sect. III. THE COUNTY OP FIFE. 99 



made: and some of the most charitable among 

 the higher and more opulent classes, afford oc- 

 casional aid to the most indigent by private 

 alms. But the poor are generally supported by 

 the weekly collections at the church doors, by 

 the allowance for the use of the parish mort- 

 cloaths, and by the interest of funds raised by 

 savings or donations, but which, for the most 

 part, are of inconsiderable amount. These funds, 

 scanty and inadequate as, for the most part, they 

 are, have, nevertheless, been made to answer 

 the purpose hitherto, by the judicious and ceco- 

 nomical management of the kirk-sessions, under 

 whose administration they are placed. And, I 

 am confident, it will be allowed, that there are 

 no funds in Great Britain, of any description 

 whatever, managed to better purpose, and with 

 so little expence, or which, in proportion to their 

 amount, are made to go so great a length, and 

 to be so extensively beneficial. 



The kirk-sessions, considering themselves as 

 guardians of the poor, and feeling it to be their 

 duty to contribute what lies in their power, to 

 render their situation as comfortable as possible, 

 act in this business without fee or reward. From 

 their intercourse with the inhabitants of their 

 respective parishes, they are, in general, well 

 acquainted with the situation of every person 

 applying for, or needing relief. And as they 

 can be under no temptation to partiality, the 

 supplies granted are proportioned as exactly as 

 possible to the necessities of the different claim- 

 ants. 



How long this matter may continue on its 

 present footing, it is impossible to say. The 

 N 2 



