In 1755, the population of the parish seems to have been 755 souls. In 1792, 1381 souls; of this number there was in the village 981. In 1793, the population was 1581; of those in the village there were 1181. By the returns of 1831, the population seems to have been in the whole parish, 2057; of these there were in the village, -about 1700. By census of 1841, the population is 1968. Since the publication. of the last Statistical Account, 1793, our roads have been certainly improved, though much in this way remains to be done. Since then, too, our means of intercourse with other towns, particularly with - Glasgow, have increased. In those days, there was no post; the nearest office was Glasgow. There were no regular carriers for the conveyance of goods. When the first caravan for the conveyance of goods and passengers, many years after this, was established on the road, it constituted quite an era in the history of the village. Now, the post arrives and departs daily, and we have our London letters on the third day. Now, we have daily carriers for goods, and a neat light daily coach in summer for the accommodation of travellers. And now, too, for the accommodation of all, there is a branch of the British Linen Company's Bank amongst us, under the active agency of the Messrs Robertson. All these are, no doubt, changes to the better; but, with all these, we cannot say that the village is in a state of thriving prosperity, but the reverse. The Endrick does not, at all seasons, even with the reservoir in Dundaff, afford constant and steady supply of water for the mill; and as we have at present to drive all our coals from Kirkintulloch, a distance of seventeen or eighteen miles, steam power is out of the question. The situation with all its beauty, therefore, is ill adapted for a manufacturing village. The population has increased since 1792, but not so, we fear, in comfort nor in happiness, in an equal ratio. On the contrary, there is in it very much misery arising from poverty and destitution; and if some new impetus be not given, by some means or other, in a few more years,

June 1841