Druidical temple, still standing, within half a mile of the Antiquities. parish church. It is formed of twelve very large whin or moor stones, as they are called, which enclose a circular piece of ground of about eighty yards in diameter. The oaks have now all perished; but there is a tradition of their existing in the last age. The late clergyman of the parish, the reverend Dr Bryce Johnston, dug up and long preserved many roots, which he regarded as relics of the sacred grove. When christianity prevailed, this sacred ground was chosen for the site of a monastery, called from the grove Monasterium sacri Nemoris. The abbey here mentioned is said to have been founded by the Lady Devorgilda, daughter of Allan Lord of Galloway, who died A. D. 1269. In Keith's Appendix it is placed among the Præmonstratensian Monasteries; and Johannes de Sacro Bosco, a great mathematician, famous for his book De Sphæra, is there supposed to have been a professed monk of this house. The last remains of this abbey were taken down in 1778 to rebuild the pa. rish church. Across the middle of the building was a fine Gothic arch that supported the oak roof. Under the floor were a number of sepulchral vaults; the entrance was through a handsome semicircular arch. The vestiges of the old abbey are sufficiently evident in the church-yard; and the adjoining farm retains the name of Abbey. The present church has two fine-toned bells, taken out of the old building; one of which, by an inscription and date on it, appears to have been consecrated by the abbot John Wrich in the year 1154. THE following Table shews the past and present state Population of the population of this county. 495 520 372 376 496 141 103 749 44 374 771 Kirkconnel. Kilmahoe. 899 1000 522 574 71 1098 1200 Kirkmichael.... 894 95 583 732 571 447 457 560 48 296 904 Kirkpatr. Fleeming 11471542 713 831 480 390 674 1544 Ditto Juxta. 794 617 307 307 289 Langholm 1833 2582 977 1062 Middlebie.. 773 99 95 313 1507 Moffat... 1612 160 871 292 140 1187 1610 Morton 435 908 574 Mousewald 553 628 332 373 Penpont. 838 800 599 1061 463 533 481 64 303 341 91 72 48 644 1998 2600 1054 1296 795 850 85 454 526 94 193 2063 235 526 219 62 699 980 363 301 62 340 703 625 510 219 265 76 28 38 484 584 660 340 308 335 464 500 255 |4191352329|25407 29190|10691| 6317|37146|54597| 99 455 511 388| 55 No epidemic diseases, excepting those incident to infan- Population, cy, are considered as prevalent in this county; and a mature old age appears to be very frequently attained. The following Table exhibits the proportion, during ten years, of births, marriages, and deaths, in the parish of Holy.wood. The unusual number of deaths in 1782 and 1786 is said to have been owing, on the former occasion, to an epidemic fever in the west part of the parish, situated in a narrow valley, and, on the latter occasion, to the ravages of the small-pox. At the end of the last of the years mentioned in the above table, the population of the whole parish amounted to 736 persons, of whom there were, Population. Out of the 736 persons, 11 were between 80 and 90 years old. This is undoubtedly a considerable proportion among so few inhabitants. In other quarters of the county, instances of extraordinary longevity have occurred. About twenty-seven years ago, James Mowat surgeon died at Langholm at the reputed age of 120. In the year 1781, in the same parish, George Swan cooper died at the age of 105, and was able to walk abroad till within a few days of his death. At the same place also, John Brown dyer died in 1776, at the age of 101; and his sons attained to a very advanced age. great or It has been often remarked, however, that in all climates, and even in almost all employments, individuals possessed of singular strength of constitution attain to a very advanced age. The degree of population to be found in a country does by no means depend either upon the salubrity of its climate, or the long life of its inhabitants, but upon the means of subsistence which it affords; or rather, in some cases, upon the means which exist of dividing among the inhabitants of the territory the productions of the soil, or of drawing thither the productions of neighbouring districts. Causes of The fertility of a soil is only one cause of population. If small popu- there be no manufactures established to enable the people at large to purchase from the cultivators of the soil the fruits of their industry, the population of that district can never be extensive. The fruits of the earth will be conveyed away by the cultivator to the spot where he can obtain a price for them; that is, to the spot where he is to obtain his clothing, his tools, and his articles of luxury : and thus it happens that a manufacturing town flourishes on a barren soil, providing that a cheap mode of conveyance exist to more fertile districts. Dumfriesshire has hitherto been prevented from becoming a manufacturing County by the want of fuel in the greatest part of its ex lation. |