STROMNESS, a parish and sea-port-town and burgh of barony, in the county of Orkney, 14 miles (W. by S.) from Kirkwall; containing 27S5 inhabitants, of whom 2057 are in the town. This parish derives its name from a point of land at its southern extremity, projecting into the sound of Hoy, and which, by affording shelter from the west winds, forms a safe and commodious harbour. The town, originally a small fishinghamlet consisting of a few scattered huts, was dependent on the royal burgh of Kirkwall till the year 1754, when, on an appeal to the court of session, and the judgment of that court confirmed by the house of lords, it was emancipated from all future contributions and dependence. Though possessing a situation admirably adapted for the erection of a handsome town, it consists mainly of an irregularly formed street nearly a mile in length, of a semicircular direction, and in some parts very narrow. The houses, many of which are built closely contiguous to tlie sea, are not in general of a prepossessing appearance, being seemingly erected more with regard to facility of connexion with the harbour than to any uniformity of i)lan. However, there are several good houses in the town, as well as excellent inns for the accommodation of travellers. A public library was established in 1S20; it is well supported by subscriptions of seven shillings per annum, and forms a valuable collection of standard works. A society for promoting the study of natural history was soon after established, and has been liberally encouraged; the museum contains an extensive collection of natural curiosities both foreign and parochial, with numerous specimens of the various birds frequenting the Orkney Isles, and the rarest and most interesting fishes, shells, and fossils found in this part of the sea and coast. The manufacture of kelp, at one time carried on to a great extent, has been very much reduced; and that of straw-plat, for which there were several large establishments, is also greatly limited: it is carried on by the female part of the population at their own dwellings. There are many well-stored shops for supplying the town and neighbourhood with the various articles of merchandise required; but the principal support of the town arises from its shipping, its fisheries, and the numerous vessels which call for provisions, or are driven in to take shelter in its harbour, accessible at all times to ships of the largest burthen. The various piers on the bay are commodious, and well adapted to their purposes. The harbour is nearly a mile in length, of considerable breadth, and has a depth of water at the piers, during spring tides, of nearly twenty-four feet. A patent slip has been constructed at the south extremity of the town, for the repair of vessels that have sustained damage at sea. Ship-building is carried on at Stromness to some extent; several fine schooners, sloops, and brigs have been launched, and also numerous boats to be employed in the fisheries. The number of vessels belonging to the port is twenty-three, of the aggregate burthen of 2132 tons. Some sloops are employed in the cod and haddock fisheries; and during the months of May and June, great c|uantities of lobsters are taken, of which not less than 12,000are annually sent to theLondon market by Gravesend smacks, which call here twice a week during the fishing season for that purpose. An attempt has been made, and not without the encouraging prospect of success, to establish a station at this place for the herring-fishery, the accomplishment of which object will materially add to the prosperity of the town. The Greenland and Davis' Straits whale-fishing ships generally receive, as they pass, their complement of men from the town and neighbouring parishes; and the Hudson's Bay Company also receive their annual supply of artisans and labourers from the same quarter, an intelligent agent of the company being resident in the town for the purpose of engaging them. There are two trading packets which sail regularly between this and Leith, and are of great convenience to the inhabitants. A post runner daily conveys letters between Stromness and Kirkwall. Fairs are held in May, September, and November, chiefly for cattle; the September fair is the principal, and is well attended. A considerable number of cattle is shipped hence for Caithness, and the markets in the south. The town was made a burgh of barony in the year 1817, and the government is vested in two bailies and a council of nine burgesses. The PARISH is bounded on the north by the parish of Sandwick, on the south by the sound of Hoy, on the east by the lake of Stenness, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It is about five miles in length, nearly four in average breadth, and comprises 8160 acres, of which I860 are arable, almost 1000 in pasture, and the remainder undivided common. The surface is diversified with hills of various elevation, rising from 100 to 500 feet above the level of the sea; they are destitute of wood, and have a bleak and barren aspect, but the many well-cultivated valleys, and tracts of verdant pasture, that intervene, relieve the dreariness of the view, and give the parish on the whole an agreeable and interesting appearance. The view from the summit of several of the hills is extensive, embracing the expanse of the Atlantic, the lofty mountains of Sutherland in the distance, the picturesque hill of Hoy in the island of the same name, the beautiful island of Grsemsay and others of the Orkneys, with the sound of Hoy, forming an approach to the harbour of the town from the west, and on the shore of which it is in contemplation to erect a lighthouse. Little progress has as yet been made in agriculture. The crops are generally oats and bear, with potatoes; but scarcely more of the last are raised than suffice for the use of the inhabitants. The soil is in general good, and very capable of cultivation, draining and an improved system of husbandry being only required to produce excellent crops. At almost all seasons of the year, there is an abundance of seaweed for manure. The chief minerals are slate and granite. The slate was formerly wrought more extensively than it is at present, and from 30,000 to 40,000 slates were annually raised: though well adapted to the climate of Orkney, the slates form a weighty roof, and have lately been greatly superseded by those of Easdale and of Wales, which are lighter. There are no regular quarries of stone; what is required for building is generally taken from the sea-shore, where excellent stone for building purposes is abundant. Granite was some years ago quarried by a company formed with that object, and the rock was found to be of a very superior quality; the works were discontinued from want of capital and proper management. Lead-ore is also to be obtained, and was once wrought, but the produce was insufficient to reward the adventurers. Cairston, the property of James R. Pollexfen, Esq., in the immediate neighbourhood of the town, and commanding some fine views, is tastefully laid out, and in a high state of cultivation; and the same may be said of Garson, the property of William Heddle, Esq., also in the neighbourhood of the town. For ecclesiastical purposes this place is within the bounds of the presbytery of Cairston and synod of Orkney, the minister's stipend is £158. 6. S., of which about one-tenth is paid from the exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe valued at £12 per annum: patron, the Earl of Zetland. Stromness church, erected in 1816, is a large structure with a small spire; it is situated in the burgh, and contains upwards of 1200 sittings. There are places of worship for the United Presbyterian Synod and the Free Church. The parochial school affords instruction in English reading, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, Latin, French, &c.; the master's salary is £25 per annum. There are other schools, where similar branches of education are taught. Near the site of the old church and burying-ground are the remains of some religious house, of which little is known, but which, from its name, is supposed to have been a monastery; and nearly a mile westward, are the ruins of a house erected by Graham, one of the bishops of Orkney, above the door of which are the initials G. G,, vtith the arms of the see, and the date 1633. There are several ancient tumuli in the parish; and in the quarries on the shore have been found some beautiful specimens of petrified fishes. Gow, the hero of Tlie Pirate of Sir Walter Scott, and Torquill, of The Island of Lord Byron, were both natives of this parish.