SCOTLAND. 28? 



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 sjyde of architecture. It is, however, difficult to assign them to any but 

 the Picts, as they stand in their dominions : and some sculptures upon 

 that at Brechin denote it to be of Christian origin. It is not indeed 

 impossible that these sculptures are of a later date. Besides these two 

 pillars, many other Pictish buildings are found in Scotland, but not 

 in the same style. 



The vestiges of erections by the ancient Scots themselves are not 

 only curious but instructive, as they regard many important events 

 of their history. That people had amongst them a rude notion of 

 sculpture, by which they transmitted the actions of their kings and 

 heroes. At a place called Aberlemno, near Brechin, four or five 

 ancient obelisks are still to be seen, called the Danish stones of 

 Aberlemno. They are erected as commemorations of the Scotch 

 victories over that people ; and are adorned with bas-reliefs of men 

 on horseback, and many emblematical figures and hieroglyphics, 

 not intelligible at this day. Many other historical monuments of the 

 Scots have been discovered ; but it must be acknowledged that the 

 obscurity of their sculptures has opened a field of boundlesss and 

 frivolous conjectures, so that the interpretations of many of them are 

 often fanciful. Among these the stone near the town of Forress, or 

 Fortrose, in Murray, far surpasses all the others in magnificence 

 and grandeur, " and is," says Mr. Gordon, " perhaps, one of the most 

 stately monuments of that kind in Europe." it rises about 23. feet 

 in height above ground, and is, as I am credibly informed, no less 

 than 12 or Is feet below ; so that the whole height is at least 35 feet, 

 and its breadth near five. It is all one single and entire stone; great 

 variety of figures in relievo are carved on it, and some of them are 

 still distinct and visible; but the injury of the weather has obscured 

 those towards the upper part. Though this monument has been 

 generally considered as Danish, yet it is not improbable that it is 

 Scottish, and was erected in commemoration of the final expulsion 

 of the Danes out of Murray, where they held their last settlement in 

 Scotland, after the defeat they received from Malcolm, a few years 

 belore the Norman invasion. 



At Sandwick, in Ross-shire, is a very splendid ancient obelisk, 

 surrounded at the base with large, well-cut flag stones, formed like 

 steps. Both sides of the column are covered with various enrich- 

 ments, in well-finished carved work. One face presents a sump- 

 tuous cross, with a figure of St Andrew on each hand, and some 

 uncouth animals and flowrings underneath. The central division, on 

 the reverse, exhibits a variety of curious figures, birds and 

 animals. 



The ruins of the cathedral of Elgin are very striking ; and many 

 parts of that fine building have still the remains of much grandeur 

 and dignity in them. The west door is highly ornamented ; there is 

 much elegance in the carvings, and the whole edifice displays very 

 elaborate workmanship. 



Among the remains of ancient castles, may be mentioned Kildrumy 

 castle in the north of Scotland, which was formerly a place of great 

 strength and magnificence, and often used as an asylum to noble fami- 

 lies in times of civil war. Inverugie castle, the ancient seat of the 

 earl-marcschals of Scotland, is also a large and lofty pile, situated on 

 a steep bank of the river; two very high towers bound the front, and, 

 even in their decaying state, give the castle an air of much grandf ur 



