FIF - ww 
In the year 1749, however, he at length received a 
~ from government ; and, peep 
ind his necessities obliged him to accept of the office of an 
in the commission of the peace for 
been and the county of Middlesex ; an office 
aan me Che ious to the populace,and which, 
abe pee failed to incur tbe imputation of 
aie , from which Fielding was not 
exempted. jn cinerea tas ttich of his office, he 
aga uncommon. vigilance and activity of mind. 
ng many beneficial plans and regula- 
tione-of oe ublished several Tisefal tracts u 
connate with the functions which he 
Among these are, An Address ta the Grand 
po of Middlesex, which he delivered at Westminster 
in June 1749; A P Lfor making an effectual pro- 
7 An Inquiry into the Causes of 
Robbers, &c. 
life of Fielding was now draw- 
In 1753, his constitution had 
Hite 
a pla ved i ual ; ala by thea 
of his physicians, he at length determined the re- 
storative effects of a warmer climate. nie ollowing 
accordingly set out for Lisbon; but in two 
months after his arrival at that place, 
Henry-Fielding was tall in stature, and of a 
seh seen famneit hots, until the vigour of ne 
stitution had been en by. disease. He had an ar- 
dent temperament, and lively passions, - His affections 
See ray nce and constant and his conduct and 
a vi- 
Staaey, a oe oe 
a oe ly wit; and to considerable learn- 
estate, he suffered it to be devoured 
pects ae and » bod weap is life exhibits a 
be" silgwed to hold 
be allowed to hold a 
prs ns The county of Fife is situated 
on the east coast.of Scotland, between 56° 2° and 56° 
317 
27’ of North Latitude, and between 2° and 2° 56? of Fifeshive. 
West Longitude from Greenwich. On the south it is ="y— 
an extrav. t size, 
FIF 
bounded by the Frith of Forth, on the east by the Ger- 
man Ocean, and on the north by the Frith of Tay. Its 
western  bompeary.t is irregular, being indented by the 
Kinross, and united by an uneven line with 
ogi Med of Perth and Clackmanan. Its praee 
belong from Elie to.Balmerino, is about 19 miles from 
south to north ; and its greatest length, from Fifeness 
to the extremity of the parish of Saline, is about 48 miles 
from east to west. It contains about 52.144 square 
. miles, or 263,593 Scottish acres. 
The climate of Fifeshire may be considered as mild Climate. 
and tem .. On the south side of the county, along 
the shores of the Forth, igh air is Ppicrs and friendly to 
vegetation. On the grounds which traverse the 
middle of the county, the soil is damp, and the air cold. 
The northern parts, which are rather exposed, and des« 
titute of shelter, have a very bleak aspect, and in these 
the air is and penetrating. 
There are no remarkable springs 
Those which issue from the rocks of the coal-field be- 
tween the Eden and the Forth, are frequently of the 
chalybeate kind ; and in a few places, as at Kinghorn, 
of considerable strength gth. In the middle district of the 
county, including the valley of the Eden, the pangs, 
are frequently — and issue either from beds 
sandstone or gravel. In the northern of the 
shire, where trap-rocks abound, the springs yield wa- 
i the previes purity. In the Inch Craig of Car- 
Fina to the dam-dyke, there is a hae, Seg 
ucing a liqui resembling ink 
almost constantly from the rock. 
t.a former 
and lakes in many parts of Fife, which the hand of in- 
dustry has changed into fertile fields by means of drain- 
ing. ip few my still remain to enliven the scene, and 
ve pe Mey to rospect. The Loch of Lindores, 
g ance, is surrounded with uneven 
Simao iocihel aes ne scene- 
ualled. It is about a mile in length, 
PE ke pike, perch, and eel, and is much fre- 
quented by ducks, coots, and other water-fowl.  Kil- 
conquhar Loch lies on the boundary that divides the 
pers of Kilconquhar from Elie, is Y neasly of a circu 
form, and may be about two miles in circumference. 
It abounds with pike and excellent eels. In the parish 
of Auchterderran there are two lakes of considerable 
and Comilla; the former about three 
miles, the about two miles i in circumference ; and. 
farther west, in the parish of Beith, we meet with Loch. 
fittie, of an oblong , and of equal extent with ci- 
ther of the two last mentioned. To these may be add- 
ed, Kinghorn Loch, in the neighbourhood of "ae een 
Kinghorn, and the small at Otterston in the 
parish of Dalgety. 
The rivers of this county (provincially termed wa- Rivers. 
, and inconsiderable in 
ulated situation. _ The 
the eastern side of the celebrated 
and empties itself’ into the Figs of Forth 
at Largo Bay. In its course through Fife, which ex. 
fae oe qe arte ae AL ie piped 
considerable called the hier ing e below. 
the village of Leslie, and the united rivulets of the 
Lochty and the Orr, about a mile to the westward 
of Cameron-bridge. Thisriver, the water of which is 
he supply ia constant, and. the stream weighty, 
ters or burns) are few in number 
in the county. Springs. 
, there were numerous marshes Lakes. 
