The council has the privilege, in conjunction with the town councils of Dundee, Perth, St Andrews, and Cupar in Fife, of electing a representative in parliament. The re venue of the borough is from 8001. to 10001 It is the seat of a presbytery, and of the courts of justice ; and the place where the freeholders and commissioners of supply meet for transacting the business of the county. On a muir ad joining to the town, several fairs are held throughout the year, which are well frequented ; the custom of which was many years ago purchased by the town council from the Earl of Strathmore. From Martinmas to Candlemas, a weekly market, free of custom, is held on the street every Wednesday, for the sale of fat cattle ; and during the seed time there is one weekly, on the same day, for the sale of work horses. These tend to increase the revenue of the borough, while they afford much accommodation and bene fit to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Manufactures have in this town kept pace with their progressive improvement in every other town in the coun ty. About the year 1745, the manufacture of Osnabu•gh, or brown linen, was introduced. From a very small begin ning, it has grown into a considerable trade, is now the sta ple manufacture, and for many years past has contributed greatly to the prosperity and rapid increase of the popula tion of the town. The history of the introduction of this manufacture is curious. It was brought to Forfar by a gentleman, who afterwards acquired by it a comfortable in dependence. His brother, a weaver in Arbroath, about the year 1733, having got a small quantity of flax, unfit for the kind of cloth then usually brought to market, made it into a web, and offered it to his merchant as a piece on which he was willing to lose. The merchant, who 1-tad been in Germany, instantly remarked the similarity betwixt it and the fabric of Osnaburg, and with difficulty prevailed upon the weaver to attempt other pieces of the same kind. The experiment, however, succeeded to his wish ; and a com pany was soon afterwards established at Arbroath, for the purpose of conducting the new manufacture, from whence the discovery was brought to Forfar. Of late years, Osna burg, of the best quality, denominated Strelitz, have been manufactured for the London market, with sheetings of all breadths, British duck, Germans, &c. The quantity about 2,500,000 yards annually, the average value of which may be estimated considerably above 100,0001.
Forfar has been long celebrated fer brewing good beer. About twelve years ago, one establishment was formed, and afterwards another, for brewing porter. These have suc
ceeded well. For too or three years past, indeed, on ac count of the high price of barley, less business has been done than for years preceding. But now, when grain is likely to assume a fair medium price, it may reasonably be expected that those breweries will extend their trade, as formerly, beyond the supply of the town and its immediate neighbourhood.
Various other improvements have of late years been carried on, which have contributed to the embellishment of the town, while they evince the public spirit of the in. habitants. Among these we may mention a botanic garden, the work of the late Mr George 11on, who was well known, and justly celebrated in the botanic world.• One of his sons is said to inherit his genius, which had also received some culture under his care. The garden is replenished with a great variety of rare indigenous and foreign plants. A nursery, too, of about nine acres, under the care of an intelligent and active proprietor, is an ornament to the town, and promises to be extensively useful to planters, being filled with all kinds of fruit and forest trees, and situated in the middle of a rich and improving country. A large and commodious church, on an elevated situation, was built in 1790, which accommodates from 2000 to 3000 hearers ; and last year (1814) it was ornamented with a steeple 150 feet high, which arrests the eye of the traveller in every direction, and is deservedly admired as a very elegant structure. The population of the town and country parish is about 5600. A small society of Scottish Episcopalians, and another of Antiburgher Seceders, form the only dis senters ; and it is worthy of being recorded, that not fewer than 2100 annually partake of the Lord's supper in the established church. There are three public schools ; two endowed by the magistrates and council, and one by them and the heritors of the parish. They are now to be placed in systematic arrangement, under the care of one of the teachers as rector ; and accommodated with a suit of new apartments, which will form an additional ornament to the borough, and exhibit an additional proof of the good taste and public spirit of the managers of the public funds.
Forfar, from its inland situation, fifteen miles from the coast, is subject to many disadvantages; but if a canal to Arbroath, sonic years ago projected, shall open an easy and cheap access to the sea, it may rise to a degree of prospe thy which it has not hitherto attained. (A. F.)