traverse the base of the mountain, when compared with it's fummit: but when compared with it's real base, it is raised to a giddy height. It is a great addition to the scene to look down upon the river foaming among rocks, diving into woods, and forcing it's way among the huge fragments that have tumbled into it's channel from the mountain.

Two of the scenes we met with in these wild regions, were particularly picturesque. In one the floping corner of a mountain, with the road winding round it, forms the foreground; the middle is occupied by a bridge over the Garry; and fome of the grand prominences of the pass fill the distance.

The other confifts chiefly of a fecond diftance, in which the river forms a fort of pool, and the mountains a very pleasing combination around it.

By this time we had nearly opened the pass, which continues about a mile, displaying, in one part or other of it's ample curve, every species of rough and picturesque fcenery. In general, however, as it's lofty skreens are brought very near the eye, they are too large, and refractory to be moulded into compofition. Innumerable parts of them may with little

trouble be hewn into good foregrounds: but they afford few materials delicate enough for a distance.

<

In a military light, this entrance into the highlands has, at all times, been confidered as a very formidable defile. In the laft rebellion a body of Heffians having been detached into thefe parts of Scotland, made a full paufe at this strait, refusing to march farther. It appeared to them as the ne plus ultra of habitable country. In king William's time, it was marked with the destruction of a royal army. The only fpirited attempt, in his reign, in favour of the Jacobite caufe, was made by Clavers lord viscount Dundee. This chief, who was a man of honour and enterprize, collected a body of forces, and fet up the ftandard of the exiled prince. With great zeal he importuned all the difaffected clans to join him; but amidst the warmest profeffions he found only luke-warm afsistance. Mortified by repeated disappointments, and chagrined at having the whole burden of the war upon himself, he was fkulking about Lockabar with a few starved, and ill-armed troops, hefitating what courfe to take; when he received advice, that general Mackay, who

3

was

was in quest of him, at the head of the English army, was in full march towards the pass of Killicranky. In the midft of despair a beam of hope infpired him. He harangued his men; aifured them of fuccefs; roufed them to action; and fell upon Mackay, as he filed out of the straits, with so much judgment, and well directed fury, that in feven minutes the English infantry was broken, and the horse in as many more. In the article of victory Dundee was mortally wounded. An old highlander fhewed us a few trees, under the fhade of which he was led out of the battle; and where he breathed his laft with that intrepidity, which is fo nobly described by a modern Scotch poet*, in an interview between death, and a victorious hero.

"Nae cauld faint-hearted doubtings teaze him.
"Death comes. Wi' fearless eye he fees him;
"Wi' bloody hand a welcome gies him:

"And when he fa's,

"His latest draught of breathing leaves him
"In faint huzzas."

Dundee was the life of a caufe, which in this short blaze of fuccefs expired.

* Poems by Robert Burns, p. 38.

From

From the ftraits of Killicranky we foon arrived within the diftrict of the Blair of Athol,

is called.

as this part of the country is called. Blaircastle, which is the capital of this wide domain, makes but a mean appearance. It stands, as you approach it, under a mountain, with a wood before it: but the former is ill shaped; and the latter, which is chiefly of fir, is formal.

Mean however as this caftle appears at prefent in the light of a fortrefs, it was once a place of high renown; and has many a history annexed to it. As it was the only fortress in these wild parts, it was ever thought a place of confequence; and had it's fhare in every disturbance of the times. In many fcenes of violence it was engaged, during the feuds of aristocracy: but it makes no figure in history, before the civil wars of the last century. In the year 1644 it ventured to check the career of that celebrated hero the marquifs of Montrofe: but it paid dear for it's temerity. He laid siege to it; and took it by affault. Ten years after, it fell under the displeasure of Cromwell; and experienced the fame fate.

But