script notes taken from them, which are valuable, as relating much to Scotch minerals. I shall send you a few notes (which, if you approve, I shall continue hereafter) relating merely to Scotland. His Latin names of the genera are all from the ancients; the greatest part from Pliny.

I have not been able to see the Doctor, to examine myself a specimen of amianthus from the Isle of Bernera; but in whatever relates to the Western Isles, you may depend upon it the Doctor is perfectly accurate; as he has repeatedly visited every one, and knows more perhaps than any person I can name of their agriculture and mineralogy, and of the manners and customs of all ranks of their inhabitants."

I have lately returned from my quarterly visit to the mines. In my road home, I had an excellent opportunity of collecting some specimens of rocks. In a hilly country, a new-built stone dike, or a newly covered road, is a study for a mineralogist. For some miles, our road was covered with stones taken from the braes, or from the Clyde and Duneaton rivers. I selected some specimens which you may consider curious; and, when I have other specimens sufficient for a box-full, they will be sent you. I am glad to learn from Mr. Mawe, who delivered me your letter, that you pay particular attention to collect specimens of rocks. They are

• Twelve years after the date of this letter a posthumous work was published from the pen of Dr. Walker, who was Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh, entitled, The Economical History of the Hebrides and Highlands of Scotland, 2 vols. 8vo.

by far the most interesting part of mineralogy. Mr. Mawe was at Wanloch-head, and has picked up a very great quantity of specimens as to bulk; but, I presume, not much in regard to variety. I hope soon to get the granite from Criffel in Dumfries-shire. The black lead from Dumfries Estate in Ayrshire is made into pencils and Hessian crucibles. The pencils are rather harder than those of English black lead: inferior therefore for drawing, but superior for writing and ruling lines. The antimony from Sir J. Johnstone's estate in Dumfries-shire has been raised by a mining company to some advantage, but is now failing.

The extent of mining adventure is much curtailed in Scotland. There are of lead-mines working, only the Duke of Queensberry's and Lord Hopeton's contiguous mines. Strontian, Tyndrum, New Galloway, and Afton mines are all given up; and, I apprehend, no new lead mines are likely to be discovered. It is singular that every bearing vein, either at Wanloch-head or Lead-hills, has been known for above one hundred years; and I believe no entire discovery of a bearing vein in Scotland has been made for fifty years past. I lately visited Cumberhead mine near Lesmahago: it is very singular. In a flat-lying argillaceous schistus, which breaks up in flat thin beds of any size, is a five-foot-wide vein of sulphat of barytes, almost perpendicular; in this barytes, totally immersed in it, is cubical galana, or sulphat of lead, of fine quality. I picked up many lumps, apparently barytes; but, on breaking them, I generally found lead ore in the middle.

In speaking of Dr. Walker, I forgot to mention that he is the most intimate friend of Mr. Kirwan; and I suppose the latter must have a copy of his book. I have often urged the Doctor to extend the book to the characters of the genera; but he is growing old and indolent, I fear.

Mr. Gibson sent me two copies of a new arrangement of minerals, I presume from your pen, and containing in my opinion some excellent improvements on former systems. But this is a branch of Natural History, in the arrangement of which there is too much diversity of opinion. To rout the system of arranging rocks separately, will be as difficult as to move the rocks themselves.

LADY ANCRAM TO MR. PINKERTON.

Newbottle Abbey, Sept. 10th, 1800.

Had I not been very ill ever since my return from Ireland in March, I ought to feel extremely ashamed of having so long neglected to answer your letter. Not having been here at the time. the drawings were transmitted to you, I can merely state what I understand to be a true account of the originals. There is written on the portrait of Robert Earl of Lothian, "Robert Earl of Lothian, the son of Mark;" and he must have been son of Mark, the first Earl of Lothian, who was son of the last Abbot of Newbottle. He is the Earl of Lothian mentioned by Scotstarvet, in his Staggering State," as the husband of the Lady

VOL. II.

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Annabella Campbell, sister of the Marquis of Argyle; and he was father of the heiress of Lothian, married to the eldest son of the Earl of Ancram.

Of the two Earls of Argyle, one is father of the Marquis; the other, his son. As it appears to me that you have some doubts respecting the latter, I will give you my reasons for believing in its authenticity. The name is on the picture; and this family having married for three generations into the Argyle family, and the last time to the daughter of this Earl, a mistake cannot reasonably be supposed. He appears to have been very young at the time the portrait was painted; and, excepting the difference of colors, the dress is the same as that of a brother of the first Marquis of Lothian, painted in Holland, 1653. The likeness to a picture of the Lady Margaret Douglas, his mother, is very great; as also to that of his sister, the first Marchioness of Lothian; and the hair and complexion are those of the present family of Argyle. Having said this, I must acknowledge that this portrait bears no resemblance to a bad print I have seen of this Earl of Argyle, when more advanced in years.

I am no judge of pictures; but I much fear that the portrait of Cardinal Beaton bears no marks of originality. It is on canvass, and has no appearance of an ancient painting: however, I am inclined to believe it may be an authentic copy, having found some letters from a person at Paris who was employed by the third Earl of Lothian, at a considerable expense, to collect

good copies of portraits for him. One letter mentions six cardinals; but this is not one of them. The inscription is on the portrait.

A Mr. Gardiner, who introduced himself here under your auspices, has done some uncommonly good drawings for you, and for his noble authors. I do not know what his final decision was relative to Cardinal Beaton: he said that canvass was no proof, &c. &c.; and I was too ill when he was here to comprehend what was said to me; but I think he seemed to be of opinion that it was an exact copy. He copied an Earl of Somerset, which I imagine to be authentic: that sent to you some time ago, though the name is also written on it, has no appearance of being so. Many of the pictures here were burnt with the house about thirty years ago, and most of those which remain have been dreadfully injured by the scorching of the flames, and by being thrown out of the windows; and, most of all, by being cleaned and repaired. There is a portrait here by Holbein, undoubtedly; and it is called James IV. Will you excuse my asking you if this is possible? He has a yellow flower in his hand. The companion to it, also by Holbein, is called Margaret Tudor; and she answers so perfectly to the description, and has so strong a look of her brother, that one can have little doubt about her. The papers in this house are in dreadful confusion, and many must have been destroyed; but, were it possible that you should ever see them, I think you might find some curious letters; and probably many which appear indifferent to me might be interest