here. The inhabitants in general are economical, and augment, rather than diminish their flock. They are well clothed and fed. Superior induftry affords them a pientiful fupply of the neceffaries and comforts of life. Among one class, however, œconomy does not feem to have been much regarded.-The whole landed property has been transferred by fale fince the year 1743. Prices of land have been, I prefume, about 25 years purchase, or perhaps a little more. We have few calls for extraordinary exertions of humanity in clamant cafes of diftrefs, I can eafily believe our people capable of extraordinary beneficence. They enjoy, in a confiderable degree, the advantages and comforts of fociety: contented with their accommodation, few remove to diftant parts of the country, or emigrate to foreign countries.-The circumftances moft extenfively diftreffing, are those which affect the manufacturers of green linen. They depend on two countries, Ruffia for their raw materials, and the West Indies and part of America for the fale of their manufacture. A bad crop of flax in Ruffia, or the jobbing fpirit of the merchants there, or extraordinary profits to the importers of the flax, often reduce the profits of thefe manufacturers to a mere trifle. This evil, I think, might be removed, if flax raifing could be brought to a fyftem, which would render a flax crop equally certain with any other crop. Our foil is pretty much adapted to the raifing of flax, and the plan of farming here is fuch, that the farmer could eafily employ a few acres in cultivating it. In this cafe, there would be only the chance of the fale market against the manufactu rers. But although grievances were redreffed as much as poffible, it is still a question, whether that is not the most defirable manufacture which is fupplied with materials from the country itself, and has the benefit of a home market, founded on the natural demand of the inhabitants

for the manufactured articles *.-As to the manners of the people, they are diftinguifhed from thofe of a period 30 or 40 years ago, as there is more industry, attention, enterprise and fobriety. Their customs are much the fame VOL. IX. D d

as

The public road from Perth, through Strathmore, which paffes thro' this parish, is repairing on a new plan, and will foon be finished within our bounds, unless it fhall be deemed neceffary to widen it. It was begun to be repaired in autumn 1789. Owing to the spirited plan of fubfcriptions from the gentlemen in the county, the road from Forfar to Dundee, part of which paffes through this parish, is proceeding on the fame plan. All the county roads in Angus are to be repaired from the fubscription-fund. We are much indebted to the exertions of Mr Douglas of Brigton, who tranfacts and fuperintends the bufinefs of the road from Forfar to Dundee, and for several miles on the Strathmore road. To render the road convenient, fteep banks are avoided, and on Mr Douglas's ground in this parish, the road takes a new direction for 1 miles through inclofures of land of very excellent quality. The rule is not to admit, if poffible, above I foot of rife in 20. Thefe roads have turnpikes, and all the county roads either have or are to have them. Our farmers are much reconciled to turnpikes, and imagine that the accommodation obtained in this way, is cheap. Statute labour is not exacted in kind. Since the plan by fubfcription took place, the commutation-money is to be applied to the repairing of the private roads. We have two bridges in the parish; one on the road from Forfar to Glammis, was built by fubfcription, at least in part, about 21 years fince, and is in good condition; the other, on the road from Forfar to Dundee, is intended to be taken down, and another built at fome fmall diftance.-In the year 1782, our driett lands were not fit for receiving feed till the 16th or 17th of April. There was not a blade of oats to be feen till about the 12th of May, in this neighbourhood, which is rather an early district. The barley-feed time was very backward. About the 29th of May, we had rain for 50 hours, without intermiffion. The fummer was cold and wet; and on the 16th of Auguft, we had an uncommon flood, which chilled the ground fo as to deprive it of the warmth neceffary for filling and ripening the corns. On the morning of the 12th of September, we had hoarfroft as thick as at Christmas. About 7 o'clock that morning, the fun was bright, and had influence fufficient to melt the froft; and, in a few minutes, peafe and potatoes had the look of having been dipped in boiling water. The effect of this frost made the farmer imagine that harvest was nigh. The corns affumed a whitish appearance, and the first rain threw it in appearance several stages

back,

as at that period. Their drefs is more gay, and expenfive; their living more plentiful. Though it is not the cafe in this parish, to any confiderable degree, in fhow, expense, manner of living, and dress, there is an imitation of fuperiors creeping into the country. Perhaps 30 years ago, the boundaries between the ranks were more diftinctly marked, and more attentively obferved. Inferior ranks begin not to fcruple to invade the boundaries of those above them. The genius of the people leads them to industry and enterprise ; befides, they are very communicative. This difpofition fuffers no experiment to lie concealed, either as to the man

ner

back. The corns were changed from green to whitish, and from whitish to green, according as froft or rain happened to prevail. Our lower, ableft, and beft lands, which will produce 8, 10, or 12 bolls of oats an acre in good years, yielding from 15 to 16, or perhaps 17 pecks of meal the boll, that year yielded 4 or 5 bolls an acre, and these yielding not above 8, 10, or 11 pecks of meal the boll. I heard of fome oats in the county, which yielded only mill duft, instead of meal. Barley of that crop, which was much used for meal, fell greatly short, both of its ufual quantity and quality. he higher grounds, raised above the region of the noxious hoarfrosts, had a more equal progress towards ripening. And these high, weak, light grounds, not reaped till the month of November. produced oats, yielding about 15 pecks of meal the boll. These grounds were less hurt 'by the froft and rain. Of that crop, farmers paying confiderable rents, could fcarcely procure as much oat-meal from their farms, as was fufficient for their own fami ies, and oats for fowing their ground. People, both in towns and the country, traversed the country and particularly this parish, where we had feveral mills. and thought themselves lucky if they could obtain a peck or two of meal, to fupply the immediate and urgent demands of their families. They would gladly have given more than the high current price, to have been affured of finding it at any particular place. The fcarcity continued through fummer 1783; and had it not been for a fupply of English oats from Leith, I doubt not but some must have perished for want. Some farmers, foreseeing the diftreffed condition of the country, fowed fome barley early. Great quantities of potatoes were planted, and the harvest of 1783 was carly. By thefe means, the country obtained a speedy and pretty plentiful supply. Amidft the fcarcity of provifions, there was one comforting circumstance. general, were not diftreffed for want of money.

The people, ia

mer of conducting it, or as to its success. Their spirit of enterprise makes them eafily adopt a new plan, when fairly recommended by its fuccefs; and their induftry fecures their doing justice to any plan which they may adopt. Free from the fetters of prejudice, they follow, let the leader be whom he will, if they are warranted by fair, well tried, fuccessful experiments. That fpirit has brought this country to be able to fupport double or triple the number of inhabitants, which it could have done 30 or 40 years ago. A great deal of waste ground has been brought under culture; and lands which then would have yielded 3 or 4 bolls an acre, now produce 8 or 12, and fometimes more. This is the cafe, more or lefs, with the country of Strathmore, and in the county of Angus: I know no part of the country where farming is carried on to greater perfection than in this very parish-Befides a great increase in the quantity of corn, there is a confiderable addition of profit by the rearing and fattening of cattle. Inftead of the ftinted and famished breed, of which the farmer's store confifted 40 years ago, cattle can now be reared to a confiderable fize, and fetch a decent price, to compenfate the trouble and expenfe; fatted cattle generally fell well. Our farmers fatten through the winter, fome 10, fome 16, fome 20, fome 30 cattle. Some of these are partly fed with turnips, ftraw and hay; fome with turnips and hay. Such as are fed wholly on turnips and hay, can be brought to a degree of fatnefs, not exceeded in any part of Scotland. The greatest part of our pasture and hay foggage is employed for the purpose of fattening. Turnip crops keep the land clean, and the great proportion of pasture gives them vigour to produce good corn crops when broken up. -There is a grievance, which, though in one view, it affects but a fingle individual in a parish, yet is very extensive in

3

ita

its influence; I mean the pitiful living of fchoolmafters. In fact, there is no occupation among us, or in the country in general, from which greater profits may not be obtained. What extent of learning and qualifications is to be demanded or expected from a person, whose office yields him hardly the bare neceffaries of life? I think we are just on the verge of having schools remaining vacant; the office being ftripped of every thing that can induce a man of any capacity to accept of it.-Allow me to make another obfervation. In refpect to the poor, matters seem to be very improperly conducted. We are importuned by people from almost every county in Scotland; whose stories may be true or false; and whofe circumftances may therefore entitle them to charity, or may not. Much good would accrue to the public, if fuch vagrants were confined to their respective parishes. Their circumftances might then be exactly known; temptations to falfehood would be taken away; idlenefs would be prevented; perfons able to contribute in any respect to their fubfiftence, would be obliged to exert their industry, or would suffer the reward due to their neglect. Here, however, an objection occurs, namely, That fome parishes, from the fcantinefs of their funds, and the great number of their poor, are unable to supply, in any comfortable manner, all the poor within their bounds. Where collections, dedicated to the support of the poor, are not fufficient for neceffary fupplies, let there be affeffments. This would oblige land. ed gentlemen, and others, on whom fuch affeffments might be chiefly laid, to exert themselves, by introducing manufactures, or other means of fubfiftence. The number of poor would thereby be diminished; thofe who might fill need parochial fupply, would be less indigent, and others become able to bear a part of the burden of the unavoidably

poor,