THE NEW STATIST! CAL ACCOUNT OF SCOTLAND. THE Second Number

of this great national undertaking comprises twenty-parishes of the county of Dumfries ; and is, upon the whole, worthy of the reverend gentlemen who have furnished the statistics of their respective cures. Besides the intrinsic value of this work viewed as a depository of correct facts—the data on which all sound political economy must rest—its publication at the present moment happens to be singularly fortunate. The public mind has never heretofore been so eagerly turned towards the Alin of the Church and its connexion with the State: and when these and the oppression of Tithes and the misery of Poor- laws are among the prominent objects of attention, it cannot be altogether unprofitable to know how these things are managed in Scotland. For minute details, we must refer to the Statistical Account itself ; but for tine information of such of our readers as may have no immediate access to the work, we have drawn up a table, showing the populations, rental, number of schools, and sums paid to the clerg■ men in the twenty parishes described in the Number before us. We may add, that the stipend—or com- muted value of the tithes—is paid in all cases by the landlords, in money, and that each clergyman has, in addition, a free house and garden, and a glob,: averaging from five to fifteen acres. Parishes. Population. Rental. Schools. -.

Dumfries 11,606 Torthorwald 1,320

Tinwald 1,220

Kirknuthoe ...... 1,601

Kirkmichael 1,226

Closeburn 1,680 Morton 2,140 Moffat '4°21

Kirkpatrick-juxta 91

Wampbray 580 Johnstone 1,2:34 A pplegarth .... 999 Tundergarth 500 St. 3Iungo 791 Ruthwell 1,216 Cummertrees 1,407

Dianna 752

Gretna 1,909 Kirkpatrick-Fleming 1,666 Hoddam 1,582

This table may furnish to many of our readers the means of comparison between their own parishes and those of a country where every clergyman is obliged to reside, and do the duty tbr which he is paid.

With regard to the working of tlse Poor-laws in the country parishes, much interesting information may be gleaned from these accounts. We content ourselves at present by selecting the Poor's Roll of Ruthwell—a parish of 1200 inhabitants; from which a distinct view will be obtained of what are considered the class of persons entitled in Scotland to parochial aid.

Annual No.

F." 1 F. 0 Age. Ground of Claim. Allowance. Other means of support. 86 Old, feeble, and no children ze 1 5 Lodges vagrants. 85 Ditto, a son who resides at a distance, and gives her very

little 1 2% No other means except the charity of her neighbours.

F. 3

54 Blind 1 19 A married daughter.

31. 4 78 His wife bedrid 0 15 His own labour.

F. 5 74 Old and feeble 1 9

A daughter deaf and dumb.

M. 6 74 Feeble, and in had health 1 2 His wife works a little.

F.

7 74 Old and feeble 1 0 Works a little.

F. 8 64 Incapable of much exertion._ 1 0 Works a little.

F. 9 59 In bad health 1 3 Teaches a few children.

F. 10

82 Old and feeble 1 5

A daughter married, but

deserted by her husband, and left with children.

F. 11

54 Feeble, and without relations 1 5

Works a little.

M. 12 61 In bad health 1 1 Begs.

F. 13 70 Two feeble old women 1 5 Spin a little.

F.

14 47 In very delicate health, and without relations I 4 Spins a little.

F. 15 .70 Old and feeble 1 5

Her son a labourer, with a large family.

F. 16 81 Old and feeble I 5 A widowed daughter.

F. 17 71 Old and feeble 1 5 A daughter.

F. 18 61 Paralytic and helpless ...... 1 9 Her children work a little.

M. 19

80 Feeble, but industrious 1 8

Works a little.

F. 20 78 old and feeble 1 5 A daughter.

F. 21 77 Old and feeble 0 17 A daughter.

F. 22

89 Old, feeble, and blind 1 5

A son with a large family.

Paupers partially supported by the Session ..F. 26 14

( 1st ii.ter

209 0 0 ....1729,610 ...

Mditto 3912d 2,41 13

4

4,765 . 2

248 1

1

... 7,540

.. 2 141 7 2°

... 9,500

••• 3 275 0 0

... 6,475

o 2112 0 Oi ... 12,000

5

258 6

8 . 3,060 •• 5 247 9

2:t

. 8,000

4

240 0

0

... 4,000 ••• 4

220 0

0 4,000

1 253 13 4 . 4,500

3 165 13 li

... 6,680

• •• 3 280 0

0 8,000

1 168 0 0 .. 4,000

1 174 16 ef 4,527 . 2 262 IS lei 8,000

3 112 9 8 . :3,300

t 200 0 0 . 9,000

5 250 0 0 ... 7,:169

2 210 0 0 . 7,000

4 250 0 0 F. 23 61 Deranged, and require con-

stant attendance 7 16

No other means except charity.

F. 2,4 84 Bed rid for many years 5 4 Relations and other charity.

F. 25 89 Bedrid 318

Iles son a labourer with a family.

M. 26

81 Blind and Paralytic 318

Chiefly by time supported al 16

Partially supported as above 26 14 Total for enrolled poor 47 10 • Stipends under 1501. are made up to that sum by Government. • F. marks the females, and M. the males.

f The stun advanced for this pauper was afterwards recovered, by legal steps, from La sou. Besides the enrolled poor, it is frequently necessary to extend the assistance of the Session to indigent individuals, who, from sickness or other causes, fall into temporary want ; but the whole sum yearly expended by the Session (exclu- sive of extraordinary demands in years of scarcity) does not amount to more than 54/. or ssi. a year. We have already expressed our approbation so decidedly on the Merits and importance of this work, that we regret to meet any thing in its pages not germane to the matter, or in any way calcu- lated to impair the faith which it deserves. It must be strictly Confined to facts; and if these can be rendered interesting, so much the better: but we protest against political speculation, and especially against such exploded trash as that contained in the sccount of Kirkpatrick-juxta, by the Reverend Dr. SINGER. Hear the worthy Doctor on the subject of the Corn-laws- The rash project of abolishing this law, trusting to foreign supplies, and throwing the poor lands out of cultivation, is fraught with ruin to the capital, the industry, and the resources of the kingdom. Let the currency be made safe, but allowed to circulate in sufficient abun- dance; let the land produce as vell as manufacturing produce be duly pro- tected; and let the Corn-laws encourage a liberal and extended cultivation; and, in the nature of things, all classes will find the benefit. Then give a preference to home produce in the granaries and markets of the kingdom, and it will be- come plentiful and cheap also ; but let foreign produce pay duty when imported, and the merchants will purchase home-grown as well as foreign corn.

Now this intrusion of individual opinions in a national statis- tical work, exhibits a sad want of judgment in the writer, and of taste or care in the superintendents —however acceptable the notions might be at the landlord's table, or at a presbytery dinner, where the bugbear of free trade may still be dreaded. Facts, 'we repeat, are all that are wanted; and though we hope the clergy of Scotland, in general, know this, and are by no means -ambitious of rendering themselves absurd by following the ex- ample of Dr. SINGER, we think it right to point out the rock which must, in future, be carefully avoided..

The account of the parish of Dumfries is among those disfigured by things that" have no business there." That good burgh has always been remarkable for wonders—as the numerous "cock and bull" stories of its Courier attest : but as none of these have been deemed sufficiently authentic for columns of so grave an interest as the Statistical Account of Scotland, we are rather surprised that the author should have selected, to supply their place, much more objectionable matter. The copious account of the Cholera, and the symptoms of that disease, may perhaps be tolerated: but what connexion can the aurora borealis have with the parish of Dumfries? A long account, however, of that rare phenomenon is given; and as we believe it to be not peculiar to Dumfries, we hope a reference to the flaming description we are here favoured with, will answer for the nine hundred and odd tales of parish meteorology yet to come forth.