BORGUE, a parish, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright,
5 miles (S. W. by W.) from Kirkcudbright;
containing, with the villages of Chapeltou and Kirk-
Andrews, 1060 inhabitants, of whom 47 are in the
village of Borgue. This place, the name of which is
descriptive of the eminence whereon the church is built,
comprehends the ancient parishes of Kirk-Andrews and
Sandwick, which, after the dilapidation of their churches,
now in ruins, were united with it in I67O. The parish
is situated on the river Dee, and bounded by the Solway
Firth. It is about ten miles in length and seven miles
in extreme breadth, and comprises 1'2,864 acres, of
which about 8000 are arable, about '250 woodland and
plantations, and the remainder rough pasture. The
surface of the parish is undulated, and diversified with
hills of moderate elevation. The coast is indented with
numerous bays, and is bold and rocky, and in some
parts precipitously steep, rising in cliffs of irregular and
fantastic form towards the heads called Borness and
Muncraig. These heads command an extensive view,
embracing a wide expanse of sea, with a beautiful variety
of vale and mountain scenery, including the course of
the river Dee, the town of Kirkcudbright, the rich
foliage of St. Mary's Island, the range of the Cumberland
mountains, the Isle of Man, and the coast of Wigtown.
The more level parts of the parish, inclosed by numerous
gentle hills, formed several small lakes, which have been
drained, though enough are still remaining to afford an
abundant supply of water; and scattered over the surface
are not less than thirty mounds, called drums, from
200 to 300 yards in length, the grounds around which
are wet and marshy.
The soil is what is called free mould, of various quality,
well adapted for oats and barley, but not of sufficient
depth for wheat: the chief crops are oats, barley,
potatoes, and turnips, with the various grasses; and the
system of agriculture is improved. A considerable quantity
of waste land has been rendered profitable by effective
draining. The fences, mostly of stone, are kept in
good repair, and the farm-buildings and offices art
generally substantial and commodious. Bone-dust is
used for manure, and the soil has been benefited by the
judicious use of lime, by which much of the moss has
been converted into good pasture land. The cattle are
principally of the Galloway breed, and the sheep of the
Leicester and Cheviot breeds. The annual value of real
property in the parish is £9554. The rocks are mainly
of the transition formation, and the principal substrata,
greywacke, slate, and clay-slate; there are some quarries
of stone, from which materials are raised for the
fences and for common building purposes. The plantations
are comparatively of modern growth; they are well
managed, and in a thriving state. Earlston is a handsome
mansion in the parish, beautifully situated in a
richly-wooded demesne, commanding a fine view of
Wigtown bay and the Cumberland mountains.
The village population is agricultural and pastoral;
and from the proximity of a convenient harbour, one of
the fanners has built two vessels, for the exportation of
grain. Salmon is found in great abundance in the
river Dee, and also in the bays with which the southwestern
coast of the parish is indented. Ecclesiastically,
Borgue is within the bounds of the presbytery of Kirkcudbright
and synod of Galloway: the minister's stipend
is about £265, with a manse, and the glebe, including
those qf Kirk-Andrews and Sandwick, is valued
at £40 per annum; patron, the Crown. The church,
conveniently situated nearly in the centre of the parish,
is an elegant cruciform structure in the early English
style, with a lofty square embattled tower, erected in
1S14, and containing 500 sittings: from its elevated
site, it forms a conspicuous object, and is seen at a great
distance. There is a place of worship for members of
the Free Church. The Borgue Academy is an extension
of the parochial school, under the endowment of Mr.
Rainy, of the island of Dominica, who bequeathed
£3000 for the promotion of education in his native
parish. It is under the management of a head master,
who has a salary of £34. 4. 4. in addition to the fees,
and an assistant, whose salary is paid from the endowment.
The usual number of scholars is 120, of whom
twenty are taught gratuitously, their fees being paid
from the same bequest. The poor are partly supported
from Mr. Rainy's endowment, and the proceeds of small
charitable beciuests. There are some slight remains of
ancient castles, several British forts, and various other
relics of antiquity, in the parish.