232 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



dispute not, yet Dumbarton I should think in 

 all respects as secure, and Edinburgh- Castle as se- 

 cure as either, to conceal that treasure from de- 

 generate mercenaries, that would violate their 

 trust though they venture to hang for it. 



Arn. You are in the right on't, but the road 

 I fancy runs not so rough as it did ; nor are 

 my apprehensions of England so remote as they 

 were : both the way and the weather favour our 

 designsinthis southern expedition: for England's 

 our prospect, now propound you the object : 

 and as we ride along to the town of Montrose, 

 signify your opinion of the flourishing Aber- 

 deen. 



Theoph. You impose a little too hard upon 

 me; I can scarcely express my opinion of a place, 

 but I must be sentenced too much to commend 

 it. On the other hand, should I lessen or im- 

 pair their civilities, then you challenge me to re- 

 flect on our civil entertainments. This dilem- 

 ma I am driven to. However you cannot deny, 

 but acknowledg, that Aberdeen is sweetly situ- 

 ated, and under the government of well-regula- 

 ted magistrates : No complaint of poverty, nor 

 luxurious superfluities ; where the houses are 

 fill'd with hospitality, not with prophaneness ; 

 their streets and allies cleanly swept and paved, 

 and their church and state-house very curious- 



