KINROSS-SHIRE, one of the inland counties of Scot land, is bounded on the north and west by the county of Perth, and on the south and east by Fifeshire. It is situ ated between 56° 9', and 56° 18' of north lat. and between a and 21' of long. west from Edinburgh. Its greatestn length, from east to west, is about 13 miles, and its great est breadth, from north to south, about 11 miles. It is sup posed to contain about 83.83 square miles, or 42,536 Scot tish acres.
The climate of this county is, upon the whole, mild and genial. It is well sheltered from the north winds by the range of the Ochil hills, which form its northern boundary. It is, however, much exposed to the westerly winds, as it is situated in a plain, which is prolonged on the west towards Alloa, and joins the How of Fife on the east. The grounds on the southern extremity are uneven, but not hilly. The more level and hilly part of the county is elevated but a few hundred feet above the level of the sea.
There arc few springs in this county remarkable for the quantity- of water which they pour out, or for their medi cinal qualities. But the fresh water lake, of which it boasts, has at all times been considered as one of the most picturesque and beautiful collection of water to be found in the lowland district of Scotland. The scenery on the south and cast sides of the lake, composed of the Lomonds and enartic, forins a very striking contrast with the level grounds which skirt the opposite margin, while the scat tered islets relieve the eye in wandering over the surface of the water. There is here little that is very striking or hold, but a great deal that is soft and soothing.
The lake contains about 346,987 Scottish acres. Its height above the level of the sea is supposed to be three hundred and nine feet. Its greatest depth about eighty-se ven feet. It contains four islands, the largest of which is called by way of eminence, the Inch, and contains 28,444. acres. The next is the castle, 1700 acres; the third is called Paddock Bower, containing 0.360; and the last, or Reed Bower, contains 0.160.
This county originally formed a part of Fifeshire, from which it was disjoined about the year 1426. At first it contained only the parishes of Kinross, Orwell, and Port inoak, but in 1685, the king and estates of parliament dis joined from Perth and Fife other lands in the parish of Port 'nook, and in the parishes of Cleish and Tullicbole, and annexed them to Kinross. At present it consists of the pa rishes of Kinross, Portmoalt, Cleish, Orwell, Tulliebole, annexed to Fossaway, and part of the parishes of Abernethy and Arngask.
In the year 1811, this county contained 7245 souls. It sends, alternately with the county of Clackmannan, a mem ber to parliament. The number of freeholders at present. on the roll amounts to twenty. The sheriff court is held at
1:111l0S4i, where are likewise the courts of taxation, and all the state public meetings.
The population of this county is chiefly- supported by agriculture. The soil, though rather light, is well adapt ed for all kinds of crops; and lime for manure is to be ob tained in abundance. If we consider the proximity to fuel, the abundance of fresh water, it seems rather surprising, that in this county there are so few manufactures. NVeav ing is carried on in some places, chiefly of coarse Silesias, and different sorts of muslin.
The objects of antiquity in this county are numerous and interesting, and have been very faithfully described by the industrious and intelligent Sibbald. The one which at tracts the greatest share of the travellers' notice is the old Castle of Lochleven, situated on a small island, already mentioned, at the north-west end of the loch, and about half a mile distant from the shore. It is said to have been the ancient habitation of Congal, son of Donqart, king of the Picts. It has been the scene of many memorable events in Scottish history. In the year 1335, it was valiantly de fended by Sir Allan Wypont for King David the Second against the English party then in Scotland. In this castle Queen Alaty Stewart was imprisoned on the 16th June, 1567 ; resigned the crown with reluctance, in favour of her son James VI. on the 24th of July in the same year ; and escaped from her confinement there on the 3d of May, 1568, by means of George Douglass, youngest son of Sir Robert Douglass of Lochleven.
The ancient monastery of Portmoak, on the north side of the Leven, near the lake, was founded by Eogachmen, king of the Picts, and consecrated to the Virgin Mary. This monastery is supposed to have been the first place in Scot land, given by the Pictish kings, after their conversion to Christianity, to the Culdees.
On the Inch in Lochleven, anciently called St. Serf's isle, are the remains of an old priory, built by Achaius, king of the Scots, " in nonorem et ad gloriam Dei onmipotentis et Sancti Servani." In this isle the first archbishop of St. Andrew's was interred. Scotland-Well was a ministry of the " Fratres Sancte Trinitatis de redemptions captivo rum," and founded by William Alalvoisin, bishop of St. Andrew's, who died in 1238, As connected with the antiquities of this county, the House of Kinross, the seat of Thomas Graham, Esq. ought not to be passed over in silence, as it is said to have been the first house of regular architecture in Scotland. It was built by the celebrated architect, Sir William Bruce, the proprietor, in 1685. See Statistical Account of Scotland ; Sir Robert Sibbald's History of the Sherinrdoms of Fife and Kinross ; and Dr. Walker's Essays on .711ztural History and Rural Economy.