ged rocks which over-hang the green recesses where these houses stand, usually surrounded or sheltered on one side with a clump of trees, connects with such mansions an impression of grandeur and power which could never be excited by the appearance of similar mansions in a plain country. But in the fine valley of Strath-Tay the spacious and fertile plains, the lofty mountains, the abundant and elegantly disposed woods, consisting of coppice, and timber trees of various kinds, interspersed in clumps or belts among the rich green fields, along the wide declivity, or in the shape of a long, green cover, over-riding the summit of the highest ridge, combine to give the mansion-houses every effect that can possibly result from the union of rich, picturesque, and magnificent scenery.

The road is carried along close to the foot of the declivity, generally by a well drawn level from Logierait, for about eight or nine miles to the house of Killiehassie. From this small, but neat mansion-house it diverges into the plain, and after describing a semi-circle, including a park of pine and other trees of late plantation, returns to its former line, an arrangement which does not seem to have been adopted for the accommodation of the traveller. This place is

remarkable for considerable improvements in the face of the hill, of which the difficulty cannot easily be understood by one who had not seen the ground in its previous state. The declivity, for a considerable space down from the ridge, is in this quarter uncommonly rugged and barren, the ground being almost entirely covered with loose stones, like masses of rock with the surface broken into fragments. A great part of this space has been converted into fields of rich pasture, in which no stone is to be seen.

About a mile west from Killiehassie is the little village of Weem, situate close to an enormous mass of rock, containing a remarkable cave from which the place derives its name. The inn at Weem is the best in the neighbourhood, and affords every accommodation that can be reasonably desired by the traveller. Immediately to the west of this village is Castle Menzies, the seat of Sir Niel Menzies, the chief. of the clan of that name. The style of the structure, which is that of the ancient castle, and its great height, give it an air of antiquity and grandeur, while the careful white harling produces, in some degree, the impression of a gay modern mansion. A spacious semi-circular park, containing a variety of stately timber trees, incloses the house in the front, and on

the east and west side. Immediately behind it, on the north, the craggy ledge rises to a great height, covered with wood and grass on the summit, and in the crevices where any soil can rest; while the bare perpendicular mass frowns over the tops of the trees which shoot up from its base. A little above the house may still be seen the remains of a hermitage, of which the native rock afforded two of the sides. This seat is situate at the lower or eastern extremity of the upper part of Strath-Tay, called the Menzies's Appin, through which the road is carried for about four miles to the small inn or public house of Cushville, at the entrance into Glenlyon. Here the road divides into two branches, the one stretching to the right over the hill to Rannoch and Tummel Bridge, the other leading up to Fortingal and Glenlyon house, from which a tolerably good country road stretches through a hollow in the hill on the left, and joins the road between Kenmore and Killin about four or five miles above Kenmore.

The village of Weem consists, with the exception of the inn, which is a substantial modern house, of the size of a good farm house, of only a few small but neat cottages, occupied by little shopkeepers and other tradesmen, who supply the commodities in general request

among the country people; and the vicinity of the castle and parish church probably determined its situation, which, however, is one of the most picturesque that could well have been chosen in this most picturesque valley. A little to the east of the village, a wide and excellent cross road stretches along the breadth of the valley from the northern road to a handsome bridge over the Tay, at the village of Aberfeldie, on the southern road. This latter village is of considerable size, and contains, it is said, a thriving muslin manufacture. It owes its rise and progress to the patronage and liberal encouragement of the Braidalbane family, to which the property belongs, who were generously and patriotically anxious to afford this resource to the people of the surrounding districts; who, in the progress of farming improvements, must necessarily be removed from their little farms. The Burn of Moness, celebrated for its waterfalls, crosses the village near the western end, and joins the river at the bridge. The inn or public house affords tolerable accommodation, and guides are there readily provided to attend travellers to the waterfalls. But the inn at Weem is preferable.

Aberfeldie-Appin-Approach to Taymouth-Ballach, the valley and palace described-Druidical circles, or Gothic courts of justice-Improvements-Connexion of remarkable scenery with national feeling-Macgregors - Kenmore- —Braidalbane, extent and general description of the division-Loch Tay described; singular peculiarity of its salmon ; agitations in it; island, and ruins of priory-Woods -Pruning-Farming and crowded population of Loch Tay side-Ancient language always used in common conversation by ancient race-Approach to Killin-Finlarig― Glenlochy.

THE houses or cottages of the village of

Aberfeldie are built on each side of the road to Kenmore, which is about six miles west from the village. This road, along the southern side of the valley, is the direct continuation of the road from Perth, by Dunkeld, to Kenmore and

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