mentioned.-Dr Alexander Garden, late of Charlestown, South Carolina, eminent for his skill as a physician, celebrated alfo for his learning and polite conversation as a gentleman. He was an American refugee, and caused a marble monument, with an infcription in Latin, truly claffical, be erected in the front of the church wall here, to the memory of the late worthy Mr Alexander Garden, his father, who was upwards of 50 years minister of this parish, and who died upwards of 90 years of age.-Dr Rofe of Birsebeg, was also an American refugee.—Mr William Rose of Newmill, was many years at the head of a flourishing academy which he had near London.-The famous George Rofe, Efq; of the treasury, is grandfon to the late Donald Rofe of Wefter-Clune. Here we note, that many of the name of Rofs or Rofe, were proprietors once in Birfe; of the name we have only now a few tenants.-Captain David Ochterlounie, mortally wounded at the first attack made by General Wolfe on Quebec, when the British were forced to retreat, and the Captain taken. So much was he the favourite of the celebrated Wolfe, that he sent to the town to the Marquis de Montcalm, defiring that particular care should be taken of the Captain. He died in two days.—A living character might be added, Dr William Farquharson, physician in Edinburgh, famous for his addrefs in curing cancerous complaints.

Mifcellaneous Obfervations.—A rocky substance appears from Tillyfrufky to the river Feugh, which feems to have been in a fufible ftate, and resembles the lava emitted by a volcano. It is near the furface of the ground.-There are two, fometimes three ale-houfes in the parish; the traveller has occafion to call at them, and the people do ftill tranfact too much of their bufinefs in thefe and houfes of a fimilar fort.-None ever died for want.-In 1791, one family emi

grated

grated to Philadelphia, not for want of employment, or for any want whatever, but rather out of fondness of change, and having a friend before them. An unmarried woman remained; the regrets that she did not go with the reft, for, fays he, "Troubles are only beginning here, but they are over there." We truft fhe is not inspired with the gift of prophecy. The largest plantations, and greatest number of trees of all forts are certainly on the eftate of Finzean, yet, among many others, two remarkable trees grow, the one at Midftrath, and the other at Ballogie, which have defervedly been reforted to and admired by the curious. The one at Midstrath is afh, and measures upwards of 20 feet in circumference at the ground, from 17 to 19 feet little above the ground. Its branches are as large as ordinary trees. It is vulgarly called the Maiden of Midftrath. The tree at Ballogie is birch of the weeping fort; fome think it 100 feet high, others only from 70 to 80. It has a straight stem of 50 feet and upwards, and 5 feet in circumference through the whole. Many young trees of the above kind on the burn of Chattie, are in a fair way of equalling foon this beautiful one *.

VOL. IX.

To the north-east of Finzean,

R

a hill called the Gallow Hill. Ano

ther is near to Ballogie. There the Barons of old, who held their estates with power of pit and gallows, put to death any of their tenants or dependents, who were so unfortunate as to fall under their displeasure. What bleffed days do we now enjoy, in comparison of these? How thankful to God, and loyal to the King, ought we therefore to be? Our cafe has been meliorated, and, by a wife Legislature, will, by degrees, be fo still. Were fome of the duty taken off the leather and the malt, this would greatly leafe the subject in this corner. Were the landlords to grant longer leases, and be pleased to take a moderate conversion for the multure paid to the mill, this would encourage the tenants to improve, and would wean them from the old unproductive mode of farming. Were allow ance given them for the stone-foot of their houses, as well as for the tim ber, which, by the by, is done in the land of Ballogie, this would induce

them

them to be at fome expenfe in building neat houses, witness what is already done in Monywell. Were allowance given for inclosing, (the parish, for the most part, being uninclosed), and were the inclosures protected by winter herding, to which the heritor should bind them, this would be patronizing the improver, and be productive of the most beneficial effects. Were care taken by all to improve the morals of themselves, and all around then, how happy and profperous might our land and people be — As to the state of a remote corner of this parish, called the Foreft, or Glen-Birse, in the year 1724, the first inhabitant went to refide, and cultivate the ground there; now there are 120 acres and odds under cultivation, yielding upwards of L. 60 rent. There are 147 inhabitants. Being removed from the means of education, their children and young people, in number 37, are in great want of a teacher. In a neighbouring glen, called Glenchatt, there are near 50 inhabitants; formerly only a few families. By the increase in these glens, perhaps the population of the parish is equal to what it was 30 or 40 years ago; though, in many places, there are fewer inhabitants, owing to the union of farms, &c. Application has been made lately to the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge, in behalf of the above glens, that a teacher may be nominated for them; and we trust the Society will lend a favourable ear to our petition.

10

NUM

NUMBER IX.

PARISH OF KINGOLDRUM,

(COUNTY OF FORFAR, SYNOD OF ANGUS AND MEarns, PRESBYTERY OF MEIGLE.)

By the Rev. Mr JAMES BADENACH.

THE

Name, Extent, Surface, Climate, &c.

HE origin of the name feems to be uncertain. It is faid to be derived from the Gaelic, and to fignify, "The Town between the Drums." This fignification is, at least, expreffive of the local fituation of the kirk and kirktown, which stand between two drums or eminences, with the burn of Cromby running between them. The parish is about 7 miles from N. to S. and 24 from E. to W. It is properly a hilly or mountainous district, with fmall rivulets between the hills, in which there is good angling for trout. In the north part of the parish the mountains rise to a confiderable height, especially Catlaw, whofe elevation above the level of the fea, has been found, by barometrical mensuration, to be 2264 feet, and at the base of which, on the N. E. there is a chalybeate spring, useful in weakneffes.

weakneffes. On Catlaw, and the adjoining mountains, partly green, and partly heath, there is excellent pasture for fheep; and Catlaw mutton is remarkable for its fuperior delicacy and flavour. There is but little flat land; almoft the whole of it floping gently with a north or south exposure. The climate is nearly the fame throughout the whol parish, and any variation is owing to exposure and local fituation. Along the braes of Balfour and Baldovie, lying to the fouth, and fheltered with a rifing ground on the north, the air is rather milder and more temperate than in any other part of the parish; and both spring and harvest somewhat earlier. The air, however, in general is cold and fharp, yet extremely healthy; and to the falubrity of the air and the water, it may probably be owing that agues never make their appearance. The prevalent difeafes are fevers, colds, fore throats, and confumptions.

Soil, Produce, and Rent.-The foil is various: In fome places it is a kind of clay, cold and wet; in others a light fand; but in general is a rich black mould. The principal crops are barley and oats. Of late years wheat has been raised in particular places, especially in the braes of Kenny and Baldovie, with great fuccefs. Turnip and potatoes, clover and rye-grafs, are common in every part of this parifh. A fmall quantity of pease is sown chiefly for fodder, and on every farm more or lefs flax feed, for domestic ufes. More grain is raised than is confumed by the inhabitants; a part of their barley is bought by a diftiller in the parish, and the remainder, with the oats, wheat, and meal, are carried to the Dundee and the Kirrimuir markets. Both fpring and harvest are later than in the vale of Strathmore, to the fouth, owing to more frequent showers among the hills, and to a keener air in the narrow openings between

them,