right, which we pass, and ascend the shoulder of a hill that rises precipitous from the water's edge, then descend gradually into a wood overhung with huge fragments of rocks which threaten inftant destruction in their fall. In paffing through this wood, (Coilichrab,) the western extremity of the lake is feen at intervals through the glade, bounded by the dreary precipices of Glengyle. On emerging from the wood of Coilichrah, we may take our stations for views of the lake, which here fends forward an arm through Glengyle, at Mr. M'Pharlane's house, a neat though plain manfion, where we command two or three points of view to great advantage. The first of thefe ftations is from Port-nan-ellan, close to Mr. M'Pharlane's houfe. The fcenery of the lake exhibits here the most picturesque flow of harmonizing lines, bold maffes, and varied hues. When the woods put on the yellow tints of autumn, and the bofom of the lake is clear, reflective, and finely illumined in gradations of aerial, foftness, the effect of fun-fet ter to be extremely good.'-The clerk, however, was forbidden to mark any thing said by the witnesses relating to the goodness of the pannel's moral character; as is obferved by Mr. Brown (554).—Remarkable was the reflection of the poor pannel himself on this occafion, who faid to his agent, It is all over now; my lawyers need give themfelves no further trouble about me: my doom is as certain as if it were pronounced. I always dreaded this place, (Inverary,) and the influence that prevails in it; but this out-does all. God forgive them.' p. 558. Mr. Brown (another of the prifoner's lawyers) was interrupted by Duncan Campbell of South-hall, one of the jury, who faid aloud, Pray Sir, cut short; we have enough of it, and are quite tired, the trial having lofled long.'—It is true, the trial had lafted long. But nine hours at least of the time spent were employed by the profecutors for one hour by the pannel.-The jury had fat in court fifty hours without fleep; the laft day of the trial no notes were taken by the jury-men; and in this state of the business, a verdict was brought, of Guilty art and part in the murder of Colin Campbell of Glenure. is truly charming; and as the fun finks behind the mountains, the fombre deepens every inftant into the gray fhades of the evening; when the night in folemn filence clofes around, and the thin blue vapour spreads on the diftant verge of the water, floating along the bofom of the bending fteep; the moon rifing in her graceful movements behind the mountain, tipping the top-cliffs with mildeft luftre, now pouring in a lengthened ftream of faint yellow rays along the lake, must produce that soft delight, which minds calculated to relish fuch transcendant scenes of wildly fweet and fantastic nature, as are here prefented to the fafcinated fenfes, muft feel in high gratification all that mountain, vale, wood, and water yield, in this affemblage of picturefque beauty. At the station here pointed out, Benvenu, towering above the lower eminences, forms the chief feature in the back-ground: in the centre, the craggy wilds of Coilichrab, terminating in a promontory that pushes forward its wooded form into the lake, make the chief feature in the profpect; the intervening grounds forming beautiful indentions and capes; above which, thick wood and hanging rocks boldly projecting, in variegated hues, and rich variety of herbage, approach nearer the fore-ground on the right. On the oppofite fide of the lake, the contrast is striking indeed; brown and barren, with scarcely a spot of green visible, fave where some spring, oozing through the ruffet heath, fpreads verdure in its course, the hills on the left rife bare and bleak. But, on the foreground, the islands come into the prospect with peculiar effect; and, what in no fmall degree gives character to the whole, is a hut, the former refidence of the famous highland free-booter Rob Roy, who in his time spread terror in these parts; but was chiefly chiefly formidable to those who, as he alleged, kept poffeffion of his paternal estates, which, in ancient times, were extenfive and populous. The second station for an advantageous pofition to view the effect of scenery on this part of the lake, is on a knoll a little to the right. Here we command nearly the fame prospect as before, only that the islands are separated; and on the whole, this station may, by fome, be preferred to the former. On turning round, and looking up Glengyle, a house amid a defert, cheerless and alone, occafions but a chilling fenfation, when the idea occurs of spending a winter in fo dreary a region. But, what will not local attachment infpire? Nay, perhaps, to the inhabitants of these wilds, a change of refidence would be the laft wish of their hearts. Such are our habits of association! In one of these islands, it is faid, Rob Roy, after having permitted a steward of the Duke of Montrofe (whofe property the greater part of these mountains and valleys now is) to collect the rents, faved him the trouble of carrying home the cash, and confined him for feveral weeks, feeding him on bread and water all the while, till he difmiffed him with a friendly admonition never more to trouble the country with his master's commands, as in future it was his intention to collect the rents himself, and apply them to the maintenance of the widow and the orphan : alleging, at the fame time, that in truth he had a natural right to these lands himself as his indubitable heritage; for, although his claims were in some measure obfolete, yet he confidered as of attainder in remote periods as matters in no wife founded in equity, nor binding on him in any fenfe; he therefore made no fcruple to take the law into his own hands, and do as he thought proper in the adminiftration, according to his notions, of justice. |