PARISH OF MOONZIE.

THIS PARISH is in the Cupar district of the County. It is bounded on the south by the parish of Monimail, on the east by Cupar and Kilmany, on the north by Kilmany and Creich, and on the west by Creich. It contains the smallest number of inhabitants of any parish in the County, and is also the most diminutive in size of any rural parish; being barely two miles in length, by one and a half at its greatest breadth. Its surface presents a pleasing diversity of hill and dale, and has an extreme elevation of 400 feet above the sea. Several beautiful eminences are situated in the west, the descent from which is a gentle slope, terminating in a considerable valley. A few acres on the top of Colluthie Hill are rocky, and have been planted with trees; but otherwise the Parish is nearly destitute of wood. An extensive marsh formerly existed on the farm of Lordscairnie, but it was drained about 60 years ago, and converted into arable land; and all the rest of the surface is excellent soil, partly a strong clay, but chiefly a black loam, in a high state of cultivation. The prevailing rock is trap, in the condition popularly called rotten. An interesting antiquity is Lordscairnie Castle, commonly called Earl Beardie's Castle; and is said to have been built by Alexander, 3d Earl of Crawford, commonly called Earl Beardie, from his great beard. All that now remains of it is the keep or donjon, and a round tower, which had formed a defence for the wall by which the courtyard was surrounded. This ruin is four stories high, and appears to have lost nothing of its original height, with the exception of the bartizan which surrounded its roof. It is 53 feet in length, and 42 in breadth outside the walls. The walls are strongly built, and are from five to six feet thick. The ground floor, as is common in such structures, appears to have been entirely occupied by cellars, having arched stone roofs. The second floor was occupied with the great hall, which is 40 feet in length, by above 20 in breadth. The defence of the castle and its outworks was anciently strengthened by a broad morass, which appears to have entirely surrounded the slight rising ground on which they were situated. Another object of great antiquity is the House of Colluthie, the property of John Inglis, Esq. The date of its erection is unknown, but it must he a very old building. It is chiefly remarkable for the great thickness of its walls, and for some arched doors and windows. It long stood in a neglected and nearly uninhabitable state; but was repaired a number of years ago, so as to become a good mansion.

The Parish is entirely rural, the small number of inhabitants being all connected with agriculture. There is not a public house nearer than Cupar; and any of the parishioners in want of a tailor or shoemaker, must seek these functionaries in the neighbouring parishes of Cupar or Creich.

The only place of worship is the Parish Church, which stands on a rising ground in the south-west border. It is a small, plain, old building, with 170 sittings. The Parish School is a little to the east of the Church, and is the only School in the Parish.

The POST OFFICE for the Parish is Cupar.- A walking postman leaves Cupar about 9.20 A.M., delivering and collecting letters along the road by Moonzie to Luthrie, in the Parish of Creich, and returns along the same road in time for the afternoon's earliest despatch.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Bonthron, Mrs, Moonzie

Collier, James, Blacksmith, do

Grieve, John, Sexton, do

Hamilton, Robert, Wright, do

Inglis, John, Esq., Colluthie (occasionally resident)

Mackie, Dr. Archibald, Farmer, Moonzie I

Mitchell, John, Lordscairnie

Morrison, Robert, Parochial Teacher, Inspector of Poor, & Registrar, Moonzie

Murray, Rev. John, Minister of Parish, Manse, Moonzie

Shoolbred, Archibald, Farmer, Torr of Moonzie

Smith, David, Land Labourer, Muirside, Moonzie

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