Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1

FIFES II I II E.
433
with llie happiest efFects. The nobility,
in point of fortune, are equalled, and in some
instances exceeded, by many of the common-
ers. But influence, derived from superiority
of rank, unsupported by a corresponding supe-
riority of fortune, can never be dangerous.
Accordingly, in their interference in the public
and political business of the county, their good
sense never allows them to overstep the bounds
of their order, and in no instance do they dis-
cover any inclination to arrogate to themselves
powers which are the common right of the
proprietors at large. On the other hand, the
gentry, feeling their own consequence, as men
of opulence and respectability, act, upon all
occasions, with a becoming spirit of independ-
ence. Hence it happens that the noblemen
and gentlemen of Fife live in the most friendly
and intimate terms ; and all county business is
conducted with the greatest harmony and ease,
alike undisturbed by the insolence of family
pride, or the mean jealousy of inferior rank,
the violence of party spirit, or the disgraceful
artifices of political intrigue." These judicious
remarks were written upwards of thirty years
since, and consequently, by the improvements
in land and in rents, the real valuations of
estates are considerably enhanced ; they are,
however, otherwise quite applicable to the
present day. While other parts of Scotland,
England, and Ireland have been more or less
cursed with the immeasurable crime of absen-
teeism, here such is comparatively unknown,
the lairds continuing for the greater part to live
upon, or near their estates, and in very many cases
acting as their own farmers. Another advan-
tage has been derived by Fife, from the circum-
stance of the lands being to a less extent under
the fetters of entails than those of most other
districts, in this as in other things the sagacity
of the people being placed in a prominent
point of view. — The county forms a sheriff-
dom under one sheriff-depute, but being
divided into a western and eastern district,
each is placed under the jurisdiction of a sheriff-
substitute, whose courts are respectively held
at Dunfermline and Cupar. The latter is
the head county town. For matters relative
to the management of public roads, &c, the
shire is divided into the four districts of St.
Andrews, Cupar, Dunfermline, and Kirkcaldy.
The chief towns in Fife are St. Andrews,
Cupar, Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, Burntis-
land, and Kirkcaldy. The small towns and
villages are, Falkland, Auchtermuchty, Leslie,
Kinghorn, Dysart, East and West Wemyss,
Buckbaven, Leven, Earlsferry, Elie, St. Mo-
nance, Pittenweem, East and West Anstru-
ther, Kilrenny, Crail, Ferry-port-on- Craig,
Newburgh, Strathmiglo, Collessie, Letham,
Ceres, Kettle, Fruchie, Lochgellie, Kinglassie,
Limekilns, Aberdour, Pathhead, Galatown,
Markinch, Largo, Colinsburgh, Queensferry,
(North) Cellardykes, Springfield, and some
others of less size ; thirteen are royal burghs
with parliamentary representation, and several
are royal burghs without that privilege. The
greater part of the towns and villages are in a
thriving condition, the dullest and most back-
ward being those on the coast, east from Dy-
sart. A great number of the towns are
sea-ports with tolerably good harbours in
times of high water. The county has now no
native banking-house, which is fortunate for
its interests. Fife comprises sixty-three pa-
rishes, with as many churches, about forty meet-
ing-houses of presbyterian dissenters, and four
chapels of Episcopalians. It has not a single
Roman Catholic priest. Since the time of
Andrew Melville and the Covenants. Fife has
been remarkable for its staunch adherence to
the presbyterian form of church government
and worship ; and it has the honour of having
been the place in which the reformation of
religion in Scotland commenced. The coun-
ty has now a synod and four presbyteries
of the established church. Fife possesses
various large associations for the promo-
tion of improvements in agriculture, farm
stock, and other purposes, among which is the
Fife Hunt, which is composed of the chief
noblemen and gentlemen of the county.
The shire owns a single newspaper, which is
published at Cupar, and is particularly adapted
for the dissemination of local intelligence.
Ninety-seven fairs are held annually through-
out the counties of Fife and Kinross. The
thoroughfares from Edinburgh northwards to
Forfarshire and Perthshire pass through Fife
the one road being by Kinghorn and Cupar,
and the otherby Queensferry and Kinross. The
thoroughfare from the interior of the county
westwards is very limited. — The population
of Fifeshire in 1755 was 81,570. In 1821 it
amounted to 53,540 males, and 61,021 females,
total 1 1 4,556, being at the rate of 245 for
every square mile. Its old valued rent is
L. 303, 192 Scots, while the actual rent of hinds
3 K