1804. AgncuhuraJ Intelligence — Scotland, 1^^ 



commerce, maniifafturcs, and agriculture, vvlilch othcrwife would not 

 have exiftod. When thefc fpeciilations are fet afloat, it is furcly a cruel 

 meafure fuddenly to withdraw the aid granted to thofe concerned in 

 them, and without which they cannot be carried into effe£l ; thereby 

 completely blaiHng undertakings, which, with a more fteady capital, 

 might have been carried on with profit to the owner, and benefit to the 

 community. 



Several proprietors in this county have availed themfelves of the acl 

 paffed for commuting the fervitude of thirlage ; but, however beneficial 

 its effetls may ultimately prove to the country, the decifions given have 

 certainly bore hard, in the liril inftance, on the partes formerly thirled. 

 It appears, on the examination of witnefles, that the duties paid were 

 under different denominations j a certain part being allotted for the pro- 

 prietors as multures and right of thirlage ; another part alfo paid the 

 proprietor to uphold the mill ; and another duty paid to the millers as 

 their wages. The proprietors, in moil cafes that have been tried, had 

 alfo claims for certain fervices ; fuch as, keeping the mill-lead in repair, 

 bringing home millftones, &c. Thefe things being clearly ftated to the 

 Judge and Juries, it became then their duty to confider what proportion 

 of thefe duties, fervices, and prellations, tlie proprietor was entitled to ; 

 and the decifions in general were, that the proprietors were found en- 

 titled to full value for all duties paid, except that part wliich was always 

 appropriated as millers wages ; and, in feveral cafes, a fum of money was 

 allowed in lieu of fervices. The Juries were, however, by no means 

 unanimous in the decifions given ; it being warmly contended, and with 

 good reafon, that proprietors were not entitled, by the fpirit of the aft, 

 to pocket more than they had formerly done ; as, in this view of the 

 cafe, the parties thirled, fo far from being relieved from bondage, had 

 an additional burthen laid upon them, they being compelled to pay for 

 upholding a mill, which the proprietor might keep up or not, as he 

 thought proper, and from which, at all events, they could not derive 

 any benefit. J^n- 18, 



Dumfriesjlyii'e ^iarterly Report. 



The weather, for the lad three months, has been variable and In 

 extremes to an uncommon degree. Tiiere has, notwithllanding, been 

 a good deal of agricultural labour performed. Wheat wa"^ fown in the 

 end of October, on potato land, in. good order ; and, though it has 

 been kept long under ground, it is now up in full llrength. The ftab- 

 bics tor fallows and green crops have been ploughed. During the froft, 

 the ftraw yards were cleared, and the dung put up on the head- 

 rigs of land for turnip and potatoes ; an effential matter now com- 

 ing to be feen into by all farmers, not only for the facih'ty of labour 

 in April and May, but alfo for bringing the manure into a proper ilate 

 for ufe. 



The general fall of fnow in November and December, was like- to 

 ^% ic\ixc for llo^ks of fheep in the higher parts of the county, not 



from 



