Gazetteer of Scotland

M A R
Its surface is exceedingly level, and
the soil, though various, is in general
fertile. The appearance of the coun-
try is very beautiful, interspersed with
a number of scats, surrounded with
fine policies and plantations. The
chief seats are, Inglismaldie, a seat of
Lord Halkerton, Earl of Kintore ; Bal-
raakewan, the seat of Thomas Gil-
lies, Esq. ; Hatton, a seat of Lord Vis-
count Arbuthnot; and New Thorn-
ton, the property of Mr. Adams.
There are 2 small villages, viz. Luther-
moor and Marykirk, each of which
contains upwards of 200 inhabitants.
The latter is situated about half way
between Montrose and Laurencekirk,
on the road betwixt these towns. Po-
pulation in 1801, 1530. •
MARYPORT; a small port or
harbour on the coast of Wigton shire,
in the parish of Kirkmaiden.
MARYTON ; a parish in Forfar-
shire, stuated on the S. bank of the
river South Esk, which here forms
the bason of Montrose. It contains
about S000 acres, divided into two
estates, viz. Old Montrose and Bysart,
belonging to Sir David Carnegie, and
Mr. Carnegie of Craigo. The lat-
ter estate is considerably higher than
the former ; but, except the bank
which is the boundary between them,
the ground is in general very level.
The soil on the low ground is a rich
clay, and the higher grounds have a
fine loam, both of which are exceed-
ingly fertile. Population in 1801,
596.
MAUDSLIE LAW ; a hill in the
parish of Carluke, in Lanarkshire,
nearwhich is situated Maudslie House,
the elegant seat of the Earl of Hynd-
/ord.
MAUL-ELANAN ; two small isl-
ands on the N. W. coast of Suther-
landshire.
MAVESTON, or MAVISTON ;
an extensive tract of sandy ground in
Morayshire, formerly one of the rich-
est districts of that county. Vide
Dyke and Mo v.
MAXTON ; a parish in Roxburgh-
shire, lying on the S. bank of the river
Tweed, nearly 4 miles in length, and
3 in breadth. The soil is partly a
strong clay, and partly a light loam,
and is in general well cultivated. U-
pon the estate of Littledean are the
remains of %n old tower, which had
MAY
been strongly fortified, long the resie
deuce of the Kerrs of Littledean. On
the moor of Rutherford are the vesti-
ges of a Roman encampment, with a
Roman causeway. Near the border,
betwixt the parishes of Maxton and
Ancrum, is the scene of a dreadful bat-
tle, fought in 1543 between the Eng-
lish and Scotish armies : the place is
called Lilliard's Edge, from a young
woman of the name of Lilliard who
fought with great bravery along with,
the Scots, and who lies buried in the
field of battle. Population in 18.01,
368.
MAXWELL ; a parish in Rox-
burghshire, united to that of Kelso ;
which see.
MAY; a small island in the mouth
of the Frith of Forth, lying 6 miles S.
E. from Anstruther- Wester, which is
the nearest part of the coast. It is a-*
bout one mile long, and three quar-
ters of a mile broad. It has a well of
fine water, a small lake, and affords
excellent sheep pasture. There are
the ruins of a priory, which formerly
belonged to the abbey of Pittenween ;
and a chapel which was dedicated to
St. Adrian, whose shrine was former-
ly much resorted to in cases of bar-
renness. It has a light-house upon it,
erected upon a tower 45 feet high, for
the support of which twopence per
ton is exacted on all vessels, passingthe
island. This revenue, in 1791, was
let at 9701. It is frequented by a
great variety of sea fowl, such as gulls,
kittiwakes, dunters, sea pyets, scarts,
marrots, &c. and rabbits breed in
considerable numbers.
MAY 5 a river in Perthshire, which
rises in the Ochil hills, in the parish
of Dunning ; and, after a circuitous
course of 8 or 9 miles, falls into the ri-
ver Erne, nearly' opposite to the parks
of Dupplin Castle. On its banks is si-
tuated the beautiful mansion of Inver-
inay. The birks (birch) of Invennay
are celebrated in a beautiful Scotish
song, " The Birks of Invermay."
The May, in its course, forms several
romantic waterfalls, particularly the
Humble-bumble, so named from the
noise it makes ; and the linn of Muck-
arsey, where the water is precipita-
ted over a perpendicular rock about
30 feet high. The banks abound
with some plants which are rare to be
met with : particularly the lifjiosptr-