THE MANSE OF ALNESS. 27 



tioned by Miss Fraser, is beautifully situated on the 

 north of the Cromarty Frith. It was occupied in 1835 

 by the late Rev. Mr Flyter and his family. Through- 

 out the north of Scotland, where the manses had from 

 time immemorial been centres of hospitality in their dis- 

 tricts, none was more noted for cordial, generous, and 

 delicate hospitality than the manse of Alness. ' I was 

 received at Alness,' writes Miss Fraser, 'with great 

 affection. The increase of wealth there has not blunted 

 any of the finer emotions of the heart. I could perceive 

 some changes ; the simple manse is turned by additions 

 and improvements into something like a mansion-house, 

 and the glebe cultivated to resemble a gentleman's 

 pleasure-grounds ; I could perceive, too, among the in- 

 mates, something of an aristocratic turn of idea, caught 

 from the society of the neighbouring proprietors. But 

 in piety, and the discharge of pastoral duty, there is no 

 change. The spirit of the Presbyterian minister, as he 

 was in the days when the success of the gospel was all 

 to him, is kept alive in Ross-shire in perhaps greater 

 strength than in any other part of Scotland. The 

 ministers of the contiguous parishes for many miles 

 round meet every month in the house of each alternately, 

 to inquire into the state of their parishioners, and to 

 implore the aid of the Holy Spirit. Thus they pass a 

 whole evening. 



' We had for two evenings the society of which I am 

 so enthusiastically fond, that of a genuine Celt. I 

 sang and played, and he showed a fine taste for music. 

 I repeated some verses, he criticized them at once 

 with the most just conception. The conversation be- 

 came general ; he showed the best sense and soundest 

 practical observation ; his grasp was not extensive, but 

 his ideas were all clear and well-defined, and he had 



