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esque views at this place are perhaps scarce to be equalled. The first thing to which a stranger visiting Roslin is directed, is the elegant antique chapel, which stands in the immediate vicinity of the village. This chapel was founded, by William St. Clair, earl of Orkney and Caithness, ia the year 1446. In the inside, the chapel is de corated with a vast number of sculptured figures, chiefly representing pieces of Scripture history. Round the range of Gothic pillars which encircle it are thirteen niches, which most probably were filled with statues of our Saviour and the twelve apostles. At the east end, a little elevated above the rest of the floor, the high altar has stood; and at the west end is a monument, in fine preservation, erected to the memory of George earl of Caithness, who died in 1582. At the front of the third and fourth pillars, between them and the north wall, is a large flag-stone, covering the family vault. Ten barons of Roslin are buried here. By the side of this is a stone, upon which is sculptured a knight, with his legs crossed, and a dog, the emblem of fidelity, at his feet. Leading from the high altar, at the cast

The pillars appear of a verdegris colour, owing to their being covered by a minute plant, of rare occurrence, called by Linnæus Byssus ær u inosa.

end of the chapel, is an under-ground apartment, or small chapel, founded by Elizabeth, countess of Buchan, the wife of William above mentioned.

A little way from the chapel stand the ruins of Roslin Castle, most romantically situated upon a rising ground above the North Esk. It is uncertain when this castle was built. About the year 1100 William de Sancto Clero, son of Waldernus Compte de Clair, who came to England with William the Conqueror, obtained from Malcom Canmore a great part of the lands and ba

rony of Roslin. It might probably be built about that time. In history little or no mention of this castle occurs till the year 1455, when we read of sir James Hamilton being confined in it by James II. It was burnt down in 1544 by the

English forces under the earl of Hartford. In 1650 it surrendered to General Monk. The modern part of the castle was rebuilt in the year 1563. This part of it was the late general Sinclair's residence, and is yet commonly inhabited during the summer season. The other parts of the castle present only a ruin of great magnitude; large masses of the walls, which are of immense thickness, having here and there fallen down. What remains, however, is sufficient to give an idea of the magnificence and security in which the powerful barons of Scotland lived in former times. The access to the castle is by a narrow bridge, over a deep natural ravine, the sides of which are solid rock. Roslin castle gives its name to a beautiful Scottish song.

Hawthornden stands about two miles below Roslin, on the top of a steep impending precipice of freestone rock, overhanging the river North Esk. In the face of the rock are seen the loop-holes and windows of the caves or dens from which, in 1341, the brave Alexander Ramsay often sallied out, with his gallant companions, in his predatory excursions against the English invaders. Hawthornden is a building of considerable antiquity; but the time it was first erected is unknown. It occurs in record as a fortalice. in the year 1433, but it is apparently much older. One part of it is a large vaulted tower, grafted on the native rock. In the upper part of this building there is a plane-tree growing, of considerable size. The gate of entrance, though of more modern date than the tower, is probably older than the dwelling-house; the iron gate was lately remaining. Under and near the mansion are two ranges of caves scooped out of the rock, probably places to secure the people and their effects in the wars between the Scots and Endish. The buildings now inhabited were partly rebuilt by William Drummond of Hawthornden, the celebrated historian and poet, in the year 1638. Drummond spent the greater part of his life in this beautiful retirement, and here wrote his History of the Jameses, and his Poems,

The scenery around Hawthorden, as indeed all along the banks of the North Esk, is beauti ful and romantic; and a walk by its course will well reward the trouble of the stranger.

Melville Castle, the seat of the Hon. Robert Dundas, stands on the northern bank of the North Esk, near to the village and parish church of Laswade, at the distance of about five miles southwest from Edinburgh, and about three milles west from Dalkeith. The principal part of the building is of a square form, with circular towers at the angles, of elegant workmanship. Two wings, of a less height than the other parts of the edifice, but of equal elegance, are attached to it. Melville Castle, being rather in a low situation, enjoys no very extensive prospects, and is not