40 Fiehl Meetings. 



str'king and picturesque accessory, the upper portion stand- 

 ing out boldly against the blue waters of the loch, the 

 p quancy of the ruof and battlements rescuing from tameness 

 and contrasting finely with the bare and less interesting 

 portion below, while the gate-house, a perfect bonne houche 

 to the artist, nestles closely to its side, leading us irresistibly 

 to think of the days when in it. 



Above the gloomy portal arch, 

 Timing bis footsteps to a march. 

 The warder Icpt his guard. 



Nearing the castle, the visitor perceives that the building 

 now forms one side of the farm-yard of the adjoining steading, 

 a portion of one other side of the square being occupied by 

 the remains of the old castle wall and the gate-house, the 

 latter being the principal entrance to it, as it was to the court- 

 yard of the castle. The lower portion is wholly occupied by 

 the portal arch, which is surrounded by bold and effective 

 mouldings, the beauty of which is sadly marred, however, by 

 a tame and insipid label. The upper portion consists of the 

 watchroom, from which the warder surveyed all visitors 

 through two extremely stnall loopholes, with a view to ascer- 

 ta'n whethar their intentions wei-e peaceful or otherwise, and 

 presents an unbroken exterior with the exception of a small 

 panel containing what has been called the Royal Arms of 

 Scotland, although the bearings are somewhat different to 

 those generally used, the middle chief, fess, and honour 

 points being occupied by a hirsute individual crowned with a 

 turban, and brandishing in one hand a dagger and in the 

 other a sword. On this panel, Grose (according to his own 

 statement) perceived the date 159S, but the visitors on this 

 occasion, in common with all others who have visited it from 

 the time of the redoubtable Captain to this, have utterly 

 failed in their endeavours to make the discovery. The Castle 

 proper bears upon its front, panels for openings for five coats 

 of arms, but three only remain, and whether the other two 

 bea'ings were ever fixed or not it is impossible to tell. Those 

 still in existence are in good preservation ; one, however, is 



