FROM MONTROSE TO ABERDEEN.

FROM Montrose I passed through the Mearns, with a design to go to Fetter-Cairn at the opening of a famous pass into the Grampians.

In this part of the country, as well as many others in Scotland, the strength of the arm was in many instances formerly the law of justice. Till about one hundred years ago, the inhabitants on the north side of the Grampians used to come down on what is called the How, or Hollow of the Mearns, and drive before them the people and their cattle till they came to Fetter-Cairn, where they bound the people hand and foot, and left them; assured that, by the time they got one another loosed, which they could not do by any other means than their teeth, they themselves could be off among the hills with the cattle, where they could not be easily pursued. The place where the people were left bound and fettered came to be called by the name of Fetter-Cairn.

What effects will not industry produce, and how much does even one enlightened farmer add to the beauty and fertility of a country! I am led to this remark from the improvement I observed in Luthermuir, not far from Montrose. Some years

ago this muir, or common, though nearly a mile long and half as broad, scarcely brought the.proprietor five pounds sterling a year. An observing farmer, perceiving that this muir was nearly le

vel, free from stones, and could be easily drained, went and offered the proprietor fifty pounds sterling for a fifty years lease of it. The proprietor, astonished, most readily granted the lease. The farmer immediately proceeded to surround the whole muir with a deep ditch, and crossed it with ditches, which, while it completely drained it, formed it into parks. He next, in order to tear up the furze and broom with which it was overgrown, yoked six strong horses to a large and strong plough, which tore them all up by the roots; and, having gathered these, he burned them, limed, and otherwise ameliorated the muir. All his improvements, including the houses built on it, did not cost much above a thousand pounds. I have no doubt but the farm now netts three or four hundred pounds a year.

In

Were it not for the firs, &c. that have been planted lately, this part of the country would be extremely in want of the article of fuel, the peat mosses being almost completely exhausted. deed, some years ago, so much were the inhabitants in want of fuel, that, as is done in some places in Moray, they sowed broom, as well for fuel as for food, and a purgative to their sheep in the spring. I was sorry to see some poor people grubbing up the roots of fir and other trees, which, it being a stony place, they did with much difficulty, merely for the purpose of fuel.

As I rode slowly along, I beheld, at a distance, on the banks of the Esk, a great number of people in their Sunday clothes dancing on a green, near a large tent covered with canvasses, blankets, &c. It was a country wedding, where near four hundred

people were assembled. There being a small inn in the neighbourhood, I put up my horse, and went to observe this rural scene. On a fine green

or lawn the tent was stretched to the extent of forty or fifty feet; and a number of temporary tables of fir deal, with forms on each side. Two or three great cauldrons were boiling, filled with, I dare say, a hundred fowls, and a great number of mutton hams. There were pots also in which legs of mutton were stewed. The broth of the fowls and ham, boiled with onions, barley, &c. was a dish fit for kings. At the cauldrons stood women with pitchforks, stirring about the immense mass with both their hands, which seemed to require all their strength. A great number of gypsies, called in Scotland Tinklers, and beggars, sat in groups at some distance, and sent deputations after dinner had began for some time, to receive their portion in their own wooden dishes. This was sent without hesitation. It seemed to be considered as no more than their due on such a jovial occasion. The genteeler part of the guests were entertained in the tent, where there was wine. At the tables in the field, at one of which I seated myself, there was no wine, but great abundance of ale and whisky punch. This carousing at weddings is sometimes continued for three or four successive days, not by the same company, but by new comers.

I find, that on such occasions, the new-married pair sometimes save fifty, sixty, or even an hundred pounds, each person paying five shillings at least, besides what drink they call for. I saw all kinds of rural mirth going on, some at reels, others

at country dances, minuets, fandangoes, highland capers, &c.

Though I wish to speak the truth, and represent characters and objects as they appear, yet I do not wish to offend. However, if my remarks be in any degree useful, though by making them I should offend some, I care the less. To do good, not to snarl, is my object. The errors of education are often observed, when it is too late to rectify them: so it was found lately by a family in this neighbourhood. Their father was rich, but then he loved his money, and hated to give away even a pittance for the education of his children. Whatever happened, all was well, if he saved money. Though he had extensive landed property, and was every year purchasing more, he would not buy a chain to his watch, because it would take money from him, and wear his breeches. To save money, his sons were often kept at home; to save money they often had no preceptor; and though he was able to procure them respectable situations, to save money, and at the same time get clear of them, though they had the title of honourable, he only gave each of them a farm, saying, "You are young, and able to work." His eldest son,, however, would not live on a farm, but went to the army, sold his commission, and squandered the thousand pounds he got for it in Edinburgh in the course of six weeks. The youngest son set up his carriage, though he had no money, and unfortunately fell out of it while crossing a river near Montrose, and was drowned in the very prime of life. The eldest son died at an early age, having lived too fast; and

the second son, who became heir of all, had not only ruined the estate before his father's deatli, but, strange to tell, though the court of session would not permit it to be entered in their books, tried to prove his father a thief, upon the ground that he had let long leases before his death, and fined the lesces, or, as it is termed in Scotland, taken grassums, merely for the purpose of handling the money. It is true, the father called almost all his tenants to him before his death, and gave most of them long leases, though their former were not near out, and took money from the tenants for granting such leases. The son thought this illegal, and wished to reduce these leases, but found most of them to be good.

BRECHIN.

At Brechin, eight or ten miles distant from Montrose, I saw nothing remarkable, except a curious round tower, similar to that which I had seen at Abernethey. They told me, it was elastic, like a growing tree, and moved with the wind. The fields all around this place are in a good state of cultivation. The castle belonging to the Panmure family, and, I believe, Mr. Maule's most common country residence, is nobly situated on high ground, and looks down on the Esk, and valley between Brechin and Montrose, the prettiest I had seen in Scotland, except the Lower Stratherne. But the ap proach to Brechin from the north-side is rendered