572 



KINROSS-SHIRE KIRK ALDY. 



inhabited chiefly by opulent citizens of Dublin. 

 Intercourse with the metropolis is greatly facili- 

 tated by the Dublin and Kingston railway, which 

 was opened to the public on the 17th Dec. 1834. 

 Population of Kingston by last census, 7229. 



KINROSS-SHIRE; one of the smallest conn- 

 ties of Scotland, bounded on the north by Perth. 

 shire; on the west by Clackmannan; and on the 

 r.i-t and south by the shire of Fife, from which 

 latter county it was disjoined in the year 1426. It 

 extends from east to west about eleven miles, and 

 from north to south nearly ten. This district ex- 

 liibits a beautifully diversified surface, and includes 

 the fine sheet of water termed Loch Leven, whose 

 romantic banks are adorned with several elegant 

 mansions. From the north side of t IMS expanse the 

 country gradually assumes a gentle acclivity ; while 

 mi the opposite side the ground rises precipitately, 

 a nl has a much more rugged appearance. Agri- 

 culture is the chief employment of the inhabitants, 

 the county being much divided into small farms, 

 i ,.c!i owned in feu by its tenant at a trifling quit 

 rent. The higher parts of the county are chiefly 

 composed of whinstone, between the layers of 

 which lead-ore is frequently found ; limestone, 

 ironstone, and coal, are also met with in great 

 plenty. The only town in the shire is Kinross, 

 noticed below, and the next place in importance is 

 the populous village of Milnathort, commonly 

 called the Mills of Forth, in both of which the 

 manufacture of linen and cotton are carried on to 

 some extent. The county is joined with that of 

 Clackmannan under one sheriff-depute, but there is 

 a resident sheriff-substitute at Kinross. Popula- 

 tion in 1821, 7762; in 1831, 9072; in 1841, 8763. 

 Kinross, the capital of the above county, is si- 

 tuated on the north-western shore of Loch Leven; 

 distant from Edinburgh twenty-seven miles ; from 

 Perth, seventeen. It is a place of considerable 

 antiquity, and was originally dignified by a castle, 

 situated on a promontory jutting into the lake, 

 and of which the town was a dependence. This 

 stronghold was long the residence of the earls of 

 Morton, but it was removed, and an elegant struc- 

 ture built in its stead in 1685, by Sir William 

 Bruce of Kinross, the celebrated architect. The 

 town itself has recently been much improved by 

 the, erection of many good buildings. The chief 

 occupation of the inhabitants is the weaving of 

 linen and cotton goods. Population of town and 

 parish of Kinross in 1821, 2563; in 1841, 2822. 



KINSALE ; an ancient sea-port of Ireland, 

 fourteen miles S. from Cork, and 140 S.W. from 

 Dublin. It is situated near the mouth of the river 

 Bandon, on the acclivity of an eminence called 

 Compass Hill. The streets run round the hill, 

 one above another, and are connected by steep and 

 narrow lanes, unsafe for carriages. Here, however, 

 are many good private residences, an extensive 

 barrack, a market-house, prison, an ancient church, 

 Roman Catholic chapels, &c. This was a place of 

 great importance at an early period ; and it is to 

 the excellence of its harbour that its origin and 

 greatness are attributable. It appears to have 

 been enclosed with walls, and regularly fortified. 

 Edward III. granted a charter of incorporation to 

 this place, and Edward IV. renewed and confirmed 

 the grant. Owing to a successful landing effected 

 here by the Spaniards, in 1600, the charter was 

 forfeited, and the Spaniards were expelled by lord 

 deputy Mountjoy, who compelled the commander, 

 Don John de Aquilla, and 5000 Soaniards, to a 



surrender. The charter, however, was restored in 

 the succeeding reign; and in the year 1649 the 

 town was invested by Cromwell, who received 

 the keys from the mayor, and delivered them to 

 colonel Stubleen, the governor. In the reign of 

 Charles II. a regular fort was begun here by lord 

 Orrery, to which, upon its completion, the duke of 

 Ormond gave the name of Charles Fort. It is a 

 strong fortress, commanding the harbour in so 

 entire a manner, that all vessels must pass within 

 pistol shot of it. James II. granted a new char- 

 ter to the inhabitants, and in the year 1688 landed 

 at this port from France. In 1690 the earl of 

 Marlborough took the old fort, and compelled the 

 town to surrender. 



The harbour of Kinsale is of a circular form, per- 

 fectly land-locked by high grounds, which enclose 

 it on every side, and is watered by a long deep 

 narrow channel, guarded by a fort, at which there 

 is a lighthouse exhibiting a small bright light, 

 while the sea entrance is shown at night by a fixed 

 bright light upon the old head of Kinsale. Here 

 was formerly a royal dock-yard and store-house, 

 but the naval depot has been transferred to Cork, 

 so that Kinsale derives little advantages of trade 

 from its safe, sheltered, and secure harbour. Coal 

 is imported, and the coasting-trade gives employ- 

 ment to many, but the great marine establishment 

 of Kinsale is its fishery. Upwards of 400 vessels 

 of about twenty tons burden, and known by the 

 name of hookers, are constantly employed in this 

 business, and afford an ample supply of fish to the 

 markets of Kinsale, Cork, and Bandon. They are 

 admirable sea-boats, put to sea in all weathers, and 

 are eminently serviceable in the way of pilotage. 

 Kinsale fishermen and pilots are exempt from im- 

 press. As a further compensation for the loss of 

 trade, Kinsale has become a fashionable bathing- 

 place. Population in 1841, 6988. 



KIRKALDY; a town in Fifeshire, Scotland, 

 situated near the northern shore of the Frith of 

 Forth, about twelve miles from Edinburgh. It is 

 said to have been anciently the seat of a society of 

 Culdees, whence it was called Kill-Celedes, a name 

 changed during the Scoto- Saxon period to Kirk- 

 Caledie. Although, however, allowed to be of 

 high antiquity, no record of it exists of earlier date 

 than 1334, when it belonged to the abbots of Dun- 

 fermline, as a burgh of regality, and so continued 

 till it passed in 1450, to the bailies and their suc- 

 cessors for ever. Shortly after this it was erected 

 into a royal burgh by charter, which Charles I. 

 confirmed in 1644, and made it a free port, with 

 further privileges, and a jurisdiction, extending on 

 the northern coast of the Forth, from Aberdour to 

 Largo, inclusive. At that period it is stated to 

 have been more populous than now, and to have 

 had at least 100 ships. 



Kirkaldy in the present day consists chiefly of a 

 very long street, well paved and lighted, in which 

 are many elegant shops and houses; also several 

 cross streets, and a variety of detached edifices, 

 the residences of the wealthier inhabitants. 



The trade of the place bears an intimate resem- 

 blance to that of Dundee, consisting almost exclu- 

 sively in the spinning of flax, and the weaving of 

 coarse linen goods for home and foreign consumption. 

 The town possesses ten distinct establishments 

 for the spinning and preparation of flax, in all of 

 which steam-power is employed. There is one 

 large establishment for weaving, in which steam is 

 also the agent of movement. The rest of the flnx 



