( ) 
I. Part of a Letter tvrote by Mr. James Frafer, 
Minifier of Kirkhil, near Invcrnes, to Ja. 
Wallace at Edinburgh, concerning the Lakg 
Nefs, ^c* 
TH E Lake Nefs, though oft mentioned by our Hi- 
ftorians as one of the Wonders of Scotland, yet 
they give but an ill Account of it. This Lake, accord- 
ing to our Highland Tradition and Bards, has its Name 
from one Nyjm an Irijh Hero, that fix d a Colony in 
Stratharig, with Dornadtllo his Wife. The Promonto- 
ry, upon which he had his Refidence, is to this Diy cal- 
led DoHH Dearnill ; and he being the firfTthat ever of- 
fered to fet out Boat or Barge upon this Lake, it is after 
him called Loch Nefs. As to its Dimenfions, it is twen- 
ty four Miles in length, and in moft Places two in 
bi-eadth. In many Parts of this Lake it bath been 
founded, but no bottom found. One George Scot, who 
built a great Ship here for the T^enetian Service, tried 
yoo Fathoms, but all in vain. And when the Engli(h 
had their Garrifon at Inverness they had a Frigat which 
ufually failed from one end to another, with Provifion, 
to their Garrifon at ///w/bc^^ ; and one Orton, Captain 
to.the Frigat, told me, that he tried a whole Barrel of 
Plum-line, tut found no bottom. The Banks of this 
Lake afcend high and mouncanous, with Woods. The 
Lake never freezes, which is imputed to the many great 
Springs and Fountains in it ; the only Fi(h in it is Sal- 
mon. This Lake Nefs difcharges it felf in a River of 
the fame Name, fix Miles in length, which never freezes, 
but ftill fmoaks with Frcft ; and from this Smoak is 
fpread a Fogg over all the adjacent Country. The Ri- 
ver runs flow ; the Poet gave it this Epithet. 
Nejfa flues lente^ tamen auhnirahile c/i^u 
Vndas non pojfu hrma domare tnas. Upon 
