BOTNE C J STL E. 
T HIS ancient refidence of the family of Findlater is beautifully fituated on the 
margin of a rocky mount, proje&ing into a deep glen, protected on the north- 
^eft by a lofty well wooded hill ; the glen winds down for about a mile to the firth, 
^here it opens among the cliffs to the fea; and there are found the ruins of ftill more 
aR cient towers, which had been occupied in former ages by the .poifelfors of this de- 
l 'nefne. The rivulet which runs through, and* by its torrents luts worn the glen, nearly 
e ncircles the mount on which the Caftle is placed 5 a ditch and ramparts, as ufual in 
foefe fortreffes, defended the accdfible fide ; where a bridge leading from the gateway 
is the h.f'ow, and only pafs, but eafily protected path of communication with the rifing 
grounds, which fpread into the rich and fertile country that conftituted the ancient 
for eft of Boyne. 
Such infulated fituations, wherever found amid luxuriant lands, where by the occa- 
rional arrangement of rocks and rivulets a natural fortrefs was in a manner formed, 
became the neceffary choice of the nobles, in thofe early ages of civilization, when the 
turbulent condition of fociety, and frequent dilfenfions of the ftate, made it often re- 
S u ifite to the peace of individual families, to defend the caufe of right by force of arms, 
dhey who maintained the chief authority in the adminillration of this kind of military 
fow, found it of the firft importance to fecure their parental refidences, which were the 
c °Urts of juftice, from affault ; fo that every feat of the nobility in thofe ages, accord- 
In g to the extent of their fway, became a fortified palace, or cafcellated houfe. 
The large eftates, the rank, and power which this family fo early held, gave them 
foriety of choice of thofe ftrong fituations wherein their numerous fortreffes and towers 
a ' e re built ; Findlater and Dejkford Cafiles , Cullen Houfe , and this of the Boyne, in Banff- 
^ ' lr e ; Auchindown, Caftle Pettre in Invernefsjhire, and Delvine Caftle in Perthjhire, all 
k ? ar their leveral teftimonies to that extent of territory, over which their anceftors bore 
fw ay. Cullen Houfe is now the only one of thofe remaining habitable, and is indeed be- 
c °rne the luxurious feat of modern fplendour, though the earl is at prefent engaged in 
Wanning out a ftill more fuperb and elegant refidence. 
The foreft of Boyne had been inclofed by a wall, part of which remains, that ftpa- 
Ta -ted the thanedom from the other eftates. This, in the end of the fourteenth century, 
," ras configned to Sir Walter Ogilvie, a fecond fon of the Findlater family, and continued 
111 foe poffeffion of his defeendants until the beginning of this century, when it was again 
fo R exed to the Earl’s eftate. 
. fo Sir Walter ' s time a quarry of marble was opened among the adjacent rocks ; it 
ra foer dark and hard, but receives a bright pclilh, and is ftill wrought with fome fuc- 
Ce ^ • it was however in high eftimation in the age of Lewis XIV. for that celebrated 
Y 2 monarch 
