London to John O'Groafs. 363 



commands. But Nature has erected grand and lofty 

 observatories near by in the Moncrieffe and Kinnoull 

 Hills, from which a splendid prospect is unrolled to the 

 eye. There is some historical or legendary authority 

 for the idea that the Homans contemplated this view 

 from Moncrieffe Hill ; and, as the German army re- 

 turning homeward from France, shouted with wild 

 enthusiasm, at its first sight, Dcr Rhein ! Der Rhein ! 

 so these soldiers of the Csesars shouted at the view of 

 the Tay and the Corse of Growrie, Ecce Tiber ! Ecce 

 Campus Martins ! There was more patriotism than 

 parity in the comparison. The Italian river is a Rhine 

 in history, but a mere Groose Creek within its actual 

 banks compared with the Tay. In history Perth has 

 its full share of " love and murder," rhyme and 

 romance, sieges, battering and burning, royals and 

 rebels. In the practical life of to-day, it is a pro- 

 gressive, thriving town, busy, intelligent, respected and 

 honorable. The two natural features which would 

 attract, perhaps, the most special attention of the tra- 

 veller are the two Inches, North and South, divided 

 by the city. This is a peculiar Scotch term which an 

 untravelled American will hardly understand. It has 

 no relation to measurement of any kind ; but signifies 

 what we should call a low, level green or common in or 

 adjoining a town. The Inches of Perth are, to my 



