BEN-LOMOND. LOCH-LOMOND. 117 



fortunate as to reach the summit in fine weather. The spectacle of a thunder-storm, 

 which we once beheld at that elevation, formed a scene of indescribable grandeur 

 and sublimity. The mountain, in its catalogue of rare plants, furnishes a wide 

 field of entertainment for the botanist. Like all primitive mountains, it is formed 

 of granite and micaceous schist, with large masses of quartz embedded in it. On 

 the borders of the lake various specimens of red jasper have been found, which 

 had been washed down from the summit and polished by long attrition. 



Ben-lomond, and the lands extending along the whole eastern shore of the lake, 

 were formerly the property of Rob Roy, whose name is identified with several of 

 the more remarkable features in the landscape. At a short distance up the country 

 is Inversnaid * fort, built in 1713 to repress his daring inroads; not far from 

 which is the dreary cavern, so often described as Rob Roy's Cave, and said also to 

 have afforded shelter to " the Bruce" after his defeat at Strathfillan. About a 

 mile above Rowardenan is Rob Roy's Rock, rising abruptly from the water to the 

 height of thirty feet perpendicular, and flat on the top. From this platform 

 the hero of the scene was in the habit of letting down, by means of a rope fas- 

 tened round their waists, such of his hostages or prisoners as refused to comply 

 with his demands. If, after being again drawn up, they still persisted in their 

 obstinacy, they were lowered a second time, with a gentle hint that if their 

 sentiments should continue unaltered, the next experiment should be suspension 

 by the neck. In concluding this very brief sketch, we cannot do so with a 

 stronger testimony in favour of the scenery under notice, than has been already 

 pronounced by Smollett :f " I have seen," says he, " the Lago di Garda, Albano, 

 De Vico, Bolseno, and Geneva ; and, upon my honour, I prefer Loch-lomond to 

 them all." If the genius of Rousseau, Voltaire, Gibbon, De Stael, and Byron, 

 has bequeathed so many magical associations to the lake Leman ; the enchanting 

 creations of Scott have conferred on this, and the neighbouring lakes of the 

 Trosachs, the spell of fascinations no less powerful and enduring. 



We now cross the frontier of the once redoubted clan Gregor, whose proscrip- 

 tion, suffering, and persecution, are familiar to every reader. The following is the 

 incident which brought on a legalized warfare of extermination against them, 

 and, in all probability, excited King James VI. to make the battle of Glenfruin 



Inversnaid Mill, with the bold scenery adjoining, is the scene of Wordsworth's beautiful poem, 

 beginning 



" But I, methinks, till I grow old, 

 As fair a maid shall ne'er behold 

 As I do now ; the cabin small 

 The lake the bay the waterfall 

 And thee ! the spirit of them all." 

 t Miscellaneous Works, vol. vi. p. 269. 



VOL. II. H H 



