ROTHIEMURCHUS, a parish (anciently civil), but afterwards united to Duthil, and now a quoad sacra parish in the parish of Duthil, county of Inverness, a short distance (S.) from Aviemore; containing 5'21 inhabitants. This place was formerly shrouded in wood, whence its name, which is derived from the Gaelic term Rath a mhor-ghiuthais, signifying either " the plain ", or " the circle or amphitheatre, ofgreat pines ". The parish was united civilly and ecclesiastically to that of Duthil in 1630, and thus remained until IS'24, when by act of parliament of the 5th of George IV., it was formed into an ecclesiastical parish. The lands were purchased in 1595, on a forfeiture, by the ancestors of the present proprietor. The river Spey forms the northern boundary, separating Rothiemurchus from the rest of Duthil and from Alvie; while on the south and south-east is the united parish of Crathie and Braemar, in Aberdeenshire. The surface comprehends a tract nearly square, the sides of which measure between seven and nine miles; it is hilly and mountainous, and principally covered with pasture, waste, forest, and plantatinns, a few portions of level ground only being under cultivation. According to the last survey, there were 8'20 acres of arable land, 15,413 of pasture, and 7120 of wood. The number of acres under cultivation, and the number covered with plantations, have been increased considerably within these few years, and are still increasing. Though for the most part of a sombre character, the scenery is considerably diversified, and presents an assemblage of interesting features, comprising lofty mountain ranges, isolated hills, forests and plantations, lochs and streams, with a few cultivated plains, so disposed as to constitute on the whole an imposing picture. The Brae Riach, a portion of the Grampian range, rises 4100 feet above the level of the sea; it presents numerous precipices, and is a resort for red deer and ptarmigan. Together with a branch mountain called Lich- Riach it forms the pleasant tract of Glen-Ennich, which has good pasturage for sheep, and contains several lakes, the principal of them being Loch Erinich, nearly surrounded by lofty and romantic precipices. Loch-an- Eilean, or " the lake of the island ", stretches along the base of Ord-ban, " the white hill," an insulated eminence near the western boundary, having an elevation of 1397 feet above the level of the sea, and clothed to the summit with verdant foliage. In addition to the picturesque beauties of the weeping-birclies and the lofty sable pines upon its banks, this lake is ornamented with an island, rendered interesting by a remarkably fine echo, but especially by the ruins of a castle, traditionally reported as one of the strongholds of the Wolf of Badenoch, celebrated for his burning IClgin cathedral. Half a mile to the south of this is Loch Oanihuinn, also encircled by dark towering pines, and famous for the " thieves' high road " running along its margin, which was the usual pass of the Lochaber reivers in their visits to JMoray. About the middle of the parish, to the east of Glen-Ennich, is a pass through the mountains called Laraig-ruadh (red pass), in which is a path beaten by the cattle driven to market, the pass forming a nearer transit to the southern markets than by the great Highland road. One of the most conspicuous objects and most valuable portions of the parish is the great pine-forest extending from the base of the lofty Cairngorum range. At the commencement of the present century, the proprietor obtained an act of parliament for the unlimited " manufacture " of the timber, and derived from this source for many years an annual income varying from £10,000 to £20,000. In consequence, a large part of the wood was cut down; and after the operation of sawing by machinery on the spot, the timber was conveyed on rafts down the river Spey to the village of Garmouth, on the coast of the Moray Firth, where an agent resided to superintend the sale. The works are at present suspended on account of the proprietor's absence. Besides the lochs interspersed in every direction, there are numerous streams, tributaries of the river Spey: the Spey abounds in salmon, trout, eels, and pike; and all these, except salmon, are found also in the lochs. The SOIL in the vicinity of the river is alluvial and rich, producing heavy crops, which are, however, sometimes injured by floods: that on the higher grounds is various, frequently partaking of the character of the mosses spread over the district, and which afford an inexhaustible supply of fuel. Oats, bear, potatoes, and turnips, are the chief crops, but they are raised only for home consumptiim; the last became general in Rothiemurchus about five and thirty years ago, and are much attended to. Numerous improvements in husbandry have been adopted, and much waste land has been cleared and improved; draining and trenching have been and are still carried on, and much benefit has been derived from the use of lime, the extensive quarries here affording a good supply of limestone. The rocks are of the same nature as those usually found among the Grampians, being of the granitic formation; and crystallized quartz of all shades, but most frequently blue, is abundant in the Cairngorum range, where it is collected. The only mansion is that of The Doune, the property of Sir J. P. Grant, Knt., puisne judge at Calcutta, who is sole proprietor of Rothiemurchus; it is a plain modern building, situated on the banks of the Spey, in the midst of beautifully laid out grounds, and thriving plantations comprising oak, lime, beech, and ash. These kinds of wood are also found in some other parts, with larch, alder, birch, and pine, the two last of which appear in an especial manner to thrive on this soil. A road traverses the parish, along the southern bank of the Spey, extending from Craigellachie bridge, near Rothes, to the bridge of Spey near Kingussie; and there is a ferry across the river at Inverdruie, distant from the road only about 200 j'ards, by which a comTnuuication is kept up with the great Highland road. The sub-post office at Lynevilg, two miles off, on the north bank of the Spey, is the receiving-office for this district; and letters are conveyed to it by mail from Perth, Inverness, Carr- Bridge, and Kingussie. The nearest market-town is Inverness, thirty-three miles distant; but the farmers take their cattle for sale to Grantown, Kingussie, and Castletown of Braemar, distant respectively sixteen, twelve, and thirty miles. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Abernethy, synod of Moray, and in the patronage of the Crown: the minister's stipend is £120, with a manse, and a glebe of four acres and a half, which has been lately much improved at the expense of Sir J. P. Grant. The church, situated to the west of the mansion-house of The Doune, and ornamented with a belt of plantation, was rebuilt by Sir J. P. Grant, at the cost of £39.">. A school, about the centre of the parish, is supported partly' ya payment of £10 per annum from the proprietor; the fees are about £10. The Gaelic is the prevailing language, but it is gradually yielding to the English.