sect. I. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 6j 



Ardit Mr Anstruther 



Kincraig Mr Gourley 



Carslogie Col. Clephane 



Earlshall Mr Henderson 



Kemback Mr M'Gill 



* Chapel Mr Arnot 



Kevil Mr Robison 



Pittencrief Capt. Phin 



Logic Mr Hunt 



There cannot, perhaps, be a surer criterion 

 by which to judge of the affluence and prospe- 

 rity of a country, than the state of its buildings. 

 When we find the houses few, of a mean ap- 

 pearance, and ruinous or in bad repair, and at 

 the same time see few or no buildings going 

 forward, we immediately and justly conclude 

 that there is neither spirit, nor taste, nor wealth 

 in it, and that improvements of every other 

 kind must be declining, or at a stand. But 

 when the buildings are numerous, many of 

 them superb and elegant, and all of them neat,, 

 and in good order ; and when we observe build- 

 ing going on without interruption, and new 

 houses starting up in different places every 

 year, we naturally infer general wealth, grow- 

 ing prosperity, and a corresponding progress in 

 every other kind of improvement. If this be a 

 fair rule of judging, then the state of the build- 

 ings in Fife, at present, and for some years 

 past, must suggest very flattering ideas of its ad- 

 vancing prosperity. 



Amongst the proprietors houses above enu- 

 merated, all those marked with an asterism, 



