meafure depended on the protection which the ftrength of their walls, and the 
force of the garrifon, afforded. 
In the beginning of this century there were ruins of a very ancient caftle on it. 
In 1718 thefe were made the quarry, to aid in building a more extenfive new one. 
This was done at the expence of government, to conftitute it a place d'armes , 
where a garrifon might refide, to keep in- awe the clans of thofe parts, which at 
that time had the fpirit prevalent among them of nowife fubmitting to the yoke 
of regular government. As the walls are moftly all (landing entire, numbers of 
large apartments are obfervable : the officers had been fpacioudy lodged ; and the 
barracks would accommodate a hundred men with eafe. In Auguft 1745 it was 
affaulted by a numerous body of the Highland army, but without effect. In 
1746, however, they carried a fimilar attack, and let the buildings on fire and it 
has not fince that time been repaired. 
The former caftle was of old a famous hunting- feat. It is fituated in a country 
renowned for the fplendid entertainments of the chace. §>ueen Mary is faid to have 
frequently indulged in the pleafures of hunting in the neighbouring forefts. There 
is (hewn a rocky mount, which is called « Stroan ne Paren ,” Carn Queen, at which 
Ihe either pitched her tent, or had other temporary refidence j and it became ce- 
lebrated as the place where the royal perfonage was wont to be feen. 
i John Taylor , a man of fome deferiptive talents, in an account of his journey to 
the North of Scotland, which he calls a Pennilefs Pilgrimage , makes particular men- 
tion of the entertainments he met with in this corner. 
“ Having fpent,” fays he, “ certain days (anno 1618) in hunting in the Brae 
" of Marr, we went to the next county, called Badenoch , belonging to the Earl of 
“ Engle , where having fuch fport and entertainment as we formerly had, after 
tf four or five days paftime, we took leave of hunting for t'- . year ; and took our 
ff journey toward a ftrong houfe of the Earl’s, called Ru.hven in Badenoch, where 
“ my Lord of Engle, and his noble Countefs (being daughter to the Earl of 
ft Argyle) did give us moil noble welcome three days.” 
1 
