64 On Parochial Histories. 
The undertaking was again under the sanction of the General 
Assembly, who ‘recommended the members of the church to 
give all the aid in their power towards its completion.” Heads 
of inquiry were circulated among the Clergy in 1831 by the 
committee of the Society for the sons and daughters of the Clergy, 
to whom Sir J. Sinclair had bequeathed the copy-right of “The Old 
Statistical.’ Several gentlemen of literary and scientific distinction 
were appointed to revise the contributions in the several departments. 
Professor Jameson for geology and natural history, Mr. Tytler for 
civil history, Professor Low for agriculture. The publication began 
in 1834, and ended in 1845. The information is grouped under 
the heads of Topography and Natural History, Civil and Ecclesias- 
tical History, Population, Industry, Parochial Economy. Perhaps 
this arrangement might admit of improvement; it is hardly 
necessary to require from the ministers of adjoining parishes, answers 
to the same string of minute queries as to geography, hydrography, 
and geology. These are pretty much the same within a certain 
district larger than the parochial. The whole county might be de- 
scribed by some scientific person. So again in regard to zoology and 
botany. A condensed and digested physical history of the county 
might be given according to its natural divisions, reserving for the 
minor and often capricious divisions of parishes, what might be 
peculiar to each, and so lightening the burden imposed on the 
contributors. 
But these are matters of detail. Taking the work as a whole, 
it must be acknowledged that the ministers of the Kirk of Scotland 
have furnished a compilation which must long be regarded as a 
lasting memorial of their intelligence, of their zeal, of their research, 
and of that varied and intimate acquaintance with the affairs, 
history, condition, and resources of their parishes, which so well 
becomes them. Be it remembered also, that they have raised a 
monument to the honour of their country, such as no other can 
boast, unaided by public funds, and supported throughout by no 
other means than such as might arise from the sale of the work. 
They have been entirely self-reliant. The work has paid and more 
than paid its way. 
