The Vale of Strathmore: its scenes and legends

Preface

. The vast valley of Strathmore proper, extends from the centre of Dumbartonshire to the sea-board of the German Ocean, from Redhead to Stonehaven. It com prehends part of Stirlingshire, all Strathallan, the greater part of Strathearn, and all the Howe of Mearns in Kincardineshire. What is popularly known as Strathmore, however, consists only of what is flanked by the Sidlaw Hills on the south, and the braes of Angus on the north, and extends from Methven in Perthshire, to Brechin in Forfarshire. The Sidlaws are continuous of the Ochils, except for the intervention of the valley of the Tay, and form a long chain of heights rising in some parts to up wards of 1500 feet above the level of the sea, and ex tending from Kinnoul Hill, on the north bank of the Tay in Perthshire, to Redhead, a promontory on the east coast of Forfarsbire, and to Stonehaven in Kincar dineshire.

At the Hill of Turin, a short distance east of Forfar, the Sidlaws fork into two lines, one of which branches off through the vale of Guthrie to the sea at Redhead, while the other proceeds north-eastward to Brechin, along the side of the Howe of Kincardine to the sea at Stonehaven.

PREFACE.

. The Howe of Strathmore is still more circumscribed in extent, stretching from the lower part of the North Esk on the east, to the western boundary of the parish of Kettins on the west. From its northern point it lies along the foot of the Forfarshire Grampians, till it forms the parish of Airlie, and the Braes of Angus, and ter minates at Cargill, forming the continuation of Strath more with Perthshire. This district is called the Howe or Hollow of Angus, and is thirtythree miles long, and four to six miles broad. The " Scenes and Legends " embrace principally that part of Strathmore which stretches from the sea-board at Montrose and Redhead on the east, to the parishes of Kettins and Cargill on the west, and from Blairgowrie and Craighall to Fearn and Careston on the north. With few exceptions, I have preferred to weave the Legends and Traditions, together with the Supersti tions of the district, naturally into my Tales and Sketches, rather than to give an isolated relation of them as distinct from any human interest with which they may have become associated.

In all the real or mythical scenes we may visit, I desire to take the reader with me as my confidant and friend, so that when our journey is ended, we may bid each other farewell, with the mutually cherished wish, that we may — meet again. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

Strathmore — Lochs of Feithie and Forfar— Village of Glamis — Castle of Glamis — Reopening of the Chapel — Ancient Obelisks — Original Castle of Glamis — Macbeth — The Raid of Ruthven — The Lyons of Strathmore, ....... 1

Chapter V

Legend of the First Lyon of Glamis— Robert II.— The Royal Pages- Ladye Jean — The Plot — The Knight of France — Unfolding of the Plot — The King's Resolution — Nuptials of Ladye Jean and Sir John de Lyon — Discovery of the Plot — The Lindsay's Threat — Balhill Moss — Death of Lyon, ..... 38

Chapter VI

Legend of the Murder of Malcolm II. — The King on his way to the Castle of Glamis — His Assassination in the Wood of Thornton- Disappearance of the Lord of Glamis — Drowning of the Murderers in the Loch of Forfar — The "Minstrel's Lament"— King Malcolm's Gravestone — Mysterious Death of Ladye Glamis, X CONTENTS. PAGE 62 80 100 118

Chapter X

The Forester's Daughter — First Love — Spring — Illness of Eliza — Summer — Eliza's Dream — Autumn — Eliza's Death,

CHAPTER XL

Will o' the Wisp — The Farmer of Foffarty — His absence at Market — Arrival Home — The Dominie — The Farmer's account of bis encounters with the "Spunkies" in the Moss — "My Bonnie Wee Wine " — The Dominie's Disappearance in the Kerbet — The Result,

Chapter XII

The Village Club, 1830— The Dominie— The Laird— The Student— The Miller — The Smith — Celebration of Auld Yule — " The Bonnie Howe o' Sweet Strathmore "—" The Swift Flowing Kerbet" — " Glamis' Bonnie Burnie " — "My Ain Bonnie Dean " — "The Days o' Langsyne " — When will These Five Meet Again ?

Chapter XIII

St Orland's Stone — Traditions connected therewith — The Butler's Daughter — Her Coquetry and its Reward — "Early Love" — The Crofter's Daughter — Her Two Lovers — The Unlucky Funeral — The Consequences, ...... 140

Chapter XIV

The Lily of the Vale — Reminiscences of Kinnettles School — Percy Guthrie — " Rest, Love, Joy " — Dark Clouds — The Betrothal of the "Lily" — Her " Farewell " — Her Death at Sea, . . . CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XV. Pagb

St Fergus' Well — Cemetries and Country Burying-grounds — The Ancient Monastery — Joe Wighton — His Ambition— His Vow — His Voyage to London — His successful career in the Metropolis — Becomes Lord Mayor of London — The Civic Banquet — Early Memories — "My Boy does not Return," .... 173

Chapter XVI

The Warning — Tribute to a Parent — Sabbath Evening — The Village Tailor — The Unearthly Noise — Predictions of the Tailor — The Mysterious Procession — The Lost Brother — The Sailor's Return — Predictions Falsified—" Loud the Timbrel Sound ! " . 192

Chapter XVII

A Sabbath Day at Kinnettles — Associations connected with the Sabbath — A Country Churchyard — First Religious Impressions — Missions — Decline of Sacred Music — The Songs of Zion, . 207

Chapter XVIII

Lucy Johnstone — Part I. : Sunshine— Lucy's Girlhood — Her Cottage Home — Blaeberry Excursion to the Hunter Hill — The Snowstorm — Lucy's Song. Part II. : The Destroyer — Hayston — Walter Ogilvy — His first appearance at Church — His Resolution — "The Reaper's Song." Part III. : The Victim — Changed Demeanour of Lucy — Walter Ogilvy's Departure — Dark Clouds o'ershadow Lucy's Home. Part IV. : The Retribution — Captain Vernon — Search for Lucy's Grave — The Stranger in Thornton Wood — His Death— The Discovery, ...... 222

Chapter XIX

Legend of the Nine Maidens — Glen Ogilvy— St Donivald and his Nine Daughters — The Hermitage — Removal to Abernethy — Canonised as " The Nine Maidens," ...... 263

Chapter XX

Life — When do Mankind begin to Live ? — The Last Night at Home — The Departure from Strathmore— The Gift— The Farewell— First Impressions of Life, ...... 267

Chapter XXI

Death — The Weaver Poet — Death on Land — " In Memoriam " — First Sight of the Sea — Montrose — The Academy — Billy Dickson — Death at Sea — First Impressions of Death, .... CONTENTS. XII PAGE 291 310 320 325 333

Chapter XXII

Kinnaird Castle— Early History of the Carnegies of Kinnaird— The Old Mansion House— The Present Castle of Kinnaird— The Carnegies of Southesk in a literary point of view— Tradition of James, Second Earl of Southesk— Tradition of " The Deil's Den" - -'■' Saskatchewan, and the Rocky Mountains"— Majority of Lord Carnegie—" Congratulatory Ode "— " Song of Welcome."

Chapter XXIII

Guthrie Castle— The Barony of Guthrie— The Family of Guthrie— Feuds between the Gardynes and Guthries — Roman Camp — James Guthrie, the Martyr — William Guthrie, Author of " The Christian's Great Interest" — William Guthrie the Historian — Bishop Guthrie — Origin of the name of Guthrie,

Chapter XXX

The Miller's Daughter — Squire Graham of Kincaldrum — The Young Student — Annie Glen — The Student's Declaration of Love — Affianced to Annie — Their Last Meeting — The Discovery — Annie's Sudden and Mysterious Death — The Maniac — The Closing Scene,

Chapter XXXI

First and Last Love — Definition of Woman's Love — The Declaration — The Vow — The Parting — Change of Scene and its Consequences — India — Chelsea — Christmas at Brompton — The Re-union — Love as a passion, and Love as a deep-seated feeling of the heart,

Chapter XXXII

A Sister's Love — Realization of a Youthful Dream — Marguerette — Her Spiritual Surroundings — Leaves Strathmore for Portobello — The Sands and Bay — Her Foretaste of Heaven and its Joys — Her Last Wish — Inveresk Churchyard — Her Epitaph,

Chapter XXXIII

and Kinpurnie Hill — The Old Church of Eassie — Traditions of Diluvian Mount and Monumental Pillar — Bothy Systems of jcotland and Norway contrasted — Dialects of Angus and Iceland, Sweden and Denmark*-~Castle of Hatton — Legend of the Pechts' House — View from Kinpurnie Hill — The Observatory — Thunderstorm, ........ 395

Chapter XXXIV

jje;„] e— Scotland as a Savage and Barbarous Nation— Civilization pTOgresses greatly in the reigns of James I., James IV., and james V.— The Art of Printing Introduced in 1508— Ancient and j.lodern Names of Scotland and its Inhabitants— General and j.'.celesiastical History of Scotland — Science of Antiquities— ''mortals of Macbeth — Sepulchral Monument of Vanora — 4'ends of Vanora, and King Arthur, . . . .406 CONTENTS. PAGE UH 411 467 >

Chapter XXXV

The Abbey of Cupar-in-Angus— Literary Genius— Moral of the Rose Garden — Origin of the Name Cupar— Erection of the Abbey — Rentals of the Abbey — Benefactors of the Abbey — Abbots of Cupar — The Abbey, the Temporary Residence of Royalty — Sir William Wallace at the Abbey — Heritable Bailies and Porters of the Abbey — Vicissitudes of Fortune, and Subsequent Prosperity in the time of Abbot William — Destruction of the Abbey — Tradition of its Solitary Remaining Arch and Secret Subterraneous Passage to the Sidlaws, ..... 420

Chapter XXXIX

Blairgowrie— Its Lochs, Rivers, Bridges, and Old Castles— Craii; — The Eagle's Craig— Legend of Lady Lindsay— Nc ivton Castle —Tradition of " The Green Lady " — Hill of Bi-**»--Morality of the District in the Seventeenth Century, . . . 4,r

Chapter XLIII

Kirriemuir — The Family of Airlie — The Ogilvys of Inverquharity— Tradition of Muir Moss — Hill of Kirriemuir — View from its Summit — Standing and Rocking Stones— Tradition of the Robbers— " Weems Holes " — The Den — Tradition of " The King's Chamber" — Reminiscences — Reflections, ..... 480

Chapter XLIV

Castles of Forfar — The Brothers Strang — Forfar, firm to the cause of Episcopacy — The " Sutors" of Forfar — Dr. Jamieson — Origin of the " Scottish Dictionary" — Witchcraft — The M'Comies and Farquharsons — Camlochan— Tradition of the Mermaid — Death of M'Comie, .......

Chapter XLV

The Village Club: 1870— The Stranger— Visit to his birth-place- Glen 0 gil vy — The Old Homestead and "Ancient Mill" — Village of Glamis — Cottage Home of "The Forester's Daughter" — Imaginative Re-unions — Visit to the Churchyard — The Old Grave-digger — Reminiscences — The Village Hostelrie — Fate of the Members of the "Village Club" — Their Re-appearance — " What though the Night be Stormy " — " The Bonnie Bay o' Lunan" — "The Golden Orange" — " The Forsaken" — " The Unseen" — Dissolving of the Scene— The Farewel . . . STEATMOEE : ITS SCENES AND LEGENDS.

Chapter I. Glamis

Soft flow thy streams, bright bloom thy flowers, Thy birdies liltin* as of yore : The music of thy fragrant bowers, The voice of love awakes once more. Thou bonnie Howe o' sweet Strathmore, Thou bonnie Howe o' sweet Strathmore, Life's early spring I spent in thee — My blessings on thee evermore. The " Great Valley," or Howe of Stratlimore, independent of its historical and classical associations, is one of the most beauti ful and romantic vales in Scotland. Surrounded on the south by the long rugged ridge of the Sidlaw Hills, and guarded on the north by the Grampian Mountains, the " Howe " luxuriantly nestling between, the great valley is unsurpassed in all that constitutes soft, yet rich and gorgeous landscape. Hamlet, vill3age, vale, and hill, combine with castle, wood, and stream, to form a picture, which, once seen, can never be forgotten.

Two of the finest and most striking views of this celebrated valley are obtained by the traveller ; the one from the Castle of Hatton, in the Glack of Newtyle, and the other on the road from Dundee to Coupar- Angus, when emerging from the defile A STRATHMORE : ITS SCENES AND LEGENDS. through the Sidlaws in the immediate proximity of Hali burton House. When the Queen visited Scotland in the autumn of 1844. she took the latter route when proceeding to the Highlands of Perthshire. The scenery, on approaching the Sidlaws from the south, gradually becomes comparatively bleak and uninteresting ; but, once through the " glack," the scene changes as if by enchantment, when the " Howe," in all its luxuriant loveliness, bursts in an instant on the enraptured view. The Prince Consort, who was an ardent admirer of the beauties of Nature, was so captivated by the unexpected yet fully appreciated beauty of the scene, that he ordered the Royal cortege to pause on the top of the hill to afford sufficient time to the Royal visitants to master the details of such a superb and beautiful picture, chased in frame-work so lofty and sublime.

Although the beautiful rivers, the North Esk and the South Esk (the Tina and Esica of the Romans) and the Isla, flow through the extreme east and western boundaries of the Strath, the Kerbet and the Dean are the only streams that diversify the landscape in Strathmore proper. The latter takes its rise in the Loch of Forfar, receiving in its course the waters of the Kerbet and falling into the Isla before its junction with the Tay at Kinclaven in Perthshire. The Lochs of Feithie and Forfar in the Howe, although not equal in point of extent or romantic scenery to those of Lintrathen or Lee, are, nevertheless, most interesting in a geological or historical aspect. In regard to the first, Sir Charles Lyell observes that it is completely surrounded by calcareous deposits, making its geological features unique, and its treasures highly valuable.

Loch Feithie belongs to Mr Dempster of Dunnichen, and its banks until lately were covered with thriving forest trees, which gave the place a beautiful and romantic appearance, very different from its present bleak and cheerless aspect. This rude despoilage is the more to be regretted as this retired spot was a much-loved resort of its former proprietor, the celebrated GLAMIS. politician and agriculturist George Dempster, who wrote an inscription on the grave of a favourite green-linnet, buried by the side of the loch. He quaintly hopes the epitaph may " place on the rolls of fame The bird, his master's and his mistress' name, While school-boys perches in Loch Feithie take, And the sun's shadow dances on the lake. " Mr Dempster was long M.P. for the Fife and Forfar district of Burghs, and is celebrated by Burns, as " a true-blue Scot," in his address to the Scottish representatives.

The Loch of Forfar, on the other hand, is full of the most stirring historical associations. In remote times there seems to have been an island in the middle, or at the northern end of the Loch, for we find that Alexander II., by deed, dated at Kinross, 18th July 1234, provides that five merks be given for the lights at the monastery of Cupar, and ten for the support of two monks of that house, who shall abide and celebrate divine service on the island in the Loch of Forfar, to which were added, for the benefit of the officiating monks, the common pasture of the King's lands of Tyrbeg, for six cows and a horse. Subsequently, by a charter of Adam White of Forfar, the monks were constituted his heirs after his death, if he should die without issue (Brev. Reg. de Cupro). It was also on this island, or more probably on the peninsula or inch on the north side of the Loch, called Queen Margaret's Inch, that Margaret, Queen of Malcolm Canmore, had a royal residence, the foundations of which are still visible.

The assassins of Malcolm II., after committing the foul murder, endeavoured to escape, but in crossing Forfar Loch, then imperfectly frozen over, the ice gave way, and they all miserably perished. The draining of the Loch has long formed the subject of debate among the wise men in the county town and the prac tical agriculturists of the country. It is in reference to this prolific source of dispute that the following amusing story is told of Patrick, Earl of Strathmore. After listening for some STRATHMORE : ITS SCENES AND LEGENDS. 4 time to an animated and scientific debate on the best means of effectually draining the Loch, in order to make it fit for agri cultural purposes, his Lordship abruptly wound up the discussion by naively observing that in his opinion the only really practical mode left open to them was to empty a few hogsheads of whisky into the Loch, for in that case he wittily added, " The writers of Forfar would not be long in draining up the Loch !

" The most prominent object on the Sidlaw range of mountains is an observatory on the summit of Kinpurnie Hill, to the south-east of the village of Newtyle. This building was erected by the Hon. James Mackenzie, Lord Privy Seal, who, previous to his death in 1800, resided at Belmont Castle, as proprietor of the lands of Keilor, since then become the property of Lord Wharncliffe. The walls of the Observatory still defy the blasts of time, and form a well-known landmark for the mariner voyaging on the Northern Sea or entering the estuary of the Tay. The most classical and historically interesting, as well as the grandest spot in Strathmore, is undoubtedly, however, the Castle of Glamis and its world-famed magnificent sur roundings. I shall confine my dissertations, therefore, in these introductory chapters to the parishes of Glamis and Kinnettles, as forming the centre from which the Tales and Legends of the subsequent chapters will uniformly diverge.

Strathmore being my native vale, and Airniefoul farm, in the immediate neighbourhood of Glamis, the place of my birth, the Howe having been besides the birthplace of my ancestors for many centuries, and where many of their descendants tenant the farms of their fathers to the present day, I shall ever feel surrounded by an atmosphere of song, and of deeply-cherished sunny memories, while endeavouring to open up the legendary lore, and to portray the more salient and attractive features of a district in every sense so dear to my heart, and so worthy of being commemorated by an abler though not less loving pen than mine. GLAMIS. 5 Glamis means noise or sound ; and in similar situations, where there are ravines in the district, the affix iss, yss, eis, signifying an obstruction or barrier, is common in the names of places with some descriptive appellation prefixed.

The name Glamis, or Glammis, therefore, seems to be descriptive of the most striking natural features of the parish. A sweet sparkling rivulet called " Glamis Burn " flows down its centre for some miles, rushing, immediately to the south of the village, through the rugged ravine, the rush of water along its bottom producing a subdued murmuring sound. There is another derivation of the name, however, which seems more applicable to the parish in general, viz., that Glamis is probably a corruption of the Gaelic Glamhus, which means a wide open, or champaign country. It is much to be regretted that, although still retaining some of its former features, the natural beauties of this picturesque and romantic dell have been utterly destroyed by the erection of a huge structure of solid masonry which stretches across the ravine, damming up the waters of the burn to form an immense reservoir of water, which stretches away among the trees to the south nearly as far as the eye can rSftG.**1* the temporary cause for the erection of this rude obstruction of the waters of the burn and the formation of the rpservo'r has now passed away, it is to be hoped this lovely and romantic spot will soon be restored to its natural and pristine beauty.

The hamlet or village of Glamis, apart altogether from the historical and classical associations of its neighbourhood, is one of the most beautifully-situated of our Scottish villages. Built on the banks of a mountain rivulet, and at the base of a lofty pine-clad hill, surrounded by scenery of the most beautiful and attractive description, and nestling amongst ancient and extensive woods, it presents a scene of retired and quiet seclusion from the busy world quite refreshing to the pent-up denizen of the crowded city. Standing on the bridge, beneath which pleasantly flows the STRATHMORE : ITS SCENES AND LEGENDS. burn already noticed, the view on either side, although necessarily somewhat contracted, is very pleasing and beautiful. To the north appear the barley mill, the church, churchyard, and manse, the village stretching away to our left, and a beautifully wooded dell, with the water of the burn flowing fretfully through its midst, opening up its romantic beauties to our right.

Southward — the brook, the rocky ravine, the smithy, a few straggling cottages amidst their trim gardens and kailyards, and the ruins of a modern, unromantic factory are the principal objects which attract the eye ; while high above, the Hunter Hill, in all its luxuriant sylvan beauty, crowns the scene as with a diadem of emerald, the happy birds meanwhile comingling their thrilling notes of gladness with the merry voices of the rustic urchins at roystering play on the village green. The dens and ravines in the parish are very rich in their display of wild flowers during the season in particular of the avens, geraniums, and anemones. Among the more rare plants may be noticed the orobus sylvaticus, and in the marshes along the Dean the yellow water-lily may be seen in all its beauty. John de Logy — supposed to have been the father of the Queen of David II. — received the reversion of the thariecjom of Glamis from that monarch in the year 1363.

The reddendo was a red falcon to be delivered yearly at the feast of Pente cost. This thanedom was afterwards given to bii Sohu T,von ancestor of the Earls of Strathmore, in dowry with his wife, Jane, daughter of Robert II. The oldest castles in Angus are undoubtedly those of Red Castle and Guthrie, both occupied in 1306, and supposed to have been built some centuries previous. It is true, Sir David Guthrie of Kincaldrum, and Treasurer to James II., acquired the Barony of Guthrie in 1465, and became the founder of the family of that ilk, but the castle, and name, and family had been in existence many centuries before that period. Although from a remote era there was a royal residence at Glamis, or in its immediate neighbourhood, first noticed in GLAMIS. 7 connection with the death of Malcolm H., in 1034, the present Castle was only begun to be built in the time of the first Earl of Kinghorn, who succeeded his father iu 1578.

This nobleman did not live to finish the work, the much admired ceiling in the great hall not being completed until 1620. The chapel is a most interesting and beautiful apartment, the paintings on the walls and ceiling having been executed in 1688 by Jacob de Witt, the Dutchman, who a few years previous painted the Kings in the Picture Gallery of Holy rood Palace. The paintings in the chapel, however, are very much superior to those of Holyrood. In the agreement between the Earl of Kinghorn and the artist, it was expressly stipulated that each of the fifteen large panels in the roof of the chapel should contain " a full and distinct storie of our Blessed Saviour, conforme to the cutts in a Bible here in the house, or the Service Booke ; " while the lesser pannels were to be filled " with the angels in the skie, and such other things as he [De Witt] shall invent and be esteemed proper for the work."

The altar-piece was to be the Crucifixion, " and the doore-piece the Ascencione." Our Saviour and His Twelve Apostles were to form the subjects of the paintings in the panels around the chapel, " in als full stature as the panels will permit." For this work De Witt made a claim of 200 merks, which the Earl disputed, and wrote to the artist as follows : — " I would give now, after full deliberation, for the roof of the chapel, £15 sterling; for our Saviour, the Twelve Apostles, the King's father, the two Martyrs, St Paul and St Stephen, the altar and door-pieces, £20 sterling." It is said that the chapel at Glamis is the only one besides Roslin in which the exclusive use of the Liturgy dates from a period preceding the Revolution of 1688. Roslin and Glamis thus link the Episcopal Church of the present with that of the past.

It was first consecrated in 1688, on the eve of that Revolution which hurled the last of the Royal Stuarts STRATHMORE : ITS SCENES AND LEGENDS. from the throne and expelled the Bishops from their Dioceses. This ancient chapel, after a period of desuetude of nearly a hundred years, was re-opened for divine service on the Feast of St Michael and All Angels, 1866. The ceremonial of the day commenced with a solemn service of benediction, composed for the occasion by the Bishop of Brechin. The office con cluded with the celebration of the holy communion, according to the old Scottish rite. The second service, or Matins, followed soon thereafter, with the Benedicite sung as a processional chant by a full and well-trained choir, among whom were the Countess of Strath more, Lady Elizabeth Arthur, Lady Constance Hay, and other of the guests at the Castle, along with several of the domestics.

The clergy in their surplices, and the Bishop in his robes closed the procession. The chants used were Gregorian, and the anthem was the Dedication Hymn " Christ is made the sure Foundation." The musical service for the Holy Communion was " Marbeck's Plain Song." The effect of the fine chant, as heard in the chapel when the procession wound slowly from the crypt, up the grand stair-case, and through the ancient hall, was strik ingly solemn and impressive, reminding one of old times, when No sound of busy life was heard amid the cloisters dim, Save the tinkling of the silver bell, and the sister's holy hymn." Previous to the re-opening of the hallowed shrine, great alterations had taken place in the interior arrangements and finishings of the chapel. The raised dais and box pews with all their graduated scale of rank, had disappeared, and in their stead were simple benches and chairs.

In place of the old diminutive altar, there now arose a new one of large dimensions, splendidly vested in white silk, and richly embroidered in crimson and gold. On the super-altar was displayed a beautifully jewelled cross in all its symbolic signi ficance with ornate vases of variegated flowers expressive of the GLAMIS. 9 beauty of God's great creation. The heavy black panels in which the paintings are framed have been gilt, and the pictures themselves cleaned and varnished without, in the least, interfering with the air of antiquity which characterises the place. The sermon by the Bishop of Brechin, from the appropriate text — Joshua xxiv. 15, — "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," was a very eloquent and impressive one — concluding thus — " When I look upon this church I am called back to the recollections of the past.

I see here a great religious effort upon the part of that strong-willed and predominant race who have so long inhabited this venerable Castle. I see here the first effort, after the doubts and difficulties of the Scotch Re formation, to raise a temple in the appropriate spirit to God. I see here the results of that short-lived period of civilization — of high cultivation — which from the time of the accession of King James to the English throne, till the troubles about the Prayer-book, distinguished Scotland. I see here the dedication of Christian art to the services of the sanctuary — not, indeed Christian art after the spiritual glories of the Italian Schools, but still they did what they could, and those who decorated the church were, at least, no puritans. I see here almost the last act of our Bishops in its consecration just before the dis-establishment of our church.

And I see where, in the time of our depressed position, the litany used to be said, and prayers arose to God, till at last the French Revolution came, and all became coldness, and the voice of prayer and praise ceased. These days, thank God, are gone for ever. I should be mis-using this place were I to use it as a vehicle for praise and flattery. We are all in the presence of Almighty God, answerable for those talents, for those powers, for those opportunities which God gives us, and when we have done all we are unprofitable servants. But, still, I do believe that this will be a day much to be remembered in the future annals of this ancient house — that done in the true STRATHMORE : ITS SCENES AND LEGENDS. spirit of religion and in the love of God, to-day's act may draw down many blessings from heaven, so that, continuing in God's fear and love this family may cast its roots deeper and spring to a more vigorous existence than ever, leavening, by its example, those around it, and impetrating fresh blessings from the Lord and God of all good things."