UNST, a parish and island, in the county of Orkney and Shetland, 43 miles (N. by E.) from Lerwick; containing, with the island of Uya, 2831 inhabitants. The island of Unst, of which the parish mainly consists, is the most northern part of the Shetland Isles, and of the British dominions in Europe. It is bounded on the east and north by the North Sea; on the west by the Atlantic; on the south by a channel four miles wide, separating it from the island of Fetlar; and on the south-west by Blumcl sound, a firth about a mile across, through which the tides run with great rajjidity and violence. It is nearly of an oblong form, measuring about twelve miles in length from north to south, and between three and four in average breadth from east to west; and is distributed into three portions called respectively the north, midland, and southern districts. These comprise together 24,000 acres; about 2000 are under tillage, nearly the same number uncultivated meadow and pasture, and the remainder hilly and mountainous land mostly covered with deep peat-moss. The shore is encompassed by small islets, or holms, of which Ska, the most northern, is broken in every direction by creeks, bays, caverns, and headlands. The surface of Unst, though not marked by such lofty elevations as the other Shetland islands, is diversified with numerous ridges and hills. Between these are level tracts of good fertile land, and some picturesque valleys, investing the general scenery with a pleasing character. One of the chief ranges of hills, named Valleyfield, 700 feet in height, stretches along the western coast; it forms a defence against the impetuosity of the sea in that quarter, and ends, in the northern extremity of the island, in the prominent headland of Hermanness, so called from an ancient warrior who is supposed to have landed at the point. Parallel, and nearly coextensive, with this elevation, on its eastern side, is a valley ornamented with a succession of lochs, some of them containing good-sized trout, and the largest measuring about three miles in length; they empty themselves into the sea at Uya sound, in the southern, and at Burrafirth, in the northern portion of the isle. Southeastward of this, in the direction of the loch of Cliff, which is three miles long, much of the land is stripped of its moss, and exhibits a rough, bare, and stony appearance; affording, however, in many places nutritious pasture for native horses and sheep. In the southeastern portion, also, are several lochs called " the Small waters" on account of their diminutive extent; and in every place throughout the island perennial springs of fresh water of excellent quality are abundant. The headlands are in general lofty and precipitous, especially on the northern, north-eastern, and western shores; and some of the channels are so difficult to cross when the tide runs in, that boats are sometimes lost in the perilous attempt. The bays comprehend Burra-firth on the north; Norwick, Haroldswick, and Sandwick, on the east; Watswick, Wick, and Woodwick, on the south-west and west; Balta sound, on the east coast, about the middle of the island; and Uya sound on the south. They afford no protection for vessels, and are all rather dangerous landing-places, with the exception of Balta sound and Uya sound; these are defended against the sea by the islands from which they respectively take their names, and form safe harbours, with both north and south entrances. The islands of Huna and Haaf-Grunie, and the holms of Newgord, Burra-firth, Woodwick, Weatherholm, Ska, and Heogaland, are all adjacent to Unst, and belong to it: they are used only for the pasturage of black-cattle and sheep. Among the numerous caves along this rocky, elevated, and precipitous coast, the most striking is one under a high steep rock at the north-eastern base of Saxa-Vord, the resort of large numbers of aquatic birds. It consists of a majestic natural arch 300 feet in length, of considerable height, and of sufficient span, and having sufficient depth of water, to allow a boat to be rowed through it. In general the soil is tolerably good, in some parts excellent; and the chief produce is oats, bear, and potatoes, the crops of all which are pretty heavy. Angus oats have been raised by some of the proprietors, as well as rye-grass, clover, and turnips, on grounds where more than ordinary care has been bestowed on cultivation; and the crops are said to have equalled the best crops of more southern latitudes. The trees, and evergreen plants and shrubs, are stunted in the extreme, the hurricane that frequently blows from the Atlantic throwing the spray entirely across the island, and destroying every kind of ornamental plantation. In this parish the farms, exclusively of a contiguous portion of meadow and grass to each, are barely six acres in extent, having within these few years been reduced in size to accommodate the tenants, who prefer fishing to agriculture, and who have neither time nor inclination to pursue the latter, except for the supply of their urgent necessities. The land is consequently all prepared with the spade. That portion -which is out-field is generally sown with the black oats common to the district, and left, unmanured, to its own resources; the in-field portion, adjacent to the dwellings, receives the principal attention, and in spring employs males and females of every age in its cultivation. The fences usually consist of turf, or turf and stones; many have been constructed with considerable care during the last few years. The average rent of arable land is eighteen shillings per merk. About 20,000 acres are computed to be still in common, 2000 of which are capable of being brought under tillage. The sheep, black-cattle, and horses are all of the native kind, mixtures of breed not having been attended with much success: the horses are fast degenerating, no attention being given to proper selections for breeding. Limestone is wrought at CliflF, and near Balliasta; and a mine of chromate of iron is in operation. This ore, once so largely wrought and so profitable, has latterly become greatly deteriorated in value, and is now comparatively but little raised, on account of the discovery of the same mineral in Norway and other parts, and its free importation into this kingdom. There are rocks of gneiss; chlorite, talc, and mica slate; quartz, hornblende, and a few other kinds. The mansion-house of Belmont at Watswick bay, the mansion-house of Buncss at Balta sound, and a lodge near Uya sound, are the only residences of a superior class. The dwellings of the inhabitants, who live chiefly in the northern and southern districts, arc cither isolated or in small clusters, forming no assemblage at all entitled to the name of a village: the vicinity of the harl)our of Uya sound is, perhaps, the most populous, having a neat range of tenements lately built along the shore, with shops for merchandise, some warehouses, and work-l)uildings for a blacksmith, a cooper, and a few boat-carpenters. Each neighbourhood has a water-mill for grinding corn, which every farmer uses for himself. The parish is entirely destitute of roads, but open in every part to persons on horse- back. The inhabitants send their cattle for sale to the market-cown of Lerwick: after driving them with great difficulty over mountains, and through swamps, they are obliged to transport them in boats across two dangerous sounds before they can reach the Mainland. Other disposable commodities they carry to Lerwick in their own boats, in which they bring back sundry articles for domestic use. The women are all employed in the manufacture of worsted shawls and plaids, stockings, and gloves of various quality, some of which obtain high prices; and coarse woollen cloth is also made, chiefly for home use. Fishing forms the principal occupation of the men, and within the last few years there has been added to that of ling, cod, and tusk, which are salted and dried for the markets of Leith, of Ireland, and Spain, an important fishery of herrings. These they take in large quantities; and in a recent year 840 barrels, valued at £500, were cured: the other kinds of fish exported amounted in value to £3230, and that kept for home consumption was valued at £'2000; making an aggregate obtained by fishing of £5*30. A government post is established here, which communicates twice a week with the general post-office at Lerwick. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Burravoe, synod of Shetland, and in the patronage of the Earl of Zetland: the minister's stipend is about £250, and he has a glebe valued at £9 per annum, but let for six guineas. The church, which is situated nearly in the centre of the island, was built in 182*, near the site of the old church of Balliasta, at a cost of about £2000; it is a handsome and substantial edifice containing 1224 sittings. There are two places of worship for members of the Free Church, a small one for Independents, and another for Wesleyans. The parochial school, situated in the midland district, affords instruction in English reading,*writing, arithmetic, book-keeping, and navigation; the master has the maximum salary, with a house, and about £6 per annum in fees. A school in the northern part of the parish is supported by the General Assembly; the same branches are taught as in the parochial school, and the master receives a salary of £25, and about £10 fees. A school-house, also, has been built in the southern district, chiefly at the expense of the late William Mouat, Esq., of Garth: a teacher has been appointed, with a fixed salary, by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The principal antiquities consist of a chain of circular towers, built of massive stones, and open at the top, which are continued round the island; they arc called Pictish castles, or burghs, and are supposed to have been originally erected for signal .stations, as information might be rapidly communicated from them in every direction, by means of fires. As Muness is a ruinous castle, the property of the late Mr. Mouat, which is said to have been built by Laurence Bruce, of the family of Cultsmalindic, in Perthshire, who fled hither to avoid the coiiscquences of a fatal quarrel with a neighbour. This building, the main entrance of which bears the date 159H, is of oblong form, twenty-four feet high, measuring sixty feet by eighteen within the walls, and having a tower at each angle. Two obelisks of ancient construction, one near Greenwell, and the other in the vicinity of LTya sound, arc thought to mark the scenes of celebrated battles; and on Crucifield hill are several concentric circles of earth and stone, with the earth raised in the middle, used probably as pagan sanctuaries. There are six old buryiug-places around the ruins of six ancient churches, and the remains of a large number of chapels, to one of which, called the Cross Kirk, or St. Cruz, situated near Haroldswick, pilgrimages are said to have been formerly made ou account of its supposed sanctity.