i^9^ (i^strtpticin'of "the plate.' 137 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. 



The plate exhibits a view of the ruins of a monaster j 

 on a small island in .the Frith of Forth, called Inch 

 Colm, and a distant prospect of the city of Edinburgh, 

 with the Pentland 'lills behind it. 



■ This island was originally called EvoNtA or 

 ^MOWA. Under the first name it is described by 

 Lesly bifliop of Rofs *, and Buchanan distinguiflie* 

 it by the last name f ; both of which historians, wiih 

 little variation, record the following transactions re- 

 ispecting it. 



' Akxander i. having been nearly wrecked, had the 

 -good fortune to get safe fhelter upon this island, Vv'here 

 h'e was forced to remain for three days that the storm 

 oontinued. In memory of this event he built a temple 

 here in honour of St Columba, from which the island 

 derives its modern name, and endowed it with lands 

 for the maintenance of canons. It is the ruins of 

 this structure which are represented in the plate. 



The building is now almost entirely unroofed, and 

 in ruins. It has been of considerable extent, and, be- 

 sides out-buildings, has consisted of acomplete square, 

 inclosing an inner conrt of no great extent. Most 

 of the apartments have been vaulted. The church is 

 an octagon of small dimensions, and tolerably entire 

 at present. 



The register of this abbey reports, that Allan Mor- 

 ■timer, laird of Aherdour^ gave the half of his lands to 



* Deorigjne moribus & gcstis Scot. RDUia?, 4tc. 1578,. p. 220. 



t Hisr. Ultraj. %\': 1668 p. 217.' 



VOL. xi. S j- 



