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 fomid 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 



