Two bleachfields have been lately established. One of thefe, at Wellmeadow, employs 13 men and 26 women. The other, at Broom, which has just begun work this fummer, employs 11 men and eleven women. Church, Poor, and School.-Sir Michael Stewart of Blackhall, Bart. is patron. The ftipend is 5 chalders of meal, and 271. 13 s. Sterling of money. No augmentation has ever yet been demanded. The glebe confifts of about 4 acres of arable land. A very good manse was built in 1789, and the church was fitted up in a very neat and commodious manner in 1792. There has long been an Antiburgher meeting house here. The congregation, which is not near fo numerous now as formerly, is made up of people belonging to this parish, and to fome of the adjoining parishes. There are, likewife, in the parith, a few Burghers and Ca◄ meronians. It is pleasant to iee the happy effects of toleration. Time has foftened the rancour of party among these feceders from the Established Church, and almost all of them live in good neighbourhood, and difcover a fpirit of Chriftian charity and moderation. There are but few poor in the parifh. These are supported in the ufual way, by collections made at the church, by the interest of a small accumulated fund, by the profits of the mort-cloth, and by the dues arifing from the publication of the banns of marriage. There are no begging poor belonging to the parish. There is a parochial schoolmaster, who has a falary of 81. 6 s. 8 d. Sterling, befides the ufual small school-fees, and an allowance of 30 s. as feffion clerk. There is the fame reafon to complain here, as in moft other places, that the emolu. ments of the schoolmafter are no way adequate to the quali VOL. XVII. fications S s fications generally expected, and to the labour and fatigue required. Population.-From an accurate account taken in 1792, it appeared that there were in the parifh 1430 fouls at that time. Of males, 675-of females, 755. Under 15 years of age From 15 to 70 Above 70 562 841 27 1430 According to Dr Webster's account, in 1755, there were 886 fouls in the parish. The prefent very confiderable increafe of population, is chiefly owing to the introduction of manufactures, and to the addition of inhabitants to the village of Newton. This is the only village in the parifh, and it has of late increased greatly. There are at prefent 47 families in it. The most of thefe are the families of tradefmen and common labourers. Character of the People.-The people of this parifh are sober, industrious, and oeconomical; refpectful to their fuperiors, and uncommonly friendly and obliging. They are rational in their religious fentiments, and moderate in their religious zeal. All of them are strongly attached to our prefent civil conftitution, and cautiously avoid giving countenance to any change or innovation in it. It is happy for them, that they pretend not to make politics their study. They mind the duties and bufinefs of their own station, and wish to enjoy, with thankfulnefs and peace, the many bleffings which a kind providence beftows on them. Mifcellaneous Obfervations.-The only antiquity here is the Caftle of Mearns. It is a large fquare tower, fituated on a rocky rocky eminence, and commanding an extenfive and beautiful profpect. It is not known when it was built. It is fuppofed to be feveral hundred years old, and to have been used as a place of detence. It was furrounded by a strong wall, and the entrance was fecured by a draw bridge. It is now, however, greatly difmantled and out of repair, the taily of Blackhall, to whom it belongs, having their relidence at Ardgowan, The roads are in good condition, and the best materials are every where at hand for making them. The great road from Glafgow to Kilmarnock runs through the whole length of the parish; as does alfo the road from Glafgow to Stewarton. The road from Paisley to Kilbride and Hamilton croffes the parish from north to fouth. There are also many private roads. Thefe were formerly made and repaired by ftatute labour, but an act of Parliament is now paffed, for converting the ftatute labour of this county into money. There are no difeafes peculiar to this parish. Inoculation for the fmall-pox is gradually gaining ground. There is neither free-ftone, nor lime, nor coal in the parish, but all thefe are to be had in plenty at no great distance. NUM NUMBER XXII. PARISH OF WALLS AND FLOTA. (COUNTY OF ORKNEY AND SHETLAND-PRESBYTERY OF CAIRSLEY.-SYNOD OF ORKNEY). By the Rev. Mr JAMES BREMNER, Minifter. W Name. LLS fometimes fignities the parish only, and fometimes it is taken for the whole island. In old maps it is ipelt Waes, and its prefent pronunciation is uniformly as if written Waas, a corruption, probably, of Voes, which originally, and at this day, fignifies a confiderable inlet or bay, where fh p anchor; and in thefe this end of the island abounds, as Lyar voe, Thur-voe, Ofmand voe. Here it may be remarked, as a thing not improbable, that Kirkwall, the chief town of the county, was originally Kirk-voe. Population. By an accurate lift taken in 1788, the inhabitants of all ages, in both the united parishes of Walls and Flota, ftood thus: By lifts taken in April 1794, the population stands thus The population, in 1755, was 1000 fouls. What accounts for this increase of 71 is, the settlement of a colony of Highlanders, who had been forced to emigrate from Strathnaven, where their farms were converted into fheep pafture. Thefe people, it would appear, had been comfortably fituated in their former refidence, as they all brought with them, to this place, a very confiderable stock in horses, cows, fheep, and goats, and also in grain. As to all other property, every man of them might truly fay, Omnia mea mecum porto. Their household furniture must therefore be described negatively. No bed, no table, no chair. These the Highlander does not reckon among the neceffaries of life, as he can make the earth ferve him for all the three. In his fhealing, composed of earth and a few fticks, you find no other furniture than a few difhes for his milk, and a barrel for his meal: So true in fact, as well as philofophy, is the maxim, Natura contenta eft paucis. Cattle. The number of horses in the parish is about The number of cows and queys 235 400 The average value of horses and cows is from l. 15 s. to 21. Hence the value of the Foals of a year old, 21, at 1 1. each Carried forward, Sterl. L. 1200 21 32 L. 1253 |