CUPAR PARISH

MANUFACTURES.-There are three spinning-mills in the parish, one of which is driven entirely by water, another partly by water and partly by steam, and a third altogether by steam. Of these the first two are occupied in spinning flax, and the last in making thread. The number of hands employed in the three amounts to 236.

Besides these there are two corn and barley mills, and two flour mills, all well employed. The corn, barley, and flour mills at Cupar, especially since they were feued by the burgh of Cupar to the late John Inglis, Esq. of Colluthie, have been celebrated as the best in Fife; and have been employed by bakers and mealdealers from a great distance. There is a snuff-mill, to which tobacco is sent to be manufactured, not only from all parts of Fife, but also from the counties to the north. It is said that about 60,000 Ibs. of snuff are manufactured there every year. And whether it is owing to the greater consumption of that article, or to the growing celebrity of the mill, it has been found necessary of late to increase the power of the mill, and to add a steam power to that of the water, by which it was formerly driven.

There is also a washing or fulling mill. There are two tan-works; one for hides and another for sheep skins. To this latter a manufacture of glue has been added within these few years. There are three breweries ; a brick and tile-work, at which coarse earthenware is made; and a rope-work.

Though there are no linen manufactures upon a united scheme, and no power looms, yet the manufacture of linen is carried on to a considerable extent, and the number of weavers and others employed is great. There are at least ten distinct manufacturers with their capitals embarked in the linen trade. By these different manufacturers, there are employed within the parish not less than 60 weavers. And as every two weavers require one person to wind for them, the number employed and earning a comfortable subsistence from this trade may be reckoned at 900, all living in the own houses, and labouring in their own workshops. Besides those that are employed within the parish, the different manufacturers have weavers employed in the various towns and villages in the neighbourhood throughout the county. The linen manufacture is of various kinds and qualities, and is exported to the East and West Indies, as well as to all parts of the continent of Europe and of America.

OBSERVATIONS:.-The principal change that has taken place in the town since the last account is the removal of the jail, and the town and county halls, so as to open up the streets and improve the thoroughfares. The consequence is, that Cupar wears now the appearance of a clean and comfortable English town. being lighted up with gas, during the night it has a very attractive appearance. Its dimensions have been much extended by the suburbs called the Brae-heads, New Town, and Lebanon.

The principal change that has taken place in the parish is the improvement of the crossroads, which are now, with few exceptions kept like turnpikes. The villages of Springfield and Glaidney have also been much extended since last Account, and are still increasing. There have been three handsome stone bridges thrown over the Eden to increase the communication betwixt the north and south sides. And should the railway that is now talked of be carried through, it seems impossible to conceive the advantages that would accrue to the town of Cupar and the neighbourhood. The people are much the same in character as they were forty years ago, greatly influenced by politics, and very excitable, but upon the whole far more temperate and reasonable than in many other places