GORDON CASTLE. DINGWALL. STR ATIIPKFFER. 155 



ment of those resources which are never better expended than in giving encou- 

 ragement to talent, and inculcating habits of industry among the poor. The fine 

 old timber flanking the venerable avenues, and throwing its umbrageous shadows 

 over the scene, produces a magnificent effect. One tr<;e in particular a huge 

 lime behind the castle measures eighteen feet in girth, and covers with its droop- 

 ing branches an area of two hundred feet. The trees which most prevail in these 

 grounds forming a walled park of thirteen hundred acres are limes, horse- 

 chestnuts, and walnuts. The flower and fruit gardens alone occupy about 

 twelve acres, with a fine piece of water in the centre, where the lordly swan 

 takes his cruise of pleasure. The surrounding forest, of vast extent, and spread- 

 ing over all the mountain, abounds in red deer and roe. Through this pine-clad 

 wilderness, the great road to the south winds for several miles. It is almost 

 superfluous to add, that every thing in the interior of this sumptuous mansion 

 is arranged with corresponding taste and magnificence. It has now descended to 

 the duke of Richmond, heir to the late duke of Gordon, whose name, while 

 marquess of Huntley, was so familiar among those of the early friends and 

 companions of George IV. His loss has been severely felt and lamented in 

 the country where he resided with such princely munificence, and where the 

 rites of hospitality were exercised with unbounded liberality. It may be affirmed 

 without fear of contradiction, that no visitor ever left Gordon Castle without 

 carrying with him a most elevated sense of what is meant by a true " Highland 

 welcome." 



Ross-shire the " Sylvan Ross" is a wild mountainous country to the west- 

 ward ; but, on the east, where it skirts the German Ocean, it assumes the most 

 pleasing aspect, being naturally fertile, highly cultivated, and embellished with 

 all that indicates a condition progressively prosperous. In the way towards 

 Dingwall, some delightful glimpses are obtained of the grand scenery of western 

 Ross ; and the traveller, says Chambers, is impressed with an idea that he is 

 wandering through a stupendous and inaccessible citadel ; while the wayside is 

 adorned by various seats scattered up and down the valley of Conan. At the 

 mouth of a glen opening into Cromarty Frith,* near the western extremity of 

 that beautiful estuary, is the royal burgh of Dingwall, surrounded by some of 

 the most beautiful scenery in Scotland. The town, which is built in the Dutch 



* The grand and imposing feature in the natural scenery of the county, is the gigantic Ben-weavis, 

 the summit of which was never known to be uncovered by snow, till the warm summer of 1826. Sir 

 Hector Monro, of Foulis, proprietor, holds his estate by a tenure from one of the early Scottish kings, 

 binding him to " bring three wain-loads of snow from the top of that hill whenever his majesty should 

 desire." Chambers, Statist. Crom. Hist. 



