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have been made to find coal, of which, in the opinion of

most flattering appearances, tho

good judges, there are the
hitherto without fuccefs. The price of labour, of all kinds,
is of late advanced more than a third. In many inftances,
it is doubled. In the year 1787 the wages of an ordinary
man servant were from 4 1. to 6 l. a-year. In 1794 they are
from 8 1. to 10l. A day labourer, in 1787, could have been
hired for 7 d. or 8 d. per day; but in 1794 they require 1 s.
or I s. 6 d. or I s. 8 d. From the vicinity of Glasgow, and
the easy access to it, the price of provifions is now, in a great
measure, regulated by the Glasgow market. There is no
public house in the parish, excepting in the village, where
there are a tolerably good inn, and two refpectable public
houses. There are, besides, a great many low public houses,
which deal only in whisky, and which are productive of the
worft effects, both to the health and morals of the people.

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NUMBER XXXVIII.

PARISH OF ELY.

(COUNTY AND SYNOD OF FIFE.-PRESBYTERY OF ST. ANDREWS.)

By Mr WILLIAM PAIRMAN, Minister.

E

Name, Situation, &c.

LY, the modern name, ELIE or ELLIE, the old name,

is fo called from A Liche, in Gaelic, "Out of the sea, " or out of the water," the town being built so near the fea, that it washes the walls in fome places. The houses are preserved with great difficulty by fea dykes, notwithstanding which, the fea is yearly making great incroachments. If this derivation is a just one, and if it was built out of the fea, the fea is faft refuming what it gave.

Ely has a most pleasant, dry, and healthy fituation. The fhore is fandy, and shelving gradually; is remarkably well adapted for fea-bathing; and is, of late, much reforted to for that purpose. It is a mile and a half long, and about a mile broad. It is bounded by the parish of Newburn, on the west ; by the parish of Kilconquhar, on the north; the parish of St Monance, on the east; and the fea, on the fouth. It was disjoined from the extensive parish of Kilconquhar about the year 1640.

VOL. XVII.

3 Y

Population.

Population. The number of families in this parish is 152; of fouls 620, which is nearly 4 to each family. The incumbent took an accurate lift of the inhabitants about the year 1790, which may be relied on. The population in 1755 amounted to 642, confequently there is a decrease of 22.

The following is an abstract of Births, Burials, and Marriages, for 7 years, from October 1. 1783, being the time when the act commenced, granting to his Majesty a duty of 3 d. on each of thefe articles, which has fince been repealed.

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Rem. 43, the total increase in 7 years; which,

on an average, is only one more than 6 to a year.

Proprietors, &c.-Sir John Anftruther is patron of the church, and fole proprietor of the parish, one fingle farm excepted,

excepted, lately purchafed by Captain Chriftie of Bal

christie.

Fisheries.-There are 8 fishermen belonging to this parish. They have houses, rent free, from Sir John Anstruther, superior of this place, on condition of their supplying the town of Ely with fish, at least three times a week. They are well fituated for carrying on the fisheries, and, on the whole, are pretty fuccefsful.

Lake-There is a beautiful lake, called Kilconquhar Loch, bounded by that parish and Ely. In it there are plenty of pikes and eels. The fishing, however, is of no great value, and will naturally be more fully defcribed in the Statistical Account of Kilconquhar.

Poor.-The feffion here maintains all its poor. No beg gars belong to the parish. There are about 20 regular penfioners, who receive a fmall fum monthly, befides others who get charity occafionally, as their wants require. The funds for their fupport amount to about 50 1. per annum.

Inclofures.-The whole parish was inclofed with ditch and hedge by Sir John Anftruther. The inclosures are kept in great order, and are very flourishing. The burgh acres, near the town, anno 1790, let at about 40s. and the largefarms at 30s. per acre, but have fince rifen. Burgh acres now (anno 1795) let at between 50s, and 60 s. the acre; and large farms between 40 s. and 50s. Sir John Anstruther lately let a farm, of near 100 acres, at 3 1. per acré.

Fuel-Coal is the only fuel ufed here. There is an excellent coalwork, belonging to Sir John Anftruther, 3 miles from

from this parish. The price of coals, independent of carriage, in 1790, was 3 s. for 75 ftones, and 4 s. 4 d. for 75 ftones of a better quality, but is now 4 s. for 75 ftones of the first fort, and 5 s. for the other.

Wages.-Men fervants wages, befides maintenance, were from 5 1. to 61. per annum, and women from 1 l. to 21. the half year. Day labourers got ro d. and I s. per day, and carpenters 2 s. and 2 s. 6d. Now, (anno 1795,) men fervants are 71. and 8 1. yearly. Women 30 s. and 2 1. and no labourers are to be found under I s.

Harbour, &c.-There is an excellent harbour at Ely. It is the deepest in the Frith of Forth, Bruntifland excepted. It has remarkably easy access, and is perfectly fafe. It is the refort of more wind-bound veffels, than any other harbour, perhaps, in Scotland. It has also been the means of faving many a fhip, cargo, and feaman, that would otherwife have been driven out of the Frith; many of them being fo poorly manned and provifioned, that they never would have been - able to regain the coaft. This ufeful harbour, however, is going faft to ruin. It were much to be wifhed, that fome public fpirited perfon would recommend it to the attention of the Chamber of Commerce, or the Convention of Royal Burghs, to obtain fome aid to put it in a better state. An inconfiderable expence, in proportion to the importance and utility of the object, would completely repair it. It may be remarked, alfo, that the value of the fhipping brought in, bears but a small proportion to that of their cargoes, which are often grain and other perishable commodities, that might fuffer by being expofed to a ftorm, even though the fhip were to weather it. There are, belonging to this place, seven quare rigged veffels, carrying 1000 or 1100 tons, all employ

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