KILTARLITY, a parish, in the county of Inverness, 4 miles (S. W. by W.) from Beauly; containing 2869 inhabitants. This place, the origin of the name of which is altogether uncertain, comprehends the old parish of Convinth, and is situated in one of the most beautiful and romantic districts in the Highlands. The parish is separated from part of that of Kilmorack by the Beauly river, which, a few miles to the north-east, forms the loch of the same name, the latter communicating with the Moray Firth. It is one of the largest parishes in the country, measuring in length, from the north-eastern to the south-western extremity, about forty-five miles: the average breadth, however, does not exceed six miles. The surface is characterized by hills and mountains, and thickly-wooded glens and ravines; it is interspersed with numerous lochs, some verdant pastures, and well-cultivated tracts, and is rendered more strikingly picturesque in many parts by the course of rapid streams with various cascades. Among the lochs, which are very numerous and of great diversity of appearance, and which abound in pike, trout, char, and other fish, the largest, and those most famed for their scenery, are Loch Affaric, Loch Naluire, and Loch Beinnemhian. Each of these is about a mile broad, and they vary in length from three to seven miles; they are very deep, and are embosomed in hills and mountains, shrouded with birch, mountain-ash, and stately firs, the remains of the old Caledonian forest. The three lakes are united by the river Glass, which, rising in Loch Affaric, and proceeding north-eastward through the other two lakes, is skirted on each side by lofty hills, and joined at Fasnacoil by the rapid stream of the Deaothack. The Deaothack is celebrated for its waterfalls, especially that of Plodda, and for the splendid firs on its banks, intermixed with birch and oak. At Invercannich, about four miles from Fasnacoil, the Glass is joined by the river Cannich, a large stream; and again, at the distance of a few miles, by the Farrer, after which it takes the name of Beauly. The distance from the last junction to the Beauly Firth or Loch is about nine miles; and though the river is only navigable for a mile and a half from the firth, up to the village of Beauly, it is found of great service for transporting timber for exportation. In its romantic progress it forms some fine cascades. The fishery of the Beauly belongs to Lord Lovat, producing a rent of nearly £2000 per annum. On the north-eastern side of the parish is a tract of about nine square miles, which is flat and low; but with this exception, the surface is hilly and rocky throughout, and intersected with glens and valleys, the principal of which are Gleu-Convinth and Strath-Glass. The latter of these was formerly covered with wood, which supplied Cromwell with a large portion of the timber used in the fortifications at Inverness, but of which none now remains, except the forest of Cugie, where firs of immense bulk and stature are to be seen. In the south-western part of the parish the rocks are so lofty, rugged, and inaccessible, that they are not only the resort of eagles, falcons, and numerous birds of prey, but furnish lurkingplaces for large herds of goats, so wild as to bid defiance to capture otherwise than by shooting them. The highest hill is supposed to be that of Aonach-Sassan, " English Hill, " estimated at about 2000 feet above the level of the sea. In general the soil is thin and light, of a reddish hue, and very hard. It is found intractable for successful husbandry, except on the lower grounds in the north-eastern district, which are much more fertile than the higher portion, where, on account of the mossy character of the soil, the crops are stunted and sickly, especially in seasons of drought. Agriculture has, however, made considerable progress within the last twenty or thirty years. The most approved rotation of cropping has been introduced; and where trenching, liming, and draining have been adopted to a sufficient extent to counteract the natural impediments of the land, the produce is of good quality. Sheep-farming is largely and successfully carried on in Strath- Glass. The rocks in the parish consist chiefly of gneiss, intersected with veins of granite; and sandstone, with asbestos, rockcrystal, and other varieties, is found in the hills. There are several interesting caves, one of which, called Corriedow, is said to have been a retreat for some days of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Wood was once the only article exported from this locality; and independently of the old Scotch firs, and other noble trees, the memorials of former ages, there are extensive plantations that have been recently augmented. These comprise ash, elm, beech, plane, and especially larch, which attain a fine growth, and prove a source of considerable emolument to the proprietors. The annual value of real property in the parish is £6160. The gentlemen's seats are in general so well situated as to command views of the most interesting combinations of scenery. Beaufort Castle, the property and constant residence of Lord Lovat, is a spacious but plain building, standing on the site of the old fortress of Beaufort or Downie, which in the time of Alexander I. was besieged by the royal troops. Cromwell, also, seized a castle here, and demolished the citadel; and immediately after the battle of Culloden, the then fortress was burnt to the ground by the Duke of Cumberland's army. Indeed, the present is said to be the twelfth edifice erected on the same site: it is thought to have been built as a residence for the government factor while the estate lay under forfeiture. The n)ansion commands extensive and beautiful views, comprehending the Beauly Firth; the large parks attached are ornamented with fine specimens of ancient trees, and there are well laid out pleasure-grounds and gardens. The present proprietor, a Roman Catholic, and the principal heritor in the parisli, was raised to the peerage in 183", the forfeited title of Baron Lovat being then restored. Errhless Castle, the seat of The Chisholm, situated near the confluence of the Farrer and Glass rivers, is a lofty turreted building, erected in the fifteenth century, and still in very good preservation. Attached to it is a noble park, studded with venerable trees, among which are some remains of tlie old Caledonian forest; there arc extensive plantations in the neiglibourhood of Erchless, andThe Chisholni's projierty in tlie parisii also includes about ".'JO acres of arable land kept in regular cultivation: the hill-ground of the property lias never been measured. Jlcllu