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the King in 1627, of the valuations taken before them, and to allow or diſallow the ſame; and to reCtify all valuations led, or to be led, which ſhould appear hurt- ful either to the titular, to the maintenance of the miniſters, or to the King's an- nuity.--Valuations of the greateſl part of the lands over Scotland had beer com= pleted under the authority of the commiſſions of 1627 and 1628, by their ſub- commiſlioners: but unfortunately many of them were loſt; 1/7, By the carrying oft of the whole records of the kingdom to England, during Cromwell's uſurpa- tion, of which the greateſt part periſhed in the veſſel that was bringing them back to Scotland after the Reſtoration 3; and 2d!y, By the great fire in the parliament- cloſe in 1700, which conſumed the records of the tithe-oſfice.

<< Beſides the other powers granted to the commiſſion of tithes, they were autho- rized to modify reaſonable ſtipends to the parochial clergy out of the tithes.=-By a former commiſſion wbich had been appointed by parliament for the ſame pur- poſe 1617, the loweſt rate of ſtipend that w2s to be modified to any miniſter was 500 merks(257. 55. 632,d.), or five chalders of vi&ual*, unleſs where the whole fruits of the benetice fell ſhort of that quantity; and the higheſt was 1005 merks, (59/7. 115. 1d.), or ten chalders of vidtual. By tbe a& 1633, the minimum was raiſed to 8 chalders of victual, where vidual-rent was paid, or proportionally in money; which proportion is, by a poſterior clauſe in the Nlatute, declared to be 800 merks(40/. 85. 10-2,d.), unleſs where there ſhall be a reaſonable cauſe for giving leſs. But neither that, nor any ſubſequent commiſſions of tithes, were limited, as to their powers of altering the old maximum fixed by the a& 1617:

* Vidtual is the name given, in the Scotch law, to any ſort of grain or corn.

A chalder of wheat is equal to 16 bolls--equal to 8 quarters 1 buſhel and 395 parts, Winch. meaſure.

A chalder of barley or oats is equal to 16 bolls--equal to 11 quarters 7 buſhels and 401 Parts.

A chalder of oat-meal is ſold by weight--equal to 128 ſtone, Dutch weight; correſponding nearly to I ton, Avoirdupois.

It is much to be regretted, that the a& 1633 had not enatted, that the ſtipend was to be paid in viCtual, or the price of it, as fixed annually by the fiars. The difference to the clergyman is conſiderable; viz.

4 chalders of barley are equal to 64 Z bolls. 4 ditto of meal,-- 64

8 chalders,==-= 128 bolls, at 100 marks the chalder--L. 40 8 1055

The Brice of the Fiars, taken on an Average of 20 Years prior 10 the ſeveral] Dates.

In 1654.--4 chalders are equal to 64 bolls of barley, at 125. 4% d. per boll--L. 39 13 4 L Ait 2=). 71641 d1tf0/0F meal, at WUs Td TWENTE Z51T0 OZ

8

In 1717.--4 chalders are equal to 64 bolls of barley, at 125. 63 d. per boll,- 40 40 7- 75,48, 8

5-- Ue: Belus

4

4 ditto,-- 64 ditto of meal, at 115. 27. In 1766,--4 chalders are equal to 64 bolls of barley, at 125. 754. per boll,- 40 9

4 ditto,-- 64 ditto of meal, at 125. 154%-> 38 14;7 72008: 0 In 1789.--4 chalders are equal to 64 bolls of barley, at I5S. 234. per boll,- 48 13 4

4 Mtfo,==- 64 ditto of meal, at 145. 3d.-- 45 12 3 24.5044

3n 1794-4 chalders are equal to 64 bolls of barley, at I5S. I0Xd, per boll,- 50 16 0 ACD„142 64 ditto of meal, at 145. 33d.== 4.145..161.0