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hired for the winter, who resides alternately in each house in the district, instructing such children as are sent to him by the neighbouring families.

Poor and Parochial Funds.-The number of persons at present on the poor roll, several of whom have families chiefly dependent on what they receive from the parochial fund, is much increased of late, and the average sum afforded to each is miserably small. The session funds arise from collections in church and a voluntary assessment annually imposed by the heritors. The sum of L. 5 besides, arising from money mortified for this charitable purpose, is yearly distributed to five such poor persons as the kirk-session judge to be the fittest objects.

Fairs.-There is still an annual fair held in the village of Kirkpatrick in March, but the assemblage of attendants has vastly diminished, and the horse races and balls have dwindled into a very paltry representation of what they seem formerly to have been.

Inns.-There are four public-houses in the parish, which, in general, are conducted in a respectable manner.

Fuel. The parish was long amply supplied with fuel from the mosses with which it abounds, but of late years this valuable article has become scarce. Peats are still obtained in small quantities both in this and the neighbouring district; but the chief article of consumption under this head is coal, which is procured from the English skippers, who import it from the opposite coast, and sell it to their customers at the harbour of Dalbeattie, at the average rate of 7s. 6d. a cart load.

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS.

Since the last Statistical Account was written, the general aspect of the parish has been most materially changed. Then, there were but one or two houses that could claim any superiority over those of the farmers, and these last again were but a very small step removed above the humble thatched cottages of their servants and labourers. Now, almost every considerable estate has its mansion, and its neat garden and tasteful shrubbery. Heath and furze then occupied large tracts of ground, which are now covered by thriv ing wood, or cleared for the pasture of cattle and the growing of Then, only a few tracks existed to point out the direction which the traveller should pursue, without aiding him materially in his journey. Now, smooth and well engineered roads intersect the parish in all directions.

corn.

Other changes too have taken place. The manufactures which

at that time were prosperously commencing, and promised to bring wealth and comfort to the abodes of many of the inhabitants, have taken their flight to other regions, and the people again possess all the characteristics of a rural race, though in many cases suffering from the dire effects of extreme poverty. To this fact may, perhaps, in some measure be traced the difference which is observed in the attendance at the fair of Kirkpatrick now, when compared with what it once was.

Revised March 1844.

PARISH OF KIRKPATRICK-IRONGRAY.

PRESBYTERY of Dumfries, synod of dumfries.
THE REV. J. WILSON, MINISTER.*

I.-TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

Name.-IRONGRAY, the name by which this parish is now generally known, seems to have been added to Kirkpatrick by way of distinction, and signifies, as has been supposed, Gray's land; the spot where the old church stood, which was dedicated to St Patrick, being probably so called. It lies on the right bank of the Cluden or Cairn, a few miles to the west of Dumfries, and, in form, is nearly triangular.

Extent, &c.-It extends 9 miles in length, by from 1 to 4 in breadth, and contains a surface of 14,464 imperial acres, or 22.60 square miles. It is bounded on the east by Terregles; on the north, by the Cluden, which separates it from Holywood; on the west and south-west, by Kirkpatrick-Durham and Urr; and on the south, by Lochrutton and Terregles.

Topographical Appearances.-The appearance of the parish is varied and singularly beautiful. The lowest or eastern extremity is nearly level, and in a state of the highest cultivation. The centre consists of two or more undulations of hills, being part of a range which stretches across the stewartry from north to south. Their knolls and heights are finely wooded; their sloping acclivities well and somewhat tastefully enclosed, here in pasture, and there in crop; and their outline, as seen from different parts of

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Communicated by the late Incumbent of the parish, the Rev. Robert Crawford.

the vale, highly picturesque. From several points, particularly along the upper parts of the farm of Inglestone, on the estate of Mr Oswald of Auchencruive, there are delightful views of the richest portion of Nithsdale, part of Annandale, the Solway, and the hills of Cumberland. The highest or western extremity consists of two bare elevated ridges, which rise to the height of about 1500 feet above the level of the sea. The one to the north, called "Bishop's Forest," is separated from the other, “ Glenbennan," by the Auld water, a rivulet that falls into the Cairn, and gives the name of Cluden to that beautiful stream. With their gray rocks and dark-brown heath, they form a splendid back-ground to the lesser eminences, and the fertile well-cultivated plains beneath.

Meteorology. The climate varies in different parts of the parish. In the upper district, the atmosphere is colder and more damp than in the lower, owing perhaps to the badness of the soil and the want of shelter from the westerly winds, which are here the most prevalent.

Hydrography-The only stream which, strictly speaking, belongs to the parish, is the Auld water, which rises on the borders of Kirkpatrick-Durham, sweeps round the base of the Bishop's Forest, and falls into the Cairn about three miles above the juncture of that stream with the Nith. The course being short, and the channel narrow and rocky, it is easily swollen, and then comes down with great rapidity, doing often considerable injury to the crops upon its banks. That, however, which gives any thing like interest to the stream, is a beautiful little waterfall, which marks its course, just where it crosses the road leading from Dumfries to Dunscore and Minnyhive, and very near its junction with the Cairn. The fall may be about 20 feet, and is succeeded by one considerably less, which deposits the waters in a deep smooth basin. Across the lower fall, and in front of the higher, nearly on a level with what may be called its rapids, a bridge, consisting of a single arch, is thrown. The whole scene, as seen from the bridge,—the ivy mantling its sides, the fine old oaks overhanging the stream, the noisy and agitated waters on the one side, their quiet and gentle current on the other, heightened as these are by coming unexpectedly upon them,-have a very pleasing effect, and arrest the attention of the passing traveller. The Routing Bridge, as the spot is called, is on the north-western extremity of the property of Mr Oswald of Auchencruive.

The Cairn skirts this parish on the north, for upwards of six miles, forming, as already stated, the boundary between it and Holywood in that direction, and adding greatly to the beauty of the landscape by its wooded banks, its numerous windings, and "its waves that sweetly glide." When joined by the Auld water, it takes the name of Cluden, and, after leaving Irongray, sweeps along the northern border of Terregles for about a mile, and then falls into the Nith, where the silent and venerable towers of the Abbey of Lincluden stand. It is easily forded, except after heavy rains, when it overflows its banks, and lays many of the adjacent fields under water. It abounds with trout and par, and, in their season, with fry, grilse, &c., and is considered an admirable fishing

stream.

Mineralogy.-The rocks are whinstone, slate, freestone, and pudding-stone. Whinstone and slate of the greywacke species, compose the hills in the upper and middle district. The dip of the rock is from north to south, facing the south, with an angle of slight inclination. Freestone is to be found in various parts of the farms of Inglestone, Gateside, and Cluden, and forms the bed of the river a little below Cluden Mills. Above the mills, pudding-stone prevails, forming also the bed of the stream for upwards of a mile.

Soils. The soil where freestone is found is of a light sandy nature, well adapted to the growing of turnip and barley, which are cultivated to a considerable extent on the large and best managed farms. That on the slaty part is of a gravelly description, also well adapted to the culture of turnip and barley. The soil where whinstone prevails, is of a wet quality, having a subsoil of hard impenetrable till, a mixture of clay, sand, and gravel. The alluvial soils are of small extent, being confined to the immediate vicinity of the river. Underneath them at various depths, from five to ten feet, as also in many boggy parts of the parish, trees of different kinds are found, principally the oak, alder, birch, and fir, (Pinus sylvestris,) facts which prove that the latter tree, though not now, once was a native of the south of Scotland, and that several ages must have passed away, since they were deposited there. Marl, which was formerly used in considerable quantities as manure, and forms perhaps part of the strata of the parish, is to be met with in some of the bogs. It is now disused, having been superseded by lime and bones, which are nearly as cheap, and far less exhausting to the land.

Wood.-There are some stately oaks and beautiful beeches. Very fine specimens of both are to be found on the glebe.

II. CIVIL HISTORY.

This parish occupies rather a distinguished place in the history of the memorable struggle for religious freedom which the Presbyterians or Covenanters maintained from 1662 to 1685. Here many of these oppressed and devoted men found a breathing-place and a sanctuary. On the southern side of the "Forest," there is an extensive hollow, enclosed on the west by Cornlee, and on the east by Skeoch Hill, with a natural opening from the south. About midway up Skeoch Hill, on the inner side, where there is a platform of considerable extent, several of the ejected ministers met their scattered flocks, and dispensed the sacrament to them. This lonely and otherwise unattractive spot is invested with a deep interest, from being the scene, and still retaining the memorials, of these events," the Communion Stones." They consist of what may be called two tables, with a passage between them. Each table has two rows of seats in distinct preservation. At the head, there is a small cairn, which was obviously used as the table for the elements. A few yards to the south, a stone of an oval form is to be seen, with two separate circular cavities that admit the arm to the elbow, which held, according to tradition, the water for baptism. In front of the stones, towards the forest, the ground rises gradually, forming a kind of natural gallery, where the congregation could hear the sermons and addresses that were delivered, and witness the whole solemnity. The nature of the ground, and the precautions that were taken by planting watchmen on the heights, rendered the spot peculiarly secure. Any attempt to surprise them, was almost sure to be defeated. When this struggle commenced, John Welsh, the great grandson of Knox, was minister of the parish. He was ejected with seventeen of his brethren in 1662, and acted a conspicuous part in these troublous times. After his ejection, we find him in the city teaching from house to house; on the mountains, preaching to "the suffering wanderers" after sleepless nights; in the camp, healing divisions, and taming the impetuosity of the more fiery leaders; on the field of battle, lamenting the dire necessity that forced him to arms, yet periling his life in the cause. Strange to say, he escaped a violent death, having died in London on the 9th of January 1681.

In connection with this period we may state, that two martyrs,

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