1817-32. HOLIDAY PLEASURES. 23 



by the class under Mr. Benjamin Mackay's care ; and there, and 

 subsequently in the Rector's class-rooms, George maintained his 

 place among the rivals of the first form ; while at leap-frog, 

 foot-and-a-half, trap-bat and ball, or other sports in the yards, 

 or at a snow-ball bicker, or a Duddingston Loch skating-match, 

 he was quite as ready as for the quieter pleasures of a botanical 

 holiday ramble. 



"The vacation of 1831 was long remembered by us for its 

 holiday pleasures. In company with our father we extended 

 our wanderings into the Highlands of Argyleshire, spent a couple 

 of days at Strachur, on the banks of Loch Fine, in the house where 

 he was born, and looked with wonder -and delight on a well- 

 grown rowan tree, or mountain ash, which he had planted when 

 a boy. 



" Strachur and its parental associations had a thousand charms 

 for us. Loch and mountain filled us with delight ; and in ferry- 

 ing over to Inverary, and the wonders of the Duke's castle there, 

 it was long remembered by us with pleasure, that a whale 

 abruptly rose to the surface, so near us as to occasion our High- 

 land boatmen no little apprehension. The following letter was 

 written then : 



' DEAR MOTHER, We are now safe at Cumbernauld. After 

 arriving at Glasgow, we sailed down the Clyde on Tuesday, and 

 saw, besides many other things, Dumbarton Castle, and at 

 four o'clock we reached Holy Loch. When we came on shore, 

 we went into a sociable or car, which carried us to Loch Eck. 

 We crossed Loch Eck in a little steamboat ; the engineers were 

 young boys. After landing on the other side of Loch Eck, we 

 walked to Strachur, where, on the road, we saw little boys with 

 kilts, and a little pig came running to us. When we arrived at 

 Strachur, John and I slept in the bed where father was born. I 

 liked Strachur very much. When crossing Loch Fine we saw 

 a whale rise and turn himself over, and we saw his back fin ; 

 the ferryman said he often saw them, and if they came near, the 

 least motion of the oar frightened them away ; he also added, 

 that when they are frightened, they squeak like a pig. We saw 

 many other animals : in the canal, a water-rat and hedgehog 



