Gazetteer of Scotland

ALL
A L V
the banks of the Don, 15 miles from Aber-
deen, S miles in length and from 4 to 5
miles in breadth. It contains SOOO Scotch
acres; of which 1000 are arable; .1000 hill,
moor, and moss; and 1000 in plantations.
The arable soil lies mostly on the banks of
the Don, and is generally fertile. In no part
of Scotland is agriculture in a more back-
ward state than in this parish. There are
two cairns of very great extent in this parish ;
and a man in armour, on horseback, was
lately discovered in one of the mosses. Po-
pulation 714.
ALFRAY, a district in Ross-shire, abound-
ing with fir wood.
ALGRISTON-HEAD, a promontory on
the W. coast of Ross-shire.
ALLACHY, a small river in Aberdeen-
shire, which joins the Tanar, near the junc-
tion of that river with the Dee.
ALLAN, a small river in Perthshire, which
takes its rise at Gleneagles, in the parish of
Blackford, and, passing by Dumblane, falls
into the Forth, near Stirling.
ALLANTOWN, a small -village in Ber-
wickshire, in the parish of Edrom, at the
junction of the rivers Whittadder and Black-
adder.
ALLOA, a sea-port town and parish in
the county of Clackmannan, on the north
bank of the Forth, about 30 miles from E-
dinburgh. The town is pleasantly situated,
has a safe and commodious harbour adjoin-
ing, to which is a dry dock capable of receiv-
ing large vessels. A great quantity of coal
is raised in the neighbourhood, which affords
employment to a great number of people,
andproduces about 35,000 tons yearly for
export. Extensive distilleries are carri-
ed on in this quarter, from which above
1,000,000 gallons of spirits are some-
times shipped in a year. There are also
some extensive breweries, whose ales are
in much repute in most parts of Scot-
land. There is likewise a glass manufactory
and an extensive iron foundery in the neigh-
bourhood. Steam-boats run daily during the
summer betwixt this and Newhaven, which
makes Alloa much resorted to during these
months. (Vide DEVON RIVER, DOLLAR.)
There is a custom-house -which compre-
hends, under the port of Alloa, the creeks
on both sides of the Forth from Stirling to
Kincardine inclusive. The established
church is a very ancient building, partly in
ruins. An elegant new church in the gothic
style is just finished. There are 3 dissenting
chapels, an excellent grammar school, as-
sembly room, and well selected subscription
library ; water is broughtinto Alloafrom the
river, filtered through a bed of sand of 70feet
surface. The town is governed by a baron
bailie. Near the town stands the tower of
Alloa, built about the 13th century. It is
about 90 feet in height, and the walls are
1 1 feet thick. The tower and lands of Alloa
were exchanged in 13C5 by David II. with
Lord Erskine, for the estate of Stragarthney,
in Perthshire. Here the descendants of the
Earls of Marr, once a powerful family, resid-
ed, until the adjoining mansion was lately
burnt, and along with it some relics of royal
donations. Further north lies the estate of
Tullibody, the scat of the family of Aber-
cromby; also Shaw Park, a seat of the Earl
of Mansfield. The PARISH is conjoined
with that of Tullibody, and extends about 4
miles in length, and 2 in breadth. It is wa-
tered by the Devon, which is its northern
boundary, and falls into the Forth a little
above the town. Population 5G9G.
ALLOWAY, a small parish in Ayrshire,
now of classic celebrity, by having given
birth to Robert Burns. The " Aufd Kirk - *
arid the "Brig" at a small distance from it,
the principal scene in his Tarn O'Shanter,
are situated on the Doon.
ALMOND, or AMON, a river in Perth-
shire, which rises in (lie top of the Narrow
Glen in the Grampians. It runs through
the parishes of Monzic and Foulis ; and con-
tinuing its course between Logie Almond,
Methven, and Bedgortan, falls into the Tay
above Perth. Its banks are rocky and pic-
turesque. It possesses many waterfalls, on a
number of which extensive machinery has
been erected.
ALNESS, a parish in the county of Ross,
situated on the coast of the Frith of Cromar-
ty, about 12 niiles in length, and from 2 to
4 in breadth. Near the sea the surface is
flat, and the soil arable ; the rest of the pa-
rish is mountainous, and more fit for pas-
ture. There are two beautiful lakes in this
parish, which discharge themselves by rivu-
lets through two fertile vallies. Alness pos-
sesses a rich iron mine, and a fine vein of
silver was lately discovered. The principal
seats here are Novarand Feaninich. Popu-
lation 1038.
ALSVIG, an island on the N. W. coast of
the Isle of Sky, about 2 miles in circum-
ference.
ALTIVAIG, a small island on the coast
of the Isle of Sky, with a good harbour.
ALVA, a village and parish in Stirling-
shire. It extends over a part of the Ochil
hills, and the valley on the banks of the ri-
ver Devon. The highest of the Ochil hills,
Bcnclock, Is partly in this parish. The soil