LOCHLEVEN. ST. MUNGO's ISLE. 75 



which the ruins and mossy rocks gleam at intervals, and discover the landscape 

 under varied attractions. On one isolated point, sprinkled with wild flowers, 

 a huge tree, stript of its bark, stands like a solitary spectre among its still verdant 

 associates. Its withered, tortuous roots appear straining forward as if to catch the 

 reviving moisture of the lake, while its vigorous successor, lifting its head proudly 

 to the sky, takes the decayed monarch under its shadow, but for itself reserves 

 all the sun. On a calm summer evening, when the brake is vocal with the 

 song of birds (few in this territory of their special enemies), the surface of the 

 water silvered over with the moonshine the broad shadow of the eagle passing 

 across it to his eyrie in the ruins the flap of his wings as he exultingly alights 

 on his now undisputed domain, make a strong impression on the imagination, and 

 invest Loch-an-Eilan with the romantic features of the " Castle of Otranto." All 

 this is rendered still more impressive by the recollection, that here that ferocious 

 personage, named from his deeds the " Wolf of Badenoch," had his lair, which 

 is still tenanted by his representatives the eagles of Cairn-gorm. 



On the opposite bank of the river Spey, in a beautiful romantic situation, is 

 the cottage of Kinrara, the summer residence of the late Duchess of Gordon. 

 In this delightful retreat, to which she was enthusiastically attached, the Duchess 

 entertained annually several of the most distinguished families and individuals in 

 the United Kingdom. After her demise in London, her mortal remains were 

 brought to Kinrara, and interred in a spot which she had often pointed out in 

 her walks, as that in which she wished to take her last repose. The ceremony 

 of interment took place in May 1812, and is now perpetuated by a magnificent 

 monument of native granite, selected from the Grampian mountains. Belville, a dis- 

 trict of the same parish, has become classical ground, by having been the residence 

 of James Macpherson, the celebrated translator of Ossian's poems. He died here; 

 but, unlike the Duchess in his choice of a resting-place, his remains, agreeably to 

 his own particular instructions, were conveyed to Westminster Abbey, and there 

 deposited in Poets Corner. Belleville is now the residence of Sir David 

 Brewster, whose name and reputation require no comment in these pages. 

 With this short digression we resume our progress to the Westward. 



The view of Lochleven from Ballahulish Ferry is greatly admired, and may 

 here be allowed to speak for itself. The porphyritic mountains of Glenco the 

 " Cona" of Ossian give a specific character to the scene, and in one or two 

 instances bear a close resemblance to the Aiguilles of the Alps. It has been 

 justly remarked, that, from its mouth to the further extremity, Lochleven 

 presents a continued succession of landscapes. Between the point here chosen 

 and the Dog's Ferry a strait three or four miles higher up the basin is variegated 



