distinct, and the impression which might be made by a man's foot and knee while he was in the act of kneeling, the knot of the garter being quite evident. The tradition connected with this remarkable stone, commonly called the "Cow Clout," is, that the proprietor, in order to get up arrears of rent, "drave the pun," or, in other words, carried off the hypothecated stock, while a fierce resistance was made by the people, and that over this stone, on which a man had just been praying for relief against his enemies, the cattle passed followed by an officer on horseback, and that it remains as a memorial to posterity of the cruel deed.

Across the river Dee, just below its junction with the Ken, there is a causey, which is evidently a work of art.

Land-owners.-There are twelve land-owners in all, five of whom are resident. The total valuation of the parish amounts to L.2545. The patroness of the parish is Miss Glendonwyn of Parton. Her ancestor, Sir Simon Glendonwyn, in 1458, obtained a confirmation of the barony, baronial rights, and patronage of Parton. III-POPULATION.

The great increase of the population from 1811 to 1821, appears chiefly to have arisen from the subdivision of the farms and the increased cultivation of the lands on the estate of Corsock. The people are almost all engaged in agriculture, and are in general of sober and industrious habits.

Agriculture.— About 9290 acres, including meadow and interspersed with waste land, are under cultivation. 5800 acres consist principally of heath and morasses. Perhaps from 500 to 600 acres are capable of cultivation, the greater part of which lies in the interior of the parish, and the great obstacle to the improvement of which is the want of roads.

The average rent of land per acre does not exceed 7s.

The real rental of the parish in the year 1821 was L.6000, but it is now reduced, perhaps, to little more than L.5000.

Quarry. There is a slate-quarry in the neighbourhood of the church, which has been in operation upwards of thirty years, and has given employment to eight or ten workmen. The slates are of good quality, and extensively used. The rent of the quarry at

one time exceeded L.100; but it has been reduced, on account of the reduction of the duty on the English slates.

V.-PAROCHIAL ECONOMY.

Market-Town.-Castle-Douglas is the nearest market-town, and is six or seven miles distant. It affords an excellent market, both for grain and cattle. The high road from Castle-Douglas to New Galloway passes.through the western part of the parish ; and the high road from Dumfries to New Galloway passes through the eastern part. There is a daily post along the western line. There is a coach on this road communicating with one from Dumfries to Ayr.

Dalbeattie and Palnackie are the nearest ports, and are at a distance of about twelve miles. Almost the whole of the lime, and a portion of the coals used in the parish, are brought. from these ports.

Fuel. The fuel principally used is peat, which the parish supplies in great abundance.

Ecclesiastical State.-The stipend is eight chalders of barley and eight chalders of meal.

The glebe is sixteen acres in extent, and valued at L.25 Sterling. The manse was built in 1777, and has had two additions made to it since. It is now commodious and in good repair. The church is situated, like most in the neighbourhood, on the banks of the Dee, and is therefore put at the extremity of the parish. A considerable effort was made by a portion of the heritors to have it removed to the interior, at the period of its being rebuilt in 1834, but, as heritors holding more than one-fourth of the valuation opposed it, the proposal was abandoned. A chapel on the banks of the Urr was subsequently built, and a preacher has been supplying regular service, supported partly by seat rents, and partly by the liberality of Major Fletcher, Esq. of Corsock. There are localities connected with it in Balmaclellan and Kirkpatrick-Durham, as well as in Parton, upwards of four miles from the parish churches; so that, if a new parish quoad sacra is disjoined, it will embrace a part of all these parishes, and be of considerable extent.

Education.-There are two parochial schools in the parish. One of the masters has L. 31, 6s. 8d., and the other L. 20 of salary, both subject, however, to a deduction of L. 4, 3s. 4d. each as an annuity payable to a retired teacher. The fees actually paid to the schoolmasters do not exceed L. 25, and they have no other emoluments.

Poor. The average number of poor for the last three years, 17; average amount allotted to each, about L.3, 15s. per annum. Average annual amount of contributions for their relief, L.64, 14s., viz. L.24, 8s. of church collections, and L.40, 6s. from voluntary assessment by the heritors on an average for the last three years. March 1844.

PARISH OF LOCHRUTTON.

FRESBYTERY OF DUMFRIES, SYNOD OF DUMFRIES.
THE REV. THOMAS INGLIS, MINISTER.

I.-TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

Name.-LOCHRUTTON derives its name from a lake or loch in the centre of the parish. The word Rutton is supposed to signify, in the Gaelic language, the straight road. The great road to Ireland through the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright formerly passed close by this loch. This road is now little frequented, a new and better line having been formed many years ago. The new road passes also through the parish, and at a short distance from

the loch.

Boundaries, Figure, and Extent.—The parish is of an elliptical form, and is computed to contain 13 square miles; being 4 long, from east to west; and 3 broad, from north to south. It is bounded by the parishes of New Abbey and Troquire, on the south and east; Terregles and Irongray, on the north; Urr and Kirkgunzeon, on the west. Towards its boundaries on the south, east, and west, the land rises, forming a sort of undulating ring round the parish in these parts, but falling towards the north. These high grounds are mostly arable. The rest of the parish lies in a valley consisting of arable land, interspersed with knolls, mosses and meadows.

Hydrography.—The lake or loch from which the parish has its name, extends to 123 acres, 2 roods, and 4 falls Scots statute measure. It is a mile in length, and at an average about a mile in breadth, and twelve feet in depth. In the middle of it, there is a small island about half a rood in extent, and of a circular form.

This seems to have been, in part at least, artificial. Over its whole surface there is a collection of large stones which have been gathered from the neighbouring fields, resting on a frame of oak planks. The scenery of the lake is bleak, from want of wood in the surrounding lands and the more distant heights. From the lake there issues a small stream, which, after being joined by others, and having pursued its course for a mile or two, receives the name of Cargen water, and falls into the Nith below Drumfries.

There is a small chalybeate spring in the parish, called the Markland well. It is effectual in removing agues, stomach complaints and nervous disorders. It is exceedingly light, very diuretic, and an excellent restorer of appetite. During summer and in the beginning of autumn, it is resorted to by persons in the ordinary and humble walks of life.

Geology and Mineralogy.-The rock is mostly schist and whinstone. It is frequently soft and clayey, particularly near the surface. It is used for building houses and dikes. The soil on it in general is shallow loam. It may be considered neither very barren nor very fertile.

Zoology. The fishes in the lake are eels, pike, and perches. Trouts have been caught in it, but rarely. The eels are caught in quantities, particularly in autumn, by a large wooded chest placed in the sluice at the foot of the lake, with openings at the bottom. The migratory birds in the parish are the woodcock, cuckoo, swallow, and sea-gull or mew. The sea-gulls frequent the island in the lake, in spring and summer, and cover it all over with their nests. They make their appearance in spring, and disappear in the beginning of autumn.

Land-owners.-The heritors are thirteen in number; the chief of whom are Marmaduke Constable Maxwell of Terregles, and James Murray M'Culloch of Ardwall, neither of whom reside in the parish.

Parochial Registers.—The parochial registers date one hundred and thirty-six years back. They are not voluminous, but have been pretty regularly kept.

Antiquities.-The vestige of a Druidical temple is to be seen upon a hill at the eastern extremity of the parish. This spot is called the Seven gray stones; though, in fact, there are nine

stones surrounding a rising ground, and forming a circle of seventy feet diameter.

One ancient tower remains entire, and is mentioned in a Scots chronicle published in the reign of James VI., by the name of the Castle of Hills. The area before the entrance is enclosed, and over the gate a porter's lodge was erected. When this tower was built, is uncertain; but on a corner stone of the lodge, which seems to be of more modern construction, the year 1598 is inscribed.

The chief cause of the increase of the population has been the increase of feus or inhabited houses, chiefly in the village of Lochfoot, the only village in the parish. The population of the village amounts to 96.

IV. INDUSTRY.

Agriculture. The parish contains upwards of 6000 acres Scots

statute measure.

The number of acres, arable and meadow, is supposed to be

in mosses,

in woods,

not arable,

5165

278

209

400

6052

Rent of Land.--The land rent of the parish is L. 4000 The average rent per acre of most of the farms is from 10s. to L.1. The highest rent of any farm in the parish is L. 230, and the lowest

L.40.

Leases, &c.There are few or none of the farms let for a shorter period than fifteen years, and none for a longer. They are all divided from one another by march-dikes, and many of them well subdivided, and also suitably accommodated with houses. There are two mills in the parish; one for grinding oats and barley, and the other for dressing flax. They are both driven by the stream that runs from the lake. To the flax mill are attached a small circular saw for sawing timber, and machinery for carding wool. Both are driven by the wheel of the mill.

Oat seed, if the season answer, is begun to be sown on the se