ther than fine. If they are not remarkable for fobriety and industry, neither do they deferve to be ftigmatized as diffipated and idle. Their ideas and fentiments are gradually acquiring a greater degree of liberality. The ordinances of religion are refpected, a tolerable decorum of manners is obferved, though here there are exceptions as well as in every numerous fociety; as fubjects they are peaceable and loyal, and by no means fond of “ meddling with those who are given to change."

66

Mifcellaneous Obfervations.-Formerly there were four corn-mills in the parish. At prefent there are only two; one of them is turned by falt water, admitted during floodtide into a reservoir, and discharged upon the wheel after the tide has ebbed. The parish is rated at about 50 ploughgates. For them the ftatute-labour is generally paid in kind. It is commuted to private householders. The fum may amount to L. 12 or L. 14 a-year. The road leading from Anftruther to St Andrew's, and paffing through Crail, is in tolerable repair. The ftatute-labout is perfectly fufficient to uphold it; and if applied with vigour, might annually do fomething to the other roads within the parish. If the middle road to St Andrew's were made, it would tend greatly to the improvement of the interior part of the country. The price of labour and provifions is nearly the fame as in other parts of Fife. James Shairp was fettled minister of Crail in 1648. He continued to hold the living till he was confecrated archbishop of St Andrew's, after the Restoration. From the feffion records, it appears, he was a strict difciplinarian. The rigid presbyterian parson differed in circumstances, rather than in character, from the rigorous metropolitan. Of the many refpectable gentlemen, who at different times received the rudiments of their education at the fchool of Crail, Lord Dunfinnan, Sir

VOL. IX.

3 M

Charles

Charles Middleton, Sir William Erfkine, Colonel Monypenny and Colonel Moncrieff of the Engineers, have distinguished themselves in public life. This last gentleman is a native of the parish. It would be difficult to state with any degree of exactness, how many acres are under the different kinds of crops, or what may be the produce.

NOTE.

Births, marriages and deaths of inhabitants in Crail, town and parish, for the year 1792, ftand as follows:

Of those who died, there were 8 under 20 years of age,

Diseases of which they died, claffed according to the ideas of their friends:

I. Febrile Diseases.

Continued fever,

Confumption of the lungs,

Nervous fever,

(COUNTY AND SYNOD OF ABERDEEN, PRESBYTERY OF TURREFF.)

By the Rev. Mr WILLIAM MOIR.

THE

Extent, River, &c.

HE parish of Fyvie, though of confiderable extent, affords not much matter for Statistical Information; concerning the etymology of the name, I never heard even a conjecture hazarded. It is about 13 miles in length, and 8 in breadth; fuppofed to contain about 20 or 22,000 acres, 8coo of which may be under culture, 1200 in plantations and natural woods; the remainder, moffes, heath, and rough pafture grafs. The fmall river Ithan, which takes its rife about 5 or 6 miles above this, after paffing through the parish of Auchterlefs, and a part of Turriff, divides this parish nearly into two equal parts, and falls into the fea at the Newburgh, a small village in the parish of FoveOn this river, there are two falmon fishings, one at the mouth of it, and the other at Ellon, where there are cruives, which prevent the falmon from getting this length. except in great floods, and at fpawning time. But what this small river is remarkable for, is, the pearls that are fometimes found in it. In the years 1762 and 1763, there was a confiderable number found in it, many of which fold from Is. to 6s. 8 s. and 1cs. the pearl, and there were two of them fo large as to fell, the one at L. 2, and the other at L. 3 Sterling.

ran.

3

Surface,

Surface, foil, &c.-The furface is very uneven, a great part being barren hills covered with heath; a great part of them, however, appears to have been once in a cultivated ftate, as is evident from the ridges that are ftill perceptible on them. Some of them have of late been planted. The Honourable General Gordon of Fyvie, the patron and principal heritor, has of late inclofed and planted above 1000 acres with oak, afh, plane, beech, larch, pine, and common firs, all which are in a thriving condition. The foil is various, but in general kindly, and yields pretty good early crops of bear and oats, especially in the neighbourhood of the church and Fyvie Caftle. The more remote parts, particularly near the moffes and moors, are of a colder nature and later. They are, however, capable of improvement, and a great part has of late been confiderably improved; there being few or none of the farmers who have not a part of their fields in turnip and potatoes, and afterwards laid down in clover and rye grafs. The writer of this was among the firft, who fet them the example by fowing grafsfeeds in the open fields, which, fucceeding very well, others were induced to follow the example. The time of fowing varies according to the feason, and nature of the foil. It is commonly from the beginning or middle of March to the middle of April, for oats. Bear is fown in the end of April, and throughout the month of May. They begin to reap in the month of September, and in early feafons fooner. Oxen are generally employed in ploughing. Some ufe 8 oxen, others 10, and fome 12, others 4 horses, and fome 2 horses and 2 oxen. The plough used for all these is on the model of the English one, except in very ftony ground, where the Scotch one is employed. The rents are pretty reasonable, excepting small crofts, which generally give 30s. and upwards the acre, befides fervices and millmultures, fo often taken notice of in this work, as unfa

vourable

vourable to the induftrious hufbandman. It is impoffible to ascertain what quantity of grain may be annually produced in the parish; but it is certin, that a large quantity is fold yearly out of it, over and above what is paid to the heritors as a part of their rent*.

Air and Difeafes.-The air in general is reckoned pure and healthy. There have been no prevalent diftempers for fome time, except the putrid fore throat, which raged about two years ago, and proved fatal to feveral people. It has appeared alfo this winter, but is not fo violent and as formerly. The fmall pox alfo carries off fome, as inoculation is not very common.

Character, &c. of the People.-They are in general decent and well behaved; feldom frequenting the inn or tavern, but upon very particular occafions; generally fympathizing with those in diftrefs, and ready to give them fuch affiftance as they can afford. Their houses are in general more neat and comfortable than they were 30 years ago. Their drefs and manner of living are also improved.

Heritors, Rent, &c.-There are 8 heritors in the parish, The Honourable General Gordon of Fyvie, Earl of Aberdeen, Mifs Innes of the Moors of Fyvie, Gordon's Hospital, Aberdeen, James Leflie of Rothy, John Forbes of Blackford, James Gordon of Littlefolla, and James Hay of Monk hill. Only 3 of them refide. General Gordon being one of the Gentlemen of the Bed-chamber to his Majesty, refides only occafionally at Fyvie Castle, which stands

in

*Servants Wages-Servants wages have rifen greatly within a few years, and are still rifing. The writer of this, paid to the first man fervant he had 15 s. in the half year, and to a woman-fervant 12 s. but now the men cannot be got under L. 3 or L. 4; and the women demand L. I, 58. and L. 1, los.