206 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



produce and rent not having been always preserved; therefore their 

 calculations of agricultural produce must be considered only an ap- 

 proximation to the absolute amount. 



No statements of opinion on the debated questions of political economy 

 — no reflections likely to prove offensive to individuals, societies, sects, 

 or interests of any description, beyond what may be conveyed in the 

 bare announcement of statistical facts, have been invited or encouraged 

 by the committee superintending this great work of utility — and we do 

 most sincerely hope that the path so ably chalked out will be made 

 perfectly free from all obstructions. 



The counties which are selected in this third number are Peeblesshire and 

 Lanarkshire ; and in the mode and form of classing the various subjects 

 treated, there is much regularity and perspicuity. For instance — in each 

 parish, under the heads Topography and Natural History, are methodically 

 arranged "name and boundaries — topographical appearances — meteor- 

 ology — hydrography — geology — zoology — minerals ;" under that of Civil 

 History — *' historical notices — ecclesiastical history — land-owners — 

 parochial registers — antiquities — modernbuildings — eminent characters," 

 Then comes Population and Industry. Under tlie latter head are treated 

 ** agriculture and rural economy — plantations — husbandry — breeds and 

 quantity of live stock — rent of land — rate of wages — improvements — 

 manufactures — character and habits of the people." To these succeed 

 Parochial Economy, comprehending " town — roads and bridges — 

 ecclesiastical state — education — library — friendly society — poor — inns, 

 &c. — banks — fairs — fuel — prison — miscellaneous observations." 



Having thus explained the nature of this publication, we think it is 

 unnecessary to make copious extracts in elucidation of our remarks. It is 

 written in the style appropriate to the subject, and with a minuteness most 

 commendable to the zeal and efficiency of the clerical contributors. The 

 utility of such a work is too apparent to be overlooked — indeed from the 

 imperfect sketch we have thus given, we are persuaded that very few 

 persons will be found hardy enough to contest such a palpable conviction. 

 "When to its usefulness is added the natural gratification which every 

 rational person must derive by the perusal of a comprehensive history of 

 the soil and civil institutions of the county in which he was born, and 

 perhaps, educated, we are led to marvel that no general statistical 

 description of the several counties in England has yet been submitted to 

 public investigation. Surely such a chasm cannot be too soon filled up. 



The name of statistics is so startling to some ears, and so dull to others, 

 that, young persons in particular, are fearful of giving their attention to 

 a pursuit which is so likely in their estimation to turn out unprofitable 

 and stupid. We admonish all such to discard the repugnant impression 

 from their minds, and to be assured from the testimony of the experienced, 

 that the knowledge of the value and resources of our own country, in all 

 their interesting varieties, is as superior to the works of the most elegant 

 fiction, as the truth of nature is superior to the most exquisite specimens 

 of art. The following brief extract from the delineation of the parish of 

 Peebles will prove that all light and attractive matter is not banished from 

 these important records : — 



" Peblis to the Play, Sfc. — Peebles, tbougrh in former times celebrated for games 

 and amusements, at which sovereigns presided, can now boast of no such diversions. 

 ' Peblis to the Play' gives us a good specimen of former sports and pastimes. * It 

 was composed,' as a profound scholar, and good judge of early Scottish literature 

 writes to me, * by James I., one of the most distinguished characters of the age in 

 which he lived. It is written in the same stanzas as Christ-kirk on the Grene. 

 Like that poem, it is descriptive of rustic merriment and of rustic quarrels, and it 

 is conspicuous for the same rich vein of native humour. It \fas fiist published by 



