Autumnal Ravings. 205 



first importance. But with every desire to converse of the 

 bard whom we all loved, the thing was not easy while the 

 steamer was racing into Loch Ryan at something like 

 thirteen knots an hour, and fresh landscapes were opening 

 out, bringing fresh suggestions, and fresh topics ' of con- 

 versation. 



So Burns and all the romantic associations of his name 

 passed from the mind, while a north country professor, 

 to whom the severest mathematics are pastime, and who 

 smokes the strongest tobacco ever blackened into twist, 

 walked aft, the black ribbons of his bonnet fluttering, and 

 his deep bass voice undertoning something which sounded 

 remarkably like Auld Lang Syne. The narrow green-lined 

 loch was a delightful termination of the North Channel 

 passage, and you may begin your dawdling as soon as you 

 choose after touching ground at Stranraer. I believe there 

 yet remain people who can find subject for admiration in 

 other than the modern rule-of-thumb riband system of 

 gardening, and to such might be mentioned the ruins of 

 Castle Kennedy, near Stranraer, where the magnificent 

 grounds are kept in the good old-fashioned style of land- 

 scape gardening, and where it is shown that the true business 

 of art in gardening is to serve and not stamp out 

 nature. 



In a mountainous country if you have a choice in the 

 matter, always halt near the mouth of a river; and if a salmon 

 river all the better. As a rule, it may be taken for granted 

 that you are then in a position to command the pick of the 

 neighbouring scenery. Up the stream will be whatever 

 there are of glens, and bums, and moorland. A little thought 

 upon the character and predilections of the salmon might 

 ' almost excuse you for passing your plate for a second slice 

 of the curded delicacy. He leaps and fights his way through 



