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lue, have already been reclaimed, and will this year be under white crop; and if the present spirit does not greatly relax, there is every reason to believe, that in the course of a few seasons, an addition of more than a third will be made to the improved arable, meadow, and pasture grounds. Inclosures and plantations are advancing with astonishing rapidity. New erections of houses and farming establishments for the accommodation of tenants are rising in every direction, as comfortable and convenient, substantial and useful, to the occupiers, as ornamental to the country, which already begins to assume a new aspect. Nor is the change for the better less observable in the village of Thornhill, where the benevolent proprietor, the Duke of Buccleuch, with great judgment and propriety, is at present expending very considerable sums in levelling and paving the streets, in forming common sewers, removing nuisances, providing a supply of good water, and making other improvements tending to promote the comfort, the cleanliness, the health, morality, and virtue of the inhabitants.

Rate of Wages.-The wages of farm-servants, labourers, artisans, and others connected with husbandry, are various, but are nearly as follows, yearly. For a man-servant living in the family, L. 12, 12s.; qualified ploughman, L. 16, 16s.; farm female-servant, L. 6, 6s.; dairy-maid or byre-woman, L. 7, 7s. Farm-labourers receive per day, 1s. 6d. ; hay, turnip, and potatoe-labourers, 1s. 2d. ; a mower to cut or mow hay, 3s.; a carpenter or joiner, 2s. 6d; a mason 3s. In autumn the rates are higher, and vary almost every day, being sometimes as high as 2s. 6d. with maintenance in the farmer's family.

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Produce. The average gross amount of raw produce raised yearly in the parish, as nearly as can be ascertained, is as follows:

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V.-PAROCHIAL ECONOMY.

Markets, &c.-The village of Thornhill was at first intended to be a market-town, and authority was obtained to hold a market in it every Tuesday. But though a weekly market established in this village would be a great public benefit conferred upon this part of the country, as well as the village, it has never yet succeeded. It is supposed, however, that it could be easily made to succeed by the present Noble proprietor, who would thereby merit the public gratitude.

Ecclesiastical State.-The church was built in 1781, and is not inconveniently situate for the parish in general. At present it is not in a good state of repair,-the repairs having been delayed in the prospect of its being soon removed to a situation more convenient for the inhabitants of the village. It affords accommodation for between 500 and 600 persons, and is too small for the present population; but, by the erection of galleries, may be made to accommodate 200 more, and be sufficiently large: the seats are all free. The manse was built about the middle of last century, was repaired lately, and though small, is comfortable. The glebe is about twenty acres in extent, and is worth about L. 25 yearly. The stipend is 16 chalders, half meal, half barley, with L. 10 for communion elements; it was augmented on the 27th January 1830. Since which time the stipend, converted to money, has averaged L. 247, 9s. 2 d. per annum.

Divine service at the Established church is regularly attended by about 350 families, and the average number of communicants is about 500. There is a dissenting chapel in the village, formerly of the Antiburgher persuasion, now of the United Associate Synod. There are besides, a few Cameronians, and several of the Relief persuasion attached to these two congregations, in the adjoining parish of Penpont. The number of families belonging to the Secession Associate Synod, Relief, and Cameronians, is 133. Only 15 individuals are Cameronians. Of late Of late many of the young in the families of Seceders have been returning to the Established church.

Education.—There is only one established parochial teacher in this parish. The salary enjoyed by him amounts to L. 34, 4s. 41d. with a house and garden, and a park of land of about two acres or upwards, which he possesses rent free. The average

amount of fees is about L. 30 yearly. Besides the parochial, there are four schools unendowed in the parish.

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Library. Though we have not yet reached the establishment of a public reading-room, there are several clubs or societies for the purchase of newspapers and other periodical publications, to be read and perused in their own dwellings. The desire for reading and information of every description has of late years much increased, and seems still increasing. A subscription library was established in Thornhill in 1814, which is doing well; and the subscribers are numerous.

Charitable Institutions, &c.—There are three men's and one women's Society; two of the men's are stock societies, and one what is called a penny society. One of the stock societies has existed for upwards of 30 years; one 22 years; the penny society about 10 years; and the women's society 25 years. It is impossible to speak too highly of their benevolent object; and the good they have accomplished here is inexpressible.

Our

Poor and Parochial Funds.-The average number of poor receiving parish aid has of late been about 30, and is rapidly increasing, -the aversion to make application, and be put on the poors' roll, though still in some degree felt, gradually wearing away. only regular source of supply for their relief is from the weekly collections in the church, which amount to L. 40 yearly, with the interest of L.60; and from occasional collections and contributions from the heritors and others, which may amount to as much. There are two general distributions in the year, at Whitsunday and Martinmas, besides almost weekly private disbursements to those whose necessities require it. The yearly sum to those on the roll is various, from L. 1, 4s. to L. 6; but besides the above, I believe more is given by individuals in private alms, in clothing, in articles of food, and also in money. No regular assessment of poors' rate has yet been had recourse to in this parish.

Inns, &c.-There are two very respectable inns in the village, which are sufficient for the parish; though there are eight or ten inferior lodging and dram-houses in the same place, besides three in Carronbridge.

Fuel.-The fuel used here is peat and coal; of the former, there is still a moderate supply within the bounds of the parish, though now wearing fast away: and the nearest coal is at Sanquhar, about twelve miles distant.

January 1834,

PARISH OF MOFFAT.

PRESBYTERY OF LOCHMABEN, SYNOD OF DUMFRIES.

THE REV. ALEXANDER JOHNSTONE, MINISTER. *

I. TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

Name, Boundaries, &c.—THE name is ancient, and applies to the village, to the parish, and to the principal stream and vale. When the deep and romantic pastoral valley of Moffat Water was densely wooded, it must have well suited the name it bore in the Gaelic language, "Oua-vat," which is said to signify "a long deep mountain hollow."

The greatest length of the parish is about 15 miles, and the greatest breadth from 8 to 9 miles. The contents, according to the county map, are 56 square miles; but including Harthope and Raecleugh in Lanarkshire, they must be 60 square miles, or 38,400 English acres. It is bounded on the north by Tweedsmuir parish with part of Lyne and Megget; by Eskdale-muir and Hatton on the east; by Wamphray and Kirkpatrick-Juxta on the south; and by the latter parish, and that of Crawford on the west. The figure is irregular, projecting considerably to the N. E., between the counties of Peebles and Selkirk, but is deeply indented on the east by a part of Selkirkshire, and on the S. W. by the parish of Kirkpatrick-Juxta. In the line of the boundaries are the summits of Hartfell and Lochcraig, on the north; Birkhill pass, and the tops of Bodisbeck and Lochfell on the N. E.; the Bell Craig linn burn on the south; on the west, the river Annan from Woodfoot to Bridgend, and thence by the Meikle holm side burn, the Blacklaw hill,—a small part of Middlegill burn,—and the grain of Garpel Water head; then on the N. W. are the hills whose water-shed is into the Daer and the Clyde.

Topographical Appearances.-Parallel ranges of hills of moderate elevation form the waterfalls of Evan on the N. W., and of Annan

• This Account was written, at the request of the minister when indisposed, by the Rev. Dr Singer, Minister of Kirkpatrick-Juxta.

in the northern central parts; and steeper and higher lands range along Moffat Water; the gorges of these three vales and the three rivers uniting below Moffat; and the united streams afterwards passing under the name of the river Annan. Although the village of Moffat is situated at an elevation of about 370 feet above the sea, and the meeting of the three rivers below must be at an elevation of about 350 feet above sea level, to this point of junction they all descend briskly in their courses: Annan Water running southward about seven miles: Moffat Water descending to the south-west about ten miles; and only about four or five miles of the upper part of Evan Water being in this parish, moving to the south by east. The beds of Annan and Moffat Waters are mostly formed of gravel and sand with rounded stones; the course of Evan is over almost vertical rocks. The hills and mountains ranging along these rivers are generally steep, in some instances almost inaccessible; but though the waterfall is brisk, it is distributed over long spaces, and excellent public roads have been long open in the direction of these rivers; the well-known Evandale road, affording a safe and easy communication as part of the mail-coach road from Carlisle to Glasgow, and the improved line in the direction of Annan Water being part of the mail-coach road from Dumfries to Edinburgh; while up Moffat Water carriages pass without any difficulty or danger by the lakes and Yarrow to Selkirk, the access being good and safe in all these directions; and very easy to the burgh of Annan on the south, distant 27 miles. The vales formed along Annan and Moffat Waters are narrow, but of a dry and fertile soil; that of Evan Water is not only more confined, but less fertile, and more heathy. All these water-courses are well adapted for pasturage; and in the vales of Annan and Moffat Waters there is also a proportion of land in cultivation and planted with trees. It is believed that the passes at the upper parts of these rivers, when the greatest ascent along the road from Moffat has been gained, may rise generally to near a thousand feet in all, which, if distributed over a space of ten miles, would make an ascent as easy as necessary. But, of course, part of the roads are steeper.

The group of mountains called after Hartfell, and forming the highest land in Scotland lying south of the Forth, contains the following, viz. Hartfell, whose height above the sea at low water is 2635 feet; Whitecoom, looking down on the basin of Lochskeen, 2685 feet; Broadlaw in Peebles-shire and Tweedsmuir parish, 2741 feet; Ettrick Pen, whose height is 2256 feet; and Queensberry to the

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