Population. About 100 years ago, the population is fuppofed not to have been above one half of what it is at prefent. In 1750 the number of inhabitants was 1302; at present they are 1700.

The proportion between the annual births and the whole population is as 1 to 26; between marriages and it, as I to 85; between annual deaths and it, as I to 36. Each marriage, at an average, produces 7 children. The population would ftill increafe were manufactures eftablished. In Dr Webster's report the number is 1790; but this feems to be exaggerated. Several go in spring to the South of Scotland, where they find bette encouragement for labour, and moft of them return in October or November following. None have been banished fince the year 1746, when one fuffered that punishment.There are 363 houfes, 5 in each houfe at an average;

but

but there are 42 of those houses with only 1 inhabitant in each, and several houses with but 2 inhabitants in each.

Produce, &c.-There is kail, potatoes, turnip, and every kind of garden roots; firs of different kinds, afh, elm, alder, plane-tree, narrow-leaved service, birch, hazle, also furze and broom. On the farm of Dunrobin, are at this time black cattle, of 3 and 4 years old, which would fell at L. 10 a-head. They are not large, but remarkable well fhaped, well haired, and hardy. The number of black cattle may be 1100; of sheep 1000; of horfes 350. About 1000 arable acres, and a great many wafte. About 400 acres, or nearly fo, of grafs or pasture lands. 850 acres may be employed in raising corn; in raising barley 300 acres; oats 180; peafe 140; turnip 70; potatoes 160; and 150 acres are in fown grass, befides 100 acres of pasture ground. The parish supplies itself with provifions; and can fell 200 bolls of victual, and about 200 black cattle at an average. They fow pease here in the beginning of March; oats about the middle; and bear from the 20th of April to the 20th of May: They reap bear in August and beginning of September, and oats and peafe almost all in September. There are 500 or 600 acres, befides hill ground common, all of little value, fit only for fheep pasture. About 5 miles fquare are planted with trees. The land rent of the parish may be L. 700. The beft arable land is I boll; best pafture 5s. 6 d. the acre; inferior 3 firlots arable; and 3 s. 6 d. pafture the acre. The farm of Dunrobin is 400 acres; Uppat 150; Craigtown 110; Kirktown, Abermofs, and Morvick, about 50 acres each. Two farms, of 25 acres each, and 1, including arable and pasture

grounds,

grounds, 55. No other farms in the parish exceed 12 acres, and few are fo extenfive. Moft of the largest farms are inclosed; the fmaller ones are not. The people, in general, are convinced of the advantage of inclosures. In 1782 and 1783, they paid their rents nearly in victual, and had feed for their land. Tradefmen and others, whom the farmers could not fupply, got foreign victual that came to the country in spring and sammer 1783; and all were well fupplied.

Stipend and Poor.-The ftipend, including the glebe, is about L. 76. The patronage is vested in the Countefs of Sutherland and Earl Gower. There are 100 on the poors lift; and many objects of charity in the parish befides. The annual collections are L. 6 at an average; befides, there are L. 53 Sterling of a fund, being a prefent from the family of Sutherland, to the poor, which produces annually L. 2, 13s. Fines, for delinquencies, may amount, at an average, to L. 3:6:8; out of all which, the feffion-clerk, catechist, and kirk-officer get about L. 4 Sterling.

Price of Provifions and Labour.-Beef and mutton 24 d. the pound in their season, and 3 d. at least in spring; geese Is. 6 d.; ducks 6 d.; chickens 4 d.; pork 24 d.; butter 12 s. 21 pounds English; cheese 4 d. and of better quality 5 d. and 6 d.; barley 12 s. 6 d.; oats 9 s. 6 d. All these kinds of provifions could be bought 20 years ago at half the present prices. Some labourers get 8 d. and 9 d. ; but most 6 d. in fummer, and 5 d. in winter: Carpenters and masons I s. 6 d.; tailors 1 s. A common labourer, when married, gets 4 bolls bear-meal, at 10 ftone weight, and 2 bolls oatmeal at 8ftone weight, land for potatoes and kail-garden, and about L. 2, 10 s. in money, which, with some

fmall

fmall earnings of his wife in spinning, or farm work, or partly both, maintain their family pretty well. The wages of a male fervant, including perquifites, are equal to L. 3 Sterling, and of female fervants about L. 1, 10s. a-year.

Mifcellaneous Obfervations.-There was a skirmish on the plain between Golfpy and the Little Ferry, in the year 1746, between a party of the rebels and the militia of the country, where the rebels were worfted, and several men of rank taken prifoners.-No remarkable wreck has happened. The mountain of Binbhragie may be about 3 quarters of a mile high. There is plenty of moorstone, freestone, grey flate, all used in building houses and fences.-Some are quarried, and a great many are got on the surface.-In 1775 the burn of Golfpy overflowed the glebe-lands, and others adjacent; and in November 1781, it overflowed the fame twice in the course of 10 days.-The number of ploughs in the parish is 90, and all of the common kind, except those at Dunrobin; the carts are 24. There is I two-wheeled carriage.-There is I village along the shore of Golfpy.-There are the remains of an old castle, supposed to be Pictish, 3-4ths of a mile due weft from the house of Dunrobin; fome cells entire.-The fize of the people is from 5 feet 5 inches, to 5 feet 9. The greatest height. which any have attained is 6 feet.-The inhabitants are œconomical, humane, contented, and not fond of a feafaring life. There are 3 boats conftantly used in fishing, fometimes for freighting. None have entered the Navy, except those that were preffed, or given up as the complement due from each boat's crew. Property is not changing, except the small eftate of Uppat, twice fold of late years, fo as to yield about 4 per cent. intereft.-The condition of the inhabitants would be ameliorated, by establishing manu

factures

factures in the country, which is the principal thing wanted. The Gaelic language principally is fpoken here. Names of places are derived from it.-Peat and turf are used as fuel, and brought from the neighbouring hills, at 3 miles distance, at 2 d. the back load of the small country horses, and 3d. in winter and spring. The dress of the inhabitants is much improved.

NUM.