S e f t . 3 .
The firft turneps for feeding of cattle were raifed by this gtj!
tleman: and the markets are now 'plentifully fupplied with fij
beef. For that of Aberdeen, there are frequently fifty fat bcevJ
flaughtered in one day, from Chrifimas to the firft of July, gad
rally weighing forty ftones Scotch a-piece. Before that period M
meat was hardly known in thefe parts, during the winter and fpriiJ
months. Every perfon killed his cattle for winter proviftons t-
Michaelmas and this was called laying-in in time.
The great grand-father of Mr. Barclay was not lefs eminent fa
his improvements inaffairs fpiritual. The celebrated Robert M
clay made Urie his refidence, and here compofed that Apolocym
the Quakers, which will ever remain an evidence of his abilititj
and his piety. His moderate difpofition and cool head gave crtra
to the le ft; for it was the peculiar happinefs of George Fen ti
have united himfelf with this worthy brother, fince George’s teneiil
as Mojheim expreffes, delivered by him in a rude, confufed, ani
ambiguous manner, were prefented in a different form by tM
mafterly hand of Barclay, who dreffed them with fuch fagacii
and art, that they affumed the afpeft of a regular fyftem. TS
him then is owing the purification of the opinions of the pw
feffors of it at this time. He was the great reformer of quakerj
ifm, and his followers may exult in him as in one who woull
do honor to any religion.
Leave Urie, and return by the fame road as far as Red I'M
where we turn to the north weft, and travel near the foot of1
Grampian hills, through a fine open country. Go near the Wj
of captain Falconer, with excellent improvements around; J3j
foon after by Fafque, the feat of Sir Alexander Ramfay, a g e n tlem a fl
diftinguiH
diftin.o-uiihed for his fine method of agriculture. Stop at Fetter-
<eirn,°a finall village, for the fake of refreihing ourfelveS and
borfes.
■In this morning’s ride, obferve a particular neatnefs in the cottages
of the country. They-are made either of red clay, or of
yids, placed on a ftone foundation ; the roofs'are prettily thatched,
and bound by a neat net-work of twifted ftraw rope, which keeps
diem extremely tight.
■Near Fetter-cairn was the refidence of Finella, the daughter F eI-t e r - ^ a i r n ,
of a nobleman of large poffeffions, in this country, infamous for
her affafllnation of Kenneth III, in 994. She artfully infinu-
Lajed herfelf into his favor, and inveigling him into her palace
(linder pretence of revealing fome confpiracies, ihe was really
privy to) there caufed him to be murdered. The place was befet
: by his friends, but Finella efcaping out of a window, joined the
confederates in her wickednefs. Such is the relation given by
fydhius and Buchanan *, but the relations of thofe early times are
■jften doubtful and often fabulous.
■About two miles from this place, on the road-fide, is a.cairn,
: pf aftuperidous fize, and uncommon form, which probably might
give name to the pariih. The ihape is oblong, and the height at
Pcaft thirty feet. At fome diftance from the ground the fides are
i.fprnied into a broad terrafs: the cairn rifes again confiderably
above that, and confifts of great loofe ftones, mixed with much
Kmi-vitrified or lava-like matter. On one fide is a large loncf
■ * Boethius, lib. X I. p. 233. Buchanan, lib . V I . c. 4 1 . Major, p . 94, calls the
Ctmitijjfa ¿ngufie,
X 2 ftone,