96 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 
Britain ; we passed some fine country-seats on the 
road; had a long way the distant Grampian Hills, 
on which “my father fed his flocks,” in full view; 
and somewhat late in a fine moonlight evening I ar- 
rived at Perth. As the stage which passed Arlary 
left Perth at nine o’clock in the morning, and I could 
not afford to spend a day here, I of course saw little 
of this famous town... . A pleasant ride brought 
me to Arlary at eleven o’clock A. M., and Arnott was 
by the roadside awaiting my arrival. I was sorry to 
learn that he is not a general favorite among his 
brother botanists ; but although most of them possess 
greater advantages, he has but one superior in Great 
Britain, and in most departments very few equals. 
He received me with great kindness, and I have spent 
a few days with him very pleasantly indeed. He is a 
hearty, good fellow, and improves vastly on acquain- 
tance. I was exceedingly pleased with Mrs. Arnott, 
who is exceedingly amiable and lively. On Sunday it 
stormed terribly, so that we were unable to leave the 
house. On Tuesday I dined with Mr. and Mrs. 
Arnott, Mr. Wemyss, the clergyman of the parish, an- 
other clergyman, etc., at Mr. Barclay’s, Arnott’s 
father-in-law, about six miles from Arlary. About 
one o'clock to-day, taking leave of Mrs. A. I rode 
with Arnott to Kinross, and leaving Arnott to write 
some letters at the hotel in the mean time, I took a 
boat to Loch Leven Castle, — the prison of the lovely 
and ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots... . 
On returning to the hotel I found that Arnott had 
picked up the dominie of his parish, and had our din- 
ner in readiness. The expected coach arrived soon 
after, but was crowded. I am consequently obliged to 
wait for the mail which passes about two o’clock in the 
