34 A T O U R
iingled Out for execution; but the manner and the feafon were
attended with circumftances o f fuch a nature, that caufed the indifferent
to fhudder; the clans to refent with a long and fatal
revenge.
In the Library is a Hiftory of 'Thebes, in verfe.
Hiftory of the World in folio, with wooden plates, by Michael
Wolgemut, and WilUam Pleydenwurff, prior to Albert Durer: the firft
was mailer to that great artift.
The Will of Duncan Laider, before quoted; a long poem in
manufcript.
His lordfhip’s Policy * furrounds the houfe, which Hands in a
park, one o f the few in North Britain where fallow deer are feen.
The ground is in remarkably fine order, owing to his lordfhip’s
afiiduity in clearing it from the ftones with which it was once
covered. A blafier was kept in conftant employ, to blafl with
gunpowder the great ftones; for, by reafon of their fize, there
was no other method of removing them.
The Berceau walk is very magnificent, compofed of great lime
trees, forming a fine Gothic roof, four hundred and fifty yards
long: probably that fpecies of architecture might owe its origin
to fiich arched fhades. The fouth terras on the banks of the
Tay is eighteen hundred yards long; that on the north, two
thouland two hundred, and is to extend as far as the junction of
the Tay and the Lion, about eighteen hundred more : each are
fifty feet wide, and kept with the neatnefs of the walks of a Lon-
* This word fignifies here, improvements, or dernefne : when ufed by a merchant
or tradesman, means warehoules, ihops, and the like.
it don:
I N S C O T L A N D . ’
don villa. The river runs with great rapidity, is clear but not
I colorlefs; for its pellucidnefs is like that of brown cryftal, as is
the cafe with moft of the rivers in Scotland. The Tay has here a
wooden bridge, two hundred feet long, leading to a white feat
on the fide of the hill, commanding a fine view up and down
' Strath Tay. The rich meadows beneath, the winding of the river,
/the beginning of Loch-Tay, the difcharge of the river out of it,
fth e pretty village and church of Kinmore, form a moft pleafing and
if magnificent profpect.
The view from the temple of Venus Is that of the lake, with a
nearer fight of the church and village : the two fides of the fine
jgwater are feen to vaft advantage.
§ Much flax is cultivated in thefe parts. A few years ago, when
pramia were given for the greateft crops, from feventy to a hun-
■dred and twenty hogiheads of lin-feed were annually fov/n; and
each peck yielded two ftones of dreft flax; and when the yarn fold
: higheft, two thoufand pounds worth has been fold out of the
.country. The prefent low price affeils the trade o f the country,
yet ftill more flax is imported than the land produces.
Oats, bear, and potatoes * are the other crops. Oats yield
from four to fix-fold at the moft, oftener lefs ; bear, from eight to
' sten, at an average, fix. The corn raifed feldom fuffices the num-
* A variety o f Barley with fquare heads, and four rows o f grain, called by
■pld Gerard, Beare Barley, or Barley b ig, and Hordeum pelyjlichum vernum, to
/Jdiftingullh it from the common kind, which he ilylgs Hordeum dyjtichon. It fuits
^psarren lands, and ripens early, which recommends the nfe in this rainy
iSc lima te.
F 2 ■ ber
F l a x .
G r a i n .
P o ta toe s .