NIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. 273 



<legree, but from a consideration of the labour, the cost, and the 

 artifice employed in its construction. 



My limits will not admit of a minute description of the interior 

 of this fine seat, but I must devote a few lines to it, if it were 

 only to bear me out in what I have said of its exterior. I will 

 begin with the entrance-hall, rendered interesting by an abund- 

 ance of military and sporting insignia, of almost all ages and all 

 nations, intermixed with escutcheons of the family arms, which 

 are supported by two eagles, with the appropriate motto, " Tanti 

 talem genuere parentes." The cloisters are one hundred and 

 fifteen feet in length, on the stained glass windows of which are 

 emblazoned the arms of successive Earls of Strathearn and Both- 

 well, progenitors of the house of Abercairney. 



There are two splendid drawing-rooms in the abbey, one fifty 

 feet in length, the other twenty-two square, furnished in the most 

 elegant style ; and which, together with a library, and conserva- 

 tory, form a suite of apartments to an extent seldom witnessed in 

 any private house ; the dining-room is forty feet by twenty-three, 

 just the proper size to be warmed, when it is wanted to be warm, 

 by the aid of one good fire. 



The present laird is a well-bred one, being the fifteenth in de- 

 scent from the first proprietor the head of a family, in short, 

 from which the Dukes of Athol, Earls of Dunmore, Mansfield, 

 and Dysart are descended. He married a daughter of the late 

 General Sir William Erskine, Bart., of Torrie, in the county of 

 Fife, but has at present no family. 



My arrival at the abbey was far from being devoid of interest. 

 Whilst talking of Mr. Moray, of Abercairney, my Scotch friends, 

 I perceived, always called him "Abercairney," but I little 

 dreamed that no one about his own house called him anything 

 else. Guess my surprise then, when on the door being opened to 

 me by a fine young Highlander, in the strict costume of his 

 country, I received the following answer to the question- " Is 

 Mr. Moray at home ?" " Abercairney is walking in the park, sir, 

 but he will be home in half an hour." " Abercairney !" said I to 

 myself; "what the devil does the fellow mean by calling his 

 laird by this familiar name \" However, I was soon enlightened 

 -on the subject by mine host himself, and as I found every one 

 called him " Abercairney," of course I followed suit. I was dis- 

 appointed at not finding him in the kilt, when he came down, 

 -dressed for dinner, which I was told I should ; but he did not 

 wear it at all during my visit to him, in consequence of his having 

 just recovered from the effects of a severe cold. 



Abercairney having this day returned from a short visit to 

 .Edinburgh on business, our party at dinner was small. It was 



18 



