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and its people, ‘the men of the Mearns.’ In the old Irish 
Annals they are called ‘Viri na Moerne.’ There are many 
interesting particulars connected with the parish of Fordun. 
John de Fordun, author of the Scotichronicon, was either a 
native of it, or resided there, when he wrote his History of 
Scotland. It was the native parish of George Wishart the 
Scottish martyr; of the eccentric Lord Monboddo; and of 
Beattie, author of ‘ the Minstrel.’ Further, it was the locale 
of the famous shrine of St. Palladius. The remains of Paldy 
Chapel are still standing ; there is still Paldy, or Pady Fair ; 
and there is a well in the minister’s garden, called St. Palla- 
dius’ Well. Some will have it, that the famous Saint actually 
lived, died, and was buried here. I am not sufficiently ac- 
quainted with our early ecclesiastical history to give any 
opinion on the subject ; but I am disposed to agree with those 
who think that Pady Chapel was built, not by the Saint, but 
by some of his Irish disciples, who came to this part of Scot- 
land, probably with some of his relics. His mission certainly 
was to Ireland, ‘ ad Scotos in Christum credentes. The 
earlier Christian churches in this quarter were certainly Co- 
lumban ; but some may have been of Ninian, or Palladian 
origin. Even at the early period referred to, the spirit of ec- 
clesiastical rivalry seems to have been at work. At all events 
the chapel of St. Palladius was always accounted the oe 
church of the Mearns. 
‘* But to come to the matter in hand: the ancient monument 
to which I refer (some account of which was first given by the 
late Professor Stuart, of Marischal College, Aberdeen), was 
first observed upon taking down the old church of Fordun, 
some sixty years ago. ‘ It had been placed horizontally as a 
base for the pulpit to rest on, and was considered of so little 
consequence, as to be thrown aside for many years into the old 
a chapel of St. Palladius, hard by.’ This old church of F ordun 
was so old, that it was new roofed about 360 years ago. After 
lying neglected for a long time, the old stone attracted the 
