WHITBURN, a parish, in the county of Linlithgow; containing, with the village of Longridge and part of that of Blackburn, 2593 inhabitants, of whom 798 are in the village of Whitburn, 4 miles distant (S. W. by W.) from Bathgate. This place is called Whiteburn or Whitburn in contradistinction to the village of Blackburn, in the adjoining parish of Livingstone, of which parish it once formed a part. The parish of Whitburn is about six miles in length and two miles and a half in breadth, comprising an area of rather more than 10,000 acres. A considerable portion towards the west is barren waste, internally rich, however, in blackband ironstone; and the remainder is principally arable land in good cultivation. The river Almond flows through the northern part of the parish, and the Breich skirts it on the south: the surface is also intersected by several smaller streams. The system of agriculture is as much improved as the nature of the soil, which is in many parts a stiff retentive clay, will admit. Draining has been practised with advantage, but not to such an extent as is requisite: the lands, also, are partly inclosed, and some plantations have been formed; but there is still great room for improvement in these respects. The substratum is rich in minerals. A very valuable seam of coal has been wrought for more than a century. and is still in operation: the mine is singularly ornamented with calcareous stalactites depending from the roof in the form of strong pillars. Ironstone of argillaceous character occurs in beds varying from one inch to several inches in thickness, and also in balls and flat circular pieces; it yields from twenty-seven to thirtythree per cent., and is formed into pig-iron. A rich vein of blackband ironstone has within the last few years been discovered, and is extensively wrought by the Shotts Iron Company, and Messrs. Holdsworth, of Coltness, who have sunk numerous pits, from which the water is pumped, and the ore drawn up, by steamengines. The ironstone is removed from the mouth of the pits on railways, and piled in heaps varying from 400 or 500 to 2000 tons, for the purpose of being calcined, during which process a pile of 1000 tons is reduced sixty-four tons in weight. About 200 persons are employed in these works. There are several quarries of sandstone of various kinds, and a quarry of white siliceous matter which is used for garden walks. The annual value of real property in the parish is £7398. Polkemmet, the seat of Sir William Baillie, is an ancient mansion, which has within the last few years been new-fronted "and otherwise improved; it is pleasantly situated, and the grounds are embellished with plantations. The village is neatly built, and chiefly inhabited by persons employed in weaving cotton goods with hand-looms at their own houses. A public library has been established, towards the foundation of which £50 were given by Mr. Wilson, of this place; it is supported by annual subscription, and forms a well-assorted collection. There is a branch of the City of Glasgow Bank. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Linlithgow, and synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. The minister's stipend, including £100 from land bequeathed for the purpose in the county of Lanark, is £203. 6. 11., subject to certain payments to the minister of Livingstone, from which the parish of Whitburn was separated in 1718: there is also a manse, and the glebe is valued at £3. 10. per annum. The church was erected, and partly endowed, by subscription; it is a neat structure in the shape of a cross. There are places of worship for dissenters. The parochial schoolmaster has a salary of £34. 4. 4., with a house and garden, and about nine acres of land; the school fees average £25 or £30 per annum. The late Mr. James Wilson bequeathed £4250 for the erection and endowment of free schools in this and the adjoining parishes of Shotts and Cambusnethan: with these funds two schools have been established here, the masters of which have each a salary of £20 per annum, with a house and garden. About 200 children are taught in the several schools, and of this nuniber about seventy attend the parochial school. Mrs. Wilson left £500 to the parish, the interest to be given to persons in reduced circumstances, who have seen better days. Two Roman coins of gold have been dug up in a bog at Cowhill.