THE FISHERS OF '^TOTlIET,n. 325 



striking and beautiful portion of scripture narrative, in which the Sa- 

 viour is represented as being led up by the prince of fallen angels to 

 the hjo-hest situation of a great mountain, whence was shown him at 

 one comprehensive glance all the kingdoms of the world and tb« 

 glory thereof. Here your eye ranges, without being molested by any 

 intervening object, over a great proportion of Aberdeen and Banff- 

 shires, and over the largest portion of the lower districts of Moray- 

 shire — and the landscape is interspersed in beautiful proportions with 

 the lights and shades of hill and dale, and wood and vale ; with the 

 half gloomy majesty of towering rugged mountains, whose summits 

 seem to embrace the canopy of heaven — and with the richest and most 

 luxuriant plains of which Scotland can boast,— altogether producing 

 an effect on the spectator, who possesses any relish for the beauties of 

 external nature, which must be felt before it can be imagined. 



It is unnecessary to say that, with the sea continually before them, 

 the villagers of Stotfield who remained at home were at all times 

 accustomed to look with an anxious eye to the movements of those 

 of their relatives and friends who, in the prosecution of their usual 

 vocation, had in the little barks cast themselves on the bosom of the 

 mighty waters. On the morning in question, they were not indif- 

 ferent observers of their progress to and fro on the surface of the 

 sea. After being some time "out," they saw them hoize their 

 sails and prepare for their return, most probably after having had a 

 successful take. They proceeded gradually homewards, as the slight 

 breeze, which by this time stirred the air, enabled them, until within 

 about a quarter of a mile of the shore, when a tremendous gale 

 from landward sprung up with what may be termed an instantaneous 

 suddenness. The sails were in a moment taken down, and every 

 oar was immediately put in requisition, in the hope of being thereby 

 able to make head against the wind. Every hand exerted himself 

 vrith more than supernatural strength ; but all their endeavours did 

 not enable them to make any perceptible progress towards land. 

 Although the sky was perfectly clear, the gale had by this time in- 

 creased to a perfect hurricane. 



Those in the little village now saw the imminent danger to which 

 the fishermen were exposed ; and in a few moments its entire popu- 

 lation, old men, women, and children, were at the shore. But what 

 could they do? What could a legion of the most able bodied men in 

 the kingdom, though present, have done for the unfortunate beings 

 exposed to the relentless fury of the raging element ? Nothing at all. 

 The loud roarings of the sea — its mighty swells — combined with the 

 number and magnitude of its breakers, constituted a striking speci- 

 men of the terrifically sublime. The scene which was by this time 

 presented on the shore was scarcely less affecting to behold than that 

 of the boats in distress. The number altogether standing by the 

 sea-side may have been about ninety. Never shall we forget the 

 agony and despair depicted in the most legible characters on their 

 countenances, as they every moment expected to witness their 

 fathers, husbands, brothers, and others related to them by the ties of 

 the closest consanguinity, precipitated into the midst of the travailing 

 ocean. The women ran about with dishevelled iiair, uttering 



M.M.— No. 4. 2 A 



