K I N 



462 



K I N 



Kinross- dikes, sluices, and others, from being carried off by the 

 ' hirc - impetuosity of the current." We may, however, add, 

 W "Y"" 1 *' that such overwhelming inundations as are here appre- 

 hended, can never happen, if the new cut be made of 

 proper dimensions. Besides, the additional quantity of 

 water gained, by the diminution of the surface of the 

 lake, and consequent reduction of expenditure by eva- 

 poration during the summer months, would secure for 

 the mills, fed by waters from the lake, a more uniform 

 supply during the dry season than they can hope to 

 receive in the present circumstance. As this patriotic 

 measure, which Thomas Graham, Esq. of Kinross, had 

 the merit of suggesting, and of urging with all his in- 

 fluence, would prove of incalculable value to the pro- 

 prietors of the lake and the grounds in the neighbour- 

 hood, without injuring the interest of those who have 

 hitherto opposed it, we earnestly wish that it may be 

 soon executed. 



Rivers. This lake is chiefly supplied by three small streams. 



The two first are termed Queichs or Cuichs, and are 

 denominated North Quiech and South Quiech, from 

 their position with respect to the town of Kinross. 

 They take their rise from the Ochils, to the north and 

 west, about six miles distant from the lake. The Gar- 

 ney takes its rise from the Cleish hills, on the south 

 side of the county, and pursues a winding course to- 

 wards the lake, into which it empties its black and 

 mossy waters to the south of Clashlochie. Besides 

 these streams, there are numerous springs around the 

 margin of the lake, which likewise contribute to fur- 

 nish a supply. The quantity of water poured into the 

 lake by these feeders, and extracted by evaporation, 

 being subject to considerable variation, the surface of 

 the water in the lake is elevated or depressed, accord- 

 ing to these circumstances, about two feet and a half. 



The outlet of this lake is towards the south-east, at 

 a place called the Gullet;Bridge ; and the waters which 

 flow from it give rise to the river Leven. This river, 

 in its course of nearly fourteen miles, passes through a 

 part of Fifeshire, and empties itself into the frith of 

 Forth at Largo bay. It gives motion to about 47 mills, 

 at which 5970 persons are employed ; requiring a ca- 

 pital, in buildings, machinery, &c. of 176,220 Ster- 

 ling. 



Eel*. The river Leven abounds with eels, particularly du- 



ring the month of September, the period at which 

 these fish descend from the lake to the sea. They are 

 taken by means of nets placed in the river, and chiefly 

 during night. Few of these fish are consumed by na- 

 tives, but considerable quantities are sent to Edinburgh 

 and the inland districts. 



Mineralogy. The mineralogical structure of this county bears so 

 close a resemblance to that of Clackmannan, already 

 very fully described, that it would be superfluous here 

 to offer any remarks. In zoology, the most interesting 

 objqcts are the trouts which reside in the lake, and the 

 various species of aquatic birds which breed on the islets 

 or frequent its shores. 



This county originally formed a part of Fifeshire, 

 from which it was disjoined about the year 1426. At 

 first it contained only the parishes of Kinross, Orwell, 

 and Portmoak, but in 1685, the king and estates of par- 

 liament disjoined from Perth and Fife other lands in 

 the parish of Portmoak, and in the parishes of Cleisli 

 and Tulliebole, and annexed them to Kinross. At pre- 

 sent it consists of the parishes of Kinross, Portmoak, 

 Cleish, Orwell, Tullibole, annexed to Fossaway, and 

 part of the parishes of Abernethy and Arngask. 

 Population. In the year 1811, this county contained 7245 souls. 

 It sends, alternately with the county of Clackmannan, a 



Kinross- 

 shire, 



Kinsale. 



member to parliament. The number of freeholders at 

 present on the roll amounts to twenty. The sheriff 

 court is held at Kinross, wh/re are likewise the courts 

 of taxation, and all the state public meetings. 



The population of this county is chieny supported 

 by agriculture. The soil, though rather light, is well 

 adapted for all kinds of crops ; and lime for manure is 

 to be obtained in abundance. If we consider the proxi- 

 mity to fuel, the abundance of fresh water, it seems ra- 

 ther surprising, that in this county there are so few 

 manufactures. Weaving is carried on in some places, 

 chiefly of coarse Silesias, and different sorts of muslin. 



The objects of antiquity in this county are numerous Antiquity 

 and interesting, and have been very faithfully described 

 by the industrious and intelligent Sibbaid. The one 

 which attracts the greatest share of the travellers' no- 

 tice is the old Castle of Locldeven, situated on a tmall 

 island, already mentioned, at the north-west end of the 

 loch, and about half a mile distant from the shore. It 

 is said to have been the ancient habitation of Congal, 

 son of Donqart, king of the Picts. It has been the 

 scene of many memorable events in Scottish history. 

 In the year 1335, it was valiantly defended by Sir Allan 

 Wypont for King David the Second, against the Eng- 

 lish party then in Scotland. In this castle Queen Mary 

 Stewart was imprisoned on the 16th June 1567; resign-, 

 ed the crown, with reluctance, in favour of her son 

 James VI. on the 24th July in the same year; and 

 escaped from her confinement there on the 3d of May 

 1568, by means of George Douglus, youngest son of 

 Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven. 



The ancient monastery of Portmoak, on the north side 

 of the Leven near the lake, was founded by Eogach- 

 men, king of the Picts, and consecrated to the Virgin 

 Mary. This monastery is supposed to have been the 

 first place in Scotland, given by the Pictish kings, after 

 their conversion to Christianity, to the Culdees. 



On the inch in Lochleven, anciently called St. Serf's 

 isle, are the remains of an old priory built by Achaius, 

 king of the Scots, " in honorem et ad gloriam Dei 

 omnipotentis et Sancti Servani." In this isle the first 

 archbishop of St. Andrew's was interred. Scotland- 

 Well was a ministry of the " Fratres Sanctae Trinitatis 

 de redemptione captivorum," and founded by William 

 Malvoisin, bishop of St. Andrew's, who died in 1238. 



As connected with the antiquities of this county, the Kinross 

 House of Kinross, the seat of Thomas Graham, Esq. Housc - 

 ought not to be passed over in silence, as it is said to 

 have been the first house of regular architecture in 

 Scotland. It was built by the celebrated architect, Sir 

 William Bruce, the proprietor, in 1685. See Statistical 

 Account of Scotland ; Sir Robert Sibbald's History of 

 the Sheriffdoms of Fife and Kinross ; and Dr. Walker's 

 Essays on Natural History and Rural Economy. 



KINSALE, which has been called the Plymouth of 

 Ireland, is a sea-port town in the county of Cork. The 

 town is situated at the mouth of the river Bandon, and 

 is built under Compass-hill. It is about a mile in ex- 

 tent. The chief street runs round Compass-hill, and 

 there are others above, which are connected with the 

 main street by steep lanes. The streets are narrow, 

 but they contain many good houses. There are six 

 parishes in the town and suburbs. The harbour is very 

 commodious, and secure. The distance between Sandy 

 Cove Point and Prehain Point, which form the en- 

 trance to the harbour, is not half a mile, and between 

 them is a safe passage in four fathoms of water. There 

 is a light-house on a narrow point of land about five 

 miles southward. The river is navigable for large vessels 

 for nearly twelve miles above the town, but large ships 



