202 NOUTHEKN MEMOIRS. 



modiously situated for a Highland trade; de- 

 fended with a weather-beaten tottering wall, 

 that's defaced with age and the corruptions of 

 time, where yet there remains two parish- 

 churches : But I remember a third, that was a 

 kind of a cathedral or collegiat-church, that now, 

 like old Troy, sleeps in dust and ashes, as part 

 of the walls do, charging time and neglect with 

 their tottering decays. 



North and by east, near the forcible streams 

 of the Ness, stands the fortress, or pentagon, 

 drawn out by regular lines, built all with stone, 

 and girt about with a graff, that commodes it 

 with a convenient harbour. The houses in this 

 fair fortress are built very low, but uniform ; and 

 the streets broad and spacious, with avenues and 

 intervales for drilling of foot, or drawing up 

 horse. I must confess, such and so many are 

 the advantages and conveniencies that belong 

 to this citadel, it would be thought fabulous, if 

 but to numerate them : for that end I refer my 

 self to those that have inspected her magazines, 

 providores, harbours, vaults, graffs, bridges, sal- 

 ly-ports, cellars, bastions, horn-works, redoubts, 

 counterscarps, &c. Ocular evidence is the best 

 judg, and gives the plainest demonstration ; 

 which, without dispute, will interpret this for- 

 midable fortress a strength impregnable; and 

 the situation, as much as any, promises security 



9 



