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posed to take an active part in support either of the one or of the other. To the war, however, in which we are en gaged, though their limited information does not enable them to pronounce decifively upon its justice or neceffity, yet, animated with the love of their country, they fincerely with a favourable iffue.

Mechanics.-There are in this parish 13 weavers, 5. joiners, 4 mafons, 2 fhoemakers, 2 taylors, 2 blacksmiths, 2 coopers, and 2 flax-dreffers.

Churches. Notwithstanding the small size of this parish, it is provided with three churches; one belonging to the Establishment, one to the Antiburgher Seceders, and one to the English Epifcopals. Of thefe, the Established Church is by far the worft in point of ftructure and accommodation. None of the heritors refide in the parish, and confequently lefs attention is paid to keep it in a state of any decent repair. The other two are more in the ftile of modern buildings, and much better fitted up for the accommodation of the hearers. The whole parish, however, are of the Established: Religion, excepting 24 Seceders, of whom alfo the greater part are women. The English Chapel was erected in this parish, merely from its being the most central situation for accommodating a few families in the neighbourhood.

Manfe, Glebe, and Living.-The manfe was built 8 years ago, and is a small, but fubftantial house. It is remarkable for its being the fubject of a long law-fuit, in which the principal heritor infifted that the Court of Seffion, in awarding a fum for the building of a new manfe, could not exceed 1000l. Scotch, by the act 1663. This question was tried before the Houfe of Peers; and the judgment of the Court

of

of Seffion, whereby they had exceeded that fum, was affirmed.

The glebe confifts of about 6 acres of rich arable land. The living of the established clergyman is 61 bolls and 9 pecks of victual; 171. Sterling; 31 capons, 43 poultry and the tenth of lint, lamb, and wool.

Schoolmaster.-The provifion for a schoolmafter in this parish is 40 1. Scotch, with the fchool fees, and 81. Scotch for acting as feffion-clerk. Even this paltry fum, it would feem, is reluctantly beftowed. The last schoolmaster died 10 years ago; the school-house had been in ruins long be-fore; and the heritors have never yet found it convenient to provide us either with one, or with the other; an irreparable lofs to the rifing generation. Some fteps, however, will foon be taken, for having this opprobrious grievance effectually removed.

Poor. There are no poor's rates established in this parish. The weekly collections in the church, with the interest of a fmall fum of money, have hitherto been fufficient for the support of the poor. There are, at prefent, 3 only upon the roll, aged, infirm people; and even these require but a small trifle, in addition to the fruits of their own induftry. The average weekly collection is from 2 s. to 2 s. 6d. Sterling.

Prices of Labour and Provifions.-The wages of a man-fervant are from 10l. to 121. Sterling a year; of a woman-fervant, from 41. to 5 1. with victuals. Day-labourers receive from 15 d. to 18 d. a day in summer, and about I s. in winter, without victuals. Oat-meal is here the principal food of the people, and generally fells at 1 s. the peck. Butter

fells

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fells at 9 d. per lib.; cheese at from 4 s. to 5 s. per ftone, Amfterdam; beef and mutton at from 3 d. to 4 d.

per

lib.

Roads. There are two roads which divide the parish nearly into four equal parts, one of which runs from east to weft, and the other from fouth to north. Both of them have been long neglected, and are at prefent in a state of wretched. repair. In winter, they are often totally impaffable for carriages of any kind. There is alfo a branch of road, presently forming, leading along the fouth-weft fide of this parish to the new bridge of Ifla, and to the turnpike road from thence to Perth, which will prove a confiderable benefit to the 'country.

General Obfervations.-This parish is but ill provided in fuel. They carry their coal from Perth, at the distance nearly of 12 miles, and pay for them at the rate of 5s. For every 40 stone weight. Peat-mofs, however, is more generally used, which they alfo bring from a confiderable diftance; and, taking into account the time and labour wafted in digging, drying, and carrying it home, is ftill more expenfive than coal. There is indeed a fmall quantity of mofs in the parish, but the liberty of making it into fuel, is confined entirely to the tenants of the proprietor.

Want of inclosures, is another disadvantage this parish labours under. A small part of the parish only is yet inclosed; and, from the small fize of the farms, and the want of fpirit, and even ability in the tenants, it is not likely that this object will be foon accomplished. It is hoped the proprietors will fee their own intereft in lending them fome affiftance.

To make up, however, for thefe difadvantages, we have an easy access to the means of improving the foil. There is great store of fhell marl in the neighbouring parish of Kin

loch,

loch, at the diftance only of about two miles. This has contributed, in a great measure, to the prefent improved state of the country. There is alfo marl in the parish; but, as it lies at fome depth under mofs and water, and would be attended with fome difficulty in draining, it has never been confidered as of much utility. Equally near, in the parish of Caputh, there is an inexhauftible ftore of lime-stone, of a good quality. There are, at prefent, extenfive preparations making for burning it; and, notwithstanding the distance from coal, it is expected it can be fold fo low as will enable the farmer to ufe it with advantage.

Long leafes, and moderate rents, are likewife favourable circumstances in this parish. The leafes, in general, are for 19 years, and during the life of the holder after the expiration of that period. Some of them extend the length even of two lives. The rent of the best land in the parith does not exceed 20 s. and the greater part is below 15 s. per acre. Thus the tenants are in a good measure independent, and enjoy all the neceffaries, and many of the comforts and conveniencies of life.

1

VOL. XVII.

3 X

NUM

NUMBER XXXVII.

PARISH OF BALFRON.

(COUNTY OF STIRLING.-SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.-PRESBYTERY OF DUMBARTON.)

By Mr JAMES JEFFREY, Minifler.

Name, Extent, &c.

ALFRON is a word of Gaelic derivation, and is faid

B to fignify

to fignify the Town of Sorrow." On what account the place obtained this name is not certainly known. The form of the parish is nearly an oblong fquare. Its length, from eaft to weft, is fomewhat more than 8 miles; and its breadth, from north to fouth, from 1 to 2 miles. It is bounded by the parishes of Drymen, Killearn, Fintry, Gargunnock, and Kippen. The greater part of the grounds in this parish have the advantage of a fine fouthern expofure, rifing gradually from the water of Endrick.

Climate, Soil, &c.-The climate is wet, but not unhealthy, feveral of the inhabitants living to a great age; and there are few inftances of epidemical diseases. An epidemical fever, indeed, prevailed in the winter and fpring of 1791, and carried off, in the village, upwards of 40 grown up people. But this mortality may be afcribed, not fo much to the unhealthinefs of the climate, as to the intemperance of the people at the time, and the damp ftate of many new

houfes,

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