who gave me for anfwer, "that laudanum was a certain, though flow poison." This determined me, though in a very reduced state, to diminish the quantity 10 tea-spoonfuls a-day. The fudden tranfition bore very hard upon me, to fuch a degree, that it was the belief of every one who faw me, that I could not live many days. Dr Thomas Morison in London, (who was my early acquaintance) came to this country in August last, and advised me (if poffible) to abandon the laudanum, but to do it gradually; he fent me fome dofes of the fhavings of fteel to take three times a-day, which I continued to do with fuch fuccefs, that I can now with pleasure fay that I have not tasted laudanum for 4 months past, and am become ftout and fat."

NUMBER

NUMBER XXXV.

PARISH OF GRAITNEY,

(COUNTY AND SYNOD OF DUMFRIES, PRESBYTERY OF

ANNAN.)

By the Rev. Mr JOHN MORGAN.

N°

Name, Extent, Surface.

TO authentic information can be obtained respecting the etymology of the name of this parish. The fpelling varies much, which increases the difficulty. The most probable conjecture is, that it was originally called Greatknow, from a small hill lying at the diftance of about a quarter of a mile from the church. The form of it is that of an oblong square, extending along the coaft of the Solway Frith, nearly 6 miles in length, and about 3 in breadth at an average. It is a level district, diversified with a few rifing grounds of small extent. The highest eminence is Graitney-hill, from which the parish is fuppofed to derive its name, lying at the distance of about a quarter of a mile from the church. It rifes about 250 feet above wa

ter

ter mark, and commands a pleasant and extenfive prospect of the coaft of Cumberland, Solway Frith, Annandale, Liddiefdale, and of part of Northumberland.

Springs, Rivers, Solway Frith, &c.-There are fome mineral springs; but as very little attention hath hitherto been paid to them, their virtues are scarcely known, and they are rendered lefs valuable by being often wafhed over by the tides. The Eden, Efk, and Sark, uniting form the head of Solway Frith, and the fouthern boundary of this parish. The Frith here may be 4 or 5 miles broad, and is navigable to Sark foot for veffels of 120 tons burden. There are several harbours or landing places in the parish, such as Sarkfoot, Hiedkirkpoint, Brewhoufes, &c. but on any part of the coaft, which is a flat and fandy shore, veffels may lie in fafety at all times. The Sark, and the Kirtle another small river, are the only ftreams in the parish. The tides flow regularly from W. to E. with great rapidity, for the space of 3 hours, and are nearly full at the moon's fouthing. The fpring-tides rife about 20 feet above low water mark, and there are evident appearances of their having rifen much higher at fome former period. In the little rivers Sark and Kirtle are trout, eels, herlings, pike, &c. but not in fuch quantities as to be objects of much attention to the inhabitants. The fishing, however, in the Solway Frith is of more importance. It produces falmon in pretty large quantities, fome fturgeon, cod, flounders, and rarely porpoifes. But as the different methods employed in taking the feveral kinds of fish, the markets to which they are fent, and the prices at which they are fold, are fully and accurately detailed in the return from the adjoining parish of Dornoch, it is unneceffary to repeat them here.

Climate,

Climate, Soil, &c.-The climate is temperate and the air healthful. No local diftempers are prevalent. There are feveral inftances indeed of rheumatic and nervous disorders, particularly among the lowest class of the inhabitants, owing to their living in cold and damp houses, to their enjoying but a scanty share of the comforts of life, and in fome cafes perhaps to the indifcreet use of tea and spiritous liquors. There have been fome inftances of longevity. It appears from a grave-ftone in the church-yard here, that of 2 brothers, who died a century ago, the one was 111, and the other 110. In the year 1791, a woman died at the age of 103, but her name could not be found in the parish-record. There is now living one woman upwards of an 100, two between 90 and 100, and feveral perfons between 80 and 9c, which are striking proofs of the falubrity of this part of the country. The foil is various. Except fome tracts of mofs and boggy grounds, which are incapable of improve. ment, it is in general dry and fandy, mixed with ftones. In fome parts, and particularly on the fea-fide, it is a fine rich loam; in others, of a wet and clayish nature. In almost every part, however, the foil is fertile, and, when properly cultivated, yields abundant returns*.

Population. According to the returns made to Dr. Webster, the number of fouls was then 1051. It is believed that the population of this parish has been gradually increasing for many years. There are now 1810 perfons, of whom are, Under 10 years of

age, 490

Between 10 and 20,

399 Between

*Wheat is fown in October and November; oats from the middle of March to the end of April; barley in the latter end of April and in May; turnip from the middle of June to the middle of July. Reaping begins about the middle of Auguft, and continues till the latter end of October. The feafons, however, are fometimes a little earlier, fometimes later.

All the reft of the inhabitants are cottagers employed by the farmers. They are all of the Established Church, except 1 Cameronian, 2 or 3 Burgher Seceders, and a few Episco palians. The number of births within the parish, taken at an average of 10 years, amounts to 54. The average number of marriages for the last five years does not exceed 7; but it is to be observed, that there are many irregular marriages in the parish. As no register of burials has hitherVOL. IX. 3 U

to