Tk _ I* 
eie 15 a native wildnefs and beauty in the charaCteriftic appellations which 
Huntings eaf in glen fiodich * 
O^^OSIT-E to the demefne of Aa chin down Caftle, and in the midft of a vaft 
P) t ' ra ‘-' t forefl lands, in this diftridl of highland country belonging to the 
Ce KE 0F Gordon, a romantic entrance to the fields of game is conftituted by this 
arno raJ Btai '• It is a deep, winding, narrow valley, ftretching up for feveral miles 
Vv °od^ ^ lC vvdde ^ mounta ins ; the frequent groves, and great quantities of natural 
\Vatp * Ipf ea d the declivities by which it is formed, had given the rivulet that 
ers **• the title of the Woody Stream +. 
p. i 
tion nSU:i ^ tthefe remote di drifts, which interefts travellers of tafte in their deriva- 
§ha ^ ' lc y are not to be overlooked, though taken from a rude and obfolete lan- 
p 0 ,.^ C ' whether of Coptic or Caledonian extraction, original epithets are equally im- 
ant to Hiftory and Philofophy. , 
Ila ti v Cn aS a ' D0Ve are more peculiarly pleafing to thofe who have a relifh for the 
th e 6 ^ eaut: tes of poetic imagery. The Son of Fingai., who has immortalized 
^ r >e\v" 1 ^' Ul ' ei '^ Ue S randei,r die C^d-onian wilds in his fong, fhews how well he 
d,ef c ■ the em phahs and value .of thefe characters ; they realize while they animate 
Jj Q 'P don J and make the effeCt of the paintings of fancy find its way to the heart. 
Whi ch ER \ n ° ^ C ^' S addre ^ s than Ossian, availed himfelf of the vaft advantage 
iPj er) deferiptions derived from the appropriated epithets of countries and of 
Tl c 
ejigj. e Itiblime . genius of Poetry was ever indebted to thefe for much of her 
Vo r] b / and influence : They belong to original Nature — place us as in a primaeval 
fo C j and mud: be equally charming in the rudeft and moft polifhed periods of 
ty. 
of th The River of Woods,” — “ The Valley of Pvocks,”— “ The Tree of the Cave 
tlef c . C — more forcibly raife the, feene in view, than a long and elaborate 
^ n Ption. 
to ( [ ( t dds apology fuffice, and arreft the rifing fmile, for having recourfe at times 
-pi Nations from a dialed that is fo little known. 
VVoods this foreft abounding with deer, and the hills of heath with game, 
ber e , lt: an e Iigible field of enterprize for iportfmen in the autumnal months ; and 
le i°vers of the chace, of courfe, frequently aflemble. 
, J he derivation of this name authorizes tome alteration in its orthography. 
See Note, Au-chindown Caitle, 12, 
o 
A larger 
