MR SHANKS OF BUCKIE. ^53 



the Dasher is again under weigh, and her engines thump- 

 ing the table like a bull. This is the chief disadvantage 

 of a steamer compared with the Princess Royal; the 

 tremulous motion makes it very difficult to write.) We 

 carefully inspected Wliitehills, Portsoy, Sandend, Port 

 Knockie, Findochtie, Port Essie, Buckie, Port Gordon, 

 Speymouth, Lossiemouth, Hopman, and Burghead. This 

 took us two days. On the Tuesday morning we went 

 ashore at Buckie, chiefly to see the Free Church clergy- 

 man, Mr Shanks, who takes a great interest in the fishing 

 population, and has been extremely useful to them in 

 every way. Unfortunately, he was from home, and a 

 good many miles oft'; so we could only leave our cards. 

 His old housekeeper was like to cry, and implored us to 

 come back in the afternoon, as Mr Shanks would be so 

 much disappointed at missing ' the Government.' I sup- 

 pose she took us for Lord John Russell and Sir George 

 Grey at the very least. We find the man-of-war in the 

 offing, and the cut of the boat's crew when we land, have 

 a great and beneficial effect. The coast-guard men are 

 always on the look-out when we go ashore, and aid us in 

 every way, 



" We were about ten hours each of these days in an 

 open boat, without meat or drink, under a broiling sun, 

 ever and anon jumping on jetties, jabbering to men, 

 women, and children, who gather and gape around us, 



