NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 383 



to meet us. Moreover his lordship brought with him something to amuse 

 and interest all the party. This was a lot of antique articles which had 

 been a few days before dug up on the hill of Macduff; amongst which 

 were a pair of bracelets and a spear head, and also some ear-rings, en- 

 closed in an earthen jar, composed of what is called terra cotta, and 

 supposed to have been placed where it was found for security, or perhaps 

 as a votive offering to the manes of some illustrious person. 



Our evening passed most agreeably, as indeed it could not fail to do in 

 the society of two such lively companions as our host and his noble 

 brother; but one circumstance of more than usual interest occurred, 

 and particularly so to one like myself, — a stranger to the social system 

 of the country ; but one who is of opinion that the kindly influence of 

 rank and fortune is never more powerful in its effects, than when 

 extended to persons who have conducted themselves properly and faith- 

 fully in the capacity of confidential servants. It happened that on this 

 evening the principal keeper of the Earl of Fife, and who had been for a 

 long series of years in the family, arrived at Dalgety for the purpose of 

 seeing the earl, and the general ordered him into the dining-room, where 

 a chair was placed for him by his side. 



Here then was a fine subject for a painter, as well as a pleasing scene 

 to the philanthropist! Donald M'Kenzie — such was his name — with 

 his long grey locks and ruddy countenance, which plainly denoted the 

 nature of the occupation he had followed, placed in the seat of honour, 

 and with a bumper of old port wine in his hand, pledging to his laird and 

 the company in the full dialect of his nation, and evidently in the ful- 

 ness of his heart. Nor did the agreeable interlude end here. Nothing 

 could induce Donald to take a second glass of wine, such was the pro-. 



