Page images
PDF
EPUB

advantage that either art or nature could bestow, have made little progress, except in low fituations, and not in fight of the fea. Wherever old Neptune gets but a peep at them, they foon begin to ficken and to fade.

The lakes above mentioned, and feveral others in the parifh, are ftored with perch and trout, pike and eel, of which confiderable quantities are caught at the proper feasons.

There are no rivers, but plenty of burns and fmall rivųlets, as also of excellent fprings, in Mochrum.

There are two corn mills, the one a very good, and the other a very bad one; and, as the farmers are not, in general, thirled to either, they are at no lofs which to prefer.

No manufactures have yet found their way here; but Sir William Maxwell has been propofing to have one erected on fome of his fine fituations. The prefent number of mechanics, of every description, is about 20.

-

Poor. The lift of the poor feldom exceeds 8 or 10, who are fupported by begging through the parith, and by the Sundays collections at church, which annually amount to about 201.

The parish, however, is continually infefted with foreign beggars, and efpecially the Irifh, who come over here in great numbers, as they fay, "to vifit their friends;" a duty to which, it must be allowed, they are exceedingly attentive. There is only one refiding fectary in the parith, who goes under the name of Antiburgher.

Schools. A very neat school-house was erected at the church 3 years ago, where 70 or 80 fcholars ufually attend, and are taught reading English, writing, arithmetic, bookkeeping, mathematics, French, and Latin, by a very well qualified teacher, who has lately been procured. The quar

terly

terly wages are from 2s. to 4 s. according to what the youth are learning.

The prefent falary is very small; but there is every hope that the good heritors, who have been fo extremely indulgent to the parishioners in other refpects, will foon augment it to fomething that may be adequate to the fupport of fo ufeful a member of this fociety.

Gentlemens Seats.-Of these there are none worthy of notice excepting Sir William Maxwell's, which is a very elegant and commodious edifice, only finished about two years ago. It is fituated on a gently rifing ground, near the eastern boundary of the parifh, and a fhort mile from the fea. It has in front, at a fmall diftance, a beautiful lake of clear water, furrounded by a belt of thriving young planting; as alfo the old family caftle, rearing its head amidst a clump of lofty trees; while the oppofite fide commands a moft extenfive and delightful view of the Bay of Luce, the Mull of Galloway, the Rock of Bigfcar, the Isle of Man, and even the mountains of Cumberland and Morn, when the weather is clear.

Rental and Proprietors.-The grofs rental of the parish, is about scool.

Sir William Maxwell is by far the largeft proprietor, his eftate being nearly about one-third of the extent, and twothirds of the value, of the whole furface.

Next to him follow the Earls of Dumfries, Galloway, and Selkirk, and a few private gentlemen.

Church-The manfe and offices are very good, being all of hate fubftantially rebuilt, and covered with flate; and an excellent new church was completed about 4 months ago.

The

The ftipend, which is paid a part in money, and a part in victual, was augmented last year from about 75 1. to 100l.; and the glebe, though rather of small size, is of good quality.

The prefent incumbent was ordained in 1787, and has a wife and children.

NUM.

NUMBER XLII.

UNITED PARISHES OF WHITEKIRK
AND TYNNINGHAM E.

(COUNTY OF EAST LOTHIAN.-PRESBYTERY OF DUNBAR. SYNOD OF LOTHIAN AND TWEEDALE.)

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

Situation, Extent, Air, Soil, &c.

HESE parishes (which were united anno 1761) extend

THE

nearly 6 miles from fouth to north, and 4 from east to weft. They are bounded by the parish of Dunbar on the fouth-eaft, by Prefton on the south and fouth-weft, by North Berwick on the weft and north-weft, and on the north and eaft by the Frith of Forth. The general appearance of the parish is flat. Behind the village of Whitekirk there is a hill, rather remarkable for the beautiful prospect it affords of the Frith of Forth, and country adjacent, than for its height. The climate is dry, pleasant, and healthful. The inhabitants ars much lefs fubject to agues now than formerly. The foil varies in different parts of the parish; in general, it consists of rich gravelly loams, highly favourable to the most im proved mode of agriculture.

River. The river Tyne runs for about two miles through the fouthern part of the parish: It rifes in the moor of Middleton; and, after a north-eaft courfe of nearly 30 miles, it

discharges

[ocr errors]

The right of fish

difcharges itself into the Frith of Forth in the east part of this parish. The fifh found in the Tyne are trout and gilfes, neither of which are remarkably plenty. A few falmon are fometimes found, but they are very rare. ing the Tyne up to the Knowmill, and the fea coaft at its mouth, from within a cable's length of Westbarns burn to the water of Peffer, an extent of nearly two miles, belongs folely to the Earl of Haddington. A great number of feals are always to be seen swimming about the mouth of the river, which are thought with probability to be one cause of the fcarcity of other fifh. The tide flows about two miles up the water, and might be made navigable to that height at no great expence.

Agriculture, Wages, &c.-This parish, in general, is in the highest state of cultivation. The turnip husbandry is now carried on to a great extent. About 100 fcore of sheep are annually fed on turnip, and all fed in flakes upon the ground. The sheep generally fed are Highland wedders, which are bought in October for about 12 s. or 15s. and fold again, from February to May, at from 20 s. to 25 s. per head, and will then weigh from 12 to 16 pounds a quarter. The number of sheep fed on grafs, during the fummer, will be about 50 fcore. There is also a confiderable number of black cattle fed annually both on turnip and grafs. Few fheep or oxen are reared in the parish, but the most of the farmers breed their own cows and horfes. The kinds of grain commonly raised are, wheat, barley, oats, beans, and pease. There is alfo a great quantity of turnip and fown grafs raised annually, and potatoes fufficient to fupply the parish. Each farmer raises a few acres of flax for his own family and fervants. The ufual and most approved rotation on those lands which are adapted for turnip-husbandry, is,

ift,

« PreviousContinue »