180 SCOTLAND GOSSAMER. 



to that mountainous and romantic country want to be well 

 distinguished. The military roads formed by General Wade, 

 are so great and Roman -like an undertaking, that they well 

 merit attention. My old map, Moll's map, takes notice of 

 Fort William ; but could not mention the other forts, that have 

 been erected long since ; therefore, a good representation of 

 the chain of forts should not be omitted. 



The celebrated zigzag up the Coryarich must not be passed 

 over. Moll takes notice of Hamilton and Drumlanrig, and 

 such capital houses ; but a new survey, no doubt, should repre- 

 sent every seat and castle remarkable for any great event, or 

 celebrated for its paintings, &c. Lord Breadalbane's seat and 

 beautiful policy are too curious and extraordinary to be omitted. 



The seat of^the Earl of Eglintoun, near Glasgow, is worthy 

 of notice. The pine plantations of that nobleman are very 

 grand and extensive indeed. 



LETTER LXV. 



TO THE HON. DAINES BARRJNGTON. 



SELBORNE, June 8, 1775. 



DEAR SIR, On September the 21st, 1741, being then on a 

 visit, and intent on field diversions, I rose before daybreak ; 

 when I came into the enclosures, I found the stubbles and 

 clover grounds matted all over with a thick coat of cobweb, in 

 the meshes of which, a copious and heavy dew hung so plen- 

 tifully that the whole face of the country seemed, as it were, 

 covered with two or three setting-nets drawn one over another. 

 When the dogs attempted to hunt, their eyes were so blinded 

 and hoodwinked that they could not proceed, but were obliged 

 to lie down and scrape the encumbrances from their faces with 

 their fore feet ; so that, finding my sport interrupted, I returned 

 home, musing in my mind on the oddness of the occurrence. 



As the morning advanced, the sun became bright and warm, 

 and the day turned out one of those most lovely ones which 

 no season but the autumn produces, cloudless, calm, serene, 

 and worthy of the south of France itself. 



About nine, an appearance very unusual began to demand 

 our attention, a shower of cobwebs falling from very elevated 

 regions, and continuing, without any interruption, till the close 

 of the day. 



^ These webs were not single filmy threads, floating in the 

 air in all directions, but perfect flakes, or rags : some near an 



