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CHAPTER IV. 



NIDDRIE BLACKGUARD WORKMEN MILLER PREJUDICED BY 



THEM AGAINST THEIR CLASS HIS OPINIONS ON TRADES* 



UNIONS THE ' BOATMAN'S TALE ' RETURNS TO CROMARTY. 



MILLER soon found employment in his trade. The 

 scene of his labour during his residence near Edin- 

 burgh was the village of Niddrie, where he was one of a 

 company of workmen engaged in building an addition 

 to Niddrie House. To give ourselves a vivid idea of the 

 locality, exactly as it impressed itself upon him at the 

 time, we cannot do better than avail ourselves of his own 

 description, which we find in a letter to Uncle Alexander 

 dated 15th December, 1824. 



' We shall, if you please, ascend the highest pinnacle 

 of Niddrie House, and from thence survey the country. 

 As far as the eye can reach in an east or southern direc- 

 tion, a low unvaried flat presents itself, gradually rising 

 as it recedes from the sight into low, swelling hills, and 

 falling with a sweep as gradual towards the frith of 

 Eorth, which from this elevation appears in all its extent 

 glittering with many sails. Upon the north and west 

 the face of the country is of a bolder character. Arthur's 

 Seat and Salisbury Crags upon the one hand, and the 

 blue heathy Pentland hills upon the other, will remind 

 us of the beautiful and picturesque scenery which sur- 



