fjf)!. Statistical account of Scotland. 14*^ 



Selkirk. 1 700,poors rates L. 1 24 besides the whole collections. 

 Glencairn 1700 do. voluntarily, L. 30 ( 



Moffat 1600 do. .... 30 »^"^g^30. 



X)iiference nearly as four to one. 



These facts speak a strong language that cannot be mis- 

 understood : And it deserves to be particularly remarked, 

 that in the places where rates have . been adopted, there 

 are almost universal complaints of the scantinefs of the 

 funds. In Mauchline complaints are, that the fund* arc 

 daily decreasing. In Hamilton the poor's rates have risen, 

 in 30 years, from L. loo to L. 230. In Grayling we aro 

 told they have risen, in 30 years, from L. 14 to L. 27. In 

 Wilton, where 900 persons pay L. 100 of poor's rates, or 

 nearly at the rate of 2 s. 3 d. a-head. The writer of the ac- 

 count very properly adds : " It would be an important 

 object of enquiry, to ascertain how far the levying of 

 these afsefsments, or poors rates, has answered any useful 

 purpose, or whether the poor are, comparatively, in a worse 

 situation where they are not levied V 



To answer this question, let us take the following 

 notices from other pariihes, that/ccur in this volume. " la 

 Kirkmahof, consisting of ^vfidve hundred persons, the 

 parson says, the poor, who forty or fifty years back, have 

 been about twenty in number, have always been main- 

 tained by the public collections in the church, together 

 with some dues, on particular occasions, and the interest 

 of some mortified money. In this way, by distributions, 

 four times annually, and some small donations occasional- 

 ly, given amongst them, there have never been any com-' 

 plaints. Some of the poor, too, are, pretty industrious, 

 and endeavour, in a great measure, to maintain themselves ; 

 by which means more can be given to otliers, who are old 

 and infirm, and unable to do any thing." 



In Kirkiuiulloch, " consisting of 263c; persons, tlie week- 

 ly collections at the church doors, have lutherto been more 



