194 



DUMFRIES-SHIRE. 



Dumtiici- bly so. This lst hns been generally considered, from 

 thire. jj r Walker's computations, to be about 3300 feet above 

 ""Y" the sea ; and the Low then appear to be nearly, though 

 not quite as high. The peak of Skiddaw, near the coast 

 of Cumberland, which forms a striking object to die in- 

 habitants of most parts of Dumfries-shire, is only 3022 

 Vmr ftom feet above sea-level. From die summit of Quecnsberry 

 heir uin- the view is rich, embracing Annandale from the sea to 

 ""* Moffat, and the two finest portions of Nithsdale, the 



vale of Dumfries, and the circular district in which Close- 

 burn lies. The summit of Hartfcll affords a view that 

 extends wider, but is not so rich ; this mountain being 

 situated rather too remote from die richer parts of the 

 county, and having the Cloves Head, an elevated hill, 

 though inferior in height, contiguous to it, by which die 

 view down Annandale is partly obstructed. It reaches, 

 however, to a vast extent, in various directions, embra- 

 cing a great part of the north of England, from the Che- 

 viot Hills to St Bee's head, near \Vhitchavcn, and reach- 

 ing, in clear weather, to the German sea in one direc- 

 tion, and with a setting sun to Benlomond in another. 

 Riven. The chief rivers of Dumfries-shire have already been 



mentioned, viz. the Nith on the west, the Annan in the 

 central parts, and the Esk on the east. The course of 

 these rivers is towards die south, and diey all pour their 

 waters into the Solway Frith. Among the mountains 

 at or near their sources, the Nith is above 20 miles from 

 the Annan, and the Annan above 10 miles from the 

 Nith. As they descend, they approach nearer each 

 other. The Nidi, which rises in the county of Ayr, and 

 runs the longest course, contains also most water, and 

 receives the streams of a mere extended tract of coun- 

 try. The Annan passes through a wider vale. The 

 river Esk is confined in its course, and enters Cumber- 

 land before it passes into the Frith. 



L^CTJ! Into each of these rivers, various lateral streams de- 



wreanu. scend, on either hand, opening lesser vales into the prin- 

 cipal river courses. The Nith receives the waters of the 

 beautiful river Clouden or Cairn, and those of the Shin- 

 nel, Scar, Cample, Carron, Minnick, Eschan, and Kcllo. 

 The Annan receives the waters of the Milk, Dryfe, Kin- 

 nel, Ae, VVamphray, Moffat, and Evan. Into the Esk 

 descend the streams of Ewes, and of Liddel, Tarras, 

 Wauchope, and Meggot. 



Vales. The Vale of Nith enjoys the benefit of the county 



town of Dumfries near its lower, and of the royal burgh 

 of Sanquhar near its upper extremity. It possesses also 

 coal-mines near the head of the vale, and well worked 

 limestone quarries near the centre of it. This valley 

 is naturally divided into three parts, by the approach of 

 the hills near to each other on its banks, in two parti- 

 cular places, forming three sub-divisions of the vale ; 

 the uppermost at Sanquhar, the middle division at Close- 

 burn, and the lower at the county town of Dumfries : 

 but every stream that has been mentioned' as flowing in- 

 to the Nith, opens a lesser vale to the right or the left. 

 The vale of Annan contains more champaign or open 

 lands, and is less boldly divided by the hills, than that 

 of Nith ; yet the ridges approach each other on either 

 side, particularly in two parts; and various lateral 

 vales open into it on each hank. It |x>s.sesscs lime- 

 quarries in the lower districts, but no lime or coal above. 

 The river Esk passes through a vale, for the most part 

 confined, but opening wider near the borders of Cum- 

 berland. Coal and lime are found in the lower parts of 

 Eskdale. Besides die main rivers, the Sark, which is a 



Border stream, the Kirtle, which, though it flows in Dumfries 

 the vale of Annan, is not connected with this river, 



and the Lochar, which is a dark rivulet, flowing from the /" ;~"^ 



- . i- I - i o i Interior 



moss of the same name, all pass directly into the Sol- st rtann pi*, 

 way Fridl. sin into 



Those extensive tracts of mountain lands, which are tiie &A**T- 

 chiefly in sheep walk, near the sources of the principal Mountain- 



rivers, are broken, and pleasantly diversified by the in- 

 terjacent larger and lesser vales, where cattle also are 

 reared, and crops raised in considerable variety. The 

 sheep-walks of Eskdale are mostly green hills, well drain- 

 ed, though naturally moist, and sup|>orting strong flocks of 

 the Cheviot breed. The sheep-walks of Annandale and 

 Nithsdale contain more of rock and gravel, and are 

 therefore drier, and bear a larger quantity of heath. 

 Cheviot flocks occupy most of the shee|>-walks of Annan- 

 dale ; and the forest or black-faced sheep still possess u 

 large proportion of those of Nithsdale. Nothing, how- 

 ever, seems to be wanting excepting shelter for the e\u - 

 and lambs, to prepare for the introduction of Cheviot 

 flocks into almost every sheep farm in the county where 

 they are still wanting. These mountainous tracts, ha- 

 ving vales interspersed, extend over 17 parishes and 597 

 square miles of territory, being nearly i^tlis of die w hole 

 surface of the county. 



The midlands contain hills and low ridges, with a Midland 

 large proportion of low situated lands; and they possess districts, 

 a few flocks of sheep, together with a considerable num- 

 ber of black cattle, and a corresponding extent of arable 

 soils. The whole contain 18 parishes, and 322 square 

 miles of surface, being about T Vhs of the county. 



In the maritime district, which is nearly all a low Maritime 

 country, above 20 miles long from east to west along district!, 

 the Solway Frith, and about four miles broad from that 

 Frith northwards, there is little waste land except peat- 

 bogs. The soil is, or may be cultivated to great ad- 

 vantage. Considerable quantities of corn of all kinds are 

 produced ; and a .suitable number of cattle, with some 

 flocks of sheep, of the improved breeds, answering low 

 districts, are also reared. This maritime district din- 

 tains 86 square miles, being about T 'jth the surface of 

 the county. 



A territory more adapted for improvement cnn scarce- Thc (mun(l 

 ly be mentioned. Yet it may be truly .said, that, with vc t back- ' 

 respect to most part of it, this work is hardly commenced, wal in 

 The means, in some parts, especially in upper Annan- P* 

 dale, arc at a distance; neither coal nor lime being work- 

 ed there ; and the markets are also remote. In various 

 parts, the conditions on which lands have been held, arc 

 not well adapted for their improvement. There is no 

 certain and easy market within the county for well fed 

 cattle and sheep in quantities. The market for wool is 

 heavy and ill regulated. Many of the farmers are de- 

 ficient in capital and enterprise. The system of over- 

 cropping for corn still prevails, and that of cultivating 

 rich grass in the pastures and meadows is far too litde 

 encouraged. 



The population has augmented so much as to furnish population. 

 humls for the labour necessary in executing improve- 

 ments, and also an additional demand for produce. In 

 1755, the inhabitants of the country were returned to 

 Dr Webster at 39,788 ; by the public statutory returns 

 in 1801, the number had risen to 54,. r 97 ; and by the 

 same returns in 1811, this numlier was farther augment- 

 ed to 62,783; not including 120 yeomanry in three 

 troops, 400 mn in a battalion of six companies, and 



