memory with indelible infamy. Before and during this unhappy rebellion, Duncan Forbes of Culloden, Lord President of the Court of Session, distinguished no less by his talents than by his virtues, exerted himself in favour of the reigning family, and by his influence prevented many chiefs of clans from joining the standard of Prince Charles. After its suppression, he interceded with the Ministry for the unfortunate Highlanders, whose crime was mistaken loyalty; but for this conduct, which redounds to his immortal honour, he lost the favour of Government, and no remuneration was ever made to him for large sums which he expended in order to serve the State.

A mile and a-half beyond Culloden-House, the road passes Petty-kirk on the left; and near to it are the ruins of Castle Stewart, (Earl of Moray.) The road now passes through a wood, and descends to the side of the Firth. A mile and a-half further on, it reaches

FORT-GEORGE,

seated on a peninsula running into the Moray Firth, the passage of which it commands. The work was begun in 1747, under the direction of General Skinner, and cost upwards of L. 160,000. The fortress occupies fifteen English acres, and is considered the only regular fortification in Great Britain. The ramparts on three sides rise almost out of the sea, which at pleasure can be let into the fosse. The place is well supplied with water; has four bastions, mounted with eighty cannon; a bomb proof magazine; ample stores; a neat chapel ; excellent accommodation for 3000 men, but is generally garrisoned by two regiments. The batteries command an extensive view of a richly diversified country.

Another agreeable excursion may be made to Beauly, eleven miles north-west from Inverness. The road

passes through the beautiful district called the Aird, lying along the southern shore of the Beauly Firth, enlivened by boats and shipping, the dark blue mountains of Ross-shire opening in the distance. After leaving Inverness, the road crosses the Caledonian Canal; and a mile farther passes, on the right, Clachnaharry basin, the east end of the canal. A number of gentlemen's seats adorn the adjacent country. A mile behind Clachnaharry is Bunchrew, (Forbes, Esq.) two and a-half miles further, Fopachie, (Fraser, Esq.) and on the opposite side of the Firth is seen Redcastle, (Sir William Fettes, Bart.) A mile and a half further on is Warrenfield, (Warren, Esq.) upon the left; and, at the distance of another mile is Newton, (Fraser, Esq.) on the left; and on the right Kingclay. Beyond Kirkhill, on the right, is Fingask, and a little further on, upon the left is, Auchnagairn, (Fraser, Esq.) after which, upon the same side, appears Relig, (Fraser, Esq.) and next, Moneach Castle, (Fraser of Lovat.) Beyond this, at a distance upon the left, are Belladrum House, the elegant mansion of Colonel Fraser, surrounded by extensive plantations, and

BEAUFORT CASTLE,

the principal seat of Fraser of Lovat. It was originally a fortress, secured by a strong embankment, rising about one hundred feet from the southern bank of the river Beauly. On the land side, it was defended by two deep ditches. Traces of fortifications are still discernible ; but the present house is a modern building of great elegance, surrounded by extensive gardens, shrubberies, and pleasure grounds. The river is crossed by a bridge, and on the left are seen

THE FALLS OF KILMORACK.

Here the river Beauly, which in magnitude rivals the Clyde or the Dee, descends, in one unbroken sheet, over a precipice of twenty feet in height, into a cavernous depth, which cannot be viewed without feelings of apprehension. There it remains in sluggish motion for a time, and then slowly forces its passage through narrow openings in the rock; afterwards gliding majestically through a wooded dale, it discharges itself into the Moray Firth. On the northern side of the cataract a tower is erected upon the brow of the cliff, from whence the best view is obtained; but from the minister's garden that overhangs the river, there is a charming view of the falls, and the romantic situation of a saw-mill will not escape observation.

At certain times, vast numbers of salmon are seen below the Fall; in trying to ascend they make astonishing leaps. Sometimes they fall so much out of the perpendicular, that they alight upon the ledges of rock, which are nearly level with the river upon both sides. Along the edges of those rocks, branches of trees are occasionally placed to prevent the return of the fish to the river, by which contrivance, twelve fish have frequently been taken in the course of a night. Old Lord Lovat had here a kettle placed over a fire, into which the fish used sometimes to fall; they were boiled in this manner; and served up to his guests, along with a joke upon the accommodating disposition of Beauly sal

mon.

The Tourist, when at Kilmorack Falls, should ascend the river for two miles, when he will arrive at a scene of uncommon beauty, denominated The Dreaum, i. e. the Bridge. The river is spread out to a great breadth over a rocky channel, abounding in small but picturesque cataracts, and surrounding a number of islands, crowned with tall and graceful trees, or with beautiful shrubs

that dip their pensile branches in the stream. On each side a rocky barrier rises, partially covered with trees, affording a secure retreat to numerous birds, that mingle their voices with the solemn murmuring of the water. The course of the river is most romantic, and the whole scenery exceedingly interesting.

A mile and a-half below the Falls of Kilmorack is the small village of Beauly, containing the vestiges of a Cistertian priory, founded in 1230 by James Bisset of Lovat. The ruins are destitute of sculpture or ornament; but the area they inclose is nearly covered with tomb-stones of unknown antiquity, each having engraved upon it the figure of a cross, surrounded by a variety of sacred and military emblems. In this priory, Queen Mary, it is said, was entertained for a night; and upon seeing in the morning the beautiful view from its windows, she exclaimed, "C'est un beau lieu ;" and hence the name Beauly given to the village and river.

Within the last thirty years, this county, as well as Ross-shire, has been much improved and highly ornamented. In these improvements, the proprietors, most of whom reside constantly upon their estates, have evinced both taste and judgment, by adopting the most approved modes of agriculture, and by beautifying the face of the country with extensive and thriving plantations. *

The Tourist may extend his excursion with great advantage to Dingwall, a distance of about ten miles from Beauly; two miles farther enter Ross-shire, one mile on Gilchrist church on the right, and other two and a-half miles Conan House on the left, and beyond, in the same direction, Castle Brahan, delightfully situate among plantations on the banks of the Conan. Two miles onward cross the Conan, thence proceed three miles to Dingwall, which much resembles an English village, having rows of lofty poplars overtopping the houses; it is a royal burgh, holding its charter from Alexander II. 1226, afterwards confirmed by James IV.; it is governed by a provost, bailies, dean of guild, treasurer, and ten councillors, and joins with Tain,

L

Before proceeding with the tour from Inverness, it ought to be observed, that the road proceeds through

A

Dornoch, Wick, and Kirkwall, in returning a member to the united Parliament. The town and parish of Dingwall occupy a delightful valley, embracing all the variety of hill, dale, wood, water, corn-fields, and luxuriant meadows. In Strathpeffer, about four miles from Dingwall, are some mineral springs, the waters of which are highly spoken of as being equally efficacious in dyspepsy and rheumatism. Although there is an elegant pump-room, there is no extensive lodging-house for the accommodation of visitors, the want of which is severely felt; yet the situation of the springs, being in a thickly inhabited glen, is delightful, and the more affluent visitors will find ample accommodation at Dingwall. Immediately behind the spring is Castle Loud, a seat of the Cromarty family, once a place of considerable note. short distance northward is seen the lofty Ben-Wyvis, 3720 feet high. In front of the well-house rises Knock Farril, on which is a vitrified fort. The whole country towards Inverness is distinctly seen from hence, besides several interesting valleys in the neighbourhood. Proceeding a few miles southwest, on the right is Coul House, the delightful mansion of Sir G. S. Mackenzie, Bart. and a little beyond is Tor Achilty, a hill composed of plumb-pudding stone; and here a little enthusiasm may be excused in contemplating this bewitching scenery. In front is the junction of the rivers Conan and Rasay, which, just previous to their union, have thrown up a series of curious terraces formed by stones of all variety and shape, and which, at the base of the hill, are covered with natural wood of every form and beauty. This forest reaches nearly to the top of the hill, and likewise skirting its base for miles, forms a delightful wilderness. The Conan sweeps along the base of the hill for a considerable distance, sometimes gliding smoothly, but oftener tumultuously dashing over broken rocks in raging violence; it has at one place a beautiful fall. Going upwards through this enchantingly wild place, reach Loch Achilty, finely embosomed in hills, with its banks splendidly wooded to the water's edge. At the other extremity of this lake is Tor Achilty on the one hand, and Craigdarroch on the other; a beautiful situation, where Captain Murray, R. N. has erected a handsome cottage, in which he has displayed much taste; it is placed almost upon the margin of the loch; behind the cottage are rocks of immense height, with natural coppice-wood shooting from their crevices in most fascinating forms. Two other lakes are within an hour's walk of this snug retreat, one a gem set in filigree-a beautiful circular sheet of water, occupying in calm serenity the wooded bosom of a mountain-the other possessing