Maria Riddkll, hie I-'riilM) of Birxs. 27 



.Maria Riddcll has loft an intcreslinif " Copy of a letter 

 to Mrs. \\'.," probably Mrs. Woodley, her mother: — 



" lidinburi^h, January .^oth, 179^ Wg set out 



on Tuesday morning- from Friars Carse, accompanied by 

 our Caledonian bard, the celebrated Burns, on an expe- 

 dition not very dissimilar, I think, to that of the memor- 

 able Don Quixote in the Cave of Montesinos. It was 

 nolhingf less than to explore the Lead Mines at Wanlock 

 Head, reckoned one of the most curious in Scotland. I 

 do not look upon rising- a couple of hours before llic sun 

 in this dreary month of January, as one of the most 

 trifling- proofs of our Knig-ht Errantry. We set off befcjre 

 day break, and arrived in time to l)reakfast at Sanc|uh;!r. " 

 Here a postchaise for W'anlockhead was taken, and the 

 beauties of the majestic scenery " joined to the interesting- 

 remarks and fascinating; conversation of our friend Burns, 

 not only beguiled the tediousness of the road, but like- 

 wise made us forget its danger ; for it borders the edge 

 of a profound precipice, at the bottom of which a clear 

 brook guides its rapid course over a pebbly bed inter- 

 sected with rocks. When we had attained (on foot for 

 the most part) the summits of these hills, one of the 

 principal miners conducted us across them to the foot of 

 another mountain, where a dark and narrow cavern is 

 carved in the solid rock. This we entered, each of us 

 holding a taper and bidding .Adieu for some hours at least 

 to the fair light of day. The roof is so low, that we were 

 obliged to stoop almost double, wading up to the mid 

 leg in clay and water ; and the stalactical fluid continually 

 dropping from the rock upon our heads, contributed to 

 wet us completely thro'. The roof is supported by beanis 

 of timber; these our conductors desired us to hold by, as 

 the footpath is extremely narrow ; but the beams were so 

 wet and slimy that I found them of little service, and 

 soon cut my gloves to pieces by clinging to the points of 

 the rocks. .After we had proceeded about a mile in the 

 cavern, the damp and confined air affected our fellow 

 iidventurer Burns so much, that we resolved to turn back. 



