PARISH OF LESLIE.

THIS PARISH, containing the Burgh of Barony of its own name and the contiguous village of Prinlaws, lies at the southern base of the Lomond Hills, between them and the river Leven, which traces its southern boundary, dividing it from Kinglassie. It is bounded on the east by the parish of Markinch, on the north by Falkland, and on the west by Portmoak in Kinross-shire. Its length eastward is upwards of four miles, and its greatest breadth upwards of three miles. Besides the river Leven, which traces the southern boundary, two brooks, the Lothrie and the Cambo, drain the interior, the one flowing southward, and the other eastward, until they fall into the Leven, a little below Leslie House. From the northern and north-western border, on the declivities of the Lomonds, the surface southwards to the Leven is generally an undulating descent; and the whole landscape is pleasingly diversified and beautiful. The area amounts to about 6000 acres, of which about 1000 are pastoral, or uncultivated, and about 350 under wood. Coal and limestone occur in the eastern part of the Parish, but are not extensively worked. Trap of a very hard kind is found in the west and north, and is extensively quarried for building purposes. The chief landowners are, the Right Honourable the Countess of Rothes, the Honourable Mrs Douglas, of Strathendry, and John Balfour, Esq., of Balbirnie, whose residence is in the adjoining parish of Markinch. Leslie House, the seat of the Right Honourable the Countess of Rothes, in the south-east of the Parish, was built by the celebrated Duke of Rothes, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, during the reign of Charles II. It originally formed a quadrangle, inclosing an extensive court-yard in the centre; but three of the sides were burned down in 1763. The fourth side was repaired, and forms the present house. The present proprietrix succeeded to the title and estate on the death of her brother, George William Evelyn-Leslie, the 15th Earl of Rothes; and, in 1861, was married to the Honourable George Leslie Waldegrave, son of the late Right Honourable William, 8th Earl Waldegrave, Admiral R. N. C. B. Strathendry House, the property of the Honourable Mrs Douglas, is near the west end of the Parish, and is an elegant mansion of modern erection, in the manorial, or Elizabethan style. The grounds have been laid out with great taste. Prinlaws, immediately to the west of Leslie, the property of John Fergus, Esq., contains extensive flax spinning, power-loom weaving, and bleaching establishments, partly driven by water and partly by steam-power. These are the most extensive works of the kind in the county- the various mills and buildings, with the numerous dwelling-houses for the work people, constitute, in themselves, a town of considerable size and importance. The western part of the Parish appears to have been the scene of some of the engagements which took place between the Romans and the Celtic inhabitants, in the third century; and many Roman and Celtic remains have been found, such as brass swords and battle axes, and stone battle axes, with flat arrow heads, finely formed and polished. Many of these are in the possession of the Honourable Mrs Douglas, of Strathendry. It is supposed by some that the Caledonians were defeated here by the Romans; and that the former retreated to the Lomonds, while the latter encamped below at Balsillie; and that the mounds called Balsillie Laws, are remains of works constructed by them.

The town of Leslie is on the south-west border of the Parish, on the road from Markinch to Kinross, and on one from Cupar to Dunfermline- three miles west of Markinch, 9 north by west of Kirkcaldy, and twelve south-west of Cupar. Its site is a ridge, or small tableau, adjacent to the Leven, and rising about 100 feet above the level of that stream. At the east end is a fine triangular common, called the green; and, in the neighbourhood, are the plantations of Leslie House pleasure grounds. The town is ancient and irregularly built, some of the gables, as in old times, being towards the streets. It is a Burgh of Barony, under the Countess of Rothes, and is governed by two bailies and 16 councillors. It has records extending backwards for 300 years, but they do not contain anything remarkable. Leslie contests with various places the claim of being the locality in which the scene of King James' poem of "Christ's Kirk on the Green" is laid; and is supposed to have been, anciently, a place of pastime, much frequented by the princes and nobles of Scotland. The town has doubled, both in size and population, during the last fifty years; the increase being mainly due to the prosperity of its manufactures, consisting of linens and woollens, flax spinning, paper making, yarn bleaching, &c., in which branches of industry the great bulk of the population is employed, the smaller portion being engaged in the usual handicrafts, and in agricultural employments.

Leslie has access to railway accommodation, by the Leslie and Markinch branch Railway, which has a Station at Prinlaws.

Fairs are held on the first Tuesday of April, old style, and on the first Friday of October.

The Churches are- the Parish Church, a plain structure, built in 1820, and containing 718 sittings, two U. P. Churches, both new and elegant buildings, and a Free Church. Besides the Parish School, there are a Subscription School, a Female Industrial School, and an Infant School, in Leslie, and a handsome commodious School, and an Infant School, in connection with the works of John Fergus & Co., at Prinlaws.

The POST OFFICE for the Parish is Markinch, with a Sub-Office at Leslie and a receiving box at Prinlaws, Mrs E. Easson, Sub-Post Mistress.- Letters from Markinch arrive about 9.40 A.M. and 5.50 P.M., and are despatched at 5.50 A.M. and 2.10 P.M.

BAKERS

Deas, Andrew, Leslie

Gibb, John do

Ireland, James, do

Leslie Bread Society (William Hunter Salesman)

Orr, Robert, Leslie

Williams, John do

BANKS

UNION BANK , William Elder, Agent

NATIONAL SECURITY SAVINGS' BANK, open in the Union Bank, on Monday evening, William Elder, Accountant

LESLIE & PRINLAWS PRELIMINARY SAVINGS' BANK, open in Prinlaws School-Room, every Friday evening, at 7 o'clock, D. B. Wright, Sec.

BLACKSMITHS.

Beveridge, Mrs James, Leslie

Drysdale, Henry, Auchmoor Bridge

Kay, John, Leslie

Millar, Wm., do

White, Francis, (& Farrier) Leslie

BLEACHERS.

Fergus, John, & Co., Prinlaws (Robert Coutts, Manager)

Livingston, William, Walkerton, by Leslie

Speedie, John, & Co., Cabbagehall, by Leslie (Henry Hood, Manager)

BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS, & NEWS AGENTS.

Easson, Mrs, Post Office, Leslie

Goodall, Robert, Leslie

Jollie, Patrick, &. Son, do

BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.

Birrell, Henry, Prinlaws

Christie, James, Leslie

Dall, Henry, do

Donaldson, John, do

Galloway, John, do

Hardie, James, do

Jameson, John, do

Lister, John, Greenside, Leslie

Lister, John, Jun., Leslie

Lister, William, do

McKenzie, James, do

Robertson, Robert, do

Scott, James, do

Webster, Andrew, do

Webster, Thomas, do

BUILDERS.

Archibald, Henry, Leslie

Dewar, Andrew, do

Moodie, Thomas, do

Speed, William, do

CABINET-MAKERS, See Joiners.

CARRIERS.

Leslie and Markinch Railway Co., Station at Prinlaws, James Hutchison, Agent

Morton, Thomas, to Kirkcaldy, on Tuesday and Friday

Muir, John, from Kirkcaldy to Markinch, and Leslie, daily

Young, Robert, to Glasgow, on Tuesday to Milnathort, on Monday and Friday

CARTERS & LAND LABOURERS.

Beveridge, William, Croft, Leslie

Brown, James, Leslie

Clement, Wm., do

Dall, William, Croft, Leslie

Hamilton, William, Leslie

Lumsden, John, do

Michie, William, do

Mitchell, James,

Mitchell, John, do

More, James, do

Spence, James, do

Thomson, George, do

CHINA, STONEWARE, & RAG MERCHANTS.

Herd, David, Leslie

Jollie, James,

Miller, William,

Williamson, James, do

CLERGY.

Alison, Archibald, West U. P. Church, Leslie

Johnston, William, East U. P. Church, Leslie

Logan, John, Free Church, Leslie

McLaren, Alex., Parish Church, do

CONFECTIO.NERS

Turnbull, Andrew, Leslie

Williams, John,

CURRIERS, TANNERS, & LEATHER MERCHANTS.

Alice, William, Leslie

Boak, Henry, do

Gibb, John, (Currier only) Leslie

DRAPERS.

Duncan, Robert, Leslie

Gilmour, George, do

Goodwillie, Mrs, do

Millar, George, do

Miller, James, (& Tea Dealer) Leslie

Pringle, Thomas, Leslie

Scott, Thomas J., do

Stewart, Charles, do

DRESSMAKERS & MILLINERS.

Anderson, Misses, Leslie

Baker, Mrs, East Prinlaws

Black, Miss Ann, Leslie

Brown, Miss C., do

Goodwillie, Mrs, (Milliner only) Leslie

Greig, Miss, Greenside, do

Haggart, Misses, Leslie

Howie, Mrs, do

Robertson, Miss A., Back Street, Leslie

Sparks, Miss, Leslie

Wylie, Miss Jean, do

Young, Miss Jean, do

FARMERS.

Bogie, David, Farmlands

Cable, Joseph, Westertown

Cairns, Robert, Ingrie

Dick, John, Collydean

Dow, James, Ballingall

Douglas, Hon. Mrs, Home Farm, Strathendry

Haggart, James, Ballingall Mill

Hart, James, Meikle Balgothrie

McRae, John, Foremount Hill

Mitchell, Robert, Cadham, by Markinch

Pride, John, Meikle Balquhomrie

Robb, James, Backfield of Pitcairn, by Markinch

Skinner, J., Little Balquhomrie

Storrar, Christopher, Balsillie

Watson, John, Pitkevy

FLAX SPINNERS.

Fergus, John, & Co., Prinlaws (William Sievewright, Manager)

Gilchrist, Alexander, Rothes Lint Mill

Haggart, James, Leslie Mill, Leslie

Wylie, Andrew, Resident and Acting Partner of John Fergus & Co., Prinlaws

FLESHERS.

Archibald, Alexander, Leslie

Dow, William, do

Oliphant, James do

GARDENERS.

Downie, Robert, Strathendry

Loudon, William, Leslie House

McIntosh, David, West Park

GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.

Anderson, Miss Alison, Leslie

Beath, Mr James, do

Borthwick, Mrs, Greenside, do

Christie, Mrs, do do

Douglas, Hon. Mrs, Strathendry House

Inglis, Misses, Strathendry Bleachfield

Jarvis, Mr William, Leslie

McLean, Mr James, do

Miller, Mrs Robert, do

Reekie, Thomas, Prinlaws House

Rothes, The Rt. Hon. Countess of, Leslie House

Russell, Misses, Bingartree

Russell, Mr William, Leslie

Scott, T. J., Bank Place

Swan, David, Leslie

Swan, Thomas, do

Waldegrave, The Hon. George Leslie, Leslie House

Wylie, Andrew, Esq., West Park, Leslie

GLAZIERS.

Archibald, Henry, Leslie

Mitchell, Henry, do

GROCERS.

Those marked thus*are also Spirit Dealers.

* Anderson, George, Leslie

Archibald, Alexander, (& Seedsman) Leslie

* Beath, Thomas, Leslie

Blair, Eliza, (Teas) do

Buchanan, William, do

* Dall, Mrs Robert, do

Hughes, David, do

Jack, David, (& Tea Dealer) Prinlaws

*Jackson, Jane, Leslie

Jarvis, James, do

Jarvis, John, do

Leslie Co-Operative Store, (John Rintoul, Manager)

Lister, David, Store, Prinlaws

Low, David, (& Sub-Distributor of Stamps) Leslie

* McDonald, Helen, Leslie

* Neaves, James, do

Philp, David, do

* Reid, Peter, do

Shanks, W., Back Street, do

* Taylor, Thomas, do

Thomson, Mrs David, do

Wallace, Robert, do

* Watt, David, do

* White, Mrs William, do

Whitton, W., Back Street, do

INNKEEPERS, See also Vintners.

Piercy, Robert, Green Inn, Leslie

Thomson, George, Station Hotel, do

INSURANCE AGENTS.

Archibald, Henry, Joiner, Royal, fire and life

Elder, William, Banker, Phoenix, fire, and Amicable, life

Fotheringham, Thomas, Writer, Norfolk Farmers' Cattle, and Life Association of Scotland

IRONMONGERS.

Buchanan, William, Leslie

Leslie Co-Operative Store (J. Rintoul, Manager)

Lister, David, Store, Prinlaws

Low, David, (&, Seedsman) Leslie

Neaves, James, (& Seedsman) do

Reid, Peter, do

Scott, Alex., (& Seedsman) do

JOINERS & WRIGHTS.

Archibald, Henry, Leslie

Arthur, John, do

Bell, George, do

Buchanan, John, (& Cabinet-Maker) Leslie

Deas, Andrew, Leslie

Low, Alex., (Cabinet-Maker only) Leslie

Mitchell, Henry, Leslie

LIBRARIES & READING ROOMS.

Leslie Institute Library, open every Monday evening, from 7.30 to 8.30, David Greig, Librarian

Prinlaws Library, open in the Reading Room, every alternate Monday evening, from 7 to 9, David Allison, Librarian

Prinlaws Reading Room, Free, open daily, Sundays excepted, from 9 A.M. till 10 P.M..

MANUFACTURERS.

Blyth, Thomas, (Sacking, and Agent for Linens) Leslie

Dewar, D., & Co., (Linen, Power-Loom) Prinlaws (James Melvin, Manager)

Jollie, William, (Linen) Leslie

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

Alexander, James, (& Druggist) Leslie

Ramsay, Andrew, do

Watson, William, M.D., do

MILLERS.

Wallace, Robert, (Corn) Ballingall Mill

Whitson, William, (Corn & Barley) Strathendry Mill

SEEDSMEN, See Ironmongers.

SLATERS.

Beath, George, Leslie

Crichton, George, do

Sharp, Robert, do

SOCIETIES & CLUBS.

Leslie and Prinlaws Funeral Society, David Stewart, Sec.

Leslie Cottage Gardening Society, William Loudon, President, J. Simpson, Sec. Public Competitions in July and September

Leslie Cricket Club, Josiah Waite, Sec.

Leslie Curling Club, Thomas Lister, Sec.

Leslie District Ploughing Society, John Skinner, Sec.

Leslie Total Abstinence Society, D. B. Wright, Sec.

TAILORS.

Blair, John, Leslie

Chapman, David, Leslie

Dyer, Alexander, do

Elder, James, do

Penman, And. A., do

Porteous, Alex., do

Younger, David, do

TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.

Dargie, Mrs, Prinlaws, Works Infant School, Prinlaws

Dargie, Robert, Prinlaws Works School, Prinlaws

Greive, Miss, Female School, Leslie

Jackson, Wm., Subscription School, do

Penman, Miss, Infant School, do

Simpson, James, Parish School, do

TINSMITHS, PLUMBERS, AND GASFITTERS.

Hutchison, William, Leslie

Ritchie, Robert, do

VINTNERS, See also Innkeepers.

Anderson, William, Leslie

Davidson, William, do

Dishart, William, do

Porteous, Alexander, do

Robertson, John, do

Waite, Mrs Margaret, do

Whitson, Alexander, do

MISCELLANEOUS.

Beath, Jas., Whinstone Quarry Owner, Leslie

Bell, James, Teacher of Dancing, Leslie

Blyth, William, Letter Carrier, do

Cant, Andrew, Manager of Gas Works, do

Christie, John, Sheriff Officer, do

Dick, Robert, Cooper, do

Fleming, John, Brewer & Maltster, do

Fotheringham, Thomas, Writer & Notary Public, Leslie

Gordon, John, Chemist & Druggist, Leslie

Henderson, Alexander, Painter & Paper Hanger, Leslie

Jack, James, Land Stewart, Strathendry, by Leslie

Jackson, William, Inspector of Poor, and Collector of Poors' Rates, Leslie

Jameson, John, Clothier & Photographer, Leslie

Jollie, Jas., Coal Merchant, Leslie, Agent for Pullar & Son, Dyers, Perth

Jollie, Patrick, & Son, Letterpress Printers, Leslie

Rintoul, Alex., Flax & Twine Dealer, Leslie

Shoolbraid, Henry, Plasterer, do

Shoolbred, William, Saddler, do

Smith, Anderson, & Co., Paper Manufacturers, Fettykil, Leslie

Terras, John, Agent for Scottish Legal Burial Society, Leslie

Swan, John, Gas and Water Cos'. Collector, Leslie

Webster, John, Clock & Watchmaker, Leslie

Whitson, Alexander, Millwright, do

Whitson, William, Saw-Miller & Wood Merchant, Strathendry Mills

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