church of Elgin, when it was confumed by fire. Lady Kilravock, and her husband Hugh Rofe of Geddes, obtained a charter (pofterior to the lofs of the writs above mentioned) from King John Baliol in the year 1293, confirming to them and to their heirs, the lands of Geddes and Kilravock *.

Advantages and Difadvantages.-The climate here is remarkably good. No difeafes peculiar to the place. Rheumatisms and nervous complaints are perhaps the most prevalent. This town was, of old, greatly renowned for the cheapness of all forts of vivres. All the neceffaries of life, till within about these 20 years, fold very low. An excellent peat-mofs, at little more than a mile in diftance from the town, was a great inducement for bringing numbers of peo

ple

Concerning the family of Kilravock, it would be needlefs, on this occafion, to say any thing particular. The figure they have made in the world, in various departments in life, their taste for the fine arts, for literature, for politeness, hofpitality, &c. is too well known to require the pen of a panegyrift. Geddes probably derives its name from Geelda, a Pictish Saint, to whofe memory, on this fpot, it seems a place of worship was dedicated.

The charter of foundation of the Chapel of Eafter Geddes, part of the walls of which is still extant, and granted by Hugh Rofe of Kilravock, bears date 1473. This chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and endowed with 51. Scots of ftipend, together with a small croft, as a glebe, and on which to erect a manfe. The priest or chaplain was to perform daily offices, not only for the foul of the founder, but also for the fouls of his predeceffors, and of his heirs and fucceffors for ever. The bull of privileges for faid Chapel is dated at Rome, 26th April 1475, in the 4th year of Pope Sextus the Fourth.

The fite of the Conftabulary is ftill visible in the town of Nairn. The Lairds of Calder were, for a feries of time, high conftables, and heritable sheriffs of the county. Notice is taken of the Kebback-stone, in the statistical account of the parish of Arderfier. In the N. E. corner of this parish is a place called the King's Steps. Even tradition doth not fay on what account this royal appellation was affixed to this spot of ground. There is an excellent quarry of freestone below flood mark, easily wrought, and of no contemptible quality. There are fome chalybeate springs of water, but not of such confequence as to deserve a particular defcription.

ple to refide here. But the prices of provifions of every kind having rifen greatly of late, and the mofs being almost entirely exhaufted, have contributed to increafe the number of mendicants who infeft the place, and added confiderably to the poor's roll. Befides the bridge before mentioned, there are two other great difadvantages, which bear hard upon the town and country, and thefe are, the want of fome manufacture, and the want of a pier. Both thefe might, it is fuppofed, be removed at no very confiderable expenfe, and to the great emolument of Nairn and the neighbourhood. By altering the prefent course of the river, many people say that a pier might be built, capable of receiving hips of confiderable burthen. Were a spirit of improvement once introduced, either a linen or a woollen manufacture might be eftablished, which, if well conducted, would add greatly to the advantage of proprietors of fhares, and to the country in general. The number of people who apparently want employment in the town and its vicinity, is abfolutely incredible. If industry, which in a great measure seems to be dormant, were aroufed, there is little doubt but Nairn might become a flourishing place.

Mifcellaneous Obfervations.-The people, in general, are about the middle fize, affable enough in their manners, with a few exceptions, pretty regular in their attendance on the ordinances of divine inftitution, and rational, without an overheated zeal, or too much coldness in their religion. Those of the Established Church, fome few of the Epifcopalian perfuafion, and the Antiburgher Seceders, live in good terms with one another. Few perfons from this parish have been

criminally

* Unfortunately, however, this fpring two lads were tried and condemned at Inverness for thop-breaking and theft. One of them was hanged. It is furely much to be wished that his fate may prove a warning to others, to avoid the

like crimes. The other young man (brother to the lad who was executed), has been reprieved. The writer of this account is forry to observe, that petty thefts are not fo feverely curbed by parents in the lower ranks in life, as they ought to be; and he is alfo forry to fay, that the fatal effects of spiritous liquors become more apparent every day. Nairn is remarkably well calculated for fea bathing. For the accommodation of perfons who require the benefit of the falt bath, Mr. James Brander, one of the innkeepers, has a bathing machine provided.

NUMBER XXX.

PARISH OF MONKTOWN AND PRESTICK.

(COUNTY OF AYR, SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR, PRESBY TERY OF AYR.)

By the Rev. ANDREW MITCHELL, D. D.

THE

Name, Extent.

HE parish receives its name from the manor-place of Monktown, which, before the Reformation, is reported to have been a religious convent pertaining to the abbacy of Paisley, from which the village, and many of the farms had their names. This manor and barony have now the name of Orangefield, and had formerly a jurisdiction of regality *.

The

The parish formerly extended to the river Ayr, and comprehended the prefent parish of Newtown, which, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of that part, had a church erected that was used as a Chapel of Ease, for 2 years, and an ordained minifter, preceding 1779. At that period, the community of

Newtown

The parish, at prefent, extends in length from the N. where it adjoins the parish of Dundonnald, and Symington upon the N. E., 34 miles towards the S. where it is bounded by the parish of Newtown and St. Quivox. From the E. where it borders upon Tarbolton and Craigie, 3 miles in breadth, but in other parts, beyond the Pow-burn, scarce above half that measure. On the W., it is bounded by the Frith of Clyde, oppofite to the island of Arran. The village and church of Monktown are diftant from the fea about a mile. The prospect is agreeable and pleasant, and the air salubrious. Seldom any epidemical diseases prevail, but fuch as are common. The village contains about 34 dwellinghouses, and 46 families, and is interfected by 3 toll-roads; one leading from Ayr to Irvine, another to Kilmarnock and Glasgow, and the third to Tarbolton and St. Quivox.

Church of Monktown, Burgb of Preftick, &c.-The church of Monktown is an old fabric; no perfon alive can give any account when it was built. The burgh of Prestick contains

3 D 2

Newtown purchased from Sir William Maxwell, then patron, the right of electing their own minifter; and with the consent of the heritors of Monktown, the Lords Commiffioners of Kirks and Teinds, erected the burgh into a feparate parish, and the church was put upon the establishment. The freeholders of the burgh are subjected to the payment of the minifters ftipends, which they now raife from the rents of the feats. Before this disjunction and erection took place, the inhabitauts of Newtown were distant from the parish church of Monktown, about 4 English miles, and were the most numerous part of the parish, amounting to between 800 and 900 perfons. The valuation of the burgh being small they had only a feat in Monktown church that could contain 12 or 14 perfons at moft. They are ftill liable to all public burdens, and future augmentations of stipends, as heritors of the parish of Monktown and Prestick, and pay their usual proportion of stipend.

The fide walls are 31, and the weft gable 3 feet 10 inches thick; and still ftands, though bended off the perpendicular on one fide, and rent in the west gable. The roof is moftly oak. It has food since the Reformation, and is pro

bably