HIGHLANDS OF PERTHSHIRE. 57 



wildness of native greatness, without a tree to mitigate the savage 

 aspect of the scene. Dunkeld has been very fortunate in being 

 noticed both by artists and descriptive historians ; many eloquent 

 and ready writers have celebrated its attractions. It has been 

 lauded, strangers might fancy, far beyond all the bounds of mo- 

 deration and truth. Some have entitled it the gem of Scottish 

 landscape ; others, the cynosure of Highland beauty, etc. This is 

 unquestionably high praise; yet we do not say that it is too 

 much. We had now seen the celebrities of Perthshire ; Bridge 

 of Allan, Callander, the Trosachs, the Pass of Leny, Lochearn, 

 and Killin, and last, but by no means least, Taymouth. After 

 seeing the aforesaid celebrities, we give the preference to Dun- 

 keld. We will not say that one word written in its praise is ex- 

 travagant. 



But this charming spot reminds us of the havoc that time, 

 experience, and observation make in the hoard of long-treasured 

 notions and ideas, or imaginary pictures of celebrated places. 

 We had of course pictured to ourselves a mental representation 

 of Dunkeld, and with pensive feelings we now note how unlike 

 the dreams of bygone times are the existing realities. We knew 

 there was a bridge and a river at Dunkeld, the remains of a 

 cathedral, and fine hills and trees, besides the rumbling bridge, 

 the falls, etc. This is all true. There is a river in Macedonia 

 and there is a river in Wales ; there is a river in Monmouth as 

 there is one at Dunkeld ; but that the river might be all enclosed, 

 the cathedral and churchyard shut up, even the very hills tabooed, 

 never entered into the composition of our long-cherished imagi- 

 nary picture. We never felt so keenly the force and truthfulness, 

 as well as the beauty, of a stanza in Wordsworth's ' Yarrow Un- 

 visited/ viz,, 



" The treasured dreams of times long past, 



We'll keep them winsome marrow ; 

 For when we're there, although 'tis fair, 

 'Twill prove another Yarrow." 



Dunkeld proved indeed different from the city of our imagina- 

 tion. Our treasured dreams of bygone times were dissipated by 

 the stern reality. From the aforesaid fact a useful lesson might 

 be deduced, if this were the place for moralizing. 



A moralist would say, " the reality is always exceeded by the 

 anticipation." Perhaps so. Most people can testify from expe- 



