Description
CAITHNESS, occasionally called the Shire of Wick, is the most northeastern county of Scotland. It is bounded on the west by Sutherland, from which it is separated by a long ridge of mountains, commencing near Sandside Point, and stretching across the county to the Hill of the Ord, near the Ord of Caithness; on every other side it is washed by the ocean. The coast contains numerous indentations and bays, and various well known promontories. On the north, where it is separated from the Orkneys by the Pentland Frith, the boldness of the headlands, and the terrible aspect of the Frith, arrest the attention of the few travellers who visit this remote angle of Great Britain. In some places the sea penetrates the rocky coast, and fearful pits, like the Duller of Buchan, occur, from which the foam overspreads the neighbourhood. In the Pentland Frith, about four miles from Caithness, is the Island of Stroma, annexed to the county.

The Ord of Caithness is an enormous mountain on the boundary of Sutherlandshire; the Maiden Paps, a mountainous ridge, are in this quarter, overhanging the valley of Berne-dale : between this ridge and the Pent-land Frith extends the plain of Caithness, comprising about four-fifths of the county; but it contains many hills, a few of which are of moderate elevation. The county is 43 miles in length from its south-western point to Duncansby Head, and 30 in breadth: its area is upwards of 618 square miles, of which about 70,000 are estimated to be under cultivation, 75,000 uncultivated, and 250,680 unprofitable. Agriculture is confined to the large tracts of level land along the water courses, and to the slopes of the elevated plains; some of the moors are from 200 to 300 feet above the level of the sea, but many parts of them afford pasturage. Dr Macculloch says that " an uglier country than Caithness from one end to the other would not easily be found." The county, however, although not particularly inviting, and far from being attractive, scarcely deserves such an unqualified censure. It is indeed destitute of trees, or shrubberies of any kind, on account of the prevailing cold winds from the north-east and north-west, which sweep across the country; but the soil is often fertile; agriculture is now pursued with success; a considerable amount of land is under cultivation, and is daily improving, and new roads have been formed. Several thousands of sheep and black cattle are reared. There are several lakes, but no streams of any importance. The Herring Fishery is the great avo-eation of the county, and is likely to prove a permanent source of employment on the east coast. The principal exports are grain, wool, and the proceeds of the fishery; but there are no manufactures. The operatives (are chiefly carpenters, masons and {wallers, blacksmiths, boat-builders, fish-curers, millers, tailors, shoemakers, and small shopkeepers. The inhabitants are noted for their industrious habits, and they are remarkably kind and hospitable to strangers. At the Battle of Flodden the men of Caithness appeared in great strength under tlie Earl of Caithness, and were cut off almost to a man. That unfortunate band marched to the South on a Friday, and it has ever since been held unlucky to cross the Ord on that day. The county contains ten parishes; the population in 1831 was 34,529 ; the annual value of property assessed in 1815 was L.35,469. Caithness sends one member to the Imperial Parliament; in 1839 the constituency was 420. Wick is the county town, and only royal burgh in the shire, 363 miles north of Edinburgh.

Caithness, conjoined with Sutherland, was, previous to the Eevolution of 1688, a bishopric, the episcopal seat and cathedral of which were at Dor-noch in the latter county. It is now included with Sutherland as a Synod, consisting of the three Presbyteries of Dornoch, Tongue, and Caithness. It gives the title of Earl to a chief branch of the Noble Family of St Clair or Sinclair, a name very prevalent throughout the county. The title of Earl of Caithness is of great antiquity, occurring as early as A. D. 875. William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, was created Earl of Caithness in 1455. In 1471 he resigned the Earldom of Orkney to James III., and was styled Earl of Caithness.The chief seats in the county are Barrogill Castle and Tister House, Earl of Caithness; Hempriggs House and Ackersgill Tower, Lord Duffus; Watten House, Anstruther, Bart.; Murkle, Sinclair, Bart.; Thurso Castle, Sinclair, Bart.; the mansions of Sandside,Castlehill, Hopewell, Stemp-ster, &c. Many seats in the county belong to gentlemen of the name of Sinclair. As it respects the local business, the Sheriff and Commissary Courts are held at Wick every Tuesday, and the Small Debt Court every alternate Wednesday. Quarter Sessions are held at Wick and Thurso; the Justice of Peace Small Debt Court each alternate Monday at Wick, and at Thurso each alternate Thursday. The other places and times of the Courts under the New Small Debt Act are regulated according to its principles.