2 24 NIMRO&S NOR THERN TO UR. 



9 



rose next morning very little the worse for it. Now, after this 

 declaration, what must be thought of my advocating temperance 

 in Fraser's Magazine ? All I can say is. that it is to the having 

 indulged in these jollifications but seldom, that I am able to 

 stand the brunt of them now. 



But a melancholy reflection attends the present retrospect. 

 That most worthy person, the late Provost Blakie of Aberdeen, 

 was to have been with us this day ; in fact, he did join us on the 

 following ; and now, poor man, he is in his grave, having been 

 struck with instant death. He has, however, left behind him a 

 character which his countrymen, as well as his profession, may 

 be proud of that of an honest man. Indeed, he carried about 

 him the appearance of an honest and a really good man ; the 

 " placidi reverentia vultus" struck you at first sight. 



The bee that gives the honey, also gives the wound. Our 

 party dropped off by degrees, until at length it was all dispersed, 

 and with to me, more than commonly unpleasant reflections at- 

 tendant on similar occasions namely, that, from the gulf that 

 is between us, it is probable I may never meet some of them 

 again. I remained at Keith Hall till the sixth, in the enjoyment 

 of everything my kind host could provide for me, hunting alone 

 excepted ; and on the seventh I arrived at Ury, the seat of my 

 old friend, Captain Barclay, a description of which, as well as my 

 doings there, shall form a portion of my next contribution. 



Tuesday, January 6th, left Keith Hall after an early dinner ; 

 arrived at Aberdeen at eight o'clock ; and, had it not been that 

 fate has ordered it otherwise, I should have had something to 

 have said of the manner in which I passed the time between that 

 hour and midnight. Suffice it to say, it was at the house of a 

 worthy man who has since paid the debt we must all pay. Will- 

 ing to see something more of the town, as well as unwilling to 

 rise at five, the hour of the Defiance starting, I preferred the mail 

 at three, which would land me at Ury by dinner time, according 

 to an arrangement with " the Captain," as the celebrated Captain 

 Barclay is called, who was to meet me at Stonehaven, to conduct 

 me thither. My fellow-passenger was the Mr. Ramsay, then re- 

 siding at Aberdeen, who sold the celebrated Tilbury horse, a few 

 years back, to Lord Rodney for the previously unheard-of sum of 

 seven hundred guineas ! and our guard was Fairweather, who, I 

 was told, scarcely ever puts on a great-coat, let the weather be 

 what it may. I can only vouch for his having had none on this 

 day, which was intensely cold, with showers of snow and sleet. 



The sight of a cheerful friend is like the sun breaking forth on 

 a cloudy day ; and the dulness of the inside of a coach, with 

 persons whom we never saw before, and are never likely to see 



