef  of  rocks,  runs  9  honra  in  one  direfiion,  and  3  in  the 
oppofite. 

Tbe  principal  nefles  and  headlands  are  Voenels,  Toi- 
neb,  Bemort,  and  Houton-head.  The  bays  are,  Waukmill 
Bay,  SmugroBay,  and  the  Bay  of  Houton,  all  of  them 
fronting  the  S.  and  S.  £. ;  in  each  of  which,  particularly 
the  laft,  fmall  veflels  may  anchor  with  {afety. 

Only  two  ihipwrecks  have  happened  here  in  the  me* 
mory  of  any  peribn  now  alive.  The  one  happened  about 
30  years  ago,  upon  the  rocks  of  Hobbifler,  where  the  vefiel 
went  to  pieces,  but  the  people  were  faved.  The  other  ia 
fpring  I793f  00  the  fand  af  the  Waukmill  Bay,  where  by 
unloading  a  part  of  the  cargo,  which  confifled  chiefly  of 
iiaz,  the  vefiel  was  got  ofl^,  without  receiving  any  confider- 

Vol.  XIX.  3£  able 


40Z  Statiftical  Account 

able  'damage ;  upon  which  occafion,  much  to  the  honour  of 
the  inhabitants,  every  afliftance  was  given,  and  not  a  fingle 
head  of  flax  amifling. 

Hills. — ^The  principal  hill  in  this  parifli  is  about  700 
feet  high.  It  is  called  the  Wart  Hill,  as  is  erroneoufly  fup- 
pofedy  from  a  fmall  hillock  raifed  on  the  top  of  it  by  Mr 
Murdoch  Mackenzie,  when  he  furveyed  thefe  iflands.  Thi$ 
gentleman,  who  is  ftill  alive,  is  9l  native  of  Orkney;  and 
the  firft  who  brought  furveying  to  that  degree  of  accuracy 
which  it  has  of  late  attained.  Sir  Robert  Strange,  the  late 
famous  engraver,  was  alfo  a  native  of  this  country ;  and, 
as  he  told  the  prefent  incumbent,  pafled  fome  of  the  hap- 
pieft  days  of  his  youth  in  this  parifli ;  which,  after  all  his 
travels  through  France  and  Italy,  he  could  not  help  ad- 
miring for  the  natural  beauty  of  its  fcenery.  Such  is  the 
f weet  remembrance  of  youth !  And  yet  this  paniaUty  is 
not  altogether  without  foundation.  For  from  the  top  of 
a  hill,  at  the  foot  of  Which,  on  a  rifing  ground,  flands  the 
manfe  of  Orphir,  are  to  be  feen,  at  one  view,  25  iflaods 
and  23  parifhes,  including  moil  of  the  Orkney  iflands,  and 
part  of  the  ifland  of  Great  Britain,  with  an  eztenfive  view 
of  the  Atlantic  And  Germanic  Oceans,  together  with  that 
truly  fttblime  objeA,  the  (iupenduous  mountain  of  H07, 
waflied  on  one  fide  by  the  Pentland  Firth,  and  on  the  other 
by  the  Orkney  Mediterranean,  which  is  as  beautiful  a  piece 
of  water  as  any  county  in  Scotland  can  boaft  of^  and  much 
frequented  by  fliipping.  The  Lord  Advocate  of  Scotland, 
upon  a  late  vifit  to  thefe  iflands,  arriving  at  this  enchanted 
Ipot,  from  whence  he  firft  beheld  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  ia 
Ijaid  to  have  exclaimed  with  ecftacy,  **  Happy  is  the  clcr- 
'<  gyman  who  inhabits  yonder  manfionS'*  '*  And  fliU 
<'  happier  would  he  be,' •  faid  the  clergyman,  '*  would  his 
^'  Lordfliip  help  him  to  an  augmentation  of  flipend."    For 

without 


9f  Orpbir.  403 

withoiU  tbce,  fweet  Competence  !  great  Nature  argues  all 
iu  vain  ;  and  all  is  Chaos  dark  again. 

la  former  timesi  when  thefe  iflands  were  in£efted  bj  pi« 
ntes»  fires  were  kindled  on  the  tops  of  the  higheft  hills,  and 
ferved  to  give  warning  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  number 
and  approach  of  the  enemy  ;  and  as  the  people  appointed 
to  attend  thofe  light-houfes  were  to  obferve  and  repeat  the 
fignalsy  from  the  fmaller  hills  and  headlands  near  the  coaft^ 
thence,  from  the  Norfe  word.  Warder^  to  watch,  or  look 
out,  thej  got  the  name  of  Ward,  or  Wart  Hills ;  for  this 
appellation  is  not  peculiar  to  Orkney,  but  is  to  be  found  in 
other  parts  of  Scotland,  where  the  Norwegians  reCded* 

Mr  Hume,  the  hiftorian,  in  his  account  of  the  Marquis 
of  Montrofe's  expedition,  is  pleafed  to  call  the  Orkney 
men,  an  unwarlike  race  of  men  *.  But,  had  he  confulted  the 
Icelandick  hifiorians^  he  would  have  learned,  that  '*  of  old, 
in  theie  iflands,  when  the  trumpet  founded  to  battle*  when 
the  fliell  of  war  was  heard  through  the  land,  when  the  fig- 
nal  fires  were  kindled  on  the  hills,  in  an  inftant  the  young 
men  of  Orkney  flew  to  arms,  and  aflemBled  round  their 
chiefs,  determined  to  conquer  or  die.  Their  wives  and 
their  parents,  inftead  of  keeping  them  back  from  the  com« 
bat,  helped  them  on  with  th<ir  armour,  and  prepared  them 
for  the  baitle." — ^Thofe  v;ho  diftinguilhed  themfelves  by 
their  valour,  were  rewarded  at  their  return  with  the  fmiles 
and  the  charms  of  the  fair ;— of  the  fair^naids  of  Orkney ! 
for  Orkney  has  always  been  diflinguiihed  for  beautiful  wo« 
men.  Then  no  woman  of  beauty,  of  family,  of  fortune,  or 
of  virtue,  would  deign  to  give  her  hand  to  the  youth  who 
had  either  declined  or  fled  from  the  combat.  For  well 
tliey  knew,  that  None  but  the  brave  dtfervt  the  fair.  Such, 
of  old,  were  the  men  of  Orkney,  and  the  ladies  too,  what- 
ever  information  Mr  Hume  may  have  received  to  the  con- 

trary. 

•  Perhapi  the  hiftorian  meant^  more  accnftomed  to  naval  than  miUtai7 
expUiti, 


404  Statiftical  Account 

trtrj.  And  for  the  hardineis  and  braveiy  of  the  fietaai  of 
tlie  prefenc  daj,  about  acoo  of  wkom  have  flept  facmwA  to 
ferve  their  couotrj,  in  almoft  everj  war  fince  the  Haaov«- 
riaa  facceffion,  his  Rojal  Highnela  Prince  WilBam,  the  km. 
of  our  gracious  Sovereign,  can  vouch. 

F^jffils* — ^There  are  here  a  few  flates,  of  an  inferior  qoi- 
litjy  and  fome  excellent  flags.  Abundance  of  iroQ  ore  b 
found  Ijing  on  the  furface  of  the  ground,  bnt  no  attempt 
has  been  made  to  dig  op  anj.  Blue  ftone,  fit  for  building, 
and  alfo  freefione,  are  to  be  had  in  great  abundance.  There 
is  a  curious  vein  of  the  latter  fort  in  Houton-head,  adjacent 
to  the  fea,  of  about  ao  feet  in  height,  and  xoo,  or  upwards 
in  breadth,  and  confifting  of  a  variety  of  coloors,  fbme 
white,  fome  yellow,  fome  green,  and  fome  of  a  jet  bhck, 
and  fbmetimes  of  all  of  thefe  colours  beautifully  Ueaded 
together.  A  fmall  fragment  of  this  rock  was  lately  pre- 
feoted  to  an  eminent  (eal-cutter  in  Edinburgh,  who  pro- 
nounced it  to  be  very  valuable,  and  admirably  adapted  for 
finiihing  fide  boards,  or  the  ornamental  parts  of  chimaejs, 
provided  it  could  be  found  hard  enough  to  admit  of  m  po- 
lilh.  For  the  fample  prefented  to  him,  as  well  as  all  the 
outward  furface  of  this  vein,  is  fo  foft  and  brittle,  as  to  yield 
to  the  flighted  impreillon :  But,  if  quarrymen  were  cm- 
ployed  to  penetrate  the  rock  to  a  fuflicient  depth,  it  might 
be  dtfco^«red  to  be  adapted  for  many  of  the  purpoiies  to 
which  the  fined  marble  is  applied. 

Some  coal-done,  fuch  as  is  met  with  near  the  fiirfac^e  of 
coal-mines,  has  been  difcovcred*  among  the  rocks  of  Wauk- 
miii  Bay,  the  property  of  Mr  Uonyman  of  Graem&y  ^  bnt 
110  trial  has  been  made  of  it.  Some  very  fine  white  and 
blue  clay  is  dug  up,  beneath  the  flood-mark  in  Sraugro 
Bay,  commonly  ulcij  for  colouring  chiameys  and  heaxtb- 

fiOBCS. 


efOrpJnr. 


40s 


j^gadrupidtf  Birdtf  (^tf.^— All  the  different  forts  of  qua- 
dmpeds  and  birds,  wbidi  are  to  be  met  with  in  the  othet* 
pariihes  of  this  conntry,  are  alfo  to  be  found  here,  the  bird 
called  die  lyre  excepted,  which  is  peculiar  to  the  high  rocka 
of  Walls  and  H07,  and  the  Redhead  of  Eday.  It  is  ^e- 
siarked  of  the  ifland  of  Cava,  and  of  fome  other  Imdl 
iflands,  that  neither  rat  nor  moole  will  live  in  them. 

Statifiical  7aUe  oftbi  Pariflf  ofOrphir  amdlfiamdofCmim. 


ropolatJMi  wafi  X755» 

]>itto  I79S> 

DccreaiCf 

Ktunber  of  males, 

y  ■    lemftifftf 

Perfoosbdow  10  jcanof  age,  916 


Sstf 

366 


FiDOi  10  to  ao. 
Above  10,  unimRied, 
Widows  and  widowen. 
Married  peHbni, 
Hoafes  inhabited, 
Baptifms  from  1714  to  X7ft3, 
]>ttto  from  1758  to  X747» 
Ditto  from  1760  to  1769, 
Ditto  from  17S6  to  1995, 
Average /cr  ammm  lor  tb 
yean. 


i«4 

XftO 

40 

145 

300 

•77 
964 

tbole40 

»74 


74 
8a 


ifiromt7i4to  1713, 
Ditto  from  1738  to  1747, 
Ditto  from  1760  to  1769, 
Ditto  from  1786  to  1795, 
Average^  tamum  for  thofe  40 

year^  -  7 

Ho  regifter  of  buriaU  bai  been  kept. 
The   biitbs  are  to  the  populaaon 

as         •  «        I  to   30 

The  mairiagcsto  ditto,  u  x  to  118 
The  inhabited  honfeft,  at    i  to     5^ 
The  batcbelon  to  married 

men  ind  widowers,  is  i  to  3 
CHiiMren  to  families,  as  3  to  x 
Servants  and  tndwellen  as  ][  to  x 
Proprietors  refiding,  •         % 

Dttfeo  non^refiding,  -  6 

Clergyman,  •  x 

S€iMoinaaen»       ^  •         % 


Farmers  of  one  pUrngb  going, 

Ditto  of  two  ditto. 

Crofters  and  cottagers, 

Wrights.  - 

Sboanakeis^ 

Weavers, 

Taibrs, 

Mafons, . 

Smitb, 

Miners, 

Merchant  fetaikr. 


Piper, 
Fidlen 


3 

4* 

5 

S 

I 
3 

X 

r 
2 

X 


Fidlen, 

Tackefalltxidci, 

lliis  lait  is  die  kirk-officer,  wb» 
fervesthe  pariih  in  the  diflfierent 
capacities  of  beadle,  fezton,  coo- 
per. Hater,  piafterer,  boa^beater, 
gardener,  kelper,  maibn,  quarry- 
man,<«  labourer,  thatcher,  and  far- 
mer, and  the  moft  fortunate  b«. 
{[etter  of  boys  of  any  in  the  pariih, 
or  bis  wife  borr  him  3  at  one 
birth,  and  moft  of  his  children  are 
boys. 

Very  fisw  m  thb  parifli  exceed  the 
age  of  80,  and  only  one  perfon  has 
been  known  to  arrive  at  90  yean. 


Number  of  horics. 
Ditto  of  cattle. 
Ditto  of  (beep. 
Ditto  of  fwtne. 
Ditto  of  ploughs, 
Ditto  of  carts, 
Diuo  of  boats. 


380 
885 
4o# 

435 

xoa 

i 

33 


Heie 


4o6  Stati/ikai  Account 

Here  are  no  Secedera  nor  Diflenters  of  anjr  kind.— 
Three  filicides  have  been  committed  within  thefe  few 
jears  :  One  by  a  young  woman,  after  a  long  fit  of  deep 
melancholy,  from  what  can&  is  not  known ;  another  hy  vk 
elderly  woman,  during  a  lownels  of  fpirits,  occafioned  by  a 
lingering  fever ;  and  the  third  by  a  young  man,  in  the 
height  of  a  nervoos  fever.  Hanging  was  the  death  diofe 
unfortunate  perfons  made  choice  of. 

Emigration.F-^^lhxij  young  men  emigrate  from  hence 
yearly ;  fome  as  failors  on  board  merchant  veflels,  who  ge- 
nerally land  in  the  King's  feryice  atUaft  \  although  they  ab- 
hor the  idea  of  being  prciTed  in  their  own  country.  Others^ 
and  the  greateft  number,  enter  into  the  fervice  of  the  Hod- 
fon's  Bay  Company;  and,  ioftead  of  oilering  an  honoor- 
able  fervice  to  their  King  and  country,  or  fiaying  at  home 
to  cultivate  their  lands,  and  proted  their  wives,  their  chil- 
dren, and  their  parents,  for  the  fum  of  L.  6  per  annum^  hire 
themfelves  out  for  (laves  in  a  favage  land,  where,  in  the 
language  of  Scripture,  they  are  literally  employed  as  hew- 
ers of  wood  and  drawers  of  water ;  cr,  what  is  a  ftill  more 
difllnguiihing  badge  of  flavery,   in  dragging  along  large 
loads  of  timber,  yoked  in  the  team,  like  beads  of  burden. 
My  God  !  Shall  man,  formed  in  the  image  of  his  Creator, 
defert  the  human  fpecies;  and,  for  the  paltry  fum  of  L.6 
a-year,  aflixme  the  manners  and  the  habits  of  the  brutes 
that  perifli.     Fy  be  on  the  man,  who  would  rather  be  the 
flave  of  a  Company  of  private  merchants,  than  enter  into 
the  fleets  and  armies  of  Great  Britain,  and  bravely  fight 
for  his  King  and  country,  our  religion,  our  liberties,  and 
our  laws.     Many  of  thofe  men,  at  their  return,  after  8  or 
10  3'ears  exile,  bring  home  with  them  all  the  vices,  with- 
out any  of  the  virtues  of  favages  \  indolence,  diiBp^on,  ir- 
religion,  and  at  the  fame  time  a  broken  conftitution  \  and 

the 


ofOrphir.  407 

the  misfortune  is,  that  having  earned  a  little  money,  (for, 
after  a  five  years  refidence,  their  wages  are  augmented), 
they  are  enabled  to  overbid  the  honeft  indufirious  farmer, 
ivh6  is  incumbered  with  a  number  of  fmall  children,  and 
who  perhaps  may  have  fallen  into  9,  temporary  arrear, 
upon  whom  the  unfeeling  landlord  has  no  companion.  But^ 
behold  the  confequence !  in  a  few  years,  from  ignorance 
and  want  of  induflry,  the  emigrant,  in  bis  turn,  is  alfo  re* 
duced  to  poverty,  and  mud  give  way  to  another  of  his  own 
tribe.  By  thefe  means,  moft  of  the  &rms  are  over-rented; 
and  this  fluctuating  ftate  of  things  puts  an  efTe&ual  bar  to  all 
improvement,  and  furely  calls  aloud  for  reformation  from 
every  virtuous  landholder.  There  are  at  prefent,  from  ttus 
parilh  alone,  in  this  infernal  fettlement,  43  of  our  prime 
young  men ;  and  12  more  arc  jud  upon  tlie  eve  of  embark* 
ing  :  This,  added  to  the  number  of  feamen  abroad,  fcarce 
leaves  hands  to  cultivate  the  ground,  and  mnft  foonee  or 
later  depopulate  the  country.  By  thofe  means  there  are 
no  fpare  hands  for  manufadures ;  and  the  fifhery,  which, 
u^%X,  to  the  kelp,  ougtit  to  1>e  the  great  ftaple  of  Orkney 
commerce,  is  entirely  abandoned  ^  and  befides,  the  King's 
fervice  is  deprived  of  many  hardy  feamen ;  for  the  moment 
war  is  proclaimed,  for  fear  of  being  prcfled,  they  ikulk 
away  to  this  diflant  fettlement.  At  the  fame  time  it  muft 
l?e  acknowledged,  for  the  honour  of  the  Hudfon's  Bay  Com- 
pany, that  no  men  ever  aded  with  more  integrity*  or  ful- 
filled their  agreements  more  honeftly,  than  thofe  gentle- 
men have  uniformly  done  ;  and  further,  upon  a  reprefenta^ 
tion  from  the  prefent  incumbent  of  diis  parilh,  they  have 
been  pleafed  to  augment  the  wages  to  L.  lo  ;  by  which 
means  above  L.  1000  Sterling  per  annum  is  added  to  the  in- 
come of  Orkney. 

Jl^ricvitun. 


4o8  Stati/iical  Account 

jtgricuhttre.^-^TiitTt  mrc  emplojed  in  tillage  too  Ork- 
aej  ploughs,  and  two  Higfalsmd  ones.    The  latter  were  xo- 
trodnced  by  Patrick  Hooyman  of  Gnemfay ;  who  alfo  in« 
clofed  hb  farm  with  good  ftone  dikes«    It  is  the  commoa 
Scotch  plough,  with  two  ftilts.    The  former  is  of «  Tcry 
fingular  conftruftioOi  having  only  one  ftOt,  a  (mall  pciintc^ 
fock,  with  a  coulter,  refembling  a  kail  gnlly ;  and  inficad 
of  a  mould-board,  two  fticks  fiUlened  to  the  head  of  the 
plough,  in  a  horizontal  diredion,  which,  inftead  of  levelling 
the  fward,  ferves  only  to  break  it  into  pieces,  leaving  one 
half  of  the  furface  nntnmed  down.    This  plough,  wfaidi  is 
very  light,  is  drawn  by  three  horfes  a-breaft,  with  the  a£- 
fiftanee  of  a  driver,  who  goes  before,  and  puDs  them  on  by 
a  halter,  faftened  to  the  midmoft  horfe;  the  plougbmaa 
carries  in  his  right  hand  a  fmall  ftick,  called  a  pattle,  with 
which  he  clears  the  plough ;  it  alfo  ferves  him  oocafionally 
as  f  fecond  fiilt,  when  he  wants  to  take  more  earth ;  and 
every  now  and  then,  when  the  horfes  are  lazy,  he  dirows 
it  at  them,  to  quicken  their  pace.    The  furrow  made  by 
this  plough  is  feldom  above  three  inches  deep,  and  thrown 
offinaflanting  diredion.    The  harrows,  which  axe  alfo 
finall  and  light,  are  of  an  oblong  form,  and  generally  with 
wooden  teeth,  and  are  drawn  fide  foremoft:  There  is  a 
horfe  and  a  driver  for  each  harrow. 

The  only  crops  raifed  here  are  fmall  black  oats,  fown  in 
April ;  and  bear,  or  big,  fown  in  May.  The  harveft  ge- 
nerally begins  about  the  end  of  Anguft,  and  is  over  about 
the  middle  of  Ofiober.  A  few  potatoes  are  cultivated 
upon  every  farm.  There  is  plenty  of  bog*hay  ;  and,  of 
late,  attempts  have  been  made  to  introduce  olover  and  rye- 
grab  ;  but  nothing  can  be  done  in  this  way,  without  fiiffi- 
oient  indofures. 

The  manure  chiefly  made  ufe  of  is  dung  from  die  cattle, 
piixed  up  with  aihes  and  turf,  and  fometimes  n  little  lea* 


<if  Orpbir.  4t>9 

ware.  Very  good  marl  has  been  difcovered,  bat  little  nfe 
has  been  made  of  it.  There  can  hardlj  be  faid  to  be  any 
rotation  of  crops,  the  fame  fields  having  been  fown,  for 
time  immemorial,  wiih  bear  and  oats  alternately,  and  lel« 
dom  yield  above  3  or  4  of  increafe.  The  grain  of  this  pa^ 
rilh  is  efteemed  to  be  of  a  fuperior  quality,  and  the  be(l 
malt  in  Orkney  is  made  here.  The  bear  raifed  from  fem^ 
ware  is  obferved  to  be  bulky,  and  fmall  bodied^  Peafa 
thrive  very  well  \  but,  except  a  few  for  the  table,  little  at- 
tention is  paid  to  them.  Cabbages  and  garden  roots  grow 
in  great  perfedion  ;  and  perhaps  the  fined  and  largeft  arti- 
chokes in  the  world  are  to  be  found  in  this  country,  in  th« 
common  kail-yards,  fpringing.  up  amongft  the  giafs  with« 
out  any  cultivation. 

^oo^i!f.•— There  are  a  few  currant  or  berry  buQies,  and  a 
few  apple  trees,  trained  up  along  the  garden-walls ;  but  ilo 
foreft  trees  ever  have  been,  or  perhaps  ever  will  be,  raifed 
in  this  country.    The  atmofphere  is  evidently  too  much 
impregnated  with  falt-water  \  for,  in  ftormy  weather,  the 
fea-fpray  flies  over  the  whole  country,  and  frequently  ruins, 
the  crop,  particularly  if  it  happens  in  the  firil  of  Auguft, 
before  the  corn  is  greenful.  There  are  a  few  natural  hazles^ 
mountab-alh^  and  willows,  in  one  of  th«  vallies  of  the  hill 
of  Hoy  %  ^Ti^.  although  thefe,  owing  to  the  winding  of  the 
valley,  and  the  height  of  the  furrounding  hills,  are  remark- 
ably well  flieltered,  yet  they  do  not  exceed  la  or  14  feet 
in  height.    A  great  many  roots  of  fmall  trees,  feemingly 
fiich  as  thefe,  are  alfo  dug  up  in  feveral  peat-moflcsi  but  it 
does  not  appear  that  there  have  ever  been  trees  of  any  fize 
in  thb  country ;  and  this  fad  b  incontrovertibly  eflablilhed 
by  the  Icelandick  hiftorians,  who  relate,  that  Einar,  Earl 
of  Orkney,  about  the  end  of  the  niijth  century^  "  DiQum 
*'  fffe  Jor/Einarcmt  quod<x/cwdi\  et/oco,  lignorum.  loco  ad-; 
Vol.  XIX.  3?  "  *i4#rf 


4i«  StatiJHcal  Account 

**  hiriftek  cefpiits  (i.  e.  Torf^  emm  in  Orcadihu  wmtrm 
^  fylv^r     Ctko  Scandica,  apud  Jobmjomum,  p.  %. 

WiUiam  Hoajman  of 'Grsmby,  the  principal  heritor  of 
this  paril6,  lately  planted  feveral  thouiand  trees  of  differed 
kinds*  but  without  cffed.  The  pre&nt  incumbent  has  ilb 
planted  a  good  many  of  different  forts  and  fizcs,  bot  they  do 
iboner  get  above  the  wall,  than  they  are  immediately  blafi- 
ed.  A  few  a(h  trees  were  lately  cat  down  in  the  Bifliop's 
garden  at  Kirkwall ;  which,  in  the  fpace  of  loo  years,  had 
grown  to  the  height  of  between  30  and  40  feet ;  and  e«ren 
thefc  were  proteAed  by  houfes  of  equal  height.  Indeed, 
Orkney  is  not  Angular  in  this  particular.  We  find  the  iiune 
canfes  produce  the  fame  effcds  in  other  fituations  fimilar  to 
theirs,  o/e.  in  Caithneis,  Buchannels,  and  in  aU  prooumto- 
ries,  where  the  fea-air  predominates. 

Shtip. — In  the  hills  and  daks  of  Orphir,  there  is  bfi- 
cient  palhire  for  3000  or  4000  (beep ;  and  yet  the  wIm^ 
number  does  not  exceed  400,  owing  chiefly  to  the  prefatt 
want  of  police  in  the  country.  For,  previous  to  the  I74t» 
when  the  heritable  jurifdiAions  were  abolifhed,  there  were 
bailies  in  every  parifk,  who  decided  in  fmall  matters  wkk- 
in  their  bounds  ;  and  were  particularly  attentive  to  dieit^ 
gulations  relating  to  the  folding,  (hearing,  and  marking  d 
iheep.  Then  no  one  was  permitted  to  uke  a  flieep  upos 
any  pretence,  without  the  prefence  of  at  leaft  two  fyxSt- 
ble  witneffes,  called  Lawrightmen.  But  of  late,  fince  thefc 
offices  have  been  abolifhed,  every  one  goes  to  the  hill  when 
be  pleafe),  and  either  marks  and  fhears  them  without  aoj 
witneis,  or  difpoies  of  them  as  he  tliinks  proper  ;  by  which 
means  thieves  abound,  and  the  real  proprietors  are  defraud- 
ed \  and  as  thefe  poor  animals  are  neither  boufed  nor  herded, 
many  of  them  perifli  of  cold,  and  many  are  worried  hy 
dogs.    Such  is  our  fituatioa  with  regard  to  this  moU  ufe- 


qf  Orpbin  41 1 

fid  aoimal^  ckieflj  owing  to  the  above  cenfes,  aad  putiy 
to  the  Ul-JQdged  preference  given  t>  tj»e  Itnen-maiin&dore, 
in  »  coontrj^  where  it  can  never  become  a  flaple  comnuK 

Number  of  jicris.^^Thtxe  is  no  map  of  the  parilli ;  hot 
as  the  ploi^gangs  are  much  of  a  fize»  each  containing 
mbout  8  acrea  of  arable  ground  at  an  average,  and  the  paf- 
ture  confiding  of  about  double  that  number }  and  as  3  crofts 
majr  equal  a  ploughgoing,  then  j  17x81=936  acres  of  arablCf 
and  936X2=1872  acres  of  paflure,  and  the  whole  pariih 
being  computed  to  contain  20  fquare  miles,  or  12800  acres, 
then  there  remain  for  moflesy  braiks,  lakes,  and  hiU-pafiuTCf 
5^92  acres.  The  arable  being  to  the  whole  furface  as  z 
to  131 ;  and  both  arable  and  pafiure  as  i  to  4^  ^  and  to  the 
wafte  land  as  1  to  31  nearly* 

LoMgua^e,  and  Names  of  Places^ — ^The  language  fpoken 
here  is  much  the  fame  as  in  the  fouth  of  Scotland,  and  firan^i 
geis  remark,  with  lefs  of  a  provincial  accent.  The  ancient 
names  of  places  are  derived  from  the  Norwegian,  fuch  as 
Tulkibiller,  the  land  of  Tuikermen  -,  Kirbider,  Kirkland ; 
Houton  and  Hobbifter,  Highland  ^  Swambifter,  the  land  of  ' 
Soeno;  Orphir,  the  land  of  Fire;  and  Claidran,  Glofe 
Town,  from  being  the  weftermoft  extremity  of  the  pariih, 
and  like  a  mill  cloufe,  clofing  or  {hutting  up  the  fame.  It 
is  fomething  remarkable,  that  the  wedern  extremity  of  the 
neighbouring  pariih  has  a  fimilar  name,  viss.  Cloudon,  as  if 
the  original  meafurer  of  thefe  paridies,  in  laying  out  their 
diflierent  didrids,  had  proceeded  from  £•  to  W.  from  a  fu-* 
perditions  refpeA  to  the  fun's  courfe.  There  are  many 
other  local  names,  evidently  of  fimilar  origin;  fiich  as, 
Voeoels,  a  headland  dividing  two  fmall  bays ;  Heildibrae, 
^  place  where  bonefires  uled  to  be  kindled,  from  the  Ice- 

landick 


411  StaHJHcal  Aciount 

landick  word  biild^  'fignifying  fire ;  Konger's-know,  t  ta* 
malus  near  the  road  leading  to  the  KingVferry.  But  from 
what  circumflance  the  Mainland  came  to  be  honoiired 
with  the  name  of  Pomona,  is  difficult  now  to  account  for; 
unlets  its  origin  be  afcribed  to  an  opinion  which  prevailed 
Among  the  ancients,  that  Thule  was  a  terreftrial  paradiic, 
reCembling  the  garden  of  the  Hefperides,  Orkney  may 
have  received  its  name  from  the  Saxons,  its  ancient  inha- 
bitants, who  had  emigrated  from  the  Hercynian  foreft, 
i^'hich,  Csefar  tells  us,  Craci  appellant  Orcytnam^  and  of 
which  Saxony  formed  a  part. 

The  ancient  proprietors  of  this  parilh  were  the  Halcros, 
the  Sindairs,  and  the  Stewarts.  The  only  confidereble 
proprietor  at  prefcnt  is  William  Honyman,  ECq;  of  Gram- 
iay,  a  gentleman  pofi*efled  of  the  largefl  property  in  thb 
county,  next  to  Lord  Dundas,  and  lineally  defcended  from 
Andrew  JIonyman»  BiOiop  of  Orkney,  whom  he  has  the 
honour  to  reprefent.  Keith,  in  his  Catalogue  of  the  Bi* 
ihops,  p.  1:36.  tells  us,  that  Andrew  Hooyman,  Archdeacon 
of  St  Andrews,  author  of  the  Seafonable  Cafe  and  Surrej 
of  Naphtali,  fucceeded  Bifhop  Sydferf,  anno  1664,  to  the 
fee  of  Orkney,  in  the  month  of  July  i668.  This  prelate 
received^  on  the  flreet  of  Edinburgh^  by  one  Mitdiell,  who 
had  been  at  the  rifing  into  rebellion  at  Pentland  Hills,  a  (hoc 
in  his  arm,  with  a  poifoned  bullet,  as  he  was  ftepiog  into 
the  Archbilhop  of  St  Andrew's  (Dr  Sharp)  coach,  for 
whom  the  (hot  was  intended.  He  found  his  health  much 
impaired  after  this  difaftcr.  He  died  in  February  1676, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Kirkwall.  He 
was  a  man  of  fingular  piety,  and  great  abilities. 

mit'dite.—Tht  towns  or  diftridls  of  this  parilh  arc  each 

of  them  furrounded  by  one  common  dike  of  feal,  called  the 

Dill-dike ;  the  whole  burden  of  keeping  which  in  repair, 

I  vciy 


^Orphir.  41^ 

ytrj  improperly  ftlls  npon  thofe  whofe  farms  are  contigni-^ 
ous  to  it,  the  reft  giving  themCelves  no  concern  \  by  which 
means  it  is  poorly  kept  up  indeed. 

jRciff. — ^The  valued  rent  is  L.  1631  :  18 :  10}  Scotch  mo- 
ney ;  the  real  rent,  including  the  feu-duties  paid  for  the 
biifaopric,  about  L.  500  Sterling,  befides  L.  150,  at  an  ave. 
rage,  for  kelp.  The  value  per  acre  of  arable  land  may  be 
68.  8d.  and  of  pafiure  is.  8d«  About  100  fathoms  of 
peat  are  fent  from  hence  to  the  towns  of  Kirkwall  and 
Stromnefs  yearly,  valued  at  L.  x,  8  s.  per  fathom  ;  one  half 
of  thefe  is  paid  in  rent  \  the  remainder,  though  pnrchafed 
with  great  labour,  both  of  horfes  and  people,  is  a  fure  fund 
to  the  inhabitai^ts,  as  their  mofles  are  inexhau&ible. 

Weighis  and  Meafuret.  ^T!ht  falfe  weights  and  meafnres 
•f  this  county  have  long  been  a  fource  of  grievance  and 
complaint ;  and  in  no  inftance  is  the  oppreflion  more  gla- 
ring than  in  the  meafure  of  peats  paid  here  by  the  tenant^p 
under  the  denomination  of  a  fathom.  This  was  origi- 
nally a  cube  of  6  feet  (quare,  containing  a  16  folid  feeti 
and  will  it  be  believed  by  the  generous  and  free-born  Eng- 
liOiman,  that,  in  a  feries  of  years,  this  meafure  has  been 
gradually  iocreafed  upon  the  ignorant  and  unfufpeding  iur^ 
habitant,  by  his  inhuman  landlord,  from  a  16  to  xoo8  folid 
feet !  for  the  prefent  fathom  in  this  parifli  meafures  no  leis 
than  ta  feet  fquare  by  7  feet  high. 

The  other  weights  and  meafures  of  this  country,  which 
«re  of  Daniih  origin,  have  been  alfo  increafed  in  the  iame 
proportion,  whether  by  the  landholder,  or  fuperior  of  the 
feu*duties,  or  by  both  in  concert,  is  now  uncertain ;  bat 
"whoever  were  the  tranfadors  of  this  infamons  bufinefs,  if 
the  cries  of  an  opprcfied  people  ever  reach  the  Throne  of 
Mercy,  they  have-by  this  time  received  their  juft  rewanL 


4^4  StatiJHeal  Account 

J^o  Locd  Dandas^  who  is  the  preient  Ai{Krior,  and  who  ii 
jttftlj  efteemed  to  be  one  of  the  bed  gentlemen  in  England, 
no  blame  whatever  can  attach ;  his  familj  purehafed  the 
eftate  long  after  the  date  of  thofe  grievances  ;  and,  fo  far 
from  oieriting  the  flightefi  charge  of  op{Mreffion»  his  Lord- 
fliipt  in  a  year  of  oncofDmon  fcarcitj,  upon  receiving  a  lift 
df  ihoCe  grievances,  readily  offered  to  accept  of  the  lowcft 
converfion  the  proprietors  would  name,  provided  the  iame 
bene&t  were  cooimanicated  to  their  fabtenants :  And,  fj 
be  on  the  man  who  rejeAed  th^  equitable  and  humane 
fordpofal.- 

On  the  Orkney  weight,  called  the  punlar,  14  merks 
snake  1  fetting  =:  3a  lb.  Dutch,  and  6  fettings  make 
I  miel=:iii  fione  diito*  This  inflrument  is  upon  the  fame 
principle. as  the  Roman  fieelyard,  but  may  be  very  eafily 
fiihiiiedi  for,  by  making  the  fmalleft  alteration  on  the 
Ihortarm,  to  which  the  weight  is  appended,  the  receipt 
ma^y  be  confiderably  inci  eafed  or  diminiibed ;  and  either 
Ihe  payer  or  receiver  greatly  injured.  A  miftaken  notion, 
however,  prevails  in  this  country  :  That*  fuppofing  this  in- 
flrument to  be  corrediy.adjulled,  and  that  the  weigher  were 
an  honeii  perfon,  yet  ftill  this  mode  of  payment  is  in  favour 
of  the  receiver.  But  the  cafe  is  quite  the  reverfe ;  for  after 
an  exad  I'urvey  ot  ihe  punlar,  upon  mechan  cal  principles,  it 
will  be  found,  that  for  every  iione  weight  above  two,  the 
receiver  fuftaios  a  lois  of  a|.  lb.  Dutch.  To  make  this  uo- 
derftood,  it  will  be  necelTary  to  explain,  that  the  punlar  is  a 
lever  of  6  feet  long'^divided,  by  notches,  into  la  equal  pa:rts, 
of  6  inches  each,  one  of  which  conditutes  the  fhort  arm, 
from  the  extreme  end  of  which  pioje6b  a  plug  of  iron,  of  a 
little  more  than  an  inch  long,  and  at  the  end  thereof  b  io- 
ierted  a  pivot,  round  which  a  hook  moves,  for  holding  up 
the  weight.  The  balance,  upon  the  oppofite  arm,  .is  a  iione 
^33  lb.  Dutchy  appctnding  from  a  moveable  ringi  which 

Aides 


$fOrpbtr.  4ig 

Sides  from  notch  to  notch  as  the  weigher  choofes.  Now,  it 
18  rrident,  that  this  addttioa  to  the  ihort  arm  muft  dimi- 
sifli  the  weight ;  and,  that  in  adjulling  the  lever,  the  mca- 
fure  of  the  ihort  arm  ought  to  be  taken  from  the  pivot  of 
the  hook  to  the  pivot  of  the  center  of  motion,  and  not  from 
the  end  of  the  beam,  as  is  the  prafKce,  which  makes  a  6tfa 
part  of  diflference.  For,  if  jou  fuppofe  this  arm  of  the  fe- 
ver, which  is  precifelj  the  cafe,  by  the  one  meafuremeot 
to  be  7  inches,  and  by  the  other  only  6 ;  or,  dividing  the 
fame,  in  the  one  cafe,  into  28  parts,  or  quarters  of  inches, 
and  in  the  other  into  24  of  thefe  quarters ;  then,  according 
to  the  mechanical  principles  of  the  lever,  the  weights  will 
be  inverfely  as  their  diflances,  and  24  merks  at  the  hook 
"Will  Balance  28  upon  the  oppofite  arm,  and  there  will  be  a 
lois  to  the  receiver  of  4  merks  upon  evefy  fetting,  or  repe- 
tition of  the  firft  error,  occationed  by  not  making  the  mea- 
fure  from  notch  to  notch  on  the  long  arm  of  the  lever  of 
the  proper  length,  viz,  from  the  centre  of  the  pivot  of  the 
hook  to  the  centre  of  the  pivot  of  the  point  of  motion  i  •f 
courfe,  the  lofs  to  the  receiver,  upon  the  miel,  will  be  20 
merks ;  upon  the  9  fet tings,  32  merks ;  and  upon  the  19 
fettings,  44  ;  being  nearly  the  7th  part  of  the  whole  re- 
ceipt. 

To  cure  this  original  defefi,  a  very  Inadequate  remedy 
has  been  apphed,  viz.  the  perfon  weighing  adds  ^  fetting 
more  to  the  weight,  by  Aiding  forward  the  ring  to  which 
the  balance  is  appended  half  way  to  the  next  notcii ;  for  it 
muft  be  obferved,  that  every  notch  forms  a  fetting.  Of 
old,  they  have  probably  had  fome  ftandard  weight  equal  to 
the  miel ;  and,  finding  the  punlar  miel  to  fall  ihort  of  it,  or 
perhaps  not  to  correfpond  with  its  cunil  cu  ^t  paits  upon  the 
bifmar,  anot\er  Danifh  weight,  weighing  one  letting,  and 
upon  nearly  the  fame  principles,  they  r^ave  thought  to  rec- 
'  tiQr  the  miflake  m  this  imperfeA  manneri  not  having  been 

able 


4x6  iftatiJUcal  Acctmnt 

able  to  difcovcr  the  origiaal  error.  And  this  has  alfo  beea 
the  reafon  why,  when  the  weight  exceeded  6  or  8  iettingSy 
they  have  given  6  merks  of  caft,  or  forefeeling,  to  make 
up  the  increafing  dcficiencj.  This  unfortunate  miAake  £ar 
the  buyer  and  receiver  may  be  completely  re&ified,  in  the 
manner  above  mentioned,  by  taking  the  meafnre  from  pi- 
vot to  pivot,  and  not  from  the  end  of  the  beam,  and  then 
every  fetting  will  fall  upon  its  proper  notoh,  without  gmng 
beyond  it,  and  there  will  be  no  caft  of  the  beam,  or  fore- 
feeling,  as  it  is  called,  necefiaty,  which  is  the  fouroe  of  great 
fraud, 

Cbttrebf  Stipend^  Poor^  CJi:.— ^The  church,  which  waa  re* 
paired  40  years  ago,  was  built  in  the  year  1707,  and  the 
manfe  in  1789.  The  ftipend,  including  the  glebe,  may  be 
about  L.  80  a-year.  The  patron  is  Lord  Dundas.  The 
prefent  incumbent  was  fettled  in  1776,  and  is  as  yet  un- 
married. 

There  is  a  parochial  fchool,  where  from  30  to  40  bop 
and  girls  are  taught  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic.  The 
encouragement  given  to  the  matter  is  extremely  (baall ;  s 
folitary  houfe,  without  fo  much  as  a  kail>yard ;  100  merlins 
of  falary,  and  no  emoluments  whatever;  although  it  is  to 
be  hoped  the  heritors  will  redrels  this  grievance,  and  ap- 
point fchooKwages  to  be  paid.  A  Society  (chool  is  mnch 
wanted  here  ;  and  until  fuch  can  be  obtained,  the  inhad>I- 
tants,  poor  as  they  are,  make  a  ibift  to  employ  private 
teachers  occafiooally  at  their  own  expence. 

The  condition  of  the  poor  is  truly  lamentable.  The 
number  upon  the  roll  fometimes  exceeds  20 ;  and  the  an- 
nual amount  of  contributions  for  their  fupport  is  only  L.4 
at  an  average.  Would  the  non-reiiding  heritors,  who  are 
in  affluent  circumilances,  contribute  fomething  for  thiir  re* 

m 


ofOrphir.  ,  417 

lief,  which  hitherto  tfaej  have  not  donei  it  would  redound 
much  to  their  honour. 

Anitquities^-^lvk  the  church-yard  are  the  remains  of  an 
ancient  building,  called  the  Girth-houfe,  to  which  great  an- 
tiquitjis  afcribed.  It  is  a  rotnndo  of  18  feet  in  diameter, 
and  20  feet  high ;  open  at  top ;  and  on  the  eaft  fide  is  a 
vauked  concavity,  where  probably  the  altar  ftood,-  with  a 
flit  in  the  wall  to  admit  the  light ;  two-thirds  of  it  have 
been  taken  down  to  repair  the  pariih  church.  The  walls 
are  thick,  and  confift  of  ftones,  ftrongly  cemented  with 
lime.  From  its  refemblance  to  the  Pantheon,  fome  have 
afcribed  this  building  to  the  Romans ;  but,  in  all  probabi* 
lity,  it  has  been  a  Popidi  chapel,  dedicated  by  the  piety  of 
its  founder  to  fome  favourite  faint. 

In  the  diftriA  of  Swambifler,  or  Suenobifter,  are  the 
mins  of  an  ancient  tower,  of  a  circular  form,  and  about  x8o 
feet  in  circumference  ;  and  once,  probably,  the  refidence  of 
Sneno  Boerifa-op,  who  was  killed  by  the  famous  Sueno 
Aftertfae,  during  a  Chrifimas  entertainment  in  thu  parifli, 
at  the  houfe  of  Paul,  one  of  the  Norwegian  Counts  of  Ork- 
ney ;  of  which  a  very  particular  account  is  given  by  the 
Icelandick  hiftorian  of  Saga  Orcadenfis. 

In  the  diftrid  of  Tuikibifter,  at  a  place  called  Obah,  re- 
fided  feveral  of  the  ancient  Counts  of  Orkney  ;  particularly 
Harold,  who  was  poifoned  by  fats  aunt  Fraukark,  and  the 
aforementioned  Paul,  who  was  put  to  death  by  his  own  fif- 
ter,  the  firft  Counteisof  Athol.  The  fituation  is  fo  circumflan- 
tially  defcribed  by  the  Icelandick  hiftorian,  as  not  to  admit 
of  a  doubt  -,  ahhough,  except  an  ancient  chapel  and  burying- 
ground,  alluded  to  by  the  hiftorian,  fcarce  a  veftige  of  the 
ruin  remains.  Romifh  chapels  are  to  be  met  with  in  every 
diftrid  of  the  parifb  ;  alfo  a  great  many  barrows  or  tumuli  \ 
bat  none  of  them  have  been  opened. 

Vol.*  XIX.  3  G  Commtrce. 


41 S  StaiiJHcal  Auount 

Ccmm€rci.-^^The  prbcipal  article  of  commerce  is  kelp, 
which  at  prefent  fells  as  high  as  L.  lo  per  too.  The  oalj 
other  articles  worth  .mentioning  are,  malt,  black  cattle, 
greafe,  butter,  and  linen-jaini ;  for  which  fo  poor  a  price 
is  given  by  the  dealers  in  that  commodity,  that  the  moft  ex- 
pert fpinner  can  hardlj  earn  a  d.  a-day. 

No  country  in  North  Britain  is  better  fituated  for  trsde 
than  thb,  and  yet  nowhere  has  it  been  more  oegleded. 
This  is  chiefly  owing  to  a  low  fpirit  for  fmuggHng,  which 
has  been  the  bane  of  Orkney  for  half  a  century  pafi;  and, 
befides  perjury,  been  the  introduAioo,  of  almofl  every  fp^ 
cies  of  meannels  and  of  vice  which  can  degrade  the  human 
cbaraAer.  The  writer  of  the  prelent  report,  urbcn  a  very 
young  man,  infpired  with  the  love  of  his  country,  and  fired 
with  indignation  at  this  unhallowed  trade,  in  which,  as  in 
a  vortex,  truth,  honour,  integrity,  and  every  virtue,  was 
fwallowed  up,  refolved,  with  the  fpirit  of  an  ancient  Ro- 
man, to  attack  the  hideous  monfler }  and  accordingly^  de- 
fpifing  the  mifapplied  appellation  of  Informer,  in  fo  glo- 
rious as  well  as  hazardous  an  attempt,  gave  in  to  the  cd- 
It&oT  of  the  cuAoms,  on  the  public  tibreet,  an  accuHitioa 
againft  a  noted  (muggier,  had  hb  veflel  ieized,  condemocd, 
and  burnt ;  demanded  and  received  the  informer's  ihare,  as 
an  inducement  to  others  to  follow  the  example,  and  imme- 
diately beftowed  the  (ame  in  ereding  a  charity  fchool  ia 
the  pariih,  whereby  they  have  been  fince  greatly  benefited. 
Although  it  mud  be  confefled,  that,  in  thisbufinefs^  he  was 
privately  fupported  by  fome  of  the  firft  gentlemen  in  Ork- 
ney ;  whofe  reprefentatives,  'much  to  their  honour,  and  fcr 
the  good  of  their  country,  have  fince  completed  the  bofi- 
ne&i  and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  lefs  from  political  motives,  thin 
from  moral  and  patriotic  principles. 


ofOrpbtr.  419 

Advantages  and  DifadvantageSi^^Tht  advantages  df  this 
pariih  are,  fire,  water,  and  fine  women ;  notwithilanding 
which,  moft  of  the  heritors  refide  at  a  diftance,  and  leave 
their  tenants  to  the  mercy  of  faflors,  and  under  agents,  who, 
hefides  the  fervices  payable  to  their  mafiers,  require  many 
others,  onder  the  denomiifation  of  Favours,  which,  like 
Harry  VIII.'s  Benevolences,  they  dare  not  refufe.  But  it 
is  to  be  hoped,  that  Mr  Honyman  of  Graemfayy  whofe 
mind  is  enlightened  by  fouthero  ideas,  will  redreis  thofe 
grievances,  will  aboliih  perfonal  fervices,  will  grant  long 
leafes  to  his  tenants,  and  encourage  them  to  improve  their 
farms ;  whereby  he  will  render  his  people  happy,  his^  fami- 
ly refpeded,  and  gain  to  himfelf  immortal  honour ;  whilft 
his  conduft,  at  the  fame  time,  will  be  an  example  to  others, 
which  they  will  be  proud  to  imitate. 


NUM. 


4^0  Statijlical  Account 

NUMBER   XIX. 
PARISH    OF   KILMANY, 

(CoUHTT  AND  StvOB  OF  FlFJE,  PrESBTT£RT  OF  CuTAR), 

By  the  Rev.  Afr  John  Cook,  Minifier. 


np^HE  parifli  of  Kilmany  has  the  fame  name,  with  that 
''-     by  which  the  moft  confiderable  village  it  poflefles  b 
diftinguiihed.    From  a  fmall  burying-ground  *  which  far- 
rounds  the  churchi  the  name  has  probably  been  derived. 

This  village,  which  the  name,  the  number  of  people  it 
contsdnsy  and  the  vicinity  of  the  church,  diftinguifh  abore 
every  other  in  the  parifli,  is  about  5  miles  diftant  from 

Copar, 

*  Kilmftoy  is,  according  to  common  opinion,  of  Celtic  orifin.  If  onlf 
tiiat  part  of  the  word  which  iignifies  a  burying-ground  be  Celtic,  it  will  nst 
be  a  fingolar  inftance  of  fuch  compofitioo  in  our  mixed  language.  T^ 
other  Tillages  in  the  parifli  hav^,  in  geaend,  either  avnesdefcriptive  of  the: 
£cuationi  or  thofe  of  former  poflefibrs. 


ofKilmany.  421 

Cupar,  the  countj  town,  and  the  feat  of  the  prelbyter j.  It 
is  fcattered  along  the  (hallow  and  narrow  water  of  Mo- 
traj  •,  which  unites,  in  the  weftcrn  extremity  of  the  parifli, 
two  fmall  ftreams,  iffuing  from  different  fides  of  Norman's 
Law,  and  which,  after  a  ihort  and  gentle  courfe,  falls  into 
the  river  Eden,  not  far  from  the  bay  of  -St  Andrew's. 
A  little  attention  to  the  pleaiing  irregularities  in  the  ground 
on  which  Kilmany  is  iituatedi  and  through  which  the  rivu- 
let flows,  might  have  made  it  a  beautiful  pi&ure  of  rural 
fcenery.  But  how  feldom  has  fuch  attention  either  chofen 
the  fituations,  or  arranged  the  forms,  of  the  largeil  towns ! 
Accident,  or  the  idea  of  conveniency,  which  can  feldom  be 
hurt  by  a  regard  to  beauty,  is  allowed  to  have  in  thefe  mat- 
ters too  powerful  an  influence  \  and  in  the  poiition  of  the 
ftraggling  huts  of  this  village,  as  in  that  of  many  other 
places^  we  have  to  lament  the  careleffheis  which  can  build 
in  a  beautiful  place  of  refidence,  and  yet  negleA  to  take 
advantage  qf  the  aids  which  the  fcenery  at  once  furnifhes 
and  fuggefts,  to  decorate  the  dwellings  of  men,  and  from 
thefe  thus  decorated,  to  derive  ornaments  in  addition  to  its 
own. 

The  church  f  (lands  on  a  beautiful  bank,  ri(ing  gradually 
from  the  ftream,  which  flows  paft  it  on  the  S. ;  is  (kirted  on 
the  W.  by  fome  tall  a(hes ;  and  fronts  the  hill  of  Forrit, 
once  covered  with  (irs,  but  now  flript  of  the  whole.  No 
little  clump  has  been  left  upon  any  of  its  brows  \  not  even 

a 

•  The  water  could  not  float  anj  kind  of  velTel  for  tranfporting  com. 

f  So  late  as  the  year  1768,  the  church  was  renewed.  Tlic  building  is 
iimple  and  neat :  but  unfortunately,  the  long  narrow  form  in  \^  hich  alraoft 
all  the  old  churches  in  this  part  of  the  country  are  conftrucled,  has  been  too 
much  retained.  It  feems  ftrange,  that  there  fhould  have  been  fo  prevalent 
a  partiality  to  a  form  of  building,  of  all  othcn  lead  fitted  for  public 
ineaking. 


422  Stattjlical  Account 

a  folltarj  tree  to  (how  of  what  it  could  have  boafted  fof* 
merly,  in  a  countrj  very  deftitutc  of  fuch  riches. 

Extent  of  the  Parijb, — ^Thc  grounds  of  the  parifli  firetd 
from  W.  to  £.  about  6  Englifh  miles,  chiefly  in  that  fer- 
tile trad  of  country,  which  runs  almoft  without  interrup- 
tion, from  the  barren  plain  betwixt  the  mouths  of  the 
Eden  and  the  Tay,  to  the  town  of  Newburgh  and  Loch 
LindOres.  Where  the  valley  is  confined,  the  parifli  is 
fcarcely  a  mile  in  breadth ;  but  to  the  W.  beyond  the  vil- 
lage  of  RathiUet,  it  widens  with  the  valley,  rifes  on  each 
hand  over  the  adjacent  heights,  and  gains  an  extent  of  about 
four  miles.  The  greateft  part  of  the  parifli,  however,  is 
contained  between  one  continued  branch  of  the  Ochil  Aocn- 
tains,  and  fome  hills,  of  diflerent  fizes,  and  of  various  forms, 
which  are  fcattered  to  the  S. 

Kilmany  is  diflant  from  the  river  Tay,  and  from  the 
port  of  Balmerino,  about  3  Englifli  miles ;  but  is  feparated 
from  them  by  the  branch  of  the  Ochil  Hills  which  ftretches 
along  the  N.  of  Fife,  and  gradually  diminiflies  in  fize,  till 
it  flioots  down  into  the  river  near  Scot's-craig. 

Wood  and  Scenery. -^^Thn  range  of  hilly  ground,  which 
diverfifies  in  the  mod  ftriking  manner  the  fouthem  fltore 
of  the  Tay,  which  in  fome  places  fwells  in  AiU  unbrokea 
mafles,  with  variegated  colouring,  in  others,  raifes  fad> 
dcnly  upwards  rugged  fragments  of  uncovered  rock,  might, 
were  the  hand  of  improvement  to  perform  its  office,  make 
this  part  of  Fife  a  fcene  of  the  mod  luxuriant  beautj. 
There  are  brows  on  thefe  hills  which  the  plough  cannot 
reach,  or  where  its  labour  would  not  be  rewarded ;  which 
equally  by  their  fituation  and  their  foil  are  fitted  to  rear 
timber.  This  is  fo  obvioufly  the  only  ufe  to  which  they 
can  be  put,  that  tlie  traveller  who  takes  time  to  look  around 

hixDi 


ofKilmany.  423 

him,  mu&  bment  the  nakedneis  they  difplay.  He  will  la- 
ment it  the  more  in  a  (bene,  where  the  hand  of  nature,  and 
the  toils  of  the  hulbandman,  have  done  fo  much  to  admini- 
fter  to  his  delight  \  where  the  contrafi  of  broken  rocks  and 
fwelling  hillsy  with  plains  in  the  richeft  cultivation ;  and 
where  the  cultivation,  breaking  with  irregular  fieps  the 
bleakneis  of  the  hills,  fometimes  left  at  their  bafe,  fome- 
times  climbing  on  ttieir  fides,  concur  to  form  an  exquifitelj 
varied  landfcape.  How  much  would  it  add  to  the  fcene, 
ivere  the  rich  com  fields  to  rife  into  the  bofom  of  woods 
flretching  with  various  length  down  towards  the  plains 
-were  fome  of  the  bared  fummits  to  efcape  above  their 
verdure ;  and  were  the  beautiful  waters  of  the  Taj  feen 
through  openings  made  thus  pi&urefque  ? 

Neither  would  fuch  exertions  in  improving  the  country 
be  unprofitable ;  nor  is  the  idea  of  making  them  vifibnary. 
Independently  of  the  value  of  the  wood,  (and  it  is  well 
known  how  foon  it  does  become  valuable),  it  tends,  by. 
affording  a  warm  fheltcr,  to  meliorate  the  adjacent  land  in 
a  fiate  of  tillage.  From  every  appearance  it  is  alfo  pro- 
bable that  the  foil,  which  cannot  be  ploughed,  might  bear 
a  rich  covering  of  wood.  From  experience,  indeed,  little 
can  be  faid,  for  the  parifii  can  boaft  of  few  attempts  to  plant 
trees  \  but  where  fagacity  and  tafte  have  made  the  attempt, 
and  continued  the  fmall  attention  neceflary  for  fuccefs,  they 
have  been  in  general  rewarded  witli  a  confide  rable  recompenfe 
for  the  labour,  and  a  rich  addition  to  the  beauty  of  the  fur- 
rounding  fcene.  Tlie  hill  of  Forrit,  in  the  pariih  of  Logie, 
was,  till  fome  years  ago,  covered  with  firs  $  ax  acres  on  the 
efiatc  of  Lochmalony,  bear  them  in  great  perfe£Uon,  and 
we  may  fee  them  fcaling  fome  of  the  fteepeft  hills  in  the 
neighbourhood  *•    In  as  far,  indeed,  as  the  beauty  of  the 

country 

*  It  is  but  joft  to  obferve,  that  the  fpirit  of  nifing  wood  &ems  now  to 

awaken :  (mnl  planutlons  have  been  of  late  made,  and  are  ftiU  makiog 

in 


424  Statijlical  Accwnt 

country  is  concerned,  it  would  be  rather  defirable  that  in 
fome  rpots  thcj  fhould  fail  entirely.  The  irregularity  thus 
produced,  the  wandering  inartificial  line  in  which  the  foli- 
age would  then  appear,  would  give  an  eafe  to  the  Icenery, 
which  the  formal  fquares  and  circles,  ufed  with  fuch  partia- 
lity by  cuftom  to  bound  plantations,  effednally  dellroy. 

Even  were  the  trees  not  to  rife  to  a  great  height,  the 
proprietor,'though  he  could  not  be  otherwife  enriched  by 
them,  would  be  indebted  to  the  Ihelter  they  ^otAcdi  to  his 
arable  lands ;  and  the  country  would  wear  almoQ  as  rich  an 
afped,  with  its  hills  thus  covered,  as  if  they  were  crowned 
with  lofty  wood.  On  a  rugged  country  thb  is  peculiarly 
beautiful.  A  little  diftance  alwaya  gives  a  fine  efieft,  even 
to  the  poored  plantations ;  the  (hortnefs  of  the  wood  the 
eye  cannot  then  accurately  meafure ;  while,  at  the  fame 
time,  the  foliage  feems  deep,  and  the  boldnefs  of  the 
ground  towers  above  its  ibade. 

^«//^«i>i>i.— No  ruins  of  any  abbey  or  chapel,  not  even 
the  fragments  of  any  remarkable  building,  give  folemniry 
to  the  fcenery  of  the  parifb.  A  few  pretty  large  fiones, 
funk  in  the  top  of  one  of  its  hills,  have  excited  curiofity  ; 
and  the  genius  of  antiquarianifm,  unaided  by  the  Informa- 
tion which  the  country  can  afford,  would  probably  find  in 
them  the  remnant  of  fome  c«mp  or  calUe.  The  leis  iplen- 
did,  but  the  more  juft  account  of  the  inhabitants,  makes 
them  part  of  fome  common  decayed  fence. 

Scarcely  a  mile  to  the  N.  of  Kilmauy,  there  is  a  romantic 
rocky  den,  cut  deep  in  the  face  of  the  mountain.  It  has 
probably  been  gradually  worn  down  by  the  fucoeffive  tor- 
rents, which  the  heavy  rains  in  winter  throw   from    the 

higher 

in  tr^  pviAi.  £.nd  its  r^^ighboarhocwl;  and  if  t^c  ciemac?  ire  \igoroutIj 
c«>niiTiued,  in  to  ;  can  the  Tacc  of  tUs  port  91  the  c&untiy  «  ul  b<  cosvlctelj 
dunked. 


tfKilmanjf.  41^ 

higher  gtonnd,  dafliing  amongft  its  rocks.  The  name  it 
has  received  in  the  country  is,  Goale*s  Den.  fij  thofe  who 
live  near  it,  no  explanation  of  the  name  is  given*  The 
manner  in  which  it  is  written  hete  would  lead  anj  one,  ac- 
quainted with  the  Arabian  Nights  Entertainments,  to  ima- 
gine, that  fnperllttious  terrors  had  peopled  it^with  the  de^^ 
ftrojing  demons  mentioned  in  one  of  thefe  flories.  The 
h&  is,  that  difmal  reports,  of  what  had  been  feen  and  heard 
there,  were  in  other  dajs  circulated ;  reports  which  have  had 
often  lela  to  gain  them  credit,  than  the  difmal  gloom  which 
the  (hades  of  night  muft  draw  over  that  rugged  nnfre^uent* 
td  fcene* 

Number  of  Acreu  ^uii  itaiure  of  the  ^01/.*— The  irregular 
extent  of  the  lands  in  the  parifh,  already  mentioned,  in* 
eludes,  (befides  a  glebe  of  9),  3963  Scotch  acres.  Of  thefe^ 
the  foil  di^rs  according^to  their  local  fituation.  In  ibme 
of  the  acres,  which  are  fartheft  fouth,  the  foil  is  a  ftrong 
dajr ;  in  thofe  forming  the  flat  banks  of  the  Motray,  which 
runs  through  the  whole  length  of  the  parifh,  the  foil  is  a 
rich  black  loam,  continued  beneath  the  furface,  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  plough  \  in  thofe  which  are  extended  on  the 
gentle  acclivities,  it  is  loam,  with  a  gravelly  and  fometimes 
a  rocky  bottom  ;  and  in  the  reft,  the  ground  is  cold  moor^ 
on  fome  fpots  covered  with  furze  *• 

Agrieubure^'^K  very  great  proportion  of  the  lands  in 

the  parifh  is  in  a  (late  of  high  cultivation.— Of  3963  acres* 

3216  are  arable,  the  moft  of  which  commonly  produce  good 

crops.    In  raifing  thele  crops,  there  is  no  particular  rotation 

Vol.  XIX.  3  H  uniformly 

•  T1»re  is  alfo  in  the  eafietn  cohief  of  the  ptriih  t  piece  of  light  ftndjr 
ibiU  which  curiei  broom  to  the  height  of  6  or  S  ieet ;  a  prodnce  of  vcrr 
gfcat  betnty,  and  of  ibme  ntilitf  as  fuel,  but  which  takes  fuA  poflii&on  of 
«He  gronnd»  that  to  extiiptte  it  a  a  vcrr  difficnk  talk. 


4^6  StoH/lical  Account 

tmiformlj  ob&nred  tbroaghoat  the  parifh ;  hat  the  oae  mxA 
approved,  is  that  which  the  iDgeDioos  Lord  Karnes  has  re- 
oommended.  The  arabk  land  is  laboured  by  55  plooj^ 
drawn  each  by  two  horfes,  which  are  driven  hj  the  ploogh- 
man.  Though  the  ufe  of  cattle  in  tilling  the  groond,  and 
even  in  dragging  carriages,  be  entirely  es^oded  here,  it 
anay  be  coBiputed  that  159  are  raifed  annually  within  die 
pariAi  and  fold  when  from  betwixt  3  to  4  years  okL  There 
are  no  more  horfes  bred  than  what  are  neceflary  ioz  the 
purpofes  of  hufliandry,  and  for  preventing  the  places  of  thofe 
which  fail  from  being  Itupplted  out  of  the  public  markecs*. 
Of  the  land  which  at  prefent  lies  wade,  a  confiderahk 
extent  may  be  brought  into  a-  ftate  of  cultivation.  Tbe 
meadows,  in  particular,  on  the  banks  of  the  Motraj,  and 
which  the  water  often  overflows,  might  be  made  the  nioft 
produdive  ground  in  the  parilh.  A&ivity  has  alreadj 
converted  a  part  of  thefe  into  the  mod  luxuriant  com-ScIds^ 
but  to  the  improvement  of  the  whole  an  obftacle  is  oppo- 
fed,  which  perhaps  may  not  fpeedily  be  removed.  Tbe 
water  of  Motray  turns  four  mills  in  its  courCe  throa^  the 
parilh.  The  accumulation  of  water  which  hence  niu&  be 
made  at  each,  renders  it  impofCUe  to  drain  the  meadows  fo 
thoroughly  as  otherwife  might  be  done  ;  and  the  proptic- 
tors  of  thefe  mills  have  not  as  yet  been  dil]^Ced  to  give  op 
for  any  equivalent  the  privilege  they  pofiels.  This  privi- 
lege was  undoubtedly  acquired,  when  ignorance  of  agricol- 
ture  fuppofed  thefe  meadows  to  be  ufelels  \  but  notwicb- 
fianding  this  ignorance  of  the  nature  of  the  compaft,  it  was 
&irly  acquired,  and  the  enjoyment  of  it  has  now  become  s 
right.  Though  it  would  be  abfiird  to  think  that  it  migfat 
be  facri£k:ed  to  benevolence,  ;t  would  not  be  annatorsl  to 
cxped,  that  for  a  proper  equivaknt  it  would  be  yielded  to 
promote  the  public  good*     But  the  proprietors  of  thtfe 

milh 
•  Tbe  puiih  ftedi  aUb  two  flocki  of  0ieq^»  wuwataog  tamntar  t» 
«bone  24Pi  moft^  of  tiw  EDgliOi  breed. 


x>fKilmany.  ^2f 

mOIs  haye  a  much  weightier  reafon,  in  the  efiimation  of  the 
world,  to  induce  them  to  make  fuch  a  concef&on.  Their 
own  intereft,  independent] j  of  all  equivalent  given  them, 
would  be  thus  advanced,  for  the  removal  of  the  mills* 
would  make  way  for  the  improvement  both  of  the  mea- 
dows of  their  neighbours,  and  of  thofe  which  belong  to 
themfelves.  Till  this  change  take  place,  the  rich  meadows 
will  be  overflowed  with  water,  and  the  country  denied  the 
corn  which  in  great  abundance  they  would  produce  f. 

JVood^ — Of  all  the  ground  which  might  be  planted  with 
wood,  only  about  74  acres  bear  trees  grown  to  a  vifible 
fize.  Except  a  few  afhes,  which  clufter  in  the  villages,  or 
run  out  in  hedge-rows ;  and  fooie  trees  of  different  kinds, 
which  are  fcattered  round  the  family-feats,  on  the  grounds 
of  Rathillet,  Lochmalony,  and  Mountwhannie,  the  planta- 
tions have,  chequered  with  two  or  three  draggling  birches, 

the 

*  Tbcic  four  mills,  one  of  whicb  is  afed  for  dreffing  flax,  are  all  that  re- 
main in  the  parilh  of  a  much  greater  number.  The  fmaU  decreafe  in  the 
confitxDption  of  oats,  peafe,  and  barley,  (they  were  corn-mills),  am  hardly 
be  coafidercd  a  reafon  of  this  diminution.  A  better  will  be  (bund  in  tb« 
fapcrior  fise  and  mechanifm  of  thofe  that  reaMun.  Thirlage,  a  fpeciet  of 
monopoly,  which,  like  all  others  that  are  privileged,  arofe  from  a  fear,  tluc 
can  emift  only  in  the  infiincy  of  the  am,  impofes  here  no  heavier  bm-den  on 
iht  &rmer,  than  to  make  him  grind  the  corn  ul'cd  in  his  family  at  the 
coinil  mill. 

t  Inefttmatin^the  improremc^ts in  agricoltore,  which  have  been siade 
within  the  pariih,  it  will  not  be  fafe  to  follow  as  a  guide  the  increafe  of 
caltivated  Und.  This  increafe  has  by  no  means  correfponded  to  the  fupe- 
Her  ordet  tntb  which  greater  Ikill  in  husbandry  has  brought  fields  which 
laiTe  Wea  lottg  under  the  plough ;  and  unleft  the  quantity  of  grain  now 
niied  cotild  be  compared  with  what  was  raifed  formerly,  a  comparifon 
which  cannot  be  made,  it  will,  not  be  known  what  have  been  the  imprave- 
ments  in  agriculture,  nor  what  praife  the  fArmeis  deferve.  The  amazing 
rife  of  rents  may  be  fomc  rule  oT  juJgmg. 


the  deep  gloom  of  the  Scotch,  or  the  gayer  verdnre  (^thc 
}arch-fir.  The  fmall  proportion  of  wooded  ^ound,  in  com- 
parifon  of  what  may  be  wooded,  has  been  in  part  remoyed 
|>7  confiderable  plantations  lately  made  on  the  eftatcs  of 
Lochmalony,  Monntwhannie,  and  Myre  Cairnie ;  and  it  b 
%o  be  hoped,  that  s^few  years  will  fill  the  melancholy  blank, 
which  the  eye,  in  wan^^ng  oyer  this  parifli  *,  finds  opoa 
Its  mountains. 

7ithes. — The  tithes  of  the  parlfli,  with  tL  •  right  of  pre- 
(Spntation  to  the  living,  were  given  to  the  College  of  St  Sal- 
yator,  in  the  IJni verfity  of  St  Andrews,  by  Bi(hop  Keooedj, 
the  foun(ler  of  that  college*  They  were  intended  to  be  t 
valuable  donation  ;  and  would  hive  be^  fo  in  a  high  de- 
gree, from  a  parifli  in  fuch  a  ftate  of  cultivation,  had  tbej 
been  allowed  to  keep  pace  with  the  progreis  of  mgricoltorc 
and  the  pripe  of  corn.  This  was  not  allowed ;  and  thej 
have  now  (hnink  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  real  ren\.  The 
Principal  and  Profeflbrs  of  the  United  College,  fince  the 
union  of  St  Sal  vator's  and  St  Leonard's,  have  received  theffii 
i^id  are  titulars  of  the  tithes,  and  patrons  of  the  pariib. 

Fuilf  ^^^--rla  the  ordinary  articles  confumed  for  tk 
fupport,  or  for  the  comfort  of  life,  the  inhabitants  of  this 
parifh  may  be  abundantly  fupplied.  But  the  fupply  cannot 
l^  procured  at  low  prices.  Cpal^,  in  particuls^,  rmnft  both 
be  purchafed  at  a  high  rate,  and  brought  into  the  pariih  bj 
tedious  or  difficult  roads.  In  the  county  of  Fife,  no  ootl 
pits  have  as  yet  been  opened  to  the  north  of  the  river  Eden*, 
hence  no  coals  of  any  kind  can  be  brought  hither  over  land 
by  a  ihoVter  road  than  fix  miles,  and  none  good  by  one  kSs 
than  i6 !  and  it  is  no  eafy  n^atter  to  convey  tbem  from  the 

T.7. 

*  Eleven  proprietors  pofle6  at  prefent,  in  different  proportiotii»  the  landtof 
|iie  pariih.  For  planting  ^  larch  is  in  a  fpecial  manoer  lecomiseaded  to 
f|)eir  attention. 


ofKilmany.  429 

Taj,  by  the  nigged  road  which  croires  the  fleep  hilb  fefM* 
rating  Balmcrino  from  Kilmaoy*.  From  the  ▼ictnitj  of 
the  pariih  to  the  towns  of  Cupar  and  Dundee,  it  feela  the- 
price  of  focb  provifioos  as  the  country  produces  in  abun« 
dance,  aflSeded  by  the  conftant  demand  of  theie  hrge  mar- 
kets. Hence  cheeley  buttey,  fivwb,  eggs,  ai^  bought  at  a 
higher  pri^  at  Kilmany,  becauie,  from  the  progveisof 
Inznry,  they  are  fought  with  greater  avidity  thaa  .beef  or 
nratton,  and  from  the  wealth  of  the  inhabitants,  are  pur* 
chafed  at  ao  enormous  rate  at  Dundee.  Out  of  the  mar* 
kets  of  the  towns  joft  mentionedt  tho£b  who  do  not  kill  their 
ewn  meat  are  fupplied*  It  was  once  eafy  to  bring,  at  aU 
boux«,  fud)  fopplies  to  Kilmany  \  for  the  high  road  betwi^ 
Cupar  and  Dundee  run  through  the  village.  Some^eats 
ago^  (ibr  it  is  bat  of  late  that  Fife  can  boaft  of  having  a 
tumpike^road),  the  courfe  of  this  road  was  turned  eaftwards^ 
three  miles  'from  Kilmany. '  The  public  profited  by  tba 
change,  for  they  travel  by  a  imootb  inftead  of  a  hilly  road  i 
but  the  village  fuffisred  \  for  it  no  longer  enjoys  the  wonted 
frequent  opportnnitica  of  conveyance  betwixt  Cupar  and 
Dundee. 

Fofmlqiwm.f-^Tht  pari(h  is  the  refidence  of  h«(bandmea« 
Agricnltnre  is  the  nniverial  employment  -,  it  is  the  fource 
ind  the  fubflance  of  its  few  commercial  tranlafiions*  It 
gives  fnbfiftence  to  almoft  every  individual  in  the  parifli  i 
to  the  fiurmeis,  to  their  fervants,  to  the  families  of  thefis 
(ervants,  who  are  the  great  body  of  inhabitants  \  aod  to  tha 
%w  mechanics,  wbob  offices  are  neceilary  for  carrying  on 

country 

•  Itfflttftfiireljbc  dcfired  bytU  w1»  havegfiia  to  o^oit,  that  % 
HM  Ifl  IMB^noi  wen  better  g|de. 


43^  StatiJUeal  A^auuu 

etMlry  iffidrit  or  Sor  prooMCifig  the  comforts  of  life*. 
FxoBi  the  occopadons  of-  the  MiabiuntSy  it  is  erident  that 
they  caimoc  be  mmieroiifl.  Agricaltorey  however  capable 
of  fltfordiiig  the  means  of  (bbfiftenee,  never  coHeds  within 
the  lame  bomids  foch  minliers,  as  do  the  various  branches 
of  manafiiftiires  caltivated  thronghoat  the  ifland.  Fewer 
hands  can  condiid  its  operations^  One  great  objed,  too, 
\rtiieh  in  its  prefent  ftate  it  fisems  to  have  in  view»  is  to  Cake 
Jrbm  there  hamis  as  man  j  as  podiUe.  In  many  places,  pro- 
prietor and  tenant  have  united  to  accomplifh  this  objeA. 
To  faave«  hirge  and  eaiSy  coHbfted  rent  is  natarally  deiired 
by  die  4brmer,  and  thn  has  eSefted  the  amiSiilation  of  the 
little  tenants  fcatteted  over  the  country;  to  fave  as  many 
ftrvants  as  poiBtrie  in  the  management  of  country  affairs, 
the  latter  has  imagined  it  to  be  important  economy,  and 
this  has  often  fubftituted  unmarried  men  in  the  place  of  na- 
merous  fiimtBes.  The  heakhieil  and  the  pureft  nurfery,  of 
the  moft  vigorous  and  innocent  clafi  of  our  countrymen,  hzs 
heaoe  been  much  depopulated.  However  true  it  may  ap- 
pear, thM  a  numerons  ela(s  of  tenantry  are  incapable  of 
keeping  the  ground  in  order,  or  of  paying  the  proper  itnt, 
there  are  bounds,  beyond  which  the  idea  muft  prove  fatal 
to  the  ooontry  in  which  it  is  put  in  pradice ;  and  it  is  evi- 
dantty  fbtl  of  danger,  whatever  elfe  it  be,  to  turn  away  the 
cottagti»  who  have  been  wont  to  refide  on  a  farm.  The 
nalttfal  eoDfequenoes  are,   that   fervants  of  that  kind  are 

icarce, 

•  There  21  no  baker  m  the  panfli.  Ths  gtwteft  pan  of  die  breid  coo* 
fomed  is  prepared  by  the  iamiiies  who  eat  it.  The  increafe  in  d»e  coafomp- 
txon  of  wheaten  bread  has  of  late  been  confidenble,  but  that  it  bean  no 
proportion  to  the  nfe  made  of  oaten  and  pcafe  meal  in  baking  bread,  is  q>- 
pi(n%  frqnthe  cifcurttoice  af  the  pariA  kwiftg  no  baker  of  its  own. 
May  it  not  be  inferred  from  thence,  that  in  tiiaw  ^  fcarcirf  it  is  no  d)e- 
▼iation  to  the  wants  of  the  poor,  when  the  rich  give  up  the  oiie  of  flour. 
The  cafe  is  diffesent  m  large  towns.  There  is  no  flour  preferred  by  baken, 
*  nor  barley  by  brewers,  to  that  which  this  pazifh  raifes. 


qfKQmawf.  4jl 

U»xc€t  aod  tbrtr  wages  grett ;  and  itet  a  coca  coqotry  de* 
pends  upon  foreign  aid  for  cutung  down  us  cropsw  So  long 
as  this  aid  can  be  eafilj  procoffcdy  Uie  helplefibels  off  the  JEh* 
ttzation  does  not  appear  \  but  it  would  be  fevezdj  fak,  wor« 
an  J  bappj  change  to  meliorate  the  condition  of  tfaafe  ro« 
gions  of  poverty  £rom  whenoethe  aid  is  derived. 

There  is  no  (iich  dependence  in  this  parifli*  Its  popula* 
tion,  though  from  the  fituation  mentioned  it  cannot  be  greats 
has  not,  as  far  aa  can  be  aicei:taincdt  diminiflied  within  tho 
lad  20  years.  The  number  in  1755  was  785  *•  There  are 
now  living  in  the  parilh  396  males,  and  473  females  1  ia 
all,869t. 

Poor.— The  funds  of  the  leffioo,  for  the  affiftMioe  of  the 
poor,  are  adequate  to  afford  the  common  foppliea.  Thej 
cooM  of  the  intereft  of  about  L.  aoo.  Sterling  1  upon  whicb 
capital  no  encroachment  has  been  found  neceflaryi  of  the. 
money  paid  for  the  ufe  of  the  mortcloth  \  and  of  the  collee* 
tions  at  the  church-door. 

There  are  in  the  pariih  neflated  p^or,  who  receive  week- 
ly from  the  feifion.  More  or  left  is  given  to  them,  aceord-^ 
ing  to  their  wants  t  >  They  very  ieldom,  and  with  much  be* 
fitatiooy  uSl\  their  wants  muft  be  noticed  and  fiipplied« 
The£e  two  happy  conlequences,  haiqpy  for  the  virtue  of 


e  The  btptilffli  have  bcco,  at  a  ncdium  lor  10  ytan  peft»  ai.  TVoie 
buxicd  in  the  chiuch-yard,  14.  There  it  no  fepaiate  lift  kept  of  the  pa. 
rifhionen  boned,  at  they  are  fomedmet  carried  eUewhere,  and  ftruigei» 
brought «)  Kilmany*  The  avenge  auuiber  of  marriagefl  hi;  bat  of  thefe 
oee  otfdiepactiet  frcqnentfy  bdon|^  toaaolher  diftrid^ 

t  Several  familiet  are  Seceden  from  the  Eftabliflied  Church,  and  aflemble 
A  %  ]riice  of  worlhip  withia  nie  pariui* 


I  Tbek  BWbcr  may  bt  ftatcd  tboirt  4  st  aa  average,  ael  ibeir  aaeual 
Memo  V  a4«  10 1. 


43«  Statt/Hgal  AccQiM 

snan^nd  ariie  fitmi  hence.  The  rich  are  roaioi  to  tal:i 
that  care  of  their  bvetfarcn,  which  andctpatea  the  wiflica  of 
the  needj,  which  is  man's  heft  acqnifidont  and  a  ibozce  of 
fmre  enjoyment;  while  the  poor  hrfe  not  that  wHfadraw- 
jng,  declining  modefty,  to  which  it  is  lb  plea&nt  to  aSoid 
af&flance.  Of  both,  foch  is  the  preient  flate  of  fedinga  and 
manners,  there  are  here  frequent  inftances.  Tbe  more 
wealthy  (for  the  parifli  may  be  divided  into  feveral  kige 
families  under  the  immediate  caie  of  the  difirent  &rmen) 
take  a  kindly  charge  of  thofe  who  lire  under  them,  and 
gear  them,  affilling  them  very  liberally  when  ficknefc  or 
age  has  unfitted  them  for  their  fervioe.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  reloftance,  not  merely  to  folicit»  but  often  even 
Co  receiTe  aid,  fliews  that  delicate  fenle  of  dignity,  which 
poverty  may  fb  keenly  feel ;  of  which  nothing  can  divcft  a 
man  but  the  meannels  of  his  own  foul  \  and  which  is  much 
defiderated  amoogft  the  laay,  diffipatedi  importunate  beg* 
gars  of  large  towns. 

RiHgiom^  f/r.— It  cannot  be  foreign  from  the  cfejeft  of  a 
Statiftfcal  Account  to  mention  the  influence  which  rdigioos 
principle  has  within  the  pariih*  Notice  of  individuals  is 
Q^fXi  improper  and  undignified ;  a  general  ftatement  of  a 
point,  which,  whatever  public  opinion  or  pradice  may  pra- 
nounce,  is  of  infinite  confcquence  to  the  ftability  and  ta 
the  happineis  of  fociety,  no  man,  whatever  the  ftatement 
might  be,  fhould  be  aihamed  or  afraid  to  make.  It  is 
grateful  to  give  a  favourable  ftatement.  Religion  will  be 
found  hara  to  be  much  more  than  mere  fpeculation  ;  it  has 
great  influence  on  the  cooduft;  it  concurs,  withuniedncing 
fitoation,  to  preCerve  the  manners  fimple,  and  to  make  tbe 
morals  pure  \  and  it  yields  fupport  in  the  hour  of  diftre&y 
which  the  ftouteft  hearts  might  wilh  to  have.  Calm,  pla- 
cid refigoatioo,  in  the  certain  profpeA  of  approaching  diT- 

iblodflv, 


tfKilmny.  433 

£olatioo,  afiordt  an  example  of  trne  heroifm,  which  philo* 
fophj  might  be  prood  to  reach.  But  it  is  heroifm,  an6ng 
from  a  caufe  that  weU  accoants  for  it,  in  minds  which  have 
no  tnoatementy  from  vanitj,  of  the  poor  defire  of  impofing 
on  the  worldt  to  aflame  die  appearance  of  fortitude  which 
the  J  do  not  feeL  It  is  the  confequence  of  religion ;  of 
their  firm  belief  of  a  better  fiate  of  exiftence }  and  of  their 
hope  of  what  a  good  man  will  in  that  ftate  enjoj  for  ever. 
Patriotifm^fiirely  cannot  with  for  a  more  fubftantial  tre»* 
(are  to  the  country,  the  intereft  of  whole  inhabitants  (he  it 
defirooa  to  promote,  than  that  the  purifying  influence  of 
tme  religion  fliould  prevail  amongft  them ;  nor  deprecate  a 
greater  evil,  than  the  petulant  prefumptuous  licentioufnefr, 
which  tolerates  no  reafonable,  no  virtuous  reftraints,  which 
holda  thele  up  to  ridicule,  and  laboon  to  nutke  them  difrt* 
garded. 


V0L.XCL  3I  MUM* 


434  Staii/Hcat  Acatnf 

NUMBEH  XX. 

PARISH   OF    DUNNING, 

(CotJNTT  or  Perth,  Synod  or  Pk&th  aitd  SmxsifCf 

PRCSBTTE&T  OF  AuCHTE&ARI^Ek). 

Bj  0  Frund  to  Statijiical  Inqminu. 


Sitmatiatif  Exieni,  C/r. 

THE  northera  eztremitj  of  the  OcbU  Hills,  temiiiac- 
ing  in  Stnithearn,  comprdicnds  a  verj  confiderable 
proportion  of  the  pariih  of  Dunning*  which  is  boonded  on 
the  £.  bj  the  pariih  of  Forteviot  i  on  the  W.  by  Aoditer* 
arder }  on  theiS.  by  Foflbway  i  and  on  the  N«  by  G«&. 
The  higher  and  muirland  parts  of  the  parifh  are  fitnated 
among  the  Ochil  Hills,  the  declivities  of  which  are  in  fome 
places  gentky  and  can  admit  the  plough  i  but  in  other  pb- 
ees  they  are  fteep  and  rocky.  The  high  miurs,  fome  of 
which  are  at  leaft  looo  feet  above  the  level  of  the  lea,  arr 
occupied  in  extenfive  iheep-walkS|  which  fiiCer  confider- 
ably  by  a*  cold  climate,  and  a  greatly  expofed  fituation. 
The  foil,  however,  in  many  places,  is  dry^  and  earries  a 


ofDunningm  455 

go6d.fward,  aboundiiig  with  cgcoellent  paftore-gnOies,  which 
retaioy  even  in  dry  fiealbns,  a  b^ittiful  verdarc.  Some 
patches  of  heath  and  henjt  graft,  here  abd  there,  incerrapt  the 
uniformity  of  the  verdure.  The  foil  is  generally  not  deep, 
nnd  IS  incombent  on  whinftone.  Tbefe  high  lands  remain 
moftly  uninclofed,  except  by  a  few  dikes  of  earth  or  turf, 
that  formerly  had,  in  ino^nlar  forms,  chiefly  circular,  been 
drawn  round  ibme  fmall.parcds  of  ground,  once  in  tillage. 
Thefe  fmall  indofures,  if  they  delerTe  the  name,  are  now 
^ery  properly  kft  in  pafhire,  except  one  or  two  adjoining 
CO  each  dwelUngJionle,  and  which  are  cropped  mofily  with 
oats  and  potatoes.  The  produce  in  thefe  high  fituations  is 
extremely  fcanty,  and  the  harveft  very  late.  This  muir- 
land  diftqift  is  much  intcrfefted  by  deep  and  very  narrow 
glens ;  the  verdant  fides  of  which  afford  not  only  pafture, 
but  Ibm^times  an  excellent  ihelter  for  flieep.  Large  clumps, 
and  ftripes  of  trees,  are  much  defiderated  in  tbefe  naked  and 
expofied  places.  There  is  every  reafon  to  believe,  that  their 
growth  would  be  to  qnick  as  amply  to  repay  any  neceffary 
expences. 

Thefe  muixs  are  pafinrcd  mofily  with  the  fpeckled-faced 
(heep,  chiefly  from  the  flieep  difirids,  north  of  Stratheam, 
as  Rillin,  Sec.  This  variety  of  flieep  is  preferred  to  the 
black-&ced  lanton  breed,  for  their  weight  and  hardineis, 
and  being  fooner  ready  for  the  n^arket.  Severe  colds^  and 
long'ftorms  in  winter,  are  the  greateft  evils  to  which  flieep 
are  expo&d  in  this  high  diftriA. 

JgrumUwre^^-^lA  the  lower  and  arable  parts  of  the  parifli, 
codidepAle  improvements  have  of  late  been  made  in  agri- 
I  enkore.  Soromerufidlow  and  green  crops  are  introduced 
into  every  £uin ;  and  a  regular  fucceflion  of  crops  is  gene- 
rally obCprvcd.  Some  farmers  have  adopted  what  is  here 
commonly  called  the  Carfe  of  Gowrie  fyftem,  which  is, 

X. 


436  Siatiftical  Account 

I.  Oats  I  s.  Sommer.fiUlow ;  3.  Wheat ;  4.  P^e;  5.  Bir« 
.  Itjf  with  grab^fceds  \  6.  Ha j.  In  other  Carms  the  CdUow* 
ing  rotation  is  oblerved :  i.  Oats  i  %•  Tamip ;  3.  Oats  or 
barley;  4.  Peafe;  5*  Barley  with  grafles^  6«  Hay;  and 
fometimes  pallare  the  faventh  year.  Potatoes  ave  plsated 
generally  in  fome  comer  of  a  field  in  grain  crops.  Ten  re- 
turn of  oats  is  not  an  uncoooanon  produce.  The  tnniip 
crop  is  found  to  be  precarious,  but  is  beUeved  to  be  Teiy 
ufeful.  In  fome  portions  of  ground  here  the  oats  do  not 
degenerate.  Thefe  may  be  called  permanent  feib;  sad 
wherever  found,  ought  to  be  chemically  analized,  that  thdr 
qualities  and  proportiooable  miactcu^  may  be  afcertaiosd. 
By  arriving,  at  thb  knowledge,  farmers  will  have  at  tin 
more  readily  in  their  power  to  refiify  their  foils^  and  briag 
them  to  an  high  degree  of  perfefiion.  The  Cnpar*Grsnge 
or  Angus  oats  are  mod  commonly  fewn ;  and  they  not  in- 
frequently give  meal  for  com.  The  rent  of  land  has  riiiea 
greatly  in  the  fpace  of  a  few  years.  In  general  it  b  at  lest 
Cloubled  fince  the  year  1770,  Some  land  is  let  at  L.  3  ^ 
acre,  Scotch,  yearly,  on  a  leafe  of  (even  years ;  a  great  deil 
is  let  at  40  s.  or  two  guineas  an  acre.  Top-dreffing  on  the 
fward,  for  being  ploughed  up  next  fpring,  is  a  Tcry  ooai- 
mon  prafiice^  It  is  a  prevailing  maxim  here,  that  hod 
topdrefled  with  lime  only,  or  lime  and  a  mixture  of  earth, 
fliould  not  be  ploughed  until  the  lime  has  taken  a  jfGnv  gr^ 
^th9  ground.  ELxpeqence  has  tai^ht,  that  by  this  metho4 
the  lime  is  not  only  kept  from  finking  too  deep,  but  is  ^ 
mixed  more  intimately  with  the  foil,  than  were  it  ploughed 
in  immediately  after  it  is  laid  on  the  land.  This  parifli  ii 
fupplied  with  four  meal,  two  lint,  and  three  barky  miD& 
Moft  of  the  land  was  formerly  thirled  to  the  mills  at  acoor 
fiderable  high  muiturt.  But  thefe  iervitudes  were  fioond  to 
be  real  grievances,  and  therefoie  were  mofiljbooi^  uf  by 


rfDtmmng.  437 

tfie  temnti,  who  now,  in  confcquence  of  tbas  parchafe,  may 
tmj  their  grain  to  be  grinded  at  what  mills  thejr  pleafe. 

Pc»^dWjbff.««Tbe  population  in  Z775,  according  to  Dr 
Webfter's  aooomt  was  X49&  It  is  now  about  i6oo»  which 
makes  an  increafe  of  109. 

Cftirreiw-^The  parifli  church  was  anciently  the  chapel  of 
St  Smf.  It  is  fituated  in  the  village  of  Donning,,  and  is 
well  frequented.  The  Earl  of  Kinnoul  is  patron;  and  the 
Rey»  John  Baird  is  the  prefient  incumbent.  The  fiipend 
lately  receired  an  augmentation,  and  amounts  to  about  a 
thonfand  merks  in  money,  and  four  chalders  of  vidual, 
^fidcs  the  pariih  church,  there  are  two  places  of  worihip  ; 
the  one  belonging  to  the  Burgher,  and  the  other  to  the  An- 
tibnrgher  Seceders.  The  Pre(byterian  Diffenteis  of  the 
Church  of  Scodaod  are,  by  the  general  report  of  the  re- 
fpeSable  writers  of  the  StatUUcal  Hiftory  of  this  country, 
deTcribed  as  being  a  peaceable  and  well-behaved  dais  of  the 
eoQununity  This  praife-worthy  charaAer  is  juftly  appli- 
cable to  both  parties  pf  the  Seceders  in  this  plvc  and  neigh* 

boorfaoodc 

* 

S^loal^' "The  parochial  Ichool,  the  prefent  matter  of 
which  is  Mr  Balmain,  is  very  well  attended.  The  ialary  is 
300  merkSf  The  wages,  pit  quarter,  for  reading  EngUih, 
are  z8d«;  for  reading  and  writing,  9  s,;  arithmetic,  as.  6  4* 
Latin,  3  s.  The  Rev.  Mr  Baird,  much  to  bis  honour,  pays 
particular  auentioo  to  the  ftate  of  the  fchool,  efpedally  with 
refpeft  to  the  mode  of  teaching,  the  attendance  and  beha- 
Tionr  of  the  fieholan*  and  the  progreis  they  make  from 
time  to  lime  in  their  education.  The  proper  and  regular 
inftniAion  of  youth  ought  to  be  particnlarly  attended  to  by 
l4l  who  liave  any  reg^  to  the  good,  not  only  of  indivi- 

dnabf 


458  StatyUcMl  Ai99uni 

^adiybnCorfimflljfttlaf]^.  TliefMnft.iHBt'Qf  theSon- 
datiM  bf  priratfel  tnd  pablio  Jmpyicft  it  Ud  in  tn  carij 
cdncatioQ,  ts  it  it  genertllj  oosdofM  in  the  parochial 
fthools  hi  ScMl«Bd4  Habits  of  «tt«iitioB,  applkMioQ,  and 
tkanliiWft  >CT,  acfoircd  1  the  ft^tics  aC  the  iMlengn- 
dually  enlarged  and  ftrengthened ;  the  yomh  ava  craiBed  vf 
to  fill  with  propriet  J  an  j  flation  of  life  to  which  thej  naj 
afterwards  be  ratftd ;  and  the  principles  of  the  Chrifiiaa 
leHgiof^y  the  teaching  of  which'  is  the  moft  prooiinent  £»• 
hire  of  edkicatioo  in  parodittl  fehoob,  are  fe  deeply  looted 
in  the  fold,  that  they  become  the  means  of  preferring  thou* 
bods  from  infidcfity,  and  a  life  of  iaraiorality  and  wretch* 
edne&  The  Oenerdi  AflemUy  of  the  Ghnrch  of  Scotfand. 
fenfiUe  that  the  inTaluahle  faleffings  of  a  religious  life,  and 
the  hfl^ineb  .and  permanent  fecority  of  every  wdl  rega« 
lated  goverhmeoty  are  chiefly  fomded  in  the  early  cdnca* 
tion  of  every  clafs  of  the  oommonity»  have  wifely  appoint- 
^a'Prefbyterisl  vifitation  and  examination,  J^^Jt  ^^ 
the  fchools  in  Scotland.  By  means  of  diis,  no  finall  en* 
couragement  Is  given  to  teachers  and  fcholarsi  and  the  exer- 
tions of  both  are  called  forth.  From  the  ftatt  of  die  fehool, 
it  u  prefumed  that  the  youth  of  the  parilh  of  Dunning  wiB 
be  found  to  make  confiderable  progrefs  in  any  part  of  edu- 
cation to  which  they  may  apply  themfelTCS,  and  that  their 
after  life  will  be  a  ftrong  proof,  that  the  attention  of  their 
teacher  and  mimftet  to  their  literary,  moral,  and  religious 
itnprovement,  has  not  been  loft. 

Poor; — ^Abottt  ten  paupers  are  ufually  on  the  poor^Kfi. 
They  are  fiipported  by  the  weekly  colleflions  at  the  church, 
and  the  intereft  of  a  fmali  fum  formerly  accumulated. 
Their  ufoal  fnpply  is  fit>m  9  d.  to  x8  d.  a-week  .each  ;  but 
upon  extraordinary  dctafioos  they  receive  half-a-orown  a- 
^ireek* '  None  of  them  are  permitted  to  beg.    Tbe  chief 

landed 


^^umlin£.  .  <4^ 


liindttd  pi^friMbfi  in  this  4»lMi'-<te  >aat  ocaii»«lj  •ttwi 
cm  ffivite^*t¥l0tf  fa  die  {iilf>ocliiAl  tbiMh ;  fe  *  x\M  «{dik 
fiMi^liere^  jur  itt  m^  other  places^  Stt«ditid»  uxfftuffpamA 
b7^e^Mttiiioa6lilyii-^Ttr<^  IHeMily  ibcied^,  or  boi^B,  » 
^ej  ire  itfbidl^  «Rlll»d^  4re  efttfb&fted  in  the^  pari^iy  «|mI 
Ami  whibh  th«  tttembert^  belM>giiig<  !•  ^ihtm  wh^&Iliinft 
wa^i  lieoifittt  M rttid^f  tapflj%  Oiie'belMg;ito-th^wea«Br% 
wsbA  tfacrvAlertb^htf  mafens,  'MT^e  ptvUb  «ad  aciightow- 
bobd.  Bdtha^thrfviftg.  Part\)rthfc(tool»i9^Ui<ae8^i4 
hav  in  jMirehififtg  aie«l«  and  feUkig  it  n  littto  onder  market 
iMeetd^e  th^inbet^ol^he  fiteieti^^ttiA  totbe  p^^r^C^fae 
parilh.  Too  much  cannot  be  {aid  in  praife  of  thcfe^fiiwidl^ 
cr  charitable  focietiesy  as  they  are  conduced  in  all  the  mn- 
auiaaming  aiffiifis^  in  Scotkxrd. ' 

Fwibife^.'^^Tke  ^incipal  vUkge  in  dte^aftthit  Dnnsfagw 
It  <onfiflB  of  <B  -coofiderbblei  attmber.^*  boufes,^  many  of 
tirhSeh  haVe'4>een  WiVf  bnilt,  and  are  two  Glories  high  r  <^ 
afldar  w^rk,  knA  etnrered  with  flale,'  n&oftly  ifr^Nn  Olen* 
Almond,  about  20  iloilds  diQant.  Some  of  thehdoCMniie 
nlegant^ttd'ctMfflddfOBSy  eshftfitirrp^pecimens  of  tafienct 
c6min6tAj  to  he  wet  with  in  eountty  villages.  In  the  im* 
snediatt  ttfeiglhb'oarhood  of  Duoning  is  -the  viBage  of.iV«to 
FkcairH^  or  Dragon*i  Den^  as  it  is  tifuidly  etdled.  It  Is  bttt 
nf  trceat  ori^  v  and'confifis  of  about  thirty  teneinen»  ot- 
dweHing«4ianl\d,  all  of  whi<li, -except  a  very  few,  concahla 
tuiro  families^  andfonhfe^of  them  fonr.  The  ground  oar 
which  thii^  vffls^  is  built  is  feued^freih  Mr^^raham  oC 
Orchil.  The  lou  are  moAly  in  %Mib<ired  eSs  fquire,  far 
which  is  paid  L.  x  Sterling  of  pnrchafe-monc j,  and  7  d. 
u^jear'of  feu-^cy.  -Thehouf^  here  are  neat  and-fcleui, 
add  aie^  xnoft-y  coofthiftM for  leavers.  I^bey  we  buih  Tor 
a  guinea  ftr  rood,  (ma^on'e  tneafore),  wkh  Icrvice,  oir  so  s. 
idthont  ienr ice.  Frecftone  is  got  bv^  Vh(^re  at  hahd ;  not 

unfrequ^tly 


44^  Siatiftkttl  AgCBUHt 

imfire^iiemlj  cnt  of  tlic'«r^aii  on  ^htchtiie  hod&s  ire  built 
Mortir  of  earth  is  in  numy  oales  the  cement,  escept  fbr  die 
iBomer^  and  the  hewo  work.  Thej  arei  hoirevert  cafi»  or 
iaritd  with  ltme»  both  witboat  and  withm.  Honle^reDts, 
equally  here  with  the  reft  of  the  panfli*  are  rtry  low.  A 
dwelfing-hode  and  ceom/with  a  fonr-Iooai  ihojs  is  let  from 
4oa.  to  50  s»  a-year ;  a  laboorerjs  boafe,  weU  finiflied,  ii 
rikout  as  s.  at  an  ave»ge.<— The  inhabitants  <if  thefe  fiUs* 
Iges,  and  of  the  moft  part  of  the  pwQih  are  fuppiied  widi 
coal  from  the  coal-works  at  Bhiringooev  in  tlie  paxiib  of 
FoflToway.  The  diftance  from  tbc^  village  of  Dnnnii^aboot 
lamiks. 

7md(^M«-^The  only  mannikdore  carried  on  here  is  the 
making  a  few  coarfe  linens  for  the  Glafgow  and  Perth  mar- 
kets^—WeaTcrs  in  the  pariih,  63,  about  40  of  whom  are 
employed  in  fiiAory  work;  Wrights,  a8|  mafons,  aj; 
black&niths,  4;  (hoemakers,  7 ;  uilors,  la.  The  pariih  is 
accommodated  with  eight  inns  or  public  boufes,  of  which 
number  fix  are  in  the  villsge  of  Dunning^— The  inhabi* 
tants  are  not  diflingutihed  on  account  of  any  pecoKaritici 
in  their  drels,  cttftoms,  or  manners.  They  are  generally  of 
an  open  and  communicatiTe  difpofition,  indoftrious  in  their 
labours,  and  generous  in  their  iotercourfe  with  focietj.  The 
blue  bonnet  is  not  altogether  out  of  faihion  in  this  part  of 
the  coontry.«-A  confideraUe  quantity  of  coarfe  finen-yam 
is  fpun  by  the  wom^n  in  the  pariih,  not  a  few  of  whom 
fpin  on  the  two-handed  wheel,  which  a  good  many  yesn 
ago  was  introduced  from  Fife. 

Plaea  £/*A^or#.— Duncruib,  the  property  and  refidence  of 
Lord  RoUo,  holds  a  diftinguiihed  place  in  the  pariih :  **  As 
**  for  the  antiquity  of  this  family,  John  RoDo  got  a  grant 
*'  of  the  lands  of  Duncruib^  and  other  lands,  from  David 

««Earl 


ofDihudtig.^  441 

*<  Earl  of  Stntthen,  with  the  confimt  of  King  Robert,  his 
^  father,  of  the  date  X3th  February  13&D.  From  the  lands 
^ofDmcmib  the  fiunily  was  defigned;  and  cbefe  hmds, 
**  with  odien,  were  ereAed  io^o  a  free  barony  by  King 
^  James  IV.  in  fkvoars  of  William  RoUo  of  Duncmib,  as 
''  the  charter  bears,  of  the  date  26th  Odober  1512,  From 
"^  this  William  was  lineally  deibended  Sir  Andrew  RoUo  of 
""  Doncmtb,  who  was  knighted  by  King  James  VI.  and 
"  afterwards  was  by  King  Charles  L  railed  to  the  dignity 
''  of  Lord  RdDo  of  Doncnisb,  in  the  ye4r  1651."  {Nif- 
hefi  HtraUby^  voL  i.  p.  324. 

The  hoole  of  KMe^  the  property  of  the  Dnimmonds  of 
Keltie,  is  not  of  a  recent  date,  and  is  deierredly  fiir-ftmed 
for  the  genuine  hofpitality  of  an  open  and  generous-hearted 
family. 

It  is  believed  by  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  thb  place, 
that  the  river  Earn  was  anciently  navigable  a  confiderable 
way  above  the  village  of  Dunning ;  and  fome  old  people 
affirm,  that  they  have  feen  iron  rings  fixed  in  a  perpendi- 
cular  rock,  dofe  to  the  bottom  of  which  the  level  land  of 
the  Strath  of  Earn  now  comes.  It  is  laid,  by  tradition  in 
the  country,  that  to  thefe  rings  the  veflels  which  navigated 
the  river  were  occafionally  fattened.  That  a  great  part  of 
tlie  haugh  or  low  ground,  in  the  lower  difirid  of  this  pariih, 
was  formerly  depofited  by  the  water  of  the  Earn,  there  can 
be  no  doubt  \  but  that  the  river  was  navigable  to  the  above 
mentioned  rock  is  extremely  uncertain. 

TTerrnavi  is  the  moft  remarkable  fpot  in  this  pariih  or 
neighbourhood.  It  is  a  hill,  or  mound  of  earth,  rolembling 
a  Ihip  with  the  keel  uppermoft.  It  occupies  many  acres  of 
ground ;  is  covered  with  a  fine  fward  of  grals,  and  llrikes 
the  eye  at  the  diftance  of  feveral  miles.  The  name  is  evi- 
dently a  corruption  of  7erra  navis ;  but  whether  given  it 

Vol.  XIX.  3  K  by 


44^  Stati/tkai  Accmau 

hj  the  Ronansi  or  finoe  they  left  the  ucwBtry^  it  i 
To  this  place  t  (uperftitimit  regud  is  MCadied  by  the  vol- 
gtf.  Trtdition  aflertSt  that  tomt  tamt  ago  a  mam  atteaipc* 
iag  to  cad  divots  (turf)  on  the  fide  of  it,  no  foeacr  opeBc4 
the  ground  with  the  fpado»  than  the  form  off  an  eld  naa, 
fiippofcd  to  have  been  the  fpirit  of  the  mountain,  made  in 
appearance  from  the  openmg,  and  with  an  nngry  coaate> 
nanoe  and  tone  of  voice,  alked  the  countryman  vHiy  he  wis 
tirring  (uncoverfaig)  bis  ho|tfe  over  hb  head  ?  On  Coring 
tbu,  die  apparition  inftantly  diiappeared.  The  man,  it  i^ 
reported,  was  fo  terribly  frightened,  that  he  immediatet)r 
left  off  the  operation  ;  and  none  hm  fince  Tentured  to  di- 
fturb  tl^e  repofe  of  ti^e  iiQaginary  fpirtl« 


NUM. 


tf  TdnJergartb.  443 

MUMBER    XXL 
PAHISH  OF  TONDERGARtH^ 


(STifoH  Ann  Coi^ytt  of  Uvunizs,  BRE^Ynax  ot 
LoeaifABKK.) 


By  a  FrSmdio  Statiftical  Inquiries* 


Vt>     i.B-.i(|  I  -11     -11       iiiiii     I      >■    Hiiw     t"% 


SituaHoMf  Sur/acft  Exiettit  ixc* 

THE  l^ariih  of  Tondergartby  or  Tttndergarth,  is  about 
14  miles  ill  lengdi»  and  about  li  miles  in  breadth.  Ic 
comprehends  the  declivities  of  a  range  of  hills  which  lie 
along  the  river  Mitt.  It  is  furrounded  by  the  contiguous 
iNuriflies  qf  8t  Mungo%  Dryfefdale^  Huttoo,  Efkdalc-muir, 
Middlebie,  and  Hoddam.  Its  fiir&ce  is,  in  level,  unequal, 
and  beantifiillj  diverfified;  is  in  many  places  green  and 
arabk,  in  otbtiBy  covered  with  heath,  and  not  jret  reduced 
wider  t3kfe«  It  is  not  without  woods,  both  natural  and 
planted.    Some  marl  pits  have  been  opened  in  it. 

Popubaion  and  Employm€nti.'~'On  the  17th  of  Novem* 
ber  1791,  the  whole  population  was  found,  upon  a  careful 

enumeration, 


444  Staijfifcdl  jUcmM 

enumeration^  to  amount  to  510  foob.  The  termors  are  m 
number  37.  Earl  Mansfield  is  iiiperior  of  die  gccafeer  part 
of  the  pariih.  Mr  Johoftoiviif  .Gfange^BfrBrofwnof  Weft- 
woodi  Mr  Richardfon  of  Piercbyhall,  are  the  pcinctpal  bed- 
tors  ordinarilj  refident  in  the  parifli.  The  moA  confider- 
able  nonprefidiag  heritor  is  Mr  Beattte  of  Grieve.  The  in- 
ferior inhabitants  are  chiefij  farmers  and  fann-UxMBefs. 
Here  are,  of  artifansi  %  black&niths,  i  jcuner,  z  ihormakfr, 
5  weaver^  a  tailofs.  The  people  aie  in  gfneial  £obcc,  in- 
dufirious  and  healthy;  in Jangcvitjf  fome  of  tlieaa  itave 
lived  to  the  ages  of  84,  and  even  of  90  years. 

Ar^aNrdir|f«**The  hufbandrj  which  occupies  the  fitzmezs 
is  partly  that  of  the  ihepherd-li£e ;  in  part  that  ci  agricol- 
tnre.  It  is  the  Cheviot  breed  of  (beep  which  is  here  cnlti- 
vated  :  And  of  thb  breed  there  may  be  between  3000  and 
4000  ftcep  00  the  farms  in  tbe  pahib.  The  Uack  catde 
are  of  a  race  allied  to  that  of  Galloway ;  are  reared  from 
calves  not  bought  in ;  and  may  be  in  number  about  400a 
The  foil  b  for  the  moft  part  gravelly,  or  of  the  nature  of  a 
morab.  Oats,  bear,  and  barley,  aie  the  gnins  here  culti- 
vated. Lime,  and  dung,  with  fome  little  marl,  are  the  or- 
dinary articles  of  manare.  The  medium  extent  of  the 
farms  b  from  ico  to  aoo  acres.  The  lands  are  tolecd>Iy 
inclofed  with  fione  Jiiesj  and  here  and  thete  wkh  ditches 
and  hedges.  Xmr,  or  flue,  is  raiied  m  fimdl  qaandties. 
Green  crops,  for  fisillowing  and  forage,  hav«  been  tried  with 
a  fuccefi  which  has  not  £ailed  to  recommend  the  eramplr  to 
general  imitation.  In  the  harveft  of  x  795,  the  miaifter  had, 
on  a  field  before  his  door,  one  of  the  fineft  crops  of  tutnipi 
that  have  ever  been  any  where  produced.  Potatoes  are  alfa 
raifed  in  very  great  abundance.  The  horfes  v&d  for  the 
draught  are  commonly,  in  value,  foch  as  would  fell  in  the 
market  from  L.  xa  to  L.  15  Sterling  each. 


9f  T^nder^anb.  44$ 

R^adnmd  Mdtiiis.'^^'Tk^  roads  ire  made  attdrepaited 
hj  the  money-convetfioii  t)i  li.s*  tffk  every  100  merks,  in* 
ftead  of  the  ftatnte-laboar.  From*  ftnjjg^i  to  IMitt^  "a  *^£- 
taace  tvf^KlDt  j'^^mileS)  theijie  18  ancxceBeacraad;  The 
market-towns  to  which  the  inhabitants  wilim^ptaathuImOf 
rcEofrt  are,  Lockerbj,  Annan,  Dumfries.  The  bhck  cattle 
are  fold  at  "Dumfries,  and  at  Lockerbj,  btit  mok«  e%eciall j 
into  £nglaiid^  '  Lmeh  and  woollen^ dodis  are,  tar  the  greater 
part,  not  imported,  but  manii&ftured  hy  the  pe^k'for 
themiHves,  in  die  family. way.      - 


Rtnii  a$i.FaftMi(m.ii^Th^  vwOmioa  U  die  paxifh  is 
aboatS90o'mierks' Scotch;  '^vDc^  teA  rents  ase  probsUj 
between  L.  1700^  and  L.  1800  Sterling. 

Poor's  F^ndr.'^Thit  poor  asei  fuppected  firom  theJnteicft 
of  a  mart^Ufi  fiMid  of  L.  66  Steriisg^  and  ontoftheSa&day'a 
coUedieas  in  the  church  ^  which: are,  at  ordinary  timeii 
abooM  s.  6  d*  or  %\,\  but  at  theadaual  difp^fing  of  the  Sa* 
crament  of  the  Loid's  Sopper^  axidr  e^ea. to  I^.  3  Sterling. 

Min^iTy  Btmfice^  School — ^The  preient  minifier  is  the 
Reverend  Mr  Pazton,  a  batehelot.  His  three  .laft  prede- 
ceflbrs  were,  Meflrs  Clarke,  Jeffrey^  Fergpflbo. .  The  fiv- 
pend  confifb  of  L.  800  Scots  in  money,  and  two  chaldeirs  of 
visual.  There  was  in  the  year  1795  no  pari(h-ibhool  in 
Toodergarth ;  but  application  had  begun  to  be  made  for 
the  eftaUiihnient  of  one.  Among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
parifli  are  fome  few  Burgher  and  Antiburgher  SecederSp 
and  fome  Relief  people ;  but  none  of  thefe  lefis  have  a 
meetinj-honfe  here. 

Langu^gi<^JobnftoHi  is  the  mod  prevalent  fimamein 
this  poiih ;  and  the  old  cofile  of  Toodergarth  was  once  the 

principd 


44^  SMi0k0l.jkf9mu 

«iAi.lHi9'«hva79hrmftp«rcl7Stxqiidia]flfta£di«old  Low* 
lMld.Spftltifli«    fTv^itKt^Hk  n  a  CMvomd  Smoa  watd, 

'; :.  .  i        •    -    • 

fiteu^fiiumii^Ax  iu  w^fiefn  border,  tfau  pBrifli  dmoft 
t9ili^.4i^^»  9^  the  .fiioiQitt  hill  of  JSntm/foari.  That 
fcttl  4lW«l.  jta^qftlebcity  to  t>^  p»aww  gf  twa  Ropign  fiif»mp> 
mentSv  which  appear  on  the  eafiem  tad  on  the  wcfieni  fide 
of  its  decUvitj.  The  remains  of  theie  encampmems  axe 
fiilL^noeeiUp^J  diftJnA.  -  k  feeios  higM^  pn»babfe  dat 
^jrtamre^  firil  ftr4M4  by  the  tUmans  bufiigingabodyof 
the  ancient  Britons,  wha.liie4vPCCi9ied  dM  Jbrnioit  of  tfae  hiU. 
It  was  fo  remarkable  a  ftation,  that  it  could  not  £iil  to  be  coo- 
tiMMtty*  otoapiod  in  aE  fiiMbquenc  wart  among  ibe  tahahi- 
taota  rfthefe  regiona,  wfacAer  contending  aoioi^  thrmfrl^f^ 
M  eppofing  ftranger-invaders.  Tha  Aiq^lo^Saxana,  the 
Scotch,  and  Englifh,  in  all  their  border*wara»  oatorally  poll- 
ed themifllvcs  often  on  tha  fiunmic  oCBnaifwairk,*aaaplace, 
by  its  elevation  above  the  furroondiag  ooontry,  admizaUj 
itCted  zl  once  for  an  impregnable  pofi,  and  &r  a  ftation  of 
profpcQ,  from  whidi  all  the  movameota  of  forroasdiiig 
enemies  might  be  ipied. 


NUM. 


NUMBER   XXn. 

PARISH  OF  ANNAN, : 

(Co^mrr  ak»  Synod  of  Hvfim^s,  PftssftrmT  09 
Airy  AN.}     -  '  ^ 

Bj^  a  Friend  to  Stati/Heal  Ittptiriit. 


ii  »>» 


SitmaiiMf  ExtitUf  iSe* 

npHE  pviih  of  Annan  lies  almoft  imoiedifttcly  upon  the 
^  neareft  Soocdlh  fliorc  of  the  Solwa^  Fcidi.  It  is 
bounded  00  the  £«  by  the  patiflies  qf  Domock  and  Kirk« 
psttrick-Fkoiing ;  on  the  N.  hj  AfidiUeby  and  Hoddam  ^ 
on  the  W.  hj  Cummertrees }  at  itt  foathem  extremity 
it  extends,  for  its  grcateft  breadth,  3  miles  along  the  coaft ; 
its  gmteft  lengdi  is  8  miks. 

SaU^  Smrfac9%  Coafi^  RivirSt  Vc.— The  riTer  Annan  b- 
terfeds  this  parifli,  forming,  at  the  place  of  its  influx  into 
the  frith,  the  port  of  Annan,  an  excellent  natural  harbour. 
There  are  alio  fome  lew  brooks.  The  highcft  tidei  rife 
from  z6  to  91  feet  above  the  level  of  lQW*water.    The  fur-. 

Saco 


44JB  Sta^fikal  Account 

hiot  is  gencnUy  low  and  flat.  Woodcock- Aifbill,  howercr, 
fifes  to  fiMnethmg  of  clevadon.  The  finl  is  day,  (andj, 
pea^eaIth»  or  a  muKttiie  of  tbefe.  There  are  fome  .trafis  of 
heath-covered  miiir.  Woodcock- Airhill  has  been  (danled 
with  wood ;  and  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Annan  ait  alfo 
feme  ftxipes  of  plsttiting.  It  was  once  tried  to  prepare  kdp 
from  the  lea^weeds  growing  on  the  coaft,  but  the  fearweeds 
were  fannd  not  fnffidentlj  pkntifol  to  encourage  the  oooti- 
aoed  proffBOHtioo  of  this -undertaking.  Her^are  CKcikat 
freefbme  quarries,  limeftoae,  and  granite. 

PoftJttiwUf  HmicrSf  Farming  C/c. — The  popolation  of 
die  whok  patifli  may  amount  to  abont  ^500  firnls.  The 
heritors  pajing  ftipend  are  60  in  number }  of  whom  die 
moftconfideraUe  are,  the  Earl  of  Hopetoun,  Mr  Irvin  of 
Bonfhaw,  Colonel  Dirom  of  Mount-Annan,  the  Earl  of 
lisMfidd^Mr  Camitketa  of  WarmanbytiAr  Shacp  of  Hod- 
dam,  Sir  Charles  Douglas,  Mr  John  Macmurdo,  There 
are  about  97  or  xoo  fumers  fomilies ;  but  few  hinds  or  cot- 
tagers. 

The  Tbwff  .^— The  town  of  Annan,  one  of  the  moft  anckot 
burghs  in  Scotland,  and  which,  in  conjunAion  with  Loch- 
maben,  Dumfries,  Kirkcudbright,  and  Sanquhar,  fends  a 
member  to  the  Britilh  Parliament^  contains  widiin  the 
town,  and  upon  this  burgh-roods,  t6ao  Ibuls  out  of  the 
whole  population  of  the  parifli.  It  ppflefles  ^tij  eztenfive 
burgh-roods,  which  are,  in  great  part,  very  in^er&ttj  cul- 
tivated. There  is  a  vaft  common,  open  to  all  the  inhala- 
tants  for  paflure,  peats^  and  divois\  of  which  the  divifioa 
and  appropriation,  although  repeatedlj  propofed,  have  M 
lleen  flrennoufly  refifted.  The  revenue  of  the  town  is  about 
L.  300  Sterling  a-year,  arifing  from  tolls,  fiflieries,  asd.feo- 
duties*    Its  houfes  are  in  general  de<ient  and  weD-buib. 

A 


of  Annan.  :449 

A  few  fidlora  belong  to  it ;  and  there  are  5  floops,  the  propertj 
of  inhabitants  of  the  town  or  bnrgh-ioods.  There  are  like- 
wife  two  ferry-boats  employed  for  paflage  to  and  from  the 
coaft  of  Cumberland.  The  burgh,  not  long  fince,  fupplied, 
as  its  proportion,  two  lailon  to  the  royal  navy.  It  has  in 
it  fonr  writers  \  one  furgeon ;  a  fchoolmafter,  whofe  emoln- 
ments  are,  of  falary  and  fubfcription,  L.  40,  of  wages,  L.  25. 
The  port  is  comprehended  within  the  diflrift  of  the  cuftom- 
honfe  of  Dumfries.  Day<labourers  are  fupplied  from  the 
town,  for  moft  of  the  farm-work  in  the  country  part  of  the 
pariih.  The  occup^ions  of  its  other  inhabitants  are  thofe 
of  merchant  and  ihppkeeper,  weaver,  blackfmith,  tailot, 
joiner,  fhoemaker,  tanner,  currier,  clog-maker. 

jF|^A«rt#x.-«-Tbe  fifliery,  on  the  coaft  and  in  the  river,  af- 
fords employment  and  fubfiftence  to  many  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  pariih.  The  fifiieries  are  let  at  the  annual  rent 
of  L,  210  Sterling.  A  curious  fpecies  of  net  is  ofed  here 
for  taking  (almon,  both  at  the  flowing  and  during  the  ebb- 
ing of  the  tides.  B^fide  felmons,  which  are  plentiful  and 
ezcelkntf  hirlings,  muflels,  flounders,  cod,  whitings,  prawns, 
feate,  and  Ibmetimes  turbot,  are  found  on  this  coaiL 

Estporii  and  Imports.-^^Thc  articles  of  txport  are,  pott- 
toes  and  grain  to  Liverpool,  Whitehaven,  and  the  Frith  of 
Clyde}  freeftone  to  Ireland;  black-cattle,  cotton-yam, 
(hoes,  and  dogs,  to  the  contiguous  inland  parts  of  England. 
In  return  are  imported^  merchants  goods  in  general  from 
liverpool ;  London  goods  by  the  way  of  Newcaftle  and 
Garlifle ;  iron  and  timber  in  deals  from  Gottenburgh. 

Rondu  This  pariih  is  interliefied  by  great  roads  pafling 
between  Dumfries  and  CarHfle,  between  Annan  and  £din« 
bargh  by  Mofiat,  between  Annan  and  Edinburgh  by  Lang- 

Vox.,XI2^  jL  holm. 


}ieltn.  (^  dw  freat  roads  are  toU-bars.  The  cnA  midi 
are  made  and  repaired  bj  th^  coDTerfion-moiiejr  for  tte 
.Ibtfite-labour,  which  is  at  the  rate  of  3  d^  for  e^ery  paand 
.  Sterling  of  real  rent,  from  the  inhabiunts  of  the  bargh;  and 
12  s.  on  each  10^  merks  of  v^attontfr^mtiio  landwsr^ 
part  of  the  pariib, 

jigrkuU^rff  Caak^  Servanis^  Av^-^-The  farma  are  of 
^all  extent :  One  only  pays  fo  large  a  rent  as  Ia  100  tr 
year.  The  average  rent  £rona  the  kmdwar4  part  of  the 
partfli  runs  from  3  s.  to  25  s.  an  acre  ;  The  average  reat  of 
the  burgh-roods  is  from  so  s.  6  d.  to  506«  ao  acre.  The  vages 
of  fervants  ^re,  to  men-fervfuitSi  with  their  boardiiigt  from 
|«  6  to  L«  10  a-year  \  to  maid-fervants,  equally  with  their 
board»  from  L,  3  to  L«  5  a^year.  Day4aboisrers  receive, 
with  their  vidnals,  lod.  a-day;  and  for  feTe|«  labour, 
without  viduals»  1 9.  6  d«  Black  cattle  are  tbe  chief  aai- 
mal  fiock  of  the  farfn^ ;  are  reared  genemUy  firom  calves 
within  the  pahih ;  and  have  been  multiplied  in  cbeir  num- 
bers fince  green  crops  and  ibwn  grafies  came  into  ufe  hefe. 
Horfes  are  ufed  here,  as  in  other  places,  for  work  and  ri* 
ding }  Tome  few  are  bred  and  rei^red  from  foak  Wtthia  tbe 
pariih«  Barley  4s  the  chief  article  of  white  crop;  oats 
come  next  in  ^nanttty  after  barler ;  here  is  aUb  a  little 
wheat  r^ifed  and  exported,  Potatoes  are  pi^occ4  in  P^ 
quantities.  Many  hogs  are  fed,  killed,  cured  for  bacoo, 
and  in  Ihis  (late  exported.    Here  arc  b^  few  (beep* 

Rotatn^  Q/'CVe^r^^-Peafe,  beans,  and  tun^  are  the  ar- 
ticles of  fallowing  green  crop.  Lima,  dung,  foaM  Kttie 
marl,  and  (leech  fro^a  the  fea*|bore,  are  the  ufual  articks  of 
manure.  The  rotation  of  culture  is,  x.  Potatoes,  turnips, 
or  a  fallow  with  manure ;  %.  Wheat  or  barley,  and  with  it 
graiihiceds  i  3.  One  crop  of  l^iy  |  4.  A  top-dreffing  with 

QUioorei 


ifAnnM.  451 

llMilllift  \  5«  from  j  to  5  yean,  paftiire ;  6.  Two  faoceffive 
trhiu  cropsy  commoDly  oats ;  7.  Retorn  to  the  commence- 
0Mat  of  eke  (amc  rotation.  It  is  a  compoft  which  is  ofed 
lor  tbc  top*>dreffing.  Inclofures  have  become  general,  al- 
^houfh  but  latelj ;  they  are  made  with  ditches  and  hedges) 
and  in  (!fm«  places  with  dry  done  walb*    . 

Ho%f99^  Modi  ofLivimg^  Vc^^-'^Soch  farm-hoofes  as  have 
been  lately  boilt  are  good  and  commodious,  and  of  one  or 
two  ftorias*  The  ofl^-houfcS  are  arranged  in  fqnares^ 
with  large  open  (beds  for  black  cattle^  Servants  and  mas- 
ter eat  commonly  at  the  fame  table.  The  farmer^s  bun^ 
day  (Rothes  are  of  Englifli  cloth.  Peati  and  coal  are  both 
commonly  nlcd  for  fuel.  The  coal  is  fold  at  7  s.  6d.  for 
Che  ton  of  13!  cwf*  The  climate  and  fit  nation  are  recko%> 
•d  healthy.  Epidemical  feveri  are  unknowns  Confun»ptiQa 
§xA  ague  are  rare*  The  harvcft  b  generally  early^  In  tb^ 
year  {78a,  the  crops  were  plantifol.  There  is  on  the  river 
stotton-worky  about  which  from  100  to  130  men,  woraeiit 
and  children,  are  commonly  employe4.  One  or  two  wei^ 
vers  in  the  town  mannfsAure  fome  checks. 

AntifHttui  and  Biftwy^^Annan^  the  name  of  this  town 
and  parilh,  feems  to  have  been  primarily  the  name  of  the 
river  only.  Its  radical  fy liable  ]%  one  of  thofe  words  which 
were  nfed  in  the  ancient  Britifb  tongue  to  iignify  fimply 
VMHtTf  or  a  river.  Annan  was  probably  a  Roman  fladon^ 
the  Veromum  of  the  anonymous  geographer  of  Ravenna* 
It  feems  to  have  been  fiill  occupied  by  the  Britons  of  the 
Wefi«  after  the  departure  of  the  Romansg  till  they  were  fuU 
dned  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  of  Northumberland.  When 
the  kingdom  of  Northumberland  was  overthrown,  Annan 
fiall  into  the  pofleflion  of  the  Scotch.  While  Cumberland, 
and  the  greater  part  of  Northumberlandi  were  poflelTtrd  by 

Malcoltfi 


45^  Statiftkat  Acemml 

Malcom  Canitorey  and  hb  (bccefiVm,  to  William  the  tiofii 
Annaa  was,  as  well  as  Carlifle,  one  of  their  prindpol  ports^ 
It  was  foon  after  obtnoed  ia  fief^  with  the  whok  territoiy 
of  Annandalet  and  the  port  of  Lochmaben,  by  the  anoeftor 
of  King  Robert  Bruce.    The  Braces  built  here  a  flatdj 
caftle^  of  which  the  nuns  ftill  remain.    Bj  the  foooeffion  of 
the  Bruces  to  the  Scottifli  throne,  Annan  became  a  rojral 
burgh,  obtaining  then  thofe  priTileges  vriitch  it  has  erer 
fince  retained.     Edward  Balliol,  during  hb  attempts  t6 
wreft  the  kingdom  from  young  David  Bruce,  was  fiurpriied 
at  the  Caftle  of  Annan  by  a  fudden  expedition  of  the  Doo- 
glaffes  from  Moffat,  and  with  difficulty  made  his  eicape  out 
of  (heir  hands,  flying  naked  and  alone  into  England.  Whik 
fhe  Douglaffes  were  wardens  of  thefe  marches,  all  Annan* 
dale  was  theirs ;  and  Annan,  although  a  royal  burgh,  codU 
not  refift  their  authority.    After  their  forfeiture,  it  became 
fubjcA  chiefly  to  the  Johnftones,  with  whom  it  has,  m  a 
great  meafure,  ever  finoe  remained.    And  yet  the  cxten- 
five  burgh  domains  render  the  burgefles  of  Annan  almoft 
independent  of  the  landlords  of  the  furrounding  coontxy. 
Many  remarkable  military  tranfafiions  of  the  border-war- 
fiire  between  the  Scotch  and  EngUfli  took  place  at  Annan* 
and  in  its  vicinity.    Annan  was  one  principal  refidence  af 
thofe  bold  men  of  Annandale,  famous  in  the  Scottifli  hif- 
tory  for  exercifing  fuch  conftant  warfiure  with  the  En^iik 
borderers,  that  they  became,  even  in  refpeft  to  their  Scot- 
^Sk  neighbours,  incapable  of  the  order,  the  moderatioii,  the 
civil  fubmiflion  of  peace. 


NUM. 


qftarhoUofu  4$$ 


NUMBER    XXin. 


PARISH  OF   TARBOLTON, 


(CouKTT  dF  Ayr,  StiioB  of  Glasoow  and  AtKi 
Presbytery  of  Ayr.) 


£^  a  Friend  t6  Staiiflicat  Inquirteu 


Situation  and  Extent^  lie. 

Tn£  pariih  of  TarboKon,  fituated  in  Kyle,  the  middle 
diftrift  of  AyTlhirey  furrounded  by  the  pariihes  (tf 
Craigie,  Mauchlin,  Stair,  Coyltoo,  St  Quivox,  and  Monk- 
ton,  is  ft  high-lying  traft  of  ground,  of  between  feven  and 
eight  miles  in  length,  and  about  fix  in  breadth.  It  is  aboat 
five  miles  from  the  fea-coaft ;  and  its  elevation  above  the 
level  of  the  fea,  feems  to  exceed  the  middle  height  betweea 
the  higheft  and  the  lowed  parts  of  the  county.  Its  ancient 
and  natural  afped  has  evidently  been  fufficiently  rude  and 
wild  \  bare  and  uniheltered  ;  varied  with  frequent  inequi* 
litics  of  fur&ce  \  marlhy  in  the  bollows,  on  the  heights 

overgrown. 


4|«  StmyUMJutmt 

a^cigrowtt  with  headi.  But  die  rode  mrpeft  of  natllfe  ihi 
bcre,  loag  fince,  given  plaee  to  tlie  beaodet  and  die  weahh 
of  iniuilrloiis  cnldvadM* 

Nmmbit  ^tU  ImhMtamh  C/r.~The  nmiber  of  die  is- 
babittnts  of  diis  pariih  wat.  i^  die  year  I7J5»  abovt  1365. 
It  hat  beeo  fince  radier  dimtoiihed  than  aogineoted,  and 
may  be  at  {irrlent  cakidated  not  gready  to  exceed  laoo  9 
of  whom  about  450  are  inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Tar- 
bokott.  The  i«nter#  ave  19 1  and  of  thefe  ibe  iwindpt 
are,  the  Earl  of  Eglbloii,  U(Aj  C^fenol  Montgomety  of 
Coilsfield,  Mr  Cttnningham  of  Enterkine,  the  Marqnk  of 
Titchfield,  Mr  Cooper  of  Smithftone,  the  hein*  of  Colond 
Hunter,  Dr  Hunter  of  Pack,  Ci^ain  DavidliM  of  Dram* 
ley,  Mr  Neil!  of  Scbaw.  The  fmrmers  are  in  flumbcr 
about  130.  In  the  village  ate  Several  JheUmg-maim. 
Around  it  are  the  pofleffiont  of  feveral  of  thdfe  fknall  pro- 
prietors, who  are  ufoally  diAingniihed  by  the  appellatiaB 
p{  farfioturs.  Here  is  %  farmer  foetHj^t  for  the  porpofes  of 
die  friendly  focieues  now  common  in  Scotland  t  as  aUs  s 
fmrwur  eMf  for  the  ends  of  agricultnral  improvemeat.  la 
the  village  are  two  nmfim  4n^M« 

4mmaiSio€k  mud  FoAMsm^— The  amoial  ftook  on  tfat 
lands  in  the  pariih  has  been  rackoned  at  about  386  bories, 
1809  c#ws,  and  500  ibeep.  The  valued  rent  is  betweea 
I*.  7060  tnd  I*.  8000  Soocdi. 

Dairia.  —The  capital  (pecies  of  induft^  followed  by  dr 
jfonnen,  is,  the  management  of  jcaitle  for  the  pfea  of  the 
dairy.  The  /eqfgs  are  oommooly  for  nineteen  yeais,  aad 
Tcfirift  the  tenanuto  the  generally  received  modes  of  col- 
livadon.  The  cows  are  of  a  raoe  £unooa  for  the  abwid* 
ance  of  their  oulk#    Tl^ejrare  Irt^oendy  bandied^  and 

have 


gioui  qaaatity  of  bntter  ai»4  ditcfe  M  nnotUj  Jnaie  hem 
far  iUe :  And  in  xbm  |irfetnmtkMi  of  thefe  wticksy  tht  pt6* 
pie  of  this  pariOi,  at  weH  as  the  other  inhabkims  of  tfai| 
ViiddledilkriftoCAyrflitre,  wtt  wdl  knotvtt  to  excel  tbi 
;  of  every  ottier  jfut  of  SeetfamL 


jlgrkwkmriy>*^Bmrlg^  end  eeft  ere  t|ie  pievakflt  ertidii 
of  gratn-€rop»  The  leads  ere  cerefoUy  fubdivided  end  in« 
ctolbdy  here  end  thefee  with  hedgewrofv*  of  trefs  tiid  helit  of 
plentiagA  Fviainfi  are  the  principal  esticb  of  gietn  erop  \ 
eaMNig  other  varietiet  of  the  potetee»  thete  it  parrioderlf 
•  beemifhl  long  white  one^  very  ad  vanttgeonfty  in  lA  hero* ' 
The  gaedens  aford  ahoadanee  of  pi|)fe  and  pol-herbi*  Tht 
tUnmtiiM  here^asemnnd  tfckilpeftemQonft  IB  general*  teoiftp 
end  fehjeft  to  fire^oeat  raioa.  Yet  it  it  fuflkiendy  genialt 
ibr  in  the  middle  i>C  September  in  the  year  1795,  the  heiv 
eeft  w»  move  than  one  half  adveaeed*  Hie  fiil  it  n  re4- 
diih  kern ;  end  here  end  there  are  coofiderable  ftrau  of 
^eareerth.  The  enltnre  o|  htrmpi^  aa  e  orop  in  forage 
end  for  fiJlowii^,  is  not  yet  folly  eftsUUbed  in  this  paciflii 
but  begins  to  be  continually  more  and  more  adopted. 

pemmodiott^y  arvanged  in  e  fijeafe,  open  in  front ;  and  h»> 
iring,  on  this  fide,  before  the  door  of  the  dweUmg^honfoy  e 
fmooth  green,  e  pond  of  water,  and  die  dunghiU.  They 
ere  coveted  with  thatdiiag,  and  are  nfiially  one  ftory  in 
be^t.  Sown  gtafts  ere  univetfally  in  nie  throi^hoat 
chisperiih.  The  common  proportion  between  the  gnii 
end  the  com  in  the  egriooltnre  of  %  farm,  gives  coo-third 
of  the  arable  ground  to  the  latter  *,  to  the  former  two-thirds. 
fim^  ioit  m^ni^re,  is  pot  iudeed  found  within  the  pariih ; 


hot  18  dbuined  ingtcat  abnndtnoey  and  at  aroifonalikprioe, 
ia  its  imipediate  neighbourhood.  Piois  and  fk-coai  are 
tiip  common  fuel ;  the  Jatter  is  obtained  in  plenty  from  do 
great  diflanoe. ..  It  is:  in  one  quarter  only,  of  the  parifli  that 
iarlgf  has  been  found  to  anfwer  as  an  article  of  crop.  The 
inhabitants  ate,  in  gener^»  a  floot»  healthy,  cleanly,  good* 
looking  people,  not  ill  educated,  and  flill  imprelTed  with  a 
gteat  and  ferions  refpeft  for  the  ordinances  of  religion. 

-  MarJhts  and  Roads*  The  neareft  maritt  towns  are,  Ayr, 
Irvine,  Kilmarnock,  and  Maochlin,  The  crofs  roads  are 
numerous,  well  laid,  and  kept  in  good  condition  i  but  with 
tills  difadvantage,  that  they  are  condofted  without  any  dif- 
tinftioui  indifferently  up  heights,,  and  down  into  hollows. 
Ayrfhire,  abounding  in  coal  and  limeftone,  demanded  for 
the  conveyance  of  thcfe,  good  roads,  at  a  time  when,  id  other 
parts  of  Scotland,  roads  wene  not  thought  to  be  wordij  of 
great  attention  in  parilh-police  (  and  when  fuoh  attcntioa 
had  not  yet  been  paid  to  them  in  this  country,  as  was  ne^ 
oeflary  to  difcover  how  much  better  it  is  to  eondud  a  roai 
round  the  bate  of  a  hill,  than  over  itt  fummit. 

Minifter  and  School^  Wr. — The  prefent  pariih  mmiftcrof 
Tarbolton  is  the  Reverend  Mr  Ritchie.  The  church  is  in 
a  decent  condition.  A  new  manfe  has  juft  been  built  ixx 
the  prefent  incumbent.  The  value  of  the  benefice  does 
not. exceed  L.  150  a-year,,nar  yet  fall  greatly  ihort  of  it. 
The  pariihioners,  from  the  highefi  to  the  lowcft,  give  a 
decent  and  diligent  attendance  at  church.  The  pariA 
Ichoolmailer's  emoluments  may  be  about  L.  50  a-jear. 
LatxR,  arithmetic  writing,  the  reading  of  Engliih,  are  taught 
in  the  fchooL 
«  • 

CoffeSiosa 


^f  Tarbo&otu  457 

^oDiSinm  fw  ibe  Poor— The  average  Sunday  coQec- 
tions  for  the  poor  are  from  xas.  to  15  s.  in  amount.  At 
the  difpenfation  of  the  Sacrament,  and  upon  other  eztraor- 
binary  occafionst  the  coUedion  ariCps  to  from  L.  a  to  L.  5. 

Antiqmtiis.f'^Tarhobon  was  mod  probablj  a  fiation  of 
the  Danes,  at  that  remote  period  of  our  ancient  hiftorj, 
ivben  thefe  people  pofiefled  all  the  northern  and  wefiem 
iiles  adjacent  to  Scotland,  and  even  confiderable  pofls  and 
pofleiBons  npon  the  ihores  of  the  mainland.     Clofely  con- 
tiguous to  the  Tillage  is  a  mount,  now  named  Hood^s  Hilif 
which  ftrikingly  exhibits  the  appearance  of  an  old  Daniih 
encampment  an^  fortification.    Adjacent,  at  no  great  dis- 
tance, within  the  beautifully  ornamented  grounds  which 
fnrround  the  houfe  of  Coilsfiif4f  ve  a  fcene,  which  the  tra- 
dition  of  the  country  relates  to  have  been  a  field  of  battle ; 
and  a  fione  held  in  veneration  as  the  monument  of  oU  King 
CoiL    It  may  more  probably  have  been  the  fixne  of  a  bat- 
tle between  the  Banijb  invaders,  and  the  old  Cadic  inha- 
bitants of  the  country.    The  rude  fione  miijr  have  been 
originally  placed  to  cover  the  body  of  fome  chieftain,  al- 
though not  that  of  him  to  whom  it  is  aferibed.     Tarbolton 
^as  perhaps  the  boundary  between  the  Dmet  and  the  GasL 
Kykt  the  name  of  the  difirid,  was  probably  firft  impofed 
upon  it,  in  refpeft  to  the  people  inhabiting  it,  and  in  con- 
Cradiftinftion  to  Cunningham^  tlM  name  of  the  adjoining 
diftrid,' which  was  more  permanently  occupied  by  the 
Danes.    Near  to  the  vilUge  of  Tarbolton  fiands  the  ruined 
mooaflery  of  F£al£,  having  btfide  it  a  (mall  hamlet  of 
oottages.    It  is  laid  to  have  been  a  cell  or  priory  depend- 
ent upon  Paifley,  and  belonging,  by  confequence,  to  the 
Black  Montis  o£  Clugnu    I  know  not  whether  it  may  not 
rather  be  the  lame  with  that  priory  of  FaUefurd^  to  which 
Vol.  XIX.  3  M  John 


45^  Statiflical  Account 

John  Graham,  laird  of  Tarbolton,  and  Steward  of  Kjlci 
graoted  the  patronage  of  the  chnrch  of  Tarbokoo,  bj  a 
charter,  dated  at  Failefmrd  in  the  year  1337,  and  afterwards 
confirmed  at  Dundonald  in  the  3  ear  1368,  bj  John  £«rl 
of  Carricki  afterwar4s  King,  bj  the  name  of  Robert  tbe 
Third." 


KUM. 


Of  iAttgforgan^  459 

NXJMBEK.  XXir 
tAktSii   OF    LONCJFORGAN, 


I^CovNTT  OF  Perth,  Stwod  or  Angus  avd  Mearms, 
Preuttert  or  Duxdee.) 

By  a  Proprietor  in  tie  Pari/b^  a  Friend  to  Statijlicai 
Infuiries* 


Siitia^ion  and  Extent. 

TH^  parifli  of  Longforgsin  lies  on  the  foath-eail  comer 
of  the  county  of  Perth,  in  the  preftjterj  of  Dundee^ 
and  fjnod  of  Angus  and  Mearns.  It  is  bounded  on  the  S* 
hj  the  river  Taj,  on  the  W.  by  the  united  pariihes  of  Inch- 
ture  and  Roffie,  and  the  parifli  of  Abemyte;  on  the  N.  bj 
the  parifli  of  Kittens ;  and  on  the  £•  by  the  nnited  parifliaf 
of  Fowlis  Eafler  and  Lundie,  and  of  liiFand  Benvy.  Iti 
fliape  is  irregular.  Its  greateft  length  7  miles,  and  its 
greateft  breadth  about.  3^  miles ;  but  in  fome  places  it  is  fo 
narrowi  that  the  whole  parifli  does  not  conuin  above  7000 
^cres. 

Nam^0 


460  Stai^ai  Awnaa 

Nami.^^The  derivation  of  the  name  Forgaa  baknoum^ 
but  it  moil  be  verj  ancienty  and  appeals  to  havjC  been  ori- 
ginally called  Forgnnd,  from  a  grant  of  Ac  lands  and  baio- 
nj  of  Longforgnnd  to  Sir  Andrew  Gmj  of  Broxmoodit  b/ 
King  Robert  Brucet  in  the  year  IJIS*  The  e^diet  Xon^f 
probabIj7  is  applicable  to  the  village  only,  to  diftingfnfli  it 
from  others  of  the  fame  name. 

Contents. — tt  contains  the  eflates  of  Caftle  Hontly  and 
Monorgan,  Drimmici  MilHiiH,  Knap,  Droo,  and  litdeton^ 
Mylnefield»  Lauriflon,  LochtoOi  two  Ballos^  two  Newtons, 
and  Temple  Hall. 

RetU  and  Hiritots.-^Thc  valued  rent  is  L.  7154  : 6 :  & 
Scotch.  The  real  rent  would  be  difficult  to  afcertain,  but 
it  may  be  about  L.  7000  Sterling  per  annum^  which  wiD 
moft  probably  be  confiderably  increafed  when  the  prefait 
kaies  are  expired.  There  are  eleven  heritors,  fix  of  wboD 
Jtfidet  the  reft  do  not. 

CKmate^Tht  climate^  in  the  lower  part  of  this  pnrifli  is 
mildy  Diow  (eldom  lying  above  a  week  at  a  time ;  but  in 
'  the  hilly  part  it  is  lels  fo»  There,  the  foow  lies  much 
longer  in  winter,,  and  there  is  at  leaft  three  weeks  differ* 
cAce  between  the  ripening  of  the  crops  above  and  below 
tfie  hills.  All  over  the  pariih,  however,  the  weather  is 
various,  and  frequently  changes  very  confideraUy  two  or 
three  ^a»esin  a  day.  The  winters  are  neither  long  nor 
levere.  The  {prings  are  ibort.  In  the  month  of  May,  and 
beginning  of  June,  cold  eafterly  vnnds  prevail;  but  in 
general  the  weft  and  fouth-weft  winds  are  the  moft  preva- 
lent through  the  year.  In  June  and  July,  the  weather  is 
warm  and  fine.  About  the  beginning  of  Aoguft  rains  are 
frequent ;  but  the  autums  are  fine,  and  firofis  feldom  fct  in 
very  fisveie  till  after  Chriftmas 

Annexed 


of  Longfofgan. 


Co 
O 


00 


o\ 


*a  •o  *j  ^j  ^*i  '"^i  V.T  *J  *J  *^i  ^J 

NOVCVOVOVOVC    QSOOQOQOQO 
Oi  4^  Cm    k>   m    O  VO   00*>a   0\^^ 


ooooo  pop  p  p  po 

Cl  "m  a>  4:^  4!^  4^  Cj    0\i^  Ui  NC 


Greateft. 


o»  00  OD  po  00  00  oo  00  00  00  poo 
Ci  ^  Ui  o\*^  C>  M  Ci  »j  <St  Ui 
u»  o  ^^  o  oo«^  o  VO-  ^i  \o  o 


4^  «^   0C4^    M    0(mCmU»V^CmO 


>OOVOMOQ0OHUiO\MC 


o 


o 


ft»   00w>  CaA    OvNO  4^  ^^  "^4    h    m 


^  ^  0\  0\  Os  0\  0\        0\(^  <^ 
O    ONCm  Cm    Mt*>4^    M    H4k<^e 

a 


NO    M    O  C»    O 


I    o    OOVO  NO    o  o 

«4»*  kl|H   »4"  H" 


Leaf!. 


Gmtdt. 


Leaft. 


3  winter 
montfas. 


3  rummer 
months. 


Through 
the  year. 


3 


? 


O   O  Cm    M    M    M   ODsO    00\O 
Q»^    00^    »«  4^  o>  ^  <>4   4^ 


»» 
»» 


U>    M 

00^ 


M     »»    l-l    M  CM  OiJ 
CO  00^    0\4k    kJ^ 


O      C  0-^4^0U)CM0<t^4^^0\ 

U»      iS  Cn  U>    p    O  4^    OO^f  O    O  1^    O 

_g  

M      ^  U>MmU>4^»>mhmk>|» 

i^     •  >0^vO^OmO\  OOVO    O  U» 

—  3 

M       pi 


VVitb 


With 


FjITh 


Cm    m    »>u»    MOi    kd   fe»U>^^CM 
OiVOVO    Os>C  Cm    on  ON-^    »i*   O 


North. 


N.  Eaft. 


o\ 


O  OOVO  ^  vo  4^  .^   »^   M   osvc 


^    M  M     «     M  M     >* 

VO^    0«0    o    O    »-V04k^    0\ 


CM  ^    00  O    OO^-n    00  O  *J  "O  O^ 


^    M    ti    O    OOVO  VCL  O    O    00  l» 
^  M  NO  4^    k^    M  4^    004^    Ovt^ 


NO 


Wi 


0«NO    O0O0k»4^    M    M    QVO    CO 
>«  .^    00  QO^^    O    0\U>    O  ^1    0\ 


O^KM^t^OO*^    Os-^  vo 


£aft. 


S.  £ait 


South. 


S.Wcft. 


Weft. 


N.Weft. 


Mod  pre- 
valent in 
a  year. 


k>\M  k«u«  »*  MM  5i^>*^5J  *l  I  Quant,  in 
00  O  00^  U4  M  vo  a\4*  vp  *;»  I  vc»?»"^-  in 
fl-i^*H-"H-i^H-H-«t*i''«<-H-        I  inches. 


I 


i>  r. 

a  a 


461 

o    '^ 

III 

IH 

?  fr  s^ 
&^ 

•a  *^8 

»!§• 

o  &  *» 
'^  B  <t 

«  a  * 

Sil 

w   ^   o 

S  »"  a. 
^  5-  g* 


s 


<    ST  -:•• 

5  g  8" 
£»o-  3. 

§  3 


%6t  Statifticat  Account 

Surface^  HiOs, — ^The  furftce  o£  the  parifli  is  rtrj  imgu« 
Ian  Its  fouthern  boundary  upoo  the  Tay  to  the  eaftwardf 
b  bold  and  fieep,  which  ends  in  the  rocky  promontoty  of 
Kingoody*  From  that  point  a  beautiful  bank  rifes,  and  as 
it  procced^north  and  weft,  it  takes  the  Ihape  of  a  creficent, 
and  ends  In  a  bluff  point*  at  a  place  called  the  Snabs  of 
Drimroie,  about  3  miles  from  its  beginning,  belowl  which, 
and  between  it  and  the  river  Tay,  the  forface  is  a  perfed 
plain,  its  loweft  part  upwards  of  20  feet  above  the  bed  of 
the  river,  and  forms  the  eaftcrmofl  part  of  that  fertile  vale, 
well  known  by  the  name  of  the  Carfe  of  Gowpe.  About 
half  a  mile  north  from  the  village  of  Longforgan,  this  bank 
finks  into  a  narrow  vale,  which  runs  acrois  the  pariih,  and 
from  which  rifes  a  range  of  hills,  which  may  be  confidered 
as  part  of  the  Sidlaws.  Thefe  divide  Strathmore  from  the 
Carfe  of  Gowcie,  and  end  at  Perth.  There  are  three  re« 
markable  hills  in  this  pariOi,  Dron,  Ballo,  and  Lochtown. 
The  firft  is  667  feet;  the  fecond,  992  feet)  and  the  lafi, 
ziya  feet  above  the  level  of  the  fca. 

Riven f  Fijbingt^  and  Rivulets, ^^Thtrc  is  no  river  con* 
neded  with  thb  parifli  but  the  Tay,  which  bounds  it  on 
the  fouth  for  nearly  three  miles.  It  is  here  between  two 
and  three  miles  broad,  and  when  the  tide  ebbs,  it  leaves 
near  a  mile  of  dry  fand  between  its  bank  and  the  dream  or 
current  of  the  river.  At  prefent,  the  river  Tay  is  famoos 
for  its  excellent  falmon,  from  Enrol  upwards ;  and  again, 
where  it  narrows  near  the  Gaftle  of  Broughty,  about  three 
miles  below  Dundee ;  but  none  are  caught  now  where  it 
bounds  this  parifli ;  although  formerly  there  might  have 
been  fome,  as  the  right  of  fifliing  for  falmon  is  attached  b/ 

charter 


^f  LongforgafU  .  4^3 

charter  to  the  eftate  of  Monorgaa^.    Three  rivulets  alfo 
take  their  rife  in  this  pariih  f. 

Minerals, — Hitherto  nothing  has  been  eztrafted  from  the 
|)Qwels  of  the  earth  in  this  parifh  but  flone  and  ihell  marl; 
but  there  are  feveral  mineral  fprings,  particularly  about 
Caftle  Hutttlyy  vrhich  are  ftrongly  impregnated  with  iron ; 
and  from  the  red  colour  of  the  foil  in  many  parts,  and  frpm 
the  weight  and  appearance  of  ftones  found  very  near  the 
furface,  there  is  every  reafon  to  believe  that  the  bank,  of 
Forgan  abounds  with  iron  ore. 

Stone 

*  If  ever  falmon  were  c&ught  in  that  part  of  the  river  which  bounds  this 
parifh,  it  muft  bt^c  been  at  a  very  remote  period,  probably  before  the  Tay 
formed  its  junction  with  the  Erne  at  Inctfyra,  and  when  the  Carfe  land  ex- 
tended much  farther  fouth,  and  occupied  a  great  part  of  wh%t  now  forms 
~  the  bed  of  the  river  Tay, 

f  Two  of  thefc  rivulets  rife  from  one  point,  dire^ly  north  from  Long- 
forgan,  in  that  vale  which  runs  acrofs  the  parifli.  One,  taking  an  eaftern 
direAion,  unites  with  the  bum  of  Benvy,  fouth  of  Giay,  turns  two  com- 
tnills,  a  fulling-mill,  and  one  flour-mill ;  and  after  ferving  as  a  boundary 
between  the  counties  of  Perth  and  Forfar,  for  a  great  part  of  iu  courfe,  it 
empties  itfelf  into  the  Tay  at  Invtrgowrle  Bay.  The  other,  running  weft- 
ward,  enters  Lord  Kinnaird*s  park  in  the  parifli  of  Roflie,  where  it  falls  im- 
mediately into  a  larger  ftream,  which  takes  its  rife  in  the  upper  part  of  this 
parifli,  and  which,  in  its  courfe,  before  the  junction,  turns  five  com-mills, 
four  lint-mills,  one  barley-miU  in  this  parifli,  and  one  threfliitig-mill  b  the 
parifli  of  Roffie.  After  they  are  unitM,  they  continue  in  a  weftem  direc- 
tion as  far  as  the  Old  CafUe  of  Moncur,  aud  aif  there  joined  by  the  bum 
of  Balledgamo.  This  united  ftream  there  takes  a  foutherly  dire^ion,  and 
for  a  confiderable  way  divides  the  two  pariflies  of  Inchture  and  Longfbrgan. 
It  again  cnten  this  parifli,  and  proceeding  eaftwavd,  paiies  through  the 
parks  of  Caftle  Huntly,  turns  a  com  mill  at  Monorgan,  afler  which,  its 
ftream,  being  guided  by  a  canal,  dug  within  flood*mark,  at  a  confidenble 
expence,  within  thefe  few  years,  it  waflies  the  harbour  of  Kiogoody,  and 
empties  itfelf  into  the  Tay  fouth  of  Mylnefield,  under  the  name  of  the  Bum 
•f  Monorgan,  but  in  the  chaiten  and  old  writings  it  is  called  the  Bum  of 
Monnoua.  This  bursi  through  its  whole  coinfe,  abounds  with  excellent 
fifvt.' 


464  Siatj/Hcul  Acctmnt 

Simi  ^uarria* — ^The  flofie  qaarries  ia  this  parifli  tie 
manj  and  various,  but  the  principal  is  at  K^ingoodj,  upon 
the  eftate  of  Mylnefield,  which  is  perhaps  one  of  the  befi  in 
Great  Britain  *• 

There 

•  The  Kingood J  ftooe  it  of  a  s'cytfli  colour,  called  Vf  miaemlu^ifti 

Grain-ftone ;  it  is  difiiailt  to  work ;  hard  and  durable  to  an  uncoBtt 
degree;  To  much  fo,  that  the  fine  old  tower  the  fteeple  of  Dundee,  whiu 
was  bnxlt  of  it  in  King  David  the  Second's  time,  has  (hown  fcarce  any  fjmp 
toms  of  decay,  except  where  the  infinence  of  the  town  atmosphere  reaches. 
Caftle  Huntly,  fuppofed  to  be  built  in  145a*  has  fcarce  a  fione  in  it  which 
has  yielded  to  the  influence  of  the  weather ;  and  a  gate  at  that  place,  built 
pf  Kingoodyftone,  by  Earl  Patrick  of  Strathmore,  130  years  ago,  is  crowned 
with  four  pyramids,  the  points  of  which  appear  perfe^ly  entire  at  this  day, 
(1797},  not  meafuring  more  in  diameter  than  r-i6th  of  an  inch.  Thefe 
are  only  a  (lew  amongit  many  inftances  of  its  durability.  It  produces  Aonc 
of  all  fizes,  and  for  every  purpofe  of  building,  as  it  aflfbrds  blocks  of  50  feet 
in  length  by  16  in  breadth ;  alfo  ftone  for  pavements,  millftones,  flate%  &c. 
In  this  ({uarry  fome  ftone  is  raifed  of  a  bluifli  caft,  of  an  exceeding  fine 
grain,  and  capable  of  a  poIiHi,  little  (hort  of  fome  marble.  The  deeper  in 
the  quarry  the  ftone  is  the  better ;  it  is  foft  below  water-maik*  and  it  it 
cafier  worked,  but  hardens  in  the  common  air. 

The  beft  ftone  in  this  quarry  feems  to  lie  in  a  north-eafterly  direction,  but 
as  its  bed  proceeds  north  and  weft,  it  degenerates,  at  leaft  it  appears  fo,  u 
lar  as  it  has  yet  been  traced.  About  a  mile  weftwiund  below  Longlbrgan, 
it  has  the  appearance  of  reddifti  granite ;  but  it  is  foft,  and  fiwms  to  yield  to 
the  hammer,  and  diilblves  fo  entirely  with  fn^ion  and  moifture,  tliat  it  has 
been  found  totally  unfit  for  metalling  roads,  but  it  has  been  ufed,  and  docs 
very  well  for  building  common  village-houfes ;  farther  weft  it  }ias  man  of 
that  red  colour,  and  becomes  hea^,  as  if  it  tended  to  iron  Qre. 

Mr  Mj^lne,  the  proprietor,  employs  from  fifty  to  fixty  hands  in  tbe  qpMjry 
of  Kingoody ;  four  boats  for  tranfporting  fione,  which  are  navigated  by 
nine  hands,  and  not  only  fends  ftones  to  the  whole  extent  horn  Mbotrole  to 
Perth  by  water,  but  like  wife  for  15  or  16  miles  of  country  round  by  land- 
carriage.  He  alfo  fends  confiderable  quantities  to  F.ii|rlai>5l  •  uid  lataly 
undertook,  by  contradl,  to  fumifli  ftones  from  this  quarry  to  two  navigable 
cinals,  the  one  called  the  Gippon's  Navigation,  near  Ipfwich;  the  other, 
the  ChelmesCord  Canal,  near  Maldon,  in  Eilex.  He  has  built  a  confiderabk 
village  upon  the  ^ot  for  the  labourers  the  iph^^tyitaati  of  which  at  prdyent 
aowifnt  to  xz6  of  all  ages« 

AMKM«h 


pf  tofif organ.  46* 


lliere  are  alfo  ia  this  parilh  feveral  otheir  flone-quarrie). 
tjpoa  the  eftates  of  Dron  and  Ballo,  the  done  is  good,  du- 
rable, and  excellent  for  everj  purpofe  of  building.     At 
Millhill,  the  done  is  fbft,  and  of  a  biuifli  eaft,  which  does 
not  (land  the  weather^  but  fplits  into  Coiali  lamelte  upon 
being  expofed.    However^  it  aiifwers  very  well  for  infide 
walls,  and,  if  under  cover,  will  lait  many  jrears*     At  Lai»- 
rifton,  the  ftone  inclines  to  a  dufky  black,  is  much  harder* 
and,  when  polUhed,  has  the  appearance  of  marble.     It  is  a 
real  limeftone,  but  not  very  ftrong ;  however,  were  coals,    , 
or  proper  fuel  near  enough  to  bring  the  burning  within  a 
reafonable  expence,  it  might  anfwer  very  well-     fielow  the 
Bank  of  Forgan  there  are  feveral  rocky  protuberjbces,  all 
of  them  a  very  hard  bluifli  whin^  very  difficult  to  raife ; 
and  although  fome  of  them  have  been  ufed  for  village  hou- 
fes,  yet,  as  there  is  no  working  them  either  with  the  ham- 
mer or  the  chiflel,  they  have  been  principally  ufed  for  the  ' 
turnpike,  and  other  public  roads.     Caftie-Huotly  is  built 
upon  one  of  thefe  roekytminenoest 
Vol.  XIX.  3N  Marl. 

Aldioagh  it  does  not  properly  belong  to  this  {Ntper  to  interfere  with  the 
bofineis  of  revenue  or  finance,  yet,  as  the  fubjedl  is  curious,  it  is  worth  while 
to  remark,  that  owing  to  the  interpretation  put  upon  the  wording  of  the  Ute 
iSt  of  Parliament,  for  impofing  a  duty  upon  ftone  fea-bomq»  by  the  re- 
▼enueo^cers,  the  ciporution  of  ftone  from  this  quarry/  in  all  proibabiUty, 
will  foon  be  at  an  end.  For,  although  the  whole  revenue  arifing  to  Co- 
veoonient,  betwixt  the  sth  day  of  July  1794  and  the  5th  day  of  July  1795, 
from  this  dnty«  was  only  L.  t6  :  x8  :  3),  yet,  from  the  diftance  between 
Kingoody  and  the  ports  of  Perth  and  Dundee,  ftsch  is  the  difficulty  of  pro- 
curing  coaft-difpatches  for  a  cargo  of  ftone,  worth  only  17  s.  and  not  ex* 
ceeding  10  d  per  tOn  in  value,  as  to  prolong  a  voyage,  performed,  belbre 
the  commencement  of  this  adl,  in  twelve  hours,  to  three  days.  Whatever 
reafons  Govemmetit  may  have  for  continuing  this  a^  as  it  is  at  preieat^ 
4ors  not  fall  within  our  province  to  lay ;  but  although  of  very  fmall  im- 
port to  them,  it  is  a  very  material  concern  to  the  proprietor,  and  his  eo^ 
ployers ;  for,  in  the  year  above  mentioned,  this  duty  alone  occafioncd  a  de- 
lay of  work  eijual  to  twenty  tunes  the  valae  of  the  duty  paid. 


466  Statijiical  Accwfa 

ACsr/,— There  has  been  found  in  this  parilh  a  cxnSAtf* 
able  qiiancitj  of  flielUmarl,  vttj  pure  and  white.  Ths 
prefeni  proprietor  of  Caflle-Hnntly  has  fold  near  60,000 
,  bolls,  at  8  d«  and  9  A^p§r  boO,  (m  cube  of  two  feet),  fince 
the  year  1779 ;  but  it  i»  now  exbaufted,  or  lies  fo  deep,  it 
IB  not  worth  the  working*  In  the  bed  containing  tfak  marlr 
feme  red  deers  horns  were  found  feme  years  ago,  uBcom- 
monly  large* 

Coal. — ^There  is  alfo  s  tradition,  that  theft  are  eoabst 
Myrefide  in  this  pariib^  and  that  fome  satempts  to  difeover 
them  were  begun  in  1715,  but  feiled  from  fome  canfe,  now 
unknown.  However,  a  very  ingenioos  chymift,  latelj, 
was  fo  felly  pediiaded  that  coab  might  be  fennd  in  the  le- 
"vel  groiuids  below  Forgan,  that  he  made  fome  propo&b  to 
work  them  at  his  own  expence,  but  certain  remfoos  made 
she  proprietors  drop  any  attempt  for  the  time* 

Growing  Timber. — ^Up«n  evevy  eAate  in  this  psfifli  there 
are  great  plenty  of  fine  growing  timber,  of  all  ages,  and  ?s^ 
rious  kinds,  fuch  as  oak,  afli,  elm,  plane,  poplar,  lime^ 
horie-chefnute,  waloute,^  beech^  fir,  larix,  mountain-aih,  Ij- 
bemum,  &e.  many  of  them  from  xoo  to  ijo  years  of  ^r 
particularly  at  Longforgan,  MylnefieM,  Caftle-Hondy,  and 
at  the  houfe  of  Drimmie  \  and  affo  in  hedge-rows  all  orer 
the  pariifa,  befides  about  600  acres  of  fine  thriving  young 
plantations,  from  20  to  40  yeavs  old  *; 

Marjb 

*  In  the  year  1743,  A  ruirey  tvas  ttken  of  the  growing  tfmber  on  the  eftstr 
#f  CaiUcHuntly,  then  Caftle-Lyon.  It  was  found  to  contain  8557  ^'^^  ^ 
all  fom,  valued  at  L.  1813  : 5  : 1.  Amongil  nhefe  were  a  great  miabcr  of 
Iweet  chefnut  trees,  which  were  fold  fome  time  afterwaidsy  and  were 
Wught  up  by  fliip  ciipcnten,  who  confidered  them  as  good,  if  not  better. 
fi>r  the  porpofe  of  fliip-building  than  oak.    Ihcre  axe- a  much  greater  nam- 


pf  Longforgan.  467 

Marjb  RmA-— A  fpecies  of  the  mrundo^  called  pbragmites^ 
<K  common  marfli-reed,  and  whteh  grows  bj  the  fides  of 
rivers,  or  in  Handing  waters,  is  found  in  great  abundance 
here.  Of  late  years  it  has  been  propagated  upon  the  banks 
of  the  riyer  Tay  with  great  fucceis,  particularly  at  Errol 
and  Seafide;  and  ever  fince  the  threlhing-mills  have  been 
eftabliflied,  which  totally  difqualify  the  wheat-firaw  for 
thatch,  the  propagation  of  reeds  has  been  an  objed  of  confi- 
derabk  importance  to  proprietors,  for  they  are  fiold  at  a 
guinea  for  one  hundred  bunches,  each  meafuring  one  yard 
round,  and  they  are  fure  of  a  ready  market  for  as  many  as 
they  can  raife ;  and  the  introdufiioo  of  reeds  for  thatch  is 
attended  with  this  advantage  to  £inliers,  diat  the  wheat- 
ftraw  is  now  condemned  to  the  dung-court,  and  is  applied 
where  it  ought  to  be,  to  increafe  the  manure  of  the  farm  *• 

Orcbards. 

ber  of  trees  upon  llie  Dune  eftate  now,  Imt  lihey  hive  not  been  valued. 
AnKmgft  otfaen,  ^re  ate  ibme  rtrj  remarkable,  fuch  as  an  afli,  called 
ObmHs  tree,  wliidi  meafiiRs  17  feet  round,  near  die  root,  and  17  feet  a 
^ard  high ;  another  afli,  19  feet  round  near  the  root,  and  14  a  yard  high ; 
elms,  ti  ftct;  hoHe-cfaefbuts,  10  fieet;  poplars,  10  feet;  firs,  9  feet; 
planes,  9  ftct ;  yews,  6  feet ;  lime,  7  feet  diree  inches ;  thorns,  6  feet ;  one 
thorn,  6  frft  to  inches ;  all  taken  at  about  3  feet  from  the  ground.  One 
fir,  ata  yaid  fiom  the  ground,  13  fiiet  6  inches ;  dofe  to  the  ground,  19 
feet;  and  ^  diameter  of  tl)e  top  is  ta  yards.  And,  within  tbefe  few 
years,  planes  have  been  fold  for  L.  13  and  L.  14  each ;  and  fin  cut  down 
containing  90*  and  a  beech  blown  down  this  year  (1796),  containing  X17 
cubic  ftet  of  flseaford>]e  wood  in  their  trunks. 

The  oaks,  in  genrral,  are  young ;  none,  or  very  few,  above  50  or  60 
years  old :  but  they  thrive  remarkably  well,  particularly  in  the  clay ;  as  a 
proof  of  whidi,  there  are  nuny  upon  the  eftate  of  Gaftle-Huntiy,  phnted 
from  the  nurfery  in  1761,  which  meafure  from  4  to  5  feet  round.  The 
lufia  is  but  lately  introduced  here ;  but  it  dirives  well,  and  upon  every  kind 
of  foil.  There  aie  great  plenty  of  walnuti,  the  fhiitof  which  npens  well 
m  general* 

*  About  10  years  ago,  the  late  Mr  Renry  Crawford  of  Monorgan  made 
the  M.  attempt  to  pUat  reeds  upon  the  fides  of  the  Hiy,  which  bound*  this 

pariibt 


urcoaras*"^  mere  are  qvc  orcnaros  in  uic  panuiy  au  m 
a  thriving  condition,  particcilarl^  at  Monorgan,  ivhich  is 
reckoned  the  belt  in  the  Carfe  of  Gowrie,  ai^d  l^ks  been 
iatnous  \h,^it  i^any  jears  for  jieldiiig  fine  fruity 

Horticyhure. — The  only  gardens  in  this  parifli  worthy  of 
Dotictf  are  at  CaiileUuptly.  Xhcre  are  above  300  feet  of 
glafs;  a  melon-pit,  of  ao  feet  bj  12,  worked  by  fleam 
alone,  without  uung,  and  plenty  of  peaches,  nedarins,  apri- 
cots, figs,  almonds,  and  other  frviits,  which  ripea  on  th(f 
9pen  wall* 

Steam  M^r/o^i*///.— As  the  fleam  melon-pit  is  rather  new, 
it  may  be  an  ui'etui  information  to  (ay,  that  the  pit  is  i(k 

feet 


pariih,  but  with9ut  fuccds  i  «n4  although  h^  phntcd  manj  ^rei»  t  T07 
imall  fppt  only,  upon  th?  weitermoft  potot  of  the  eftate  has  productd  anj 
thing  like  a  crop.  X9  ^^kt  reeds  thrive,  two  things  are  aecdiary;  i/t  A 
certain  depth  oi  ^at  kind  of  foil  which  riven  depofit ;  xaA^2d,  A  ivftcieat 
fence,  to  prote<fl  both  the  foil  itielf,  and  the  new  planted  recd%  froai  the 
violence  of  the  flux  and  reflux  pf  the  tid^.  Mr  Ciawfc^d  thought  it  wooU 
b(.  fufficicnt  to  carry  out  into  the  river  fences  made  of  the,  '^reothop  of 
young  firs,  cut  into  ftal^cs,  anf  driven  deep  into  the  foiU  (or  dfieX,  ts  it  is 
^Ued  here),  and  wattled  with  the  fmaller  wood,  which  iuafweted  vciy  «rU 
for  ibme  time ;  the  foil  increafe^  in  bulk ;  the  KfcAi  were  pknted*  and  1^ 
pcared  to  thrive ;  but  the  violence  of  the  tid«  fopn  aoricd  fences,  reeds, 
1^  foil  before  it ;  an4  now,  Ccarce  a  v^ge.  of  any  thing  remains.  Soo^ 
mounds,  however,  a  confiderable  way  within  water-mark,  are  forming  of 
themfelvcs,  a^d  in  fevi^ral  places  (bowing  a  ki^d  of  fpwe^ graft ;  and  whrn- 
eyer  it  gathers  fuch  a  firmncfs,  re^,  if  planters  will  probably  thnvc*  ^ 
once  fairly  eftabliflied,  they  prppagate  th^fehres  without  trouble,  and  gift 
a  crop  every  year.  X^e.  fame  kind  of  reed  lhfti(ys  itielf  in,  confiderable  qiua- 
tities,  in  feveral  fieUls  next  the  river,  an^  through  the  Carle,  which  it  is  is- 
poffibie  to  get  rid  of,  as  they  rife  frpm  roots  exceedii^ly  deep,  fnat  of 
which  have  been  traced  18  feet  below  the  furface.  Hence  diey  cannot  \^ 
fuppofed  to  rob  the  prolific  furface  of  any  nourifliment ;  but  as  they  ripen 
iqi'd  grow  ftropg,  efpccially  amongft  wheat,  it  is  probable  tbey  arc  not  qf^ 
barmleii  in  (haking  winds. 


^f  Longf$rgan.  4(^9 

feet  bj  x«»  and  is  fo  conftruded  u  to  receive  the  fteam 

from  a  boiler  of  caft-iron,  containing  ten  Englifli  gaAons^ 

placed  ^ver  a  furnace,  built  about  the  middle  of  the  back** 

wall,  into  a  chamber,  occupying  the  whole  fpace  below  the 

m^^lon-earth,  which  is  fupported  by  an  arch  of  brick,  fo 

built,  that  the  ends  of  the  bricks  leave  about  an  inch  open 

fpace  for  the  Aeam  to  pafs,  while  the  fides  are  cemented 

with  lime,  over  which  is  placed  a  layer  of  wheat-firaw, 

^bout  an  inch  thick,  and  then  the  melon-mould.    The  pit 

ifi  about  four  teet  deep  behind,  and  two  and  a  half  or  three 

before.    A  pit,  of  the  above  dimenfions,  will  require  two 

longitudinal  arches,  the  one  next  the  lorepart  of  the  pit, 

lower  than  the  one  p'^rallel  to  the  back  part,  fo  as  to  give  % 

proper  declivity  to  the  furface  of  the  mt!lon-earth ;  and  the 

mid-  wall,  which  lupports  the  arches,  is  full  of  openings,  to 

let  thf  fteair.  p  ifs  ireely  *,  care  alfo  muft  be  taken,  fo  to  con- 

ftrud  the  funnel  for  dividing  the  fteam,  that  it  may  beajr 

equally  upon  all  parts  of  the  fiame.     Melons  raifed  in  this 

way  are  thought  to  be  thinner  ikinned,  and  rather  higher 

flavoured  than  thofe  produced  in  the  common  way. 

Pita  Siovesr^tJo  doubt,  fteam  might  be  applied  to  pine 
fioves  with  equal  advantage ;  and  it  is  probable,  that  ihe 
|Mt  above  defcribed,  or  one  upon  the  fame  principles,  would 
anfwer  every  purpofe  of  railing  pines. 

Vinery.'^ Ax  Caftle-Huntly  fteam  is  introdncrd  into  a 
vinery,  and  it  is  propofed  to  be  tried  in  peach-houfcrs  oUo ; 
but  in  thefe  laft,  the  fteam  is  guided  by  pipes  of  tinned 
copper,  li  inch  in  diameter,  conduced  fiom  the  boiler,  pla- 
ced over  the  fame  furnace  which  heats  the  houfe,  and  car- 
ried round  about  half  a  foot  above  the  back  flue,  and  i^ 
foot  above  the  fronr  flue,  but  in  a  contrary  dire£li<'o,  with 
C^tclu  opemng  at  different  places^  fo  as  to  divide  the  fteam, 

and 


aaa  appiy  ic  co  any  parcicsiar  pome  ac  pieaiare.  loe  ex- 
tremitj  of  the  fleam  pipe^  a  a»  is  conduced  to  the  outfide 
ef  the  hottfe,  but  juft  before  it  enters  the  wall,  b  b,  it  is  bent 

or  curved  downwards^  as  at  c, 
where  fteam  being  coodenfed, 
lodges,  and  prevents  oommnnics* 
tion  with  the  external  air,  whils 
St  finds  a  paffage  oat  at  d,  i^ica 
the  cocks  in  the  houfe  are  ikot, 
or  the  fleam  too  ftrong.  By  thefe  means,  the  honfe  hss  the 
advantage  of  a  great  additionsl  heat  at  no  expeoce ;  sad  s 
fteam  dew,^  when  thought  proper,  which  moft  certainly  coo- 
tributes  very  much  to  preferve  the  trees  bom  fuflering  by 
various  infe^. 


Fruits  nfj^M.— Fruits  ripen  upon  the  common  waD  as 
under.  Cherries  about  the  laft  week  of  June  and  beginning 
of  July;  apricots  the  firft  and  fecond  week  in  Augnft; 
pears  from  the  end  of  July  to  Odober ;  jarganeUs  the  firft 
week  in  September ;  peaches,  in  fine  feafons,  in  Augaft, 
and  continue  through  September  and  O&ober;  but  ill  of 
them  ripen  fooner  or  later,  according  to  their  various  fpe- 
cies,  and  the  difference  of  the  feafons. 

f^illa^e  ofLon£/t>r^an.^^Tikt  village  of  Lo«gforgan,  wkich 
gives  name  to  the  parifh,  occupies  23  Scotch  acres,  and  is 
beautifully  fituated  upon  the  creft  of  thatrifing  ground,  which 
runs  between  Kingoody  and  Drimmie,  and  bounds  the 
^aftmoft  corner  of  the  Carfe  of  Gowrie  00  that  fide,  and 
from  which  it  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  river  Tay,  &r 
above  20  miles.  Its  longitude  weft  from  Greenwich  ii  3^ 
16'  45",  and  its  latitude  56®  2f  48". 

Qrigiu 


of  Longf organ.  471 

Ofigin^^^TYit  origin  of  this  village  flioft  probably  had 
been  for  the  accommodation  of  the  retainers*  and  the  more 
immediate  dependents  of  the  Baron  of  the  Caftle  y  and  moft 
probably  all  ancient  villages  owed  their  origin  to  the  fame 
caufe.  For  thej  paid  little  or  no  rent»  but  what  thej  did 
pay  was  moflly  in  kind.  The  reft  was  made  np  in  a  variety 
of  fervices  \  fo  that  their  wBok  time,  almoft,  ^as  at  the 
command  of  thair  fuperior ;  and  alfo  their  perfonal  attend* 
ance  on  their  faperior  in  the  field  was  an  eflential  and  indif- 
penfible  condition  of  their  poflefl^onsf  and  except  this  taft^ 
filch  was  the  ezad  iituation  of  the  villagers  of  Longforgan 
not  50  years  ago.  They  were  bonad  to  plough  the  ground 
•f  the  mains  or  family-farm,  to  fow,  reap,  carry  it  into  the 
barn-yard,  threfli  it  out,  and  take  it  to  market ;  to  fetch 
Hme,  ftone,  flates,  and  land,  or  any  thing  elfe  wanting  for 
the  cafile  or  demefnes ;  to  plant  all  the  trees  upon  the  eftate  ^ 
to  give  fo  many  days  labour  in  the  gardens  or  fields ;  to  be 
ready  at  all  times  to  go  nKflages,  either  on  foot  or  on  horfe- 
back,  to  any  difiance ;  and,  in  fliort,  there  was  fcarce  any 
kind  of  fervitude  about  the  place  they  were  not  bound  to 
perform,  many  of  which  continued  till  the  prefeot  proprie- 
tor came  in  pofleffion. 

Inhabitants, — ^The  village  belongs  entirely  to  the  eftate 
of  Caftle-Hantly  \  confifts  of  one  principal  ftreet,  which  is 
DOW  a  turnpike-road,  and  feveral  lanes.  It  contains  136 
families,  which,  at  5  for  each  finmily,  makes  630-inhabi« 
tants  of -all  ages.  Of  thele,  3  are  confiderable  farmers  from 
L.60  to  Lb  I  jo  per  annum  ^  36  are  fmall  farmers  or  acre- 
men,  paying  from  L.$  rent  to  L.  16  per  annum*  Of  this  laft 
elais  almoft  every  ode  has  a  trade  or  occupation ;  fo  that 
the  management  of  his  little  farm  is  the  employment  of  his 
leifure  hours  only,  wluch  improves  his  health,  and  gives 
him  many  little  comibrtSi  which  be  could  not  expefi  other- 

wiie* 


47^  Statijlicat  Account 

wife.  Befides  thefe,  there  are  dfo  manafaAnren,  trndet^ 
tneo»  and  labourers,  who  have  no  land,  but  all  of  them  have 
yards  (gardens)  attached  to  their  hoofiss* 

Burgb  of  Baromy. — ^In  the  year  1672,  Loogfbrgan  was 
treded  into  a  free  burgh  of  barony,  by  a  charter  of  King 
Charles  II.  in  fftyour  of  Patrick  Earl  of  Strathmore,  there- 
in defigned  Earl  of  Kinghom ;  with  power  to  trcSt  and 
^  conftitute  bailies,  burgeffes,  clerks,  oflkers,  fergeants,  &o. 
mnvl  to  admit  all  kinds  of  trades  to  a  variety  of  privileges ) 
to  have  a  weekly  market  within  the  burgh,  and  to  have 
two  free  yearly  fairs  ^  one  on  the  firft  Tuefday  of  the  month 
of  July ;  and  the  other,  the  firft  Tuefday  of  OSober ;  and 
each  to  laft  three  days ;  the  duties  and  cuftoms  of  which  to 
be  levied  by  and  applied  to  the  fole  ufe  of  the  proprietor. 

Mifriiit^'-'Thote  yearly  fairs,  however,  are  now  held, 
one  on  the  third  Wednefday  of  June,  and  the  other  on 
the  third  Wednefday  of  Odober,  and  continue  each  only 
\>ne  day.  They  are  principally  cattle  markets,  bat  arc  fre- 
quented by  a  number  of  travelling  merchants,  and  a  variety 
of  articles,  ufuallyexpofed  to  £de  in  other  country  fiurs,  are 
to  be  found  here.  At  the  fummer  market  of  Loogforgan, 
all  the  farm^fervants  for  the  whole  Carfe  are  nbmliy  hired 
for  the  eofuing  year.  This  cuftom^  althoi^  of  long  fland- 
ing,  is  by  no  means  a  good  one,  as  the  fervant,  if  hired  to 
another,  remains  with  his  prefent  mafter  from  June  to  the 
Martinmas  following,  perhaps  very  much  agunft  the  inte- 
reft  of  the  one,  and  the  moral  reditude  or  good  coodufi  of 
the  other.  The  cuftoms  belong  to  CafUe-Huntljt  and  for 
both  fidrs  are  generally  from  L.  6  te  L.  7,  zo  s. 

//9«j.^There  are  two  inns  in  the  village,  one  at  the  weft 
end,  very  convenient  for  the  accooamodatioa  of  ooontty 

paflengersi 


of  Longf organ.  473 

jMiflengers  ;  and  another  about  the  middle  of  the  town,  upon 
a  much  larger  fcale,  with  a  brew-houfe,  malt-bam,  bake- 
houfe,  and  good  fiabliog  attached  to  it  *. 

Villages. 

*  There  are  ftill  remaining  a  few  of  tbe  old  hoafes  In  Longforgan,  which 
ibew  what  they  were  lo  yean  ago.  They  are  very  bad,  narrow,  low  roofed, 
and  inconvenient;  they  are  built  with  turf  and  ftone,  or  with  clay  for  mor- 
tar, and  all  thatched  with  turf  and  ftraw ;  not  a  veftige  of  lime  was  then 
to  be  fcen  in  the  village.  Since  that  time,  all  the  houfet  capable  of  being 
made  habttable  have  been  repaired;  between  50  and  $0  new  houfet  have 
brcn  built  by  the  prefent  proprietor*  befides  two  fets  of  fann-offices  for  liir- 
ger  farmers,  feveralbams  and  byres,  and  two  fmitfaies,  all  within  the  village. 
The  new  houfes  are  generally  a  8  or  30  feet  by  15  within  walls,  and  the 
door  in  the  middle;  they  are  divided  into  two  good  apartments  upon  the 
jrroood-floor,  vrith  a  window  to  each  to  the  ftreet,  and  a  fmaller  room  in 
the  middle,  with  a  window  backwtrSls  which  ferves  as  a  ftoie-room  to  the 
fiunily.  In  geneial,  weavers  have  their  houfes  fitted  for  their  particular 
convenience ;  but  almoft  every  one  has  a  fmall  apartment,  neatly  plaAered 
with  lime,  and  fitted  up  according  to  the  tafte  of  the  pofleflbr.  They  are 
built  with  ftone  and  lime«  The  floors  are  of  earth  or  clay.  The  garrets 
above  are  laid  with  deal,  and  they  are  covered  either  with  fcwed  thatch  of 
«hieat4lraw,  tiles,  or  flates,  with  iky-lights.  Thefe  houfes,  when  built, 
coft  from  L.  30  to  L.  50,  according  to  tbe  fise,  materials,  &€.  The  Oime 
defcription  any  ferve  both  for  the  old  and  the  new  houfes  all  over  the 
parifli. 

In  the  middle  of  the  village  there  was  a  Crois,  confiiHng  of  a  pillar  of 
eoe  ftone,  with  a  lion  on  the  top  of  it,  Handing  upon  a  pedeltal  of  mafonry 
of  feveral  fteps;  the  whole  height  of  the  ftone  pillar  is  21  feet  This  had 
been  ereded  by  one  of  the  Earls  of  Strathmore,  probably  Earl  Patrick,  as 
there  ii  another  built  by  him  exaillly  rrfembling  it  at  Glaimnis.  This  Croft 
was  taken  down  (6me  years  ago,  and  is  now  fet  up  upon  a  rocky  eminence 
within  the  park  of  Caftle-Huntly,  called  CromweU's  Knowe  (Knoll). 

Thb  village  is  fituated  upon  the  ridge  of  a  bank,  through  the  middle  of 
wbich  the  tumpike.road  between  Perth  and  Dundee  runs  from  well  to  eaft ; 
snd  it  is  remarkable,  that  on  the  north  fide  of  the  road,  no  water  nor  fpring 
Si  to  be  found,  in  pita  funk  (as  fome  fay)  50  or  60  feet  deep ;  while,  on  the 
ifluth  fide,  there  are  many  wells  very  well  fupplied  with  watex. 

Vol.  XIX,  g  O 


474  Siaiiflical  Accmmt 

P'illagiSj'^ThtTe  are  only  two  other  phoes  ia  thk  fmnt^ 
which  have  the  leaft  claim  to  be  called'  viOages  |  Kingoodj, 
which  belongs  to  Mr  M/Ine  of  Mj)aefield»  alrca47  ino^ 
tiored;  and  Lochtowq,  a  fmall  village  belonging  to  Bfr 
Paldane  of  Airtbrj.  The  reft  can  oqIj  be  faUe4  hamlpH| 
\iUt  tbej  are  numerous. 

Farm  ffom/es.^rT^e  fkrm  booTes  ate  verj  good  ;  many 
of  them  new  within  thefe  twentj  je^rs.  In  general  tkej 
are  handfoipe  i  two  ftories  highi  with  two  fire  rooms,  a  large 
light  cloi'ety  and  other  conreniencies,  on  each  ioor,  and 
^yered  with  blue  or  grej  (late.  The  dwdling-boole  h  a 
little  detached  from,  and  advapoed  before  the  offices,  form* 
ing  one  fide  of  a  (qoares  die  other  three  fidcaof  whidioaa- 
fill  of  oflices.  The  bamt  forming  the  fide  oppofite  to  the 
bottfe,  with  a  threlhbg-isiill  behind ;  and  the  other  two 
^des  are  ftables,  byres,  part-(hi|de9,  granaries,  bothiet  2^i 
and  the  dung-court  is  in  the  centre  of  the  Cgiiare.  The 
bothie  is  the  apartmenf  of  the  fisvm-icrvantSt  where  they 
Peep,  dreis  their  Tifiuals  aqd  pa^ 

Cafili'Hutitfy.^^Th!t  moft  remarkable  InuWiig  in  the 
parifh  is  Caftle-Huntly.  It  ftands  upon  the  point  of  a  iFoy 
fingdar  rock,  which  rifcs  in  the  middle  frf  the  plain,  qiute 
perpendicular  towards  the  fouth-wefi,  and  graduallj  flopiag 
^o  the  eaftward*  Wheii  it  was.  original^  btultt  as  there  b 
po  date  upon  any  part  of  thp  old  cafik,  is  unknown ;  bat 
there  is  a  charter  iu  pofleffion  of  t)ie  family  of  Graj,  to 
whom  this  eftate  then  belongedi  and  which  nut^e  a  part  of 
very  eztenfive  pofleiQons  iu  this  copntry,  whac^  belonged 
%o  that  &mily  at  th^  tim^ ;  which  charter  is  Cnom  Jasfies  IL 
in  I4j9f  to  Apdrew  the  id  Lord  Gray  of  Foulia,  giTing 
fiim  lei^ve  to  baild  a  fortalice  upon  any  of  his  eftotea*  which 
werp  then  Tcry  a^tepfir^.  •  In  9pp|^aence  of  which,  be 


ti  fidd  *^  io  iiave  'built  this  caflle  upoii  a  verj  remtrkable 
**  rock,  a  little  to  the  fouth  weft  of  Forguhd,  aiid  called  it 
^  Huntly;"  It  does  not  afipear  why  he  gave  it  that  name  ; 
bu(  there  is  an  adjoining  field,  and  a  bridge  acrols  the  rivn- 
let  which  runs  through  the  park,  both  of  which  bear  the 
name  of  Huiitly.  It  is  laid,  thathaving  marHed  a  daughteif 
of  the  Earl  of  Huntlj,  hit  nan^  his  c»iUe  iii  honour  of  hit 
UAj.  It  is  entirely  bdilt  of  Kin^dddj  ficme;  and  the 
eountry  p^bple  have  a  thidition,  that  Che  materials  tirere  all 
brought  by  water  to  the  fpot*  Be  that  as  it  may,  there  ia 
every  appearance  of  this  rock^  at  fome  very  diftant  period^ 
being  waflied,  if  not  fofrounded  by  water  \  for  river  fand  is 
found  iti  great  abundance  all  round  it ;  and  if  therfe  be  any 
foundation  for  this  tradition,  it  is  probable  that  there  was  a 
place  of  firength  opoii  this  rock  many  yeai^  before  the 

There  b  another  circninftande  Which  adds  weight  to  thb 
tonjefiure,  Thfc  fouth-weft  &oe  of  the  rock  had  been  fo 
much  wafted  by  the  weather,  or  fome  other  more  powerful 
ttuie,  that  fometime  betwieen  the  year  x66o  and  1670^  or 
thereabouts,  Earl  Fitrick  had  judged  it  heceflkfy  to  build  a 
fating,  or  mafly  buttrels^  to  cover  the  rock  to  the  weft-* 
ward,  to  protefi  that  fide  of  the  caftle*  This  buttreis  is 
very  difiinguiihabte  from  the  reft  of  the  building  of  the 
caftle,  and  is  eafily  khown  to  be  Earl  Patrick's,  from  thd 
cbrrefpdndingftyle  of  building  with  his  other  wbrks:  Now, 
it  is  hardly  probable,  thilt  from  the  year  1452  to  1660,  a 
difiance  only  of  ao8  years,  fo  great  a  wafte  could  hav<  been 
inade  iipon  the  £ace  of  a  whin  rock,  by  the  common  opera- 
tioB  of  wind  and  weather,  as  to  make  fuch  a  jGicing  necef- 
laty  i  and  if  fo,  efpctially  as  the  eftate  had  been  long  in  the 
family  before,  the  probability  is,  that  the  original  building 
had  been  much  more  ancient,  and  that  it  had  only  been  te*- 

pairtd^ 


476  Statt/lkal  Accfwu 

puredp  perhaps  enlarged^  and  its  name  changed,  bj  the  Lard 
Gray,  who  obtained  the  charter  from  James  IL  * 

SoU 

*  The  Boft  ancient  pait  of  this  ctftle  htd  been  an  oblong  Cqnare.  boiir 
upon  the  moft  projecting  put  of  the  rock,  in  fuch  ftfluon,  due  the  firft  fet 
of  apftftmeiits,  confifting  of  three  tiuilti,'  ail  arched  widi  ftrong  maibbry, 
hsd  one  end  foUd  rock*  and  ^  otfaor  a  wall  of  14  feet  thi^  with  a  win- 
dow to  each,  about  6  inches  wide  add  4  feet  high.  In  the  middle  'vnult 
there  had  been  a  weli  which  is  now  fiUed  up. 

Oppofito  to  the  fonthennoft  vault,  the  rock  projc^  a  Httle  fartiber  tothe 
weftward,  and  is  lower  dtan  the  reft,  upon  which  the  pit  or  prifon  ww 
built ;  alfo  14  feet  thick  walk,  and  a  narrow  flit  of  a  window ;  no  pa&ge 
to  the  pit  but  by  a  trap- door,  and  over  it,  a  fquare  apocttnent  of  20  fieet 
high,  arched  at  top,  with  a  window  of  4  feet  i^uare,  and  38  feet  from  tbr 
ground,  which  is  fuppofed  to  have  been  the  guard-room,  the  only  door  of 
which  is  arched ;  and  there  was  not  the  leaft  veftige  of  any  other  waj  to 
get  acceis  to  the  caftte,  even  for  one  man  at  a  time,  teC  over  die  flbelving 
rock  on  the  fouth-weft,  and  dofe  by  the  two  windows  in  the  other  two 
arched  apartments,  one  of  which  is  exa^y  upon  the  door,  calculated,  as  it 
would  appear,  for  the  ufe  of  fpears^  or  other  offenfive  v^eapons,  to  prevent 
the  entrance  of  an  enemy.  From  all  which,  it  would  appear  to  have  been 
as  fecure  a  retrtM,  in  thofe  days,  as  nature  and  art  could  make  it.  This 
door  had  been  built  up,  probably  when  Earl  Patrick  tupaiMd  the  caftk, 
and  another,  on  the  north  «aft  fide,  had  been  ftruek  out  at  6iat  time,  to 
make  the  acceis  more  convenient.  On  opening  that  old  door  in  1777,  a  vczy 
large  iron.gate  was  found  inclOfed  in  a  10  feet  wall,  built  of  folid  mafony. 
To  make  the  caftle  (till  more  fecure,  it  appears  that  the  original  boildeiv 
had  left  no  other  way  of  getting  to  the  apartments  above,  ^fter  pafimg  the 
Ihelving  rock,  clofe  by  the  two  narrow  windows  of  the  lower  .vaults,  bat 
through  the  guard-room ;  and  then,  by  a  hole  of  about  3  feet  fquaie  in  the 
lop  of  one  of  the  arches,  to  which  they  rouft  mount  by  a  Udder,  whi^, 
though  built  up;  is  perfeAly  difUndl  at  this  day.  .  It  is  probable,  that  after 
mounting,  the  ladder  was  drawx»  up,  and  the  Lord  of  the  caftie  ilept  in  fe- 
cunty. 

It  would  alfo  appear,  thct  fome  time  or  other  there  had  been  fome  kind 
•f  excavations  round  part  of  the  caftle,  probably  to  ferve  as  a  ditch  for  de- 
fence; for,  in  1780,  when  finking  a  foundation  for  fome  addition  to  the 
prefeut  building,  for  about  is  feet  deep  and  upwards,  it  appeared  to  have 
been  filltd  up  with  wood-aflies,  and  rubbifli  of  various  mtteriala ;  fo  that. 

finding 


of  Longforgafi.  ^jy 

SMim  1615  to  the  Family  o/Lyon^^^ln  161$^  this  cafile^ 
with  the  eltate  belonging  to  it,  pmfled  from  the  family  of 
Gmj  to  the  familj  of  Ljon,  then  Earls  of  Kinghom,  andf 
Earl  Patrick  fucceeding  fometime  about  the  jear  t66oi  it 
became  a  favourite  refidence  of  his.  Whether  anj  altera* 
tious  had  been  made  upon  the  cafile  before  his  time»  does 
not  appear.  But  many  alterations  and  additions  were  made 
by  him,  all  of  which  bore  hb  initials,  and  the  date  1667. 
One  very  remarkable  alteration  made  by  him  was  enlsur* 
ging  the  dining  roomp  by  digging  four  feet  out  of  the  front 
wall  for  its  whole  length  of  34  feet;  fo  that,  while  the  waQ 
of  the  rooms,  both  above  and  below,  are  10  feet  thick,  the 
front  wall  of  this  room  is  only  6  feet  thick;  and  when  the 
caftle  was  repairing  in  1778,  the  upper  part  of  this  exca- 
vation was  found  to  projefi  and  hang  oyer,  like  a  folid  im* 
penetrable  rock. 

Nami  changed  to  Lyon  in  1672. — By  the  fame  charter, 
which  Earl  Patrick  obtained  from  Charles  II.  1672,  in 

favour 

finding  no  proper  bed  to  faanA  upon,  arches  wvre  thrown  from  point  to  point 
of  the  rock  for  that  purpofe.  As  no  coal-alhe  were  found,  ouy  not  this  bo 
an  additional  proof  of  its  great  antiquity  ? 

The  moft  ancient  part  of  the  building  is  very  diilinguifliable  from  die  reft, 
»  all  the  ftooes  are  placed  on  the  fame  bed  as  they  lay  in  the  quarry  ;  and 
it  would  appear  from  the  openings  made  on  the  walls,  fivr  different  pur* 
pafet,  by  the  prefcnt  proprietor,  that  the  old  ctftle  had  been  built  of  two 
walls  one  ontfide,  of  very  large  mafly  flones,  tolerably  well  drefled;  and  an 
inner  wall,  not  quite  fo  well  drefled :  That  the  middle  fpace  between 
thefe  had  then  been  filled  up  with  immenfe  large  whin-ftones,  gatheied 
from  the  fields,  with  fmaUer  ilones  thrown  in  loofely  round  them,  and  thea 
filled  up  with  grouted  lime,  that  Is,  lime  mixed  with  a  proper  proportion  of 
fand,  and  made  fo  thin  with  water,  as  to  admit  of  being  poured  in,  and  to 
till  up  all  the  cavities  between  the  ftones.  This  cement  it  now  fo  very  hard, 
that  it  u  much  more  diflkult  to  work  than  any  quarry ;  fo  much  fo,  that  in 
1 7  93*  ^1>^  making  an  opening  for  a  window  of  pf  feet  by  4^,  and  only 
6  feet  thick,  as  the  wall  had  been  thinned  before,  it  was  hard  work  to  four 
ilottt  men  for  nine  days. 


47S  StaHJHcat  Account 

fiTOiir  of  Loogforgtiit  the  btrony  was  ereAed  into  &  lonli 
fliip,  to  be  called  (he  Lordfliip  of  Lyon ;  and  it  b  moft  pro- 
bable that  this  was  the  mm  of  its  diange  of  name  finxa 
Gaftle-Hontly  to  Caflle  Ljron. 

He  alio  planted  a  greatnomberof  trees  of  all  forts,  maoj 
of  which  now  remain,  and  the  whole  groonds  were  dreffed 
op  in  all  the  grandenr  of  ftimmer  boofes,  fiatucs,  avcnuesi 
gates,  omameilted  with  various  orders  of  architcAare,  &c 
fcc.  agreeable  to  the  tafte  of  the  times. 

SoUagaim  in  1^77^— *No|htng  feems  to  have  been  done 
10  this  plaoe  finee  Earl  Patrick's  time,  nntil  the  prcfent  pro^ 
prietor  pnrchafed  the  efiate  in  1777.  The  whole  has  now 
affomtd  a  new  face.  The  groonds  are  laid  out  as  mndi  is 
thcmoderO  taftc  as  their  fitnation  will  admit;  manj  treo 
are  taken  down,  hot  many  more  have  been  pknted,  and 
great  numbers  of  fine  old  horie-chefnots,  planes,  limes,  sod 
afb|  &a  in  flraight  avenues,  fiill  remain^  fo  as  to  preiervr 
the  onity  of  fiyle  between  the  place  and  the  caftle. 

The  caflle  alfo,  although  completely  modemifed  widiifi, 
has  afliimed  even  a  more  caftellated  a|»pearanoe  ootwsrdlj 
than  formerly.  The  wings,  embattled  walls,  round  tower, 
and  comer  turrets,  have  been  given  it  by  the  pre&nt  pro- 
prietor \  viho  has  reflored  the  ancient  name  of  Hnatly,  by 
which  it  was  fo  long  known  while  in  pofieffion  of  (he  funi- 
ly  of  Gray.  lu  tgreateft  height  i»  xi6  feet  from  the 
ground. 

Finv«— The'view  from  the  top  of  Cafile-HvAdy  is  per- 
haps one  of  the  fineft  in  Oreat  Britain.  Situated  io  tbe 
middle,  and  rifing  116  feet  above  the  levd  of  one  of  tbie 
ridieft  and  mod  fertile  plabs  in  the  ifland,  it  commands  s 
view  of  the  river  Tay  for  above  ao  miles,  which,  in  masy 
places  is  two  milfcs  broad  send  upwarrdB,  aiid  which  is  fre- 

queotlj 


Of  Longforgan.  479 

^qeatlj  covc^d  with  a  great  nuinber  of  Tcflek  of  varioqs 
burdens.  On  the  fouth,  the  hilb  of  Fife  bonndtbe  profped, 
now  in  moft  places  highlj  cultivated ;  and  on  the  nord),  a 
f  OQlinnation  of  the  Sidlaws,  covered  with  rich  corn-fields  to 
their  fiimmits  \  and  the  whole  well  wooded,  and  interfper&d 
with  gentlemens  feats,  viilagesi  hainkts,  and  farm-hoiifes» 
for  above  30  fuilesj  and  in  the  back  ground  are  leen  diftant 
liiUs  for  60  miles  and  upwards* 

Gaf#.— The  gate  is  very  remarkable,  and  had  oriipoallj 
jieen  buik  bj  Earl  Patrick,  at  the  weft  end  of  Longfidrg^, 
which  he  named  Port-Patrick,  after  himfelf ;  but  which, 
from  a  vulgar  eorruptioa,  was  always  called  Port-Putwiu. 
It  was  one  of  fix,  which  he  built  in  a  ftraight  line,  upon  the 
approach  between  Longforgan  and  the  cafile.  It  confifis 
of  a  middle  fpace  of  16  feet  wide,  and  an  arch  on  each  fide 
pf  7  feet.  The  whole  length  73  feet  6  inches.  It  is  oma* 
fliented  on  both  fides  widi  Tnfcan  femicohimns,  and  crown- 
ed with  four  pjrramids*  It  was  taken  down  about  twelve 
jrearsago,  and;rebuik,  with  great  care,  where  it  now  ftands,^ 
as  a  kfting  monument  of  the  tafie  of  the  Noble  Earl  by 
whom  it  was  originally  bftilt. 

Drimmii. — In  this  pariih,  alfo,  there  is  a  feat  belonging 
CO  Lord  Kionaard,  called  Drimmie,  which  became  the  refi- 
dence  of  die  faiyiily,  in  confequence  of  the  cafile  of  Moncur 
having  been  burnt  down  in  the  ^beginning  of  this  century. 
It  originally  confided  of  a  lodge  built  as  a  banqueting^r 
room^  in  order  to  fiicifitate  conviviality  with  the  then  pro- 
prietors of  the  eftate  of  Caflle-Huntly^  and  todus  lodge 
additions  have  been  made  from  rime  to  rime,  as  naceffity 
diAated  \  but  its  fituauon  is  lb  little  cafcnlated  for  becom- 
lag  a  fit  refidenoe  for  the  fiunily,  chat  no  regular  plan  ap« 
^cmfverlqliavo  been  (adopted  Ipnrbeaitifyingt  or  laying 

99t 


480  StatiJHcal  Account 

mit  the  gitmndsy  confieqiieDtlj  there  is  nodung  about  it 
worth  notice. 

The  prefent  proprietor  has  this  year,  1795*  made  feme 
eoofiderable  repairs  about  the  houle,  for  the  piupoie  of  res- 
dering  it  a  more  comfortable  abode,  until  a  fit  and  fuitsbk 
figonil J  refidence  ihall  be  boilt,  in  a  park  not  far  difrmt,  m 
the  adjoining  paiifh  of  Roffie,  which  his  Lordfliip  has  indo- 
led  at  a  great  expence,  and  is  of  confiderable  extent,  con- 
taining in  it  great  variet j  of  ground,  plantations,  water,  &c. 
all  of  which  have  been  improved  with  much  ooft  and  tafie ; 
thus  that  which  requires  the  hand  of  time  to  render  perfcd, 
being  fo  far  completed,  a  houfe  fit  for  fo  fine  a  fitaation  sod 
place  may  be  ere6ted,  whenever  it  may  fiut  the  inclinatioo 
or  convenience  of  the  family.^The  eftate  of  Drimmie  bts 
been  in  the  pofleffion  of  the  £uni]y  of  Kinnaird  for  maoj 
centuries. 

M/bteJieU^^The  houfe  of  Mylnefield  u  beaotifiilly  fi- 
tuated,  eafi  from  Longforgan,  and  fouth  of  the  turnpike- 
road  leading  to  Dtmdee,  upon  the  rifing  gttend  on  the  eiii 
comer  of  the  pari(h.  The  grounds  are  laid  out  in  great 
tafte  by  Mr  White.  It  has  a  great  deal  of  planting,  bodi 
old  and  young,  about  it,  and  commands  a  moft  delightful 
profped  of  the  river  Tay,  the  diftaot  hills  of  Fife«  m 
beautiful  rich  bank  of  Gray,  Lundie,  &c.  in  die  county  of 
For&r.  It  is  fnrrounded  with  fine  grais  parks,  from  which 
the  Dundee  market  b  fupplied  with  excellent  mutton. 

Old  CAmrch.'^^Tht  parifii  church,  manfe,  and  fehool- 
houfe,  are  in  the  village  of  Longforgan. 

The  church  was  taken  down  1794.  It  was  an  old,  loog, 
narrow,  and  inconvenient  building,  confifting  of  two  parts, 
and  evidently  built  at  very  different  periods.  The  ea&- 
mofi,  which  belonged  entirely  to  the  eftate  of  Caffle-Hont- 


ly,  was  B  fubft^tial  building,  all  of  afiilar  Kitigoodj  ftone ) 
and  from  a  very  handfome  crofis  on  the  eaft  gavel,  and  feve- 
ral  f^cefles  of  hewn  ftone  within,  probably  for  altar:>9  or 
ihrines  of  fome  favourite  faints,  it  had  every  appearance  of 
having  been  the  original  church  when  ttie  Roman  Catholic 
religion  prevailed ;  and  from  uniformity  of  building  with 
the  church  of  Fowlis-Eafter,  it  is  probable  that  both  werfe 
built  fometime  in  the  twelfth  century,  by  the  fame  Lady 
Gray,  td  whbm  both  eftates  then  belonged;  The  weft  end 
of  the  church,  although  apparently  older^  muft  have  been 
of  a  much  later  date.  It  was  a  very  infufficient  buildmg» 
of  bad  materials,  and  had  every  appearance  of  t^at  ill* 
judged  parfimonious  fithplicity,  fo  much  affedled  by  the  en« 
thufiafiic  firft  reformers.  This,  therefore,  would  appear  to 
have  bieen  added  to  it  at  the  Reformation; 

&A*^/f.-- Upbn  the  weft  end  of  the  churdh  Is  the  fteeple^ 
which  was  built  by  Earl  Patrick  of  Strathmore  about  13d 
years  ago.  It  has  three  bells  and  a  clock,  which  laft  is  the 
property  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  ;  but  it  is  not  well 
kept.  On  the  eaft  end  is  a  f^uare  biiilding,  lUfo  btiilt  by 
his  Lordfhip.  It  ftands  diagonally,  and  was  formerly  joined 
to  the  church,  but  they  are  now  diftind  1>uildings.  The 
lower  part  is  the  Caftle-Huntiy  burylng.place,  and  over  it 
is  a  room,  to  which  the  family  Ufed  to  retire  dhrirtg  the  in- 
terval of  divine  fierviee.  This  room  the  proprietor  has  gi^ 
ven  leave  to  the  kirk-feilion  to  ufe  for  a  feilion-houfe  duriug 
his  pleafure. 

Nrm  Ciurcb.-^ln  room  of  the  old  chtirch,  a  handfomn 
new  one  was  finiflied  in  Z795»  with  large  Gothic  win.  tows 
in  front,  towards  the  fouth,  extremely  well  finilhed,  and 
l/vell  feated,  with  an  elegant  circular  gallery.  The  whole 
chorch  is  capable  of  containing  1000  hearers  and  upwards. 

Vai.  XIX-  3  P  Ma,i/e. 


482  Statijlical  Account 

Manfe, — T*he  manfe  was  built  X753«  and  has  be^a  tnhce 
repaired  within  thefe  15  years.  In  1795,  it  got  a  thoroogfa' 
repair  for  the  third  time,  and  is  now  a  nioft  excellent  con- 
venient houfe  ;  it  has  very  good  offices,  aB  lately  repaired, 
a  good  garden,  and  is  beautifully  fituated,  commanding  a 
moft  extenfive  view  of  the  river  Tay,  and  the  rich  groundft 
below. 

Stipend. — The  ftipend  is  xi  bolls  of  wheat,  ^56  boUsof 
barley,  57  bolls  of  oau,  2  bolls  of  mea),  and  L.  20  Sterling, 
befides  a  good  glebe.  Worth  L.  zo  Sterling  per  atmrnm  at 
leaft  ;  fo  that,  with  the  houfe,  garden,  and  officira,  it  is  wortk 
about  L.  150  per  Annum^  taken  at  a  medium  of  10  years 
back  ;  but  from  an  old  prafticc,  the  viflual  part  of  mini* 
iter's  (lipends  b  valued  fo  low,  it  makes  them  appear  much 
lels  than  they  are  in  fad ;  although^  were  they  (htted  as 
they  really  are,  the  livings  of  the  clergy  in  Scotland  are  in 
general  fufficiently  moderate,  and  many  of  them  much  lower 
than  they  ought  to  be. 

Plan  for  improving  Mimfters  Siipends.^^\t  would  be  a 
good  plan,  were  Government  to  make  an  offer  to  proprie- 
tors to  purchafe  their  teinds,  whiqh,  it  is  believed,  moft 
would  do.  This  would  raife  a  very  large  capital ;  and  were 
the  produce  put  in  the  hands  of  truilees,  tmder  the  direAion 
<^  the  Church,  to  be  lent  out  by  them  to  the  beft  advantage, 
and  to  empower  them  to  buy  land  if  they  thought  proper, 
to  be  applied  folely  and  entirely  to  pay  the  minifters  Si- 
pends,  and  to  uphold  the  church  and  manfe,  a  permanent 
fond  would  be  eftabli(hed  immediately,  to  accommodate 
the  pariflies  with  more  becoming  places  of  wor(hip,  to  lodge 
the  minifters  more  commodioufly,  and  aKb,  to  make  many 
livings  much  better  \  and  might,  in  time,  be  the  means  of 
snaking  fitpends  keep  pace  with  the  value  of  money.   This 


of  LoHgf organ.  483 

is  but  th«  outlines  of  a  plan,  which  may,  indeed,  be  liable 
to  objedions ;  bat  the  advantages  would  be  fo  great,  it  feems 
to  merit  confideration.  The  flipends  would  dill  be  unequal, 
according  to  circumftances  ;  but,  b  j  proper  regulation,  all 
of  them  might  be  better  :  The  clergj  would  then  be  raifed 
to  that  rank  and  coniideration  in  fociety  to  which  they  are 
well  entitled ;  and  men  of  learning  and  abilities  would  con- 
iider  the  Church  as  an  objed  of  honourable  ambition  :  He- 
ritors would  no  longer  have  caufe  ot  difputes  with  their 
paftors ;  and  the  Court  of  Teinds,  with  a  ihouiand  &cs« 
might  be  fet  afide  for  ever. 

Sciooliou/ef  ScboolmaJler*s  Salary ^  ISc.  and  SchooL — The 
fchoolhoufe  is  very  tolerable,  with  a  houfe  for  tht:  rbJitcr 
attached  to  it.  The  fijced  falary  for  the  fchoolmaftcr  is 
L.  7,  5  8*  per  annum  ;  but  that  the  parith  might  be  w«:U  fup- 
plied,  the  heritors,  at  the  fettlement  of  the  prefent  teacher, 
raiCed  the  falary,  by  fubfcription,  to  about  L.  ao  per  annum^ 
to  continue  during  his  incumbency.  The  average  number 
of  fcholars  are  about  80  or  90 ;  and  the  fees  for  teaching 
LAtin  are  a  s.  6  d. ;  writing  and  arithmetic,  a  s. ;  and  i  s.  6  d. 
for  teaching  to  read  English,  ptr  quarter ;  which,  with  io?ne 
fmall  fees  as  feilion-clerk,  and  Mr  Pateifon's  -^Qd.iXj  allow- 
ance for  poor  fcholars,  makes  therplace  worth  more  than 
L.  50  per  annum. 

The  fchool  may  be  confidered  to  be  more  immediately 
under  the  patronage  of  Mr  Patcrfon,  the  principal  heritor; 
who,  befides  taking  a  very  rtftivc  part,  and  fnbfcribing  very 
liberally  himfelf,  he  pays  for  teaching  twelve  fcholars,  chiU 
dren  of  fuch  poor  as  cannot  pay  the  ufual  fees ;  and  every 
year,  upon  the  examination  of  the  fchool  by  the  prtftytery 
of  Dandee,  he  attends  himfelf,  when  in  the  country,  and 
gives  premiums  of  Bibles,  New  Teftaments,  Collcftions, 
fKconqt-books,  pens,  and  paper,  to  be  dillributed  by  the 

esiitniners 


484  Statiftical  Account 

ex  1  miners  to  fuch  of  the  fcholars  of  each  c1a&,  as  tliey  majr 
think  moft  defer ving  ;  and  as  all  the  fcholars  know  thia  to 
be  an  annual  eftabliihed  praAice,  it  has  had  an  exceeding 
good  effefl,  and  has  raifed  a  fpirit  of  emulation,  and  that  de- 
gree  of  application  amongft  the  children,  which  cannot  iail 
of  giving  great  pleafure  to  all  concerned. 

State  oftht  Poor.— The  ftate  of  the  poor  in  Scotland  is, 
in  every  refpeA,  quite  different  from  what  it  is  in  £n|Eland. 
There  is  a  kind  of  verj  commendable  pride,  which  pre- 
vents many  of  the  labouring  poor  in  this  country  from  ac- 
cepting parUk  charity,  a&  long  as  by  their  own  induftry,  or 
by  the  bounty  of  their  friendi»,  they  can  get  a  morfel  of 
bread.  In  moft  parilfaes,  the  ordinary  funds  are  fitfficient 
to  fupply  the  wants  of  their  poor :  Thefe  are  principally 
under  the  management  of  the  minifter  and  the  kirk-feffioo, 
who  mud  be  well  acquainted  with  the  circumftances  of  cTcry 
one ;  but  (hould  the  ordinary  funds  prove  infufficient,  the 
care  of  the  poor  falls  to  the  heritors.  This  has  happened  in 
fome  parifhes  \  and  hence,  fomething  like  a  rate,  or  pro- 
portional affeflment,  has  taken  place  \  but  in  this  parifh 
there  is  no  fuch  thing. 

Fundi. — ^Tbe  funds  are,  L.  23P,   at  in^ereft  at  5  /<r 
ce«^  -  -  L.11  10    • 

'W'eekly  colle^on$  at  the  church^doors,  ind^- 
ding  what  is  given  at  the  Sacrament,  may 
be  reckoned  at  10  s./^  week,  .  a6     o    0 

Fees  for  marriages,  burials,  &c,  500 

L.42  10  0 
Befides  feat-rents,  which  cannot  as  yet  be  eipdly  afcertain- 
^,  but  may  be  between  L.3  and  L.  4  more,  as  the  heritors 
^ve  ^iven  the  communion-ublesi  which  hold  between  70 

and 


tf  Longf organ.  48^ 

and   80  ifittersy  to  the  kirk-fefllony  for  the  benefit  of  th^ 
poor*. 

Number  of  Poor.— There  arc  only  la  perfons  who  ar^ 
upon  the  feffion-lift,  (November  179^)*  and  who  receive 
about  L.  2.  8  8.  ptr  month  \  fo  that  the  funds  of  the  pariih 
are  quite  fufficient  for  fuch  ordinary  fupplies ;  but  at  pre- 
fent,  the  feffion  have  to  pay  L.  6  per  annum  f  to  the  Lunatic 
I|ofpital  at  Montrofe,  for  a  poor  woman  difordered  in  mii^d ; 
and  in  the  year  179^9  as  there  was  an  appearance  of  fcarcity, 
from  the  deficiency  of  the  crop,  the  fe0ion  came  to  a  refo- 
lution  to  give  all  their  refidentpoor  meal  inftead  of  money  \ 
and  to  every  perfon  entitled  to  1  s.  to  give  in  its  place  one 
peck  of  good  oatmeal* 

Rxtraor Unary  Supply  1795- — However,  crop  1795  was 
found  to  be  fo  very  deficient,  particularly  in  the  Carfe  of 
Gowrie,  that  before  February  1796,  there  was  every  ap- 
pearance, not  only  of  fcarcity,  but  of  want,  and  which  wovil4 
probably  have  been  the  cafe  in  this  pariih,  bad  not  the  he- 
ctors exerted  themfelves  in  an  extraordinary  degree ;  Mr 
Mylae  of  Mylnefield,  and  Mr  Wemyfs  of  Lauriefion,  who 
had  oats,  took  charge  pf  their  own  tenants  \  but  as  Lor4 
Xinnaird  and  Mt  Paterfon  had  neither  oats  nor  meal  of 

their 

*  He  leail  rede^ion  oaght  to  conTince  everyone,  that  tt  is  of  the  utmoft 
confc^ience  to  fociety  to  keep  off  a  rate  as  long  as  poffible ;  for  althoagh 
^liere  are  many  who  wi  exert  themfelves  to  the  tttmoft.  rather  than  accept 
of  pariih  charity,  yet,  when  they  know  that  a  fund  is  eftablilhed  for  their 
aid|  they  are  inclined,  from  that  moment,  to  confider  it  as  their  right*  Ihame 
is  entirely  laid  afidc ;  iheir  induftriuus  endeavoun  to  fttpport  themfelves  are 
at  tn  end ;  and  they  1  ecome  burden  upon  the  pariih  at  a  much  earlier  pe- 
riod than  they  are  entitled  to  in  the  true  fpirit  of  charity. 

f  Raifed  this  year  (1797)  to  L.  10  per  anniim,  and  grafted  as  a  finroyf 
iwm  the  hofpical,|>c£dc$  about  L««  for  clothts. 


486  Statijlical  Accwni 

iheir  own,  they  fent  from  London  400  qnartcis  of  die  beft 
mealing  EngliQi  oats,  which  ihej  direded  to  be  groimd  into 
mealy  to  be  fold  at  the  Dundee  market  price  to  all  of  their 
tenants  who  wanted,  and  who  coold  afford  to  pay ;  and  to 
thofe,  whole  daily  earning  were  not  fufficient  to  maintain 
themfelves  and  femily,  they  ordered  the  meal  to  be  given 
out  weekly  at  a  reduced  price,  t.  e.  at  I  s.  fer  peck,  and  to 
continue  till  next  harveft  \  and  to  the  poor  iat  nothing. 

Few  Poor.^^lt  may  feem  extraordinary,  that  in  a  parifli 
confifHng  of  1500  (buls  and  upwards,  and  in  which  there  is 
a  village  of  nearly  half  the  number,  principally  laboorers 
and  manufaAurers,  there  are  fo  few  who  receive  chari- 
ty; and  ftill  more  extraordinary  that  there  is  but  one 
travelling  beggar  in  the  whole  parifli;  even  £he  receives 
parochial  fupplies,  but  flie  has  got  fuch  a  habit  of  begging, 
nothing  can  reftrain  her,.  Of  that  dafs,  many  pals  through 
the  parifli,  but  they  come  from  the  neighbouring  towns,  and 
many  from  the  Highland^.  This  may  bo  accounted  for  9s 
follows : 

Reafons  wfy.^Everj  native  of  this  parifli,  who  is  in  real 
want,  upon  proper  application,  gets  a  fupply  as  far  as  the 
funds  will  admit,  and  according  to  his  or  her  neQcflities. 

If  they  be  totally  unable  to  do  any  thing  for  their  own 
maintenance^  or  if  they  have  a  family  to  provide  for,  which 
they  are  unable  to  do,  they  get  more ;  if  they  be  fingle,  or  if 
they  have  friends  or  relations  who  can  help  them,  they  get  leis. 
For  it  is  the  leading  feature  of  this  charity,  that  the  poor  are 
to  be  fupplied  with  the  neceflaries  of  life,  and  not  with  the 
fuperfluities,  and  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  be  a  fpur  to  the  in- 
duHry  of  all,  efpecially  of  the  rifing  generation^  and  not  to 
rncomage  floth,  and  fuppo.^t  idlen^^  and ej^ravagance. 
.     '  As 


*/  LongforgMi  4      487 

As  this  Is  a  corn  country ;  as  improvements  in  agriculturet 
to  an  Immenfe  extent,  have  been  carrying  on  within  theie 
30  years ;  as  there  is  one  of  the  beft  fione-quarries  in  Great 
Britaih  in  this  parifli,  ^'hich  employs  a  great  number  of 
hands ;  as  numbers  of  buildings  have  been  going  on ;  and 
turnpike  roads,  vrith  many  other  public  works,  there  is,  of 
courfe,  a  great  demand  for  labourers  of  every  defcription,  and 
of  all  ages;  even  women  and  children  getconftant  employ- 
ment in  the  field  for  near  3-4ths  of  the  year,  befides  what  are 
required  for  the  manufadures  and  different  trades.  It  is  in  the! 
winter  months  only,  that  tlie  labouring  and  indullrious  poor 
run  the  greateft  rifle  of  want.  At  that  period,  therefore, 
the  heritors  are  very  attentive  to  the  wants  of  the  #poor ; 
and  as  the  village  of  Longfurgan  belongs  entirely  to  CafUe- 
Huntly,  during  the  three  winter  monthf,  u  e.  December, 
January,  and  February,  or  longer,  if  the  feafon  be  fevere^ 
Mr  Paterfon  orders  meal  to  be  difiributed  to  the  poor  on  his 
eftate,  one  or  two  pecks  pet-  week,  oi  more,  according  to 
their  neceffities,  or  as  the  number  and  helplefs  condition  of 
their  femilies  may  require.  By  fuch  means  the  parifh  of 
Longforgan  has  hitherto  been  able  to  fupport  its  own  poor. 
Without  a  rate  upon  themfelves,  or  a  tax  upon  the  benevo^ 
lence  of  their  neighbours. 

Population. — llie  return  to  Dr  Webfter,  in  1755,  amount-^ 
ed  taly  to  1285 ;  and  as  the  number  at  preient  is  1526,  con- 
iequently  there  is  an  increafe  of  241  i  of  thefe,  778  are 
males,  and  748  females. 

Under  10  years  of  age,  there  are 
Thence  to  20  years^ 

to  jo  years,  •  * 

to  70  years,  -  *- 

to  80  years,  -  •    ^ 

to  90  years, 


4S8 


Statical  Aicoutft 


Married  perfons. 

- 

- 

43» 

Widowers, 

. 

- 

aj 

Widows, 

«               • 

45 

Batchellors  above  50, 

*                 • 

7 

Unmarried  women  above 

45^ 

5 

S19 

Minifter, 

Shoemakers, 

1 

Schoolmafter, 

Black&nitha, 

8 

Surgeon, 

Wrights, 

-     16 

Excife  officer^ 

Weavers, 

6t 

Butcher, 

Male  fervants  of  aU  deno- 

Baker, 

minations. 

-          13« 

Brewers, 

Fetnale  fervants  of  aU  de- 

Coopers, 

nominations, 

above       8d 

Maf  ms. 

Farmers    paying   L.  ico 

Innkeepers, 

ptr  ann.  and 

onwards,   15 

Alchoufes, 

Do.    paying 

L.50  per 

Lint-dreiTers, 

3 

annum  to  L. 

100,            10 

Gardeners, 

5 

Do.  from  L.  ao  to  L.  50,      7 

Lint-millers, 

6 

Do.  from  L.  10  to  L.  ao,    iS 

Corn-millers, 

6 

Do.  from  L»  j 

t»  L.  lo,     iS 

Tailors, 

6 

Families  in  the  village, 

•                • 

tr6 

Ditto  in  the  reft  of  the 

pai 

ifll, 

181 

Families, 


307 


Seceders  of  all  denominations,  -  ^ 

Epifcopalians,  -  •  j^ 

Inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Longforgan,  at  sf^  famUy,  630 
Inhabitants  6f  the  whole  parifh  at  the  above  calcaktion,  1335 


\ 


So 


of  L>ngfargan.  489 

So  that  the  calculation  at  5  per  fiunily  comes  within  9  of 
Ae  real  numbers  in  the  pariih. 

Refidiog  proprietors,  •  •  6 

Non*refidenty  •  .  5 

The  increafe  of  inhabitants  in  the  parifh  cannot  be  well 
afcertained  from  the  regifter  of  bapti£ais,,which  do  not  feem 
to  have  been  accurately  kept. 

From  January  i.  1731  to  January  z.  17419  were  baptized. 
Males,        -  *        140 

Females,        -  -        327 

467 
56  marriages  recorded.  No  burials  recorded  in  this  period. 
From  ifi  January  1741  to  ift  January  1761  no  record.   • 
There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  regifier  of  burials  before 
the  year  1771 ;  nor  of  marriages  from  174Z  to  1771. 
From  Jan,  i.  1761  to  Janu.  x,  1771,  were  baptized, ' 
Males,        -  •        246 

Females,       •  •       220 

266 
During  the  10  years  preceding  1793  were  baptized, 
Males,        (-  -         222 

Females,        -  •         223 

"     .'♦^^ 

Within  the  period  of  10  years  preceding  1793,  the  bans 
were  publiflied  in  this  pariih  for  143  couples ;  75  of  tbefe, 
both  parties  were  of  this  pariih ;  and  one  of  the  parties  of 
the  remaining  68;  fo  that  218  individuals  of  this  pariih 
were  married  within  that  time. 

The  decrement  of  lives  in  this  pariA  can  be  fiiU  leils  ac- 
curately afcertamed,  as  the  regifter  is  kept  from  the  feea 
paid  for  the  mortcloth  (pall  ^  only,  which  is  u(ed  at  burials  of 
perfons  coming  from  other  pariihes  to  be  mterred  here,  as  well 

Vol.  XIX,  3  <^  •• 


49^  Staiifikal  AccQuat 

St  for  tfaofe  who  die  ind  are  buried  in  the  ptrck;  nd  kk 
riaL>  going  from  this  parilh  to  any  ocher  do  not  vSt  the  SKst* 
doth  of  this  parifli,  and  therefore  are  not  regiftexcd  »  nor  do 
the  poor  paj  any  thing.  But  tt  appears  bj  the  moftdocb- 
regifter,  that  it  has  been  uled  356  times  in  the  10  7CIIS  pee- 
<***»g  *793»  «•  '•  *iA  P^  annum. 

9794.        Baptized.    Males  -  14 

Females,  .  ai 

Total,        35 
The  mortcloth  paid  for  \6  times. 

Married,  both  parties  in  this  pariih,      94 
The  man  in  ditto,  -  6 

The  woman  in  ditto,  5 

Of  this  pariih  married,  35  perfisis. 

9795*        Baptized,    Males  •  az 

Females,        •  %% 

Total,  43 

Married,  both  parties  in  this  parifli,  8 

Man  in  ditto,            .  4 

Woman  in  ditto,  8 


Mortcloth  paid  for  18  times. 


90  p^ribns^ 


Fees  for  proclamation,  if  the  bride  be  of  this  pariih : — For 
3  Sundays,  as.;  a  ditto,  jsr,  i  ditto,  xos.6d.  If  the 
bride  be  not  of  this  pariih,  for  3  Mondays,  nothing  ;  z  d*lt^ 
IS.;  z  ditto,  as.  6d» 

Fees  for  the  mortcloth :— For  die  befit  5s.  %  fecopd,  as, 
(d.;  achild"^,  9d, 
As  there  are  alio  certab  iimall  dues  payable  for  Kgifieiw 
ing  bapttfjus,  apy  deficiency  probably  arifes  from  the  bq- 

willingnff 


iffLmgforgM  491 

^rilliagtieis  ^  thofe  iRho  ane  not  of  the  Eftabliflied  ChairdI 
to-pay  lina. 

5a/03rf/;F..^This  pariih  is  in  geiietal  healthj.  Hot  b  there 

any  difeaie  endemical  to  the  diftrid.     Fonnerly,  in  the  low 

C8iie,«gBe8prevuikd,    Now^finee  the  ditches  have  been 

deepened««nd  the  lands  lb  comfdetdj  drained  of  water,  the 

diiieafe  is  fcafoeljr  known.    Fevers  ara  not  frcqtient,  which 

tnmy  be  owing  to  the  regular  diet  of   the  inhabitants : 

IVhile  yoang»  the  {doormen  and  labofiters  ate  fabjea  to 

colds,  which,  in  ftrong  cooftitutions,  and  in  a  jnore  advanced 

age,  ipeneially  terminate  in  rheumatiihis,  and  gouty  painst 

as  the  country  people  call  them ;   but,  in  others,  it  falls 

opont  their  ineafls  \  their  longs  become  aflSsfied,  and,  in  gene* 

ral,  foch  complaints  end  fiitally.     Thb  termination  general- 

ly  happens  in  icrophulous  habits,  which  are  very  prevalent, 

particularly  amongft  the  weavers  and  common  peiQf^e  of 

this  neighbourhood.    Within  thele  ao  yean,  one  inftanoe 

has  happened,  of  a  hydcaps  peOoris,  in  a  firong  healthy 

man  above  50,  who  caught  cddfrom  geting  wet  fowing 

his  com  in  the  fpring,  which  was  followed  with  a  (Iridure 

in  his  breafti  and  difficulty  of  breathing :   Soon  after  his 

legs  fwdlledi  which  gradually  rofe  upwards^  evidently  drop* 

fical  and  in  a  (bort  time  ;  after  every  medical  help  had  faiU 

ed,  it  proved  fatal.    A  healthy  young  woman,  who  had 

never  been  farther  oat  of  the  pariih  than  Dundee,  was 

feized  with  an  inflammation  of  the  liver :  The  dtfieaTe  was 

not  known  tlil  too  late ;  and  aldiough  Mercurial  fridion 

was  then  ufed,  ihe  died. 

For  many  years  paft,  difeales  have  been  more  frequent 
in  the  hiUy  part  of  the  parifli  than  in  the  Catie.  This  had 
been  frequently  oblerved  by  the  late  Reverend  Mr  George 
Lyon  of  Oglci  who  was  miniftcr  of  the  pariih  for  more 

ibaa 


4)3  Siaii/HcfJ  JtccMM 

than  50  years*.  InnocnhtiflD  has besn  priAiied  hexe,  flbl 
many  fubmitted  to  it  diankfiiDy » when  ftroogly  raooomend- 
ed  to  them  Ibme  years  ago  \  but  fir  fomt:  time  paft  it  iceois 
to  hsve  been  fofgotten* 

ilfoA^ZM/i|f**-TheIiihabitBatsof  this  pariih  are  in  geaa-^ 
xal  indiifirious,qiuetaiid  fober;  foHKof  dkem^ojintcfligeat 
in  their  pro&i&ons;  many  of  the  better  Ibct  live  exceeding- 
ly well ;  their  tables  are  abundantly  fiipplied  witb  erery  oe- 
ceflary,  and  fome  with  the  hizuries  of  life*  la  geoenlv 
the  fiurmers  aie  well  lodged,  and  bodi  they  and  their  £uiu^ 
lies  are  well  dr efled.  The  lefler  fivmeta  and  inamifii£hireB 
aHb  live  well,  and  have  plenty  of  good  whoklbme  fi>od; 
snanyof  them  are  fapplied  with  bntdier-meat  at  times;  and 
both  they  and-the  labourers,  not  only  ufe  oat-meal  and  po> 
tatoes,  with  the  produce  of  their  yards  or  gardens,  but  they 
frequently  ule  wheaten  bread,  the  confumpdon  of  friikh 
has  increaied  much  within  thefe  &w  years,  and  there  aie 
Tery  few  who  have  families,  who  .do  not  ufe  loa  and  its 
accompanyments. 

Farm  S€nfimis.-^The  farm  lervants  formerly  lived  wiib 
the  family ;  and  their  ufual  food  was  broth  made  of  ksii 
and  barley,  ot^^groitSf  (unhuiked  oats),.witheat  meat,  and 
bannocks  made  of  peafe  and  bean  meal.  Now  they  live 
apart  from  the  family  in  their  bothie»  and  get  what  is  call- 
ed livery  meal,  t .  #•  %  pecks  of  oat-meal  /cr  weekt  and 
3  choppins  (quarts)  of  ikimmed  milk  per  day. 

Some 

*  The  Atttbor  of  thb  jmptr  is  bappjT  in  this  opportnoity  of  ptjittg  m  ja& 
tribute  to  fo  wordiy  *  chy^fl-er.  Duiiiig  a  miiiiftry  of  50-  jtMm  tmd  up- 
wards,  befides  a  very  confcientions  difchaz^ge  of  bis  dutf  ia  bis  offi«ial  capa- 
city, bis  charity,  benevolence,  and'  attention  to  the  poor,  made  him  ezticnr- 
ly  u£tM  and  much  beloved.  His  chataarer  was  iitvproachable ;  be  wit» 
a  iinceitMiniilerofdieGofpel;  s  food  Ghriftian  ^  anda&faoDcfti 


of  Longforgan.  49I 

Some  attemfits  have  ktely  been  made  to  introdoce  Jaeo- 
l>me  principles  into  this  parifli  %  but  by  care^  attention,  an^ 
proper  exertion  of  the  heritors,  in  fnpport  of  the  country 
police,  it  is  hoped  that  the  idle,  the  onprincipled,  and  iU- 
difpofed,  will  be  effedually  prevented  from  difturbing  the 
public  peace ;  and  that  the  good  fenfe  of  the  inhabitants  in 
general,  who  are  loyal  and  well*difpofed,  will  teach  otheia 
to  put  a  proper  valoe  upon  diat  mod  excellent  Conftitutioo, 
under  which  all  enjoy  fo  many  blei&ng?. 

Increafi  i/  Popttiatian^^^Thzt  the  inhabitants  of  the  pa- 
riih  are  in  general  upon  the  increaCe,  when  compared  with 
Dr  Webfter's  return,  has  been  already  oblerved,  notwith* 
fianding  that  feveral  cottages,  and  one  confiderable  village, 
have  been  removed,  to  make  room  for  larger  £urms.  It  is 
in  the  villages,  however,  that  the  addidon  has  principallj 
taken  place.  By  a  furvey  taken  of  the  village  of  Loog« 
forgan  in  1775*  there  were  then  only  105  families  in  it « 
there  are  now  126.  Twenty-one  families  make  X05  per- 
Ibns  at  £ve  a  £unily,  equal  to  nearly  one-fixth  of  the  whde 
number. 

ftul^-^Tht  foftl  commonly  ufed  by  the  inhabitants  of 
this  pariih  is  coal,  brought  by  water-carriage  from  the  Frith 
of  Forth,  and  landed  at  Dundee,  the  bum*mouth  of  Inver- 
gourie,  or  at  Polgavie )  the  medium  price  u&d  to  be  4  s.  psr 
boU,  of  j6  (lone  Amfterdam  weight,  that  is,  about  6  d.  pir 
cwt.;  but  within  thefe  few  years  the  price  has  riCea  to 
5  s.  and  upwards.  This  has  introduced  the  uie  of  Englifh 
coal  from  Newcaflle  and  Sunderland,  which  are  now 
much  liked,  and  by  many  thought  better,  and  in  the 
end  cheaper.  They  alfo  bum  whins,  (furz),  and  weedings 
ef  fin,  but  their  dependence  is  upon  coaL 

Horfit, 


494  Statiftical  Account 

Horjes. '^Thtre  are  in  this  pariOi  about  347  horftt;  of  whkh 
ten  or  twelve  at  noft  are  riding  or  carriage  horiiea  ;  the  reft 
are  all  for  the  porpoTcs  of  agricnltore.  There  are  fame 
few  brood  mares,  but  not  one  fiallioa  ^  and  akfaoogh  fome 
few  horfes  are  bred  here,  jet  the  prtndpal  Ciippljr  is  firaoi 
the  weft  country  mtrkets. 

CViff/^.— -There  are  about  900  cows  and  lim^  cakde  in 
this  parilh.  The  cows  are  of  Tarioos  hrocds^  nod  of  aB 
fizes ;  and  although  many  calves  are  brought  npt  yet  there 
is  perhaps  too  little  attention  fliown  to  tfab  fpeciea  of  fivn- 
ing. 

It  has  been  a  prafiice  here  with  many  brmera  to  take  h 
black-cattle  from  the  higher  lands,  about  the  end  of  the 
year,  i.  e.  after  Martinmas,  and  put  them  in  tfacir  flaw- 
yard,  where  they  continued,  and  got  notbiag  bnt  ftnw 
throngh'the  winter,  thefe  were  called  winterens,  and  ofiially 
paid  from  6s.  to  xos.  per  head,  according  tothe  fixe.  It 
was  formerly  a  praAice  in  this  parifh  to  ufe  oKcn  in  the 
plough  ;  but  now  there  is  no  fuch  thing  in  the  whole  pa- 
rifli,  except  on  the  eftate  of  Littletown ;  and  thoi^  they 
may  be  bred  to  go  well  either  in  the  plough  or  caitt  per- 
haps to  as  good  puTpofe  as  horfes,  are  much  more  eafily 
kept  up,  and  when  urffit  for  the  fiu-m  can  be  fed  to  great 
advantage,  and  will  fetch  a  good  price  from  the  batdhcr  ^ 
yet  it  is  found,  that  they  are  not  fo  fit  for  the  purpoies  of 
farming  in  this  country,  as  their  feet  are  too  tender,  even 
when  well  ihod,  for  much  work ;  and  much  oartxng  upon 
hard  roads  lays  them  up  entirely. 

Sbeep.^^ThtTt  are  no  flieep  in  this  parifh,  but  fioch  as 
are  kept  for  the  ufe  of  families,  except  upon  the  eAate  of 
Mylnefield.  Mr  Mylne  keeps  about  400  of  the  Bakewell 
breed,  and  as  near  the  original  ftock  as  he  can  procure. 

Tbdc 


cf  Longforgan.  495^ 

Tbcle  be  prefers  ta  every  other  kind.    He  thinks  that 
they  £uten  much  ibooer  than  the  black-faced.    He  is  mncb 
incUiied  to  think  that  the  lame  field  will  &tte&  as  many  of 
the  one  kind  as  o\  the  other ;  and  he  is  convinced,  that  the 
qiiailtity  of  muttoa  produced  on  the  acre  is  certainly  at  lead 
25  pir  Citti.  in  favour  of  the  poled  iheep.    Befides,  as  his 
£mn  is  partly  com,  and  partly  grais«  the  poled  iheep  are 
fo  qoiet,  and  fo  little  difpo&d  'to  ramble,  that  they  are  in 
every  refped  preferable  for  fuch  farms  to  the  black-faced^ 
who  are  fo  wild  that  no  fence  can  keep  them  within  bounds; 
conleqaently,  the  lofi  which'  may  be  fuftaincd,  from  their 
rambling  difpofitioo  upon  fuch  a  fsrm,  is  beyond  aU  calcu- 
lation.   But  the  iheep  kept  for  gentlemens  families  are  the 
black-faced  wedders,  brought  from  the  Highlands  at  four 
years  old,  if  they  can  be  had.     They  thrive  well ;  and, 
when  fed,  weigh  from  16  to  ao  lb.  fer  quarter,  and  are  ez« 
cellent  mutton.    Thefe  are  alfo  fome  Dorietfliire  ewes  for 
early  lambs,  which  have  been  fold  in  the  Dundee  market, 
in  January  and  February,  at  a  guinea  and  %o  s.  each. 

Calves^ — Calves  are  fed  in  this  pariQi,  and  particularly 
at  CaftIe*Huntly,  for  veal,  fully  as  good  as  any  in  England. 
They  are  fed  in  a  box,  which  is  made  of  any  coarle  boards, 
4t  or  5  feet  long,  4  or  44  high,  and  about  a  feet  wide,  in 
proportion  to  the  breed  to  be  fed.  The  boards  of  which 
the  boec  is  made,  are  to  be  put  fo  dole  to  one  another,  as  to 
let  in  fufficieot  air»  but  no  more,  as  the  exclufion  of 
light  may  be  one  elTential  part  of  the  procels.  It  ftands  up- 
on 4  feet ;  at  one  end  about  4  inches  high  1  and  the  other  a 
inches  <;  whicb,  with  fmall  holes  in  the  bottom,  drains  it  of 
all  welnefii.  But«  to  make  it  ftill  more  comfortable,  the 
bottom  Ihould  be  covered  with  ftraw  or  hay,  which  Ihould 
be  changed  at  leaft  twice  a  week.  The  calf  is  put  into  this 
koa^wben  n^w  dropped,  or  as  fooa  after  as  poffible*,  and 

fop 


496  Statiflical  Acantni 

fat  the  firft  week  milk  ihoiild  be  given  it  cantiouflj;  after 
which  it  maj  be  given  more  freelj  ;  and  when  aboat  tea 
days  old  it  fhould  be  bled.  It  may  then  get  as  much  fweet 
milky  freih  from  the  cow,  as  it  can  take^  three  times  a-daj; 
and  a  large  piece  of  chalk  fliould  be  hnng  in  the  boX| 
which  it  will  lick  occafionallj.  The  bleeding  (hoiild  be  re- 
peated once  a  week,  and  it  will  be  fine  veal  ^  ten  weeks. 
It  fliould  never  be  .kOled  fooner^  but  three  mondis,  or 
even  older,  the  veal  will  be  excellent,  and  will  weigh 
from  xo  to  XI  ftone,  of  16  lb.  each.  The  freqnent  bleed- 
ing prevents  difeafes  from  plethora,  which  calves  are  fob* 
jed  to,  even  when  not  fo  high  fed ;  And  ftill  more  when 
they  are.  And  the  chalk  contributes  nothing  to  the 
whitenels  of  the  veal,  but  it  amufes  the  animal,  and  it  cor* 
reds  the  acidity  in  the  ftomach,  which  might  otherwife 
happen,  and  which  frequentljr  does  happen.  At  all  dmes 
when  they  loath  the  milk,  and  do  not  feed  well,  let  them 
be  bled.  A  cow  calf  is  the  beft  for  veal.  If  a  bnll  cali^ 
he  fliould  be  cut  at  about  a  week  old,  otherwife  the  veal 
will  neither  be  fo  good  nor  fo  white. 

Pigs. — ^Pigs  are  in  general  to  be  found  in  the  frrm-yanb 
of  proprietors  only.  Thofe  in  this  parifli  are  moftly » if  not 
all,  of  the  Chinefe  breed,  which  are  never  meafly ;  bat 
fometimes  they  lofe  the  ufe  of  their  feet,  of  which  they 
feldom  recover.  They  are  very  prolific,  and  eafily  bnmgfat 
up ;  they  pick  up  their  food  in  a  (traw-yard,.  or  about  the 
doors,  and  live  upon  what  otherwife  would  be  loft.  They 
may  be  fed  upon  clover,  yams,  potatoes,  or  the  refufe  of  the 
kitchen,  and  will  fatten  upon  damaged  com;  but  if  flmt 
up  for  eight  or  ten  days,  and  fed  upon  ground  peale  or 
beans,  at  a  very  fmall  ezpente,  they  become  excellent 
ineat  at  all  ages;  indeed  all  their  corn  (hould  be  ground; 
yxj  fine  is  not  neceflary ;  but  if  w^l  bruified  between 

roIlei% 


ofLon^organ.  497 

roliersy  or  brok:en  in  a  mill,  it  will  be  fotmd  by  ezperiencep 
that  much  leis  will  nooriih,  and  even  fatten  pigs,  as  well  as 
all  animals  of  every  fpecies  ufuallj  fed  upon  corn.  There- 
fore, to  breed  pigs  about  a  farm,  and  to  feed  all  beftial  upon 
bniifed  grainy  inftead  of  whole  com,  are  really  great  im<- 
provements  in  agricultural  economy  \  but  the  praAice  is 
not  general  here }  and  the  country  people  ftill  retain  fome 
prejudice  againft  pork ;  but  it  is  wearing  out  gradually. 

PairAi7.*-PouItry  of  all  kinds  are  bred  in  this  pariih» 
turkeys,  geefe,  ducks,  hens,  &c. }  but  the  fowls  are  certainly 
much  fewei^  number  iince  the  praftice  of  letting  large 
farms  began*  All  the  Imall  farmers,  acre-men^  and  every 
village«hou(e^  formerly  paid  fo  many  fowls  (kain)  as  a  part 
of  their  rent,  which  was  a  mean  of  keeping  up  the  breed» 
not  only  for  the  fupply  of  the  country  round,  but  alfo  to 
anfwer  the  demand  of  the  market-towns  in  the  neighbour* 
hood.  Now,  the  viUtigen  pay  none,  as  it  was  a  conftant 
caufe  of  difpute  with  the  farmers,  and  even  amongft  them- 
felves.  However,  mofi  of  the  great  farmers  pay  kain,  al- 
though they  are  very  averfie  to  the  pra£Uce.  But  the  land- 
lords infift  upon  it,  as  the  only  means  of  preferving  the 
breed  from  total  extindion ;  at  the  fame  time,  many  far* 
mers  throw  the  burden  upon  their  cottars^^d  make  thcnl 
pay  the  kain  as  part  of  their  houfc'rent.  In  all  old  leafes  it 
made  a  part  of  the  agreement,  that  fo  many  capons  (hould 
be  paid  annually,  as  part  of  the  kain,  and  then  they  were  in 
plenty  i  but  as  they  have  not  been  eza£led  for  fome  tim^, 
now  there  is  (caree  a  capon  to  be  found  in  the  country. 

Pignm^i-^Thttt  are  eight  doire-cots,  or  pigeoif-boufes,  in 
the  pariih.  The  pigeons  aTe  exceedingly  fine  ;  but  they  are 
a  very  expenfive  delicacy  to  the  farmer ;  yet  they  are  till 
fome  advantage,  for  their  dung,  either  mixed  with  chaffl  or 
not,  and  fown  upon  the  furface,  and  either  harrowed  in  with 

Vol,  XIX,  jR  «&• 


49'  Statijical  Jccount 

the  ieed»  or  fuffered  to  lie,  efpedbllj  if  the  weadier  be  mtii 
and  wet,  makes  a  moft  ezoeUent  top-drcffing  for  any  crop. 

Game* — ^There  are  pleotj  of  hares,  partridgeay  ploTcis, 
and  Inipes.  The  two  hft  are  mudi  diminiihed  in  number, 
fince  the  marihy  grounds  were  drained  (b  completely.  Tbe 
land-rail  is  often  heard,  but  feldom  feeo.  Woodcocks  alb 
take  this  parifli  in  their  root,  and  are  exceeding  fine.  Some 
yean  ago  there  was  a  omfiderable  colony  of  herooa  in  this 
pariih :  They  occopied  a  circle  of  fir-trees  which  fiuromukd 
an  old  bnilding,  near  a  piece  of  marihy  groond,  upon  the 
eftate  of  Cafile-Huntly  ^  but  when  the  grounds  were  drtb- 
ed,  and  the  trees  cut  down,  the  herons  hovered  abom  the 
place  a  year  or  two,  and  then  emigrated  entirely.  Theit 
are  a  great  number  of  crows,  (rooks)|  particularly  aboitf 
Cafile-Huntly,  where  they  have  fpoiled  the  beantifal  tops 
of  many  full  grown  trees.  They  are  alfo  very  deftrodtfe 
to  young  plantations,  to  potatoes,  peafe,  and  beans,  wfaea 
they  firfl  begin  to  ihew  themfelvea  above  ground,  and  pa- 
haps  to  other  grain  alfo  i  but  as  they  devour  grabs,  sad 
other  pernicious  infeds,  it  is  not  improbable  but  tbcyds 
more  real  good  than  ill  to  the  fumer.  There  are  alfo  car- 
rion crows,  (hoddies,  as  they  are  called  here),  and  hawks, 
but  not  very  numerous.  There  are  great  numbers  of  hedge- 
hogs found  in  this  pariih. 

Fox^i.— Foxes  alfo  fometiroes  come  down  from  the  piant- 
angs  upon  the  hills,  and  pay  unwelcome  vifits  to  the  poultry- 
yards  i  and  fome  winters,  a  drolling  red-deer  has  now  wtd 
then  made  its  appearance,  even  in  the  low  grounds  of  thb 
parifli. 

The  furface  of  this  parifli  is  varioos  i  what  lies  next  die 
xiver  is  carfe  *  day  *,  the  foutbem  dedivitiea  of  the  hills  coo- 

fift 

«  Car/e,  probably  from  the  word  Cam,  ufed  in  the  noith  of  £flg1aadt  fs* 
IcTcl  land  on  the  banks  of  a  river  or  axm  of  the  fea. 


^  Longforgan.  499 

lift,  for  the  mod  part»  of  rich  black  loam.  Some  parts 
are  covered  with  a  foil  of  a  particular  rendilh  colour,  but 
verj  prolific  when  well  drefled ;  the  country  people  call  it 
mortaTy  i.  e.  a  kind  of  clay  mixed  with  gravel,  and  very  dif- 
ferent from  carle  clay.  The  upper  part  of  the  pariih  13  oC 
a  very  inferior  quality. 

About  40  years  ago,  not  half  the  clay  grounds  in  this 
pariih  were  fubjeft  to  the  plough  \  the  ridges  were  broa^ 
unequal  and  crooked,  and  their  crowns  only  were  arable, 
between  which  a  broad  fpace,  which  they  called  a  baui^ 
and  which  confificd  of  half  of  each  ridge  at  leaft,  was  left  in 
natural  gra£i,  upon  which  the  fiurmers  padured  cattle,  and 
-which,  in  winter,  was  generally  covered  with  water  ;  even 
the  forface  of  thele  banks  was  pared  off,  and  fold  for  build- 
ing and  covering  houfes ;  and  the  fanner  confidered  his  di^ 
votSf  i.  e.  the  pared  furface,  as  an  arride  of  profit.     Clover 
and  fiiUow  were  then  unkaowti  j  and  the  clay  between  For- 
gan  and  the  river,  which  is  now  the  richeft  part  of  the  pa- 
ii(h,  was  then  fo  poor,  and  fo  unprodudive,  that  tenants 
could  (carce  be  got  upon  any  terms ;  the  bell  of  it  fcarcely 
yielding  double  £sed.    Every  encouragement  therefore  was 
given ;  the  grounds  were  drained  and  fenced  at  the.  land- 
lords expence,  who  alfo  gave  lime,  on  leafes  for  38  years,  to 
cnaUe  the  tenants  to  improve  the  land,  and  indemnify 
themiclves    for   labour    and    expence.     At  prefeat,    tho 
ridges  in  the  clay  are  ftill  in  moft  places  unequal  and  crook- 
ed, as  it  is  exceedingly  difiicult  to  change  their  diredion, 
without  very  materially  injuring  the  land,  and  not  poflible 
but  at  a  great  expence ;  but  tbe  whole  furface  is  quite  dry, 
and  the  water  effisdnally  carried  off  by  meaps  of  deep 
ditches  round  and  through  every  farm.      There  are  no 
batiks;  but  tiie  whok  is  highly  cultivated,  well  limed,  and 
kept  in  good  heart  by  proper  management  and  a  regular 

rotatioa 


^oo  StatiJKcal  Jcetmnt 

rotation  of  cropping }  of  which  dover  and  fdlo^r  alwajk 
make  a  part. 

Gmfral  Improvemenis. — In  1760,  a  piece  ef  nncaltiTaced 
moor  ran  acrots  the  whole  pariflifrom  weft  to  eaA,  oonfifi- 
ing  of  between  500  and  600  acres,  and  jielding  nothing  but 
heath, broom  or  whin  (iurze).  In  1761,  it  was  divided  bjibb- 
miffio!i  amongft  the  adjoining  proprietor,  and  now  no  pan  <£ 
it  i&  uncultivated.  About  100  acres  of  it  are  covered  with  fine 
thriving  plantations  ot  fir  and  lariz,  from  30  years  ^Ad  *sA 
upwards ;  about  as  much  is  under  the  plough,  and  the  reft 
laid  out  in  beautiful  grais  parks,  and  makes  part  of  the  efiate 
of  Mylnefield,  improved  bj  the  prefent  proprietor  at  a  vtxj 
great  ezpence,  almoft  equal  to  a  purchafe  of  the  ground,  but 
which  16  worth  now  from  40  s.  to  45  s.  ferammm. 

That  part  of  it  which  fell  to  the  etUte  of  Gaftle-Hotttlj, 
was  either  planted  with  fir,  larix,  and  other  trees,  or  let  to 
tenants  \  to  fome  of  whom  lime  was  given  hy  the  pri^e* 
tor,  at  the  rate  of  45  holb  per  aore  *,  and  to  others  naari,  sc 
the  rate  of  5 "  bolls  ^#r  acre  f ,  to  enable  them  to  improve  the 
ground.  So  that  what  was  fcarce  worth  anj  thing  befbie 
the  divilion,  twenty  years  ago,  was  let  at  5  s.  pgr  acre,  and 
now  gives  lo  s.  and  25  s.  and  upwards.  But  the  rife  of 
rent  was  gradual,  as  the  improvement  of  the  land  eoabkd 
the  tenant  to  pay. 

Formerly  the  hills,  and  all  the  upper  part  of  the  pariik, 
were  one  continued  uninctofed  moorland  fur&oe,  with 
fcarce  a  habitable  houfe  upon  them.  The  proprietors  then 
were  either  unable  or  unwilling  to  lay  out  money  opoo 
their  eftates,  and  were  happy  to.  get  tenants  who  had  mo- 
ney |o  fpend  and  a  fpirit  to  improve ;  therefore,  to  facb, 
they  were  willing  to  give  long  leafes,  as  the  only  meaas, 
without  expence  to  themfelves,  of  reitnborfing  tl^  tenant 
for  his  time,  trouble,  and  expence,  while  their  eftates  were 

improving 
'     fOiuleaowB  lime,  sad  wbmawafore.  f  A  cabe  of  s  6et. 


of  Longf organ.  501 

improving  at  the  fame  time.    Several  of  thefe  leaies  aie 
(1796)  unexpired  at'this  daj.     In   1767  two  efiates  were 
let   in  thu  parifk  for  three  nineteen  jears,  (57).    They 
were  at  the  time  perfedlj  open,  uninclofed,  and  almoft  im« 
caltivated,  and  the  whole  buildings  upon  both  of  little  or 
no  value.    The  tenant  built  new  houfes,  repaired  the  old 
ones,  particularly  a  manfion-houfe  on  each,  inclofed  a  great 
part  with  fubftantial  flone-dikes,  (walls  of  dry  ftone  about 
4  or  5  feet  high),  and  the  reft  with  thorn-hedges,  planted 
about  60  acres  of  trees  of  all  forts,  limed  and  marled  and 
drained  the  whole  groundst  which  were  then  fpoutj  and 
wet,  and  by  that  means  greatly  improved  the  eftates ;  fo 
that  what  was  let,  in  1767,  at  L.  i  ja,  los.  in  1784  was  va- 
lued at  L  300  ;  and  now  (1796)  thej  yield  a  rent  of  L.36o 
per  annum  and  upwards.    But  thefe  improvements  were 
done  at  a  very  great  expence  by  a  ikilful  farmer,  who  ap- 
plied the  money  with  judgment. 

Another  efiate,  of  about  300  acres,  in  1777,  brought  a 
rent  of  L.65,  which  now  pays  L.  305,  befides  75  acres  of 
very  thriving  plantations,  which  were  at  that  time  not 
worth  more  than  2  9.  p^  acre  on  an  average.  They  were 
valued  lately  by  a  nurfcryman  at  L.  3375  Sterling.  Their 
weeding!  yield  about  10  s.  per  acre  per  annum  \  and  if  thej 
continue  to  thrive  equally  well,  may,  w)ien  fifty  years  oldf 
be  worth  four  times  the  fum. 

The  eftate  has  alfo  been  improved  at  a  great  expeace,  by 
dreiEng  the  fields,  inclofing  them  with  good  fences,  build- 
ing mills  upon  the  bum,  (a  fmall  rivulet),  which  runs 
through  the  eftate,  and  al(b  farm  and  cot-houies. 

Another  eftate  in  this  pariflii  purchafed  within  thefe  few 
years,  which  was  then  perfeAly  open,  and  in  very  bad  or- 
der, is  now  inclofed,  with  good  ftone  and  thorn  fences,  well 
divided  in  handfome  fields,  and  about  aoo  acres  planted 
with  all  kinds  of  Irees,  which  are  in  a  very  thriving  condi- 
tion} 


503  Stati/Hcal  Account 

lioa;  fb  that,  now,  its  value  is  alreadj  douUed,  if  not 
more. 

Ai>oat  eighteen  jean  ago,  in  the  inleroaediate  fyacc  be* 
tween  the  bank  of  Forgan  and  the  clay,  there  were  aboot 
20  acres  of  moralTy  ground,  called  the  Latch,  £0  much  im* 
pregnated  with  water,  that  in  many  places  k  could  not 
carrj  a  horfe.  To  improve  this,  and  render  it  nrebk,  a 
deep  ditch  was  dog  along  the  bottom  of  the  brae-laad,  (fi- 
fing ground),  to  cot  off  the  fprings  from  above,  and  the 
fpace  divided  by  crols  ditches,  with  anodicr  between  it  and 
the  day  to  carry  off  the  water  \  and  now  the  whole  ia  fine 
arable  land,  as  tgood  as  any  clay  (oil  in  tbe  carfe.  It  was 
let  then  at  5  s.  f^r  acre ;  it  is  now  worth  from  jo  s.  to 
\Mipir  acre. 

Embanking. — ^The  encroachments  made  by  the  river  Tay 
iqion  the  Garfe,  part  of  its  bonndaries,  having  made  the  pro- 
prietors of  thefc  lands  think  of  embanking  for  their  de£ence ; 
the  late  Mr  Crawford  of  Monorgaa,  who  was  die  only  heritor 
in  this  parifli  whole  lands  were  in  danger,  began  to  ess- 
bank  about  thirty  years  ago,  and  bailt  ftooe-Senoes  at  a  ¥crj 
great  ezpence;  but  being  injudicioufly  coaftmded,  and 
built  of  bad  materials,  they  have  required  repair  almoft  e- 
very  year.  Now,  fince  Mooorgan  has  been  annexed  to  the 
cftate  of  Caftle-HuDtly,  the  proprietor  has  begun  to  tm- 
bank  upon  a  new  plan.  He  has  cut  the  earth  into  floping 
banks,  falling  to  its  greateft  height  at  an  angle,  everywhcrs 
mnch  above  45*,  and  paving  the  whole  extent  of  the  fiope 
as  far  as  the  tide  reaches,  with  good  long  ftones,  widi  their 
ends  inwards,  and  towards  the  land;  (o  that  tbe  waves 
wafli  over  it,  and,  as  they  meet  with  no  refifiance,  they  do 
no  injury.  Tbe  expence  of  this  is  no  doobt  confideraUe, 
but  perhaps  not  much,  if  any  thing,  more  dian  what  has 
been  done  by  other  carfe  proprietors  along  the  banks  of  the 
liver,  and  bids  fair  to  he  infinitely  more  (foraUe.  However 

ht 


of  Longf organ.  §03 

lie  liaa  this  year  tried  to  fence  after  another  manner.    He 
lias  drawn  a  line,  within  water-mark,  at  a  confiderabk  di« 
fiance  from  the  beach,  and  upon  it  laid  down  ftones,  not 
built,  nor  very  regular,  hut  in  fuch  fort  as  to  form  a  broad 
bafe,  and  to  narrow  gradually  towards  the  top,  and  about 
5  or  6  feet  high«     This  bulwark  of  ftones  is  expe&ed  to 
break  the  force  of  the  flood-tide,  even  in  ftormy  weather^ 
£0  that  it  may  beat  with  le(s  violence  againft  the  land ;  and 
as  in  the  refluac  it  will  certainly  cau£e  a  coniiderable  fpace 
of  dead  water,  a  greater  quantity  of  mud  or  fediment  will 
be  left  behind,  which,  in  time,  will  probably  increafe  fo 
sfiuch  in  bulk,  and  alfo  in  firmne&,  that  reeds  may  be  plant- 
ed with  a  probability  of  fucceis ;  and  if  they  once  are  efta- 
bliihed,  the  fence  will  bid  fair  to  be  durable  :  Alfo  at  ano- 
ther place,  where  the  river  ajpproachcs  nearer  to  the  braes 
(high  banks),  he  has  dug  a  trench  of  about  3  feet  deep,  and 
as  broad,  the  outfide  nearly  perpendicular,  but  perfefily  co*i 
vered  with  die  beach ;  the  infide  floping  upwards  to  hu- 
mour the  acclevity  of  th^  bank.       In  this  trench  are 
thrown  ftones,  as  regularly  as  it  can  be  done  by  a  common 
labourer,  and,  when  the  trench  is  full,  more  ftones  are  laid 
np,  fo  as  to  cover  the  face  of  the  bank  higher  up  than  any 
tide  flows.    From  the  folidity  of  the  foundation,  and  the 
gentlene&  of  the  acclivity,  this  alfo  is  ezpe^ed  to  anfwer. 
If  either  of  thefe  do,  they  will  (ave  much  expence ;  bat  of 
that  experience  muft  judge* 

Levelling  in  Clay — ^The  ridges  upon  the  day  part  of  the 
Mains  of  Caflle-Huntly  were  crooked,  unequal,  irregular, 
and  liable  in  rainy  feafons  to  be  drenched  with  water,  when 
Mr  Paterfon  got  pofleifion  of  it  in  1779*  ^^^  ^^  '^^  levelled 
the  whole,  except  one  field,  which  does  not  require  it  fo 
much }  ftraighted  all  the  ridgesi  rounded  them  fufficientljr 

to 


504  '    Stati/lical  Account 

to  cany  off  the  wster,  and  no  morci  and  a»de  them  all  dt 
x8  feet  broad. 

He  made  the  firft  attempt  to  level  in  a  manner  reoooi- 
mended  by  Dr  Anderfon  ;  bot  he  found  it  too  difficok  to 
execute,  perhaps  from  not  clearly  onderftanding  the  Doo- 
tor's  method.  He  therefore  did  the  whole  with  the  ^pade- 
He  firft  opened  a  trench  of  about  to  feet  wide,  and  extend- 
ing from  end  to  end  of  the  field,  in  the  fame  dire&ion  he 
meant  to  lay  the  ridges,  laid  up  the  upper  furfi^e  of  the 
xo  feet  trench  upon  the  fide  of  the  ditch,  to  be  removed 
afterwards ;  then  m%de  up  all  the  low  fpaces,  or  fomoer  Ar- 
rows, with  the  underfoil,  from  the  crowns  or  rifing  groonds, 
with  fpade^nd  wheel-barrow,  if  near,  and  if  at  a  H;ifein^, 
with  carts.  He  raifed  this  trench  with  the  underfoil,  a]fi> 
brought  from  both  ends,  towards  the  middle  of  the  field,  is 
fuch  fort  as  to  form  an  inclined  plain,  falling  off  at  bodi 
ends,  and  to  drain  it  completely  by  its  own  furrows,  which 
were  to  run  into  the  ditches  on  each  fide  of  the  field*  When 
this  imderfoil  had  got  its  proper  ihape,  he  marked  off  an« 
other  10  feet  trench,  and,  with  the  fpade  alone,  threw  the 
upper  foil  of  the  fecond  trench  upon  the  new  formed  under 
foil  of  the  firft,  ib  as  to  cover  it  completely  with  the  Cuno 
cultivated  earth  uppermoft,  which  had  been  the  upper  fur* 
£ice  before ;  and  fo  on  through  the  whole  field,  until  be 
came  to  the  laft  trench,  upon  which,  when  the  proper  fhape 
was  given  with  the  under  foil,  the  upper  £ai],  whidi  had 
been  laid  up  upon  the  edge  of  the  firft  trench,  was  carted 
round  and  laid  on,  which  completed  the  operation.  The 
appearance  of  the  field  then  was  uniform  and  regular,  rifii^ 
in  the  middle,  and  falling  off  at  both  ends  towards  the 
ditches  which  receives  the  furface  water.  Ii  was  thai  di* 
vided  into  18  feet  ridges,  and  continues  fo  ^  and  by  this 
means  the  whole  field  was  levelled,  without  burying  any 
part  of  the  origbal  furface.    The  ezpence  o£  diis^  npcm  > 

ten 


^longfhrgafu  505 

Ictt  acre  fieU,  which  wis  the  laft  dooe^  was  nearly  aboat 
Is.  6  per  acre  for  labourers,  alone,  ezclnfive  of  carts,  horles, 
and  &rm.(e(vants.  Bat  the  whole  might  very  probably 
have  been  done  at  about  luSper  acre,  including  every  est- 
pence.  The  fiime  year,  that  field  was  well  dnngcd  and 
limed,  and  ibwn  with  wheat,  and  yielded  very  near  14 
bolb^  Scotch  acre,  near  74.  quarters  Whincheftcr  meafure. 
Wages  are  higher  now;  but  ftiU  he  thinks  it  would  be 
well  worth  while  to  dreis  m^y  fields  in  the  Carfe  in  the 
bmc  manner.  It  is  alio  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  fidd 
mbove  naentioned  had  originally  been  a  meadow,  with  a 
great  part  of  it  mois,  and  before  it  was  levelled  and  drefied, 
the  middle  of  it  was  fo  low  and  wet,  it  fcarcc  ever  bore  a 
crop  worth  reaping* 

Smface-draming  M  (7J^.— As  clay  is'  ^rSsAly  imper- 
vious to  water,  furface-draining  is  the  only  means  by  which 
this  fpecies  of  improvement  can  be  accomplifhed ;  and  all 
ever  the  Carfe  of  Cowrie,  this  operation  b  extremely 
fimple^  There  are  certain  large  common  drains,  which 
pais  through  the  diftriA  in  different  diredions,  iufficiently 
capacious  to  receive  the  water  drained  from  the  fields  by 
the  ditches  which  furround  thein,  and  of  fuch  a  level  as  to 
carry  it  clear  off,  and  to  empty  their  contents  into  (he  river 
Tay.  There  are  alfo  ditches  which  furround  every  farm, 
«r  pais  through  them,  as  their  fituations  may  require,  but 
in  fuch  manner  as  to  communicate  with  every  field  upon 
the  fanb.  Thefe  ditches  are  made  from  2  td  4  feet  wide 
at  top,  and  from  xj-  to  t  foot  at  bottom ;  a  ihape  which 
Iprevents  their  fides  from  filling  in }  but  even  then  they 
mull  be  deanfed  ahd  Icoured  every  year  at  a  confiderabla 
ezpence.  If  the  fields  be  of  an  uniform  level  furface,  the 
common  farrows  between  the  ridges,  provided  they  be 
fiii&ciently  deepened  at  their  .extremities,  will  ferve  to  lay 

Vol.  XIX.  3-8  the 


So6 


Statj/Hcal  Account 


the  founds  dry ;  but  as  it  feMom  happens  that  any  fidd  ifl 
the  Carfe  is  fo  completely  free  of  ineqoaliciesy  the  laft  ope- 
ratiooy  after  it  b  fown  and  harrowed  in,  is  to  draw  a  fiarrow 
with  the  plough  through  every  hollow  in  the  field,  which 
lies  in  fuch  a  dire&ion  that  it  can  be  guided  through  tbcia« 
as  at  a  a  a;  and  fo  as  to  make  a  free  conununicatioa  widi 
any  of  the  furronnding  ditches,  or  with  any  ^  the  fiofrovs 


Fig. 


between  the  ridges,  as  at 
b  b  b  b,  which  may  fisnrc  as 
a  condufior  to  carry  the 
water  off  to  the  ditches  up- 
on the  extremitiea  cccc 
When  this  track  is  ooce 
opened  frith  the  pioogfa,  it 
b  widened,  cleared  out,  and 
fo  fhaped  with  the  fpit^ 
that  it  may  run  no  ri& 
of  filling   up.      Its  width 


ihould  be  fix>m  6  inches  to  a  foot,  according  to  its  <kpdi, 


Fig 


1 


which 
upon 


muft     depend 

the     level    ef 

the    field;     but    the 

breadth  of  a  fpade  st 

bottom  is  a  good  gene* 

ral  rule.   It  frvqoentljr 

happens,  that  there  are 

inequalities  in  fcTcnl 

parts  of  the  fiune  field, 

which  do  not  extcsd 

whoUy   acrols   it,  cs 

which    do    not    pa& 

through  it,  in  any  dfredion  that  a  plough  ean  follow  -,  but 

which  may  extend  over  two  ridges,  d  d,  or  one  ridge,  e,  or 

even  part  of  a  ridge  ^  fuch  require  an  open  conunuaicaticHi 

t» 


4^f  Longforgan.  507 

to  be  made  with  anj  conduffiog  furrow,  to  carry  off  the 
water,  which  are  always  mad^  with  the  fpade.  All  theie 
open  commuaicatioos  are  here  called  goat ;  and  to  keep 
them  perfe&iy  clear  b  a  very  eflential  part  of  trtrj  Carfe 
farmer's  attention.  It  is  as  yet  a  general  pradice  in  the 
Carfe  to  have  bead-ridges,  as  they  are  called,  at  the  twd  ex- 
tremities of  each  field ;  i.  e.  the  ground  upon  which  the 
plough  turns  is  laid  up  in  the  Ihape  of  a  tranfverfe  ridge, 
higher  in  the  middle,  and  falling  off  at  each  fide  $  fo  that  a 
gaa  is  made  in  the  courfe  of  the  inner  furrow,  as  at  f  f  f  f, 
with  which  the  whole  furrows  between  the  longitudi- 
iial  ridgea  communicate,  and  into  which  they  pour  all 
their  furface  water,  which  is  carried  off  by  fimilar  gaas,  or 
openings,  cut  through  the  head-ridges,  at  convenient  diftan- 
ces,.as  at  g  g  g  g,  and  by  which  the  whole  is  emptied  into 
the  adjoining  ditches, cccc,  and  by* them  into  the  main 
drain. 

It  is  fuppofed  that  it  woold  be  a  much  better  plan,  in- 
flead  of  formmg  head  ridges,  as  above  deicribed,  to  lay  the 
earth  up  to  the  ends  of  the  longitudinal  ridges  uniformly, 
which  could  eafily  be  done  with  a  little  more  trouble,  by 
returning  with  an  empty  plough,  Thei^e  would  then  be  no 
dcpreffion  between  the  longitudinal  and  tranfverfe  ridges, 
of  courfe,  no  occafion  for  a  gaa;  and  by  cutting  fairly 
through  the  head  ridges  oppofite  to  every  longitudinal  fur- 
row, a  freer  paffage  would  be  given  to  the  furface-water 
from  the  whole  field  to  the  adjoining  ditch,  and,  of  courfe, 
the  dniinjog  be  more  complete;  This  method  Mr  Paterfon 
has  followed  upon  all  the  fields  which  he  has  levelled,  and 
which  b  reprefented  by  the  Fio.  2. 

Befides  all  thefe,  an  experienced  Carfe  farmer  will  take 
care  that  his  ground  is  carefully  plomghed ;  that  the  land  is 
Isdd  up  equally ;  that  no  inequalities  are  left,  fo  as  to  hold 
water  i  that  the  ridges  are  properly  rounded,  neither  too 

high 


58o  StatiJlkaJ  Account 

high  nor  too  low,  hot  as  near  a)  poffibk  to  the  fefiioo  of  a 
krgc  circle  r  By  which  the  for&ce-wator  will  eafflj  draia 
off,  without  lodging)  and  while  the  crowns  are  not  too 
much  enriched,  nor  the  iurrows  isnpoveriflied,  the  whok 
will  be  made  cqnally  fertilct  dij,  and  prolific,  and  not  on- 
frequently  be  acceifibk  to  the  plough  earlier  in  tbe  fpmg 
than  the  fields  upon  the  declivities  of  the  fbrroonding  hi&i . 
and  the  reafon  is  obvious,  becaufe  there  is  no  fpouts,  no  na* 
der-ground  water  to  get  rid  of ;  nothbg  bat  ^IbpeifiGisI 
moiftnre  alone* 

Draming  im  loam  ami  imSmimg  FiVZir^— The  tanAust 
dedivities  of  the  hills  in  this  parifii,  in  general,  ooofift  of  fid 
loam,  which  b  exceedingly  prolific.  Bnt  as  the  fitr&oe  '% 
irregular,  and  as  the  fubfirata  confift  of  rocky  ptotobciaaces, 
veins  of  fand,  and,  in*fome  places,  impervions  till  or  Idiit 
tos;  while,  in  a  natural  ftate,  they  are  l^ooty,  and  mtil  they 
are  drained,  in  many  places  they  are  totally  incap^k  of 
any  agricultural  improvement.  The  manner  of  drainii^ 
thefe  is  various,  according  to  the  fliape  and  lie  of  tlie  field, 
and  alfo  of  the  dtftrent  places  where  the  water  fliowa  itUt 
If  from  one  fpring  only,  and  if  that  can  be  cut  off  from  tlie 
grounds  above,  the  ta&  is  eafy )  but  if  the  fpoofes  or  ^rn^ 
are  many,  or  if  the  appearance  happens  in  fitvoral  phcei, 
and  no  original  fpring  be  difoovered,  the  drains  snaft  W 
carried  through  the  field,  in  foch  a  manner  as  to  cooununi- 
cate  with  every  place  where  the  water  af^ean,  and  this  ti 
in  general  done  according  to  the  ikill,  experience,  or  fioae* 
limes  the  uprice  of  the  farmer  \  fomedmea  ?ig"iag» 


^lAngfurgan. 


50f 


in  dug  "Y^  h&im\ 

and  Ibme. 
tiaicsy  e- 
fecciall  7  ]£ 

diefidklwmadmitofit,amab  dnb  is  earned  diagooaUy 
from  corner  to  comer  of  tbe  field,  with  other  dnins,  leading 
rithcr  through,  or  fiom  ewj  fpoaty  part  of  die  field,  thus* 

whidi  is  called  leathering;  but  if 
there  hi^pens  to  be  rock  j  protu« 
berances,  the  drains  mnft  he  care- 
fully guided  round  them.    The& 
drains  are  formed  thus :  A  ditch 
is  dug,  in  anj  dueftion  the  &r« 
mer  may  think  proper,  at  kaft 
three  feet  deepand  two  feet  broad, 
(narrower  may  do  if  the  ftoncs  be 
fcaroe),  and  the  whole  ihoidd  be  left  open  till  it  fhoold  be 
feen  whether  thole  made  are  fuffideot  to  drain  off  the  water 
from  all  the  fpooty  parts  of  the  field. 

The  next  thing  to  be  attended  to,  is  to  take  care  that 
the  bottom  of  the  ditch  be  lower  than  any  vein  of  land 
which  touches  it,  or  which  communicates  with  it;  other- 
wife  the  drain  will  be  of  no '  nie ;.  as  die  fiudy  reins  will 
condnfi  the  water  whererer  diey  reach,  which  rrill  bnift 
out  at  die  firft  obfimaioii.  Satisfied  in  tfaefe  particular^ 
the  ditches  may  be  filled,  from  one  fiootto  x8  inches  as  die 
jfuandty  of  water  may  require,  with  finall  ftones,  brd&en 
fs  fttipoiei  and  laid  in  as  irregularly  as  poffiUe*    Over 


5IO  Statiftkai  Accmmi 


thefis,  a  ecMt  of  fix  inches  of  firaw,  fane,  or  bfoam  k  Ud, 
to  keep  the  earth  wluch  is  now  filled  in  orer  it,  from  crisd- 
fing  through,  and  which  ia  time  forms  a  matted  coat,  aod 
leaves  about  a  foot,  df  14  inches  of  ixabat  above.  The 
furze  or  broom  is  better  than  the  ftraw,  bat  good  gTavd, 
free  of  earth*  if  it  can  be  had,  is  better  than  either.  U  that 
(bould  not  be  jadged  of  foffidentdepth  for  the  plough  the 
ditch  may  be  made  deeper  at  firft.  Thefe  imder-groond 
drains  are  called  here  fivers,  and,  if  carefdUy  cooftroAtd  at 
firft,  may  remain  in  good  order,  and  anfwcr  every  ptirpde 
cxpeded  from  them  fi>r  many  years,  while  the  whole  field 
q>pears  one  omfbrm  forfiice.  Mr  Paterfoo  drained  n  ficU, 
ib  foil  of  rocky  protuberances  that  he  vtas  obliged  to  &ci 
his  way  with  an  iron  rod,  to  know  where  thercL-sm  fpaoe 
cnoogh  between  the  rocks  to  guide  the  druato  be  aaade. 

InJhrummU  fff  HuJbatuby.'^Thit  inftruoients  of  fanOun- 
dry  commonly  oied  in  this  pari(h,  difier  very  little  from 
what  is  oled  in  the  neighbourhood. 

Then  are  laa  ploughs,  all  of  which,  at  leaft  fuch  as  good 
ibroKra  ufc,  are  of  Small's  conftro^Uon,  with  iron  mould* 
boards,  or  generally  fo.  Some  imaller  &rmcr9  indeed  nfe  one. 
-  which  p«n*^^^  of  the  old  Scots  plough,  and  which  they  caQ 
a  mongrel ;  bot  it  is.  a  very  inferipr  inftrumcnt.  A  boot 
twenty  years  ago,  and  even  leis,  four  horfes,  two  and  two 
abreaft,  wore  frequently  fren  in  the  plough,  with  one  man 
holding  and  another  driving;  fometimes  with  three  horfes 
^d  ^t wo. men :  But  now,  ploughing  is  entirely  performed 
with  two  horfes  abceaft,  with  one  man  who  holds  a^d 
dnves,  except,  upon  very  particular  occafions,  when  hard 
groan4  aauft  be  raifed  by  main  forpe  i  and  which  requires 
.  Kbo  exertion  of  frror  horfes^ 

There 


Tbete  «re  other  ploughs  ufed  for  itTSltA  cropf,  fiidi::as 

potatoes,  turnips,  and  beans.    One  oalM  a  fbraper,  with<a 

broad  flat  fodk,  made  to  cut  a  fpace  of  about  6  inches,  and 

from  each  wing  ot*  the  plough  a  thin  plate  of  iron  runs 

down  to  the  level  of  the  Cocky  with  a  cutting  edge  in  the 

direftion  of  the  drill,  and  its  point  turned  inwards,  and  fo 

contrived,  that  thefe  three,  t.  e.  the  fock  a&d  two  wings, 

lliallcut  or  brufli  aloUg  the  whole  fpace  between  the  drills, 

and  cut  up  every  weed  at  about  1  or  3  inches  deep.    This 

operation  is  fucceeded  by  another,  with  a  double-beaded 

plough;  the  heads  of  which  are  fmaller  than  the  common 

plough,  and  fo  contt-ived,  with  the  flat  fide  of  eaeh  head 

outwards,  as  to  cut  clofe  to  the  edge  of  each  drill ;  and  as 

the  mould-boards  of  each  are  of  courfe  upon  its  infide,  it 

turns  the  mould  inwards,  leaving  a  ridge  of  earth  and  cdl- 

leded  weeds  in  the  middle  of  the  fpace  between  the  drills. 

The  whole  drilling  operation  b  finilhed  with  the  double 

mould-board  plough :    All  theie  are  tempered  with  a  rad& 

and  pin. 

There  is  alfo  a  very  ingenious  inllrument  ufed  in  this 
parifli  for  fowing  turnip.  It  is  conftruQed  thus:  Two 
wooden  rollers,  of  about  8  inches  diameter,  placed  on  end 
upon  one  axle,  for  convenience  of  turning,  both  together 
occupying  a  fpace  of  6  feet,  fo  as  to  flretch  over  two  drills 
at  a  time,  are  fixed  by  a  frame  to  (hafts  for  one  horfe ;  and 
behind  this  another  frame  of  light  wood  is  attached  to  it  by 
a  rope  or  chain  from  its  middle,  in  which  laft  firame  is  pla^ 
ced  an  iron  axle,  with  a  light  iron  wheel  of  18  inches  di»« 
meter  at  each  end,  and  to  which  axle  sure  fitted  two  boxes 
with  covers  for  fowing  turnip,  with  cbndufiors, 'to  which 
are  fitted  iron  points,  moveable,  fo  as  to  open  the  earth  and 
drop  the  feed  deeper  or  fhallower  at  pleafure.  The  boxes 
alfb  are  moveable  upon  the  axle,  to  be  fitted  to  any  di- 
iUnce  of  drills  -,  and  behind  each  condu&or  a  fmaU  roller  of 
14  inches  wide,  and  4  inches  diameter,  moves  in  iheen  to 

rott 


5t»  Stat^al  Aecomit 


wAmfbttoeJL    With  dug  iiiftnimeiit  ooe  mta  amy.  wdl 
gmt  takp  bm  tea  'Mm  in  a  da  j. 


Barr^mSf  Ifcr^Tbt  harrows  dcd  here  are  of  the  com* 
kiiidt  with  yet  J  £ttk  diCereiiQe,  obIj  fome  lifter 
aodibma  heavier,  but  all  of  diem  have  a  crob  Ipar  fixed 
vsfoa  one  fide,  aboitt  3  feet  kmg,  and  about  6  or  8  ioches 
high,  which  they  call  a  rider,  and  which  prevents  die  har* 
lows  firom  overtoping  one  another,  efpedally  in  tnniing.  Mr 
Pateriba,ibaie  years  ago,  when  the  wheat  feed  time  was  voy 
tainy,  got  a  beam  x8  feet  long,  made  to  the  breaddi  of  the 
vidges  ;  japon  each  esstremity  of  which  he  fixed  an  old  fere- 
wheel  of  a  cOteh,  and  hung  a  fet  of  harrows  to  die  besa, 
ib  as  to  take  in  the  whole  ridge  at  once }  and  to  each  end  of 
die  beam  attached  3  or  4  horfes,  to  go  in  the  finrows  io  t 
fine,  by  which  the  ground  was  completely  harrowed,  and 
none  of  die  feed  trampled  down  with  the  horfes  &et.  TUi 
he  haaufed  ever  fince,  when  a  wetfeafoo  makes  it  oeoefiffj, 
and  with  great  advantage,  and  feveral  fitfmers  have  foQov- 
ed  the  esnanple.  He  alfo  nfes  another  harrow  for  his  dtiD* 
cropa  alone,  and  only  when  the  ground  is  exceedingly  bal 
with  couch  grais.  It  is  about  a  feet  wide,  and  5  feet  ki^ 
with  teeth  fet  in  diagonal  Unes,  bnt  fo  as  to  leave  no  pact 
of  the  fur&oe  over  which  it  goes  untouched.  On  its  fere- 
part  is  a  ftaple  of  iron*  to  which  a  fwingle-tree  and  traces, 
are  fixed  for  the  horfe;  and  to  its  hinder  part  a  handle  «f 
wood,  aboitt  4  oi*  5  &et  long,  rifes  up,  and  indinhig  a  httk 
backwards  i  from  the  middle  of  which  a  light  fpur  of  iroo 
runs  forwards,  and  b  bferted  into  the  harrow  about  its 
middle.  The  whole  Co  contrived,  thatihe  man  who  drives 
can  eafily  guide  it,  prels  it  down  into  the  earth,  or  raife  it 
op,  and  leave  the  accumulafeed  couch  or  weeds  bdiind,  at 
pleafure. 

Certs 


if  Lonifbrgan.  513 

C^Ms. — The  carts  formerly  ufed  in  this  pariib,  and  which 
s  ftill  generallj  in  ufe,  meafare,  in  length,  over  the  top  of 
4he  coopft  (box),  6  feet ;  in  breadth,  3  feet  S  inches ;  in 
depth,  I  foot  3  inches  \  and  narrowing  a  little  towards  the 
bottom,  fo  as  to  contain  about  26  cubic  feet.  But  the  coops 
now  introduced  meafore,  in  length,  5  feet  3  inches,  and 
aarrowing  at  the  bottom  to  4  feet  8  inches ;  and  in  breadth^ 
over  the  top,  4  feet  8  inches,  narrowing  to  3  feet  7  inphes 
at  bottom,  and  i  foot  3  inches  in  depth.  They  contain 
nearly  the  fame  ^nbic  meafure  of  z6  feet  \  but  from  their 
ihape,  and  being  placed  more  forward  upon  the  axle,  they 
are  xnncfa  lighter  upon  the  horfe,  and  an  eafier  draught. 
They  anfwcr  very  wcU  with  one  horie  for  mod  purpofes ; 
but  with  two  they  fatigue  the  horfes  much  lefs,  even  with 
a  much  greater  load. 

Tbrq/bingrfnilL — In  the  year  1788,  Mr  Paterfon  fet  up 
the  firft  thraihiog-'miU  in  this  part  of  the  country  ;  and  now, 
(1796),  there  are  builc,  and  building,  fifteen  in  this  pariih 
alone.  Thb^v^y/tr/ machine  is,  perhaps^  one  of  the  great- 
eft  improvements  in  farming  which  the  age  has  produced  \ 
hot  it  is  now  fo  well  known,  a  defcription  is  fcarce  necef- 
iaryy  and  not  eafy  to  be  underftood  without  a  drawing  *• 

Vol.  XIX.  3  T  Machine 

•  The  thnfluBg-mQl  at  CaiUc-Hnntly  was  built  at  firft  by  one  James  Mor- 
fis,  an  inhabitant  of  Longforgan,  taken  from  one  which  bad  been  fet  np  for 
fome  time  before,  at  Mr  Maini  of  Pous  in  Sturiingfture,  and  built  by  WiiUain 
Jaffny,  a  mill-wright  in  AJloa,  who  finifiied  the  machine  at  Caftle  Huntly 
himfelf.  It  conGiled  then  fimply  of  a  horizontal  wheel  over  the  horles 
beads,  placed  in  a  fliade,  and  adjoining  to  the  bam,  with  two  levers  of  about 
14  feet  long,  with  a  horfe  to  each,  which  turned  a  lying  (haft  by  a  pinion, 
upon  the  other  end  of  which  was  placed  a  vertical  wheel,  which  turned  a 
cylinder,  or  drum,  of  about  4  feet  diameter,  and  5  feet  long  ;  ipon  which 
vras  fixed  fix  thnAen,  and  to  which  the  com  was  conduced,  u^te r  being  laid 
Uppn  1  bmft  of  wood,  by  two  fluted  rollers,  which  were  made  to  prefs 

opoii 


514  Stattjiifal  MqowU  ^ 

Machine  fqr  cUaning  TVun/.— >>As  yams*  or  Qorinaoi  poU<» 
toesy  are  no^,  com^^ioto  udi verfal  ufe  for  borfes,  96  well  as  for 

upon  the  com  by  weights,  axul  turned  by  4  very  Hnnple  contriTancc  on  tie 
lying  (h*ft. 

Upod  the  fappoiitiotk  tSiat  the  mill  thus  conKm^ed  fatd  not  fnffictem  Tf  lo- 
city  to  thtelk  tbecom  pcrfe^y  clean,  it  wis  iltcred  fomc  time  after  by  Mr 
Mickle,  alfo  of  Alloa,  wlio  added  fanners,  or  a  winnowing  machine,  to  fcpa- 
rate  the  com  from  the  chaff  j  ar.d  multiplying  wheels,  which  increafed  itc 
velocity  fo  much,  that  with  four  threlhen  only  upon  the  dmm,  if  the  hori- 
sontal  or  horfe-wbeel  went  twice  round  In  a  minute,  which  horfes  can  eafily 
do  ♦  at  their  uftial'  iiacK.  the  dnim  will  not e  thnmgh  s  fpftoe  «f  %^<^  feet 
apd  tlie  com  psICof  ^ivp^sb  the  nyUl  )viU  veccive  83  a  flr^kea  itt  tfat.&ae 
timet  Bat  this  machine  req«ire$  7  or  6  m^n,  and  4  Uoifes  at  leaft^  c^« 
6  or  8  horfes  may  be  put  to,  which  makes  the  work  much  eafier.  This  icill 
)ia<r  threfhed  and  wtnriowed  p^  bolls  of  wheat  Linlithgow  meafure,  =to 
5  quarters  1  pecks  Winchcfter  meafure,  in  17  miniitet:  but  ^t  W»s.{ff  1795, 
for  feed,  when  the  crop  was  rich,  and  the  ftraw  ftiort;  for  it  isto  beoMemil, 
that  tlie  power  and  execution  of  thrafliit^-mills  9 re  various  according  to  cir- 
cumftances,  independent  of  the  machine  itfelf ;  fuch  as,  the  richne£&  of  the 
crop,  and  the  lengthjof  the  ftraw  ;  If  the  crop  T)e  rich,  and  the  ftnwfliort, 
the  mill  will  tkrafh'  mOK  in  1  given  time  }  and,  «iV«  n)€rfa,  VIx  Mickk  abb 
reverfed  the  motion  of  the  drum,  and  made  it  give  the  ftroke  ii|iw»rds  inficad 
of  downwards,  as  formerly,  which  was  found  to  be  a  very  great  improvtiBeot, 
and  has  been  univerfally  adupted  ever  fince. 

Since  that  time,  the  threlhing  mill  has  been  ftill  farther  iroprored,  by  add- 
ing to  it  a  rake  with  four  wings,  which  is  turned  by  a  ftrap  60m  the  lying 
axle,  and  moves  over  a  concave  gnting,  through  which  the  com  611s  into 
the  hopper  of  the  iannen,  while  the  ftiaker  (as  it  is  called)  turns  out  tbe 
ftraw  upon  a  floplng  rack,  perfedly  clean,  and  by  diat  means  faves  the  laboar 
of  two  men  at  leaft.  And  what  is  very  remarkable,  the  moft  approved  nilb 
now,  after  many  experiments  have  been  made,  are  built  cxadlly  upon  tiw 
fame  principles  with  that  built  by  William  Ja0ray  in  17SS,  with  the  hori- 
zontal or  horfe  wheel  z6  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  fpetr-whecl  4}  feet,  ind 
the  drum  from  3  to  4  feet,  which  is  calculated  to  Imake  nearly  about  90  re- 
volutions for  once  of  the  horfe  wheel.  'Iliis  goes  with  great  eafe  witb  fiwi 
horfes;  threfhes  the  corn  pcrfedlly  clean  as  far  as  nearly  lo  bolls  in  the bour. 
One  of  the  beft  in  the  Carfe  Is  lately  built  by  William  Dick,  wright  m  Dun- 
dee, at  Ballendean,  and  fartlier  improTcmeots  are  flill  going  on.    Very  good 

ffliUs 

•  Moving  in  a  circU  of  ah<mt  i%fttt  diameter. 


of  LongfargtUU 


SIS 


every  odier  ^;>ecieft  of  beflaat  upon  the  {isirtn,  it  may  lie  proper 
to  mentbn,  that, for  hoTfes«  it  b  neceflary  to  clean  them  per* 
feftly  from  all  earthy  particles  which  may  adhere  to  them* 
For  this  purpofe  every  farmer  ihould  have  a  machine  for 
wafliing  them,  to  Ihorten  labour.    A  fquare  trough  of  wood, 

well  feafoned,  and  well 
joined,  fix  ieet  long, 
and  three  feet  wioe, 
divided  imo  two  a- 
partments,  the  upper 
one,  a  a  b  b,  above 
two  feet  deep,  with  a 
bottom,  b  b,  full  of 
{mall  holes,  to  re- 
ceive the  yamS|  and 
the  lower  apartment, 
b  c  b  d,  perpendicu- 
lar on  one  fide,  a  b  Cy 

and  the  other  three  fides,  b  b  c,  flopping  to  a  point  at  its 

bottom,  c,  near  which  ^ 
plug,  e,  is  placed,  to  let 
the  dirty  water  and 
earth  out  at  pleafurc ;  and 
while  one  man  pumps 
the  water  into  this  trough, 
or  throws  it  in  with  a 
bucket,  one  or  two  men, 
according  to  the  quan- 
tity, provided  with  birch  brooms,  rinfcs  and  cleans  the  yams, 
^hilc  aU  the  earth  finks  into  the  lower  apartment,  b  be; 

and 


«ilU  are  oow  built,  fo  « to  wcrk  eafily  with  two  hoirfc,  and  thrcfli  .ikJ  cl«n 
from  s  to  6  bolUin  the  hour.  8odie  afe  «Jib  mack  to  go  bf  wlrr,  and 
ioae  by  meo,  but  not  in  this  parilb. 


^t6  StatiJHcal  Atctmnt 

«nd  by  drawing  the  ping,  e,  the  whole  earth  and  walcf  | 
iMy  be  let  out  at  oncet  while  the  yaois  remain  in  the  np- 
per  apartment  quite  dean  and  free  of  earth  ;  but  if  not 
fi>  well  cleaned^  or  if  the  earth  be  hardened  about  then, 
by  putting  in  the  plug  at  bottom,  the  trough  may  be  fil- 
ed again  with  water,  either  that  the  yams  may  be  rinfed 
againv  or  remain  covered,  with  the  water  as  long  aa  maj 
W  fuffijcient  to  foftenCthe  adlKring  earth,  whidi  will  then 
feparate  with  the  birch  Kroom  from  the  yams  with  ^reat 
eafe. 

Staeiimg  Graiii.— -When  the  com  i&  cut  down,  the  next 
important  operation  in  hufbandry  is  to  get  it  in  (afits  and  to 
preliarve  it  foondf  and  alfo  to  proteA  it  from  plunder  bj 
animals  of  every  defcription,  whether  wild  or  domefiic* 
The  general  method  of  building  ftacks  in  this  pariih  is  up- 
on the  ground,  aad,  if  the  com  be  win  in  die  field,  oo 
precaution  whatever  is  thought  neceflary ;  fo  that,  although 
it  be  preferved  found,  it  becomes  a  prey  to  rats  and  mice, 
and  to  every  animal  which  can  get  ih  to  tBe  com«yard. 
JL  better  method  is  to  build  the  ftacks  upon  what  is  called 
Statholls,  which  ait  conflruded  as  under  :  A  number  of 
pillars  of  ftone  or  wood,  eight  or  ten  or  more,  may  be  pla- 
ced in  a  circular  form,  according  to  the  diameter  of  the  in- 
tended fiack,  and  one  in  the  middle  of  the  circle ;  all  thcfe 
are  covered  with  caps  of  round  (tones,  projeding  fo  hi  that 
no  rat  or  atty  fucfi  anTmal  can  get  up  from  the  ground ;  and 
the  pillars  are  made  about  2  feet  high  at  leaft,  to  prevent 
geele  or  turkep  from  drawing  the  com  at  bottom.  Upon 
ihefe  fiones,  a  frame  of  wood  is  laid,  and  from  the  midttle 
^f  this  frame  a  cone  of  wooden  fpars  is  raifed,  of  about  4  or 

5  feet  diameter  at  bottom,  and  ending  in  a  point  at  about 

6  or  8  feet  high,  according  to  the  height  of  the  fiack^  of 
which  tho  cones  mud  not  be  higher  than  the  intake  at  far- 
theft. 


iff  I/sngfitgM.  J17 

Aell.  From  tins  cone,  wooden  pipes  are  laid  acroft  the 
ftaek  when  bttildiog,  and  mre  cut  to  its  fliape.  Thefe  are 
made  of  three  rough  fir  boards,  Terj  partially  fitted  to  each 
odier,  fo  as  to  let  the  air  pa&  in  all  diredions  amoogft  the 
IheaTes  of  com.  BiK  the  principal  ufe  is  to  draw  the  air 
op  throng  the  cone  in  the  centrct  and  guide  it  throaghr 
every  part  of  the  fiack^  £7  which  means,  com  may  fafe- 
I7  be  taken  mach  ibonef  in^^than  when  no  fuchprecaift* 
tion  is  ttfed  *• 

Formerly  the  finall  fiumers  and  acremen  had  no  tacks, 
(leafes),'  bat  were  tenants  at  will,  and  were  alfo  bound  do#n 
to  all  the  fevere  conditions,  as  already  mentioned }  and  fo 
little  wa9  the  intereft  of  the  landlotd  underfiood,  or  the  te- 
aant  regarded,  that  fo  lately,  as  between  the  year  1750  and 
1760,  it  was  an  eftablUbed  cuftom,  that  the  Earl  of  Stiath* 
siore*s  officers,  (who  was  the  proprietor  at  that  time),  ac- 
tually 

•  Thtre  is  ftill  anather  mediod,  lately  iotroduced  hy  »  very  refpedablt 
f eotkoum  f,  not  far  from  hence,  bul  not  in  this  pariui,  which  is  probably  the 
beft  means  of  ^rererving  and  taking  hi  corn  ercr  thought  of;  which  is,  Sy 
ftoilding  frames  of  wood  to  tftty  ezttont.  opoa  mUch  the  com  is  laid* 
the  breadth  of  two  flnaves  only,  and  a  biodiag  one  in  the  middle,  as  upon  a 
fiielf*  with  the  heads  inwards,  and  for  a  depth  of  about  3  feet:  Another  (helf 
«f  wooden  fpan  is  laid  and  fixed  into  the  perpendicular  (loops  (uprights)  m 
fach  fafliion  as  to  prrrent  any  pretfure  from  the  fuperincumbent  (heaves. 
Upon  this  (helf  or  fraibe  the'  corrr  is  again  pUced,  ih  the  fame  manner,  and 
ever  that  another,  and  (b  on.  as  high  as  you  pleafe ;  fo  that  the  (hcaYC<  be 
looiely  Uid,  and  receive  from  all  quajten  fuch  a  body  of  air  as  to  dry  and 
win  the  com  completely,  even  if  taken  in  immediately  from  die  hook,  (fickle), 
provided  it  be  cut  down  dry.  Whether  this  be  a  new  thought  or  not  is  of  no 
,  confe<]i]ence.  The  gentleman  who  has  ititradaced  it  has  great  merit;  and 
although  the  ezpenceof  bmlding  tfie  appaatos  may  psnrent  the  method  fiooi 
becoming  general  foon,  efpecially  as  in  ihofe  fituations  where  the  climate  is 
favottrahle>  or  the  feafon  dry«  it  is  by  no  means  (b  neceflaiy,  jet  then  ave 
many  places  in  tlus  country,  where  fome  fuch  phn  of  preferring  the  Icoms 
would  be  always  ufeful;  and  there  aret(bmetimes/eafot&  fo  unftvourable,  a* 
would  make  fuch  a  refource  a  very  fortunate  circumftaoce  for  all  conecmed, 
efpecially  in  faiall  or  middling  farms.  In  very  Urge  farm*  it  may  not  be  fb 
f  a(ily  attainable. 

t  Captain  Drttmm9f9d  0/ GardrMja. 


5  i  8  Siaff/lkal  AccwtU 

tually  fetzed  upon  one  tenth  of  the  crop  j^arly,  upon  the 
lands  of  Longforgaoi  as  pare  rent,  and  carried  it,  com  and 
fodder,  off  the  field ;  and  not  one  dared  to  lead  a  ifaeaf  of 
corn  till  that  was  done.  Some  time  after,  new  tacks  (leafes) 
were  entered  into,  more  favourable  to  the  tenant ;  bat,  in  all, 
flill  fttch  a  number  of  feudal  fervioes  were  required,  as  to 
ihow  thfe  pradiee  of  former  times,  and  how  unwilling  they 
were  to  give  them  .up ;  and,  what  is  very  extraordinary,  ic 
was  not  the  landlords  alone  who  were  unwilling  to  give 
them  up  :  foi:  in  the  year  178a,  when  the  prefent  proprie- 
'  tor  of  CafUe-Huntly  propofed  to  convert  all  the  Ceodal 
bondages  into  a  very  moderate  money-rent,  fome  very  in- 
telligent tenants  were  averfe  to  convert  even  the  harvcfi- 
bondage,  which  of  all  others  was  the  mod  oppreffivc,  al- 
though at  the  moderate  computation  of  10  d.  per  dzj  per 
Ihearer. 

State  in  1777.— 'In  all  the  leafes  delivered  to  the  prefent 
proprietor  of  Longforgan  in  1777,  there  was  very  little  dif- 
ference from  former  cuiioms  *,  only,  formerly,  they  were 
bound  to  all  fervices,  and  at  all  times.  In  thefe  tacks,  the 
number  and  kind  of  Cervices  were  expreiTed.  They  were 
all  thirled  to  a  particular  mill,  /.  i».  they  were  bound  to 
grind  all  their  corns  at  the  baron's  mill :  For  the  mill  ot 
MillhiU,  to  which  Longforgan  and  all  the  eflate  of  Caftk- 
Huntly  were  then  thirled,  although  feparated  from  that  ba- 
rony, originally  belonged  to  it  \  and  although  the  efiate  of 
Millhill  had  been  fold  out  of  the  family,  by  one  of  the 
Earls  of  Strathmore,  yet  fo  little  was  the  intereft  either  of 
proprietor  or  tenant  attended  to  or  underflood,  that  be  fuf- 
fered  his  tenants  upon  the  eftate  of  Caftle-Huntly,  (then 
Lyon),  to  remain  bcuad  to  grind  their  corns  at  the  mill,  no 
fonger  his  own. 

RarJ 


.(^  Longforgan.  519 

Hand  MiUs^^-rPormtvlj  hand  milk  or  ^ufms  (as  tptj  aro 
called)*  were  th^  lonlj  inftrumeats  uled  in  this  poiintrj  for 
grmdipg  corn ;  .but  it  is  probable,  that  when  thofe  were 
found  ..onequuil  to  the  demand,  mills  were  built  by  the 
landl^d  who  J^ad  water  at  his  command,  as  a  benefit  to  his 
tenants  .and  retainers;. and  that  the  > miller  became  bound 
not  only  Xo  grind.aU  the  corns  ufed  hj  the  tens^nts  upon  .the 
eilate,  but  ^o^to  lend  for  them  and  return  them  in  meal ; 
for  which  certaun  multures  in  kind,  that  is  certain  quantities 
of  the  cpms  (n^iUm?  toUs)  were  allowedi  which  w^  called 
chirhige-  The  tenants  were  alfo  obliged  to  give  their  help ' 
in  preparing  the  com  for,  grinding,  aod  cleaning  the  mill- 
lead,  f.  e.  the  traft  vrhich  conduds  the  water  for  the  mill 
wheel,  lfc» 

In  thofe  days,  when  mills  were  but  few  in  number,  the 
privilege  of  getting -their  corns  ground  might  be  a  great 
convenience  at  anj  price  ;  but  afterwards,  when  their  num- 
bers encreafed,  and  the  millers  became  rivals  for  emploj- 
ment,  what  was  originally  meant  ^  an  ufeful  convenience 
became  a  very  great  hardlhip.  The  baron,  to  keep  up  the 
rent  of  his  mill,  obliged  his  tenants  to  grind  all  their  corns 
the.re  as  formerly,  although  they  could  have  got  their  crops 
manufactured  cheaper  at  other  mills,  where,  naturally,  the 
races  were  lowered  to  thofe  who  were  not  obliged  to  fre- 
quent them,  in  order  to  invite  cuflomers ;  while  the  millers 
became  inattentive,  negligent,  and  fometimes  infolent  and 
overbearing,  to  thofe  who  were  bound  to  their  mill.  Hence 
the  grievance  of  thirlage,  which  is  fo  much  complained  of. 

Tads  or  Lea/ts  Jormerly.^'^The  tacks  (leafcs)  entered 
into,  between  X  760  and  1770,  with  the  greater  tenants  in 
this  parilh,  were  in  general  for  38  years,  to  themfelves, 
heirs,  executors  and  aflignees,  with  power  to  fubict.  They 
iverc  all  thirled  to  a  particular  mill ;  their  refiriClions  were 

loole 


5^0  Statijlical  Account 

loofe  and  nngttardcd ;  fubjeft  to  boDdage  b  harvcfi  and  t 
certain  number  of  carriages  \  and,  as  tbe  day  of  this  parilh 
was  then  in  exceeding  bad  order,  fime  was  giren  by  the 
proprietor  to  moil  of  them,  and  a  fmall  rent  in  mo- 
nej  required  for  fome  years ;  after  which  ifacir  tcax  was 
pardj  in  wheat,  barlej  and  meal,  deEverable  betvcea 
Chriltimas  and  Candkmas  \  partly  in  money,  eidier  pij- 
able  at  Whitfunday,  or  one>haif  then  and  one-half  ttLam- 
maa  or  at  Martinmas.  Liferent  tacks  were  then  not  us* 
common ;  and  they  fometimes  extended  to  two  or  tbree 
lives.  In  fome  tacks  (leafes)  a  very  extraordinary  dnfe 
was  introduced  %  the  tfnant  had  kave  to  name  any  fife  be 
pleafed  during  his  tack  (leafe),  upon  which  his  pofieficd 
was  to  continue. 

Tach  or  Leafes  xrotu.— At  this  day,  there  b  no  thirhge; 
there  is  no  bondage  in  harveft ;  nor  are  the  tenants  boDnd  to 
days  work  in  planting,  &c.  They  pay  their  rents  in  mo- 
ney and  vi£hial  only.  They  are  not  bound  to  go  meflages; 
and  they  only  are  bound  to  carry  with  their  horfes  vJi 
carts,  a  certain  proportion  of  coals  for  the  proprietors  &miljt 
if  they  refide ;  which  is  exceedingly  moderate,  and  fooe 
carts  for  lime,  &c.  which  is  feldom  demanded  \  but  it  is  ex- 
nreisly  provided,  that  they  (hall  not  be  demanded  either  ia 
ieed-time,  or  harvcfi. 

J)ivifiofU  into  Sixes.^'la  1775,  or  thereabouts,  the  pnc* 
tice  of  dividing  the  carfe  farms  into  fixes,  became  pretty  ge- 
lieral ;  and  it  became  a  daufe  in  moil  tacks  (leai'es),  to  have 
x*6th  of  the  &rm  in  fallow,  i-6th  in  wheat,  i-6th  in  beaas 
or  peafe,  z-6th  in  barley,  1-6 th  in  clover,  and  i-6th  in  oats; 
which  pradice  is  faid  to  have .  been  introduced  by  the  kte 
Henry  Crawford  of  Monorgan,  £fq;  and -it  has  been  cassA- 
i^ued  in  the  clay  by  the  beft  farmei^  ever  Qnce.     SometiiDe 

gftet 


^Longforgm.  521 

irfkcrthiSyitbeaaMapnffiQe  with  proprietors  to  givete-- 
nantt  19  years,  and  alio  dieir  own  life  added ;  open  the 
principle,  diat  a  man  would  certainly  keep  that  £um  in  good 
order,  which  be  was  to  poffels  during  hi3  life.  However, 
that  has  been  found  to  be  fiiUacioua,  as  there  are  many 
wealthy  £auinen  now,  although  not  in  this  parifli,  who  after 
their  certain  time  is  out,  grudge  to  by  out  a  (hilling  more 
upon  their  fiutas,  left  they  (hould  not  live  long  enough  to 
get  its  value  out  of  the  ground ;  and  there  are  large  farms 
BOW  £dling  into  decay  fixMn  this  canle.  So  that  frogi  ex- 
perience it  would  appear,  that  the  beft  terms  for  a  tack 
(leafeX  is  a  certain  fixed  period  of  years ;  if  the  farms 
be  improved,  perhaps  19  years  is  as  good  as  any ;  although 
.the  odd  year  is  not  eafy  to  be  accounted  for,  unleis  upon 
an  inveterate  partiality  for  odd  numbers;  for  certainly^ 
eighteen  yens,  or  three  rotations,  is  much  more  natural ;  but 
if  unimproved,  the  leale  (hould  be  longer,  to  encourage  the 
tenant  to  lay  oqt  his  money. 

Pnfowt  Ctmdiiion  of  Taeis  or  ZM/&i«--Now,  the  terms  of 
all  new  tacks  or  leaCes  are  generally  for  19  years  to  them- 
ielves,beir%  and  executors  only,  not  ailignable,  nor  can  the 
tenant  fubfet.  He  mud  refide  with  his  family  and  fier, 
a.  ^  his  horiies,  iervanti,  and  cattle,  npon  the  fartn^  not  to 
fell  any  fodder ;  hay  and  wheat-ftraw  for  thatch  excepted. 
He  is  to  lay  the  whole  dung  he  makes  upon  thetCitfm.  He 
is  in  general  bound  to  the  rotation  of  fixes :  But  now  it  is 
thonght  (nffident  to  bin4  the  tenants  not  to  fow  any  white 
crop  upon  the  clay,  1.  e.  wheat,  oats,  or  barley  \  but  after 
fidlow  or  green  crop,  which  are  declared  to  be  lint,  clover, 
beans,  peafe,  tares,  and  the  like ;  and  to  keep  one  half 
of  the  form  under  thefe  crops  during  the  currency  of 
the  lea&i  and  the  fome  upon  the  rich  loam ;  potatoes, 
yams,  and  turnips,  or  any  fuch,  are  amongtt  the  interme« 

Vqu  XIX,  3  U  diate 


$%%  Statj/Hcal  Jcoont 

diate  crops  |  but  it  b  thoogfit  by  Cmm  to  ht  whfmju  a  gooi 
pradice  to  bbd  the  tcaaat  to  tbe  fins  for  the  lift  fix  jcan 
of  the  leafe*  Up^a  the  lightor  gnaad  they  ace  prraBittcd 
fo  take  three  crops,  one  of  thett  a  gteeii  crop,  mad  the  UL 
a  wUt^  crop»  p>  be  town  down  W]|h  fra&y  and  to  pminaac 
i&  pafiue  fipr  two  years  at  leaft.  This  givca  a  gnataer  fi- 
berty  to  the  fanner  in  vujmg  his  crops,  and  camioc  bart 
the  gronnd.  He  pays  batfa  boU  of  whe^«  and  half  n  boD 
pi  barley  P^  acre,  and.the  reft  in  money.*,  t|ie  bnrl^  ddi- 
verabk  between  Chriftaias  and  Caodkmas,  and  tlm  wbeai 
any  time  between  that  and  the  middin  of  Jnne,  wben  de- 
nsanded,  and  the  money  at  the  Wbitfonday  foDaering^  L  e* 
tstop  I99J  payabk  1796,  and  b  on.  The  entry  is  gcneiaflj 
to  the  honfes  and  graft,  if  there  be  any,  at  Wbitfondsy, 
and  to  the  land  at  the  kparation  of  die  crop  dte  £mdc  year. 
The  qniyoifig  tenant  is  generally  permitted  to  StU  his  M 
eropi  com,  and  fodder,  and  alfo  his  dnng,  bnt  not  tn  csrrj 
any  oot  of  the  barony,  (manor),  whidi  is  an  old  cdbm. 
The  houfes  and  offices  are  delivered  to  the  tenant  in  good 
repair,  which  he  is  bound  to  keep  np,  an^  ro-delivnr  al  the 
expiry  (end)  of  his  leaie  in  eqoal  good  condition^  Sosk- 
times  they  are  appraifed,  nd  an  to  be  giveii  np  of  e^ 
valne. 

Thdii  i(i  a  great  meafiqv  explain  the  general  princ^ks 
of  fiurmii^g  in  the  carfe  ground  of  dus  pariih,  and  perhsps 
it  is  the  beft  general  mk  that  can  be  pven.  But  1900 
rich  k^,  they  at  prefient  divide  their  fivnus  into  fire  parts, 
as  they  fhink  fidkw  rather  a  prejudior,  in  room  ot  mhiA 
diey  ufis  driOed  crops  of  potatoes,  yams,  turnips  and  beans, 
which  ckans  the  knd  e&dnally.  Lint  and  peak  ate  attb 
fbwn  as  intermediate  crops;  and  after  all  of  whidi,  wheat 
is  (bmetimes  Town,  and  good  crops  obtained*  After  the 
^beat,  bsrky  fcwn  down  with  ckTcr  and  rye-grafii;  then 
oats,  and  then  a  deariag  crop  again. 


^longfargan.  523 

Refidutt  Propriitors  Farmen^'^ASi  the  rcfident  proprie* 
tors  mre  fiumen,  which  is  reall j  of  more  coolcqoeficey  botK 
to  the  coontr  J  and  to  themfelvet,  than  is  generally  iiaa^ 
gined  \  for  it  is  of  confequtoce  to  the  conntij  to  have  pro- 
prietors, who  have  both  fpirit  to  adopt  ahd  to  trjr  new  ex- 
periments, and  money  to  carry  them  into  ezecotion.  li^ 
ofefnl  and  advantageous,  they  will  be  examples  to  their 
tenants ;  if  they  fitil,  they  call  alibrd  the  lofs.  Bat  it  b  im- 
poffible  to  effimate  the  advantage  to  themfdves ;  for  it  en« 
nbles  them  to  jadge  of  the  exaft  extent  a  fitrm  ought  to  be 
of  for  a  certain  number  of  horfies  and  men,  9tA  ho  more; 
and  will  make  him  a  competent  judge  of  the  value  of  hia 
fiirms,  and  prevent  him  from  falling  into  that  ihoft  injudi* 
cioos  error,  of  increafing  his  rents  beyond  What  the  farms 
ca&  aSbrd  to  pay. 

RgmariaUe  Cbamgi  of  PropeHy.^'^t  is  very  remtokable, 
diat  near  6-7ths  of  diis  parilh  has  changed  its  proprietors 
within  leb  than  30  years. 

That  one  of  the  moft  confiderable  eftates  in  it  was  (old  ia 
16x5  for  40,000  merks  Scots,  equal  to  L. 2222:4: 5-^ 
Sterliag  \  and  in  1777,  it  Ibid  again  for  L.  46,000  Sterling. 


ValmtofLanitM  i66i 

.—That  tte  rat  efthat  iHiok  «fi«M 

imi66jtn$t 

Whett, 

aTdboib. 

Barky, 

MS 

Cm, 

6a 

Meal, 

aso 

Ftafe, 

3« 

AtUsBcMpwhoUiBi^  bons,Talii.dat  L.345 

ft 

4 

Money  rent, 
Sterl4 

100 

0 

0 

L.445 

T 

4 

/« 

514  Stati/Hcal  Accomtt 

In  I7i9,^— In  1719,  it  was, 
Wheat,    213     X     X 
Barley,     197     o     x 
Meal,        140     %    3 
Oats,  80    o    o 


B.  631  o  X  Tallied  at  10  a.  5  d.  per  boll, 
,  oyerbead,  L*547  9  6| 
Money,        -      205    o  ii^ 

SterL    L.75a  10    € 

But  take  the  vidoal  mt  the  fame  price  as  in  1667,  t.  e.  at 
L.  5  Scots  ^  boll,  overhead,  the  rental  will  be  631  bdls, 
at  8s.  4d.  =  -  -  L,a6a  18    4 

L.a46o :  XX  :  4  Scots  money,  =  -  203    0  11 

SterL     L.467  19   3 

No  great  diffisrence  of  rent  ^  nor  much  proof  of  improve- 
ment in  that  period. 

/a  X750. — ^In  X750,  the  whole  rent  was  xo,ooo  merb 
Scotch,  and  given  as  a  jointure  ;  in  Sterling  money, 

L.5S5  *«    ^T 
The  widow  went  abroad,  and  let  the  eftatefer   420    o   0 
In  X  77  7,  when  the  eftate  was  fold,  calculat- 
ing the  wheat  at  ao  s.  and  the  other  viiftual 
at  xa  %*pir  boll,  the  rent  was  -         14x1    a    6 

Value  the  viftual  in  ^^6^  at  the  fame  rate, 
and  the  rent  would  have  been  then,  707  x6   0 

The  yearly  rent  now  is  more  than  the  whole  valoe  of  the 
fee-fimple,  when  it  was  fold  to  Lord  Strathmore  in  1615. 
It  IS  worthy  of  remark,  that  in  X667,  above  3-4d]s  of  the 
rent  was  pud  ki  kind. 

That  to  X750,  for  near  a  century,  very  little  altention 
had  taken  place  in  the  value  of  property. 


ef  Longfergan.  525 

/it  1777.— That  in  1777,  the  rents  doubled  what  they 
were  in  1750,  in  confequence  of  the  lieginaing  improve^ 
ments  in  agricttltnre  at  that  time. 

That  in  18  years  more,  i.  e.  in  X795»  die  value  tXpro^ 
perty  aAuallj  doubled  what  it  was  in  17779  and  from  the 
iame  cavrfes,  added  to  the  decreafed  valne  of  money.' 

RetHs/rom  1750  to  1796.— -About  the  year  X750,  the 
beft  clay  fitrms  were  let  at  5  s.  per  acre.  A  few  years  after, 
when  valued  for  newleafeSy  they  were  fuppofed  to  be  over- 
rasrd  at  los.  In  17591  the  fame  &rms  were  let  at  17  s« 
In  1782,  they  rofe  to  25  s.  In  1786/they  were  let  at  45  s. 
And  the  fame  lands  would  probably  let  now  at  50  s.  per 
mere  at  kaft.  f 

Moft  of  the  cfiates  in  the  parifli,  indeed  all  of  them,  may 
be  laid  to  have  been  improved  in  the  lame  proportion,  but 
at  an  immenfe  ezpence  to  the  pn^rietoirs,  who  have  fpared 
neither  labour  nor  money,  in  fencing,  draining,  boildiog 
houfes,  fnmifliinglime.aod  marl  to  tenants,  relieving  them 
of  all  feudal  burdens,  .fubfcribing  largely  to  turnpike  and 
parochial  roads,  and  planting  in  fuch  lands  not  fo  fit  fer 
other  agricultural  purpoTes. 

Rtafons  fir  ibis  Increa/e.-^Thtte  improvements  appear 
afionilhing ;  but  notwithftanding  which,  although  they  add 
greatly  to  the  general  ftock  of  natiomd  wealth,  yet  the  in- 
creafe  of  value  in  property  b  by  no  means  of  fo  much  real 
advantage  to  the  landholders  as  at  firft  fight  may  appear. 
For,  in  the  firfi  place,  the  ezpence  of  the  improvements  is 
almoft  equal  to  a  purchafe ;  and  as  labour  of  every  kind, 
fcrvants  wages,  and  the  ezpence  of  every  neceflary  of  life 
are  doubled,  and  many  of  them  trebled  in  that  time. 

No  doubt  improvements  in  agriculture  have  done  wondersi 

but 


gi^  SiaHJikai  Accguht 

toe  it  k  mode  J  fidUng  ia  vdoe  which  ia  the  real  cauie  of  the 
dtfoefioe,  both  of  receipt  and  ezpendtture.  The  high  reoo 
likewife  may  appear  eztraordinarj  to  our  oeighboiiri  is 
Esglaody  particttlarlj ;  hot  it  muft  be  coafidered,  that  the 
Scotch  acre  is  x*5th  larger  than  the  Engliih,  and  the  Scotch 
IStfmer  literally  pajra  nothing  bat  hii  rent.  All  taxes,  bodi 
King's  and  parochiali  mbifter's  ftipend,  and  everj  kind  of 
public  bnrdeni  is  paid  by  tiie  heritor. 

BraSiaJ  JlgricubUral  RMiarib<— Althongh  fiJlow  be 
die  moft  approved  method*  and  generally  thought  to  be  die 
beft  pfeparalioQ  for  wheat  upon  elay,  yet  asany  veiy  jadi« 
^ns  fiumers  ieem  to  think  that  lint  and  elovcr  are  piefier* 
able  upon  loam;  only  it  is  certainly  extremely  proper  t^ 
obferre  the  fame  rale,  of  ne^r  fowing  two  white  crops  ia 
focoefflon.  If  this  be  the  praftice,  a  cleaning  crop  of  pota« 
toes,  yams,  drilled  beans,  or  turnip,  will  always  be  ncocf* 
iaty  to  make  one  of  the  rotations. 

All  roots  are  certainly  fixmrging  crops,  and  eiiiaaft  the 
ground ;  and  althoo^  the  praAioe  be  pretty  general  to  take 
wheat  after  potatoes,  it  b  perhaps  not  the  beft  &nning ;  at 
any  rate,  it  is  not  to  be  depended  on  in  this  country ;  for  in 
rainy  autumns,  there  is  fuch  a  riik  of  poaching  the  grosnd 
in  taking  tlfem  up,  ahd  in  dunging  tbe  land  afierwaidsi  ss 
td  make  it  totally  unfit  f6r  a  wheat-feed.  However,  if  tbe 
feafion  bo  favourable,  and  the  ground  in  good  heart,  it  may 
do  very  welL  Even  very  tolerable  wheiat  crops  have  beeti 
gtft  after  turnip. 

There  are  many  fitfdiers  ia  the  Carfe  now,  who  ps/ 
little  regard  to  the  ufual  rotation  of  fixes.  It  is  true,  they 
fbU  divide  their  turn  into  fixies}  but  they  make  wheat 
after  ftdlow,  and  after  every  green  crop  i  in  fliortg  they 
boito#  firom  their  oata  and  from  tfaeic  basieyt  tiU  diay  have 

S-Jd 


^fLongf organ.  597 

Xrsd  iiiftead  of  i-6di  ^  their  tatm  in  wheaL  Thoe  ne 
others,  who  go  fiuther  ftill,  and  make  a  greater  proportion 
of  wheat ;  and  Umit  divide  their  fiurms  into  fievenths,  and 
take  two  white  crops  together,  to  make  their  grais  finther 
from  the  doog.  If  any  of  tl^efic  be  good  fiurming,  espe* 
fienoe  muft  fhew.  Some  attempts  have  been  made  to 
throw  £gdlow  oii(  of  the  rotation  in  day,  and  in  its  rooaa 
to  fow  haftj  peaict  or  other  greefi  crops,  bnt  it  has  not  aiv* 
iWered  the  intention. 

If  after  lint,  it  be  meant  to  low  wheat,  the  dong  flioold 
be  laid  on  as  ibop  as  the  Ibt  comes  ofl^  and  ploughed  in  im* 
fnrdiately  \  and  if  after  clover,  perhaps  the  beft  pradice  is 
tolay  the  dong  on  as  foon  as  the  hay  comes  off  the  ground, 
fpread  it  immediately,  and  let  the  iecoad  crop  cover  it^ 
which  it  will  dp  in  generaL  Both  then  are  ready  £or  the 
feed  fiirrow  in  good  time.  At  all  events,  never  let  doQg 
lie  one  moment  in  heaps,  but  let  it  be  fpread  inftantly,  am} 
-well  divided.  A  great  deal  of  the  fncccft  in  fiurming  de- 
pends upon  the  proper  management  of  dung. 

If  it  be  meant  to  fow  wheat  after  tnmip.  the  tops  may 
be  begun  to  be  cut  off  fome  time  before,  and  given  either 
to  cattle,  or  to  milch-cows }  after  which,  they  fliould  be 
taken  up  in  OAober,  the  tops  and  roo^s  cut  dofe,  and  then 
honied,  or  flowed  in  a  tempotary  ihade  ton  the  pnrpofei 
and  to  prevent  their  foiling  and  4>ringing,  they  Ihould  be 
tnmed  over  ftom  time  to  time,  and  the  foft  and  rotten  ooea 
picked  out;  by  which  means  they  will  keep  veij  well 
through  the  winter.  And  at  all  times,  what  remains  in 
the  ground  unuiied,  fliould  be  taken  up  when  tbey  begin  to 
ihoot,  wUdi  both  preierves  the  turnip,  and  prevents  their 
hurting  the  ground  by  their  running  to  feed*  Ifr  Faterfim 
hss  pra£BIed  this ;  and  one  year  in  a  field  of  equal  foil,  and 
cflually  ^f  paredf  1^  had  yams,  potatoes,  Knt,  and  turnips 


i$a8  Statical  jtccomt 

snd  of  the  crop  of  wheat  following^  it  eoiild  fetroe  be  di- 
ftifigiuihed  ^ich  had  beeo  die  preeeding  crop, 
-  But  IS  it  b  ft  oommoa  pradioe  to  kt  tnroipft  remun  in 
the  field  through  die  winter,  and  to  be  taken  op  fornfe 
only  as  the  demand  for  cows  or  cattle  requires,  great  care 
Ihoold  be  taken  to  fiiSier  none  of  thefe  to  ran  to  feed  ;  for 
It  is  an  undoubted  fiid,  confirmed  bj  experience,  that 
tomips  foflkred  to  run  to  feed  exhauft  the  fdl  more  than 
almoft  any  crop  whatever,  and  impoveriflies  more  than 
much  high  dreffiag  will  recover  in  many  yean.  It  k  pro- 
iMtbly  the  iame  with  all  plants  bearing  oleagenoos  Seeds. 
Flax,  at  any  rate,  u  an  impoverifliing  crop,  as  it  leaves  no- 
thing bdiind ;  but  if  foKred  to  feed,  it  fcourges  the  ground 
much  more ;  and  firom  this  it  is  natiiral  to  fuppofe,  that  ia 
proportton  to  die  riohnels  of  the  fieed,  and  the  noiiriflineat 
that  is  in  it,  the  ground  which  produces  it  will  be  propor- 
tionally exhauiled.  Rye-grals,  if  fuflfered  to  feed|  aduoAs 
the  ground  $  if  cut  in  bloflbm,  it  does  not. 

One  remark  here  is  neceflary,  that  when  turnips,  or  dieir 
tops,  are  given  to  milch  cows,  the  rotten  paru  fliouki  be 
carefully  leparated  and  thrown  away ;  for  it  is  with  good 
^  reafon  fuppofed,  that  it  is  the  putrid  parts  which  give  die 
•bad  flavour  to  milk,  and  not  the  turnip  itfiell  However,  a 
•very  eafy  cure  for  this  has  been  difcovercd  lately ;  to  mix  a 
5Fery  fmall  quantity  of  a  weak  (blution  of  nitre  among  die 
milk,  while  warm  from  the  cow,  and  no  turnip  cafie  wil 
remain. 

7asii4— Tarns  have  alfo  been  cnldvated  with  great  sd* 
vantage,  particularly  {upon  the  Mains  of  Cafile-Hundjr 
ever  flooe  the  year  1782,  when  Mr  Paterfon  brought  a  fir- 
lot  (a  bttikel)  from  Calder,  near  Glalgow ;  and  now  diey 
are  fptead  all  over  the  country.  They  are  very  eafilj 
nufed  'f  but  the  ground  (hould  be  ploughed  pretty  deep  m 

autiuun, 


Qf  LengforiOii^  529 

aumma^  itfter  oats  or  wheat,  and  again  in  the  fpring ;  they 
maj  then  be  planted  in  drills,  either  with  dung  or  without 
it,  accordbg  to  the  ftate  of  the  field,  or  the  crop  wh^ch  is  to 
follow.  If  thej  be  planted  after  dunged  wheat,  and  to  be 
followed  with  barle j,  dung  is  unneoeiTary.  If  after  oats,  as 
a  cleaning  crop,  and  to  be  followed  by  wheat,  it  is  a  good 
praiSioe  to  dung  them  well.  This  enfures  a  great  crop  of 
jrams^  prevents  carting  upon  and  poaching  the  ground  as 
much  as  poffible  \  and  if  the  field  be  in  proper  order,  niay^ 
be  followed  by  wheat,  without  any  more  dung.  However, 
this  is  not  recoounended  as  the  bell  preparation  for  wheat« 

2)riiKr.— -In  planting  yams,  the  drills  may  be  drawn  from 
4-s>  to  2|-  feet  dilbnt,  according  to  the  judgment  of  the  far- 
mer. If  the  ground  be  very  rich,  and  if  the  principal  ob« 
jed  be  to  clean  it  properly  for  a  crop  of  wheat  to  tolloWt 
and,  if  well  dunged,  a  very  great  crop  may  be  expeded  at 
j^i  feet  diftant,  and  there  will  be  ample  room  to  work  it  as 
perfe^y  as  if  it  was  fallow.  The  fieros  will  cover  the 
whole  completely,  and  with  eaGe.  Every  extraneous  plant 
may  be  deftroyed.  The  fets  ihould  be  large,  about  i-4th  of  a 
large  yam,  dropped  at  about  one  foot  or  nine  inches  afunder. 
Small  fets  do  not  anfwer  fo  well. 

A  great  Crop. — ^In  1794,  upon  the  Mains  of  Caftle-Hunt« 
ly,  a  field  of  yams  was  drefled  in  this  manner,  and  yielded 
no  bolls  ^^  Scotch  acre,  which  weighed,  when  cleaned  of 
earthy  5  ilone  5  pounds  Dutch  per  firlot,  or  .23  (lone  Eng- 
hOxper  boll,  at  16  pounds  each  ftone,  or  40,480  pounds  ^r 
acre.  It  was  well  dunged  to  the  yams ;  and  the  wheat 
crop  that  followed  looked  remarkably  well,  Auguft  17959 
but  did  not  turn  out  fo  well  as  was  expefled.  This,  how- 
ever, is  no  rule,  as  the  wheat  crop  in  general,  and  particu- 
larly  through  the  Carfe,  was  light  that  ;^ear.    A  Scotch 

Voi.XIX^  aX  acre 


53^  Stalli/Rcal  Account 

^tt  is  to  an  Engliih  acre  nearly  as  125  to  xoo»  If  tbefoS 
Ibe  of  an  inferior  quality,  the  drilb  Aould  be  nearer,  thtf 
tile  ftems  may  cover  the  ground  completely. 

JHo^^^firi^/.— Before  the  plants*  appear  above  grMmd, 
Ihey  ihoold  be  well  han^on^,  which  deftroys  a&  aninnb 
that  may  have  appeared,  and  opens  the  foJL  A^  fiiQo  ^ 
Aey  arc  we!!  above  ground,  the  ufind  pradice  b  to  take 
away  fikt  earth  from  the  drilb  on  eiich  fide  with  a  cdlimKn 
plough.  The  earlier  this  is  done  t^e  better,  as  it  not  onlj 
deftroys  thcfirlh  crop  of  weed^,  b«t  h  tbIktaA  the  earth, 
and  approximates  to  the  warmth  of  the  fua  the  young 
fibres,  beginning  to  (hoot ;  aYid  if  this  operatioh  be  tooloog 
delayed,  thefe  tender  fibres^  which,  in  procefs  of  time,  are 
to  be  loaded  with  sCn  abundant  crop,  mil  a  riik  of  being  cnt 
dff  by  the  plough,  and  then*  progeny  totally  dellroyed.  Thil 
operation  may  be  performed  in  half  the  time  with  the  fcta- 
per  and  double-headed  plough,  already  d^feribed  for  drilled 
ero{»  \  f .  €•  the  fbraper  goes  firflf,  and  cats  up  all  the  weeds, 
and  is  immediately  followed  by  the  douUe-lieaded  ploDgli» 
which  takes  away  earth  and  Weeds  from  the  drills,  and 
ridges  them  m  the  middle  fpace  between.  Each  of  tbefe 
inftruments,  by  a  particular  conftni£tion,  cad  be  made  wider 
or  narrower,  £0  as  to  fit  itfelf  to  any  difiance  of  drills,  and 
are  eafily  drawn  by  one  horfe .  They  can^^  be  ufed  to  ad- 
vantage  in  light  foils  only ;  for  if  the  foil  be  ftrong,  it  is  not 
.poflible  to  get  them  deep  enough  in  the  ground,  foasto 
root  out  every  weed  *,  nor  can  they  be  made  to  lOofieA  the 
earth  fufficiently  for  the  young  fibres  to  ihoot;  and  if  fe,  a 
prolific  crop  IS  not  to  be  ezpeAed.  In  fuch  foils,  a  com- 
mon  plough,  upon  the'  principle  of  Small's,  but  made  light 
on  purpofe,  is  certainly  beft.  The  next  operation  is  hand- 
hoeing,  which  can  now  eafily  be  done,  and  which  anfwers  a 
triple  purpoie,  as  it  deftroys  aU  the  luxuriant  weeds  whicfr 

die 


€f  Longforgan.  $3* 

t 

iSx  plough  could  not  reach,  loofens  the  e^rth  about  the 
iroots  of  the  ftem,  and  covers  with  a  freih  mould  thofe  fibres, 
<iow  makiag  <}uick  progress  from  the  parent  root. 

After  this,  efpeciallj  if  the  field  be  foul,  the  fpaces  be- 
tween the  drills  ihould  be  well  har^-owed  with  a  (mall  bar-* 
row,  of  a  particulaj'.conftrufition,  alrea4j,defcjdbed  for  driU 
crops*  One  horfe  draws  it  along,  and  the  man  who  drives- 
the  hoiie  can  eafilj  guide  it  bj  the  handle,  and  prcfs  the 
whole  harrow  fufficiently  into  the  earth,  fo  as  to  pick  up> 
every  particle  of  couch^grafa,  or  anj  other  fibrous  wt:«:d  ; 
and  when  the  harrow  is  fo  loaded  as  not  to  be  able  to  carry 
^mj  moix  along,  the  driver,  with  great  eafe,  lifts  it  up, 
leaves  the  coUeAed  weeds  or  couch-grals  behind,  to  be  car- 
ried out  of  the  field  afterwards,  and  paies  on  with  his  har- 
row. After  this  operation,  the  ground  is  left,  until  the  an- 
nu$d  w/eeds  hjLve  (hpwn  themfelves  in  fiill  vegetation  \  but 
b^Care  the  Aems  of  the  yams  ase  too  luzortant,  and  then 
with  the  common  plon^,  if  the  drills  be  wide,  the  earth  is 
laid  up  with  one  or  two  furrows,  according  to  the  difbmoe 
btetyreea  eAch*  imt  as  the  farmer's  judgment  Iballdirefi}  and 
afterwaid%  tfae  whole  is  finiihcd  with  adotd>Ie  monld-board 
plough  paffing  between  each  driH :  But  if  the  drilb  be  nar- 
row,'it  generally  lays  up  the  whole  earth  at  once,  without 
floy  aQifta&ee  £rom  the  coounon  ploqghi 

When  the  yams  ai«  fiiUy  ripe,  which  will  probably  hap- 
pen fometime  in  OAober,  and  which  is  khown  by  the  de- 
cay of  the  fiems  and  the  ripening  apples,  they  are  to  be  ta^ 
ken  up  either  with  the  fpade  or  with  the  plough,  and  gathered ; 
but  it  is  a  good  pra£Kce  to  cat  die  fteoas  firft  with  a  fcythe,  and 
carry  them  off  the  field,  which  makes  an  excellent  bedding 
in  thef  dung  court  iox  a  fucceeding  year ;  and  if  the  farmer 
Jueps  pigs  nothing  wiU  ^  loll,  as  they  will  pick  up  all  the 
optdes,.aad  every  yam  which  may  adhere  to  the  flema.  It 
bas  a}fo  been  remarked  by  experienced  fiurmers,  that  if  the 

potatoes 


532  Staii/Ncal  Aec(mn$ 

potatoes  or  yams  are  faflfered  to  remain  in  die  groond  imtB 
their  feeds  are  fully  ripe,  they  exhaaft  it  exceediiigly  ;  and 
hence,  even  on  this  aqcount,  a  crop  of  potatoes,  tfans  mtoa- 
ged,  is  a  y«y  bad  preparation  for  wheat.  They  (hodd  be 
taken  up  earlier,  or  they  (hould  be  followed  by  fbme  odicr 
fpecies  of  grain.  Yams  and  potatoes  are  by  no  means 
meliorating  cr^  *, 

PsMmt. 

•  If  poffible*  Tiim  OiooU  be  tilm  op  ia  dty  wqpdw»  fm 
fpre  frolt.  The  floor  of  the  houfe,  in  which  thej  are  meant  to  be  ftowed. 
ihould  be  laid  with  ilnw,  and  all  the  fides  text  to  the  walls,  and  diewbok 
veU  covered ;  and  if  ctKfaUy  nianaged  in  tfiii  inaaiMr,  Aey  wffl  keep  wd! 
till  midfamiPfr or  logger,  and  tell  be  firm  and  j«icj;  dui is ancb bcnr 
than  uKt  (pethod  mbaxtytt  of  pitferving  tfaem  out  of  doons 

Hoifes  are  yerj  Ibnd  of  diem ;  but  one  bflf  peck  i^'qotte  enoo^  to  fin 
at  a  time  in  the  beginning,  and  n^rer  laore  tban  one  ped(  fliooU  be  gim 
in  the  day ;  with  tbefe  and  ftraw  alone,  horfes  nay  ht  rtrf  well  kept 
tfafDugh  die  winter,  if  not  vwy  hard  worked ;  and  if  it  fiieiUd  be  jedgcd 
ti^eflary  to  giv^  them  any  com,  it  Ihpald  be  bniiiiBd,  or  given  fiq  oieil*  vd 
irery  little  at  a  time ;  for  as  the  yams  ge^rally  keep  tbe  belly  open,  if  cocb 
be  given  at  the  fame  time,  it  will  be  found  to  pais  perfeAly  wMe  aal  v- 
digeOed.  Catde  may  be  indulged  with  more,  if  agrcaabk  to  ifaenhtedtt^ 
jea  with  tfaem  is  ^jfierem;  but  with  then,  alio*  dicy  flwoU  beghKais 
final!  quantities  at  firft,  and  ^en  to  be  regulated  by  die  efied,  as  dvy  ac« 
▼ery  apt  to  fcour  and  not  to  feed,  if  givpi  in  fo  Urge  quantities,  e^edaQr 
at  firft. 

The  yam  does  not  boil  as  the  common  potBloei,*bfit  tfaty  frftea  t  Ueds; 
■ad  wbeo  boiled  ^tb  diaff  or  btin,  tbcy  make  a  noft  ezcelleia  feed  Ik 
psilch-cQws  in  tlie  winter,  and  if  attended  to,  they  will  give  batter  eqaiV 
or  not  much  inferior,  to  what  they  give  when  fed  on  clover.  They  may  be 
alfo  given  raw  to  cows  widi  advantage,  ndiich  fome  experienced  frracn 
prefer  to  boiling. 

Ifborfesaretobefedwitli  yami,  tft^It  is  of  die  ntmoft  coOGBqana 
to  dean  them  moft  perfedly,  as  any  fand  or  earfhy  natter  adbering  t» 
them  may  be  of  the  moft  dangerous  confeqneoces,  from  tbe  psidcalir 
ftru^re  of  the  horfe's  bowels,  id.  In  winter  particidarly,  (bdt  knA 
all  times  a  good  pn£lice),  tbe  yams'  Ihoold  be  vMhed  Ail  day,  wfckk 
.  are  to  be  ufed  the  day  following.  Tmnpcdiately  after  wafluig,  Aey  tM 
either  be  carried  into  the  ftable  in  wbeel-barrowi,  or  troogbs,  widi  boki  i^ 
the  bottom,  p)  draw  off  the  moiftnre ;  or  dirown  into  an  empty  fisD  fo 


'  of  Lmgf organ.  533 

PoMMf. — Potatoes  mxj  ifi  every  lefpeA  be  treated 
nearly  in  the  fiimis  manner  with  advantage.  The  ground 
prepared  in  the  fiune  way ;  the  crop  wiU  certainly  be  im- 
proved in  quantity  by  dunging  well  in  the  drills,  perhaps 
not  in  quality.  As  the  ftems  of  the  potatoes  are  not  fi)  lux* 
uriant,  for  the  purpofe  of  improving  a  fiiooeeding  crop,  the 
drills  may  be  nearer,  perhaps  about  24*  feet,  for  it  is  of  the 
vtmoft  coofequenoe  to  the  ground,  to  prepare'  it  for  a 
fiicceeding  crop,  that  the  whole  ihould  be  completely  ce- 
ntered with  the  items  of  the  potatoes,  or  with  the  green  crop 
of  whatever  kind.  The  potatoes  ripen  (boner  than  the 
yams,  and  the  manner  of  preierving  them  is  the  £une ;  but 
diey  do  not  keep  juicy  lb  long ;  and  while  die  one  is  moft 
excellent  food  for  man,  the  other  is  equally,  perhaps  more, 
beneficial  for  cattle. 

Potatoes  have  been  long  an  objeA  of  particular  attention 
tp  the  viHagers  of  Ijongforgan,  as  well  of  thole  who  have 
(man  farms  as  of  thoTe  who  have  none ;  and  the  pradice  ia 
promoted  by  the  mailer  farmers  who  occupy  the  rich 
teae  land  in  the  neighbourhood,  letting  out  (mall  portions 
of  it  wluch  they  mean  to  be  wheat,  at  perhaps  the  rate  of 
fbur^guineas  or  more  per  acre.  The  &rmer  ploughs  and 
prepares  the  land,  and  each  man  plants  or  dibbles  bis  mea- 
fiired  pertioB  wfth  potatoes.  Sometime  after  this,  and  be- 
fore the  plant  appears  above  ground,  they  loolen  dl  the 

ground 

tfMtpmpofr;  Vy  which  nea»  the  coUduUioefiftgmwadiiBf  win  be  t». 
ten  ofl^  ^riikh  ii  noeh  more  dangenmi  to  hoHci,  ancl  is  much  ofteaer  the 
oale  of  diicties  in  the  bowels  thu  is  generally  thooght.  But  if,  notwith- 
ftudiof  all  this  cave,  fymptoms  of  cholic  appear,  let  a  drink  be  prepand* 
confiftinf  of  an  EngUfli  <|oait  of  fmall  beer  wanned,  with  a  table  fpoonfiit 
of  ground  pepper,  and  near  «i  Englifli  pint  of  malt  fpirit  (whiikj),  and 
giftn  imnuediatelya  which  ieldom  faili  to  core.  If  the  complaint  does  not 
yield  to  this,  and  if  it  be  entirely  from  food,  from  one-half  to  an  ounce  of 
bodaniffl  ihould  be  given  in  a  warm  drink;  and  at  tnj  nte,  if  the  horie  coa- 
#Mei  ia  pain,  it  it  alwap  iafe  to  let  blood. 


^34  Stadfiical  Acu^uat 

|rQO|id  cQfl^pktdj  with  a  Jidck*  ^n  jxiftrumeai  widi.  a 
^le  of  abput  4  or  5  feet  lop^  aji4  two  iron  proa^  like  a 
fork:  bift  tunned  loyirards,  Tbis  n)ak^  U^e  pla913  cife 
i^ooger  ao4  |^ve$  ^hp  roots  room  to  fgreadt  fo  as  to  jield 
|^;-hap6  ^  bittodred  boUs  fer  f ere  ,  ^yod  during  the  wixole 
]?r9£reGs  of  tb«  plaAll  coming  forwards  th^ J  9^ake  it  their 
1),ttrme{»  tp  c^n  the  £roi^d  periSedlj  \>j  band-hoeip|^  whidi 
prepare9  it  fof  the  ^ceeding  crpp. 

Wb^p^  bo^ca  pap^pt  be  hadf  hofh  j^xns  and  potatoca 
HOAj  he  kept  in  te^porar/  (hades  ma^c  onpvrpgle,  flppinj 
]ibe|JipfQofjofabou£^9  V^hicb  m^jht  )mi^  ft  fmaU  ez- 
pencei  qf  jMAg  $^  apd  |^iaxche(l,  the  hottoqi.axvl  fides  igreD 
fined  with  Arawijtfid  91  d/cep  trppph  drawn  round  thr^i  to 
kepp  them  dry^  .with  a  dopr  or  p^^ing  at  one  ei^d,  from 
which  chej  may  be  taken  at  pleafure  \  but  always  kept 
^M  cov'.erc^  to  prevent  aeoels  to  froft.  * 

*  The  curl  is  a  dlfeafe  to  which  potatoes  are  exceedingly  fnbje^  and 

•w)iidi,it  is  beUaFcd,  is  asyet  bat  little  unteftoodL    rt  miHiwi  fwiniiiii 

wUiiiat  itikinfcaiai^  f»A  jil«t  H  «dU  piqp^aate  ^ 

Thi^  yca^.(:i79()  tbcfe  iee«^d  j(o  barip  bfic^,  ip  m^y  ^j^ffii  owve  of  tkis 

,  difeafe  all  oy/er  the  country  tha9  had  appeared  for  many  years ;  aivd  it  is  di- 

Tenrable,  diattfrom  the  fame  feed,  planted  in  different  fields,  die  onebai 

'  tboonded  with  ciul,  while  l&e  <kher  was  pcriedlly  free:  Alio,  la  1^  &■< 

>idd»  Aine  jpou  h^m  fcwn  difcrfri,  tnd  rtiwi^Pt;  inttid«efiNaidpQCMaei 

.^wayB  w(f«  upon  ^  drieit  pait  of  tke  field.    From  the  ide»  of  in  haag 

infedtious,  diredlions  h$ve  been  a^^^ci^*  ^^  **  ^<*<m  ^  ^^  curl  appeared,  the 

difeafed  root  ikould  be  inunediately  dug  up  and  thiownaway.    Bat»t» 

prove  this,  as  foon  as  the  curl  (appeared  in  a  field  belong  tug  to  the  waAoc 

of  this  paper,  he  placd!  marla  in  the  gnmnfl  between  the  difttfied  aad  tlR 

ibund :  and  there  did  not  appear,  tfarough  Ae  wMeleafoii^  iIm  kaft  ffmih 

torn  6f  the  di&afe  vtncreatbig  ;  tliat  is,  thofc  wbicli  were  not  diliBaMwan 

rhe  roailis  were  put  in,  remained  fo  to  the  end  of  the  leiKbn  periedly  teod. 

And  while  tfte  curl  was  prevalent  in  the  fields,  oot  one  poatoe.  pUaud  in 

the  garden,  bad  the  leaft  appearance  of  difeaf^.    Mcntioiiing  titefe  orcOD- 

Varices  to  a  very  ingenious  gentlemen,  be  gave  it  as  fail  opinioii,  dm  this 

difeafe  does  not  proceed  from  the  feed,  and  that  it  is  wAwkAiami  te 

0ut  It  is  owiog  prmcijMliy  to  wet  foil,  tiiny  tefons,  or  tn  error  m  obUo^ 


of  Longfbrsaft.  53J 

Xi>9tf«<— Tfie  hiha^itantsof  Lofigfbrgw  havi  Been  femsirkw 
abfy  fficcei^ftil  for  many  yeaxt  in  rstlfing  great  crops  of  GntL 
Their  praftitc  in  this  particuhr*  is  well  tirof th  iirfitationr. 
Thej  wafer  their  Knt  gfoiinds  i^Mh  thrir  dung- water  and 
cow  wafli ;  hitt  it  mail  be  dq^e  in  mtiny  Weathef ,  to  prev^t 
this  effence  of  dung  fif'om  burning  npr  the  crop.  This  mode 
may  be  nfed  to  gre^  advsaitage  upon  gra&grounds  and  has 
be^  tri^d  ^dtm  y^ar  by  a  fitrmer  in  this  pariAi,  vpon  tatie 
acres  of  wheat,  and  upon  as  mnch  Knt,  and  th^  apj>^iKram5fe 
between  the  acres  fb  watered,  and  th^  xieft  of  the  fame  fieM,  & 
inofi  r^mih-KsJbly  in  favour  6f  the  former  v  and  Mr  Paterf<Rft 
is  fo  con^nc^d  of  the  ^Cdvanbige  of  this  pratfiice,  tlilat  he  ba* 
conftmd&d  a:  cart  for  this  ptft-p'ofe,  uptei  the  &m«  pirineipfe 
with  thofe  carts  ufinl  in  watering  thef  ftHets  of  London.    •  ^ 

A  large  cafk  (iif  butt)  is  fis%d  npon  iliafts,  "^vSti  a  fet  ^ 
low  wheels;  (did  Coach-whtds),  for  convenience  of  ^iRn^ 
In  one  end  «  hole  is  made  of  about  two  inches  ^aitneter,  tfr 
Which  a  f^ai^  condnftor  is  fixed,  the  middle  part  aiboift 
6  inches  long,  with  an  opening  of  o:^  infi^hes  fixate,  coming 
right  outwards,  Mfi  from  which  a  tranfverfe  arth  *  of  tfii 
fame  ditnenfions,  and  about  3  feet  ia  length,  is  &ted  cMffi 
at  both  ends,  but  the  fore  part  covered  with  a  phte  of  irob; 
{qSL  of  holes;  and  to  guide  the  flow  of  this  dbng- water,  dl 
plug  is  fittied  to  the  hole  in  the  head  ^  the  caflc,  with  i^ 
greateft  end  inwards  \  through  its  body  aftrongcord  puflW, 

knotted 

fioa;  tad  addetd.  tfun!,  at  any  time, fie  ccuti  aMks  Ae  ctiif  by  ptantfnj^  ^ 
aMAtoodefp^orin^i'^FOMhcdgfmiad;  m4  jfiiU  in  tbt  fatta  field  wjbicHt 
9fiinnerfiitiiif  dtilri^  bad  let  cnit  to  d^  ncigbbouriog  Tillagen,  cvenr 
man*!  proportion  could  kave  been  known  from  the  bealtH>ne(s  of  the  plant* 
•r  the  contrary ;  what  could  thU  be  owtnj^  tdv  if  fiot  to  the  vibiety  of  the 
feed'f  tiMeft  obfeivaliaai  iliay  ba  w<ath  attin^f  Cb.  TtSal  dTcirfe  haa 
aever  been  obfinrvedaiboaga  the  yaim.  As  it  ti  of  tb?  utmOft  owfe^uono^ 
to  introdnce  fifcb  kinds  of  food  for  beftiaJ,  as  may  aa  little  ai  pufllble  en- 
croach upon  the  oeceflarie»of  life  for  man,  it  is  hoped  the  length  of  this 
'ankle  wiU  be  ascufifd. 


53^  StaiiJHcal  Acc^mt 

• 
'  knotted  at  each  end  of  the  plug>  to  keep  it  from  (hiftingf 
one  end  of  this  cord  comes  out  at  the  bong  of  the  calk,  and 
the  other  through  the  middle  of  the  fore-arm ;  and  by  the 
fimpleft  exertion  of  drawing  the  cord  cither  outwards  or 
uiwards,  the, water  within  maybe  made  to  flow,  or  be 
flopped  at  pleafure.  The  caik  may  be  filled  with  a  bucket, 
and  a  long  handle,  made  on  jiurpoie,  by  which  means  the 
snoft  valuable  part  of  the  dung,  which  is  generally  lofi^may 
be  turned  to  great  advantage ;  and  by  a  particular  cootri* 
▼ance,  even  drilled  turnip  m;ay  be  watered  with  this  fimple 
machine.  This  year,  1796,  when  there  Was  no  appeaxioce 
of  rain  in  the  turnip  feed-time,  it  was  -put  in  praAioe  at 
Ca&le-Huntly  with  great  advantage  \  upon  the  iron  plate 
on  the  front  of  the  tranfverfe  arm,  a  piece  of  thin  wood  was 
£zed,  ib  as  to  cover  die  holes  entirely,  except  a  fpaoe  which 
was  left  near  each  of  the  two  extremities,  to  each  of  which 
a  flexible  leather  pipe,  of  about  18  inches  long,  was  fiimly 
nailed,  and  to  the  other  end,  the  nofe  of  a  common  garden 
watering-pan  was  fixed.  Thefe.two  pipes  were  acochcd 
CO  each  other  by  a  piece  of  imall  flick,  lb  as  to  make  them 
move  together,  and,  by  a  handle  fixed  to  it,  the  man  whtf 
drove,  and  who  walked  behind,  guided  them  upon  the  two 
drills,  one  on  each  fide  of  the  horfe.  This  operation  may 
be  repeated  once  or  twice,  according  to  tha  judgment  of 
the  fiumer. 

Red  Chmr  amd  Ryt-grafi.'^n  fuch  parks  or  indoferef 
which  are  intended  foldy  for  pafiure,  white  dover  and 
fibbed  grafs  are  commonly  fbwn;  and  hay  feeds,  as  they 
are  called,  have  alfo  been  fown  for  the  fame  purpole :  Bot 
the  grais  which  makes  a  portion  of  the  farm  rotation,  and 
which  is  recommended  to  be  fown  upon  a  fixth  part  ot^ 
day  grounds  every  year,  b  dways  underftood  to  be  red 
dover  and  rye-graiiM    From  i6  to  25  poondi  of  red  do* 


qf  Longforgan.  537 

ver,  and  if  for  hay,  about  afirlot  (ba(hel}  of  rye^grafs  upon 
the  Scotch  acre ;  but  if  it  be  meant  to  be  cut  for  the  beftial 
upon  the  farm,  the  fame  quantity  of  clover  feed,  with  one 
or  two  pecks  of  rye-grafi  feeds,  is  enough.  This  is  moft 
excellent  food  for  horfes,  cows,  (beep,  and  pigs ;  and  if  be- 
gan to  be  cut  early  upon  loam,  it  will  give  two  good  crops ; 
and,  upon  clay  grounds,  it  will,  in  general,  in  favourable 
feafons,  give  three  crops  before  the  froll  fets  in,  and  pro- 
bably a  good  after-grafs  for  paflure  on  both*.  This  grafs- 
crop,  as  it  is  commonly  called  here,  is  meant  for  one  year 
only ;  and  that  part  which  b  cut  for  bay,  generally  produ- 
ces very  good  crops,  from  200  to  300  ftone,  of  la  lb.  £ng- 
liih  each  (tone,  per  acre  \  and  fuch  part  of  it  as  is  not  ne- 
oeilary  to  be  ufed  at  home  finds  a  ready  market  at  Dun- 
dee or  Perth.  It  is  perhaps  worth  while  to  mention  a  re- 
markable infiance  of  a  crop  of  this  kind  upon  the  Mains  gf 
CaiUe-Huntly.  In  the  fpring  of  the  year  1786,  red  clover 
aad  rye-grafs  were  fown  amongft  wheat  in  a  field  of  13 
Scotch  acres,  which  produced  6000  ftone  of  hay ;  and  the 
fecond  cutting  of  the  fame  field  was  fold  at  L.  2:13:4 
Sterling  per  acre, 

/Cy.— The  beft  time  to  cut  the  hay  is  when  the  clover  is 
in  flower,  and  before  the  rye-grafi  feed  is  formed  :  For,  at 
that  period  of  vegetation,  the  plant  itfelf,  which  is  the  ob- 
ject for  ufe,  is  full  of  its  native  juices,  and,  of  oourfe,  con- 
tains more  real  nourilhment,  than  afterwards,  when  ejc- 
haufted,  to  maturate  the  feed.  It  is  alfo  well  known  to  ex- 
perience, that  rye-grafi,  when  fufl!ered  to  feed,  impoverifhes 
the  ground  exceedingly ;  and  when  cut  in  the  fiage  recom- 
mended, an  exceeding  good  fecond  crop  may  be  expeAed, 
otherwife  not.  If  the  farmer  means  to  have  rye-grafs  feed 
of  hb  own,  be  may  fet  apart  a  portion  of  hb  field  on  puf* 

Vol.  XIX.  3  Y  pofo, 


5.38  Statijlical  Account 

pofe,  which  he  will  find  a  much  better  plan  for  agricnltanl 
economy,  than  letting  the  crop  remain  longer  upon  the 
ground  to  ripen  the  feed. 

Clover  5eed*^-lt  has  been  attempted  to  grow  clover  for 
feed  in  this  pariih,  but  not  with  fuch  ibccefs  as  to  encou- 
rage the  experiment.  For  this  purpofe,  to  have  it  as  pure 
as  pofEble,  the  firft  crop  was  early  cut,  that  cvctj  other 
vegetable,  which  had  a  chance  of  feeding  with  the  clover, 
might  be  defirojed.  The  fecond  crop  then  was  to  give 
the  feed  :  But  this  made  it  often  too  late  in  the  feafon  for 
ripening ;  and  after  all,  the  difficnltj  of  feparating  the  feed 
from  the  hulk  was  exceedingly  difconraging.  Whether  the 
thrr(hing-miU  would  do  this  more  eS*e£hially,  remains  to 
be  tried. 

Winning  Hay, — It  is  a  common  praftice  in  this  conntry, 
after  their  hay  is  cut,  to  let  it  lie  for  feveral  days  in  th» 
fwarth,  as  it  is  called,  without  touching  it ;  the  only  rea- 
fon  given  for  which  is,  that  it  will  turn  a  ihower  in  that 
ftate  better  than  when  teafed  out,  and  left  open  upon  the 
field.  The  lead  reflefHon  may  convince  any  one,  that  this 
)S  both  falfe  reafoning,  and  bad  practice.  The  great  ob- 
je£t  in  making  hay,  is  to  dry  it  as  quickly  as  poflible,  with 
all  its  native  juices  in  it;  and  the  moft  obvious  method  for 
this  purpofe  is,  not  to  let  it  reft  one  moment  after  it  is  cut 
down,  but  to  continue  turning  and  turning  it  conitantly  till 
(dry  \  and  if  it  (hould  get  a  ihower  during  this  operation, 
when  lyipg  loofe  and  open,  the  rain  will  pafs  through  it,  and 
be  foon  dried  up  by  a  fucceeding  bree^^e  and  fun ;  and,  at  any 
^e,  there  is  every  probable  chance  of  coiling,  L  e.  putting  it 
in  cocks,  or  getting  it  flacked  in  fafety  fooner  by  thefe  means 
than  otherwife.  It  is  well  known,  that  rain  deftroys  the  na- 
tive juices  of  every  plant,  if  expofed  to  it  for  any  time  ;  and 
ffl^en  ha^  is  fuSered  %p  lie  in  the  fwarth,  that  part  of  it 

whic|i 


of  Lofigforgan.  539 

-which  is  undermoft  neither  fees  fun  nor  feels  air,  while  the 
upper  part  b  blenched  with  both  \  and,  of  courfe,  as  it  muft 
remain  much  longer  in  the  field  before  the  under  part  la 
'wio»  the  upper  part  is  lofl ;  and  alfo,  it  will  be  much  longer 
czpofed  to  accidents,  from  unfavourable  weather  ;  the  prac- 
tice, therefore,  is  bad,  and  the  method  above  reconunended 
in  every  fenCe  preferable* 

Tsmotby  Gra/s.-^Timoihj  grals  has  alfo  been  tried  ia 
this  pariih  ;  but  it  yielded  a  coarfe  vegetable,  by  no  means 
to  be  compared  with  the  rye-grais  upon  the  fame  field,  and 
-while  the  laft  remained,  the  Timothy  was  thrown  out  ia 
the  winter,  and  left  nothing  but  bunches  (battered  through 
the  field  \ 

Tares4 

•  Cattle,  u  well  as  erery  other  iTpecies  of  beftial  upon  the  farm,  are  fed 
upon  clover  in  the  houfe,  befides  their  paAure  during  the  greateft  ptit 
•f  the  fummer ;  but  great  care  (hould  be  uken  not  to  give  it  to  theniy 
while  wet  with  rain,  or  to  Cuffer  cattle  or  cows  to  pafture  upon  young  clo- 
ver while  the  morning  dews  remain  upon  the  ground:  For  it  is  well 
known,  that  not  only  clover,  but  otlier  fucculent  vegeubles,  when  ate  by 
cattle  in  that  ftate,  are  apt  to  produce  fuch  a  fudden,  and  violent  fermenta- 
tion in  the  ftomach,  as  to  end  in  fatal  confequenccs,  if  not  timeonfly  pre- 
vented* 

Thii  difeafeis  evidently  produced  by  an  extraordinary  and  fudden  diileiu 
£on  of  the  ftonucb,  from  an  immenfe  quantity  of  fixed  air  let  loofe  by  the 
fermentation  of  thofe  fucculent  vegeubles;  and  as,  from  the  nature  and 
ftridure  of  thii  vifcus,  the  more  it  is  extended,  the  lefs  capable  it  i!i  to  dif* 
charge  any  of  its  contents,  of  courfe,  if  not  fpeedily  relieved,  the 
difeafe  increafes,  until  a  rupture  of  the  ftomacb  takes  place,  and  death 
cnfuet. 

If  foon  obferved,  by  an  apparent  fweUing  and  elevation  on  the  aesr  fids* 
not  far  from  the  fpine,  gentle  exercifc,  by  walking  the  anioul  about,  very 
frequently,  tScAs  the  cure ;  probably  by  alfiiling  the  pertflaltic  motion  of 
the  guts,  and  promoting  a  difcharge  of  wind  and  foeces  per  ano,  which  ia 
the  iirft  favourable  fymptom  of  the  difeafe  going  off.  To  aid  this,  ainy 
remedies  have  been  thought  of  and  propofed ;  and  amongft  others,  a  pound 
of  fwect  butter,  melted  and  mixed  with  OU  Aniii  or  01.  Junipiris,  from  en» 

to 


54^^  Stattjlical  Accwuni 

7af «i.— -Upon  the  Imrge  fiuins,  tares  hsve  htely  been  m* 
troduced  and  fown  at  different  periods,  fo  as  to  come  in  faf 

feeding 

to  two  oancci,  poared  down  the  throat,  has  beeinifed  with  f^odk.  It  hu 
•Ifo  been  recommended,  to  fill  an  empty  egg4hcU  with  tar,  and  to  pot  h 
down  the  throat  into  the  ftomach  with  the  hand.  This  alfo  has  been  attend, 
cd  with  fucceia ;  and  at  Caftle-Huntly  above  a  doaen  of  catde 
^rered  upon  the  very  firH  eicperinicnt,  after  feeing  diis  remedy  i 
in  the  newfpapen.  To  give  this  die  better  dumce  of  faccefs,  the  egg  maft 
be  kept  whole  in  the  hand,  and  piefied  as  far  down  as  pofliblc,  while  the 
animal's  head  ik  kept  up  by  drofe  who  afGft  at  the  operation,  and  who  asay 
frcilitate  t^e  intiodu^on  of  the  egg  into'  the'  ftocdacfa,  by  ftroaks^  the 
outfidb  of  die  difOat  downwards,  after  die  hand  wfakh  istAodnced  die  egg 
li  repored  }-^nd  it  is  remarkable,  that  as  foon  as  the  animal  has  perfaoni 
deglutition,  a  quantity  of  foul  ill  fmelling  air  comes  up,  and  ▼cry  fooa  after 
the  difeafe  begins  to  abate  and  to  go  off.  It  has  alfo  been  propofed  to 
force  a  round  flexible  ftick  into  the  ftomach,  from  the  idea,  that  if  its  nonth, 
(f .  e,  the  mouth  of  the  ftomach),  can  be  opened  by  any  meani,  the  cue 
will  be  eSe^ed  ;  which  is  a  very  reafonable  cooje^re. 

'But  Dr  Moirao  at  Edmbnrgh,  the  cekbrated  Profeflbr  of  Aawtomy  in 
thatUni^erf  ty,  has  improved  upon  tkb.  He  fcconmeads  afloaible  tabe^  Bide 
of  fptral  wire,  and  covered  with  leather ;  to  one  end  of  vi^iich  ia  fixed  a  hah 
knob  Ml  of  holes,  which  is  meant  to  be  introduced  into  the  ftonaarh,  and  as 
the  tube  is  flexible,  it  fits  itfelf  to  the  throat,  and  being  hollow,  a  ftrong  wire, 
with  a  probe  pouit,  can  be  introduced  at  the  opening  of  the  other  endr 
by  which  it  can  be  kept  as  clear  and  pervious  as  poffible.  This  is  cxticae* 
ly  neceffivy ;  for  without  fome  fuch  means,  the  holes  in  the  brafs  nab«  and 
perhaps  the  tube  itfelf,  might  be  filled  by  the  vifcous  mucibginoiis  nat- 
ter in  the  ftomach,  and  the  inteutioo  totally  defeated.  However,  at  aey 
rate,  the  introdiidlion  of  thtr  inftrument  is  a  great  point  gained  ;  and  the 
firft  explofion  of  detached  air  through  the  tuW,  vnll  moft  probably  gitc 
relief,  while  the  wire  keeps  the  pafiage  open^-to  render  die  xnnedy  eorapkte 
and  more  cehain.  Mr  Walker  in  a  book,  pidiliflied  in  1794^  under  the 
title  of  Rowlings  Cow  Do^or,  has  given  a  full  account  of  this  elaftic  tnbe,f 
copied  frq^  the  Caledonian  Mercury,  into  which  it  was  inferted  in  March 
1791,  with  Dr  MoNxo*s  permiflion;  and  having  got  one  of  thefe  tubes  far 
black  catde  from  Mr  Still,  cutler  in  Edinburgh,  who  makes  them  for  eightftul- 
Ungs  a-piecc,  he  got  fome  fvcfa  made  on  a  fmaUer  fcale  for  fiieep,  and  tells  us^ 
p.  123.  "  that  they  havobeen  found  of  infinite  fervice  m  iaving  the  Urea 
**  of  ftieep  tm^fiugbt  or  hrake^fiugbi  ;'*  by.  whidk  is  uodcfftood,  the  fwd- 
Mug  of  the  ftomach,  from  the  fenaentatkw  of  the  food. 

Dr 


of  Longforgan.  541 

feeding  beftial»  both  hor&a  and  cattle,  after  the  firft  crop  of 
clover,  and  to  continue  in  fuccci&on  ontil  the  fecond  crop 

be 

]>r  MoNxo  has,  fince  that  time,  contrived  an  ixiftroinent  of  iron,  made 
likewife  by  Mr  Still,  for  keeping  open  the  lOouth  of  the  animal ;  by  the 
ufe  of  which,  it  will  be  found  much  eafier  to  pais  the  tube  into  the  fio- 
macb ;  which  will  give  a  better  chance  of  fucceb,  than  any  thing  hitherto 
necommended,  and«  in  moft  cafeS,  naay  render  ftbbing  unneceffiuy. 

The  fuccefji  of  all  tbofe  remedies,  however,  depend  upon  their  being  *»' 
troduced  into  the  ftoroach,  which  is  in  many  cafes  difficult,  and  in  fome,  if 
the  difeafe  be  gone  too  far  before  it  is  obferved,  it  becomes  impoilible : 
There  dien  remains  no  other  hopes  of  relief,  but  by  making  an  opening  in 
the  ilomach  from  without.  This  operation  is  here  very  common, 
and  is  frequently  performed  without  much  anatomical  (kill  in  the  ope- 
rator, and  who  in  general  is  not  very  nice  in  the  choice  of  his  inftrument, 
taldng  the  firft  knife  he  can  lay  his  hand  upon ;  but  what  is  moft  lecom* 
mended,  is  a  knifik  of  about  four  or  five  inches  long,  and  about  one  inch 
bfottd,  Whh  a  (harp  point  and  fixed  in  a  handle.  He  then  marks  the  place 
for  the  Operation,  by  meaHiring  with  his  finger  and  thumb  extended* 
a  fpan  from  the  prominent  point  of  the  hip-bone  forwards,  and  a  little 
downwatds,  fo  as  to  mett  another  fpan  meafured  from  the  fpine  or  back- 
bone outwards,  and  at  the  point  where  thei^  meet,  with  one  bold  ftroke  of 
bis  inftrument,  he  penetrates  the  ftomach ;  the  nnprifoned  air  immediate- 
ly  mfties  out,  and  the  animal  is  relieved. 

This,  although  a  coarfe  operation,  is  certainly  fo  far  eflfedlual,  as  it  favcs 
the  animal's  Hfe :  but  if  a  milch  cow,  no  more  milk  can  be  expe^ed  from 
ber  tliat  fcafon ;  and  it  is  fumetimes  very  long  before  any  defcription  of  cat- 
tle recover  the  cfiedls,  either  of  the  difeafe  or  the  operation,  or  perhaps  of 
both.  Sometimes  it  is  necefiary  to  keep  the  wound  open  for  fome  time,  be- 
fore all  the  air  be  let  out ;  and  fometimes  it  fuppurates,  and  becomes  very 
troubleCbme  to  heal.  It  would  feem  to  be  a  very  great  improvement  on  thia 
operation,  were  a  trocar  ufed  inftead  of  the  knife,  and  made  on  purpofe  lar- 
ger than  common,  and  which  every  man  who  has  cattle  (hoiild  be  always  pro. 
vtded  with  The  operatfon  then  might  eafily  be  performed,  and  with  great 
certainty.  The  trocar  itfclf  might  be  withdnwn  immediately  after  the  ope- 
ration, while  the  tube  remained  to  give  a  free  paflage  to  all  the  air  in  tlie 
ftomach ;  and  tlie.wound,  in  ail  probability,  would  give  no  trouble,  but  Leal 
dheaiy. 

Cattle  are  fubjedi  to  ether  difeafes  *,  but  they  are  little  underftood  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  A  cow  9  years  old  was  taken  ill  July  lalt  The  fitit 
fymptom  of  difeafe  was  her  loathing  her  food  ;  aai  on  exaxaiaation  it  waa 

ieuoi. 


54^  StatiJHcal  Account 

be  fit  to  cut.  Varimis  kbds  of  tares  have  been  tried*  Tiz« 
the  flat  vetch ;  the  large  and  iimall  round  tare ;  the  kft 
kind  has  hitherto  been  found  the  beft,  both  for  fodder  and 
feed.  Thej  are  a  moft  ezcelknt  food,  and  much  liked 
both  by  cattle  and  horfes* 

Winter  T^iir/i.— -Mr  Mjlne  of  Mjlnefield  b  the  only  one 
in  this  parifli  who  has  tried  winter  tares.  They  are  fbwn 
about  Oftober,  and  may  be  cut  about  May.    He  thinks 

them 

found,  that  flie  had  been  coftive  for  fomctime,  had  a  dnllnefi  and  hcaTme& 
in  her  eyes,  and  was  very  much  hide-bound.  Some  medicines  were  given 
for  her  coftivenefs,  which  anfwered  very  well;  but  her  difeaic  increa&^» 
a  celebrated  cow-doAor,  from  a  neighbouring  pariih,  by  trade  a  UMtforr,  was 
fent  for.  After  eiamination,  he  declared  her  to  be  elveihot;  and  aithoogh  be 
pretended  to  point  out  the  very  holes  under  the  ikin  through  which  theclvan 
arrow  had  pal&d,  yet  Ihe  was  not  fo  bad  as  many  he  had  Mecn,  and  tl|pie< 
fore  he  prefcribed  and  adrotniftered,  but  without  effed :  For  fooo  after 
a  very  large  fwelling  was  difcovered  between  the  forelegs,  upon  the  briflcec* 
which  feltfoft  and  pulpy.  The  cow  went  off  her  food  entirely,  her  pulfe 
quick,  breathing  Diort,  and  in  a  few  days  fhe  died.  On  dividing  the  faftf- 
ket,  it  was  found  full  of  a  glary»  jelatinous  fubftance,  and  very  mucji  enlar- 
ged :  and  upon  opening  the  thorax,  the  pericardium  appeared  extended  t» 
an  immenCe  fiae,  fo  as  to  occupy  the  whole  left  divilion  entirely.  On 
pundiuring  it  a  yellowilh  fhiid  ifltied  out,  which  could  not  have  meaiuied 
lefs  than  6  or  8  Scotch  pints  (3  or  4  Englilh  gallons),  fo  that  the  cow  died 
of  a  hydrops  pericardii. 

On  examining  the  cow-doAor,  he  faid  he  had  often  feen  elvefhot  cows^ 
fome  of  which  he  had  cured.  That  be  had  feen  fome  drop  down  dead  up- 
on the  fpot :  That  he  had  frequently  felt  the  tmpreffion  made  by  the  ehin 
arrow  under  the  (kin ;  for  they  can  wound  even  mortally  without  any  ca- 
temal  appearance :  That  othen  he  had  feen  widi  their  whole  body  as  A>ft 
as  wool,  (his  own  expreffioo)  after  death:  That  he  had  frequently  picked 
up  thofe  arroDi'S,  which  were  fmooth  triangalar  fmall  pointed  (tones  or 
pebbles,  like  flints ;  and  it  was  his  belief,  that  thofe  who  do  tibe  mirduef 
afe  our  goodly  neighbours. 

From  this  it  will  appear,  that  the  belief  in  the  exiflence  of  iaiiies  is  not  yet 
quite  eztinguifhed  in  this  country ;  but  they  have  been  very  onjuftly  blamed 
for  killing  cattle,  as  a  ftroke  of  lightning  is  a  nrnch  more  natural  way  of  ac- 
counting for  the  mifchief,  which  however  was  beyond  the  fpbeie  of  their 
knowledge  when  ihis  notion  was  very  prevalent  \  and  die  tiiaoguUr  peb> 
blet  are  as  innocent  as  our  goodly  neighboun. 


of  Longforgan.  543 

them  the  befi  food  he  ever  tried  for  working  faorfes.  The 
flieep  are  fo  very  fond  of  them,  that  thej  maj  be  fiud  to 
devour  them ;  and  for  a  week  after  tbej  were  taken  off 
from  them,  thej  did  not  eat  the  mod  fucculent  grafs  with 
any  relifli :  they  even  preferred  them  to  red  clover,  which, 
of  all  others,  ufed  to  be  reckoned  their  moft  favourite 
food. 

Lime, — ^Lime  is  now  univerfally  ufed  as  a  ^lanure  in  this 
parifh ;  and,  after  repeated  trials,  many  good  fiirmers  feem 
difpofed  to  prefer  the  Charleftown,  becaufe  they  think  it 
contains  fand,  which  makes  it  fitter  for  opening  the  texture 
of  clay  than  the  Engliih  from  Sunderland,  efpecially  the 
wbiteft  kind,  which  they  think  contains  chalk*.  The  quan- 
tity is,  in  general,  30  bolls  South  Sunderland  lime,  barley 
meafure,  and  45  or  50  bolls  Charleftown,  wheat  meafure, 
per  acre,  which  is  laid  upon  fallow  after  the  dung  is  plough- 
ed in,  and  then  harrowed,  to.  divide  and  mix  it  -,  after  which 
a  very  fliallow  feed -furrow  prepares  it  for  fowiog.  This 
may  laft  for  two  rotations  -,  that  is,  twelve  years  or  more, 
according  to  circumftances ;  but  fome  are  of  opinion,  that 
it  would  be  a  good  prance  to  give  every  fallow  on  clay 
about  10  pr  12  bolls  of  lime,  harrowed  in,  in  the  fame  man- 
ner.    Upon  thi3  pradice  experience  muft  decide. 

In  ufing  lime  as  a  manure,  many  good  farmers  are  of  opi- 
nion that  it  ought  not  to  be  too  much  drexiched  with  water, 
but  laid  on  as  hot  as  poflible,  efpecially  in  clay,  and  hs(r- 
rowed  in  immediately,  to  mix  it  with  the  foil :  By  which 
means,  the  more  complete  flacking  of  the  lime  would  be 
left  to  the  fucceeding  rains,  and  it  would  then  be  more  inti- 
mately mixed  with  the  foil;  and  the  clay,  particalarly, 

would 

«  The  grettdl  fault  of  the  Charleibun  lime,  is  the  tail  qptotitiei  of 
Yolks  (unburned  fiones)  it  contains.  The  palion  or  blue  liDM,  ii  much 
more  in  reqocik  here  than  any  other ;  cypeocc  froa  a  a.  44.  to  at.  6d*  /cr 
bolt,  and  about  jo  bolls /rr  acxe. 


544  Stati/ikal  Account 

wotfld  be  mncb  better  dUTolved  by  the  operation.     £tcs 
.  feme  farmers  have  propofed  to  powder  the  burning  lime- 
fliellf,  inftead  of  flacking  them,  to  anfwer  this  purpoCe  more 
cffeduallj. 

All  black  loam,  (and,  or  an  j  kind  of  earthy  fubftascc 
almoA,  proves  to  be  yer j  good  manore  for  clay ;  from  its 
leiTening  its  tenacity  upon  being  mixed  with  it,  and  by 
that  means  brings  a  greater  quantity  of  its  prolific  parts 
into  adion ;  and  clay  carried  to  poor  foil,  or  to  mofly 
grounds,  proyes  a  v^ry  ufeful  manure. 

MarL — ^Marl  has  alfo  been  tried  on  day,  but  arithoot  ad* 
vantage.  It  anfwers  well  upon  lighter  lands,  as  far  as  50 
bolls  (a  cube  of  two  feet  each)  per  acre ;  and  in  much  kfi 
quantity,  it  makes  an  excellent  top^reiBng  fer  gra&. 

Com/o^/.— Compofb  are  not  much  in  ufe  in  this  pariA. 
But  dunghills  have  been  made  up  of  different  materials, 
fuch  as,  eanh,  rubbifb  from  old  boufes,  dang  from  the 
flraw-yant,  and,  in  fome  few  inftancesy  lime,  nibbifli,  or 
marl ;  but  the  praAfce  is  pot  general,  and  as  yet  it  b  ooc 
confirmed  by  experience. 

Hung^  Hints  to  Lartd/ords.^^'Dung  never  fliould  be  per. 
jnitted  to  go  off  the  farm.  The  ftraw  now.  fincc  threihing- 
mills  came  into  general  uTe,  is  fit  for  fodder  or  dnag  only. 
The  incoming  tenant  fhould  have  leave  to  fow  grals  feeds 
in  ]i-6th  of  the  farm,  without  any  claim  or  demand  by  the 
cutgoing  tenant.  If  tlie  Landlord  gives  him  leave  to  fell 
his  lafl  crop  upon  its  foot,  f.  e.  fianding  com  and  fodder,  he 
Ihould  be  obliged  to  fell  it  by  public  roup  (audion),  that  the 
incoming  tenant,  or  any  one  on  the  barony,  may  have  an  op- 
tion of  buying  it  if  they  pleafe .  If  he  chafes  to  threfh  it  out* 
it  {hould  be  done  on  the  farm,  and  the  fodder  either  fold  by 
public  roup,  or  to  the  incoming  tenant  by  appraifbmcixt. 
It  would  be  an  excellent  regulatioui  if  every  new  tenant 

were 


^Longforgan.  545 

were  enabled  to  enter  xrfth  a  proportion  of  fallow  on  claj^  • 
as  well  as  grals ;  and  with  the  dung  in  the  flraw* jard»  in 
the  fame  waj  as  if  the  outgoing  tenant  were  to  continue. 
This  Mr  Paterfon  has  been  enabled  to  do^  upon  two  farms^ 
by  buying  the  dung,  and  a  proportion  of  fallow,  from  the 
creditors  of  an  outgmng  bankrupt-tenant^,  and  giving 
them  to  his  faccefibrs,  and  taking  them  bound  in  their 
tacks  (leafes)  to  leave  the  dung  and  the  fallow  on  the  fame 
terms  at. the  expiry  of  their  leaie* 

Inchfuris. — In  the  upper  part  of  this  pMfli,  many  of  the 
famu  are  incloCed  and  fubdivided  mth  hedges  and  ftone 
dikes,  (fences);  and  indeed  there  are  fome  few  hedges 
round  the  extremities  of  the  farms  in  the  low  Carfe ;  but» 
in  general,  every  other  fence  but  the  ditch  is  reprobated 
by  Carfe  farmers.  They  iky,  that  the  hedges  not  only 
harbour  numberlefi  fmall  birds,  which  defiroy  a  great  deal 
of  com  \  but  they  prevent  the  wind  from  drying  their  clay 
ground  in  fpring,  and  winning  their  corns  in  autumn, 
which,  they  think  of  much  more  confequence  than  any  fhti* 
ter  their  proteftion  can  afford  againft  (baking  winds. 

Chafe  imd  Butter. ^^V^ry  tolerable  cheefe  is  made  ia 
this  pariih,  and  a  confiderable  quantity  of  excellent  butter, 
which  are  difpofed  of  to  private  families,  efpecially  the 
butter,  which  is  in  great  re^ueft,  or  fent  to  the  Dundee 
market*  It  has  been  a  general  opinion,  that  very  good 
butter  can  alone  be  made  from  the  milk  of  cows  fed  upon 
very  old  paftnre ;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  butter  made 
in  this  parifh,  which  is  acknowledged  to  be  excelleot,  is 
made  from  the  milk  of  cows  fed  upon  cloverp  of  one  or  two 
years  at  moil :  For  here  the  clover  is  (own  with  the  barley ; 

Vol.  XIX.  3Z  the 

P  H.  B.  This  tenant 'was  a  visual- merchant. 


54(^  Stati/Heal  Aeccmu 

the  following  jesir  it  gives  a  crop  dF  haj,  or  )s  eol  finr  tin 
borfes  or  cows,  and  it  afterwards  pkmghed  op  for  die  crop 
of  oats  or  wheat  to  fi>Uow  ;  (b  that  die  iarmefa  here  have 
PQ  old  grais. 

Bees. — ^Bees.  thrive  well  in  thb  pariih,  and  predaae  et* 

*  cellent  honey ;  and  in  the  gardens  at  CaftlevHnndy,  wham 

there  are  a  variety  of  fragrant  Iflowen,  pardcularly  gmt 

quantities  of  minionette,  fown  on  porpofe,  honey  Ins  been 

got  little  inferior  to  Minorqa,  both  in  colour  and  flavour. 

Hops.r^lx  is  very  probable  heps  nsight  thrive  here,  as,  ia 
many  places,  the  foil  is  ahon  dantly  rlph  £ar  that  porpofe ; 
hoxjbiber  is  wanting, 

Setd-timer'^SetA^tDt  for  wheat,  September,  ia  the  clay ; 
Odober,  and  even  November,  on  the  brae  laadi  apoerd- 
ing  to  the  feafoo,  which  tbejr  are  moft  anjooos  to  catdi, 
efpecially  in  olay,  while   the   ground  is  dry,  otherwiiie 
they  run  a  rifle  of  lofing  it  altogether  x  But  in  the  loam  or 
brae  land,  they  do  not  wiQi  to  fow  before  the  middle  of 
Oftober;    and   good  &rmers  are   not  anxious  that  fiich 
grounds  fhould  be  too  dry,  but  rather  prefer  moifaire, 
ihould  the  harrowa  even  trail,  while  they  are  fowing;  as 
they  think  it  a  great  mean  of  preventing  annual  weeds  from 
mfhing  up  amongft  the  crop.    Bioms  are  frcquendy  (own 
|n  the  clay  upon  the  wheat-fiubhle  in  broad  caft,sandploQgh« 
ed  in  about  the  end  of  February,  or  beginning  of  March,  that 
.    is,  as  foon  as  the  plough  can  touch  i;he  ground;  and  about  a 
fortnight,  or  a  longer  time  afterwards,  fome  farmers  few 
hafty  peafe  upon  the  fame  furrow,  and  harrow  them  in, 
after  which  very  good  crops  have  been  gotten }  aUb^  drill- 
ing beans  may  be  ufed  to  great  advantage  upon  clay,  but 
the  ground  ihpu)4  be  prepared  b^  a  winter  furrow,  and  in 

the 


oflMtgfi>rgan.  547 

the  fpfiaf  by  another  farraw,  as  early  as  tbt  'feabii  will  per« 
ittiti  immadiatelj  afttr  which  it  is  faarrowcdy  then  ploagK* 
ed  aorofr  tbe  ridgta,  and  the  beans  fowa  iir  every  third  fat« 
tow  * :  After  fowing,  barrow  the  field  well,  aod  then  let  it 
lie  until  the  beans  be  near  appearing  through  the  ground } 
tlMn  harrow  it  again  to  deftroy  the  annuals  9  and  after  the 
beans*  afipeardifttnftlyi  hand4ioe  them,  harrow  between 
Ae  irilll  with  a  narrow  barrow,  and  proceed  aa  in  dreffing 
other  dirillad  erQps.  Upon  black  Iftod,  beams  are  fown  in  ge« 
flierally  in  bngitedinal  drills,  ih  the  month  of  March  \  fenfi^ 
Mmt€b  and  Afrih  eefi,  Mar^  and  Aprils  barley,  from 
Apf>il  to  Jane,  aecording  to  tlie  fpecies  of  the  grain  \  the 
lincnloiluM  flMuld  be  fowa  very  early*  Grsis  fireds,  which 
confift  of  rye-grais  and  red  clover,  are  generally  fown  with 
the  barley,  becaofe  the  ground  is  better  prepared  \  but  they 
aafwer  fiiUy  as  well  with  oats  f ,  or  even  among  wheat, 
when  foWn  eariy  in  the  Tpfing ;  the  ground  being  firfi  open-^ 
ed  with  a  lt|^  harrow,  and  then  rolled  in ;  which  operation 
is,  ttt  geneml,  of  great  advantage  to  the  wheat,*  as  it  opens 
the  feH,  and  makes  the  yoong  plants /dri  or  tillar  better. 

The  prioelpal  reafon  of  fewing  the  grafs  Sreds  amongft 
barley,  is  probably  on  actonnt  of  the  rotation  of  fixes.  How 
far  this  pra£Hee  ought  to  be  adhered  to,  or  if  any  variation 
may  be  introduced  with  fucce&,  the  experience  of  farmers 
mud  judge.  But,  in  general,  the  barley  in  clay  is  but  an 
indifcrent  crop,  and  therefore  fome  Tarmers  are  trying 
early  oata  in  their  room,  or  even  common  oats,  which,  in 
general,  gtv6s  the  heft  crop* 

l^icHKng 

^  Thh  is  \rf  much  dft  bdt  mediod  upon  clay,  as  evtrf  drill,  nay,  evety 
Autvw,  fcrvvsas  a  dnun,  and  kteps  die  ground  perftaiy  dty;  as  all  the 
iMi  wm  aU  inio  Om  fiinem  bstwNa  die  iid|M^  wfaudi  muft  be  lu^rt  opttt 
fur  that  pttipele. 

t  Perinpsdiecropofgtaisttniorectitsin^astthasshctterchapctfroai 
thefpring  rains. 


548  Siatiftkal  AccmM 

Pickling  Seed  WbeaU^AH  the  wheat  for  feed  uadecj^o^ 
a  preparattcniy  which  here  they  cdl  {nokliog,  u  e.  thej 
fprinUe  it  with  ftaleudnef  aad  thea  riddle  powdered  qsick* 
Ume  upon  tt*  taming  it  all  Ihe  time  with  ihovelt*  uattt  the 
grain  be  comidetdijr  covered  with  a  white  em^.  It  b  Ifaea 
earried  pot  to  the  fiekl»  and  fowa  immediately.  •Thia  has 
been  an  ellabbihed  praftice  for  many  yeaia>  and  it  it  £ol' 
lowed*  from  experieaoe  of  .its  utiti^.  It  is  very  pfohaUe 
that  it  fervea  to  qiuekcB  vegetation,  a^  to  pcev^ft  vemin 
from  delhoying  the  feed.  It  la  alfo  a  good  pvafiiee  to 
Iwim  the  feed  in  a  ftrong  brifke.  Or  pickle,  of  fea  iakt  aiade 
iftrong  enough  to  bear  an  egg,  to  take  off  all  the  lighi  gain, 
which  fwiois.  on  the  furfaoe^  aad  then*  lioie  the  reft  toi 
iced. 

Smut  in  TViiat,^^The  operation  of  pickling  baa  been  tap^ 
pofed  an  effedual  remedy  againft  finut  (blake)  in  wheat} 
hut  it  certainly  is  not  fo»  Whatever  may  be  the  canle  of 
this  dileafe  is  difficult  to  by }  but  it  is  by  no  means  peca» 
liar  to  wheat ;  it  is  very  remarkable  in  barley,  aad  alfo  in 
oats ;  but  amiongft  them  it  ^te  difappears  ia  the  threfliiog, 
and  therefore  is  not  noticed*^  Sound  ears  have  beea  fDund^ 
to  all  appearance  from  the  fame  root,  and  even  fome  faiod 
grains  of  wheat  upon  the  fame  ear  with  imut.  Some  have 
thought  it  was  an  infeft,  and  that  it  was  in&Aious,  and  if 
fown  with  other  ieed  would  produce  finutty  com:  lUs  is 
not  true,  for'  the  experiment  has  been  fairly  tried  herct  0^ 
fmutty  and  found  wheat  mixed,  and  even  fbme  of  theli&Bt 
bruifed,  and  the  crop  did  not  differ  in  any  reipeft  from  the 
reft  of  the  field.  It  may  be  in  fome  refpeds  from  the  Ces- 
fon,  and  in  fome  from  the  feed;  perhaps  from  fome  impcF- 
fediouxin  the  maturation  of  particular  grains,  totally  im- 
perceptible  to  us,  the  caufes  of  which  we  are  ignorant  0^  sad 
which  may  never  be  in  the  power  of  man  to  remedy.  Tbe 

beft 


'^  longforgafU  54^ 

\  preventiooi  perhaps,  in  our  povvef  is  found  feed ;  to  e^M 
whadi,  fwimmiDg  in  brine  feema  to  be  an  excdlese 
^r%etliOd ;  but,  as  it  is  alio  probaUe  that  the  pongenc j  of 
Cli4e  ftak  nriae,  inef  ufied  wkh  Kme,  may  be  ft  protection  to 
^fti«  fted  from  Tarioiis  infeds,  while  it  promotes  vegetatiotiy 
^ere  both  operations  combined,  it  might  be  of  advantage. 
.A^fter  the  whe^t  is  fwimmed,  and  the  tbiind  heavj  part 
sQone  reftirved  for  feed,  let  it  be*  dried  by  frequent  tnmin^ 
in  ihe  bsni-floor)  then,  when  dry,  fprinkle  it  with  the 
ftnle  ttrine  and  liaie,  as  »lrefldy  mentioned.  It  is  very  pro^ 
l>able  the  good  confequences  will  f^pay  the  farmer  for  dl 
fcis  labour. 

On  fidlow  well  prepared,  6  pecks  to  half  a  boll  of  wheat 
xnay  be  fown  upon  the  Scotch  acre,  according  to  the  foil 
«ind  feafon,  of  which  the  farmer  muft  judge.  If  after  clo- 
^cr,  peafe,  or  beans,  or  later  in  the  feafon^  more  feed  will 
l>e  neoeflary. 

Harvf^g^-'-^Thit  (hearers  are  generally  hired  fofr  the 
ivhole  taarveft,  and  their  wages  have,  iince^78o,  Taried 
from  20  s.  to  the  men,  to  30  s.  and  upwards ;  and  to  the 
ivoaaen,  from  14  s.  to  10  s. ;  and  if  by  the  day,  from  xo  d« 
•o  ^c  d.  or  more,  to  the  men ;  and  from  6d.  tois.  ta  the 
^^osnen. 

y'iauaU.'^Ml  the  fliiearers  get  bread  and  beer  in  the  fields 
i.  r.  a  cboppin  (of  about  an  EngUik  quart)  of  beer,  and  th» 
bread  of  x.i4th  of  a  peck  of  oatmeal  for  breakfaft  $  and  for 
dinner!  3  mutcbkins  (pints)  of  beer,  and  i-X4th  of  a  peck 
of  meal  in  bread}  and  with  fome,  it  is  alfo  a  pradice  ta 
get  half  a  lippie  of  oatmeal  every  night,  1.  e.  i-8th  of  a 
peck,  while  the  harveft  lafts,  for  their  fupper,  which  they 

ij  either  ufe,  or  take  home  to  their  fiunittes.  Harveft 
'     ^  nfuallv 


95*  Statiltfad  AtemA 

lObally  Mi  from  x6 1^  M  dajt,  nleft  tlie 

QMItMNllj  bad.      SOQM  fiUtMMV  fal  t 

tl  tMDM  gO(  p«ffOM  to  ^BttWaft  to  COt  i 

»coiatii  film  ^ acfCf  fr«m5«*tD(t«i  hiK  dMfeafefev, 
and  it  MMWt  la  gencfali  gi^wo  «fb  ftabtUy  fnm  mm/L  of 


.The  ezpeacc^of  hivTtfi  niiift  varjr  accofdii^  to  the  pfke 
of  viAm),  and  tke  flito  of  the  Mather.  If  the  oaftroral  ise 
imxt  it  will  ooft  more,  aod  oicv  oar^bi  aad  if  tho  wcaifacr 
be  bad*  aad  dmw  the  barveft  cot  ^  a  modi  kogar  peried 
Ihaii  iifoal,  it  wiU  ceA  mote* 

In  1780,  upon  a  &rm  in  this  parifli,  the  harveft  caA  59. 
jNracco* 

1017811  -        ja.  Sd«/eraGr& 

X78a,        «-  ^        tfa« 

1783*        •  •        78.  ltd. 

1784,        -  -        7s.  8d. 

1785  and  1786,         -        79. 
Aodfioce  that  time  it  has  been  as  high  as  9a.  aod  xe«./«r 
tae,  tncludiag  the  whole  expenoe  of  bringing  dbe  \ 
\  the  bara-jard. 


Mtiidm  Ftafi.'^t  was,  till  verj  httly,  the 
give  what  was  called  a  Maiden  Feaft,  upon  the  finiOung  of 
the  harveft;  and  to  prepare  for  which,  the  kft-handfiil  of 
com  reaped  in  the  field  was  called  the  Matden.  tins  ^m 
generallj  contrived  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  one  of  thf 
fineft  girls  in  the  field ;  was  dce&d  op  hi  ribbands,  aad 
brought  home  in- triumph,  widi  the  mnSc  of  Bddles  or  bag- 
pipes. A  good  dinner  was  given  to  the  -whole  band,  aad 
the  evening' fpeot  in  joviskj  aad  dancing,  whtte  the  for- 
tunate li^  who  took  the  maiden  was  the  Qneen  of  the 
&aft ;  after  which,  thk  handfol  of  corn  wm  drefled  cat, 
ganerally  in  the  form  ofa  €ro&,  and  hung  np,  with  die 

date 


(kne  of-the  3ne«r»  in  ioiiie  coofpiMtoM  part  of  thft  hmh,* 
Tbis  cnftom  is  now  ta^Jrcly  done  awaj  \  and  ia  ks  reoiiit 
to  cadi  dmrer  ia  given  6d.  andgloaf  ofiin^  Ho^avcv 
fome  fimnarit  wheo  aU  tbtir  ooias  ate  brottghl  in,  giva 
their  iibrvaiita  %  dinaer>  and  a  jovial  eveoisg,  bj  wj^.  o£ 
Harveft^hoaM. 

•  .-» 
E9^fe4C0  ^7i^/i^ia^.*-«Thraflii«g  eat  tba  ooros  uiad  to 
be  a  vary  exp^vc  articlc»  cfpamUy  wbcii  doi|t^  by  la* 
boorart  po  day^vagte  (  but  the  geoetai  pra&ice  wat-a  asth  . 
pan  of  the  grain.  Upon  a  farm  in  thia  parilb,  of  180  acrcs» 
it  ooftt  on  an  araiage  of  6  yearst  about  L.  3a,  varj  aoarlj 
a  9.  6  d.  fir  acre.  This  operatioi^  is  now  perfiMnad  en« 
lirelj  by  the  tbrefliiag-mill. 

itoA£r.— Previous  to  the  year  J7j)o,  all  the  roads  through 
die  Cai'fe  of  Gowrie  were  exceedingly  bad  ;  and  the  whole 
fiatnte  labour  of  this  parifh  was  found  infufficient  to  uphold 
the  four  miles  of  poft  road  which  pafliis  through  it.  That 
year  an  a£fc  of  Parliament  was  obtained  to  make  certain 
roads  in  the  county  of  Perth  tumpikci  and  amongft  others 
the  road  through  th«  Carfe  from  Perth  to  Dundee,  and  its 
three-brancheS)  leading  to  the  harboufs  of  PolgaVie,  Errol, 
and  Incfayra ;  which,  by  the  liberal  fubfcription  and  un- 
wearied attention  of  the  proprietors,  are  now  made  equal 
to  the  befi  road^  in  the  kiogdoca,  bat  at  the  espcnce  of 
L.  13*000  to  the  Carfe  proprietors,  who  are  troftees.  Since 
that  time  the  truftees  have  made  it  a  rule  to  apply  the 
ftatute  labour,  through  the  whole  Carfe,  lolely  to  the  bye- 
roads,  or  other  roads  of  communication.  In  the  pariih  of 
Longforgan,  not  only  this  rule^  has  been  obferved,  but  the 
heritors  have  contributed  largely  for  the  fame  purpofe,  to 
the  amount  of  feveral  hundred  pounds  i  by  which  means 
f<;vcral  of  thcie  roa^Sy  already  made  are  very  little  inferior 

to 


55^:  StM^kal  4ceomt 

todbe  tunipike ;  and  as  the  whok  of  whftt  bas  been  projce- 
taA  is  naw.currTi&g  into  execution,  the- Gommimicatioa  froia 
Ibe  diferent  puts  of  this  parifl^  and  indeed  throofh  the 
whok  Cadet  with  the  neighbouring  market  towns  and  har- 
hNm,  w^l  be  fe  eafy  to  the  firmer,  as  to  account  in  a  great 
meafure  for  the  riie  of  the  value  of  land  in  this  put  of  the 
coontr J.  Thu  Ihould  (erye  as  an  encouragement  to  coun. 
trj  gentlemen  to  exert  themfelves  in  making  good  roads, 
ns  the  gieattft  improvement,  and  beft  laid  ouc  mc^ej  the j 
can  expend  upon  their  efiates ;  as  it  enables'  the  ftrmer  to 
perfiyrm  all  his  labour  at  much  leis  expence,  and  of  couris 
to  paj  a  better  rent  widiout  diminilhing  his  profits  *.  One 
vemark  here  b  neceffary,  that  in  this  pariih,  and  indeed  in 
general  through  the  Carfe,  care  has  been  taken  to  applj  the 
fiafutc  labour  of  each  farmer,  as  much  as  poUible,  to  thofe 
roads  alone  moll  u&ful  to  him* 

Gemtraf 

#  It  IS  t  well  known  USl  that  previous  to  the  yetr  1790,  a  great  pan  of 
Jthc  interior  of  the  Carfe  ofGowrje  waS  pcrfcAly  inacceffible  to  ctrts  for 
almoft  half  the  year ;  fo  that  they  were  obliged  to  deliver  their  prodncc  «• 
horfeback ;  and  the  very  idea  of  bringing  lime  or  dung  from  any  difisnce 
arts  fcaite  to  be  entertained,  except  under  the  moft  favoorable  circnniao- 
ccs»  Now.  there  is  not  a  Hxm.  in  the  Carfe  bot  what  is  acceffible  is  every 
points  and  at  all  times,  to  caru  loaded  with  13  or  14  boils  of  wheat,  or  it 
bolls  of  barley,  or  4)  bolls  of  lime  (halls,  or  16  cabic  feet  of  dang,  at  leaft, 
and  at  a  moft  trifling  czpence ;  for  within  the  coaoty,  the  turnpike  toll  a 
bat  ^  d.  for  which  a  cart  with  two  horfes  can  deliver  produce,  or  bring 
)ime.  &c.  from  tome  one  part  or  other,  to  almoft  any  place  in  the  Carfe,  t» 
the  extent  of  three  loads  in  fummer,  of  the  above  amount,  and  two  in  winter, 
per  day :  For  roada  of  communication  they  pay  nothing.  Is  \i  po£b!c 
then  to  point  out  the  advanuge  of  good  roads  to  farmen  in  ftronger  tem» } 
and.  Is  there  any  one  man  of  any  defcription,  who  feels  thatjadvantage  more .' 
^ot  one.  ^or  is  there  an'OWner  of  any  one  article  conveyed  iqiuo  the.'f 
{roads,  fo  amply  rcimburfed  as  tlie  Carfe  farmer  is,  for  the  tolls  be  pays  upoa 
his  lime  and  dting :  Indeed  very  little  dung  is  brought  from  any  diftaace  to 
C%i^%  f^r<&s ;  thc^  in  general  are  ferved  within  themfclvcs, 


L.6  lo 

o 

1    7 

o 

7  16 

o 

9  lo 

o 

xo    o 

0 

lo    7 

0 

xo  i6 

a 

Oitieral  Pr^dmcf^  tmtt  EwpeHce  of  jEa/^oar.-^Th6  cfop« 
ndfed  in  this  pariOi  are  g6od  iti  general  \  Upbli  the  cky 
groimd,  on  an  average  from  7  to  6  bolls  per  acre ;  and  on 
the  loam,  different  accordiilg  to  thie  quatitj  of  the  foil« 
and  the  fkiQ  of  the  Cstrmet :  '  But  the  e^pence  is  verj  great| 
being  no  le6  than  L.  3,t>f  L.  3,  ^si  per  acr^.  This  may 
in  a  great  meafore  be  owing  to  the  very  high  wages  of  fer- 
vantSy  both  male  and  female^  >vhich  has-incteafed  of  hte  td 
on  extraordinary  degree :  F^rm  ftrvants  wages  were  in' 1 7801 
m1xH)t  L«  5. 

In  1781,        *  •      • 

1783.        - 

X789, 

X790, 

1791. 
1791, 

i793t        -  - 

x?959  ^^  fome,  as  far  as  L«  XI,  or  1%  gaiat^s per  onnMm^ 
and  women  from  L.  3  to  Li  4  ;  many  of  the  women,  how- 
ever, get  pan  of  their  wages  in  lint,  cloth,  i^c, :  So  that 
vrithin  thefe  15  years,  wages  have  been  doubled  and  more. 
The  farm  fervants  indeed  are  now  better  clothed,  and  in 
eveiy  refped  make  a  much  better  appearance  :  It  is  much 
to  be  widied,  that  their  good  behaviour  and  induftry  would 
keep  pace  with  their  rncouragmenti  which  is  not  always  the 
cafe. 

Labourers  fTa^w.— Labourers  wages  fo  late  as  17771 
were  at  7  d  in  winter.  8  d.  9  d  in  fummer ;  now  they  are 
from  I  s.  to  I  s«  6d. : '  Wrights  were  then  i  s.  \  now  i  s.  8d. 
Mafons  were  then  i  s.  ad.  now  2  s. :  Taylors  6d*  and  their 
meat  formerly  ;  now  i  s. 

Ancient  State  of  the  Air/r.-— There  is  a  tradittoa  nmver* 
fally  prevalent  through  this  part  of  the  country,  that  for* 
merlj  the  river  Tay  oocupisd  a  very  different  bed  from  what  it 

Vol.  XIX,  4  A  does 


554  Stati/lkal  ABc&mi 

iocs  at  prefient.  That  it  catered  the  Cade  tygflwawi  of 
Inch jra,  and  fliaped  its  conxfe  along  thotb  grounds  which 
•fe  ftill  hollow,  and  remarkably  low  between  the  efiites  of 
Glencarfe  and  Pitfour ;  that  it  approached  the  hills  at  Glen- 
doicky  and  continued  fkirting  them  eaftward  by  Pitroddj, 
I1awcraig»  Craigdilly,  Battendean,  Baledgamo,  and  Roffie. 
ThatattheSnabsof  Drimmie«it£ent  oOFa  portion  of  its  wa> 
ten,  which  entered  this  parifli  between  the  hiUs  of  Forgan 
aid  Dron,  direfiing  its  coorfe  eaftward  through  that  vale, 
and  after  receiving  ieveral  bums  or  rivulets  in  its  pafige, 
emptied  it&lf  into  its  parent  river  at  lovergowrie,  or  the 
mouth  of  the  Gowrie. 

That  the  river  Earn  continued  its  ieparate  ooorlc  till  it 
was  joined  by  the  Taj  below  Enrol ;  That  the  whok  low 
grounds  of  the  Carfe  of  Gowrie  were  then  covered  with 
water,  out  of  which  arofe  a  number  of  iflands  or  inches, 
which  retain  iheir  names  to  this  day,  fuch  as,  Inchyra,  or 
Ittchflieriff,  Inchcoontns,  Inchmichael,  Megginch,  Inch* 
martin,  and  Inchture :  That  the  rock  upon  which  Caflk- 
finntly  now  (lands  was  then  wa(hed  with  water ;  and  that 
the  ftones  of  which  the  original  Ibrtalice  was  built  were 
brought  by  boats  from  Kingoody, 

There  is  no  written  teftimony  known  to  the  author  of 
.this  paper  which  confirms  this  tradition ;  but  HeAor  Boe* 
theus,  when  mentioning  the  lands  given  to  the  Hays,  aa- 
ceftors  of  the  prefent  Earl  of  Kinnoul,  for  their  gallant  be^ 
haviour  at  the  battle  of  Luncarty,  which  waa  fought  (boe 
time  in  the  tenth  century,  lays,  that  they  got  a  falcon's 
flight :  *  She  flew  between  Inchyra  and  Roflle,  a  town  foar 
'  miles  weft  of  Dundee,  and  fo  they  gat  all  the  lands  be* 
<  tween  Errol  and  the  Tay/  If  this  be  correfl,  it  favoars 
the  conjedure,  that  the  Tay  then  came  fomewhere  near 
Roflie,  and  that  the  greateft  part  of  the  Carfe  was  included 
in  the  royal  gift.    However,  there  are  a  number  of  other 

ciicumflaoctf 


9f  Longfbrgatu  555 

ctrcBinftftiices  which  woald  feem  to  give  ccmntenance  t* 
the  tradition.  The  fuppofed  original  bed  of  the  river,  not- 
withflandbg  the  difiance  of  time  when  this  change  if  laid 
to  have  happened,  and  the  improvements  of  thefe  50  jears 
back,  is  fiill  low,  morafly,  and  fwampy,  almoft  throogh  its 
whole  courfe.  In  man j  places,  it  iis  afiually  covered  with 
water  ftill;  and  it  abounds  with  the  (ame  fpecies  of  marfli* 
reed,  which  grows  upon  the  verge  of  the  river  Tay,  about 
Errol,  Monorgan,  Seafide,  &c.  Upon  feveral  places  near 
the  hills  are  ibnnd  fand  banks  and  gravel,  particularly  at 
Glencarfe,  Rait,  Caftie-Huntly,  in  the  vale  between  For- 
gan  and  Dron,  &c. ;  and  the  upper  fiirface  of  the  low  Carle 
ground  is  a  perfeft  clay,  very  much  of  the  fame  nature 
with  that  depofited  in  the  bed  of  the  prefent  river,  which 
is  expofed  to  view  by  the  reflux  of  the  tide }  while  thoie 
rifing  grounds,  ftill  called  Inches,  confift  of  a  rich  black 
loam,  mixed  with  gravel,  the  under  ftratum  of  which  is  till 
and  red  ftone  rock«  There  is  a  bluflf  point  in  the  eaft  part 
of  this  pariih,  in  the  courfe  of  that  branch,  which  is  fuppo* 
lied  to  have  been  the  Gowrie,  called  Denmark  to  this  day, 
and  where  the  country  people  fay  the  Danes  landed,  but 
which  at  prefent  is  more  than  a  mile  from  the  river,  and 
no  water  near  it,  but  a  fmall  rapid  rivulet.  Even  Forgan 
is  fuppofed  to  owe  its  name  to  the  4i^iding  of  the  river, 
from  the  Gaelic  pronunciation  of  the  word ;  and  it  is  faid, 
that  there  are  charters,  one  for  Bambrieh  in  Fife,  now  upon 
the  fouth  bank  of  the  Tay,  but  which  formerly  was  faid  to 
be  bounded  by  the  Earn  or  Ironfide  *,  and  another,  either 
for  Flawcratg  or  Craigdilly,  where,  it  is  faid,  i^n  rings  had 
been  found  fixed  in  the  rocks^  for  fSidtening  (hips,  and  that  in 
the  charter  there  is  the  rematkable  exprellion— I/^&t  olim 
naves  ligabantur. 

Whether  there  be  any  truth  in  thefe,  or  if  there  be,  at 
frhat  period  this  great  ^ange  upon  the  Catfe  happened,  v^ 


55$  Stati/liMl  4c€0Uttt 

not  eafy  to  faj ;  although  it  is  faid  (opon  what  aotlMxity  is 
not  known  to  the  author  of  this  paper)  to  have  taken  place 
Ibme  time  in  the  twelfth  centur;,  or  earlier^  as  Came  are  in- 
clined to  fuppofe.  But  it  is  remarkable,  that  icveral  of 
thofe  iflands  have  Chriftian  names,  while  the  places  upoa 
the  rifing  grounds  andjiills,  fuppo&d  then  to  have  bounded 
tlM  river;  are  evidently  more  ancient,  and  probaUj  on^ 
nal|Gaelic ;  the  names  of  many  of  them  being  deicriptive  of 
their  iituation  in  that  language.  And  if  there  are  diarteis 
which  contain  any  fuch  exprefEons  as  thole  mentioned,  the 
period  mud  have  been  very  remotei  and  might  aifixiallj 
liave  happened  in  the  twelfth  century,  or  earlier. 

Monorgan  might  have  been  at  that  time  a  much  larger 
eftate,  which  indeed  is  extremely  probable ;  for  even  in  the 
memory  of  men  now  living,  many  acres  of  that  eftate  have 
been  carried  away  by  the  river.  Great  encroachments 
have  alfo  been  made  upon  other  eftates  in  the  Carfe  from 
the  fame  caufe.  Hence  it  is  alfo  very  probable,  that 
the  fpacious  I^ay  between  Errol  and  Kingoody  has  acquired 
its  prefent  extent  and  fhape,  by  the  united  exertiooa  of  the 
Tay  and  Earn,  oppofed  to  the  flood-tide  from  the  (ca. 

The  various  fubifarata  in  this  diftrift  might  likewife  be  a 
fubje£l  of  curious  invefiigation*  By  an  examination  lately 
taken  at  the  braes  of  Monorgan  and  Polgavie,  where  the 
river  Tay  has  made  its  greateft  encroachments,  and  where 
the  banks  are  firom  19  to  ao  feet  perpendicular  height,  tbe 
following  ftrau  can  be  difliodly  traced :  ift^  A  browniib 
flay,  mixed  with  fand  and  vegetable  earth,  about  J^^  ^tti 
deep,  forming  the  prefent  prolific  upper  furface.  ^d^  About  ^ 
four  feet  deep  of  a  browniOi  free  day,  with  a  proportion  cf  | 
{i[ind,  but  no  vegetable  matter.  The  cnly  di&rence  be- 
tween thefe  two  is  probably  owing  to  cultivation,  manure, 
^un  and  air.  ^d^  About  2  feet  3  inches  of  a  poor  jrellowiiti 
<^y,  viihoQt  £uid)  but  mixed  viitb  cockle,  moick,  and 

cih^r 


"\ 


rf  Longforgah.  557 

Oiiber  marine  AeOs,  but  no  vegetable  fobftadces.    41^,  A 

ftroQg  blue  clay,  ^i  £eet  deep,  containing  fea  fheOs,  and 

roots  of  vegetables^  the  growth  of  which  would. ieem  to 

have  been  checked  by  the  fuperincumbent  firatum.    $tb^ 

^Ifo  a  ftrong  blue  claj,  with  yellowiih  feanM  in  it,  about 

5  feet  detep^  and  containing  a  much  greater  proportion  of  ve* 

^etable  fubftances  than  the  4th  ftratum,  but  under  like  cir- 

cumftances.    The  river  rifes  to  the  furface  of  this  ftratum 

in  fiream  tides.     6th^  Three  feet  deep  of  the  £uxie  kmd  df 

firong  blue  clay,  mixed  with  more  than  double  the  quantity 

of  vegetable  roots  than  in  the  5th  firatum,  but  which  alfo 

feem  to  have  been  bom  down,  and  their  vegetation  extin-^ 

guiihed  by  fome  fuperior  preflure.    Thefe  three  are  fepa^ 

rated  from  each  other  by  a  fmall  feam  of  {and  and  clay, 

ivhkh  forms  a  pretty  ezafi  line  of  divifion,  and  through 

which  the  vegetable  roots  do  not  feem  to  have  paiTed.     ^tb^ 

A  real  peat  mofs,  near  four  feet  deep,  quite  full  of  various 

kinds  of  vegetables,  with  roots,  trunks,  and  branches  of  trees ; 

the  furface  of  which  forms  the  bed  of  the  Tay ;  io  many 

places  of  which  the  mois  can  be  diOindly  traced,  perfedly 

entire,  dean,  and  firm,  without  having  received  the  leail 

injury  from  the  flux  and  reflux  of  the  tide  *,  and  out  of  which, 

at  other  places,  great  quantities  of  peats  for  fuel  have  been 

dug  at  different  periods,  and  are  fo  dill.     It  is  very  re* 

jnarkable,  that  in  this  firatum  many  roots  of  large  trees 

are  to  be  found,  principally  allar  (alder)  and  birch,  at 

about  13  feet  diflant  from  each  other,  perfedly  upright,  in 

the  (ame  fituation  in  which  the  trees  had  originally  grown^ 

with  their  ramifications  extended  among  the  mofs,  and  fome 

of  their  fmaller  fibres  penetratmg  the  clay  below.    The. 

trunks  and  branches  of  the  trees  lying  horizontally  are  all 

frefli,  and  have  the  appearance  of  having  been  borne  down 

and  laid  flat  by  fome  powerful  caufe }  and  what  is  alfo 

veiy 


55S  Siatf/lical  Account 

vtrj  remarkable,  many  of  the  root»  feem  to  have  had  tlidr 
tmnks  cat  off  about  fix  inches  above  the  original  forfncc. 
Sib,  Immediatelj  below  the  peat  molb  is  blue  claj,  with- 
out any  mixture,  and  no  vegetable  roots  or  fnbftances  •• 

*  A  miu)  now  living,  and  jt  yean  of  age,  who  has  funk  23  pit  veDs  in 
ferenX  parts  of  the  Carfe,  fays,  that  after  he  penetrated  the  cultivaird  fiir- 
fiaice,he  always  found  about  ten  feet  of  browniib  clay,  without  Tcgctabk 
roixtnre,  under  that  blue  clay  with  vegetable  roots  and  fca  Ibelh,  and  gc- 
neinUy  at  about  19  feet  deep  he  found  peat  moft  from  3  to  9  inches  deep ; 
rhen  blue  clay  again  with  vegetable  noots  of  diierent  depths  from  9  in- 
chea  to  6  feet,  and  under  that  about  two  feet  deep  of  peitf  ino(s  again, 
compofed  of  oak,  fir,  beech  and  hazel  wood.  That  he  has  feen  taken  oot 
of  this  mofs  deers  horns,  (kulls  and  other  bones.  Below  this  mofs  he  gew 
nerally  found  blue  clay  and  qulck-fand  tinged  black  with  the  mofs.  The 
wells  he  dog  wire  from  16  to  .^4  feet  deep  ;  and  when  be  fell  in  with 
qa^k-fand  before  he  came  to  the  mofs,  he  generally  found,  at  aboot  li 
feet  deep,  a  fpring  of  pure  foft  waticr,  free  Qf  any  mineral  tafte ;  but 
when  he  was  obliged  to  go  deeper,  and  to  penetrate  the  mo(s  before  he 
found  a  fpring,  the  water  had  a  mineral  ufte,  and  when  mixed  cold  with 
fpirits,  it  turned  them  as  black  as  ink.  This  man  alfo  fays,  he  has  fietioent. 
ly  feen  oak  and  fir  tfees  taken  oot  of  the  bcacs,  after  being  nncovctcd  by 
the  tfdc. 

Jn  the  year  1780,  when  digging  in  a  fwamp  at  Caftle  Huntly,  to  make  a 
piece  of  water,  about  fix  feet  below  the  furface,  a  very  targe  oak  tree  was 
loond,  Mng  with  its  top  eaftward.  Tluit  part  of  it  which  lay  acrois  the 
excavation  appeared  to  be  the  two  laige  top  branches,  of  about  i\  feet  in 
diameter ;  tlie  trunk  of  which  muft  have  been  of  very  large  dimenfion^ 
The  branches  were  cutout  and  taken  up,  and  were  found  to  be  hard  and 
^relh,  but  as  black  as  ebony.  The  body  of  the  tree  was  fuffered  to  irmain, 
led  ia  taking  it  up  it  had  made  an  opening  for  the  water  to  efcape :  Bot  it 
is  ftill  to  be  feen,  on  one  fide  of  the  piece  of  water,  and  may  at  any  time 
be  followed  out,  were  it  thought  a  fufficient  obje^  of  inquiry  to  ^  cu. 
rions.  It  is  from  this  mofly  ftratum  of  vegetable  fubftances,  no  doubt,  that 
the  marth  reed  rifc^,  and  (hews  itfelf  in  many  fieLls  through  the  Carfe ;  as 
they  are  found  to  be  fo  deep,  as  to  defeat  every  attempt  to  get  them  roou^ 


efLongforgan.  559 

Amifmtiis.'^T^t  remain» of  antiquitj  in  this  parifliare 
but  few«  Caftle-Huntlj,  alreadj  defcribed,  is  the  onlj 
baildiog  which  has  any  daim  to  antiquity,  fince  the  old 
church  at  Longfbrgan  was  taken  down.  In  the  midft  of  a 
plantation  of  firs,  which  was  part  of  the  muir  of  Forga» 
about  30  years  ago,  is  a  tumulus  or  barrow  \  its  central 
mound  about  5  or  6  yards  high,  and  a8  yards  diameter  \ 
the  furronnding  ditch,  out  of  which  probably  the  earth  had 
been  taken  for  its  formation,  10  yards  wide«  It  ftill  bears 
the  name  of  the  Market  Knowe,  (knoll),  as  the  markets 
were  held  there  formerly  ;  and  the  country  people  remark, 
that  although  the  whole  ground  round  it  was  then  covered 
with  heath  and  broom,  the  Knewt  always  preferred  a 
beautiful  green  fward*  Some  openings  have  been  made  in 
it,  and  coffins  found,  confifttng  of  four  rude  longitudinal 
ftones,  and  two  fmaller  ones  at  each  end,  containbg  human 
(keletons. 

A  few  years  ago  there  was  found,  fomewbere  about  this 
tumulus,  an  earthen  pot,  containing  700  filver  pieces,  about 
tlie  fize  of  a  fizpence.    Upon  one  fide  a  head  crowned,  with 
Edward^  very  difttnd;  and  on  the  reverfe  a  crofs,  with  •*  • 
in  each  divifion,  and  round  it,  London  CiviiaSf  very  plain  ; 
and  four  pieces,  alfo  of  filver,  fame  fize;  on  one  fide  a 
crowned  head,  round  it,  Altxandtr  Dti  gratia  ;  and  on  the 
reverfe  a  crois,  with  a  ftar  of  fix  rays  in  each  divifion,  and 
round  it,  Scotorum  Rex^  very  plain.     Thefe  were  found  by 
a  man  in  this  parifli,  whofe  bufineb  gave  him  firequent  op- 
portunities to  be  about  the  place,  and  privately  fold  to  a 
fliopkeeper  in  Dundee  for  L.  xo  or  L.  11 ;  and  it  was  by  the 
greatcft  accident  the  circumflance  came  very  lately  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  author  of  this  paper,  who  has  now  a 
piece  of  each  in  his  poflcflion*     He  had  his  information  fitit 
from  a  very  refpedable  tradefman  in  Dundee,  who  is  alfo 
an  ingenious  antiquary,  who  faw  them  all  counted,  abont 

two 


$60  StaHftical  Account 

two  or  three  jears  ago«  and  kept  the  two  pteoeti  from  which 
this  deficription  is  taken.  He  added,  that  they  were  all  in  a 
ftate  of  high  prefervattolk.  This  was  accompanied  with 
another  piece  of  curious  information  $  that,  nearly  abooc  €be 
fiune  time,  there  was  feond  in  the  parifli  of  Inreterity,  in 
the  county  of  Forfar,  jnft  fnch  another  pot,  containing  ex- 
adly  the  fame  number  of  the  fame  filver  coin,  viz*  700  c£ 
Edward  I.  and  four  of  Alexander.  Upon  which  he  made 
an  ingenious  conjednre,  that  thefe  depofits,  very  probabl  j, 
had  been  the  wealth  of  two  brothers,  who  had  divided  it 
equally,  and  had  hid  it  each  in  his  own  pariib,  and  had  been 
kiQed  during  the  troubles  in  thofe  days. 

About  a  dozen  years  ago,  in  making  a  new  road  throogh 
a  fandy  hill  between  this  pariih  and  the  pan(b  of  Rqffie, 
fome  coffins,  of  the  kind  above  mentioned,  were  fioond, 
alio  containing  human  (keletoas,  and  fome  pieces  of  money, 
both  filver  and.  copper.  The  filver,  about  the  fize  of  a 
fixpence  of  Henry  IV.  very  legible.  Some  of  the  copper, 
with^irr  de  lis^  but  nb  legible  iofcription ;  and  fome  which 
appeared  to  have  been  hammered  only,  quite  rode,  and 
without  any  mark  of  infcription  or  figure,  both  aboat  the 
lame  fize  with  the  filver  coin. 

Upon  the  eaftem  boundary  of  this  pariih,  but  now  in  the 
pariih  of  Benvie,  is  the  remains  of  a  fort,  or  fortified  camp, 
evidently  Roman,  from  its  fquare  Ihape,  and  its  name,  Cat-^ 
$er  Mellie^  certainly  a  corruption  of  ^uatuor  MiUe^ 

At  about  three  miles  diftance,  and  upon  the  top  of  the 
hill  of  Dron,  is  the  remains  of  a  fortification,  which  appears 
to  have  been  built  of  rude  ftones  and  turf.  It  is  roundiin, 
or  rather  oval,  foUowing  the  fliape  of  the  hill,  and  occupr-) 
ing  a  fpace  of  about  two  Scotch  acres ;  towards  the  fouth  it 
has  three  retrenchments,  or  banquets,  rifing  above  one  an* 
other,  as  the  hill  afcends.  It  is  now  planted,  and  will  very 
ibon  be  totally  obliterated.    This,  with  another,  fomethicg 


cf  the  Ikine  kind,  in  the  adjoining  pariih  of  Abeinyte,  and 
that  on  Danfinnan-hiU,  might  have  been  part  of  a  chain  of 
poflf,  ninning  diagonallj  acrois  that  range  of  hilk'firom  the 
Carle  to  Strathmore.  Thefe,  from  their  Aape,  moft  either 
have  been  Daoilh  or  Scottifli ;  moft  probably  the  latter,  as 
thaj  prefent  a  fiice  to  the  point  of  invafion.  There  is  alfq 
n  ruin  near  Lochtown,  about  which  even  tradition  is  filent. 
The  parilhes,  in  general,  would  appear  to  have  beea 
much  fmallcr  formerly  than  now.  For,  at  Dron,  there  if 
the  remains  of  a  church  or  chapel,  and  burjing-gronnd  ; 
and  upon  the  grounds  of  Monorgan,  alfoin  this  parifli,  there 
is  the  remains  of  a  burjing-ground,  which  moft  likely  had 
a  chapel  attached  to  it* 

There  is  alfo,  in  a  field  near  Forgan,  a  tombftone,  cover* 
ing  a  grave  or  graves,  where  the  country  people  fay  fome 
perfonsVere  buried,  who  died  of  the  plague  laft  century. 
It  had  an  infcription  to  that  purpofe,  but  is  now  de&ced. 

About  1 6  or  17  years  ago,  digging  (bme  trenches  pretty 
deep  for  drains  upon  the  bank  below  the  eaft  end  of  For- 
gan, were  founa  feme  large  ftones,  lying  in  fucb  an  arranger 
ment,  as  gave  the  appearance  of  the  foundation  of  a  large 
building,  which  is  fuppofed  to  have  been  fome  religious 
cfiablifliment. 

There  is  a  very  refpedable  man  in  Longforgan,  of  the 
name  of  Smith,  a  weaver,  and  the  farmer  of  a  few  acres  o£ 
land,  who  has  in  his  pofleflion  a  ftooe,  which  is  called  Walr 
lace's  ftone.  It  is  what  was  formerly  called  in  this  country 
a  htarfiwu^  which  is  made  hollow  like  a  large  mortar,  and 
was  made  ufe  of  to  unhuik  the  bear  or  barley,  as  a  pre- 
paration for  the  pot,  with  a  large  wooden  mell,  long  before 
barley-mills  were  known.  Its  ftation  was  on  one  fide  of 
^e  door,  and  covered  with  a  flat  ftone  for  a  feat,  when  not 
Vox..  XIX.  4B  ^     otherwife 


jgSt  StatiJHcal  Accouni 

otherwife  employed.  The  moft  remarkable  part  of  tfat 
hiftorj  of  which  is,  that  upon  this  ftone  Wallace  lat  in  iw 
way  from  Doodee,  when  he  fled,  after  kUling  the  gover- 
nor's fon,  and  was  fed  with  bread  and  milk  by  the  good, 
wife  of  the  houfe,  from  whom  the  man,  who  now  lives 
there,  and  is  proprietor  of  the  flone,  is  lineally  de&codcd, 
and  here  his  forcbeers  (anceflors)  have  lired  ever  fince,  to 
fiearly  the  fiune  ilation  and  circnmfiances^  £ar  aboot  509 
years, 


NUM. 


yfMaddert^i  563 


NUMBER    XXV. 


PARISH   OF   MADDERTY, 


(County  of  Perth,  Stkod  of  Perth  and  Stirling, 
Presbytery  of  Auchterarder.) 


By  a  Friend  u  Statifiical  InquiriiSm 


ShmaiiQttf  ^c. 

THIS  parifh  is  fituated  on  the  weftern  boundaries  of  the 
parilhes  of  Gafk  and  Trinity-Gafk,  and  on  the  eaft- 
era  of  Crieff.  It  has  Fowils  on  the  north,  and  part  of  Tri- 
nitj-Gaik  on  the  fouth.— -The  climate  is  confiderably  wet 
and  cold.  The  low  and  damp  lands  alongft  the  banks  of 
the  water  of  Pow  are  believed  to  be  produdive  of Theuma^ 
tilms,  a  diieafe  of  which  the  inhabitants  of  that  difirid  fire** 
quentlj  complain. 

Pow. — ^The  only  watef  or  rivulet  worth  notice  in  the  pa- 
rilh  is  the  Pow,  which,  for  a  long  way,  is  confined  in  a  canal 
or  cut  that  was  dug  to  ftraighten  its  courfe  near  a  century 

•go* 


5^  Statyiical  Aceant 

ago.    This  cot  U  about  24  fiwt  in  widths  and  6  in  depdu 
The  defcent  is  fo  verj  fmall,  that  die  water  appears  goe- 
rallj  to  be  flagnant.    The  hnds  adjacent  are  low  and  H 
which,  with  other  circumftanccs,  ezpofe  them  to  firtquest 
inundations.    This  would  not  be  altogether  un£mmbk 
to  their  agrtcultural  improvements,  could  thelie  floodii^  be 
kept  under  contronL    This,  perii^ii,  could  be  cafiljsc- 
compliihed  b j  fmall  embankments  and  fluiees,  or  kinds  of 
locks,  ereded'in  proper  places,  ibr  the  managrment  of  tfac 
water.    At  prefent,  the  damage  occafionaflj  faftaiiiffi  oa 
dkle  elands  is  very  confidarahle.    No  encoBffgemmt  is 
held  out  to  the  &rmer  to  inftitute  any  kind  of  improve- 
ments upon  them.    Much  good  foil  is  carried  away  by  in- 
•  nndations,  or  in  a  great  meafure  ruined  by  ftones  and  gn- 
vel  thrown  upon  it.    lime  and  dung,  that  may  be  i^p&d 
toK  their  finrtilizatioo,  are  Ibmetimes  carried  oi^  or  mudi 
injured  by  the  water  %  and  the  crop^  elpedally  in  harveft» 
is  always  in  danger  of  being  whoDy  IfA.    A  navigaUe  a- 
nal  through  this  part  of  the  country,  from  Perth  to  Crie$ 
could  be  made  at  a  (mall  ezpence,  and  woold  be  of  great 
advantage  to  a  large  and  populous  didrifi. 

JEmr^— The  valued  rent  of  the  pariih  is  L.  347a: i : 8 
Scots;  and  the  real  rent  may  be  about  L.  1500  Sterliif* 

Pcj^ttitfibfr.— According  to^Dr  Webder's  account  in 
1755,  the  number  of  inhabitants  of  Madderty  amonsted  to 
996.  At  prefent,  (1795)9  it  is  00  more  than  631,  whicb 
makes  a  decreafe  of  165. 

Agriadtvrt, — Hufbandry  here  has  not  been  carried  to 
diat  flate  of  perfefiion  to  which  it  has  arrived  in  fome  dif- 
trifis  of  the  county.  A  climate  rather  cold  and  wet,  and  s 
foilof  aconfiderably  ftiffcky  in  mod  places,  have  cootri- 
fcttted  to  retard,  in  this  neighbourhood,  the  advancement 


ofMadderty.  565 

•f  agricttlHtfttl  improvements.    Sometbbg,  however,  bats 
been  done  in  the  melioration  of  the  Ibtl,  and  in  the  fyflem 
of  croppmg.    Lime  and  marl  have  been  tried  with  fuccels; 
mnA  the  lowing  of  graffes  has  been  attended  with  great  pto- 
fit  to  the  huibandman.    Farms,  in  general,  are  fmall,  gi* 
▼ing  from  L,  15  to  L.  50  Sterling  a-jear.    The  largeft  in 
the  pariih  pays  L,  90  Sterling  a  jcar.    Although  almoft 
wholly  arable,  yet  very  little  of  the  parifli  is  inclofed ;  a  cir- 
cumftanoe  which  is  attended  with  much  inconveniency  and 
I0&.     More  grain  is  produced  than  is  neqeiTary  for  the  ufe 
of  the  inhabitants.    The  common  Scotch  plough,  with  two 
horfes  without  a  driver,  is  lately  got  into  prafiice.   Ploughs 
of  Mr  Small's  conftrudion  have  alfo  been  introcuced.    The 
land,  in  fome  places,  contains  great  numbers  oi  JU-fa^ 
ftones,  which  prove  to  be  great  obftruffions  to  its  improve- 
ment.   The  Rev.  Mr  Ramfay,  the  prefent  incumbent,  who 
occupies  a  piece  of  land  full  of  theie  ftones,  conftruAed  a 
machine  for  the  pnrpofe  of  railing  them«    It  operates  on 
the  principles  of  the  pully  and  cylinder,  or  wheel  and  axis, 
and  has  a  power  as  x  to  24.    It  is  extremely  fimple,  being 
a  triangle,  to  two  fides  of  which  the  cylinder  is  fixed.    It 
can  be  eafily  wrought  and  carried  from  place  to  place  by 
three  men.    A  low  four-wheeled  machine,  of  a  ftrong  con-^ 
ftrudion,  is  made  to  go  under  the  arms  of  the  triangle,  to 
receive  the  ftone  when  raifed  up.     This  machine  has  been 
already  of  great  ufe  in  clearing  (everal  fields  of  large  ftones 
in  this  place  and  neighbourhood. 

Ahhty  of  Incb-fffray.'^TYiis  religious  houre  was  fbandcd 
b  the  year  1200  by  Gilbert  Ear]  of  Stratheam,  and  his 
Countefs  Matilda.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  honour  of  God, 
the  Virgin  Mary,  and  John  the  Apoftle  and  Evangeltft. 
The  fite  of  this  famous  Abbey  is  on  a  fmall  riling  ground, 
which  (eemsy  from  its  fituation  and  namci  to  have  once 

been 


566  '    Statyiical  Account 

1)eefi  an  ifland  furrounded  by  the  water  of  the  Paw.  lo 
Latin  it  is  denominated  Infula  Mijfarum^  whidi  is  fkid  to 
be  a  literal  t^nflation  of  its  common  name,  Incfa-effray,  for 
Inch-peffray,  the  Ifland  of  Mafles,  or  die  iJOand  where  msEi 
is  faid.  It  was  endowed  with  many  privileges  and  inuna- 
nities  by  David  and  AlesEander  Kings  of  Scotland.  The 
edifices  of  this  Abbey,  which  were  once  eztenfive^  are  now 
in  ruins,  and  have,  on  feveral  occafions,  inpplied  abimd- 
ancc  of  ftones  for  building  honfes,  and  making  roads  in  the 
neighbourhood.  The  few  remains  of  thb  ancient  Abbey, 
with  6  or  7  acres  of  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  belong 
to  the  Earl  of  Kinnoul,  who,  in  conGequence  of  this  com- 
paratively fmall  poflefllion,  is  patron  of  about  twelve  pariihes 
that  formerly  were  attached  to  the  Abbey*  Sianritins, 
abbot  of  this  place,  was  prefcnt  with  Robert  the  Bruce  at 
the  battle  of  Bannockbum,  and  is  reported  to  have  had 
brought  along  with  him  the  arm  of  St  FiUan.  This  lelid^ 
might,  indeed,  have  given  fome  encouragement  to  the  fu- 
perftitious ;  but  one  arm  of  a  brave  Scotrman,  fighting  in 
earned  for  the  liberty  of  his  country,  had  more  effc&  in  ob- 
taining that  memorable  vidory,  than  conid  have  been  pro- 
duced by  the  inate  virtue  of  all  the  relicks  of  the  dead  that 
could  have  been  colleded.  "  James  Drummond,  a  younger 
"  fon  of  David  Lord  Drummond,  and  his  Lady,  a  daughter 
*'  of  William  Lord  Ruthven,  was  firft  llyled  Lord  Inchafiy, 
**  being  Commendator  of  that  Abbacy,  and  afterwards 
"  created  Lord  Madderty  by  King  James  VI.  in  the  year 
"  1607.  He  married  Jean,  daughter  to  Sir  James  Chit 
**  holme  of  Cromlicks,  and  with  her  got  the  lands  of  Inner- 
•*  pefiry,  which  were  her  mother's  portion,  bebg  heire&  of 
"  Sir  John  Drummond  of  Innerpcfry  Hf  had,  by  his  isx^ 
•«  Lady  two  fens,  John  Lord  Madderty,  and  Sir  James,  the 
«  firft  Laird  of  Machony/'— Nj/i^/'i  Htraldry^  vol.  i. 

Cburcb. 


ofMadderty.  567 

Cbvrcb. — The  prefent  church  is  fituated  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  ruins  of  the  Abbaj.  It  was 
built  in  the  year  1689,  and  is  not  in  the  beft  ftate  of  repair. 
Lord  Kinnoul  is  patron.  The  Aipend  amounts  to  9  chal- 
ders  of  vidual^  and  L.  29  Sterling,  including  the  ezpence  of 
communion-elements.  The  glebe  confifts  of  9  acres  of 
land.  Manfe  and  offices  are  in  good  repair.  Some  of  the 
Seceding  meetinghoufes  in  the  neighbourhood  draw  from 
this  pariih  a  confiderable  number  of  hearers. 

ScboolM — ^The  parochial  fchool  is  under  excellent  manage* 
menty  and  is  defervedly  in  high  repute.  It  is  attended  by 
numerous  boarders  from  different  parts  of  Scotland,  but 
chiefly  England.  Mr  David  Malcolm,  preacher  of  the 
Gofpel,  is  at  prefent  mafter,  and  teaches  Engliih,  Latin, 
Greek,  writing,  arithmetic,  book-keeping,  mathematics, 
land-meafuring^  &c. 

Poor.— The  paupers  on  the  pari(h-roll  afe  commonly 
about  4  or  5.  They  are  fupported  by  the  collefHons  made 
on  Sabbaths  at  the  church,  which  amount  to  about  a  s.  3  d. 
each  Sabbath.  There  is  alfo  a  fund  of  L.  90  Sterling,  L.  29 
of  which  were  bequeathed  by  two  heritors,  lately  deceafcd. 
None  of  the  poor  are  permitted  to  beg. 

Tradefmen.'^The,  whole  pariih  may  be  called  agricultu- 
ral ;  and  the  only  places  that  may  be  denominated  villages 
are  Bellycloine  and  Craigs  ;  but  as  each  of  them  confifts  of 
a  few  houfes  only,  they  hardly  deferve  the  name  of  villa- 
ges. Except  a  very  fmall  quantity  of  coarfe  linen,  for  the 
Perth  market,  there  is  no  manufadure  here.  The  quantity 
of  linen  made  mnft  be  ihiall  indeed,  when  it  is  confidered 
that  there  is  only  feven  or  ei  ht  weavers  in  the  parifli,  and 
thefe  are  chiefly  employed  in  cuAomary  work«    This  place 

is 


568  Statical  jtccomU 

« 

IS  alio  fiipplie4,^th  4  Uackfinitlis,  4  wrights,  a 
%  tailors,  and  i  nuDer. 

Prici  ^fhabwnr  ami  Prov(4!Mtf .— The&  here  are  equally 
high  with  any  place  in  the  nei^boorfaood.  A  daiy-kbonr- 
cr  receives  X s.  4d«  abd  fomecimes  is.  6d.  a-daydming 
fnmmeri  and  a  (hilling  in  winter ;  a  pkraghman's  wages  are 
from  L.  8  to  L.  ID  Sterling  a-year.— The  price  of  provifions 
the  lame  as  in  the  town  of  Perth,  and  freqoently  confide- 
rably  higher,  as  the  heft  prices  are  often  charged  for  articles 
of  a  very  inferior  quality.  No  ale  nor  whiiky  fold  poUic- 
ly  in  the  pari(h.  Coal  is  the  fuel  moftly  nfed  by  the  inha* 
bitants.  It  is  moftly  bronght  from  Blairingooe,  in  the  pa- 
rifli  of  FoOaway,  at  the  diftance  of  about  24  miles.  They 
are  alfo  had  from  the  ihipping  at  Perth,  at  the  diftance  of 
xa  miles,  but  the  price  is  higher  than  at  Blairingone.  Far- 
mers here,  and  in  moft  of  the  neighbourhood,  iet  a  higher 
value  on  a  little  money  than  on  their  own  time  and  labour. 
This  muft  always  be  the  cafe  where  there  is  no  manafac- 
ture,  and  farming  and  hufl>andry  are  not  carried  on  with 
proper  vigour. 

Koads^r^n^t,  parochial  roads,  for  there  is  no  tonpikc  in 
the  parifli,  are  extremely  bad,  being  hardly  paflaUe  in  wet 
weather.     The  communication  on  both  fides  the  Pow  is,*^ 
however,  kept  up,  by  means  of  three  bridges  c^  fione  thrown 
acTO&  that  rivulet. 

Proper  Namis.^^The  names  of  places  in  this  pari(h  are 
partly  Gaelic,  and  partly  Englifb.  To  the  former  belong 
Tilly chiandie,  Bellycloine,  Dallarie,Ardbennie,Balgowan: 
But  Redhilli  Woodend,  Dul^d,  &p.  belong  to  the 
latur. 


tffMadderty*  569 

^Mitjuity.''^Tht  oolj  remains  of  andqmty  in  tho  pariih 
Worthy  of  notice,  except  the  ruins  of  the  A.bbej  already 
mentioned,  is  a  portion  of  the  Roman  road  or  cao&way 
from  the  camp  at  Ardoch  to  Perth.  It  runs  about  a  quar* 
ter.  of  a  mile  through  the  fouthem  extremity  of  the  pariih^ 
And  is  very  entire.  It  is  probable  that  it  will  not  long  con«* 
tinue  in  that  ftate,  if  it  can  by  any  means  be  converted  into 
a  highwayi  or  afford  materials  far  maldng  or  repairing 
«me« 


VoL.XlX«  4^  NUM. 


570  Staii/Hcal  JecouM 

*M  UMBER    XXVL 
PARISH  OF  MINTO, 


(CoouTT  OF  RozBUEOR,  Sthod  ^f  Meksk  avd  TiTiarr-' 

DAL£,  PuBSBTTXItT  OF  Je1>»UROH)« 


B/  WiLLXAii  BimH»  D.D.  Mimjir. 


THE  parifh  of  AGnto  is  almoft  as  oblongs  eHending 
from  ea&  to  weft  3  j-  miles  i  firom  loath  to  noitii  il 
flules.  It  is  bomded  on  the  eaft  bj  the  parilh  of  Ancnim; 
en  the  north,  bj  LilKefleaf  $  on  the  wefi,  bj  WBton ;  os 
the  fouthi  bj  CftTexs,  £rom  which  it  k  almoft  divided  bj 
the  river  Tiviot. 

Hitiionj'-^Thett  are  three  refiding  herhofs  :  The  Right 
Honoorable  Sir  Gilbert  EUiot,  Baronet,  "the  pBtroo,  whofe 
eftate  lies  on  the  eaft  fide,  and  comprdiended  the  old  parilb 
of  Minto.  The  fiunily  of  Minto,  for  ages  pafi,  tiave  beco 
fo  eminent,  both  in  the  Senate  and  in  the  other  depnrtmcnts 
of  the  State^  that  anj  thing  I  can  £17  might  be  ooofideied  » 


BfMinto.  571 

mere  panegyric.    The  houfe  is  large  and  commodious,  has 
a  fouth  expofiire,  and  is  fitoated  on  the  bank  of  a  beautiful 
winding  glen,  extending  almoft  to  the  Tiviot,  and  well 
docked  with  a  variety  of  old  trees,  with  natural  and  ardfi* 
cial  falls  of  water.     In  coming  along  one  of  the  ferpentine 
walks  on  the  fide  of  the  glen,  the  ear  is  all  at  once  furpri- 
fed  with  the  unezpeded  noile  of  the  largeft  of  thefe  falls, 
the  view  being  intercepted  by  a  thicket ;  on  advancing  a 
little  forward,  the  &11,  the  bridge,  the  large  iheet  of  water, 
the  furrounding  banks,  interfperfed  with  variegated  trees 
and  ihrubs,  and  the  houfe,  gradually  open  to  the  eye,  excite 
the  mpft  pleafing  emotions,  and  form  one  of  the  moft  beau- 
tiful landfcapes  that  can  be  figured :  The  reflexion  of  this 
landfcape  in  the  water  adds  to  the  grandeur  of  the  icene. 
The  pleafnre-ground  is  extenfive,  and  laid  out  with  great 
tafte.    A  little  to  the  .eaft  are  Minto  Rocks,  interfperfed 
w|th  clumps  of  planting,  which- form  an  awful  and  pifiu- 
refque  objed, ,  From  the  top  of  thefe  rocks  there  is  a  beau- 
tiful and  extenfive  profped  of  the  difierent  windings  of  the 
Tivioc,  and  the  adjacent  country,  for  many  miles  round. 
Here  are  the  remains  of  a  building,  which,  during  the  in- 
curfions  of  the  borderers,  feems  to  have  been  a  watch-tower. 
Behind  the  houfe,  to  the  north,  are  two  hills,  which  rile 
with  a  gentle  alcent  to  a  confidenible  height,  and  are  ex- 
cellent flieep-pafture.     At  a  fmall  diftance  from  the  hpufe, 
and  in  the  middle  of  a  grove  of  trees,  (lands  the  churchy 
wlwh  is  neat,  clean,  and  well  feated.    The  village  is  pla- 
ced about  half  a  mile  to  the  weft,  and  contains  34  families, 
moftly  labourers  and  mechanics.    To  the  fouth-weft,  an 
Englifli  mile  from  the  church,  are  the  manle  and  glebe. 
This  was  the  boundary  of  the  old  parifli.    Now,  there  are 
annexed  the  lands  of  Haflendeanbank,   belonging  to  his 
Grace  the  Duke  of  Roxburgh,  and  the  lands  of  Haflfen- 
dean,  the  property  of  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Bncdeugh. 

Oa 


57^  Stati/lical  AccMtU 

On  the  weft  of  Haflendeanbank  is  the  eSate  of  Tiviotbaiiky 
latelj  purchafed  by  David  Simpfoo,  Efq;  another  refiding 
heritor,  who  has  built  a  neat  modem  houfe  on  a  rifingfaonk* 
in  view  of  the  river,  and  ornamented  the  pkce  with  a  va» 
riety  of  plantations.  On  the  weft  and  north- weft  are  the 
lands  of  Haflendeanburny  Horflejhill,  and  Hnntlaw,  belong- 
ing to  Robert  Dickfon,  Efq;  the  fecond  heritor  in  the  pa- 
rifh,  who  has  latelj  built  a  large  convenient  honfe  a  Gnall 
diftance  from  the  water«  In  this  comer  was  the  fire  of 
Haflendeanbura  church,  fuppofed  to  be  an  appendage  of 
Melrofe  Abbey,  (the  fium  next  to  it  goes  by  the  name  d 
Monks  Croft,  where  there  was  a  tower  called  Monks 
Tower).  The  church,  and  moft  of  the  church-yard,  are 
carried  off  by  the  water ;  yet,  fo  ftroog  is  the  defiie  **  of 
**  fleeping  with  our  fathers,'  that  they  continued  to  bmy 
here,  thought  after  every  flood,  the  haughs  wove  covered 
with  human  boqes,  till  laft  winter,  a  great  fwell  of  the  river 
fwept  it  all  away,  except  one  comer.  Since  that  time, 
fome  of  the  dead  have  been  lifted  and  carried  to  diflfeveot 
burial  grounds.  This  pariih  is  now  divided  amongft  the 
parilhes  of  Wilton,  Minto,  and  Roberton.  The  origiDal 
ftipend  was  all  annexed  to  Roberton.  Here  I  moft  oftr  an 
advice  to  landed  gentlemen,  always  to  take  care  that  the 
ftipend  be  annexed  together  with  their  lands.  The  pro- 
prietors of  thb  old  parifli  have  found  the  difadvaatage  of 
not  attending  to  this,  by  the  different,  proceffes  of  augmen- 
tation that  have  been  raifed  againft  them  by  the  fevenl 
minifierSk 

Nurftry. — On  the  lands  of  Haftendeanbom  was  cflablilb- 
ed,  by  the  late  Mr  Dickfonls  father,  one  of  the  fixft  nnrie* 
fief  in  the  kingdom,  which  was  carried  on  by  the  late  Mr 
Dickfon,  who  alfo  eftablifhed  the  nurfety  at  Hawick.  Bodi 
t!he(e  aurieriesi  %re  nqw  carried  on  by  the  Mcffi^  Dickfoos ; 

lid 


ofMinto.  573 

and  in  point  of  extent*  obara&er,  and  circulationi  are  equal- 
led by  few,  if  any.  They  contain  all  kind  of  foreign  and 
native  forefi  trees,  fruit  trees*  flower-roots,  and  plants  and 
flowering  ihrubs,  that  are  naturalifed  in  thb  country ;  be- 
fides  a  great  colle&ion  of  exotic  plants.  From  this  nurfery 
origioated  that  carried  on  by  MeflTn  Dickfon  and  Company, 
Perth  \  that  in  Edinburgh  by  MefTrs  Dickfons  and  Com« 
pany. 

fo^ir^-— The  foils  in  the  pariih  ^re  various.  Towards  the 
river  it  confilb  of  difi*erent  kinds  of  loam,  well  adapted  to 
turnips ;  £mher  nan\k  it  is  a  firong  clay,  and  clay  loamt 
both  on  atilly  bottom* 

Jlfa«ttr#.*-Same  feams  of  marl  have  been  difcovered, 
but  io  iSmall,  that  they  do  not  depend  on  thefe,  and  drive 
lime  and  marl  at  a  confiderable  diftance  and  great  expence* 
Lime  laid  down  on  the  field,  2  s,  the  lime-buihel,  which  is 
equal  to  three  Winchefter  buihels.  Marl,  3  s.  the  double 
cart. 

^(crcc.— The  number  of  acres  52x3 ;  of  theie,  475  arc 
planted  with  foreft  trees. 

ImplemintJ  ^  Hu/ia9dry.^^The  £ng]i(h  pkagb  is  Qni« 
verially  uied  with  two  hories.  Tbraihing  machines  are 
beginning  to  be  ufed. 

(7fc//i9^fo«.— The  mode  of  cropping  or  rotation,  until 
within  thefe  few  years,  for  a  long  time  back,  was  as  foL 
lows ; — ^The  infield,  divided  into  five  breaks^-x.  Fallow, 
with  the  dung  of  the  farm,  wheat,  peafe,  barley,  oats,  and 
then  &II0W  again,  Sec  :  The  outfield*  firft  fidded  with  the 
oattle  of  the  hna  in  general,  then  fown  with  oats  for  three 

or 


574  Siatiftical  Acctmni 

or  fStfSiwap.  ind  even  longer,  if  the  return  was  a  little 
more  than  tt^MMs ;  after  that,  fidiow,  without  an j  kind 
of  manure;  then  two  crops  of  oats,  and  fidlow  again  eTerj 
third  year,  as  long  as  it  would  produce  a  decent  crop  i  then 
allowed  to  go  to  paSnre. 

The  prefent  mode  followed  in  the  partfli :— -The  light 
land  firfi  well  prepared  for  tnmip,  which  are  fown  in  diiih 
neatly  made  up,  nunured  with  the  dung  of  the  fiurm,  and 
lime  or  (hell  marl,  fo  far  as  thej  can  be  practaredy  not  to 
lofe  the  feafon  for  the  turnip  \  part  of  which  is  eat  on  the 
ground  with  Iheep,  and  part  with  cattle  in  the  hoofe*  When 
eat  with  (heep,  it  is  not  uncommon  to  fow  wheat  with 
gra&^feeds,*  which,  in  general,  fueceeds  welL  When  the 
turnip  is  carried  off,  barley  with  grais-feeds  ieldom  fsib  of 
a  good  crop  $  theo^^ay  is  taken,  thi^  fog,  or  fecond  crop, 
eat  on  the  ground  with  Tarioos  kinds  of  ftod^  ;  then,  ia 
autumn,  taken  op  for  wheat,  which  is  fown  with  one  fior- 
row ;  after  the  wheat,  oats,  and  then  tnmip ;  Ibfnetxmcs 
they  take  up  with  oats,  and  then  turnip ;  when  the  land  a 
naturally  very  good,  and  in  high  order,  wheat  is-  taken 
after  the  oats,  then  turnip :  After  this  rotation  is  followed 
twice,  the  gra(s  is  allowed  to  lie  for  pafiure  two  or  three 
yeai9,  theu  taken  up  as  before.  The  land  that  is  too  heavy 
for  turnip,  or  the  clay  lands,  are  taken  up  from  gra&  with 
oats  \  then  fallow  with  the  dung  of  the  farm,  and  a  full 
drefling  of  fkell  marl  or  lime  (15  double  carta  of  asarl,  or 
6  double  carts  of  lime/«r  Engliib  acre)  fown  with  whett; 
then  peafe,  then  barley  with  gra&^feeds,  then  hay,  and 
after  that  three  years  paftured ;  then  cropped  as  before. 

Grafi'fttds. — When  'only  one  crop  is  taken,  they  fow 
12  lb.  of  xtA  clover,  and  half  abuihel  rye-grals,  to  the  £og- 
)i|h  acre  *,  when  to  lay  in  pafture,  6  lb.  of  white  clover, 


tf  Minio.  575 

5  lb.  of  red  dover,  2  lb.  of  rib-gfals,  half  a  buibel  of  rye- 
graft.  .- *- 

Notwithfiaading  the  above  mode  of  cropping,  fome,  of 
late  years,  paftore  the  firft  crop,  nvhich  thej  find  pays  weU, 
and  does  more  juflice  to  the  land. 

Kinds  ofStocir^The  kmds  of  ftock  kept  or  bred  s  Sheep 
of  the  Cheviot  breed  on  the  outfield ;  on  the  infield,  or 
improven  lands,  the  Diihlej  or  BeckwcU  breed  have  beea 
tried,  with  advantage,  for  a  few  years.  The  fliort  homed, 
or  Teefwater  cattle,  prevail,  and  pay  the  breeder  welL 
Number  of  fheep,  z68o;  black  cattle,  380.  Yet  it  may 
be  fuppofed  the  parifh  is  able  to  keep  a  great  many  more ; 
but  the  refiding  heritors  are  of  ofe  to  let,  from  year  to 
year,  a  coafiderable  number  of  graft  parks ;  and  fome  of 
the  farmers,  who  follofif  the  tumip-huflbandry,  have  a  flue- 
tuatiog  (lock.  Niunber  of  ploughs  36.  No  oxen  nfed  at 
prefent.  Befides  the  hor&s  kept  for  the  plough,  there  may 
be  about  46  riding  and  young  horfes.  The  harveft  in  ge- 
neral is  early.  The  whole  parifh  b  inclofcd  with  boon- 
dary  fences,  and  by  fiu:  the  greateft  proportion  of  it  fubdi- 
vided  with  ditch  and  hedge,  interfperfed  with  firips  and 
clumps  of  planting,  which  ferve  both  for  (belter  and  orna- 
ment. 

Servants  ^a^#/.— Servants  wages  have  been  on  the  rife 
for  fome  years.  A  married  maD,  or  hind,  L.  6, 10  s.  a  cow 
kept,  a  fione  of  meal  in  the  week,  a  firlot  of  poutoea 
planted,  a  peck  or  half  a  peck  of  lintfeed  fown,  a  free 
houfe,  with  a  piece  of  ground  for  a  garden,  a  certain  quan- 
tity  of  fiiel  carried  $  it  is  uaderfiood,  at  the  fiune  time,  that 
the  wife  or  children  are  to  aifift  at  carrying  in  ftacks,  &c« 
A  man,  within  the  boufe,  from  L.  6  to  L.o.  A  woman 
fisrvanty  within  the  houiii,  firom  L«  3  to  L.  4.    Day-labour* 


576  Statijlical  Account 

ers,  at  an  average,  x  s.  3^.  per  i^j  m  fummery  and  i  s«  ic 
winter.  Women,  who  work  out  of  doors  upon  the  Burm^ 
8  d.    Harvcft  wages  fluftuating.    Laft  harreft  high. 

For  fome  years,  I  have  obferved  with  pleafure  the  rapid 
progrels  of  improveixient  within  the  pariih ;  the  happj 
chapge  of  the  mode  of  agriculture  \  the  quantity  of  foreign 
manure,  both  lime  and  marl,  carried  at  fucb  a  diftance  tnd 
expence,  and  the  advantages  arifing  from  it^  the  atten- 
tion paid  to  roads  and  fences,  fo  advantageous  to  the  inha* 
bitants,  and  agreeable  to  travellers* 

J{otf^/.— There  are  many  public  roads :  The  fends  aii- 
iing  from  the  converfion  of  the  ftatute-money  being  very 
fmall,  and  not  adequate  to  making  and  keeping  the  rosds 
in  repair,  fiill  the  principal  roads  are  very  good,  owing  to 
the  attention  of  Sir  Gilbert  EUioti  who,  for  fome  yean, 
has  made  and  kept  up,  at  his  own  expence,  the  roads  kad- 
ing  through  his  lands ;  whereby  the  fimda  are  applied  Vf 
other  roads  within  the  pariih. 

Popultttiott.^-^The   number    of  inhabitaiit%    5x3  fouk 
The  increafe  and  decreafe  of  popalation  cannot  be  aicer- 
tained  with  precifion,  many  being  accuftomed  to  bory  in  , 
Haflendeanbum,  where  no  regifler  has  been  kept.    For  | 
fome  years  back  it  has  increafed  confideraUy.    In  1755,  it  | 
was  396.    The  Eftabliihed  Church  is  the  only  place  of  pa* 
blic  worflup  within  the  parifli ;  they  attend  regularly  and 
decently.    There  are  few  Seceders  of  any  denominatkn. 

Poor^— The  number  of  poor,  for  thefe  two  prece&g 

•  years,  has  been,  at  a  medium,  x6,  and  annual  payascao 

L«50,  railed  by  a  regular  poor-rate,  one  half  paid  by  the 

heritors,  th^  other  half  by  the  tenants.    There  are  L  jd 

belonging  to  the  kirk*feffion,  the  intereft  goes  into  the  oA, 

or. 


of  Minto.  S77 

or.  alongft  with  the  coUeaions,  is  diftributed  by  the  feflion 
in  interim  fupplies,  in  cafe  of  ficknefs,  or  any  other  imforc- 
fctrn  calamity.  In  1782,  when  oatmeal  rofc  very  high, 
the  cnrators  of  the  poor  bought  in  a  quantity,  and  fold  it  at 
a  reduced  price,  both  to  the  poor  on  lift  and  poor  houfc- 
holders  with  large  families.  There  are  no  begging  poor 
in  the  parifii.  The  poor-ratcs  arc  more  than  double  within 
thcfe  ten  years,  notwithftanding  the  liberality  of  the  fa- 
mily of  Minto,  who,  when  on  the  fpot,  gave  a  good  deal 
of  private  charity,  and  a  weekly  proportion  of  broth  and 
meat,  which  is  continued  in  their  abfence, 

Manfe. — The  manfe  was  removed  to  iu  preCent  fituation 
in  1773,  and  is  in  good  repair.  The  glebe  confifts  of  35 
£ngliib  acres.    The  ftipend  upwards  of  L.  90. 

SchooL^Tht  eflabliihed  fchoolmafter  is  the  only  teacher 
within  the  parifli.  He  has  a  houfe,  garden,  and  fchool- 
houfe  \  falary  Lt  I2,  including  the  emoluments  of  feilion- 
derk,  coUefting  the  poor-rates,  gcc.  The  number  of  fcho- 
lars,  at  an  average,  between  jo  and  6o»  In  March  17939 
above  50  fcholars  were  feized  with  themeafles  in  two  days, 
fo  rapid  was  the  infeffion.  The  ichoolhoufe  was  then 
fmall  and  confined,  which  moved  the  heritors  to  build  one 
in  an  airy  fituation,  the  moft  beautiful  and  commodious  in 
the  fouth  of  Scotland, 

Fff^/.-^The  diflance  from  fuel,  and  other  local  dUadvan- 
cages,  have  hitherto  difcouraged  manufaftures,  &c«  notwith« 
ftanding  there  are  a  number  of  mechanics*  Weavers,  7 ; 
blackimiths,  3;  tailors,  3;  one  nailor,  who  employs  5 
hands ;  three  carpenters,  who  employ  10  hands ;  one  com 
and  one  lint  mill.  Coals  in  general  are  burnt,  (which  are 
carried  at  the  diftance  of  30  miles),  and  peats  and  wood. 

Voh.  &IX«  4  D  CbaraUer^ 


578  Statijlkal  Accwnt 

,  Chara3ir.*^The  inbabitanti  are  honeft,  ibber,  tnA  ia- 
duftrious  i  feem  contented  with  their  fituation,  as  no  xnnr- 
dersy  fuicidesy  or  crimiaal  profecutions,  are  remembered  to 
have  happened.  The  £umex9,  in  general,  are  refpefiabk 
well  informed  people,  pa j  great  attention  to  huftandrj,  to 
the  rearing  and  feeding  of  ftock.  The  air  is  good ;  fd« 
dom  vifited  with  any  epidemical  diiieafes.  There  are  no 
public^houfes  within  the  parifli.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
difcover  any  antiquities  or  natural  cnriofities  but  fiicfa  as 
fxe  common,  vix.  (lone  coffins,  petrifying  fprings,  largs 
fleers  horns,  6lc.  found  in  mofles. 


NUM. 


tfCollington,  sn 

NUMBER  XXVIL 
PARISH  OF  COLLINGTON, 


(COUNTT    OF    EOINBUlLGBy     StKOD    OF    LoTHXAK    A>^]| 
TwUQDALXy  PaSSBTTERT  OF  EDINBURGH.) 


By  the  Rev.  Dr  John  Walker  K 


Situation  and  Extent* 

THIS  parilh  is  fituated  in  the  coimtj  of  Edinburgh.  It  i$ 
in  the  prefbytery  of  Edinburgh,  and  f jnod  of  Lothitn 
and  Tweeddale*  It  lies  weft  from  Edinburgh,  and  reached 
within  two  niiles  of  the  fuburbs*  It  extends  about  four  miles 
call  and  weft,  and  about  five  miles  in  a  fouth  and  north  di-> 
redion.  It  contains  above  5000  Scots  acres»  the  gro& 
rental  of  which,  including  mills  and  quarries,  may  be  near 
L.  6000  Sterling ;  but,  excluding  thefe,  and  alfo  woods  and 
plantations,  the  real  land  rent  amounts  to  about  I^.  4125 
Sterling,    The  valued  rent  is  L. 45 14  Scots. 

In 

Thii  tccount  19  in  tbftnA  of  a  more  cxteaded  hiftorr  of  the  patiib  of 
CoUtngton,  to  be  publiflied  feptntdy- 


S  80  Statijlkal  Accwnt 

In  the  year  16351  and  for  a  long  time  after,  this  pmtk 
appears  to  have  been  a  wild  and  uncultivated  track  of 
country,  and  thinly  peopled.  Even  fo  late  as  the  year 
2709,  it  contained  only  318  examinable  perfons.  Since 
that  time,  however,  the  lands  have  been  indofed,  and  £b 
much  cultivated,  that  it  is  now  become  one  of  the  moft 
produftive  parts  of  the  country.  The  num(>er  of  iohabt- 
tantB  has  of  courfe  been  confiderably  augmented,  and  is  at 
prefent  upon  the  increafe^  firom  the  enlargement  of  the 
metropolfs,  and  the  advancement  of  manu&ftnres. 

The  numerous  mills  ereSed  for  flour  and  barley ;  the 
mills  for  the  manufaftnre  of  flax,  paper,  tobacco,  and  the 
wauking  of  cloth  v  the  fl^innery  manu&fiure  \  the  bleach- 
ing fields ;  a  flouriihing  diflillery  \  a  manufafture  of  mag- 
nefia ;  and  the  great  quarries  of  Hailes  and  Redhall ;  have 
brought  together,  of  late  years,  into  this  parilh,  a  concourfe 
of  people,  and  a  degree  of  opulence  formerly  unknown. 

Seventeen  years  ago,  only  25  perfons  wer^  employed  ia 
Che  manufafture  of  paper :  At  prefent,  9a  perfons  are  occi»> 
pied  in  the  pariih  in  that  manufBi&ure,  who,  with  their  &- 
milies,  amount  to  about  300  people. 

The  whole  pariih  is  now  eftimated  at  mofe  than  three 
tents  above  what  it  was  in  the  year  1769. 

The  hill  of  Caerketan-craig,  in  this  pariih,  the  moft 
northerly  of  the  Pentland  Hills,  is  1450  feet  high  abore 
the  level  of  the  fea ;  and  the  hill  of  Capelaw,  fituated  to 
the  weilwaf d  of  it,  maybe  abont  ico  feet  higher.  The 
Logan-houfe  Hill,  lying  ilill  further  weft  In  the  range,  tod 
the  higheil  of  the  Pentland  HHls,  was  found,  by  geometri- 
cal menfuration,  and  by  repeated  barometrical  obfervationsp 
to  be  1700  feet  high  above  the  level  of  the  fea  at  Leitfa, 
which  is  only  60  feet  le(s  than  oqer-third  of  a  neaibrej  I 
mile.  I 

The 


tf  GolUngton*  5B1 

ttlie  arable  lands  of  the  parifli  dope  gradually  from  tbd 
flclrts  of  the  hills  to  the  level  of  the  river ;  and  thej  are  in 
different  places  from  250  up  to  600  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  fea.  This  occafions  a  great  diverfity  of  climate  in  the 
^ourfe  of  three  or  four  miles,  and  a  great  difference  in  the 
ripening  of  the  crops^ 

Cburcb^r^Tlit  church  Was  built  in  the  year  17739  and  is 
m  very  decent  and  convenient  ftrudure  for  public  worfliip, 
Though  plain,  and  executed  at  a  very  moderate  ezpencei 
it  is  rather  elegant,  both  on  the  outfide  and  iniide.  It  has 
even  ferved  as  a  model  for  fome  pariih  churches  that  havf 
£nce  been  built* 

JlfAi9/i.<a-The  manfe  was  built  anno  Z784,  at  an  expence 
lufficiently  liberal,  but  with  very  infufficient  workmanihip. 
This  u  the  cale  with  the  generality  of  the  manfes  in  Scot* 
land,  and  which  renders  them,  in  proportion  te  their  fiz«, 
the  moft  ezpenfive  houfes  in  the  kingdom.  Imperfedly 
executed  at  firft,  and  that  ufually  for  want  of  a  proper  fu- 
perintendence,  their  frequent  repairs  and  rebuilding  come 
to  be  a  matter  of  great  inconvenience  to  the  incumbents^ 
and  of  much  additional  and  unneceflary  expence  to  the 
heritora. 

Stipends — The  i^ipend  annd  179a  remained  what  it  was 
in  the  year  1635,  amounting  to  L.  55  :  x6 :  7A  Sterling. 
Since  that  time  there  has  been  an  augmentation  granted  by 
the  Court  of  Teinds,  which  is  not  yet  allocated. 

The  fall  of  money  in  its  value  is  well  known  to  be  a 
great  hardflup,  and  efpecially  of  late,  upon  all  perfons  of  a 
fixed  income,  and  upon  none  more  tiian  upon  the  clergy  of 
Scotlaod* 

The 


5d^  StatiJIical  Acct^unt 

The  ftipend  of  Collingtoo,  as  appointed  in  the  year  16351 
Was  not  only  a  competent,  but  a  liberal  provifion  for  th^ 
ininifter  of  this  pari(h  at  that  period.  It  was  more  than 
equal  to  L.  aa3  :  6 : 5-A-  But  this,  far  from  being  finga]ar» 
is  univerfally  the  cafe  with  all  the  clergy  of  Scotland* 

Glebe. — The  extent  of  the  glebe  is  lefs  than  what  the  law 
appoints ;  but  even  though  it  were  of  legal  fize,  it  could 
not  be  profitably  occupied  and  cultirated  by  the  incum* 
bent,  without  an  opportunity  of  renting  fo  much  addidonal 
land,  as  would  afford  fufficient  work  for  a  man-fenrant  and 
two  horfes* 

^ri&oo/.-^There  has  always  been  a  tefpedable  grammar* 
fchool  kept  in  the  pariib.  It  has  always  been  well  taught, 
and  well  attended,  not  only  by  children  of  the  middle  and 
lower  ranks,  but  many  gentlemen,  who  have  afterwards 
proved  an  honour  to  their  country^  have  received  die  ek* 
ments  of  their  education  here* 

The  fch(k>lmafter'8  falary  is  200  merks  Scots,  the  higbeft 
fum  appointed  by  law,  which,  with  very  moderate  fchoot 
wages,  and  fome  fmall  emoluments  as  £eflion-cleric,  forms 
the  living  of  a  worthy  old  incumbent.  But  it  is  altogether 
an  income  that  could  not,  in  the  prefent  times,  induce  any 
young  man,  fufficiently  educated  and  qualified,  to  under- 
take  the  office. 

Poor. — ^The  poor  are  maintained  by  the  colIeAions  at 
the  churchi  and  other  funds,  under  the  infpeAion  of  the 
kirk-feffion,  and  partly  by  an  annual  afleQment  upon  the 
heritors  and  tenants.  The  inrolled  poor  have  each  a  dated 
allowance  monthly;  befide  which,  incidental  charities, 
fometimcs  indeed  the  mofl  neceflary  of  any,  art  beftowed  by 

tfie 


of  CoUinjfton.  583 

ihjt,  feffion  on  other  perfons  in  diftrela.  Thefe  inroUed 
poor  are  27  in  number.  They  have  from  2  8.  to  4  s.  a« 
month ;  or  from  L«  i,  4  s.  t^  L.  2,  8  s.  annually.  The  col« 
leflionsat  the  church'^door  and  other  dues,  belonging  to 
the  feffion,  amount  to  about  L.  35,  and  the  afTeiTment  is 
L*.  3O9  forming  together  the  annual  fum  of  L.  65.  Of  this» 
L.  45  are  required  for  the  fupport  of  the  poor  on  the  roll  \ 
and  the  remainder  is  bellowed  in  occafional  charities,  and 
in  defraying,  the  little  neceflary  expences  of  the  church. 

Though  thefe  inrolled  poor  are  the  moft  indigent  perfona^ 
in  the  place,  none  of  them  are  in  fuch  a  ilate  of  poverty  as 
to  be  reduced  to  beggary.  There  are  no  beggars  belong- 
ing to  the  parifli,  as  it  is  made  known  to  all  who  are  ad- 
mitted upon  the  poors*roll,  that  if  they  happen  to  beg  thejr 
forfeit  their  penfion« 

J2^//^i..Thi8  pariih  contains  more  land  of  a  low  value 
than  any  other  part  of  the  country  at  an  equal  diftance  front 
EUlinburgh*  The  preCcat  rents,  notwithftanding,  are  con* 
fiderable ;  nor  could  the  lands,  at  thefe  rents,  be  profitably 
held  by  perfons  inferior  in  ikill,  or  in  ftock,  to  the  prefent 
poifeflbrs.  The  arable  ground  lets  from  30  s.  to  two  gui« 
neas  the  acre;  but  there  are  many  fields  in  tillage,  towards 
the  hills,  of  inferior  value. 

The  rent  of  houfes  for  cottagers  is  nfually  from  15  s.  to 
40  s.  a-year.  The  houfes  which  give  40  s.  are  well  buUt 
and  flated,  but  are  too  high  priced  for  the  income  of  a  com* 
mon  labourer. 

Craps* — ^The  prevailing  crops  here  are,  wheat,  barley^ 
oats,  beans,  peafe,  potatoes,  fummer  tares,  clover,  and  ryt* 
grals.  The  fowing  of  bear  is  entirely  given  up. .  There  is 
very  little  flax  cultivated,  and  no  rye.  Few  turnips  are 
taifedy  a^d  Iddom  any  cabbages  or  colewprts,  but  in  fparing 

quantity^ 


584  Statiftical  Account 

quantitj.  There  is  but  little  white  clover  fowfit  theri 
being  but  little  ground  laid  down  £br  pafture. 

As  wheat  is  accounted  the  moil  profitable  {^roducet  there 
mre  annually  about  290  acres  occupied  bj  this  crop.  A 
great  deal  of  land,  though  naturallj  unfit  for  wheat,  is,  bj 
the  aid  of  the  Edinburgh  dung,  employed  in  raifing  that 
grain. 

Potatoes  form  an  important  and  ufeful  crop^  being  bodi 
profitable  in  itfelf,  and  an  excellent  preparation  for  wlicit. 
The  potatoes  are  all  raifed  by  the  plough,  and  are  borfe* 
hoed.  Tho  fields  of  them  are  eztenfive ;  the  produce  on 
the  acre  is  generally  large,  and  the  market-price  at  Edin- 
burgh high:  though  potatoes  cultivated  in  this  way  are 
«ever  equal  in  quality  to  thofe  raided  in  lazy  beds  by  fpade 
culture. 

About  one-fifth  of  all  the  arable  ground^  io  the  parifli  13 
ufually  under  plover  and  rye-gra&. 

Priei  of  Labour. — A  married  ploughman,  with  aD  his 
perquifites,  has  generally  to  the  amount  of  i  s.  every  work* 
ing  day,  or  about  L.  16  a-year* 

The  hire  of  a  plough,  with  a  man  and  two  horfes  dorxng 
winter,  for  what  is  called  a  long  yoking,  is  4  s,  la  fpnng, 
when  there  are  two  ^okings,  the  price  is  3  s.  each  yoking, 
or  6  s.  a-day* 

When  this  plough  is  hired  to  till  by  the  Scots  acre,  the 
price  is  10  8.  an  acre.  At  one  yoking  a-day,  the  plough  u 
occupied  upon  the  acre  about  two  days  and  a  half. 

When  harrowing  is  hired,  it  cofis  %  s.  an  acre;  but  3  fc 
when  the  ground  is  lee. 

But  the  manufadurer  pays  for  labour  what  the  hufbsod^ 
man  cannot  aSbrd.  During  the  fhorteft  days  of  laft  winter, 
a  common  labourer,  eroplpyed  by  manvifftfiurcis  in  this 
parish,  had  i  s.  4  d.  a-day. 


ofCMingttm.  58$ 

jAfinwivi^-— There  is  00  manure  ofed  in  tbe  pariih  bnt 

^^ffrhat  each  farm  affords,  excepting  the  Edinburgh  dung,  on 

^which  the  farmers  chiefly  depend  for  their  cultivation  and 

their  cropa.    This  is  purchafed  at  about  10  d.  or  i  s«  each 

double  horfe-cart.    If  the  carriage,  between  3  and  4  miles^ 

be  efiimated  at  i  s«  6  d.  then  each  cart  cofis  about  3  s*  6d.^ 

bat  the  cofi  muft  be  fometimes  mor^,  and  mi^  be  ibnie« 

times  lels»  according  to  the  diftance,  .and  other  drcnmftan- 

eft.     The  carta  which  bring  the  dung  from  Edinburgh 

frequently  carry  the  com,  hay,  and  ftraw  from  the  furm  to 

tbe  city,  which  occafions  an  abatement  of  the  ezpence.  The 

quantitj  of  dung  befiowed  on  an  acre  is  ufually  betweea 

30  and  40  double  carts. 

Ploughgates. — The  old  ploughgates  in  the  parifli,  when 
worked  by  4  horfes  in  a  plough,  were  42  in  number*  Laft 
year,  the  ploughgates  were  rated  at  49:  which  at  12  s. 
each,  as  charged  for  the  fiatute-labour,  amounted  to  1^27, 
5  s.  Sterling. 

Where  thefe  42  four-horfe  ploughs  were  kept,  there  are 
now  60  two-horfe  ploughs  employed. 

The  42  four-horfe  ploughs  had  168  horfes  and  84  men. 
The  60  two-horfe  ploughs  have  120  horfes  and  60  men. 

The  two-horfe  plough  is  one  of  the  greateft  improve- 
ments that  has  yet  taken  place  in  the  hufbandry  of  Scot* 
land.  It  feems  to  have  been  introduced  into  this  pariih  be- 
fore the  year  1770,  though  in  the  year  1771,  the  plough 
with  4  horfes  was  ftill  uled  in  many  places. 

The  ufe  of  the  fingle-horle  cart  is  but  a  late  occurrence. 
It  did  not  take  place  in  this  pariih  till  about  the  year 
1780. 

Pofulation^r^^dott  the  middle  of  the  laft  century,  thia 

pariih  appears  to  have  had  but  few  inhabitants.    Their 

Vol  XIX.  4  £  ftumbeo. 


586  Steaiftkal  Account 


/ 


nnmbers,  however,  cootiaaed  rathto  on  the  increafis  till  die 
time  df  the  feven  jean  famine,  that  is,  from  the  year  1695 
to  the  year  1702,  during  which  period  they  are  £ud  to 
have  been  much  diminiflied.  From  the  year  2703,  the 
numbers  did  again  iocreafe,  till  about  the  year  1710.  At 
that  time,  they  Were  again  reduced  by  the  efiabliflimeiit  of 
larger  farms,  an^  continued  for  many  years  fiatioflaxy*  But 
by  the  increafe  of  the  metropolis  and  ^of  manu£ibftiiits»  the 
pari{h  has  again,  for  a  c'onfiderable  time,  been  advaociiig 
in  population.  There  are  no  uninhabited  honfes  in  it^  If 
any  are  demolilhed,  it  is  but  in  order  to  their  being  rebntk ; 
and  every  year  there  are  new  odes  ertAed,  which  ai«  im- 
mediately filled  with  inhabitants. 

In  an  information  prefented  to  the  Court  of  Teinds  ia 
the  year  1709,  this  parifli  was  faid  Co  contain  318  esainia* 
able  perfons.  If  to  thefe  a'  fourth  of  nnexamiaaUe  pcrfcBS 
be  added,  the  whole  inhabitants  amounted  to  397.  From 
a  record  in  polTeiSon  of  the  church,  it  appears,  that  about 
the  year  1750,  the  whole  inhabitants  of  the  parilh  amoont- 
ed  to  782.  In  Dr  Webfter's  Report,  atuw  175  ji  Ae  auni- 
ber  is  ftated  at  792. 

At  prefent,  the  number  of  inhabited  houfes  in  the  pariih 
is  exaftly  3x3  ^  and  the  number  of  inhabitanta  is  1395 
nearly  \  which,  to  ^  trifle,  allots  4^  inlud)itants  to  each 
houfe. 

If  tlie  extent  of  the  parifh,  as  is  computed,  amoonts  to 
5070  acres,  and  the  number  of  people  is  X395t  H  coDtnins 
between  3  and  4  acres  for  each  inhabitant.  This  is  a  veiy 
great  degree  of  population,  compared  to  the  extent  of  land; 
efpeciaDy  as  there  are  upwards  of  1600  acres  of  fheep-walk, 
and  other  grounds,  which  do  not  occupy  40  people.  Bnt 
tiie  greater  part  of  the  inhabitanta  are  fupported  by  manu^ 
£i&ureS|  and  by  various  occupations^  independent  of  the 
foa. 

irthu 


ofCoUlngton.  587 

Bhths^^t  18  well  known  that  the  parifli  regilters  in 
Scotland  have  feldom  been  kept  for  any  length  of  time' 
with  fafficient  accaracj*  In  this  pariili,  the  regifter  of  hap- 
tifins  has  been  continued  with  uncommon  regularitj,  from 
the  year  1655  to  the  prefent  time.  Manj  of  the  fedarieSy 
and  an  the  people  of  the  Eftabliflied  Church,  with  few  ex- 
ceptionsy  have  always  regifiered  the  birth  of  their  children. 
The  baptifm  of  children,  alfo,  from  other  parifbes,  has  al^ 
-ways  been  punAually  diftingoiflied ;  fo  that  a  more  ezaft 
regifter  of  baptifms.  fpr  m  period  of  140  years,  is  feldpm  to 
be  met  with. 

From  that  regifter  it  appears : 

I.  That  during  the  above  period  of  140  years,  there 
were  1447  males,  and  2168  female  children  baptized,  which 
fixes  the  number  of  males  bom,  compared  to  that  of  fc* 
males,  at  11  to  ii  nearly. 

a.  That  in  fome  particular  years  the  births  of  one  fex 
greatly  exceed  the  other  in  number  ;  but  in  the  following, 
or  in  a  few  fubfequent  years,  both  fexes  return  to  their  or-- 
dained  proportion,  Notwithftanding  many  temporary  in- 
equalities, the  balance^  at  laft,  is  prefeYved  upon  the  poife. 
Yet  this  b  but  one,  among  a  thoufand  infiances,  of  an  im- 
mediate unremitted  fuperintending  influence,  direfied  by 
unlimited  power  and  wifdom, 

3.  That  there  are  fome  years  in  which  the  inhabitants 
are  remarkably  prolific,  compared  to  what  they  are  in 
others.  The  number  of  children  bom  in  one  year  is  fome- 
times  nearly  double  that  in  the  preceding  or  fubfequent 
year,  while  the  number  of  inhabitants  muft  have  been  near- 
ly  the  lame. 

4.  That  the  average  number  of  births  for  10  years  paft 
is  39t  «nd  the  number  of  people  1395.  This  allows  37 
perfons  for  each  birth* 

5.  That 


5S$  StatifHcal  Account 

5.  That  tlie  tTetmge  nomber  of  biiths  bong  39»*ftad  the 
Bomber  of  houfea  or  fkmUies  313^  eadi  Mniial  fairtb  cone* 
^poads  to  8  fittmiiies. 

TwMi.-i-From  the  above  regUler  it  alio  appesrs  3 
X.  That  of  47x5  children*  baptized  in  tbb  pirifli,  94 
were  twins  \  therefore,  ^one  twin-^ld  lor  5X  ohildicn  bap- 
tized. 

%.  That  during  17  ycaiSi  ioefclding  die  feirteo  < 
there  was  no  twin  birth.    In  ona  paiticohrr  jtax 
were  3  fucb  birtiis. 

3.  That  in  the  whole  period,  the  nude  twia«diildreo 
were  to  the  female  as  40  to  54. 

4.  That  the  number  of  maks  prevailed  in  Aoie  jean  in 
which  male  twins  were  born ;  and  that  of  the  females  20 
thofe  years  in  which  female  twins  were  bom. 

ACurm^ei.-— There  has  been  an  ezaft  reg^cr  of  marri^ 
ges  kept  in  this  parifh  from  the  year  165  5  to  the  preftBat 
^me. 

From  that  risgiiler  it  appears : 

t.  That  during  the  period  mjcntioned,  there  are  1395 
xnarriagts  recorded ;  but  reckoning  only  one  half  of  thofe 
marriages,  where  one  only  of  the  parties  was  a  parifliioBery 
the  number  would  amount  but  to  xo6o. 

2.  That  from  the  year  1655  to  1794  indnfive,  the  bap- 
ti&ns  were  47x59  and  the  marriages  io6o.  Ouriag  the 
laft  ten  years,  the  baptifms  were  40  x,  and  the  aaarriages 
91.  In  both  ca&s,  the  marriages  were  left  than  a  foorth, 
but  more  than  a  fifth,  compared  to  the  number  of  bap- 
tifms. 

3.  That,  at  prefent,  there  is  only  one  marriajp  annoallj 
for  155  inhabitants^ 


Diod^i.— Thes(0ifter  of  baikb  ia  Akrfmtdk  hmhmn 
If  try  carefully  kept  finoe  the  year  ^1%%'t  dUliagMfhwtg  ijb» 
death  of  children  and  of  adults*  of  flrangeis  and  of  pa« 
xifluoDers.  ^ 

Frooa  tba'abo¥e.j:ogifter  of  buriala  ibr  49  yeaies  icilf» 
peaxs, 

s.  That  Che  bwrtab  were  944;  dvruig  the  kft  id  feat8» 
175.  In  the  fimner  period  the  binhshad  been  2696:  sa 
the  hitter^  394.  In  bedtcaiesi  ihe  fairthB  eompured-tathe 
deaths  approach  to  the  peopoitton  of  a'to  x,  fanning  a  verj 
firiking  account  of-  the  iocreafe  of.  the  peopk  in  this  part 
of  the  ooontry. 

2.  That  the  nnmber  of  firangeia  from  odiet  pariihca 
buried  here  amountSt  at  an  ayerage,  to  6.perlbas  annually, 
which  is  confiderably  more  than  the  number  of  pariihioners 
buried  in  other  places. 

3.  That  of  the  944  perfons  buried,  451,  or  nearly  one 
halfy  were  diildren  under  14  years  of  age. 

4«  That  there  are  about  ao  deaths  annually  \  and  above 
60,  perhaps  69,  inhabitants  for  each  annual  death, 

5.  That  in  this,  as  in  all  other  regiflers  of  deaths,  there 
are  years  moft  remarkable  for  their  health,  and  others  for 
their  mortality.  In  feme  cafes,  the  caulies  of  this  great 
difference  are  to  be  obferved»  but  in  others  they  cannot  be 
difbemed. 

6,  That  near  70  years  ago,  and  even  about  50  and  40 
years  ago,  the  number  of  deaths  was  greater  than  at  pre- 
fenty  though  the  number  of  people  was  certainly  left.  The 
lower  ranks,  which  form  the  body  of  the  people,  are  now 
lodged,  clothed,  and  fed,  in  a  manner  more  friendly  to 
health  than  in  theie  former  times. 

Difia/esj'^Thexe  are  no  local  diftempers,  nor  any  pecu* 
liar  appearance  in  any  difeaie,  oblervable  m  this  parilh. 

The 


^  Sta^kai  Account 

Hkt^nt  U  bkibrioas,  and  the  Ibil  in  general  drj,  widioiit 
wnj  gcoond  fogs  or  ftagnating  water. 

Jtitrir.— On  tbe  liver  of  CoUtngton,  which  rifies  on  the 
Midi  fide  of  the  Pendand  HiHs,  and  after  a  conrfe  of  about 
l6  miles,  runs  into  the  fea  at^Leith^^^ere  is  much  of  dot 
lomantic  fcenery  for  which  the  finall  riven  in  Scotland  are 
lemarkable  i 'where  they  mn  in  deep  narrow  glens,  amidS 
great  variety  of 'ground  with  rocks  and  hanging  woods,  ac- 
oompanied  with  (mall  level  fields  or  hau^,  ^rtile  in  ooro 
and  gra&.  This  (mail  river  does  more  work  than  perhaps 
any  other,  even  of  the  largeft  fize  in  Scotland.  In  a  coorfe 
of  abont  lo  miles  it  drives  the  following  MiJb : 

Corn-mills,  -  •  14 

Barley-nliUs,  •  •        za 

Flour-milli^  «  •  ao 

Lint-mills,  •  .  2 

Wank-mills,  •  •  5       . 

Paper-mills,  •  •  4 

Snuff-mills,  -  -.5 

Leather-mills,  -  -  a 

Saw-mills,  •  .  ^ 

Total,        ^l 

jlgricuhun^f^Tht  httfi)andry  here  is  endrely  regulated 
by  the  fupply  of  dung  which  is  brought  £rom  die  city  of 
Edbburgh.  This  local  advantage  leads  to  a  peculiar  me* 
diod  of  farming ;  proper,  indeed,  for  fuch  a  fituadon,  thou^ 
inapplicable  to  the  country  in  general. 

Ca//A.F»The  number  of  work-hor(es  in  the  parilh  is  about 
I'ji'^  of  (addle  hor(es,  31;  and  of  carriage«hor(cs,  10;  ia 


^fCoUington.  Sj^l ; 

ally  %i%,    The  number  of  die  cows  is  127  aeaiijr;  and 
cfaat  of  the  iheep  abont  4000* 

There  are  not  above  half  a  dozen  breeding  fwine  in  the 
pariih. 

j9ii».— There  are  aboot  35  winter  hivet  of  bees  in  the 
parilhy  and  formerlj  they  were  much  more  nu;ncrous, 

jtMtiqukia.'^Oi  the  names  of  places  in  this  pariihi  thes^ 
occurs  but  one  evidently,  derived  from  the  Gaelic }  the  refty 
like  that  of  the  parifh,  are  almoft  all  of  Britiih  or  Saxon 
ori^.  On  the  lands  of  Comifion  there  are  Hill  the  veOi- 
ges  of  a  very  large  and  ancient  encampment.  Adjacent  to 
this  camp»  and  near  the  houfe  of  Fairmilehead,  an  extenfivc 
and  important  battle  had  been  fought,  and  two  very  large 
conical  cairns  ereded,  on  demoliihing  which,  for  the  pur- 
pofe  of  making  the  turnpike-road,  remains  of  human  bones 
were  found  in  them,  and  feVeral  fragments  of  old  arms,  two 
of  which  are  ftiU  in  the  poflei&on  of  Mr  Trotter  of  Morton* 
hall,  the  proprietor  of  the  ground.  Not  hx  from  thefe 
cairns  there  Had  likeWile  been  ereded  an  upright  pillar 
(lone,  which  dill  remains.  It  is  a  rude  mafiy  block  of 
whinftone,  of  a  flat  (hape,  7  feet  bi^  above  the  fur&ce  of 
the  ground,  and  above  4  feet  below  it.  It  is  called  the  Kcl 
Stane,  an  old  Britiih  word  fignifying  the  Battle  Stone.  It 
has  fldlb  paflTed  immemorially  by  the  name  of  Camus  Stone, 
which  would  leem  to  intimate  its  connexion  with  fbme 
Daniib  commander. 


NUM. 


59»>  Sta^tisdl  Mtomt 

NUMBER  XXVIII. 

I 

PARISH  OF  INNERLEITHEN, 


(COVVTT  OV  TWXB1>1>AU  OR  VwtiMiAB;  Stw0D  aT  Le« 
TBlAir  AWh  TWSED0AI.B,  PAES^TTBAT  OF  PKSBI.U.) 


J?f  l£r  li#v.  JOBW  Walkek,  Mmifitr  g 


Niamem 

'T^HE  water  of  Leitheiit  which  bOs  ioto  Tweed  near  the 
'^  middle  of  the  parifh^  gives  name  to  the  whole,  and 
pours  nearly  all  the  water  of  its  eztenfi  v  fiirface  into  thb 
noble  river.  This  is  the  lad  great  acceflion  Tweed  reoeives 
be&re  it  leaves  the  diftriS  to  which  it  gives  name.  The 
old  parifh  of  Innerleithen  received,  as  an  addition,  all  that 
part  of  the  Ihpprefled  parifh  of  Kailr.ie  which  laj  north  of 
the  Tweed. 

The  parilh  bears  a  nearer  tdTemblance  to  an  eijcdlatersi 
triangle  than  an  j  other  regular  figure  ;  each  fide  of  which 
amounts  to  about  9I-  miles.  The  courfe  of  the  Tweed, 
from  the  boundary  of  the  parift  of  Peebles  on  die  weft,  to 

die 


^  Innerleithm.  SBf9 

the  boimdafj  of  Stow  on  the  eaft,  forming  the  fouthemi 

Bde  ;  and  from  Tweed-bank  at  Spittlebope  Born-foot  to: 

Blakebope  Scarr,  the  north-weft;  and  thence  to  Tweeds 

bank»  below  Thomylee,  the  north-caft.    It  contains,  accorw 

ding  to  Armfirongy  who  made  a  map  of  the  county  abont 

20  jrears  ago,  12,270  acreS|  Scots  meafure.    What  propor* 

cion  the  arable  land  may  bear  to  the  whole  furface  is  not* 

eafily  determined.     The  land  in  tillage,  cofhmunibus  annisj 

is  confiderably  under  1000  acres,  of  all  kinds  of  crops.   The' 

general  appearance  of  the  parifh  is  broken,  nigged,  and 

pre<apitous,  rifing  from  "the  brink  of  Tweed,  and  the  courfe 

of  the  Leitben,  to  near  1000  feet,  without,  in  fome  places, 

leaving  fpace  fufficient  for  the  breadth  of  a  road,«  unlefi  af« 

fifted  bjart,  which  has  been  but  fparinglj  beftowed  to 

that  pnrpofe.     Though,  to  a  (banger  paffing  along  tho 

highway  from  Peebles  to  Kelfo,  nothing  feems  to  ftrike  his 

eye  but  ftones  or  rock,  yet  there  the  indefatigable  flieep 

find  a  variety  of  fucculent  plants,  of  which  the  apparent 

more  abundant  pafture  of  the  northern  expofure  feems  to 

be  deprived.    The  pariih  gradually  rifes  from  Tweed  to 

its  northern  point,  where  it  meets  with  the  contiguous  pa- 

riihes  of  Eddlefton  and  Temple,  which  bound  it  on  the 

north ;  Eddlefton  and  Peebles  on  the  weft ;   Heriot  and 

Stow  on  the  north-eaft.    Tweed  forms  the  fouthem  boun« 

dary,  and  feparates  Innerleithen  from  Traquair.     Windle- 

ftraw  Law  is  the  bigheft  ground  in  the  parifli,  and  is  in  the  di- 

re&ion  of  the  north-eaft  fide.  Near  this  mountain,  the  coun-* 

ties  of  Edinburgh,  Peebles,  and  Selkirk  meet«     The  whole 

expofure  of  the  parifli  being  chiefly  fouthward,  is  produdive  , 

of  fine  grafs.    The  fiieep-walks,  though  high  and  elevated, 

are,  from  this  circumftance,  nyich  valued  by  the  fiirmer  as 

fure  fpring  ground  ;  at  which  feafon,  from  the  inconftancy 

and  feverity  of  the  weather,  the  animal^  already  reduced 

Vol,  XIX.  4F  bj 


^94.  SiatyHcAl  ji^ccimt 

hf  the  wister  ftoms,  fuffen  mixft«    From  tbe  tunc  canie,  i 
t;^  early  vegetation  arife^i  vjiiph  is  denied  to  the  northeni  ' 
•xpofure,  and»  .from  its  fiiCGulenpje,  f^miihes  fuftenuoe  te 
the  dam  to  iupport  her  tender  brood. 

Soift  Ufi^r^ln  the  courfe  of  ages,  the  decompofing  power 
eC  the  atmofphere,  ai^d  the  decaj  of  vegetable  {bbBanccs, 
l^kve  formed  the  greater  part  of  the  foil.  The  common 
vbipftopey  an4  otl^er  fc^iftic  rock^,  have  formed  die  bafis 
pf  the  greater  part  of  the  faperft^pup,  ^hich  contains  a 
.confid^rable  proportion  of  c^j,  fa  maybe  foppofed,  be- 
<aufe  formed  from  that  claft  of  rocks.  Tbe  fiibfideoce 
irom  the  Tweed  and  Leitken  has  formed  the  leafi,  hot  moft 
^ile  foil.  This  being  fiibjeft  tp  ipun4atioo,  is  not  fb  fblij 
ipder  ^e  power  f>{  t^'farpier  a^  the  hanging  ptalna  above 
^ther.  Jx^  tbefei  fprings  borfting  through  the  fiflbres  of 
^  rpckSf  known  b  j  the  name  of  iinid  fpnngi^  am}  large 
i^ones  S9e4  in  the  egrthp  were  unfbrmoantable  difficoltics 
to  tbe  inexperienced  fvpier  of  former  times:  now« 
though  agriculture  is  here  only  in  its  infancy,  the  afiive 
and  intelligent  know  how  tp  pv^oine  bptb,  with  prodi- 
^ous  ^vantage  to  tben^elv^, 

Clim^t^  Pifiqfeh  ^^••*r-Tb!e  cUmate,  in  fucb  an  exten- 
five  hilly  diftrifti  muft  be  yarjous  \  the  air,  however,  is 
dry  and  healthy.  The  banks  of  the  Tweed  have  an  early 
harvefi,  both  from  the  fliarpnels  of  the  foil,  and  tbe  genial 
expofure.  The  lowed  part  of  the  pariih  was  fubjed  to  aa 
annuail  vifit  of  the  ague  at^out  20  years  ago  \  but  whether 
from  the  drainage  of  the  land»  or  from  the  better  agricul- 
ture of  that  particular  part  of  tbe  parilb,  it  has  for  fome 
time  paft  entirely  di£ippeared.  No  epidemical  difeale  af> 
fXBs  the  inhabitants'  at  prefent.  Rheumatifm,  caufed  by 
^ad  aud  damp  bou&s,  and  low  living,  In  general  afflidi 
' '  "      '  •       •    '     ths 


^lie  lower  daft  as  they  advance  in  life.    A  hotife  fof  tht 

accommodation  of  this  ofeful  order  of  men  is^  for  the  moll 

part,  conftmfied  of  ftooe  and  feal,  is  reared  on  a  faddeOf 

mud  the  occupant  inhabits  it  as  icon  as  conSrnded.     Ill  £> 

cured  from  the  eflfefis  of  the  weather,  and  fcantilj  fnovided 

^ivith  fuel,  which  is  both  dear  and  fcaree,  the  feeds  of  thlft 

difeafe  are  rooted  into  the  conftitntiony  which  the  vigour  of 

youth  maj  for  a  while  brave  \  but,  as  old  age  advancesy  (dU 

idom  fail  to  manifeft  themielves  in  great  virulencci.  and  im^ 

pair  the  (trength  of  manhood  by  tmtnature  old  age.    Inoo* 

eulation  for  the  fmaU-pojc  gains  ground,  from  experience  of 

its  ufefulnels,  though  contrar j  to  the  theory  of  religiaus 

prejudice. 

Fijbt  (/^.'^^•Affociations  have  been  formed  to  prefervo 

the  iaimon  in  Tweed  during  clofe-timCy  which  can  produce 

no  good,  fo  long  as  Iaimon  are  not  permitted  to  come  up 

be yoM  a  certain  length  before  this  feafon  commences.  The 

intereft  of  no  dais  of  men  here  is  concerned  in  their  pre-r 

lervation.   Tc^roake  it  fo,  the  proprietors  below  muft  yield 

up  a  few  of  their  good  filhi  to  give  the  pec^le  above  them 

mn  experimental  proof  of  the  difference  betwixt  good  and 

bad  falmon.     The  want  of  this  makes  them  unable  to  di* 

ftingaiih  the  good  from  the  bad  \  and  all  is  fiih  that  comes 

in  the  net.     The  firft  ftreams  in  Tweed  in  which  the  fal* 

men  depofit  their  fpawn  are  within  a  few  miles  of  ihm 

bounds  of  this  parifli.    The  people  here  can  judge,  by  tho 

sppearance  of  the  fiih,  whether  it  will  depofit  its  fpawn  lA 

Tweed  or  its  feeders.    Tweed  formerly  produced  a  grettt 

^aotity  of  (almoo ;  now  they  are  feldom  to  be  caught,  ex* 

ccpt  after  clofe-time.    Trout  are  to  be  met  with  in  great 

quantity  both  in  Tweed  and  Leithen.     Pike  are  found  ia 

ibe  old  run  of  the  Leithen.     Birds  are  of  the  lame  kinda 

sU  over  Ihe  county.    Quadrupeds  the  lame  alio, 

Mtmroi 


.$g6  iioHJiical  Account 

MinerU  5]prM3'.— -The  water  which  iflbes  out  of  diii 
fpring  is  of  the  ikine  nature  with  that  of  Harrowgate.    In 
»a&7  diforders  it  has  been  prodqAive  of  orach  vdief  to 
the  affliAed.     To  fill  this  aocoant  o£  cures  perfismicd,  or 
to  leogthen  it  by  giving  an  imper&fi  analjfis  of  its  water» 
would  be  improper.     Two  ftrong  fafis,  which  have  come 
to  hand,  and^e  weU  attefted,  of  its  laoatiye  c&ds,  ooghc 
not  to  be  pafled  over.    The/  both  relate  to  cafes  of  infla- 
inatio»  in  the  eyes.    The  firft  is  of  a  girl  of  zo  yeais  of 
ogei  almoft  bUnd^  frona  the  oeighboiirhood  of  Hawids,  who, 
by  continuing  to  ore  the'mioend  for  about  a  monih,  (ac  two 
feafonsi'  returned  home  the  laft  ieafon  perfefily  recovered. 
The  other  is  of  a  yoimg  woman  from  Galaihielsy  with  a 
fimilar  complaint^  who,  by  ftayiog  five  weeks,  returned 
home  with  the  full  ufe  of  her  eyes.    The  firft  could  di(- 
cem  nothing  diftinfUy  when  (he  came  the  firft  feafan*   The 
hfi  could  not  diflinguifh  any  objed  at  the  diftance  of  50 
yards.  Thefe  cures,  with  many  others,  can  be  very  weD 
attefted.    In  all  diforders' of  the  jblqod,  its  eifeAs  are  highly 
beneficial,  particularly  in  cutaneous  eruptions.     The  want  of 
accommodation  prevents  a  greater  concourfe  of  people  firom 
being  benefited  by  this  falutary  fpring.    So  far  as  thst  k 
afforded,  it  k  at  one  feafon  of  the  year  fiilly  occupied.   The 
ihort  diftance  from  Edinburgh  fliould  make  it  a  defixabk 
Watering  place* 

Pofuiaiiom, — ^The  number  of  fouls  in  the  parifii  amoonli 
to  560.  The  males,  289 ;  the  females,  271.  Average  of 
Carriages  for  the  l^ft  fix  years,  4^    Bapti£Bi5»  i6. 


Jfafe 


^f  Innerleithen.  ifff 

Matis.  Ftmidis* 

Under  10  jean  of  age,  -    •       7a  66 


Under  ao,  •             -63 

Under  30,  -  4  a 

Under  40,  -            -  19 

Under  50,  -                -  ap 

Under  60,  •            -  a  5 

Under  70,  ,      -         ^  -  29 

Under  80,  .                .  8 

Under  90,  -                -  a 


44 
33 
3J 
^5 
ai 

7 

o 


289  271 

Making  in  whole,  560. 
Of  thefe»  388  inhabit  the  village  of  Innerleithen,  and  aaa 
the  reft  of  the  pariih.    Population  in  1735,  bj  Dr  Wcb- 
fler'9  account,  was  559. 

It  maj  not  be  improper  to  remark,  that  the  whole  of 
this-extenfive  pariih  is  in  the  hands  of  fourteen  occupants  ; 
and  that  of  thefe,  two  onlj  are  fulfilling  the  firft  command-* 
inent  with  promife.  Such  are  the  hopes  of  the  riiing  ge- 
neration, amid  the  wafie  of  men  bj  the  ravages  of  lawlefs 
ambition.  Where  the  cottager  meets  with  a  mafter  whi> 
gives  him  a  cow's  grafs,  he  finds  himfelf  able  to  raife  com- 
fortably a  family  for  the  ufe  of  his  country.  Their  wants 
are  few,  and  eafily  Catisfied  with  milk  and  potatoes.  To 
the  credit  of  many  of  the  farmers  here,  they  ailift  in  rear- 
iogi  by  thefe  accommodations,  a  race  of  ufeful  labourers 
for  the  fucceeding  generation.  Though  the  farmers  in  ge- 
neral (eem  to  have  an  averfion  at  matrimonj,  it  muft  be 
mentioned  to  their  credit,  that  they  liberally  ailift  thofe 
under  them  who  do  lb.  The  greateft  number  of  the  inha- 
bitants are  employed  in  agriculture,  and  the  care  of  their 
aomerous  flocks  \  a  few  mechanics  and  tradefmen  are  all 

that 


59^  Statijlical  AuQuni 

tliifccwbe  excepted';  and  thcfe  oo  more  Chan  wlimt  the  taf^ 
ply  of  arddea  of  the  firft  neceffity  require. 

The  village  of  Innerleitheny  from  its  fitaatioDy  bodb  of 
many  advantages.  Pleafantly  (ituated  on  Lcithcn-water, 
near  its  jundion  vrith  Tweed,  in  the  he«t  of  a  ooaatry 
whofe  ftaple  is  wool,  in  which  provifions  of  all  kinda  are 
plentiful,  it  feemed  formed  by  nature  for  a  fice  of  wooDcn 
manufadure.  What  muft  have  occurred  to  every  one 
iince  the  value  of  manofafiures  were  known  ui  this  codd- 
try,  was  left  to  be  accompliihed  by  Alexander  Brodie,  £% 
of  Carey-ftreet,  London.  Some  few  years  ago  he  ercded 
a  large  workhoufe,  at  confiderable  expence,  from  the  patrio* 
tic  purpofe  of  promoting  a  fpirit  of  induftry  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  place  Which  gave  him  birth.  Upwards  of  L^joco 
Sterling  were  expended  on  the  works  and  macbinerj, 
which  is  of  the  beft  conftrudion }  but  from  caufes  which  the 
author  does  not  choofe  to  dwell  on,  the  mannfadnre  hts 
tiot  gone  on  with  that  fuccefs,  to  the  advantage  of  the  pn* 
tieman  who  erefted  it,  that  its  firft  beginning  promifed. 
The  fault  neither  lay  with  him  nor  the  condu&or  of  the 
work.  Such  as  it  is,  it  returns,  on  the  whole,  very  wtU. 
An  infant  manufafiure,  in  a  country  irmfy  paftoral,  has  many 
difadvantages.  Tlie  whole  operations  of  teaxing  and  card* 
ing  are  performed  by  water.  The  houfe  confifts  of  five 
floors ;  the  firft  and  fecood  of  which  are  occupied  by  the 
operations  performed  by  water,  and  which,  had  circum- 
ftances  been  favourable,  would  have  by  this  time  been  far- 
ther  extended;  fpinning  jeanies,  looms,  &c.  of  various  coa- 
ftru61ions,  occupy  the  two  next.  The  higheft  is  a  fiore* 
room  for  the  raw  material.  From  27  to  80  hands  are  em- 
ployed within  doors,  and  as  many  at  leaft  without  the  ma- 
nufafiory.  Children  from  feven  years  of  age  are  employed 
in  the  operations  of  teaxing  and  carding,  and  earn  a  a.  6  s.  ^ 
week.    The  beft  fpinners  can  make  18  s.  fir  week.    The 

beft 


of  Innerkitben.  5^ 

fceft  TTeavers  as  much.  Thefe  two  lafi,  in  general,  wm^ 
bj  the  piece.  The  dyen  have  a  fixed  weekly  rate,  which 
Offers  according  to  their  qualifications.  Inthecoorie  of 
ehe  firft  year  after  the  work  was  begun,  cloth  was  mana« 
£a&ured  to  the  amount  of  L.  tftoo  Sterling,  and  has  gnidu^ 
ally  increafed. 

The  whole  of  Mr  Brodie's  attention  as  a  ufeful  member  o£ 
fociety  is  by  no  means  direded  to  this  one  objeA.  His  ez« 
tenfive  operations  in  Shropihire  and  London  are  too  gene* 
rafly  known  to  need  particular  mention.  To  promote  a 
fptrit  of  indufiry  in  this  diftriS,  he  engaged  in  this  mann- 
£iAure,  and  gave  the  dire£Hon  of  it  to  hb  nephew,  who» 
though  not  at  firft  acquainted  with  the  trade  in  wool*  by 
application,  ibon  made  himfelf  mafter  of  the  bufineis. 

Sbtipf  Horfis^  and  Cattle^ — Upwards  of  15,000  Ihcep  ase 
kept,  in  general  of  the  black-fiBwed  kind,  as  a  breedii^ 
dock*  There  are  90  horfes,  and  about  aoo  head  of  Uack 
cattle.  Few  of  the  floremaflers  have  thought  of  changing 
their  fiock  of  ewes  and  rams  entirely,  but  they  have  of  late 
puxchafed  ibme  of  each,  particularly  the  rams,  fince  the 
price  of  wool  has  increafed  fo  confiderably. 

The  Iheep  pafiures  and  arable  grounds  are  occupied  by 
the  fame  perfon,  as  is  the  cafe  over  all  this  diftrid.  It  is 
not  how  many  acres  of  arable,  but  how  many  Icore  of  iheep 
does  the  farm  hold,  which  fixes  the  rent. 

Stipend^  Church, — ^The  ftipend  is,  eommunibus  amnsf  about 
L.  xio.  The  Duke  of  Queeniberry  b  patron.  The  glebe 
contains,  for  the  fite  of  manle  and  garden  ground,  and  crop 
and  pafture,  about  10  acres  and  a  half.  It  has  been  alked| 
AVhat  proportion  of  ground  ought  a  minifler  to  poflels  aa 
glebe,  that  the  occupancy  may  become  profitable  ?  The  an- 
swer muil  depend  on  fuch  a  variety  of  circumftances,  that 
it  cannot  be  of  general  appUcatipo.    If  it  is  aiked,  Will  the 

miniftcr 


^09  Stati^ical  Account 

jninifier  of  Iimerleidien  have  a  profitable  occapancj  ?    Na 
The  land  he  poiTefles  will  not  enable  him  to  emploj  his 
naa  and  horfes  half  the  time  they  ought  to  be  employed. 
Ground  cannot  be  labomned  without  two  horles.    Two  he 
-muft  keep,  for  the  hiring  of  his  ploughing  he  cannot  obtain. 
One  horfe  he  ooght  to  keep  for  parifli  dut  j ;  and  when  this 
'requires  one  horfe,  the  other  is  thrown  idle  as  to  the  tiiliog 
•the  ground,  and  many  other  farming  purpofia.    Should  he, 
Apoftle  like,  abjure  the  ufe  of  hor&s  for  hb  own  accooH 
.modation,  he  may  then  drive  in  his  fuel,  and  have  bis 
little  farm  cultivated  in  proper  feafon  ;  but  every  year  be 
•muft  go  to  market  for  fodder  to  maintain  his  boriiBS  \  aad 
this  the  late  incumbent  confidered  as  an  average  expence 
of  L.  j  p4r  annum ;  which,  added  tathe  wages  and  mainte- 
nance of  a  ploughman,  renders  the  glebe  a  lols  rather  than 
profit  to  any  incumbent.    Without  a  cow,  no  family  can 
be  comfortable  in  the  country ;  the  glebe,  as  yielding  this 
benefit,  isr,  with  all  its  pecuniary  di&dvantages,  highly  ufe- 
'fol.    Conld  the  minifter  of  Innerleithen  find  people  to  hire, 
for  driving  his  coals  and  tilling  hb  land,  and  be,  by  thefe 
'means,  under  no  ncceflity  of  keeping  a  man-fervant  aad  a 
pair  of  horfaa,  he  might  then  not  be  under  any  diflScahy  of 
providing  fodder  for  two  cows,  and  a  horfe  for  parifli  datj, 
and  by  that  means  his  glebe  would  turn  out  profitable. 
As  circumftances  Hand,  this  cannot  be  obtained.    Accom- 
modation, therefore,  sftid  not  profit,  is  all  that  can  be  looked 
for.     Twenty  acres  of  farm,  at  a  reafonablc  rent,  would 
render  the  clergyman"^  fituaiion  comfortable,  and  the  pof- 
feffion  of  the  glebe  profitable.     Such  is  the  outline  of  an 
antwer  to  the  qucttion,  as  it  relates  to  this  parilh.    The 
writer  of  this  report  fpeaks  not  from  theoretical  fpcculation, 
'  but  from  dear  bought  experience ;  and  what  is  true  in  the 
one  cafe  is  fully  applicable  in  the  other.    Both  manfe  and 
church  are  in  a  gopd  Hate  of  repair.    The  manfe  was  buiic 

fcr 


qf  Innerleithen.  6oi 

for  the  lad  iQcumbent  \  the  cburch  a  few  years  agO|  and,  for 
its  iize,  is  one  pf  t^ie  neatcft  country  churches  in  the  county. 
The  poor  aRT^  fupported  hy  a  poors-rate^  oue  half  paid 
by  the  heritor?,  the  other  by  the  tenants.  .The  raite  has  ad 
additional  increafe  every  year,  which  is  a  geneirat  obfex«7a- 
tion  made  from  every  parifh  where  this  mode  of  provifion 
has  been  recurred  unto.  The  fellion  have  {bme  funds  in 
their  haads,  which  they  diilributf  to  the  rood  indigent  of 
ihofe  who  receive  the  legal  provifion,  in  ca£ra  ^f  particular 
diftreis.  The  late  incumbent  pjitained  from  the  Earl  t& 
Traquair,  when  he  fitted  up  the  mineral  weU,  the*  right  of 
difpofing  of  it,  feafon  by  feaibn,  to  forae  pauper,  who,  by 
opening  and^(buttiki|(  it  to  thofe  who  reforted'te»it,  might 
be  entitled'td  aiafy  pecnnthry  gntuity  they  pleaCsdtd  confer. 
By  tbe.r«giilatioQ9i  it  was  to'  be  o^en  two  houis  every 
morning,  and  two  every  evexfing,  Sunday  evening  excepted. 
Mr  Brodiiii' whofe  geberbfity  i^  only  equalled'  by  his*  im« 
partiaiity,  gives  L.  5,  5  s.  fevdrjlyear,  to  be  diftributed  b|f 
the  diergymsn  to  poor  hoofebiojders.  As  foen*  a&  ibis  geii- 
tleman  had  a  permanent  iateveil  in  the  parift^he  began  to 
feel  for  tfar  wants  of  the  indigent,  and  ihoagh  not  bbli^d 
by  law  to  provide  for  the  pbor,  he  made  a  law  for  himfel^ 
by  which  he  has  comributed  more  to  the  nteedy,  (ban  thtt 
moftatenfive  pvoprietor  b  boniid  to  by  law:  THi»,  ^ith 
the  eitcnlatton  of  money  proAoced  by  thofe  employed  in 
the  mamifaAovy,  many  of  whom  are  old  people  and  chit- 
dren,  who  oooM  have  earned  tittle  of  nothing,  has  benefited 
the  poor  of  the  village  very  much. 

J|f<^ii/i,uJWIietheir  thSd  Vafier  abqtrifition  of  mtittey  harf 
had  atend^xicy'tdimproV*  ttfetaidTals  of  the  InWer  clafe, 
may  be  cafily  determined -ffjr  the'cxpcrifence  of  every' body. 
They  are  ftflt  found'  in  their  reHgious  principles,  and  pique 
themfelves  on* being  J[o.    H^ligton  anti  ihorality,  or  rather 

Vol.  XIX.  4  G  that 


6o2  Stati/lical  Account 

h 
'  that  branch  of  it,  fobrietj,  have  long  been  at  odds  in  tfab 
diftrid.  Example  goes  beyond  precept*  The  lorwer  dafr 
willy  if  poffible,  imitate  their  betters.  What  proportion 
the  Diflenters  may  bear  to  thofe  who  are  of  die  EftabfiAed 
Church  is  beyond  the  power  of  man  to  determine.  The 
▼arioQS  denominations  among  us  ufe  times  of  vacancy,  if 
poffible,  to  carry  off  as  many  as  they  can ;  and  difgnft,  or 
dilappointmenty  or  any  thing,  in  (hort,  may,  with  a  little 
fophiftry,  become  the  pretext.  Thefe  canfes  have  already 
begun  to  operate,  and  what  efieds  they  fitall  produce  time 
alone  can  unfold.  . 

SiT^poiL— -The  average  number  of  (cholars  may  be  betwixt 
30  and  35.  The  greateft  number  are  in  fpring.  The 
ichoohnafter  teadies  Latin,  Englilh,  writing,  and  arithmetic; 
Hb  emoluments  of  o£Sce  are  L.  100  Scots. 

Mr  Brodie,  who  equally  regards,  in  his  extenfive- philan- 
thropy, the  fnftenance  of  the  body  and  the  improvement  of 
the  mind,  gives  him  L.  5,  5  s.  for  educating  poor  children. 
His  office  of  feffion-derk  may  yield  L.  i.  He  has  likewife 
a  free  houfe  and  garden.  His  whole  emoluments  can  hard- 
ly exceed  L.ao  per  anmtm.  He  has  contrived  to  tear  a 
fiunily  upon  this  flender  income.  If  emolument  of  office  is 
neceflary  to  promote  its  ufefulnefs,.  this  moft  impoctant  of 
aU  employments  for  the  good  of  Ibdety,  a  country  Idiool* 
noAfter,  will  ibon  be  no  more,  unleis  ferae  means  aie  &Iien 
upon  to  render  it  more  lucrative  and  xefpedahlft. 

jtiUijuiiiei^^-'Tower  houbs  uf  met  with  in  a  ruinous 
condition  at  the  mouth  of  every  defile  through  this  exten* 
five  pariih.  Tradition  is  filent,  except  in  two  or  three  i»- 
fiances  at  mofi,  by  whom  they  were  occupied.  If  the  lame 
icenes  of  iniquity  were  praAifed  in  them  all  thai  the  records 
of  the  prefl)yter7  of  feeblcs  attaches  to  one  of  them,  thej 

have 


tf  InnerleUben.  603 

have  •defenredly  become  the  habitation  of  owls.  A  ftrong 
SortificatioQ  was  ereded,  in  times  of  hoftilitj,  on  a  rifing 
gcoqnd  immediate!  j  adjoining  to  the  village  of  Innerleithen. 
Veftiges  of  the  foffam  are  fiiU  difbernible  on  the  outfide  of 
the  third  line  of  circumvallatioD.  Within  the  third  of  thefe 
lines  there  is  a  fpace  of  ratheii^  more  than  an  Engliih  acre. 
An  immenfe  quantity  of  ftones  have  been  coUefied  to  form 
thefe  lines.  No  cement  feems  to  have  been  employed. 
The  loofe  ftones  were,  however,  boilt  with  confideiable 
care.  By  whom  confimded,  at  what  time,  agaihft  whonit 
sue  queries  to  be  aofwered  by  conjeAure  only. 

Nanus  ofPlaces.'^Thtlt  are,  in  general,  borrowed  firom 
die  dialed  of  the  language  at  preient  fpoken*,  £bme  from 
their  preient  or  former  proprietors.  Horlbrugh  Caftlcy 
Tower,  and  lands,  derived  their  name  from  the  ancefiors  of 
Horlbrugh  of  that  ilk,  a  confiderable  proprietor  at  prefent 
in  the  parilh«  The  onfpa  of  the  name  the  writer  leamedt 
in  the  courfe  c£  this  inveftigadon,  to  have  arilen  from  the 
following  circumfiance  :^-During  the  time  that  Peebles  vn» 
«  hunting  refidence  to  tjtie  Kings  of  Scotland,  the  King  and 
his  noblai  were  engaged  in  the  fport  of  hawking.  The 
hawk  flew  acrots  the  Tweed  after  his  prey.  The  river 
hqtpened  to  be  in  flood ;  the  King  and  the  nobles  could 
not  follow.  The  anceftor  of  the  family,  of  the  name  of 
either  Hunter  or  Hamilton,  was,  at  the  time,  ploughing  on 
the  lands,  which  afterwards,  by  royal  grant,  became  his 
owa }  acquainted  with  the  river,  whole  banks  he  cultivatedf 
he  loofed  his  plough,  and  with  one  of  his  horles  came  acrofii 
.the  flream,  and  reftored  the  hawk  and  his  prey  to  the  royal 
hunter ;  for  which  meritorious  fervice  the  King  endowed 
him  with  all  the  lands  within  view  of  hu  plough  north  of 
Tweed.  As  he>wa9  crofling  the  river,  either  the  King»  or 
one  ci  his  attepdantSi  cried  ottt»  Har/e  hrtnk  wel,  and  thenco 

the 


<Jo4  Statijlical  AccQunt 

the  lan£U,  and  their  owner,  Trere  called  Horfebniik  ;  ivhkh, 
in  the  coaofe  of  time,  have  been  changed  into  Horflnvi^, 
VaUai  quod  wdert  /kojffti.r^^lhe  prefent  proprtctor  has,  in- 
de(>endeat  of  roy^l  grant*  a  verj  juft  title  to  the  lands  on 
which  he  refides.    They  came  into  the  fiunily  bj  aa  in- 
termarriage with  the  naoM:  of  Taic  ;  but  the  prcCcat  occu- 
pant, by  judicious  improvement,  has  railed  tiicir  value, 
hoxa  fcarcely  L.  50  of  annual  income,  to  be  worth  L.  300 
perannum.    The  only  fubftantial  improvement  xa  planting 
and  indofingy  in  the  whole  pariih,  has  been  eftfte|l*by  him ; 
and  whild  he  has  given  beauty  to  his  vicinity,  he  haa  added 
confiderably  to  his  annual  income.     In  a  country  like  ours, 
where  fo  much  ftill  remains  to  be  done,  every  attempt  to 
improve  trhe  face  of  the  country  merits  its  due  praife,  and 
ought  not  to  be  withheld. 

Road  up  Liithett. — ^In  fummer  1794,  this  road,  formed 
by  fubfcription,  and  at  prefent  kept  in  repair  by  the  fame 
0tcans,  with  the  addition  of  the  money  for  the  commuta- 
tion for  ftatute  labour,  was  begun  to  be  ufed  for  the  pur- 
pofes  of  driving  lime  and  coal.  During  the  courfe  of  that 
fummer  upwards  of  3000  bolls  of  lime,  Linlithgow  mea- 
fixre,  and  a  confiderable  quantity  of  coal,  were  drove  on  it. 
This  line  of  communications  Shortens  the  diftanoe  from  coal 
and  lime,  from  X3  to  14  miles.  Both  coal  and  lime  are  of 
better  quality,  and  a  confiderable  feving  in  toll-bar  duty 
is  obtained.  The  effeds  of  opening  this  comQAWiicarion 
.Iwve  already  appeared  highly  beneficial  to  thole  who  at 
firft  fubfcribed,  and  they  are,  as  fiur  as  they  are  individually 
concerned,  ready  to  enter  >  into  a  fecond  fubicription,  to 
oarry  th^  meafure,  as  far  a3  their  ability  allows,  into  com- 
plete efied.  The  narrow  policy  bf  othersi  who  have  not 
fubfcribed,  and  who  have  taken  ad  vintage  of  this  commoni- 
jcation,  prevents  them  frofti  fiibfcribing  at  all.  A  pnbUc  good 


^  huiirldthin.  '605 

may  by  thefe  means  fsll  to  nought,  and  die  improvement  of 
tliis  higfalj  imprtivmbk  diilrifi  be  retarded.  The  aceom* 
pliihing  this  purpofe  is  worthy  the  patriotic  fpirit  oif  the 
Honourable  Preiident  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture.  •  In  his 
extenfive  communications  with  the  members  of  that  Ho- 
nourable Board,  lie  may  open  the  eyes  of  fome  of  them  to 
their  own  sidvantage,  and  may  point  out  to  the  nation  in 
general  the  prc^riety  of  adopting  this  line  of  intercourfe 
betwixt  Carlifie  und  Edinburgh. 

AiwuUagn  •aJL-DifaivmUagu^'^^VL  the  account  already 
given,  the  advantages  of  diis  parifli  have  already  been 
pretty  fully  detailed.  A  pure  air,  a  fertile  foil,  abundant 
paftuiesy  the  means  of  inftmfiion  afforded  to  aU,  even  the 
indigent,  plenty  of  lidiibnr  for  the  indnftrious,  a  legal  provi- 
iion  provided  for  the  needy,  are  a  fliort  recapitulation  of 
thefe.  The  di&dvantages  are,  in  fome  refpe6b,  likewife 
hinted  at.  The  greateft  of  thefe  is,  the  diflance  from  fiieL 
Peats  are  not  to  be  obtained  for  general  ufe.  Furze  was 
formerly  the  dependence  of  the  lower  daft  for  their  win- 
ter fire ;  but  the  induAry  of  a  farmer,  who  began  his  occu- 
pancy at  Whitfunday  laft,  has  already  gone  far  to  remove 
this  fupply,  and  will  foon  make  an  abfolute  fcarcity.  The 
lands  he  poflefl*es  were  formerly  rented  at  L.  84  Sterling 
yearly }  now  they  are  let  in  leafe  for  19  years  at  L.  350 
Sterling  per  ann.  During  the  currency  of  the  former  leafe, 
the  lands  might  be  fuifered  to  bear  furze,  and  yet  the  rent 
might  have  been  paid.  As  things  now  fland,  he  muft  try 
fome  more  produdive  mode  of  occupancy,  eliie  the  price  of 
labour  and  rent  cannot  be  paid  ;  the  laft  of  which  is  qua- 
druple what  it  was,  and  the  firft  double,  in  the  courfe  of 
thefe  laft  fix  years*  The  completing  the  road  up  Leithea 
would  bring  the  village  of  Innerieithen  into  a  certainty  of 
))aving  coals  at  all  feafons  of  the  year.    An  attention  to 

fobriety 


i 


606  Statiftkal  Acewnt 

fobriety  would  familh  them  with  the  meftot  of  providing 
themiclviet  with  fuel  of  the  heft  and  che^peft  kisd.  Com* 
fertable  at  home»  thej  would  not  need  to  Ccek  eojojaieDt 
abroad. .  Contented  with  their  eooditioo,  thej  would  not 
Jbllow  thqie  pven  to  change.  Thefe  refleflioos  bj  so 
means  are  intended  for  general  application.  Under  all  the 
diiadvantages  already  enumerated,  the  generality  enjoy,  ia 
a  Goofiderable  degree,  the  advantages  of  dvilified  fociety. 
They  love  their  country,  are  attached  to  its  cooflitntioo, 
and  rejoice  in  the  fecurity  the  laws  afford.  If  any  thing  is 
•wanting  to  meliorate  their  condition,  it  b  reducing  their 
religious  knowledge  to  pradice. 

.  Real  and  yabiid  Rmi.'^As  hr  as  can  be  coojeSmed,  the 
real  rent  is  upwards  of  L.  3000  Sterling :  The  vabied  rait 
is  L.  6639 :  t :  a. 


NUM. 


^f  Glenhucket.  60  j 

•NUMBER    XXIX- 
PARISH  OF  GLENBUCKET, 

(CoaNTT  AXD  StMOD  OF  ABBRDEEK,  ^£8BTTE&T  W 
A.LFO&D}. 

From  Manrials  co0mumcated  by  tie  Riv.  William 

StEKCE, 


npHE  pBriih  of  Glenbucket  is  fituated  in  ebe  pcdbjrtexy 
^  of  Alford,  and  fynod  and  coontj  of  Aberdeen.  The 
«ztreme  breadth,  (at  kaft  of  the  cultivated  part}  is  not 
above  a  mile,  generally  not  half  a  mile  i  its  length  about 
four.  Itlies  on  each  fide  of  a  Cmall  brook,  called  Bucket, 
running  from  north*eaft  to  fouth-weft,  where  it  fidls  into 
Don,  and  is  bounded  bj  the  parilb.  of  Strathdoa  on  the 
cafi,  fimth,  and  weft.  The  pariih  of  Gabrach  lies  to  the 
north,  from  which  it  is  leparated  by  a  hill  of  about  four 
miles  wide«  Tradition  reports  that  it  once  belong^  to 
that-  pariih ;  and  the  remains  of  the  chapel,  where  it  is 
likely  public  worlhip  was  perfiDrmed,  were  not  long  ago  to 
be  ken.  The  foil  is,  for  the  moft  part,  of  a  light  loam,  on 
fome  fiums  mixed  with  day.  The  fprings  are  in  general 
backward,  and  vegetation  advances  very  ilowly  at  firft : 
The  fiimmers  are,  however,  warm,  as  the  pariih  is  encircled 
by  iuUs,  fo  that  the  harvefts  are  by  no  means  {b  late  as 
might  be  expeded.  The  crops  are,  oats,  Cor  the  moft  part 
of  an  early  kindi  and  Scotch  bear.    Artificial  grafles  are 

beginnmg, 


6o8j  Statijlical  AccfMtt 

beginning,  and  onlj  beginning,  to  be  fown,  and  the  advan- 
tages of  them  to  b£  knpivn.  ^  As  there  |ire,  however,  hardlj 
any  indofures,  and  every  fiarmer,  almoft  every  cottager, 
keeps  fooie  iheep,  they  arf  with  difficulty  fparded  in  the 
winter.  The  turnips  muff  indeed,  in  general)  be  taken  up, 
as  there  is  no  preferving  of  them. 

The  people  are  feber,  and  ytrj  indoftrions.  There  are 
few  that  do  not  make  thci^  ^«m  ploughs  and  carts,  and  alfb 
their  brogues  or  ihoes. 

The  pan(h  i3  the  property  of  one  heritor,  (the  Earl  of 
Fife) ;  and  contains,  by  a  very  exad  lift  taken  laft  winter, 
(1795),  449  fouls*,  229  males,  220  females.  The  average 
of  deaths,  for  eight  years,  is  about  8.  The  population,  ac- 
cording  to  Dr  Webfter's  account,  in  X755t  was  430. 

The  names  of  places,  almoft  without  exception,  are  de- 
rived from  the  Gaelic,  as  Badenyon^  which  gives  name  to 
an  edc^tiX  idCLg  \  and  meaAs^  ^  \b  fiid,  the  Bit^s  Jig&,  or 
Tbieketi 

Th^re  are  no  fiiAds  f6r  t^  fii^pKi^  of  thtt  poor  bat  the 
weekly  collediions,  uHliA  are  fiAatt.  lAidkA^  there  are 
fcHom  any  that  require  eonftayit  fupply.  Siit  or  fevcn  le- 
teive  a  few  ihillingB  twice  or  thrioe  in  the  year. 

Ad  the  parish  b  (maQ,  fo^  the  ftipead  is  perhaps  the 
fin&Heft  rtt  Scotlattd*.  This  kn%,  manfe,  an^  bflkes,  were  alt 
lately  rebuilt. 

The  parifli  fie^  at  a  gte«t  (fiftianee  from  every  market- 
towb.  Aberdeen,  the  poft-town,  is  above  30  miles  off. 
To  it  the  people  mnft  carry  \^hatever  they  have  for  iak, 
and  from  thence  all  their  neceftWries  are  procured.  None 
but  thofe  who  have  felt  it  can  imagine  how  inconvenient 
it  is  to  be  at  fuch  «  diflance  fitmi  a  poR>office  and  market- 
t6wn;  when,  for  fix  or  ^ight  weeks,  fometinies  sdl  communi* 
cation  is  fiiopped. 

NUM. 


NUMBER  XXX. 
PARISH  OF  YETHOLM, 


(CouvTT  OF  RoaoRGH,  Stkod  or  Merse  Aif d  Tetiot- 

DALE,  PrESBTTERT  OE  KeL80.) 


CoBeBulfram  Maieriais  communicated  by  tie  Rev. 
William  Blackie. 


Epttent. 

'T^HE  parifli  of  Yetholm,  or  21etholin,  has  never  bad  anj 
other  name,  as  far  as  is  known,  nor  does  it  appear  that, 
a  part  of  anj  other  parifli  has  been  annexed  to  it*  Where 
longeit,  which  is  nearly  from  north-weft  to  fouth^eaft,  its 
eitent  is  between  four  miles  and  four  and  a  half;  the 
breadth  generally  about  two  miles;  and  the  Bowmont  wa- 
ter divides  it  into  two  parts,  not  qoite  equal,  the  largeft  be* 
ing  towards  the  north-weft.  On  the  fouth,  and  foutb-weft^ 
and  weft,  it  is  bounded  by  the  parifli  of  Morbottle ;  on  the 
north-weft  by  the  parifli  of  Linton;  and  on  alltiie  other 
Vol.  XIX.  4  H  quarters 


6io  Statiftical  Acamnt 

qaarteiB  l^y  the  £Dgli(h  border.  It  b  hilly,  batthe  hilk  aie 
green.  The  Bowmont  ynxtx  has  (qme  pretty  kurge  bsoghsi 
and  from  the  minifter's  manfe  to  the  nordi-weft  there  n  s 
piece  of  flat  land  along  with  thefe  haughs,  tot  the  extevt  of 
aboat  i^  mile, — About  ilraigbt  weft,  where  this  pariik 
inarches  with  thgt  of  Morbottle,  there  is  a  loch  of  note 
than  a  mile  in  circumference,  in  which  are  both  pike  and 
perch,  the  flat  land  already  fppken  of  refching  rofiii4  T^ 
thplm  Law  till  you  come  quite  to  the  loch. 

Agriculturi<^-A\io^t  ifjo  Englifli  acres  are  adnallj  on- 
der  tillage,  and  though  there  be  fome  wheat  fowu,  yet  the 
greatefl  part  is  laid  out  in  raifii^g  bsirl^y  and  oats,  wd4  tm:- 
pips.  Even  the  fmall  tenants,  who  have  from  i  and  a  to 
xo  and  15  acres,  from  Mr  Wauchope  and  the  Marquia  of 
Tweeddale,  have  their  turnip  quarter,  for  which,  00  ac* 
count  of  their  vicinity  to  Northi^mberlaud,  they  find  a  rea- 
dy market,  getting/ when  a  good  crop,  feme  years  If.  3, 
others  L.  5,  to  be  eaten  upon  the  ground  with  iheep.  Muefa 
more  land  could  be  made  arable. 

The  fheep  maintained  in  fummer  (not  reckoning  die 
lambs,  which  are  about  25Q0|  ^d  of  which  xx6o  are  Ibid 
off  whilft  lambs)  are  about  4800.  They  are  generally  the 
largeft  of  the  Cheviot  breed,  and  if  a  period  of  |o  years  is 
taken,  it  will  be  found  upon  an  average,  that  the  beft  prices 
in  this  country  have  been  got  for  wool  growing  in  this  pa- 
rilb.  Laft  fummer  moft  of  it  was  fold  for  L«  i,  xx  8.^cr 
ftone.  It  is  the  {hort  clothing-wool,  and  they  prefer  the 
New  England  tar,  mixed  with  butter,  for  falve.  In  ma- 
king the  falve  for  fmearing,  they  take  40  pounds  of  batter, 
^4  ounces  in  the  pound,  to  6  Scots  pbts  of  ur,  with  which 
they  fmear  X40  ihecp.  A  good  many  years  ago,  a  trial 
was  made  in  a  neighbouring  parifh,  farther  up  the  Bow* 
}&ontwater>  of  crofliog  w^th  the  Bakewell  breeds  bnt  it 

was 


^Titbotini  6x1 

wmi  found  fo  hx  firom  beiog  tn  improvement,  thtt  they  Cold 
them  off  as  fpeedily  as  poffible. 

The  number  of  black  cattle,  except  cows  for  milk,  are 
oomparatively  fmall*  The  aomber  of  formers  horics,  both 
for  work  and  riding,  is  39  \  and  of  fsirmers  and  hinds  or 
herds  cows,  is  50.  For  fome  dme  pad  onlj  xa  osen  havt 
been  reared ;  40  Highland  cattle  have  been  bongbt  in  and 
fed  off«  Among  the  fmall  tenants,  and  inhabitants  who 
have  no  land  at  all,  are  kept  76  horfes.  The  number  of 
their  milk  cows  may  be  about  64,  befides  fome  of  them 
bringing  up  young  ones* 

^psK0iM.— There  is  a  common  in  this  parifh  of  about 
200  acres  in  extent,  of  which  40  or  50  are  thought  im«« 
proveable.  There  u  very  little  wood,  and  the  gentlemen 
feem  not  difpofed  to  plant  any,  although  there  is  .abundance 
of  land  fit  for  no  other  ufe. 

P«;^it£iribff.— This  parilh  has,  I  (iippofe,  more  than  dou* 
bled  its  population  in  the  courfe  of  this  century,  becaufe 
many  villages  in  the  neighbouring  pariflies  of  Hounam, 
Morbottle,  and  Linton,  have  been  totally  razed  fince  the 
memory  of  people  now  living,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants 
have  withdrawn  into  the  towns  oi  Tetholm  and  Kirk* 
Yetholm,  two  villages  in  which  the  greateft  number  of  this 
parifh  dwell ;  the  former  belonging  to  Mr  Wauchope,  and 
fituated  upon  the  north-weft  fide  of  the  Bowmiont  water; 
the  other  belonging  to  the  Marquis  of  Tweeddale,and  on  the 
fottth-eaft  fide  of  fiiid  water. 

When  the  prefent  incumbent  was  ordained  in  the  year 
1786,  he,  in  the  courie  of  his  parochial  vifitation,  found  tho 
number  of  foub  to  be  in  Town^-Yetholm  539,  in  Kirk^ 
Tetholm  313,  and  in  the  reft  of  the  parifti  208,  making  in 
all  1070  louls.    There  were  491  males,  and  579  females* 

Upon 


6i2  StatiJHcal  Accowa 

Upon  tikiog  a  new  furrrf  of  (he  anmber  of 
reckoning  none  bot  thofe  who  refide  at  pre&iit  (Jamarj 
X797)  in  the  parifh,  I  foond  in  Town-Tetfaolm  490  (bob, 
in  Cirk-Tetholm  305,  and  in  die  reft  of  die  pvifli  xti ; 
in  all  976.  The  popoladon  in  1755*  bj  die  return  fcnt  to 
Dr  Webfter,  was  699. 

The  reafon  why  die  number  of  females  ezceeft  that  ef 
the  males  mnft  be,  that  for  about  30  or  40  7013  paft  the 
eountcy  about  being  greatly  depopulated,  fiogle  women  un- 
fit for  fitf  mors  ferviee,  or  an  old  widow  with  a  dflnghter  or 
two,  moft  of  them  equally  unfit,  took  re&ige  in  tfaefe  Tilla- 
ges, and  earned  their  livelihood  by  fpinning,  perhaps  fome 
one  of  the  family  by  hoeing  turnips  by  the  day,  and  Iming 
themfelTesinhanreft;  whiMl  the  males  hired  thcm&lrei 
for  herds,  hinds,  and  farmers  fervants,  and  were  in  other 
pariflies.    This  is  not  mete  conjefiture,  for  a  great  part  of 
the  paupers  upon  the  lift  oonfift  of  fuch  women,  and  I  know 
of  many  more  who  ftiU  fubfift  by  their  own  labour.    Be- 
fides,  fome  fingle  women,  or  widows,  after  obtaining  a  fa* 
dement  in  other  pariflies,  come  to  refide  in  thefe  villages  i 
becaufe  flout  women,  fit  to  be  employed  tl^e  whole  feafoa 
in  every  kind  of  out-work,  are  fo  fcarce  in  proportion  to 
the  demand,  that  no  farmer  will  let  a  cottage,  bat  upon  the 
condition  of  being  fiimifhed  with  a  worker,  for  whom,  even 
in  the  tumip-feafon,  they  pay  8  d.  or  9  d.  per  day,  without 
viduab.     Thofe  who  were  hired  by  the  day  in  fbmmer 
1795  got  X  s.  a-day ;  and  men  before  harveft  got  x  s.  and 
6  d.  a-day,  without  viftuals.  During  harveft  many  &rmers 
in  this  parifli  gave  for  men  x  s*  and  6d.  with  viduals,  and 
none  gave  below  x  s.  and  4  d.    For  women  x  s.  and  4  d. 
and  none  below  x  s.  and  a  d.   Some  years  ago  6  d.  was  rec- 
koned equal  to  viAuals  for  a  day :  8  d.  is  now  thought  by 
fome  the  proper  allowance.  Labourers  prefer  getting  their 

viduals  to  an  allowance  in  money. 

In 


ofTetUhn.  613 

In  order  to  afcertain  whether,  in  the  natural  coorfe,  the 
number  of  males  be  greater  than  the  number  of  females,  I 
picked  out  all  thofe  families  which  confided  moftlj  of  chil- 
dren, and  found  the  males  more  numerous  than  the  fe- 
males. 

Occupations  of  the  Inhabitants. 
Tinkets  and  gypfies,  all  in  Kirk-Tetholm,  including 

women  and  children,            -                    -  50 

Weavers,               -               -    -              -  '  35 

Smiths,                   -                   -                   .  ^ 

Wrights,                   .                   .                   .  ,5 

ShoemakeiB,                   -                   -                -  5 

Coopen,  one  of  them  alfo  a  wheel-wright,          -  3 

Day-labourers,                    -                    *  49 

,  Pkntghmen  and  hinds,                   «                   -  25 

Shepherds,                      -    '                 -  16 

Schoolmafters,                    .                     •  4 

Millers,                   -                   -                   -  lo 

Skinner,                  -              .    •  -       .              -  1 

Retailers  of  merchandife,                -                    -  6 

Tailors,                     -                    -                    -  9 

Mafons,                -  '                 -                    -  9 

Waukere  and  dyers,                    -                    -  4 

Thatchers,                    -                    -                    -  3, 

Gatherers  of  eggs,  having  no  other  occupation,  a' 

Bakers,                ...  7 

Gardeners,                ...  7 

Carriers,  one  a  dated  weekly  carrier  to  Kelfo,  9 

Surgeons,  one  given  over  bufinels,                -  2 

Butchers,                -                -                 -  2 

Coblers,                    *                    -                    -  3 

Pedlar,                   -                   -                   -  x 

Fidler,                    -                    -                    -  i  ' 

Saddler, 


6x4  Siati/Kcal  AccoufU 

Saddler»  •  .  *>  •  i 

Malftcr,  *  -  •  I 

Cow  dealer,  -  -  •  i 

Reni.i'^Tht  Valued  rent  of  the  pariih  is  L.  7049 :  13 : 4 
Scots.  The  real  rent  is  about  L.  2x04  Sterling.  It  maj 
with  propriety  be  faid  to  be  three  times  more  than  it  was 
during  the  remembrance  of  fome  old  people  yet  liTing, 

Stipend. — ^Till  lately  the  ftipend  was  no  more  than  13^ 
boUs  oat-mealy  14^  boUs  barley,  5  boHs  wheat,  all  m  Te- 
Tiotdale  meafure,  and  L.  38  :  17  :  9^  in  money,  befides 
L.  X  :  13  : 4  for  communion-elements.  An  augmcotBtifm 
was  lately  granted  of  2  chalders  of  oat-meaI|  Linlithgow 
meafure,  and  L.  2 :  6  : 8  for  communion-elements.  But  af- 
ter all,  if  one  confiders,  on  the  one  hand,  the  great  and  ra- 
pid advances  of  rents,  and  on  the  other,  the  abundance  of 
free  teind  in  the  pariih,  and  that  the  ftipend  was  never 
augmented  before,  he  may  be  juftified  in  pronouncing  it  too 
ijoiall.    Andrew  Wauchope,  £{q;  of  Niddrie  is  patroo. 

Sciooi.'^'The  fidary  belonging  to  the  parochial  (cfaod  if 
zoo  merks  Scots.  The  matter  is  fumifhed  with  a  good 
fchool-houfe  and  dwelUog-houle.  There  are  two  or  three 
private  fchoob,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  number  of  fcholars  may  be  about  8q. 

Poor — ^The  number  of  poor  upon  the  roll  is  ufually  about 
50,  who  receive  from  as.  6d.  to  8 d. /^  week  each,  as 
their  neceifities  may  require.  Befides  the  ftated  poor,  feme 
needy  families  receive  oocafional  fupply.  The  funds  fior 
anfwering  thele  purpo&s  arife  chiefly  from  afleflinents. 
They  amounted  from  Whitfunday  to  Martinmas,  in  the 
year  1795,  to  the  fiun  of  L.  5a,  19 s.  Sterling.    The  col- 

leffioos 


tfTethobn.  615 

lefiions  in  the  church,  amoantiDg  €0  about  !«•  8  annually, 
are,  at  die  defire  of  the  heiitorsy  moftly  given  to  indigent 
peifons  not  upon  the  roll,  with  a  view  to  prevent  them  from 
becoming  a  burden  on  the  public  £b  foon  as  otberwile  would 
be  the  cafe. 


NUM- 


6i6  Stati/lieal  Accmuu 


'NUMBER    XXXI. 


PARISH  OF  AULDEARN, 


(County  or  Nairn,  Stnod  of  Morat,  and  Prxot- 
TERT  of  Nairn). 


By  the  Rev.  Mr  John  Patxrson. 


AULDEARN  is  fiud  by  Mr  Shaw's  hiftoiy  of  Monj 
to  be  compofed  of  two  Graelic  words,  importixig  die 
iron-coloured  brook,  from  a  fediment  of  that  colour  ooca- 
fionallj  thrown  out  by  the  brook,  which  runs  weftward  of 
the  village.  By  other  gentlemen  (killed  in  that  language, 
it  is  fuppofed  to  denote  the  brook  covered  with  alders,  from 
At  abundance  of  the  trees  fo  denominated,  which  grew 
along  the  fides  of  it,  and  which  ftill  grow  near  it.  It  was 
formerly  a  place  of  much  greater  confideration  than  at  pre- 
lent,  and  the  feat  of  the  Dean  of  Moray,  who  prefided  over 
ten  canons,  and  in  the  bifliop's  abfence  prefided  in  the  chap- 
ters and  in  fynods.  From  a  grant  of  the  *^  lands  of  Penie 
(Pethenach  juxta  Erin  per  fuas  redas  divifas)"  in  this  pariih 
to  the  Priory  of  Urquhart,  by  David  !•  its  ancient  name 
feems  to  have  been  fimply  Exin. 

The 


b/JtutdearHi  fli;^ 

Thi^  diarch  and  madfe  ate  pleabntly  fiiuoied  on  a.ri^ 
ling  ground^  whkh  coihinandB  an  eztenfive  prof^ft  of  tbe 
Mor*y  Firth,  and  Baj  of  Cromarty,  of  part  <rf  five  diiFerent 
ifairea^  and  a  landfcape  of  many  tlioufand  acres  of  cultivated 
lands.    Tkey  are  fituated  in  the  centre  between  Elgin  and 
Invemefty  20  mOes  from  each.     On  the  north  the  pariih 
extends  i^our  miles  gkng  the  coaft  of  the  Moray  Firth,  6 
miles  from  fouth  to  north,  and  the  fame  from  eaft  to  well ; 
bounded  qp  die  fouth  bj  the  hills  of  Ardlach,  on  the  weft 
by  the  pariih  of  Calder,  and  im  the  caft  by  Dykes  and 
EdinkaiHie.  The  foUth-eafi  part  of  the  pariih  is  of  a  rich  red 
mortal  foU,  of  diiRcult  cnltivatioa,  but  producing  luxuriant 
crops  of  barley,  oats,  and  peaie.    The  fouth- weil  diviiion  is 
of  a  mduld  darker,  and  not  fo  fertile  as  the  form^ri  and  iii 
late  feafbns  the  corn  is  liable  to  much  damag^«   Around  the 
village  of  Auldeani  the  foil  is  light  and  dry,  in  ihowery 
feafons  recompeniing  the  labbuts  of  the  huibandman  \  but  in 
thofe  of  an  oppoiite  defcription  is  parched,  and  the  crop  de« 
ficienti     The  north  part  is  of  a  cold  and  heavy  loam,  ex- 
tremely diiEcitlt  in  w^  weather  to  labour  in  wiuter.    The 
eail  and  weft  iides  are  of  a  fimilaf  mould,  producing  tf^eigh^ 
ty  crops  of  oats,  but  not  fo  fiivourable  for  barley,-  althbugh 
barley,  in  general,  is  the  grain  mod  congenial  to  tb^  fcil  oS 
the  pariih,  and  vies  in  excellence  4vith  any  ih  the  northern 
part  of  this  ifland.     In  that  quarter  of  the  pariih  which  is 
the  property  of  Lord  Cawdor,  the  ground  is  fo  encumber- 
ed with  ftones,  that  if  his  eRate  was  cleared  of  them,  it  is 
computed  it  would  rife  onfc-fifch  in  valne. 

Climaief^Tbt  climate  is  mild  and  ferene,  at  leaft  in  Che 
lower  and  level  parts  if  the  ^nlH.  No  dUea&s  peculiar 
to  the  place  are  prevalent.  NotwitKftandingthe  immoderate 
tife  of  fpirituous  liqnors,  the  rsrvages  which  dropiical  and 
confumptive  diilempcrs  have  made  elfewhere,  are  here  hap- 

VoL.  XIX*  4  I  pil/ 


6i  8  Statiftical  Account 

pilytmkuowo ;  veryleW  bav«  &lkn  a  faoifice  lo  tke  liialU 
pox,  though  the  peopte  are  in  general  aTer£b  to  inoctiladon^ 
from  the  general  gloominefsof  their  fiuthy  which  teacbestfaeaHv 
that  all  difeaies  which  afflift  the  human  frame  are  inftanryT 
of  the  Divine  interpofitioUt  for  the  punifhment  of  fin;  aoj- 
interference,  therefore,  on  their  part,  they  deem  an  ufiirpa- 
tion  of  the  prerogative  of  the  Almighty. 

Stati  ^Prq^crf^.-^The  valued  rent  of  this  parifli,  at- 
mounting  to  L.  7255,  78.  Scots,  is  divided  among  fix  heci* 
tors.  Mils  Brodie  of  Letben  has  an  elegant  £eat  in  the 
fouth  part  of  the  pariihi  fituated  in  a  hollow  betwixt  two 
hills,  (heltered  on  the  eaft,  well,  and  fouth  fides^  bj  planta- 
tions of  trees;  among  which  the  majeftic  fiae  of  fome  vene- 
rable beeches,  with  their  luxariant  difiufion  of  boughs  and 
l^rancbes,  muft  attrafi  the  notice  of  eveiy  behotdcrv^-North 
of  the  church,  in  a  delightful  plain,  beautifully  variegated 
with  wood  and  water,  lies  the  family-feat  of  the  Duftbars 
ef  Boath.  The  garden  and  pleafure-grounds,  with  the  £b- 
t^eral  indofures  adjoining,  ace  laid  out  with  the  utmoft  de- 
gance  of  tafte.  The  family  of  Boath  have  been  proprietors 
of  that  eftate  upwards  of  250  years<^-Mr  Gordon  of  finid 
has  a  fummer  lodge  at  Kinfleary. 

The  valued  rents  of  the  feveral  heritors,  as  &ited  m  the 
ce&-books,  are  as  foUbw,  viz. :  Charles  Gordon's,  £(q;  of 
Braid,  confiding  of  Kinftcary  Park,  and  Auldearn,  L-ajaa^ 
14  s.  4  d*  Scots,  money.  James  Brodie's,  £(^  ofBrodie^ 
cftates  of  In(hocb,  Lochloy,  and  Penich,  Liijj^p,  ix$« 
Lord  Cawdor's  eftates  of  Boghdl,  Moyneis,  £arl&at.  Black* 
hills,  Laylands,  and  Raitbne,  L.  1493  :  19 :  6.  Mils  Brodie 
of  Letben,  L.  xroo.  Alexander  Dunbar,  Efq;  of  Boatb, 
L.  6ja  :  15  ;  9.^  Knockowdie,  L.96.  The  red  rent  confix 
derably  exceeds  L.  5000  Sterling  yearly. 

Pofubiwm* 


*ofJuldeam.  619 

Pofu/aiion^r^n  1755  the  popidation  is  faid  to  have  a- 
mounted  to  1951  fouls.  This  fiatementy  however,  is  liable 
Co  the  fufpicion  of  exaggeratbn ;  for  the  laft  incumbent,  in 
his  onfucceisful  application  for  an  augmentation  of  ftipend 
the  preceding  year,  I754t  reprefented  them*  as  amounting 
to  onlj  1600  fouk.  In  an  accurate  lift  taken  fpring  lail 
jear  (1796),  the  parilb  was  found  to  contain  1406  inhabi* 
tants ;  66x  males,  and  745  females* 

The  total  of  thofe  who  fellow  the  profeffion  of  agricul* 
ture  is  117.  Several  mechanics  and  tradefmen  poflfefs  fmUl 
croftSy  in  order  to  augment  the  megns  of  fubfiftence  for 
themlelves  and  fatnilies.  Of  day-labourers  there  are  43, 
IX  ihoemakers,  7  fmiths,  15  weavers,  8  taylors,  ;  millers, 
]  X  mafons,  and  9  fquare-wrights }  and  there  are  3  inns,  and 
4  merchants,  in  the  village  of  Auldearn,  which  contains  4^ 
joules,  imd  185  inhabitants.  There  are  about  97  iece- 
ders  of  the  Antiburgher  perfoafion,  who,  in  conju&ipn  with 
fome  others,  attached  to  that  feft  in  the  neighbouring  pa* 
riflies,  contrive  to  fupport  a  clergyman  of  their  own  in  Bog- 
holl,  in  the  fouth-eaft  comer  of  the  pariih,  and  confines  of 
Edinkaillie. 

This  feceffion  from  the  copimunion  of  the  eftablilhed  re« 
ligicn  began  about  40  years  fince,  and  is  now  rather  on  the' 
decline.  All  the  reft  belong  to  the  eftabliftunent,  and  join 
with  it,  atleaft  in  religious  ordinances,  although  their  attach- 
ment to  puritanical  dodrines  makes  many  of  them  wander 
miles  to  hear  popular  and  applauded  preachers. 

AbftraA  of  births  and  marri^^es  for  i^  years,  precediQg^ 

1797  : 

MaleSn    Females* 

»4 
9 
II        _ 

i7  "5  S8 


1785     . 

IS 

1786     - 

«5 

1787     - 

za 

178^ 

!2 

carried  orei 

•58 

Total, 

Marriagtt, 

3» 

>J 

49 

»9 

az 

Vi 

34 

«^ 

$2^ 


Stat^ftkid  Apmmi 


M«bf, 

Fm^t^ 

^otai. 

Marri^gn. 

BroRgbt  ( 

rrm  58 

J7 

««5 

58 

1789 

»5 

«4 

*9 

»4 

1790. 

13 

•  *°, 

33 

«i 

1791 

•       '7 

»4 

3« 

»3     . 

X79»     . 

10 

13 

»3 

xo 

1793 

xa 

7 

»9 

8 

»794 

9 

16     . 

ai 

.   8 

1795     .   • 

ai 

»4 

35 

»3 

1796 

ai 

«5 

3<S 

9 

176         170  346  148 

Average  of  births  nearly  ^9,  of  marriages  114* 
Abfttaft  of  h\t^  tni  marriages  for  5  years,  previous  » 


Malts, 

Females. 

TotaA         Marrit^ 

J744 

.        28 

26 

54                  Xfi 

>74S 

18 

30 

38                   7 

X74fi 

-        18 

*3 

4»                   7 

»747 

39 

3» 

6«                 xj 

1748 

-        aa 

36 

59                   ^ 

1x6 

.3« 

35a                 49 

Average  of  \afiia  5of ,  marriages  9^ 

Bj  reafon  of  the  negligence  of  tbe  fcffion-clerk  of  tfatt 
period,  the  lift  of  bapdfioos  for  j  jFears  previous  to  1755, 
vrhich  would  have  afforded  the  faiireft  point  of  comparj&Ot 
has  been  very  inaccurately  kept-  From  the  above  view  it 
appears,  that  the  population  has  decraafed  oonfiderably, 
owing,  as  To  other  places,  to  the  enlargement  of  &cai%  and 
flocking  of  young^men  to  manu£i£hiring  towns* 

Advantages  and  Difadvantaga  of  tbe  Parijb^  andiCf- 
celianeous  Op/ervatiofn.-'^Thcrt  arc  &w  oalural  woods  of 

aar 


nxxj  extent,  bat  ooe  o£  birch  c/t  the  dilate  of  Infhockr  tb^ 

property  of  Mr  Brodie  o^  Brodie  -,  and  fron)  thist  VFOO^  thr 

neigbbpurhood  are  geacrallj^fuppUtd*  wkh  looft  of  their  laEh 

plcments  of  buibaA4r7-    l^t^  likewife.  are  ibme  .vnhiaUb 

firs,  equal  in  ^piality  to  thofe  of  Glet)mor«>  ^d' wbiok  lUBi 

«t  a  itiiUing  a  Ipot  cubic.    There  Ern»  :howeyer»  largo  pte- 

rations  of  firs  intcrijp^ied  with  l^j?c,  and  every  fpeciea  of 

hard  wood  known  in  Scotland  reared  on  the  eftates  of  aU 

the  proprietors  s  but  the  nioft.  confiderable  on  that  ef  Ifr 

Cordon  of  Br^id.    The  ezertioni  of  this  gentleman,  in  the 

improvement  and  enxbeUiflimeiit  of  his  isftate,  by  platiring 

of  trees  and  hedges»  draining  of  mi^rflids,  bnrfting  of  ilones 

by  gun^powdcr*  and  inolofing  of  his  grounds,  and  dms .  fiir- 

Aifliing  confUnt.eaipIoymcnt  to  the  indnftrions  poor  in  Uus 

quarter,  deferve  much  praile.  The  extent  o£  ground  ooveMd . 

bj  Mv  Gotdoaf  1  )planr«tians,  including  the  chunpi  and  behs 

of  bis  pleafiire-^ouhd,  ezqeed  600  acres;  and  their  thinnings 

have  already  been  very  icrviceable  for  firing,  and  various 

other  country  purpoles.— From  the  appearaaee  of  the  dips 

and  rifiss  of,  the  variws.ftrata  of  metals  betwixt  the  houfe 

of  Boath  an4  the  lea,  it  has  appeared  probable  to  ibme  per* 

ipm  of  iagacitj  aod  obiervatioB,  that  •  ooal  might  be  proe»- 

red  at  an  expenoe  no  wife  inadequate  to  the  objofi,  by  mean» 

of  a4re-engine  planted  near  the  iea^ihore.    And  on  that 

property  there  is  a  quarry  of  datk-blue  ftane,  which  mounts 

like  coal  into  a  bkze  by  the  operation  of  fire,  bnt  is  not 

consumed  thereby,  nor  diflblyes  in  water  like  limeftone. 

An  almoft  inexbauflible  fund  of  marl  may  be  found  in 
lioch  Lity,  upon  Lord  Cawdor's  eftate,  covering  about  40 
ac^soffitf&cc,  to  the  depth  of  from  16  to  aofieet;  the  lake 
might  be  drained  by  a  fimall  fire-engme  of  L.  60  or  L.  j% 
value.  Few  of  the  parifhioners  have  made  application  to 
Jxkrd  Cawdor  in  order  to  avail  themfelves  of  this  valuable 
inannre.  Jhe  moft  con^d^Ue  mo6  belong  to  Mr  Bxodie 


522  StattfHcal  Acamnt 

«f  Brodie.    Some  oAer  proprietoxs  pretend  to  have  ferri* 
tudes  oh  ity  though  with  the  origin  of  their  claims  the  pxe- 
ftnt  writer  is  nnacquainted.    The  tenants  are  occopied  do- 
ling the  greater  part  of  the  fummer  in  digging,  prepariag-, 
land  bringing  home  their  peats.     If  there  was  regular  fbp-. 
plies  of  coals  brought  to  Naim^  this  labour  might  in  m  good 
meafnre  be'  fuperfeded,  and  the  attention  of  the  bulbaiidaian 
nighti  to  much  better  purpofe,  be  direfied  to  his  proper  cm* 
plojtment  during  that  feafon.    Large  planks  of  fir  axe  coo- 
tained  in  the  bottom  of  this  mofs/ which  ferre  for  couples 
and  lath  to  hoiifes.    Trees  have  been  found  60  feet  long, 
and  3  feet  iquare.  On  the  coaft,  on  the  north  part  of  the  pa- 
riih|  Ees  an  inconfiderable  lake  called  Loch  Loj,  of  a  mile 
in  length,  and  a  quarter  broad,  rather  below  the  level  of  the 
fea.    It  has  formerlj  undoubtedly  been  much  larger  than 
its  pcdGent  extent,  but  gradually  «ontnfied  by  the  bkiwing 
of  the  &nds  in  its  neighbourhood,  in  which  u^  two  qf  thole 
hills  of  fio&uating  find  deicribed  mqre  ae  large  in  the  ac* 
count  .of  Dyke*. 

Thefe  hills  have  fhifted  caftward  withm  thele  20  yean 
500  yards,  ftill  prefisrving  their  magnitude  and  relative  di- 
4ance.  The  largeft  of  thefc  hills  is  about  zoo  yards  pov 
pendicular«-— There  are  thr^  markets  held  annually  in  diss 
"village ;  one  upon  the  2rft  June,  called*  St  Colm'a  market, 
in  honour,  it  is  fuppoCed,  of  St  Columba,  the  founder  of  the 
iponafiery  of  Zona. 

.  T^#  Staii  of  Agriculture. — ^The  inhabitants  are  tenacious 
of  antiquated  pra^ices,  and  admit  of  the  improvements  c^ 
enlightened*  experience  by  flow  degrees^  The  mode  is  aoi 
piatcrially  altered  from  that  in  uie  30  years  fince.  Wheivtbe 
corns  are  got  clear  off  the  ground,  they  begin  to  give  a  rib- 
furrow  acrols  the  field  intended  for  barley  or  peafe  *,  wka 
^91  is  over^  if  the  it^z^oj^  pr^ve  favourable,  they  give  a 

dm 


^f  AuUeartu  625 

tkfln  ibtTow  to  thrir  laft  ye^*s  bafley-ground,  for  okUf 
which  art  begun  to  be  fown  the  28th  of  March,  and  finiib- 
ed  the  5th  of  April ;  then  thej  begin  to  fpread  their  dang*, 
and  gWe  a  dean  furrow  to  their,  barley-ground';  a  third  fuN 
tow  precedes  the  fowing  of  the  barley  -,  begun  the  8th  May^ 
and  finiihed  towards  the  conclufion  of  that  month. 

The  harvefti  in  indulgent  feafons,  begins  loth  Septem* 
ber,  and  ends  about  the  lafl  days  of  OSober.  The  common 
mode  of  preparing  their  dung  for  barley,  b  one  half  dnngf 
and  the  other  half  mortar,  but  more  frequently  fand. 

The  better  fort  of  tenants  have  ploughs  of  the  Englilh- 
oonftniftion,  dtawn  by  a  c<3uple  of  horfes ;  others  are  the 
old  Scots  plough,  drawn  by  6  cm'  8  oxen,  where  the  ground 
is  ftony  and  of  hard  culture*  The  former  makes  v&t  of 
box-carts,  and  the  latter  of  kellocks,  for  conveying  tha 
compoft  which  they  ufe  for  manure.  The  kellock  is  of  a  co- 
nical figure,  confirufted  of  twigs  of  broom  or  juniper^ 
interwoven  in  the  manner  of  baikets ;  the  fabrication  of 
which  fumiihes  employment  to  fome  of  the  labouring 
poor.  It  is  Ibfpended  by  two  fliafts,  in  which  a  fingle  horliv 
is  placed,  and  fet  on  a  clumfy  two«wheeled  carriage.  Tho 
kellock  is  in  value  i  s.  and  Aider  and  wheels  4  s.  The 
common  rotation  of  crops  after  breaking  up  the  grafs-field 
J3«  i^,  Two  of  oats,  in  (ucceffion;  2^,  Barley;  31^  Oats; 
4/ifr,  Peafe ;  and  thereafter  barley,  with  clover-feeds,  both 
white  and  red.  All  kinds  of  clover  are  fown  here,  though 
but  lately  introduced ;  they  are  ufed  here  even  only  by  the 
more  opulent;  little  hay  being  raifed  by  the  pooreft  fort* 
The  labouring  cattle  are  weak  and  ilarving  in  the  fpring, 
for  want  of  fodder,  and  are  fed  on  draw.  They  are  thus 
often  under  the  neceflity  of  fending  their  cattle  to  the  High- 
lands in  fummer,  whence  they  return  in  as  wretched  a  con* 
dition  as  they  are  fent.  Potatoes,  formbg  the  fubfifiencd 
of  the  people  one^hird  of  the  year,  arc  planted  by  every 

rank; 


624  Statifttcal  Account 

>dmk ;  hf  the  more  fabftantial  tbey  cire  drilled,  bj  the  poor< 
cr  they  ate  planted  in  every  fttirow.    The  latter,  though 
not  fo  produ&ive  as  the  other^  yet  are  efteemed  better  food. 
The  ordinary  return  of  an  acre  of  drilled  potatoes  is  about 
16  bolls,  but  that  of  the  other  fort  is  not  fo  abundant  The 
barley  of  this  parilh  is  iti  high  demand  among  diSillers,  and 
weighs  between  17  and  19  ft<Hie,  Amfierdam  weight.    A- 
bove  aooo  bolls  of  barky,  and  an  equal  quantity  of  oats, 
befides  what  is  necelfary  f&r  the  maintenance  of  the  inhabi* 
tants,  are  annually  exported.    No  peafe  are  nufed  but  for 
home  confnmption,  and  little  wheat,  till  laft  year,  that, 
alured  by  fhe  high  prices  of  that  grain,  ibme  farmers  hare 
begun  to  direft  their  attention  to  its  cultivation,  and,  it  is 
hoped,  will  find  their  account  in  it.     The  beft  cultivated 
fields  let  from  ^$  s.  to  36  s.  pet"  acre ;  but  in  the  hilly  parti 
rarely  above  15  s.     The  moft  extenfive  farmers  rent  from 
L.  60  to  L.  80  Sterling  \  the  fmalleft  from  ,L.  xo  to  L.  26. 
Sterling.    None  of  the  proprietors  have  inclofed  any  of 
their  grounds,  nor  give  encouragement  to  their  tenants  to 
do  fo,  although  moft  of  them  would  give  chearfiilly  an  ad- 
vance of  fent  to  have  them  inclofed,  as  their  neighbours 
feed  their  cattle  promifcuoufly  from  the  end  of  harvcft  to 
the  firft  jof  April,  which  prevents  improving  tenants  from 
raifing  turnips,  wheat,  or  fown-grais  to  advantage. 

The  horfes  in  this  pariih,  about  370  ia  number,  arc  of  a 
fmall  fize,  from  L.  6  to  L.  io  a-piece  in  value ;  thofe  pofTcf- 
fed  by  the  more  opulent  from  L.  xo  to  L.  20  Sterling.  Xhe 
black  cattle,  in  number  910,  are  of  a  mixed  breed  ;  Lan- 
cafhire,  Dutch,  Fifcfhire,  and  Highland ;  though  the  lad 
mentioned  fpecies  furpafles  the  others  in  number.  The  fmall- 
eft will  weigh  from  jo  to  60  lb.  per  quarter,  x7-r  <>*•  Ativ- 
fterdam  weight :  The  middling  fize  from  70  to  80  lb.  the 
quarter  :  The  largeft  iize  from  zco  to  140  lb.  the  quarter. 
Xhe  Iheep,  about  1200,  are  of  the  fmall  white-£Ked  kind; 


the  ewa  wd^bi^g  &Qm<  ^  to  |o  1^^.  per  ^auterj  and  the^ 
wethen  bom  8  to  za  lb.  //r  c|uarter.  Their  wool  is  e« 
fle«iQedy  puid  xcckoped  pref<erahle.  to  that  of  tbe  lar|;^  blad^- 
bcedr 

N^  iDawfado^,  flaXrioUV  ot  bleachfield,  have  yet  been 
eftabtift<4  here,  thoa|;b  fb^  (aiiib  is  fuppofed  to  be  poflef- 
fedoffingular  advantages  for  ^hem  all^  an^' like wUe  fee 
fome  branch  of  thread  or  (locking  manufadorj. 

T^f  ftipend,  by  dtoec^  X75.^,  wa^  'l^f^^i?,  ^  ^  chaldm 
of  vidnali,  half  barley^  If  alf  oat-iaeal|  40Q  rjaerks  Scots,  with 
L«6o  Soots  for  comtpuxfioa-moneyy  X4'wct)icn{Aa(id.ii  (bil- 
lings fsn^dntj  for  the  Paean's  Crook  near  ElgiaJ  3ttt  by  an 
interlocutot  pf  the  Coprt  olTeindi,  94th  Fehroary  179^. 
tbe  ^oinifter's  ftipcnd  is  wg^pcAted  L.  ^l  Sterling  aQnttaily^ 
and  the  meal  altered  from  48  boU^  of  ttiQ  JMafure  i}£c4  an(|^ 
wont*  to  54  bolls,  at  8  (lone  ptr  boll. 

The  cbnrch  was  built  in  the  year  17579  and  is  (lill  in 
good  repair ;  the  manfe  was  bnilt  in  175)*  was  refitted  laft 
fummer,  and  is  now  well  finilhed,  at  the  ekpenoe  of  above 
L.  200  Sterling. 

The  fchoolmafter's  falary  is  i6  bolls  barley.  The  fchool- 
houCb  jf  decent ;  about  30  fcholars  attend,  who  are  initiated 
in  the  elements  of  Latin,  Englifli,  writing,  and  arithmetie ; 
his  fee  as  feffion-derk  is  variable,  arifing  from  the  fines  of 
delinqoents.  The  fimds  for  the  fopport  of  the  poor  arife 
from  the  weekly  coUeftion  and  mortcloth-money,  amount* 
ing  to  the  (mall  fum  of  between  L.8.  and  L.9  Sterling  year* 
ly,  with  the  intereft  of  L.  94  Sterling,  accumulated  by  the 
attention  of  the  late  incun^bent.  The  number  of  poor  on 
the  roll  are  56.  Mr  Brodie  of  Brodie  is  patron  of  this  pa- 
riih. 

The  inhabitants  are  fufficiently  turned  to  the  devout  vir- 
tues ;  but  their  zeal  not  being  of  that  fort  which  is  founded 
in  knowledge,  and  which  adds  ftrength  and  (lability  to  vir^ 

Vex..ZUL  4K  tue, 


6a)s^  Staziftieta  Ac€0tm 

toe,  it  cooceiyed  by  them  to  Iraplj  fiidi  m  degree  of  ncni 
«9  to  einabcipktc  (bem  in  feme  ifteiiitre  from  tbe  irfliaiia^ 
of  morelitjr.  There  are  not  waotiog  railanccs  of  pcttr 
tbeft^  yet  tl^ey  haye  never  been  difgraced  bj  aa j  criine  xf 
fo  flagrant  a  natare  aa  to  ftt|^ed  them  to  m  trial  before  «rri- 
mhia}  coort ;  aqd  their  fatdtl  are  in  gaoend  die  oftpting  cf 
ignorance  and  il^beral  jpxrjndice,  rainier  than  df «  cmtByced 
heart.  "    ''• 

There  are  V^ffflgta  of  t^Dnxn&Ul  temples,*  but  nor  & 
entire  at  to  merit  paftieolat  dercnpeiba.  Hnrd  bj  the 
chmoh  it  a  green  mooat,  in  form  almoft  porfrftfy  dradax, 
cpmrnooly  enlkd  Caftle  HiB,  which  has  all'  the  appeanoee 
of  ttrtifictal  formationt  and  wis  j^bably  one  df  diofe  pbea 
which  anci^tisrieiis'  cuuJauunB  'to*  inv^  been  defttBcd  fcr  As 
jpur^ofe  of  hol^iftg  affizeil 


•* 

,*.            T 

• 

■      »'     l'. 

'\     •         - 

f 

1 

•      .   ."I     .* 

■   -Tf 

1    • 

1       • 

KUM. 


tfkilUan  and  kUttenzie.  627 

NUMBElL    XX±1I. 
t'ARlSH  OF  KILLEAN  AND  KILCH£NXI£, 

(ConNXT  or  AiiGTLBt  Stnos  or  Akorii,  ako  ^rcsii- 
..    y»RT  or  kxHTTM;) 

f  n  ]  I  II    ''  »'n      ><Ti     ".1^  ■  I  ri>       .ii^i       ■■     r  I      nil  ■        ■■■■■■ 

THIS  pari&  (which  confifted  of  two  paiillia  till  after 
the  Reformation)  derives  its  name  from  its  two  pa- 
Ton  lailitSt  John  and  Kenneth,  with  Kill  (fielld)  prefixed. 
It  is.fituated  in  the  prelbytetj  of  Kintyre,  and  countj  of 
\rg7k.  It  IS  bounded  on  the  foutb  bjtbe  pariih  of  Camp* 
irUtown,  on  the  north  bj  the  pariih  of  Kilcalmonolt  on  tho 
taA  b J  tlie  miited  parilhes  df  Saddel  and  Skipneis»  and  oa 
he  Weft  bj  the  Atlantic  Ocean;  Its  kagtbt  hj  the  oaea^ 
oreoieht  of  the  road,  is  18  milcs}  and  its  breadth  abous  4. 

Sbil^  Cs^c;— llie  ibil  alon^  the  coaft  is  in  general  ihafp  and 
andji  but  jields  good  crops  of  beari  potatoes,  and  oacSy 
PQin  the  abundant  application  of  iea-ware,  driven  in  b/  tba 
orms,  and  collected  bj  the  farmers  lor  manure.  Tho 
rable  ficdl  upon  thft  higher  grounds  b  generall/  a  thin  coat 
f  peat  earthf  on  a  till  bottom.  In  the  mountain  there  ii 
cry  little  of  green  fafturt,  being  moftl/  covered  wiih 
«atb4 


62  8  Statijlical  Account 

Climaie.'^This  pariih,  as  it  faces  the  Atlantic  Ocesn,  is 
much  ezpofed  to  the  wefteftj  winds,  and  the  nuns  wfakh 
generally  accompany  them.  The  dimate  mmj  be  Aid  to 
be  moiftv  or-e^en  wet,  but  not  veryoald,  ennoeoinitof 
the  vicinity  of  the  lea^^— The  people  are  generally  heal* 
thy,  and  iiibjeft  to  few  dileales.  The  prejodice  againft  in* 
ocalatloii  Sot  the  tfaiaU-poae  b  now  done  awaj^  and  that 
difeafe,  formerly  fo  &tal  to  ehlldrtn,  very  feldom  proves 
mortal ;  of  soo  children  inoculated  laft  year  not  one  diod. 

Aniiqukm.  —The  antiquities  of  the  parilh  confift  of  a 
number  of  Dani(h  forts  iboae  mde  obeliiks»  and  die  re- 
mains of  oneTitrified  toffcfw  One  of  the  obrlifci  (which 
(lands  on  an  eminence,  to  which  it  muft  have  been  carried 
from  fome  eonfiderable  diftance)  meafiires  i6  fiset  above 
ground,  and  u  4  fiset  broad, by  ^ihtt  thick j  a  oarioos  mo- 
nunaent  of  the  knowledge  which  onr  forefitthers  moft  have 
had  of  the  mechanic  powers. 

Cbwreb^  Stipend^  t^r^— Extenfive  as  tlus  paiifli  ffill  is,  it 
was  much  more  fo  before  the  late  inctmibent,  Mr  Robert 
Thomfon,  after  much  trouble  and  expence,  got  a  part  of  it 
disjoined,  and  formed  into  a  new  ereftton,  together  with  a 
part  of  the  nei^bouring  pariih  of  KilcadmooeH.  In  this 
laudable  undertaking  his  merit  Was  the  greater,  as  Us  !!• 
ving  at  the  time  was  only  L.  50  a-year,  with  which  he  had 
to  fupport  and  educate  a  nuiherous  family.  But  he  was  a 
than  who  made  little  account  of  his  private  intereft  when 
engaged  in  any  fcheme^for  the  public  good.  He  afiierwanb 
got  his  living  augmented  to  what  is  at  prefent  enjoyed  by 
the  writer  of  this,  namely,  6  chalders  of  bear,  Kintyre  mea- 
fure,  and  L.  18*,  xo  s.  Sterling  money,  together  with  aglebe, 
and  L^  la,  10  s.  in  lieu  of  mai^e.  The  Duke  of  Argyle  b 
patron  of  the  pariih. 

Scboob^ 


qfKilUafi  and  Kikhenzie. 


Scioals^r^Thert  are  4.  (chools  m  the  paxiib ;  x.  of  ^Kem  is 
fupported  bj  the  Society  for  Propagating  Chriftian  EaoW'* 
ledger  and  one  bj  the  Koyal  ISoontj  i  the  other  a  by  the 
heritors. 


StatiJicalTaSli., 


NttnibcroffiimaiMb    .  - 

male  cUldreiiy 


mile  CermOh 

vader  loyeinoftfc 
iro0i  10  to  10        • 
from  «o  to  $o»       • 
from  50  to  7pt 
from  ^o  to  zo^ 

of  WHOWCVia  • 

Widowt, 
^•lal  noinber  of  Mib 
Population  in  1 755, 
DecretfiB, 
Reatofthcptrifl^ 
Valued  rent, 
KvBbcroflfentnfli 
Cotttxs,  inchidinf  lifids* 
Soils  dfofib  Amn  ;eaHy, 


4ftS 

5«5 

«7i 

iSt 
zai 
SSO 
371 
7a» 
«35 

1.^3:13:1 


^feed, 

Kittikvofbkckc^tafe, 
iMrica. 


All 

ttst 

30a 
3« 

ztf 

3«<S 


Number  of  fti^ 

olougH 


iMoTe-caipalMk^ 

Wat-baildeii| 

miUeft, 

mafons, 


nuftftMSy 


zo 

I 

i 

-  S 
4 
t 


tDCKgta^' 


t 

a 


ti|cfc-miUar  and  djcr» '    x 


i»oor.-i»lf umber  of  paupers  on  the  parflti  rott  %t* 
Amount  of  annual  diftributioa  to  them  L*  15.  This  fum 
is  wholly  colleded  from  the  offerings  of  the  tenantSt  trade(« 
men»  fenrants,  and  cottagers;  for  of  8  heritors^  among 
whom  the  property  of  the  pariih  is  (fivided,  none  refides  in 
it  At  prelent* 

llie  number  of  marriages,  for  8  years  paft,  is,  at  an  ave- 
x»ge9  24! ;  and  of  baptifmsi  77^  f^  each  year. 


jtgricukftrij^m 


6j^  it0tyUcal  4€Mmt 

.jfyrifuhi&i^'^AM  there  are  bot  few  isdofiucs  in  the  pd^ 
nQif  ngricaltural  improir^ents  are  not  greatly  advanced  in 
il4  From  tbe  attcsytioh,  bowtVef,  t^hich  fome  of  tKe  heri- 
tor9  have  of  late  giveh  to  diefe  matters,  there  is  reafiMi'  to 
belieTe  that  the  face  of  tbe  coontrj  will  iboa  pnt  on  a  bec- 
fer  appcstrance^  The  Duke  of  Argyle  mAts  it  a  cove- 
nant in  the  kafes  which  ht  gtires  has  tenants,  that  diey  fliall 
dmin  and  indoAf  to  a  certain  extent  ^wcified ;  and  hb  Grace 
e^pbjs  a  IkdfiDdi  iitprovef  to  fuperintend  the  opeimtions. 

,  The  average  tetdrna  daroogfaMt  the  parift  is  fn^olied 
to  be,  .firom  oau  3^^  from  bear  atent  6;  from  potatoes 
from  u  to  15  ^  pblAtoes  SK  atmeft  the  onlj  gieen  crop  ad- 
tivated  bj  iffieffrunmen*  The  qnanfif  j  of  bens  aAdpeas  which 
hfbwn  is  not  cortiderable  i  hot  there  is  lealbit  to  believe,  aa 
fhey  anfwer  well,  that  the  eoltitation  of  them  wiU  be  more 
atteoded  to  in  a  very  (hort  time.  The*frrmen  are  alio  be* 
ginniog  to  find  the  advantage  of  haviitg  ferine  cfaver  and 
tye-grals,  and  the  cultivation  of  thefe  articles  wtD  probably, 
in  a- ^ew  years,  be  very  confiderable,  .  A  few  have  laiftd 
turnips,  and  no  doubt  many  wonfit  do  Ib'if  the  lands  wene 
bcloled.  The  greateft  defeft  in  our  fiuming,  is  the  want 
of  a  proper  intermixture  of  green  with  white  crops.  The 
ftrmeti,  afld  indeed  the  people  in  general,  are  a&ive, 
ind«flcioBs,.aad  well  behaved.  No  doubt  their  labour  witt 
turn  loon  to  more  account,  as  better  implemeitti  of  hdban* 
dry  are  now  fatroduced  among  them.  Hany,  mfleadef 
the  old  Scotch  plci^gh  aftd  4  horfib,  u£e  now  Small's  light 
^ough  and  only  a  horles,  alkd  a'  few  hate  laid  afide  the 
driver.  More  attention  is  dfi>  ^aiii  w  the  breed  of  horfiea' 
and  black  cattle.  There  is  only  one  bdhfi&rable  iheep* 
flock  in  the  parilh,  in  a  mountainous  fsrm.  All  the  frr* 
mors  have  a  few  for  their  own  nfis  i  theie  are  of  the  dd!* 
final!  whifi^^fraed  hind,  which  kafo  mofo  deficatn  ttOi 


ff  KiUean  Md  Kikbemde.  63 1: 

aad  iacr  wod,  wid  %tt  Botf  lb  fobijeft  to  difinfies  as  Uie  Gal- 
loveaj  bread. 

I^V^  0fS0^umis.^^The  wages  ef  ferrasts  are  conftaat- 
1  J  sdTancing.  At  preieiit  a  fervaat  maa  gets  from  L.  I 
to  L.  xo  apjear,  and  a  iervaat  maid  L.  3,  bafidea  t  va- 
riety of  articles  andor  the  name  of  bounty ;  a  dayJaboor* 
cr  gets  IS.  a-day  aad  his  Tiftoab;  a  uilor  sod.s  a 
fhoemaker  8d«  for  themakingof  a  pairof  lhoes;acarpea« 
ter  I  f •  6  d.  together,  alU  with  their  ▼idaals.  Blaokfmitha 
are  paid  by  to  mach  com  from  the  merk-laad  i  a  praftioe 
trottblefome  to  them  aad  the  tenaats  both,  an'd  which  oaght 
to  be  laid  afide,  and  aaooey  fiibftituted  in  its  place.  The 
fiime  obiervatioa  will  apply  to  the  ichoelmafter  on  the  pa- 
xochial  eftabliihmeat. 

AiomttagiM  ami  Lifiuhamu^^mJXht  advaotages  ef  the 
pariih  are,  agood  road,  itsvidaify  to  the  lea,  aad  to  a  mar- 
ket at  Campbelltown,  with  abnadaace  of  aatoral  maaaia 
from  fea^wsre  aad  lime-ftoae.-- Its  greatcft  difrdvaatages 
mrc,  want  of  timber,  and  fcardty  ef  fad  ia  many  fiurms,  oa 
which  the  peat-moflTes  are  aow  eidtsafted. 


APPENDIX. 


.3  '•^     I. 


*1  •" 


.*,:..  19. 


Appendix. 


tommtmieaifoni  fy  ji/exander  Camegie^  Efq;  TowthCIeri  of 
MirduMf  r^ardmf  tie  Statifiical  Circwnftances  of  tba$ 
City.    SceNa.IV. 

^T^H£  city  of  Aberdeen,  is  one  of  the  mofl  ancient,  and 
^     is  endowed  with  fome  of  the  greateft  privileges  and 
immonitiesy  of  anj  of  the  rpjal  boroughs  in  Scotland. 

AU  hiftorioal  aceounCs  agree^  tha^  it  was  original! j  erefi« 
cd  into  a  royal  bargh,  towards  the  end  of  the  ninth  centory, 
by  King  Gregory  of  Scotland,  firnamed  the  Great. 

But  the  original  charter  of  erefiion,  and  all  the  more^  an- 
cient title-deeds  and  records  of  the  burgh,  were,  along  with 
the  town  itHelf,  burnt  and  deftroyed  by  the  £ngUlh|  as 
after  noticed. 

A  very  few  charters  and  other  grants,  however,  have 
been  {aved  \  the  oldeft  of  which  is  a  charter  by  King  Wil* 
liam  the  Lyon,  in  fivour  of  the  bargeflcs  of  Aberdeen  and 
others  be-north  the  Month,  granted  at  Perth,  but  without 
any  date  or  year,  though  it  muft  have  been  towards  the 
end  of  tiie  twelfth  century,  as  that  King  only  began  to  reign 
in  1165. 

There  are  other  two  charters  granted  by  the  fame  King 
William,  to  the  borgefles  of  Aberdeen,  of  the  toll  of  their 
chatties  through  the  whole  kingdom  \  both  of  thetn  dated 
at  Aberdeen,  the  aSth  of  Auguft,  without  mentioning 
cither  the  year  of  God  or  King's  reign,  although,  from  the 
writing  and  feats,  they  appear  to  be  of  a  later  date  than  the 

Vol.  XIX-  «  former 


d  Appendix  to  the 

iformer  one,  and  have  probably  been  granted  during  Kii^ 
William's  refidence  beret  as  he  certainlj  built  a  palace,  and 
remained  fome  time  with  his  Ceurt  at  Aberdeen. 

The  palace  flood  upon  the  iite  of  the  prelentTrxnityjChuxcli 
and  Trades  Hofpital,  in  the  Sbiprow  ^  and  upon  Eling  Wil« 
liam's  leaving  this  country,  he  founded,  in  the  lame  place,  a 
monafiery  for  the  Trinity  or  Red  Friars,  which  was  burnt 
down  and  deftroyed  along  with  the  town.  It  was  after- 
wards rebuilt  about  the  year  1633,  ^7  ^  William  Guild, 
minifter  in  Aberdeen,  who  bequeathed  uid  left  it  for  an 
hofpital  to  decayed  tradefmen,  befides  fome  other  fnbjefis 
for  buriaries  at  the  Marifchall  College,  under  the  patronage 
ef  the  Convener  Court* 

In]i  306-79^  according  to  Hedor  Boece,  the  citizens  of 
Aberdeen,  who  had  always  lleadily  aAered  to  and  fitp> 
ported  Robert  Bruee^s  intereft,  being  rendered  defperate 
by  the  cruel  and  oppreffive  ufage  of  a  flrong  Englifii  garri- 
fon,  kept  in  the  caflle  there  by  Edward  I.  they,  along  with 
a  number  of  others,  adherents  to  Brace's  intereft,  furprzfed 
and  ftormed  that  garrifon,  and  put  them  to  the  fword,  at 
fame  time  laid  the  caftle  in  ruins^  in  order  to  prevent  the 
Engli/h  from  returning, 

A  party  of  the  Engliih,  who  happened  to  be  in  the  ndgb- 
bourhoody  came  immediately  to  revenge  the  diCifter  wfaidi 
had  befatten  their  countrymen  ^  but  they  were  met  and  en- 
gaged  by  tha  Aberdonians  and  their  affoclates,  in  the 
church-yard  of  St  Nicholas,  where  the  Englifli  were  totally 
defeated  with  great  daughter*  Although  Boeoe  does  not 
fpecify  the  particular  year  when  thefe  de^ts  of  the  Eng- 
lifli happened  at  Aberdeen,  yet,  from  its  coane£doa  widi 
the  fubje6b  of  the  context,  where  it  is  introduced  in  the  life 
of  Bilhop  Henry  Cheyne,  it  appears  to  have  been  at  or 
near  the  above  period,  and  he  thus  relates  them :  "  Eo 
^'pro^e  tempore  Brufianip  Aberdooeafem  arcem  quam 

**  aliquot 


StatiJHeal  jfce&unt  of  Aberdeen.  3 

^  aiiqpol  amos  nudmo  com  Scotoram  incommodo  Angli 
*' teimerftBti  Abetdonenfibus  plurimum  fuppetiarnm  afie* 
*  rentibiiSyezpDgnataiii.  Ti  capiimc,  csefis  iis  qui  ejus  cufto- 
^  diaB  fberant  deiUnati ;  ac  paulo  poft,  ne  Anglis  ullum 
'<  Aberdoniae  fuperefiet  refugium^  omni  fupellediti  ezhauf- 
^  tam,  folo  arqoanmt.     Angli  amiflse  ards,  cceforumque 
^  ccmtnibiliuiiii  trifli  nundo  afiedi^  coaAis  copiis,   Aberdo- 
**  niam  movent,  animo  acceptam  injuriam  ulcifcendi.    Id 
*'  ttbi  AberdonisB  noBctatum,  Brnfiani  fimul  cum  civibus 
'*  illicoy  oppido,  egrei&  funt,  cum  hollibus  dimicaturi.    Jo- 
^  annes  Frifarius  Brnfiani  ezercitns,  qui  turn  Aberdonis 
^  fnerat,  dux,  (nb  ita  animom  accendet  ad  pugnam,  ut  non 
^  tam  ad  certamen,  qnam  ad  certam  viAoriam,  progredi  vi« 
**  derentur.      Inita  pogna,  acerrimi  certatum.      ViAoria 
«*  tandem  (fed  cnienta)  Scotis  ceffit,  Anglorumque  plurimi 
"  eo  pneKoewfi,  paud  rivi  captt,  xari  fugere,  adeo  acriter 
^  in  pttgna  perduramnt.     Placuit  viAoribus  quos  captoa 
^'habebant,  ad  terrorem  extra  oppidum  furca  fufpendere  ; 
^  fed  Tetnere  Caoonici,  atqae  ut  cte&rum  corpora  ad  porti- 
^  cam  Templi  Divi  Nikolai  terra  conderenturi  apud  Frife- 
^  rinm  atque  Appuli  prasfeAum  obtinuerant,  ubi  eorum  ofla, 
^  cum  dtuHa,  is  rd  mooumentum,  adhnc  ccmuntur/' 

la  1398,  Robert  Bmce,  after  bebg  defeated  in  different 
^i^K^B^ctttSy  came  to  Aberdeen^  at  which*^ttme  he  was  fo 
exceedingly  fick,  that  he  began  almoft  to  dcffpair  of  the  re- 
cover j  <if  hiB  health,  as  wdl  as  of  his  kingdom  }  but  being 
encouraged,  and  ofieved  affiSancCi  both  in^  men  and  money, 
by  the  Citizens  of  Abeideen,  and  joined  by  a  confiderable 
number  of  ihem,  he  went  northward  in  fearch-  of  t^  Eng- 
lifli  army,  commanded  by  J6hn  Cuming  Earl  of  Bucban, 
and  Mottbray,  an  Engliib  General,  whom  ht  came  up  with, 
and  engaged,  upon  the  iid  ef  May  in  that  year,  near  to  the 
tamk  of'Inverury,  where  a  moft  bloody  battle  tofued  i  and 
ritlxmgb  Bruce  waa  tSien  fb  we4k,  that  he  was  obliged  to  be 

fupported 


4  appendix  to  tbe 

fupported  on  hprfeback  during  the  efigagement,  yet  be  tt* 
lalljr  routed  the  Englilh  with  great  daughter.  He  fooa  after- 
wards recovered  his  health  \  andjhis  national  affairs  every  day 
,  ivore  a  roore  favourable  afpefi,  this  being  tbe  firft  vifiory 
which  he  had  obtained. 

The  firfi  charter  now  extant  in  favour  of  the  burgh  itfel^ 
is  granted  by  King  Robert  Bruce,  in  1310,  which  contaias 
filfo  a  gift  and  f onveyiince  to  the  commnnity  of  the  Royal 
Foreft  of  Sfocket«  Befides  which,  be,  by  feveral  other 
charters,  granted  various  farther  privileges  an4  imninnitica 
to  the  burgh  and  citizens  of  Aberdeen,  feveral  of  whidi 
are  likewife  ftill  extant    from  the   13x4    downward  to 

In  13339  Edwarfl  III.  of  England  having  fent  a  fleet  of 
Ihips  to  ravage  th^  eaft  coail  of  Scotland,  a  body  of  Englidi 
lanc^ed,  and,  by  furprife,  attacked  the  town  pf  Aberdeen  tn 
the  night-time,  killed  %  great  nv|mber  of  the  inhabitants, 
find  burnt  and  dcftroyed  the  town  for  fix  days  together,  in 
revenge  of  the  feveral  defeats  which  thfir  countrymen  had 
there  receive^.  A°<^  Boece,  in  his  Hiftory  of  tbe  Lives  of 
the  Biihops  of  Aberdeen,  thus  relates  that  direful  cataftrophe 
which  befel  the  town,  vu^.— ^<*  Per  id  tempu^  triginta  naves 
f*  Anglican^,  in  Qatione  portui  Aberdonenfi  ptoxima  nofia 
^y  jecere  anchoras,  unde  expofitse  copies  in  terram  pene  Abtr- 
*'  doniuni  prips  funt  ingreffse,  quam  cives  eas  adveniffe  fen- 
*^  ferunt.  Sequutus  pavor  ingens,  terrorque  omnium  \  pt, 
*'  hominum,  mulierum,  atquepuerorum  fngientium  tiirmps, 
f'  paffim  vifls  complerentur.  Angli  accepta  clade  (cojns 
^*  ante  meminimus)  apud  Aberdoniam  ixa  perciti,  com- 
**  plures  Aberdonenfium  truci<iant }  urbeqi,  fimulatque 
**  Pontificis  et  Cauonicorum  srdes,  omni  fupelledili  popula- 
f*  tus  incendunt.  Arfit  Aberdonia  fex  dies,  lugnbre  intuen- 
f  tibus  fped^ciilum.  Peperoer^  hoftes  templis,  pietate 
^l  0(0^1  religiQfqruin  quoqu^  Abl^tysi  cuapdibus  adbibi^is, 

"ne 


Statiftkal  Account  of  Aberdeen.  ^ 

y  ne  corribiu  £iciilifve  yeato  per  aera  afib,  qui  tnm  ferte 
*'  vebeaiens  erat  admodaniy  qoid  damni  paterentur.  Fah 
'*  annus  quo  Aberdonia  foneftam  banc  dadem  acoepit,  a 
"  Chrifto  incamato  tcrdus  fapra  millefimuon  tercentefimuiix 
**  tricefimnai." 

Alio,  in  23361  Edward  III.  invaded  Scotland,  and  march* 
ed  with  an  army  as  &r  northward  as  Invemeis,  daring 
which  time  the  citizens  of  Aberdeen  went  out  and  attacked 
a  party  of  Englifli  forces,  who  had  landed  at  Dnnnottar, 
and  killed  their  General.  In  revenge  of  which,  Edward, 
Jipon  his  return  from  Invemeis,  made  a  violent  attack  upon 
the  town  of  Aberdeen,  put  the  greateft  part  of  the  inhabi- 
tants to  the  fword,  and  again  burnt  and  deftrojed  the  town. 
At  which  time,  as  well «s  the  1333,  all  the  more  ancient 
charters  and  records  belonging  to  the  community,  (a  few  ez« 
cepted)  were  loft.  Some  years  afterwards,  the  town  was  re- 
built of  new,  and  confiderably  enlarged,  particularly  toward 
the  hills,  upon  which  the  principal  part  of  it  now  ftands, 
viz.  the  Woolman-hill,  St  CatharineVhill,  the  Port-hill, 
and  Caflle«hill,  (the  old  town  having  lain  along  the  Greea 
aod  Sbiprow,  Sec.  eaftwards),  and-  in  this  the  citizens  were 
greatly  affifled  by  King  David  Bruce,  for  their  fteady  loyal- 
ty and  attachment  both  to  himfelf  and  his  father  \  and  the 
fame  King  David  refided  for  fome  time  at  Aberdeen,  where 
he  erefied  a  mint,  as  appears  from  fome  pieces  of  money 
coined  there ;  and  the  whole  town,  after  being  rebuilt  as 
above,  was  afterwards  called  the  New  Towh  of  Ahtriimf 
in  contrardiftinftion  to  the  Old,  which  had  been  burnt  down. 
Boece,  if  ho  likewiie  gives  an  account  of  the  laft,  as  well  as 
the  former  burning  of  the  town,  thus  relates  the  fecond, 
viz.  '*  King  Edward,  dradand  to  tyne  all  the  firength  of 
^'  Scotland,  came  with  XLM  men  to  the  relief  of  the  Caflle 
f  f  ^  Lochcndors,  and  ^tx  he  had  ftoflM  it  with  provifioos. 


fS  AppemBxtbthe 

^ht  cuast  ^th  bkodjiWiMd  tiuwifjti  Blorraj  ;  mdon  im 
^'ittorning  to  Mar,,  he  burnt  the  town  of  Aberdeen." 

in  X41X,  Donald,  the  Chief  of  the  ifles,  with  an  army  of 

4BBCOiuttTjmen,  hatving  nfeade  an:ftttack,  and  feized  npon 

Rols  and  Murraj,  proceeded  fouthwards  as  fiu-  aa  Stntfa- 

^fcogie^  mnd  Aneatened  to  hrrade  Aiaerdeen ;  the  citizca^  to 

«  oonfidevable  number,  aiong  .with  Robert  ;DaT]dfiaa,  their 

ttiien  Provoft,'beutg  joined: by  the  End  of  MiBrr,  and  nan j 

of  the  Bobi&yand  gentrj  of  Aogns,  MeamB^  and  Aber- 

tieenfliire,  went  northward  in  feaich  of  Donald  and  Usfbr- 

lecs,  and  caine.ni»  widi  them  at  a  final!  Tillage  called  Har- 

law,  abont  fixteen  Englilh  miles  from  Aberdeen,  what 

dwre  enfoed  a  m^  defperate  and  bkiod  j  battle,  wfakh  con- 

tinned  with  great  fury  nntil  night  ieparatedtbem ;  and  each 

.parly  claimed  the  TiAorj.    Many  were  flain  in  this  faattk 

on.  both  fides,  particolarly  Provoft  Davidfon,  and  a  confi- 

deaahle  anmber  of  the  principalcitiaens  of  Aberdeen. 

In  September  i644,.doring  the  tme  of  the  dvil  wars* 

'the  Marquis  of  Montroie,  with  an  army  of  about  2000  men, 

liaving  approached  the  town  of  Aberdeen,  and  fnmmonrd 

'  it  to  iisrreader  to   him,   the    Magiflrates,   after  advifiag 

with  Lord  Bnrleigh,  who  then  commanded  in  the  town  a 

foro^  nearly  equal  in  number  to  the  affaihnts,  refiifed  to 

•give  op  the  towo,  npon  which  a  hatde  enfiied  within  half 

an  En^iih  mile  of  the:town,  at  a  place  called  the  Crab- 

.  fione,  near  to  the  Ju(lice*miUs,  where  Montrofe  prevailed, 

«Bd«iany  of  the  principal  citizens  were  killed. 

The  city  of  Aberdeen  has  rec^ved  varions  granta  fSrom 

libiiiteen  <&fireot  Sovereigns  of  Scotland,  from  King  "Wil- 

. '  Kam  the  Lyon,  downward  to  King  James  VL  inclnfive,  all 

.  extant  in  the  town's  chaitiilary.    Ahd  in  1638,  the  whole 

of  thefr.preoeding  grants  and  charters  were,  by  a  charter 

/leom  King  Charles  I.  not  only  ratified  and  confirmed,  bnt 

tllb  the  burgh  was  of  new  ereOed.    And  by  the  fame 

charter, 


Statijlkal  Account  (^Aberdeen.  f 

cli4rtery  the  Provoft  and  Bailies  are  created  and  oonfiitmedi 
Sherifi,  Coroners,  and  Juftices  of  the  Peace»  within  Hm 
iHlrgh,  and  whole  bounds  of  the  freedom-lands.  The  Pbq)- 
-voft  being  named  Sheriff  and  Coroner-principal,  and  the 
four  Bailies,  SheriCs  and  Coroners-depnte  \  whick  federal 
offices  of  Sheriffi  and  Juftices  of  the  Peace,  the  Magiflratea 
of  Aberdeen  have  been  in  the  confiant  pra&ice  of  exerci^ 
£Ag  to  the  preienC  day,  in  all  canfies  coming  before  them  ia 
thefii  capacities^  and  pf  holding  quarter*feffions  for  the  burgh, 
in  the  lame  manner  as  the  Juftices  of  the  county*  Tha 
Magiftrates  have  farther  granted  to  them,  bj  bid  charter, 
the  Cune  powers,  jurifilidioo,  and  authoritj  within  the  pott, 
harboor,  and  flood-mark  of  Aberdeen,  and  whole  beunda 
thereof,  as  well  as  within  the  rivers  of  Dee  and  Dm,  xa 
the  two  bridges,  as  they  have  within  the  burgh  itfelf  and 
liberties,  and  have  always  ezerdfed  that  jurildidion  and 
authority  accordingly* 

The  Town-coondl  and  Dean  of  Guild  of  Aberdeen  havo 
likewiie,  by  the  &me  charter  from  King  Charles  I.  fidi 
power  and  authority  committed  to  them,  of  vifiting,  escami- 
ning,  and  trying  all  wei^ts  and  mea&ires  nfied  in  buying 
and  feUiDg,  not  only  in  the  town,  but  alio  through  tho 
whole  county  of  Aberdeen,  which  they  have  in  like  man- 
ner been  in  the  pradice  of  ezercifing;  and  of  holding  drcnit 
and  itinerant  couns  for  that  purpofe,  in  the  different  prindn 
pal  country  towns,  where  any  kind  of  trade  or  merchandifis 
is  carried  on. 

The  forelaid  charur  and  confirmation  by  King  Charles  L 
with  the  whole  other  writs  and  title-deeds  therein  confirm* 
ed,  and  ri^ts  and  privileges  thereby  granted  to  the  burghs 
were  afterwards  folemnly  ratified  by  different  aAs  of  the  Par« 
liameai  of  Scotland,  particularly  by  two  a£b,  in  1641,  and 
t68x. 

vrona 


f  Append  to  tbS 

From  the  13361  when  the  town  was  laft  bmnt,  to  dd 
1398;  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  regular  pnUic 
records  kept ;  but  ff om  the  laft  mentioned  period  to  the 
^refent  time,  (except  for  about  twelve  jears  in  the  b^in* 
niog  of  the  fifteenth  ceiitury)^  there  ia  a  rtgidar  and  nmn- 
terrupted  feries  of  records  of  the  aAs  and  procedure^  boch  of 
the  Town-Council  and  Bailie-cdurts,  all  in  good  order  and 
condition,  confifting  of  above  Seventy  Vcdtimes,  remaining 
in  the  town's  chartulary,  coiitainingy  in  whole,  a  period  of 
near  406  years. 

The  burgh  of  Aberdeen  comprehends  but  one  panflip 
called  St  Nicholas,  which  has  no  landward  or  oountiy 
bounds,  but  is  limited  to  the  burgh  itfelf,  which  does  not 
extend  above  two  Engliih  miles  in  circumferenee,  and  is 
furrounded  on  all  -fides  by  the  parifli  of  Old  Macbar,  ex- 
cept towards  the  eaft.  The  Magiftrates,  however,  by  the 
above  charters  and  afis  of  Parliament,  enjoy  and  exerciic 
^e  fame  powers  and  jurifdi&ion  as  they  have  within  the 
burgh  or  royalty,  over  a  large  trad  of  land  in  the  ndgh- 
bourfaood  of  the  town,  confifting  of  what  is  called  the  liber- 
ties or  freedom,  which  will  extend  in  circuit  from  twelve  t# 
fourteen  Engliih  miles. 

Before  the  Reformation,  there  were  feveral  chapels  with- 
,  in  the  burgh  and  royalty  annexed  to,  and  dependent  upon, 
the  pariih-church,  particularly  St  MtfTj's  Chapel,  under  the 
Ealft  Church,  where  the  Highland  Congregation  now  meets 
for  worlhip ;  St  Catherine's  Chapel,  which  ftood  upon  the 
hill  of  that  name  \  St  Ninian's  Chapel,  at  the  CaftlehiQ, 
part  of  which  ftill  remains ;  and  St  Clement's  Chapel  at 
Footdee,  which  has  been  lately  rebuilt,  and  is  ftill  occupied 
as  a  place  of  worihip,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Council* 

There  was  another  chapel,  called  St  John's,  fituated 
within  the  royalty  of  the  burgh,^  although  without-  the 
bounds  of  the  pariih  of  St  Nicholas,  upon  that  croft  of 

land 


Siati/lical  \4cQ0uM  of  Aberdeen.  9 

hmd,  cdUed  St  John's  Croft,  where  the  Chapel  of  Eafe  to 
the  pariih  of  Old  Machar  now  ftandsi  The  Magifirates 
and  Council  appear  to  have  purchafed  the  patronage  of 
St  John'89  on  account  of  its  victnit j  to  the  town«  and  fitua- 
tion  within  the  royalty.  There  were  likewife  monafterieft 
of  feveral  di&rent  orders  of  Friars  eftabliihed  in  Aberdeen, 
befide  the  Trinity. or  Red  Friars  already  utie&tianed,  viz. 
the  Black  Friars  in  the  SchoolUBl,  where  .Gordon's  Hofpi* 
tal  and  the  Grammar-fchool  now  fiand ;  the  Carmelite  or 
White  Friars,  along  the  fouth  fide  of  the  Green ;  and  the 
Grey  Friars,  in  the  Broadgate,  where  the  Marifchal  Col- 
lege and  Church  are  now  fitoated. 

The  number  of  Advocates,  dr  Lawyers^  ih  Aberdeen^ 
under  the  incorporation  charter,  will  be  feen  firom  the 
Aberdeen  AbnanackA;  although  five  or  fix  do  not  praftife 
before  the  Courts,  and  fome  othen  are- removed  from 
town* 

EnBion  of  the  Ut^»  Pier^  and  tie  great  Adtv^mtages 
arifing  from  i>.^^Tbe  Neiy  Piw  lately  erected  ontbe  north 
fide  of  the  entry  of  the  harbour  of  Aberdeen,  and  'at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Dee,  extending  to  laoo  feet  in  length 
along  the  fide  of  that  river,  and  a  confiderable  way.  into  the 
fea,  was  begun  to  be  built  in  Jvne  1775,  ^^^  wasfiniflied 
in  OSober  1780,  according  to  a  plan  furniflied  by  John 
Smeaton,  Efq;  engineer  \  the  expence  whereof,  and  of  the 
additions  which  have  been  made  to  it,  by  his  advice  and 
direfiions,  fince  it  was  built,  particularly  a  jettie  Or  catdi 
pier,  for  ihekering  the  fliipping  within  the  harboHr  from 
the  violent  inrun  of  the  fea  in  M^ft^rly  ftorm^,. has  amounted 
to  about  L.  18,000  Starling-  Tbts  expense  has  .been  de« 
frayed,  partly  by  fome  fmall  funds  formerly  belonging  to 
the  harbour,  but  chiefly  will  be  paid  by  the  doubling  of 
the  fliore  and  harbour  dues  upon  the  trade  and  ihippiog  of 

Vol.  XIX.  b  the 


10  Appendix  to  the 

the  place,  in  confequeiice  of  an  aft  of  Parliament  oliCaincd 
for  that  porpofey  but  witbotlt  ao  j  public  aid  or  contribnuos 
whatever. 

Bj  the  erefiion  of  this  pier,  the  oavigadon  channel  at 
the  eatry  of  the  barboor  has  been  deepened  and  improTcd 
to  a  degree  much  beyond  any  thing  that  was  preTioafly  cx- 
peCked,  akfaongh  it  be  aoo  £eet  fliorter  than  Mr  Smeaton's 
original  plan,  which  was  im  whole  1400  feet  ia  lengtiu 
Before  ereftion  of  the  North  Pier,  the  harbonr-moath  was 
always  rcrj  much  interrupeed,  and  ibmetimes  almoft  ea* 
tirely  ihut  np  by  a  bar,  or  large  bank  of  fliiftaig  land,  upon 
whichy  at  low  water,  there  was  fometimcs  not  above  18 
inches  or  %  feet  in  deepnefe ;  and  at  high  water,  even  in 
Ijpring-tides, .  not  above  xj.fiect^  and  as  this  bar  wasfire* 
quently  flii&iag  and  varying  its  fituatioo,  according  as  it 
was  aded  upon  by  the  ftonns  of  the  lea  or  the  floods  of  die 
river,  few  (hipping  were  m  fafety  to  take  the  harbour  nndl 
firft  it  was  founded  by  a  pilot,  and  the  fituation  of  the  bar, 
as  well  as  the  deepaefii  of  water,  afcertained  ;  whereas, 
linoe  the  North  Pier  was  Indlti  fmall  vefiels,  drawing  7  or 
8  feet,  have  come  into  the  harbonr  at  low-water ;  and  at 
liigh*waicev,  on  fpring^tides,  there  is  now  from  r8  to  10  feet 
in  deepneis  at  die  entry,  as  the  former  bar,  or  bank  offend, 
is  now,  by  the  confinement  of  the  river,  and  the  increafed 
velocity  of  the  cnrrent,  carried  out  bto  the  fea  at  leaft  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  farther  dian  it  fbrmerly  was ;  fe  that  we 
now  fee  vefleb  of  oonfiderable  burden,  in  the  violence  of 
a  ftorm  blowing  right  t^pon  the  land,  making  for  and  failing 
into  the  harbour  with  (afety,  even  without  the  affiftance  of 
any  pilot,  whidi  no  fliip  coidd  have  before  attempted,  with- 
out the  greateft  danger  of  beitfg  wrecked  on  die  bar,  or 
fome  part  of  the  adjacent  coaft. 

The 


Statijlical  Account  of  Ahcri^cn.  ti 

72r  Battery 9  (^r.— The  batteries  erefied  by  the  town  in 
X78X  and  1781,  for  defence  of  the  harbour  and  ihipping, 
have  coft  about  L.  laoo ;  and  they  have  mounted  upon 
them  ten  new  iron  cannon,  twelve  pounders*  The  town 
liave  likewife  two  brais  field-pieces,  three  pounders,  with 
a  proportionable  quantity  of  (hot,  amunition  and  laboratory 
flores.  They  have  alio  400  ftand  of  fmall  arms,  or  muC- 
kets,  depofited  in  the  town's  armory,  and  kept  always  in 
excellent  order  by  a  tradeCoian,  who  has  a  yearly  falary  for 
that  purpofe. 

Of  the  Municipal  Form  of  Gcnemnunt^  or  Set  of  the  Burgh. 
«^-With  refpeft  to  the  prefent  municipal  conHitution  and 
form  of  government  of  the  burgh  of  Aberdeen,  which  has 
now  fubfifted,  and  been  invariably  obferved,  for  no  le£s  than 
two  centuries  downward  to  this  day,  it  is  /ounded  chiefly 
upon  the  a£b  of  Parliament  1469  and  1474,  by  which  *'  All 
^'  officers  and  Members  of  the  Councils  of  Burghs  are  ap« 
**  pointed  to  be  annually  eleAed :  That  the  Auld  Goun- 
*'  cil  of  the  town  fliall  chufe  the  New  in  fie  number  as  ac« 
^  cords  to  it :  And  that  the  New  and  Auld  Councils  to* 
*^  gether  fliall  chufe  all  the  (aid  officers :  That  the  craft 
^  ffiall  chufe  a  perfon  of  their  number,  that  fliall  alfo  have 
^  a  vote  in  the  eleflion  of  thefe  officers :  And  that  four 
«'  worthy  peribns  of  the  Auld  Council  for  the  year  before 
''  fliall  be  chofen  yearly  to  fit  with  the  New  CounciL" 

It  appears,  however,  that  thefe  afis  of  Parliament  were 
not  in  any  part  obferved  by  the  »Town-Council  of  Aber- 
deen for  above  zao  yetirs  after  they  were  pafied.  On  the 
contrary,  they  perfifled  in  following  what  they  called  the 
ancient  form  of  government,  and  auld  confuetude  of  the 
burgh,  by  which  it  appeal^,  that  the  number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  Council  often  fluduated  and  varied  very  much,  from  • 
^0  to  3(11  ^  and  that,  when  once  they  were  eleded  or  alTum- 

cd. 


It  '  Appendix  io  the 

ed,  they  were  in  general  continued  during  their  file,  or  lb 
lon^  as  thej  did  not  difier  with  the  perfons  who  had  afliun- 
ed  them :  And  that  the  five  firft  Magiftrates,  or  officers  of 
the  barghy  viz»  the  Provoft  (for  many  years 'ftyied  AUer- 
man)  and  the  four  Bailies,  were  alone  ekAed  annoaDy  at 
bead-courts  of  the  citizens,  called  Curut  CapitaUt^  although 
femetimes  without  mentioning  by  whom  the  eleftion  cren 
of  thefe  officers  was  made,  but  for  the  moft  part  expreffed 
to  be,  Cum  communi  omnium  burgenjium  eonfin/k,  affenfm^  et 
voto ;  which  eleftion,  however,  was«certainly  equally  iUegal^ 
and  againft  the  direftion  of  the  ads  of  Parliament,  as  the 
continuing  the  members  for  life. 

This  ancient  cuflom  was  at  laft,  in  1590,  openly  dialkn- 
ged  and  complained  upon  as  arbitrary  and  illegal,  by  a  Mr 
John  Cheyne,  then  a  member  of  Council,  who  infifted  that 
they  fhould  make  an  annual  eledion,  in  terms  of  thefe  fta- 
tutes,  which  they  not  only  refufed  to  comply  with,  bat  ex- 
pelled Mr  Cheyne  from  the  Council,  as  a  perfon  unfit  and 
improper  to  be  of  their  number. 

He  was,  however,  foon  joined  by  a  Mr  Ewen,  and  many 
other  burgefles  of  equally  patriotic  principles,  who  raifed  a 
profecution  againfi  the  Magiftrates  and  Council  before  the 
Courts  of  Sefiion  and  Exchequer,  widi  concoarfe  of  his 
Majefty's  Advocate,  for  obliging  them  to  comply  with  the 
terms  of  the  fore&id  ftatutes.  The  confequence  whereof 
was,  that  the  Council  at  laft,  in  Odober  X59I9  (after  la- 
menting the  fall  of  what  they  declared  to  be  die  aold  co&« 
fuetude  and  ancient  form  of  government  of  ^e  boigh) 
agreed  to  follow  the  diredions  of  (aid  fiatutes,  and  accord- 
ingly made  an  eleftion  in  the  terms  thereof  for  the  fellow* 
lAg  year,  ending  at  Michaelmas  1592. 

It  appears,  however,  that  Mr  Cheyne,  «nd  his  affodatcs, 
did  not  get  into  power  upon  th^  new  conftitudon,  which 
they  had  the  merit  to  produce  \  ^d  that,  at  the  eafiiing 

Michaelmas 


'  StatiJUcal  Account  of  Aberdeen.  13 

Michaelmas  ele£tioii,  thej  aiTembled  in  arms  in  different 
parts  of  the  Hown,  00  purpofe  cq  overawe  the  proceed- 
ings, of  the  Council.  For  compofing  of  which  violent 
suiimofities'y  a  conference  enfned  between  a  certain  number 
of  the  Cooncil  and  the  leaders  of  the  dtizens.  The  refult 
whereof  happilj  produced  a  fubmiflion  by  the  feveral  par- 
ties concerned,  of  all  the  matters  in  difpute  betwixt  them, 
to  his  Majefij  Kbg  James  VI.  as  overfman,  and  twelve 
others  as  arbitrators  :  Who,  by  a  decreet-arbitral,  of  date 
the  7di  of  December  15931  fubfcribed  by  them  and  the 
parties  themfelves,  in  tcltimony  of  their  approbation,  fixed 
and  appointed  the  Magifirates  and  Council  for  that  year, 
ending  at  Michaelmas  X593,  by  name,  confiding  of  nineteen 
perfons,  viz.  feventeen  guild-brethren  and  two  crafdmen : 
And  decerned  and  appointed  that  the  afk  of  Parliament 
concerning  the  eledion  of  Magifirates,  Council,  and  Office- 
men  within  burgh,  ihould  be  precifely  obferved  in  all 
time  thereafter. 

This  decreet-arbitral  was,  in  a  few  days  after  its  date, 
read,  and  unanimouily  ratified  by  the  whole  burgefles  and 
citizens  of  the  ftown,  convened  together  for  the  purpofe, 
who,  at  fame  time,  folemnly  fwore  to  obtemper  and  obey 
the  faid  decreet  thereafter  in  all  points.  And  which,  with 
another  decreet*arbitral,  pronounced  by  the  CommiiConers 
of  Boroughs  in  July  1596,  finding  the  craftfmen  entitled  to 
ten  votes  in  the  annual  ele&ion  of  the  Magiftrates,  Dean  of 
Guild,  and  Treafurer,  form  together  what  is  now  called  the 
fet,  or  mnnicipal  conftitution  of  this  burgh,  which  has  been  . 
uniformly  obferved  as  an  invariable  rule  and  ftandard  in  the 
annual  eledion  of  the  Magiftrates  and  Council  to  this  day.i 

By  it,  the  conftituent  members  of  the  Town-Council  con- 
lift  of  nineteen  in  number,  feventeen  whereof  are  guild- 
Vrethren,  and  two  of  them  deacons  of  crafts:  Four  of  the 
M^rcb^nt-Co^nciUors  only  are  continued  by  elefiion  for 

another 


14  Appendix  te  the 

another  jear,  and  the  remaining  fifteen  nembeis  are  aarni* 
ally  changed  and  go  out »  And  all  of  them  are  yearly  ekft- 
ed,  without  any  preference  or  difcrimination,  firom  a  roll  or 
lift  of  the  whole  burgefles  of  guild  in  town,  and  of  the  fix 
deacons  of  trades,  previoufly  made  xxp  for  the  purpofe,  from 
which  the  leets  of  the  new  Council  are  taken,  and  deler- 
mined  always  according  to  the  majority  of  votes  of  the 
Council  upon  the  day  of  the  annual  eledion,  which  is  hdd 
upon  the  Wednefday  preceding  Michaelmas  day. 
'  After  eledion  of  the  nineteen  members  of  the  new  Comi*' 
cily  the  Magiftrates,  and  other  office-bearers  for  the  eniuiog 
year,  are  eleded  theflTame  day  out  of  the  feventeen  Mer- 
ehant-CounfellorSy  by  the  majority  of  votes  of  die  new  and 
old  Councik  together,  and  fix  deacons  of  crafb,  confitiBg 
of  forty  perfons  in  whole,  viz.  thirty  guild-brethren  and  tes 
craftfmen  V,  and  in  cafe  of  an  equality  of  votes  in  any  of  the 
iteps  of  eleflion,  the  Provoft,  or  fenior  Magifirate  prefbrt; 
has  a  decifive  or  cafting  vote,  befide  his  own  individaal  and 
proper  voice. 

In  cafe  of  any  of  the  thirty  guild-brethren  or  ten  tradef<^ 
men  being  abfenc  from  the  election,  the  Town-Cooncfl  and 
the  Craftfmen  are  refpedfnlly  authorifed  by  the  fiet,  to  ekft 
any  other  qualified  perfons  of  the  clafi,  to  fupply  the  place 
of  and  vote  for  fuch  abfents.  Upon  the  whole,  it  is  belie^ 
ved,  from  a  comparative  examination,  that  the  prefent  mo* 
nicipal  confiitution,  or  fet  of  thb  burgh,  will  be  found  not 
only  to  be  a  perfeft  contraft  to  its  own  more  arbitrary  and 
ancient  fyftem  of  government,  but  alfo  to  be  mnch  more 
liberal  and  free  than  moft  of  the  other  royal  boroa^  of 
Scotland.  Becaufe,  in  many  of  them,  fome  of  the  members 
of  Council,  and  even  Magiftratcs,  do  ftill  continue  in  office 
during  life,  or  fo  long  as  they  agree  with  the  party  in 
power.  And  in  others,  feveral  of  the  member^  of  Cooocil 
^rc  entitled  to  keep  ^hejr. feats  without  elc^ion  for  a  fecond 

year. 


Statijlical  Account  of  Aherdeen.  15 

ytar,  ia  confequence  of  their  havisg  enjoyed  certain  offices 
for  the  preceding.  Whereas^  in  Aberdeen^  every  Magi- 
Urate  and  member  of  Cooncily  even  the  old  foiir,  muft  be 
annually  defied,  witbont  regard  to  any  office  which  they 
may  have  formerly  held  \  and  fifteen  of  the  whole  number 
arc  yearly  changed  and  go  out. 

N.  jS.  The  fubftance  of  the  principal  hiftorlcal  fads  con« 
tained  in  the  above  narrative  (which  do  not  appear  in  anjf 
of  the  town's  records)  are  taken  from  a  fmall  treatife,  en- 
titled)  *'  A  Survey  of  the  City  of  Aberdeen,"  printed  and 
publifhed  in  1685,  to  all  appearance  by  a  burgefs  or  citizen, 
under  the  iignature  of  Pbilo  Politicus,  which  has  always 
been  h^ld,  and  appears  to  be  authentic^  except  in  point  of 
chronology,  and  to  correfpond  in  all  the  eflential  fa£ls  with 
the  other  authors  cited  and  referred  to  by  him,  viz.  Camb« 
den,  Spotifwood,  Fordan,  and  Boece's  hiflories. 

Building  of  the  Bridges  o/'DoN  and  Dee* 

Bridge  of  Don. — In  1281,  Henry  Cheyne  (nephew  of 
John  Comyn,  who  was  killed  by  RoKert  Bruce  at  Dumfries 
in  X305),  fiicceeded  to  the  biflioprick  of  Aberdeen.  After 
Comyn's  death,  Biihop  Cheyne,  from  his  being  fo  near  a 
relation  to  Conaya,  as  well  as  many  others  in  Scotland,  were 
greatly  enraged  at  Robert  Bruce  upon  account  of  Comyn's 
death,  and  openly  efpouTcd  the  intereS  and  party  of  the 
Comyns.  For  this  reafon,  after  Robert  Bruce  became  fet« 
tied  in  the  Throne  and  Government,  Biihop  Cheyne  was 
obliged  to  fly  into  England,  and.  remain  there  forfeveral 
years,  during  which  time  the  revenues  of  his  biihoprick  re* 
mained  unapplied.  But  King  Robert,  having  been  after*  ' 
wards  reconciled  to  Bithop  Cheyne,  was  pleafed  to  allow  him 
to  return  and  poiTels  the  lee  of  Aberdeen  as  formerly.  The 
Biihop  was  fo  happy  upon  hit  being  again  received  into  the 

Ring's 


5  Appendix^  i^c. 

's  favour,  that,  upon  hirretum  home,  he,  with  the  cofi'' 
*nce  and  approbation  of  his  Sovereign,  applied  the  whole 
of  his  bilhoprick,  ^hich,  during  his  ab&nce  in  Eng- 
lad  accumulated  to  a  confiderable  fum,  towards  build- 
e  bridge  over  Don,  of  one  large  Grothic  arch,  whexe  it 
ilands,  upon  the  great  high-road  leading  northward 
A.berdeen ;  and  it  appears  to  have  been  built  about  the 
*.        :320.    Bifhop  Cheyne  died  in  1329. 

uige  of  Dee. — Bifhop  William  Elphinfion  left  a  confi- 
ble  legacj  to  bmld  a  bridge  over  tbe  river  Dee,  near 
.  erdeen,  as  well  as  for  the  ere^on  of  an  Univerfitj  at  Old 
"  berdeen,  where  the  Biihop*s  Cathedral  flood,  but  died  in 
15 14,  before  any  thing  was  done  in  the  building  of  the 
bridge.  Gavin  Dunbar,  fon  to  Sir  James  Dunbar  of  Cum- 
nock,  by  Elifabeth  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and 
uncle  to  Gavin  Dimbar,  Archbifhop  of  Glafgow,  having 
fucceeded  to  the  bi(hoprick  of  Aberdeen  in  15x8,  he  foon 
thereafter  caufed  collect  and  receive  the  money  which  had 
been  left  by  Bifhop  Elphinfion  for  the  building  of  this 
bridge  ;  and  having  alfo  contributed  himfelf  a  conaderable 
fum  of  money  to  that  work,  he  caufed  ered  the  greateft  part 
of  the  bridge  where  it  now  flands,  of  feven  arches,  about  the 
year  1530,  although  it  was  not  finifhed  till  after  his  death* 
This  bridge  having  gone  into**  decay'about  the  year  1720, 
it  was  rebuilt  out  of  the  funds  belonging  to  itfelf  by  the  Ma^ 
giflratcs  and  Town-Council  of  Aberdeen  ftom  1720  to  1724, 
and  is  at  this  day  one  o£  the  neatefl  and  beft  fet  down  bridges 
to  the  river  of  any  in  Scotland. 


\ 


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THB  NEW  YORK  PUBUC  LIBRARY 
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