» SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



the best. Making it our study to elucidate national character by original 

 sketches of national scenery, we have endeavoured to revive much that time 

 and circumstance had obscured — to give expression to those features of which 

 accident had left but a faint or imperfect outUne — and to present, in a con- 

 densed form, the essentials of Scottish scenery and statistics. The former of 

 these has long afforded scenes of romantic beauty and subjects of the deepest 

 historical interest to every class of travellers ; and, by its inexhaustible combina- 

 tions, stiU presents ample materials for the gratification of the most fastidious, and 

 the surprise of those who delight to contemplate the changes which have crept 

 into so many districts within the last twenty years. The bold natural landmarks 

 are the same ; the mountains, lakes, and rivers, retain their pristine character and 

 relative positions ; but, in many instances, luxuriant forests * have overspread 

 the once barren heath, and the progress of cultivation eflfected so many pleasing 

 ti'ansformations, that the territory which, in other times, Umited its productions 

 to tlie heathbell and bl-aberry, may now, in poetical phrase, be said to bourgeon 

 forth as the green bay, and to blossom like the rose. Canals have been dug, towns 

 enlarged, villages have sprung up, agricultm-e has reclaimed the waste and reaped 

 the fruit of lier productive labour ; while architecture has Uberally contributed her 

 embellishments, and nature, seconding the efforts of art, has invested the whole 

 picture wdth her own livery, and, in numerous instances, replaced sterihty with 

 plenty. f 



The Highlands, which, tiU a recent period, were only partially known to adven- 

 turous tourists, and too generally misrepresented, have at length, by a laudable 

 spirit of inquiry, and the facilities of steam navigation, been throvra open like an 



• From the year 1767 to 1807 the late Earl of Murray planted, on an average, three hundred and fifty 

 thousand trees annually, making a total of fourteen millions, of which one million and a half were oaks. 

 The'late Earl of Fyfe planted about seven thousand Scotch acres, while the Dukes of Athol and Gordon 

 increased their plantations to a similar or even greater extent. The last report on this subject estimates the 

 natural woods at nearly four hundred and eighteen thousand Scotch acres, and tlie plantations at three hun- 

 dred and forty- four thousand, but which latter has received a vast augmentation within the last ten years. 

 Lochaber and Kosshire are the only districts that exhibit any relics of the Sylva Caledonia. 



t For authentic and most satisfactory information on this subject the reader is referred to the General 

 Report by Sir John Sinclair. The counties which have undergone the most pleasing and extensive 

 transformation in this respect are those of Ayr, Lanark, Berwick, Iiothian, Stirling, Perth, Angus, and 

 Mearns. " Districts," says Dr. Playfair, " which formerly yielded scanty pasturage for sheep, are now 

 enclosed with fences, highly cultivated, and produce rich crops of wheat, barley, clover, and turnips." To 

 afford our southern readers some idea of the value of landed property north of the Tweed, we may add, on 

 the same authority, that extensive farms have been let at five and even six pounds sterling per acre. 

 During the late agricultural distress, these, of course, have been variously modified ; and several landlonls 

 with most becoming regard for the welfare of their tenants, have reduced the rental to an extent of from 

 ten to twenty per cent. Still, in the vicinity of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other principal cities, land con- 

 tinues to be held at a rate much superior to that stated. 



