Modern Buildings.-A beautiful church was erected in 1836, from a design by William Burn, Esq. Edinburgh. The mansionhouses within the parish are, Kirouchtree, the seat of Lady Heron Maxwell; Cumloden Cottage, the summer retreat of the Earl of Galloway; Cairnsmore, the residence of James Stewart, Esq.; Bargally, the property of John M'Kie, Esq., and the present residence of Rear-Admiral Hodgson; and the old house of Machermore, presently occupied by C. W. Thomson, Esq.

The decrease for the last ten years is 29, which is to be accounted for by the stoppage of the lead mines, which formerly gave employment to a large number of persons.

Amount of the population residing in villages: Minnigaff, 160; Creebridge and Millcroft, 262; Mines and Blackcraig, 315; country, 1089; total, 1826.

dle stirred less or more, and after ye nurse had said the words, she bad ye deponent say them to, and that she accordingly said the same words back again to the nurse, and that the deponent had said to ye nurse Malley, before ever she meddled with it, that if she knew yr was any evil in doing of it she would not meddle with it, and ye nurse replied yr was no evil in it, and further, that to shift the meddling with it, she offered to take ye child from ye lady's armes, but ye young lady put her to it, bidding her go do it. As also, yt further ye said Marion depones, yt ye same day, a little after ye young lady bad her go to ye barn, and yr do it over again with the nurse, which she positively refused; whereupon ye young lady did it herself, with all the circumstances she and the nurse had done it in the chambers before; moreover, that some dayes after, the chamber door being close upon the young lady and her nurse Malley, ye deponent, looking through a hole in ye door, saw ye nurse and ye lady standing, and ye riddle betwixt ym as before, but heard nothing. And further, yt ye lady and her nurse bad her deny these things, but did not bid her swear to it." For her participation in this affair, the young Lady Tonderghee, Mrs Janet Blair, was cited before the session; and having expressed her penitence for being ensnared into such sinful practices, she and Marion Murray subscribed a declaration to be read before the congregation, " abhorring and renouncing all spelles and charmes usual to wizards; and having been rebuked and exhorted to greater watchfulness for the future, they were dismissed." The originator of the affair, Malley Redmond, after making her appearance to be rebuked before the congregation, was banished the parish. On occasion of the union betwixt the two kingdoms, we find the following:-23d October 1706," The synod having appointed each minister and session within their bounds to observe a day of fasting and humiliation, with prayer and supplication to God, for conduct and direction to those concerned in the treaty of union betwixt the two kingdoms, and other weighty reasons, therefore this session appoint Tuesday come eight days to be observed by them for the said reasons, other public affairs not suffering to observe it sooner; and all the members are desired to attend at ten o'clock forenoon.

The yearly average of births for the last seven years is 50

The number of acres of land which are either cultivated or are occasionally in tillage, is about 6,000 Imp. The number of acres which remain constantly waste or in pasture, is 80,767

There is no common in the parish.

The mosses along the Cree might be added to the cultivated land in the parish with a profitable application of capital, though it is not probable that any attempts will be made to convert them into arable land, until they be exhausted for fuel.

As near as can be ascertained, the number of acres under wood is about 1600, chiefly planted. In the older woods, the oak is the principal tree, interspersed with ash, hazel, and birch. The larch predominates in the more recent plantations, with Scots spruce, and silver firs, oak, beech, ash, and plane tree. Where the woods are periodically cut, they are generally felled every twenty-five years. Pruning is rarely resorted to.

Rent. The average rent of arable land is 16s. per acre; and the average of the whole parish is 2s. 7d.

The rate of grazing for a cow is from L.4, 10s. to L.5; but in most cases, a calf is allowed to accompany the cow. The average of grazing for an ox or cow is L.3, 10s.; for a ewe or full-grown sheep, 4s. 6d.

Wages.-Farm-servants, when boarded in the house, receive from L.4, 10s. to L.6 the half-year. Married servants receive a certain quantity of meal, potatoes, and money, in general from L.18 to L.20 a-year. The herds are allowed grazing and fodder for a cow and calf, meal, potatoes, wool, &c.; and their income ranges from L.16 to L.24 yearly. The ordinary rate of wages

* Males under 20 years of age, employed under these heads, are included.

for labourers is Is. to 1s. 6d. per day in summer, and 10d. to 1s. 4d. in winter. For cutting peats, 2s. 6d. a-day is charged; and the same sum for mowing hay. When mowers of meadow hay are engaged for the season, they receive L.2, 5s. to L.2, 10s. and board. The season is generally about five weeks. Hay-workers, women or young lads, for the same period, receive 18s. to L.1, and victuals. Female servants receive from L.1, 10s. to L.4 the half year.

Masons, who also work as slaters, charge 3s. in summer and 2s. 6d. in winter. Wrights charge 2s. 8d. in summer and 2s. 6d. winter. Dike-builders, 2s. 6d. in summer, 2s. in winter; in all without victuals. Dikes of dry stone cost from 1s. 4d. to 1s. 8d. per rood of 20 feet long and 4 high, exclusive of carting of materials. For shoeing a pair of horses and keeping a plough in repair, L.3 to L.3, 10s. per annum. Shoeing a horse, 2s. 8d. to 3s. 4d. An iron plough costs L.4, 10s. to L.5; a pair of harrows, L.1, 5s.; a close-bodied cart, L.8. The wood for a five-barred sheep-hurdle costs from 9d. to 1s. at the saw-mill; and when completed, Is. 3d. to 1s. 6d., each hurdle being 7 feet long.

Stock. The black-faced is the common breed of sheep kept, though a few of the Leicester breed are reared in the lower parts of the parish. Much attention has been bestowed upon the improvement of the native stock by a careful selection of the best animals for breeding, and by the introduction of superior rams from other districts. Mr Robert M Millan in Palgown has been the most persevering and successful improver of this hardy race, and his stock, for superior excellence, is not surpassed, if equalled, in the south of Scotland. A more judicious system of management is now generally adopted in regard to sheep stock. Formerly, the pastures were often overstocked; while at present, the stocks are kept rather under what the walks could maintain ; and the hogs are commonly wintered on pastures taken for the purpose in some lower district. The present breed of sheep are distinguished by a greater aptitude to fatten, and attain maturity at an earlier period than the old race, while the wool has considerably increased in quantity, though rather coarser in texture. The number of sheep at present kept is 33,500.

The black polled native cattle, usually denominated Galloways, are the common breed kept. More attention is bestowed on the rearing of stock than on the produce of the dairy. The number of cattle is about 2000 of all ages

Husbandry. The greater part of the parish being of a moun

tainous and rugged description, is only adapted for pasturage, there being hardly a twelfth part of it arable. Many of the farms are of great extent. The largest contains 4700 acres. It requires four and a-half acres to graze a sheep, and the rent does not exceed 6d. an aere. There are several others little inferior in size. On the arable lands, the rotation of crops now generally prescribed in leases is, 1st, oats; 2d, green crop; 3d, oats or barley; 4th, hay; and two years pasture. The turnips are generally consumed on the lands by sheep. When the turnips are let, the charge is from 3d. to 4d. per sheep weekly, an allowance of hay being included. In some cases of old leases, the tenants being under no restrictions, practise what course they choose, very often selling off the fodder, to the serious deterioration of the soil. Draining has been carried on to a considerable extent within these few years; and much has been done in draining muir pastures.

Irrigation is not practised, though there is ample scope for improvement in the management of meadows. A great portion of the meadow hay is composed of short, hard, benty grasses. Were irrigation resorted to, the produce would be greatly increased, besides being greatly improved in its nutritious qualities.

Leases. The general duration of leases is nineteen years. A few farms are held on life leases, and several for three nineteen years, and ninety-nine years, chiefly on Machermore estate. These long leases have all been sublet, in some cases four or five tacksmen intervening betwixt the proprietor and the occupier; and being let at a great advance of rent, and the tenants being under no restrictions as to cropping or consuming the fodder on the lands, many of them regularly sell the growing crops, to the great impoverishment of the soil.

Farm-Buildings. Within these twenty years, the greater part of the farm-buildings have been rebuilt or repaired, and are in general commodious and suited to the respective farms. In the higher parts of the parish, a few of the steadings are very inferior; and on the estate of Machermore, the liferent of which is sold, the farm-buildings, with hardly an exception, are in a very dilapidated condition.

Improvements. No improvements have recently been made. calling for particular notice, though in general much improvement has been effected by draining, and a more improved mode of husbandry. Since the last Account was written, many hundred acres of waste land have been enclosed and planted on the Galloway

property, and several hundred acres on that of Lady Heron Maxwell. New roads have been formed and old ones improved; though it is to be regretted that portions of the parish roads have not been more judiciously designed.

Quarries and Mines.-There are no quarries, properly speaking, within the parish. Boulder stones are so numerous, as to supply whatever materials may be required for building purposes; and granite of the finest quality, and of any size, can be procured in abundance from the masses of this rock at Craigdhews. The lead mines are distant about two miles from the village of Minnigaff, on the boundary of the Kirouchtree and Machermore estates. The lead was first discovered in 1763, and was shortly afterwards wrought. For many years the mines were very productive, producing many hundred tons of lead annually. For a considerable period they were wrought by an English company; but latterly, having become unproductive, they abandoned the works in 1839, and the buildings erected for smelting the ore are now in ruins. Since that period the mines have been partially wrought to a trifling extent, only three persons being occasionally employed, and the produce not exceeding twelve tons annually. Eighty fathoms is the utmost depth that any of the mines have been sunk whether there be any quantity of lead to be found beyond this depth, has not been ascertained.

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Fisheries. The proprietors of the lands along the Cree have a right to fish for salmon, &c. in that river. In spring great quantities of sparlings are caught. The rents of the several fisheries amount to L.140.

Produce. The average gross amount of raw produce, as nearly as it can be ascertained, is as follows:

Manufactures.-There is a small manufactory at Cumloden of coarse plaidings and blankets. It gives employment to five men, and a few women and children; in all about twelve hands are employed. Those engaged receive a fair remuneration for their labour. About sixteen hands are employed in cotton weaving. The