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exhibits a broad, expanded, and placid ent, though almost imperceptible, preappearance, beautifully environed with cipitate leaps. On the fouthern bank, plantations of foreft trees. This appear- and when the fun fhines, a rainbow ance is fuddenly changed at the fall: is perpetually feen forming itself upand, below it, the river is narrow, con- on the mist and fogs, arifing from tracted, and angrily boils and thunders, the violent dafhing of the waters. among rocks and precipices. The --The next curiofity, on defcending fame beautiful and romantic walk, con- the Clyde, that attracts the stranger, is ducts you back again, along the precipice New Lanerk, or the cotton mills. The that overhangs the river, both fides of firuation of this village is at the western which are environed by mural rocks, e- extremity of the Bonniton ground in a quidiftant and regular, forming, as Mr low den, and within view of another Pennant expreffes it, a "ftupendous na beautiful and romantic fall called Duntural mafonry," from whofe crevices daff Lin, fignifying in Gaelic black caftle choughs, daws, and other wild birds, are leap; and no doubt formerly fome fortinceffantly fpringing. You defcend a- refs has been fituated hereabouts, altho' long the river for about half a mile, till no traces now remain, excepting in trayou arrive at the Corra Lin, fo called dition, which still points out a rock from an old castle and eftate upon the called Wallace's Chair, where the paoppofite bank. The old caftle fall, triot is faid to have concealed himself with Corra houfe, and the rocky and from the English. This fall is about woody banks of the Clyde, form of 3 or 4 feet high, and trouts have been themfelves a beautiful and grand coup obferved to fpring up and gain the top d'oel; but nothing can equal the ftriking of it with cafe. This fall, the village, and ftupendous appearance of the fall it- four lofty cotton mills, and their bufy felf, which when viewed from any of inhabitants, together with the wild and the different feats placed here and there woody scenery around, must attract the along the walks, muft fill every unac- notice of every ftranger. Below thefe cuftomed beholder with aftonishment. are the romantic rocks and woods of The tremendous rocks around, the old Braxfield, the feat of the present Lord caftle upon the oppofite bank, a corn Juftice Clerk, who, influenced by the mill on the rock below, the furious and good of his country, very friendly impatient ftream foaming over the rock, feued the fite of the village and cotthe horrid chaẩm and abyfs underneath ton mills to the benevolent Mr Dayour feet, heightened by the hollow vid Dale, at a very moderate feu-duty. murmur of the water, and the fcreams -The next fall of confequence is the of wild birds, form at once a fpectacle Stonebyres Lin, fituated about 2 miles both tremendous and pleasing. A fum- below the Corra Lin. It is fo called mer-house or pavilion is fituated over from the neighbouring estate of Stonea high rocky bank, that overlooks the byres, belonging to Daniel Vere, Efq; Lin, built by Sir James Carmichael of but the grounds adjacent to the fall, Bonniton in 1708. From its upper- on both fides of the river, have latemost room it affords a very striking prof- ly been feued or purchased by Mr pect of the fall, for all at once, on throw- Dale. This cataract, which is about ing your eyes towards a mirror, on the 80 feet in height, is the ne plus ulira oppofite fide of the room from the fall, of the falmon, as none can poffibly get you fee the whole tremendous cataract above it, although their endeavours, in pouring as it were upon your head. The the fpawning feafon, are inceffant and Corra Lin, by measurement, is found to amufing. It is equally romantic with be 84 feet in height. The river does the others; and like the Corra Lin, not rush over in one uniform fheet like has three distinct, but almost precipitate the Bonniton Lin, but in three differ- falls. Wild rugged rocks are equally

vifible here, and they are equally frin- re&t course, by Baronald houfe, where the ground is lower and unobstructed by rocks, fhould have penetrated the high hill of Cartlane, and formed a bed through folid rock. It feems prefumable that this vaft chafm has originally been formed by fome earthquake, which, rending the rocks, allowed the water to pafs that way.

DUNSYRE. This parish, fituated in the eastern extremity of the county, is about 5 miles both in length and breadth. It is nearly equidiftant from the East and Weft feas, being about 700 feet above their level. The number of in-bitants is about 360. The foil in the flats is light and fandy. The hills afford good sheep pafture. The country is naked of timber, and there are few inclosures. WALSTON. This parish contains about 3000 Scots acres of land, ac00 of which are arable; the average rent of which is 25s. per acre for the best, and for the inferior 103.; yielding, in whole, 700l. per annum. It contains about 430

ged with wood; the trees however are by no means fo tall and ftately, being compofed of coppice wood. Sal mon, pars (famlets), horfe mufcle, or the pearl oyfter, though numerous below, are never feen above. this fall. -The next piece of natural curiofity is Cartlane Craigs, upon the river Moufs, which enters Clyde about a BIGGAR. This parish is about 6 mile below the town of Lanark. This miles long and 3 broad, containing 937 is a curious and romantic den, about a inhabitants. It is partly pafture, and quarter of a mile in length, bounded on partly in tillage. The rent for tillage either fide by a reef of lofty, precipitous, is from 20s. to 30s. per acre; in whole and rugged rocks, which are fringed about 18ool. Sterling. There is but with coppice wood and thriving planta- little ground inciofed, and the spirit of tions on the fouth. The rocky bank agriculture feems not to have reachon the north fide is about 400 feet in ed this parish. height, and it is not much lower upon the fouth fide. Both banks are finely varied with the different appearances of rock, wood, and precipice. At the bottom runs the river Moufs, which fcarcely leaves room for the lonely traveller to traverse the den; however, here the celebrated botanist, Mr Lightfoot clambered in fearch of plants, and discovered fome rare and uncommon ones, as may be feen in his Flora Scotica. At every reach of the Moufs, of which there are many, the scenery varies, and wherever you find a prominent rock upon the one fide, you are fure to meet with a regular recefs on the other. Caverns in the rock are inhabitants. The fituation of this dif here and there obferveable, but none of them worthy of any particular defcription. One, ftill called Wallace's cove, tradition tells us, was the hid- CULTER. This parish is about S ing hole of that patriot. Another miles long and 4 broad, containing 330 equally trifling, but which bears evi- inhabitants. On the banks of the Clyde, dent marks of the chiffel, is faid to the foil is good, and the ground very have been the abode of a hermit in level; the fouthern diftrict however, is former times, but must have been a hilly. The rent is about 1600l. Stermiferable habitation, hardly affording ling yearly; upon the whole the face of room to lye down in. Confiderable the country is beautiful. There is plenveins of the patum ponderofum run ty of iron-ftone in different parts, but through these rocks; but no other mi- no coal has yet been discovered. neral has hitherto been traced in this dreary den of foxes, badgers, and wild birds. It is fomewhat fingular how the Moufs, instead of following its di

trict is high, being about 700 feet above the level of the fea. Walton Mount is 1550 feet above that level.

COVINGTON. This is a fmall parish, only 3 miles long and 2 broad, containing 484 inhabitants. The high grounds are barren, but the haughs on the Clyde

are

are fruitful. In this parish are the veftiges of no fewer than 4 circular camps. On the top of Tinto, which is 1620 feet above the run of Clyde, is a huge cairn of stones confidered as the work of the Druids, where a conftant fire was kept. The country is, on the whole, naked. WHISTOUN and ROBERTOUN. Thefe united parishes extend about 3 miles along the weft bank of the Clyde, and contain about 740 inhabitants. Much

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of the ground is moorish and bad; the
chief produce is barley and oats, and
improvements go on but flowly, though
there is lime in the parish. Lord Juf-
tice Clerk (M'Queen) has a feat here,
which he has improved by planting, in-
clofing, &c. The road from Glasgow
to Carlile, runs through the upper part
of the parish. Tinto, (the hill of fire)
with its conic top, stands in the borders
of this parish. (To be continued.)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SCOTS MAGAZINE.
MR EDITOR,

Of all the books I have read, not
one, to the best of my recollection, has
fpoken of Ramfay's Gentle Shepherd ex-
cepting a fingle paper in the Mirror,
which flightly notices it.* I am the
more furprised at this neglect when I
confider that there have been, for a
long while paft, and are still two-three
periodical Mifcellanies published in this
city, the editors of which have been
ought to be and I fuppofe ftill are
anxious for the preservation of the origi-
nal poetry and language of the country.
I am fenfible that the Scottish dia-
lect has had its periodical declenfions;
it has been and is louing itself very faft in
the English, a circumftance common to
weak states, when united with stronger.
Since, therefore, our mother tongue
has fuffered fuch a change, I would re-
commend to those who are attempting to
afcend the Aonian Mount by the Cale-
donian path, to write according to the
prefent idiom, avoiding all words and
phrafes, whether out of ufe, or peculiar
to any certain diftrict; by fo doing their
works will be univerfally read and un-
derflood, which is certainly the ambi-
tion, interest, and duty, of every com-
petitor for public approbation. But to
return to the paftoral before us; of all the
poetical pieces in the Scottish dialect

My

Our Correfpondent has forgot that Dr Blair in lecture 39. has given a character of the Gentle Shepherd, and paid a juft tribute of praife to its author. If we are not mistaken, Dr Beattie and Lord Kaimes alfo mention it. We fhall be glad, however, to receive this correfpondent's remarks.

which have hitherto come under my peru fal, the Gentle Shepherd carries the palm, it is fo artfully fimple, if I may be allowed the expreffion, and the fcenery fo delightfully mixed, that the poet cannot fail of interesting the heart of the reader in the characters which he so truely paints.

It is to be regretted that there is not another work of the kind to compare it with: a Mr Sherriffs, indeed, has of late years produced a comedy, which is certainly intitled to all the praise due to a good imitation, yet though Mr S. had a complete model before him in Patie and Roger, ftill I think he does by no means come up with his great predeceffor in the execution of the plan; many words in " Jamie and Befs" are peculiar to the north of Scotland, but we cannot, in a case of this kind, impute it as a fault in the author; it is the language of the people where the scene lies, yet the Gentle Shepherd, by being exempt from fuch provincial words, is more generally pleafing. On the whole, however, Mr Sherriffs bas great merit; though his comedy had been much inferior to what it is. I would have faid with Gefner, The attempt is laudable, and it would give nie much pleafure and fatisfaction to fee any of my countrymen able to produce fuch a work as either. If this meets with a favourable reception from you, Mr Editor, I fhall foon go more closely to work with Patie and Roger, and en deavour to point out fome of its greatest Mean time I am &c. beauties? PHILO-SCOTICUS.

Edinburgh, 08. 1796.

SIR,

ADVANTAGES OF CONTENTMENT.

But

defirable to procure, and fome evil
which he could wish to remove.
in fuch cafes I never failed to derive
confolation from the few precepts a-
bove mentioned. If I loft a friend, per-
haps the greatest calamity that can be-
fall us in this world, I confoled myself
that I once enjoyed his friendfhip; that

I was left at a very early age to the care of friends, who paid me attentions, fuch as a difpofition not naturally rude and unaccommodating will generally meet with, and who, if they did not love me with all the affection of parents, at least performed the duties of advice and counfel, with the anxiety of per- he died my friend; that he remembered fons who would have been disappointed, had I difgraced their tutorage. Of their admonitions nothing became fo durably fixed in my mind, as the infufficiency of riches to procure happiness; the neceffity of patience in our intercourse with mankind; and the certainty ed in my purfuit, dwell with pure faof a future ftate, where the inequalities of the prefent would be done away.

Fortified with thefe few precepts, which were neither burdenfome to retain, nor difficult to fummon, I entered into life with what is called a moderate fortune, and indeed fuch a one as to many would appear a very moderate one, but which I have not, in the courfe of a long feries of years, had the leaft inclination, or but a very tranfient wifh, to increase. When I used to look round me and contemplate the real ftate of the great and wealthy, which I had opportunities of doing when they were divested of the externals, I faw no reason to envy them; and I faw, that wherein they differed from me, I had the fuperiority. They were the objects of calumny, and ill-will, by which they often fuffered without the power to repel the attack, and they were befet by flatterers, fycophants, and other worthless perfons, who hoped to impofe on their credulity, or betray their vanity. In my fituation I efcaped thofe evils; for he who attracts no attention, may live quietly in the worst of times, and of countries.

Yet I would not have it thought that difappointments have not fallen to my lot, fince there is no man living who may not, at some time, feel that there is fomething in his lot which might be remedied, fome good which it were Vol. LVIII,

me while affection could be expreffed; that, at beft, we were but fellow tra vellers, and that he had got the start of me on the road, and had performed his perilous journey but a little before me; and that I could, however long detain

tisfaction on the remembrance of his many virtues, and by striving to emulate him, preferve, in a certain degree, that intercourfe which would foon be renewal ed, and be interrupted no more.

He that can, reconcile a misfortune of this kind, has little to fear from thofe of a lefs afflicting kind. But half of what men call misfortunes, are little elfe than difappointments in matters, where gratification would either have been impoffible, or wickedes Aufondnefs for the country, and for enjoying the luxuriance of nature's bounties in the fpring and fummer, has often betrayed me into a wifh that I were opulent enough to enjoy one of those stately manfions, and extenfive parks, where contentment and "rural felicity," feem to reign. But when I vifited fuch places, and found that the owners preferred the pleasures and the bustle of town amufements, to thofe feats of tranquillity and delight, I began to fuspect, and not without reafon, that we value things highly, only because they are not our own. And I remember that I once completely cured myself of this breach of the tenth commandment, by hiring a fummer lodging near the splendid palace and park of the Duke of, from which I returned to town long before the end of the feafon, perfectly reconciled to my house in town.

The frequent changes, and the im perious

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perious commands of fashion, are to fail, I have another remedy; I repremany a fource of great uneafinefs, which fent that it is but rare we can find good is the more furprifing, in my opinion, wine on the road, and upon the whole, because I look upon our fubjection to perhaps it is as well, as drinking upon a fashion as voluntary, or, to ufe an ex- journey is reckoned unwholesome. For preffion of Mr Burke, as a "dignified the impertinence of waiters and postobedience, and proud fubmiffion." I boys, and the extravagance of landlords, have not, however, learned to mortify I have excufes in plenty, and am not myself, in order to gratify the unrea only in my own mind perfectly easy, fonable cuftoms of people, who claim but have the fuccefs to make others fo. diftinction only from the extravagance Confider, fay I, against whom you are to which they carry their imitation of about to wreak your vengeance; against the great world. I cannot conceive the those who err from ignorance, and perpleasure that arises from hazarding more haps from neceflity. We have been ramoney upon the turn-up of a card than ther unlucky to-day, I must grant; the I can afford, and I have learned to give fowl that was underdone, and the lamb a peremptory denial to all invitations to that was overdone, are ferious calamicard clubs; and while I do not find ties; but think what human life would that my friends really speak or think the be without fuch; think in what an infi worfe of me, I have the happiness to pid manner we should drag our existence, avoid the many embarraffments, in if all cooks were omnipotent, and all which they are continually involving feullions perfect. Besides, though opthemfelves and their families, and which preffed with thefe misfortunes to-day, are fo great, as to conftitute one half of we may to-morrow arrive at an inn the evils of which fashionable people where calculation will turn the spit, and complain. It is a maxim with me, mathematical precision cover the table, that he who has contracted a habit of where no joints will be tough, and no gaming, has acquired a vice which na- wine four. If not, and we are still ture did not give him. doomed to eat and murmur, the end of our journey approaches, and we fhall return home with a double relish for those domestic comforts that are more at our command, comforts that are not embittered by the length of a bill, nor diminished by the fecrecy of an ullage.

Indeed, fo far from having rendered myself lefs agreeable to my friends, by what they are pleased to term my oddities, I know not whether I have not become a more neceffary and important character with them, than if I had in all refpects conformed to their customs and way of thinking. I have fometimes overheard them faying, "Let us have Mr Placid of our party; you know he is pleafed with every thing." And, to be fure, if there is any fituation in which I experience the advantage of having acquired a habit of contentment, more than another, it is in encountering the viciffitudes of travelling. If the dianer is bad, I confole myfelf that we shall arrive at another inn, where the fupper may be better; and if that does not answer expectations, hint to my Companions, that we may probably be able to wash down our fupper forrows in ta glafs of good wine. Even fhould that

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In this manner, Sir, do I try to appeafe thofe angry paffions which fuch trifles excite. More ferious notice furely they do not deferve; and yet how often do we fee the tempers of fome men ruffled, even to a degree of madnefs, by incidents of no higher importance? Contentment is furely no diffi cult acquifition, if thefe are the only rubs of life which we have to bear, and though they are not the only ones, yet I am afraid they conftitute the majority with many people, with whom selfishnefs has more fway than the social affections.

I have dwelt the longer on this inftance, because much of that ftoicifm

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