"The church of Dun is in good repair; it has two lefts, one to the Eaft, the other to the Weft. The Faft end of the church is filed the choir, and has a fount in the wall, intended of old for baptifm” (p. 360). The font for holy water fill remains fixed in the wall of the old church of Dalziel (p. 429). "On the coaft of the parish of Southend is a bank of finè coral. If the farmers had fkill and in 'uftry to drag it into boats, it would be of great fervice to them, and it is found to be better manure even than lime. The fmail quantity of it found after forms has been of fignal fervice to gardens and outfield lands; and, when scattered upon mor lands, it wears cut the heath in a few There is also in fome valleys here, and dong the banks of rivers, what is commonly called fuller's earth" (p 36-). "Of that iadelence and inquifitiveness, for which the highlanders were formeil, fo remarkable, little is now to be found in the parish of Applecrofs. The people, in general, are regular and very induftrious; the ufe of fpirituous liquors is rather too prevalent, yet there are fewer inftances of grofs intoxication than at any former period. Antiently, they drank rarely, but always to excefs; now frequently, but, for the most part, with moderation. There is not fo much as a tradition of fu cice in the parith, nor of murder, but one, during the prefent century. For twenty years paft only one perfon hath been imprifoned for theft, who foon afterwards enlifted for a folder. In every country where leafes are from year to year, and in which there is no independent occupation in trade or manufactures, much of the character of the people muft depend either on the virtue or the capuce their fuperiors; for, though local jurifdictions be abolished, there is ftill a fpecies of defpotifm remaining, by which the difplesfore of the fuperior is equivalent, in its effects, to the puninments of the law" (p. 375) "Clofe by the parish church are the remains of an old religious houfe, where the standard and foles of crucifixes are still to be feen." Does Mr. M'Queen, by this, mean the shaft and base of croises ? Eaft Kilbride, in Lanerkshire, gave birth to Dr. William Hunter and his brother John (p. 426). An Hiftory of Rutherglen and Kilbride, publife at Galgow, by David Ure, with defcriptions and drawings of more than 100 variations of petrifications, along with the fubterraneous geography of the parith, and an account of its antiquities, &c. is announced in p. 429, n. In the hall of the old tower, or chateau, of Dalziel, in the parish of that name, an iron chain from the cieling fufpends a luftre, compofed of large In Arbiriot, the remains of a religious call d. The fire-ergine at the coal-works of The culture of turnips was first intro- Lofs of cattle, and almoft total failure of the year's cron, nearly depopulated the parish of Kincardine, and occafioned fuch accumulated diftrefs, that the people were obliged to remove, with their families, and fettle in the low countries, as day-labourers, or domeftic fervants. The late gallant Sir John Lockhart Rofs not only fent them relief, in a fupply of peafe, barley, potatoes, and flour, but gave his highland tenants feed from the lowland farmers (p. 507). In this parifh the gallant Marquis of Montrofe fought his laft battle, and was defeated by Col. Strachan. His fiend M'Leod, of Affint, went to meet him at Caithnefs; but Montrofe moving Southward, by a rout different from that he had taken, the Marquis's misfortunes (bis death was none of them) had their full completion before the laird, of Aflint returned to his own country (p. 512). Janet M'Leod, the remarkable fafung woman, is full living in this parish. A particular defcription of her cafe is to be found in Pennant's Tour, and the Ency clopædia Britannica. She is part 60 years of age, and takes no nourishment but a little of the thinneft gruel, or fome light aliment, which the receives through the aperture made by breaking two of her fore teeth, for the purpose of feeding her (p. 515). * A fimilar famine was felt at Drumblade, in Aberdeenshire, 1782; fee our vol. LV. p. 56. i In the appendix to this volume is a curious account of a library established in Dunfcore parish, under the Ptronage of Robert Riddell, of Glenriddell, Etq. by the management of Mr. Buras. It confifts of upwards of 150 volumes; among which are Blair's Sermons, Robentfoa's Hillory of Scotland, Hume's Hiftory of the Stuarts, the Spectator, Idier, Adventurer, Mirror, Lounger, Obferver, Man of Feeling, Man of the World, Chryfal, Don Quixote, Jofeph Andrews, &c. (p 600). By Bell, of the antient family of Kinved, of Monedie, whofe furname was Bell, but now extinét, and her intimate friend, Mary Grey, retired to a lonely place, called the Burn Brea, to avoid the infection of the pague; but a young gent eman of this parith vifiting them, brought it, and they died of it, and were buried in one grave, lill pointed out, at the head of a beugh, on the banks of the Arnon. The late proprietor, Major Barry, inclofed it with a wall, and put on one of the flones their names (p. 605). The IVth volume of this ufefu! work comprehends the 71 parishes of Leibnot, Dumbarton, Tullynfle, Auchterarder, Aber lemno, Drumblade, Skene, Aberlour, Rojeneath, Drainy, Arderfer, Tealing, Dallas. Kirkbill, Inverany, Diurinifh. Karkinner, Rattray, Ardclach, Udny, Orm floun, Cufbing, Rynd, Abbot ball, Inckture, Hutton, Kilipindie, Strickathrow, Jubafion, Criech, Dunbog, Barrie, Earifioun, Kingbarns, Kells, Kilmalcolm, Dregborn. Botton, Fearn, Knockandrew, Dairymple, Dutbil and Rorbiemurchus, Mebick, Kibu-bo, Aberdour, Kilmadan, Monikie, Calder, Defkiert, Putenweem, Dunfe, Aloub. Stratbunglo, Row. Coldfiream, Logie Buchan, Glenbolm, Falkland, Bauchory, Daviniek, Durifdeer, Torpichen, Loggie Eaßer, Errol, Fordoun, Kineluie, Crawford, Kirkpatrick Juxta, Kukpatrick irongray, Largo, Towie, Strachan, and Sralachlan.-The increate of p puration between 1755 and 1791 14215. The parish of Leibnot, in Fetarthire, contains 6770 fheep and 1256 ambs which laft are recruited from the Southern counties annually. The art of arming is greatly improved within thefe 30 years; and, within the lait zo, grafs and turnips have been fown A log continuance of fnow in fpring retares the progrefs of husbandry. This parith is much indebted to the bounty of Jamics Black, born in it 1677, in a mean ita tion, who rebuilt a bridge that could not be built for lefs than 160l.; left money for its fupport, and for building another bridge, and for the poor, and a fchool. On his tomb are thefe lines: "No bridge on earth can be a pass to heaven, To generous deeds let yet due praise be given" (p. 18). The town of Dumbarton is entirely free of all impofts, or borough taxes; but is by no means in a flourishing or increafing flate, owing to the letters of deaconry preventing ftrangers from workig at their trades without cofly entries" (p. 23). This anfwers to taking up freedom in corporations among us. By a ftatement of the annual income and expences of a day-labourer in the parish of Auchterarder, in Perthshire, who has a wife and feven children (the eldeft a girl of 13, and the fecond a boy who tended cattle laft feafon), and, with his house, rents an acre of land, it appears, that his expences exceeded his incom, at the year's end, 2s. 1d.; income 241. 25. 3d.; expences 241. os. 2d.The hunting feat and wood of King Malcolm Kinmore, in this parish, have been deftroyed by the tenant (p. 4143). Planting of trees is much practifed in the wafte lands of Skene, in Aberdeenfhire; afh, plane, pine, common fir, willow, Larix; the last thrives beft, and advances faltelt (p. 60). Aberlour, in Bamfshire, has abundance of barren timber, efpecially oak, aliar, and birch, which grow naturally, in large woods; and fome plantations of fits are lately planted (p. 67). Since the year 1782, when there were whole families emigrating from the neighbouring parifies to North America, none, except a few afpir ng young men, who have had a mere liberal education than their neighbours, have left this parish, and gone, fome to London, and fome to the Wett India iflands (p. 68). "In the Dake of Argyle's park at Rofeneath, in Dunbartonshire, is a remarkable rock, which, though at a confiderable diftance from the thore, bears evident marks of having teen wathed by the fea. its greatest perpen car height is 34 feet. It is called Wallace's Lour, 1. e. lean, from a tradition that the renowned Wallace, being closely purfued by a party of his enemies, jumped down this rock on horteback, and escaped unhurt, but is horfe was killed by the fall, and was uried at the foot of the rock, where his grave is fh wn" (p. 72).—“For thefe twenty yeus and upwards no perfon whatever, refiding in this parifh, which is feven miles by two, has been imprifoned, except one poor man, a fhort time, for a fmall debt. Here rats cannot exift. Many of these have, at different times, been accidentally imported from veffels Iving upon the shore, but were never known to live twelve months in the place *. From a prevailing opinion, that the foil of this parish is hoftile to that animal, fome years ago a Weft India planter actually carried out to Jamaica feveral cafks of Rofeneath earth, with a view to kill the rats that were deftroying his fugar-canes. It is faid this had not the defired effect, fo we loft a very valuable export. Had the experiment fucceeded, this would have been a new and profitable trade for the proprietors; but perhaps, by this time, the parish of Rofeneath might have been no more" (r. 76). A penny-wedding is when the expence of the marriage entertainment is not defrayed by the young couple, or their relations, but by a club among the guests., Two hundred people, of both lexes, will fometimes be convened on an occa. fion of this kind (p. 86, n.) Watering of lands is much practifed at Tealing, in Forfarthire (p. 94-98). St. Anthony's fire is a difcafe peculiar to the people of Ardelach, in Nairnshire, both young and old. The fmail-pox is frequently fatal here, as in other places, and has been remarkably fo, this feafon, to children, and fome advanced in years. The most effectual way to remove their prejudices against inoculation would be, for the heritors to defray the expence for a limited period (p. 154). "It is difficult to fay," obferves the minifter of Cufbine, in Aberdeenshire, "whether the people are, on the wh le, contented with their fituation. If I may hazard an opinion, I think they are not. The fhort nefs of their leafes, their high rents, and the exorbitant wages of the labouring fervants, render the fituation of the farmers very irkfome. I obferve that even the prices of the fhoes worn by the country people, although the dearest article of wearing apparel, are but about thrice the price for which they were bought about 40 years ago; whereas the fees or wages of labouring fervants have ftill increafed in a greater degree fince that period. The fhoes are as 15. to 35. fterling, but the wages as 158. to 31. sterling. I obServe, however, that the common people live rather better, and drefs to more advantage, than in former times, although every article of wearing-apparel, particularly that moit neceffary one. hoes, are at least thrice the price for which they could have been T * Did they run away, or were they, to a rat of them, found dead? EDIT. procured about 40 years ago. This is, no doubt, in fome measure owing to the increase of manufactures, and value of cattle, which generally fetch triple, if not four times, the price they gave in former times" (p. 76). And yet the people are not contented!! Kilfpindie, co. Perth. "Common people in the Carn are in gener1 rather tall, ftrong, and clumfy in perfon; dull, obstinate, rude, and unmannerly; fond of dress to an extreme, and live well. The better fort of farmers are luxurious and expenfive in their mode of living, without the leaft claim to neatness or elegance" (p. 2:8). In the church-yard of Strickatbrow, co. Forfar, are three graves, which, according to tradition, are the burial-places of three Danish gentlemen (p. 213).According to fome writers, this churchyard was the fcene of the arject furender of the crown of Scotland by John Baliol to King Edward I. 1296 (p. 214). At Jobafon, co. Dumfries, the minifter fays, "We have fometimes putrid fevers, owing, perhaps, in fome measure, to the carrion on which our neighbours on the mountains chiefly fubfift: for, when the Shepherds meet with a dead freep. if it will but carry hime, it is geneit to found and wholsome mutton" (p. 217).— rally used for food; and, from babit, they prefer "A firong prejudice prevails over all this country against borned cattle. They bring at least 10s. a head lefs than thofe without horns, of the fa ne weight and quality, probably because the age of horned cattle cannot be mifreprefented; whereas a dea'er can af fert thofe without horns to be of any age that beft fuits his purpofe" (p. 219). This parish has produced two phyf cians to the Emprefs of Ruffia, Doctors Rogerfon and Halliday (p. 224). It has been reported, that in a part of the parifh of Leuchars, near Creich, in Fifethire, there was a race of Danish fhepherds, who kept their sheep, as well as themselves, in their original ftate, and produced wool not inferior to that of Shetland; but Dr. Greenlaw, minitter of Creich, was informed that the people do not keep themfelves feparate, but in termarry in the neighbourhood: and, as to their wool, he did not hear that it was praised (p. 232).-The fame writer obferves, under the parish of Dunbog, in this county, on the fate of the clergy and schoolinafters, that, "Unless a general augmentation of ftipends becomes an object to perfons of influ ence, the clergy of Scotland must degenerate. If they become objects of compaffion, their weight must be lettered, and no refpectability of character will counterbalance that evil. Should the teachers of religion become meanly thought of, on account of their poverty, religion will fuffer; and, if good morals decline, induftry, which requires regularity and fobriety of conduct, muft decline alfo. The very fmall encouragement, alfo, given to schoolmafters is one of the greatest evils; for it is not only an unspeakable loss to the poor men who teach, but to the rifing generation. There are not a few parithes in this neigbourhood where the falary is only 100 merks. Some have recl, Scots, But what man, fit to teach, can live upon this? What knowledge can be communicate A common tradesman can live more at his ease. Were the encouragement increased, though but a little, it would do more good than can be expreffed. Imperfe& teaching of youth is like bad ploughing in fpring, which muft, of neceffity, pro.luce a bad crop in harvest. The poorer fort of people are left without a remedy, and must fend their children to the parish schoolmafters, fuch as they are" (p. 234). "The late inftitution of the British Wool Society gives increased importance to the flocks of every diftrict. It was fuppofed that the union of the Fife ewe with the Northern ram wou'd have produced a fpecies of shardy, and, at the fame time, fine wool, Difappointment, as to the latter quality in particular, has been the refult of tome experiments. An introduction of the English breed seemed to promise a species valuable for wool and of a large fize. However, a pafture which affords but harsh grafs, and fcanty fhelter, was found ill fuited to fuch sheep. The fmall Fife fheep, weighing 32 pounds, unites, in fome measure, the advantapes of a profitable fleece and a pretty durable conftitution, and at prefent appears beit adapted to the foil" (p. 241). The rivers Leader and Eden formerly abounded with fine trout and falmon; but, fince the farmers of Eartoun have fet about improving their farms, neither fish are near fo plenty in either. This is thought to be owing to the liming of the grounds on each fide of the rivers, which, by heavy rains, is often washed down into the rivers, and is fuppofed either to feare or kill the fith (p. 249). The famous Thomas the Rhymer (whofe real name was Sir Thomas Lermont) was a native of this parish, where, at the We end, remains part of his houfe, fill called Rhymer's Tower; and there is a stone built in the fore wall of the church, infcribed 66 Auld Rhymer's race lies in this place." He lived in the 13th century, and was contemporary with the Earls of March, who refided here then (p. 252). In the parish of Kells, c. Kirkcudbright, "is a great natural curiofity to be feen on the fide of the hills called Kells Range,-the Racking flone, of eight or ten tons weight, fo nicely balanced on two or three points or excrefcences, that it moves from one to the Grofse, laft harvest, fent and took a drawother by the preffure of the finger. Capt. ing of it; and fome antiquaries think it has been a Dru dical place of worship. It should feem that the flone was formed by Nature, just as we fee it, and lying on a ftrata of mofs two or three inches deep. The rains have, in the mean time, wathed away this mofs or ea: th, and left the ftone refting on thefe poiurs" (p. 262). "The falary of the fchoolmaster of Kilmalcolm, in Renf.ewshire, is 100 merks; fees for teaching English are s. 6d. the quarter, writing 28. and arithmetick 35. During the winter there are about 30 fcholars, and in fummer 40 and upwards; the roads being fo rough, children cannot travel to any confiderable diftance in winter. He is allowed 11. fterling for being feilion-clerk and precentor, out of the public funds; which, together with 15. for each proci mation, is his living, and, at an average, may amount to 11. or ther by; by which he frequently maintains a wife and three children at prefent' (p. 177) "There are the remains of the caftle of Duchal, the antient feat of the family of Porterfield, very romantic in is firuation, and ftrong in its construction. Part of it was demolished by the family when they reared a fummer-houfe; and in an upper apartment was found a great quantity of human bones. There are in the parish the four communion cups used by J. Knox when he firft difpenfed the facrament in Scotland. The cups were originally used for the purpose of candlesticks, and perhaps, from the neceffity of the tinie, converted to this picus purpose. Their hollow bottom reverfed forms the cup, and the middle, where the focket feems to be fcrewed out, forms the foot. They are of the finest filver, and, in modern times, make a very antient appearance. They are kept with great care by the family of Glencairn, at Finlay fton; and the parish is favoured with the ufe of them on occafion of difpenfing the facrament. The people refpect them much for their antiquity, as well as for the folemnity attending them in former and latter times" (p 278), "The abbacy is one of the most antient buildings in Fearn, in Roffhire. It is faid to have been first made up of mud. The principal part of it was 99 feet in length within walls, 25 feet in breadth, and the walls 24 feet high above the ground. The abbacy was not only the place of worship before the Reforma. Reformation, but ever fince, until October 1742, when on a fudden, in time of public worship, the roof fell in. There were 36 perfons killed instantly by what fell in of the roof and flate; 8 more died foon after" (p. 296). The abbot's income beloved to be very confiderable, as his lands and thirlage now amount to above gool fterling" (p. 292, n.) Of the caftle of Cadboll there is a very fingular and remarkable tradition, that, though it was inhabited for ages, yet never any perfon died in it; and many of thole who lived in it quibed to be brought out of it, as they longed for death, efpecially Lady May, who refided there about 100 years ago, and being long fick, and longing for death, the defined to be brought out of her caftle, which, at laft, was accordingly done, and no fooner did the come out of it, than the expired (p. 297). A dreadful famine in the counties of Murray and Inverness, and adjoining hires, 1680 (p. 316). In Methlick parith, in Aberdeenshire, were born Dr. George Cheyne, late phy fician at Bath, eminent in his profeffion and as an author; and Dr. Charles Maitland, who fira introduced in cu ation into Britain, and was fent to Hanover by George II. to inoculate Frederick Prince of Wales (p. 323). Mr. Lifton, minister of Aberdour, in Fifeshire, favs, nants. "If it is afked, what can be done to improve the condition of the people? ore anfwer to this may apply to a great pot of Scotland. There is no doubt but it would much improve the state, both of the people and of the country, if the proprietors of land, where they have it in their, power, were to give long and encouraging leafes to their teThis ufeful body of men, who by toil and experience improve the fields, fhould be enabled to live comfortably, and, by the industry of their youth, to lay up a provifion for the feafon of old age. To improve the condition of the people, care Thould be taken to improve their morals, and, particularly, to eftablish their virtue upon religion, the only stable foundation of good morals. The higher ranks of life might do much in this refp.ct. They who, by their practice, weaken the influence of religion among the people, do much hurt in fociety; but they who give their counte nance to religion are public bleffings, and do honour both to the foundnefs of their own heads and the goodness of their own hearts" (p. 335, fee alfo 355). "Had the famous Dr. Johnfon directed his tour through Defkford, co. Banff, and deigned to pull down the blinds of his car riage, which, it is faid, he drew up in paffing through Cullen, he would have feen many trees not unworthy of attention from the moft unprejudiced English traveller. In an ticularly, an ath tree, which measures in orchard adjoining to an antient castle is, pargirth 24 feet 5 inches. It is called St. John's Tree, from its vicinity to a chapel of that name. There is another a a in the fame orchard, which meafres in girth 2 feet 3 inches, having a bank 20 feet high, nearly of the fane diameter. This ath is called Young St. John. There is alfo a holly tree, perhaps the largest of its fpecies in this feet from the ground, 8 feet 4 inches in country, meafuring, at the diftance of two girth. Ir. feveral places of the parith hedges have been planted, and they also thrive amazingly, when they recei.e proper care and attention" (p. 361). 1 "The minister of Pittenweem, co. Fife, town's charter-cheft, except the account of could not decipher the old writings in the the reception of Charles !!. 1651, at Robert ichardfon Smith's yeet, where az table is to be covered Hederwick have in readiness, of fine flour, with my Ird's 'cft carpet, and that George fome great bunns, and other wheat bread of the best order, baken with fugar and other fpices fitting; and that Jame and William Airth take care to have ready canary, fck, Rhenith wine, tent, white eight of ten gallons of good Prong ale, with and claret wines, that his Majefty and his Court may eat and drink, &c. &c. which was acted” (p. 374). All Good arguments again the 27 alehoutes of Dunje (p. 387); which town is proved to have given birth to John Duns Scotus, 1274 (P. 390). mains. Of Colaftream abbey bnly a vault reWhen General Mork marched into England to restore the royal family, and raised a body of men; which, being he made Coldfream his head-quarters, in fucceflion recruited, has been called, ever fince, the Coluftream Regiment of Guards (p. 410). Of the utility of parish-fchools fee p. 447. friesshire, one perfon died lately, aged In the parish of Durifdeer, in Dumwhofe own account of her age was, that 95; and, in 1773, died Beffy Jamieton, the remembered the Merk Monday, being then a little girl. This remarkable Monday is faid to have been in the year 1652 (P. 459), but it is not explained. In the South wing (aile or tranfept) for laying the dead during funeral fervise of Torpichen preceptory church is a niteb (p. 469). The ruins are curiously de 1cribed. |