judgment, toward the improvement of their estates, both in appearance and in product, than Mr. Farquharson. Of the ancient royal forest of Mar he keeps a great proportion in its natural state, as does the Earl of Fife; and on both properties the deer are cherished with great care. There are many natural woods, but the extent of plantation is still greater, Mr. Farquharson himself, in the course of a long possession, having planted no less than sixteen millions of fir, and two millions of larch. The latter is newly introduced into the practice of Scotch plantation, and answers for every purpose, except fuel, much better than the fir. Firs, however, appear tolerably congenial to this soil, and there still remain some very ancient ones, above 100 feet in straight height. They were much more numerous; but having been injudiciously thinned, the wind forced its way into the plantation, and in one night laid most of these veterans low. Much has been said in dispraise of the Scotch fir. I think the natural beauty of the individual tree has been greatly undervalued ; but surely when planted on so broad a scale, their effect is peculiarly adapted to augment the grandeur and majesty of these vast hollows. At Invercauld, as in Glenmore, the mountains seem to be divided by a dark sea of firs, whose uniformity of hue and appearance affords inexpressible solemnity to the scene, and carries back the mind to those primeval ages, when the axe had not yet invaded the boundless regions of the forest. But the moat remarkable of Mr. Farquharson's improvements are the roads, which he has carried, in a variety of directions, through his estate, for purposes both of utility, and of pleasure. They are in all considerably more than twenty miles; they are excellently constructed, and their level so well kept, that you reach, by a regular progress, the very tops of the mountains, ere you are well aware of having ascended. Before any of the roads, public or private, were formed, Invercauld was much more completely separated from social intercourse, than at present. Among many instances of this, perhaps more humourous than accurate, I heard the following -Some time previous to the year forty-five, a number of Invercauld's tenants were observed by a neighbouring proprietor marching in a long procession, and apparently heavily laden. Upon investigation, it was found, that they had been to Aberdeen, and on their return, had each brought a large piece of coal, as a present to the laird. Of the local attach ment of the very lowest classes Mr. Farquhar son himself related to me the following instance. He had recommended a young herdsman to a gentleman in the south of Scotland, who gave him very good wages; but walking out a short time afterward, he was surprised to see Donald returned, and sauntering idly about the fields. He immediately inquired the cause, and Donald answered, that "he did not like the south country, it was sae cauld-he could not find a tree, or a hill, to keep him warm.” The fondness of a Highlandman for whiskey is proverbial; but perhaps it was never more forcibly expressed, than by a man of this neighbourhood, who said "he was aye wae, when the taste was out of his mouth." A new road has lately been made, at a considerable expence, nearly the whole way along the bank of the Dee, to Aberdeen, which, from the nature of the country, must afford much fine scenery. This is particularly the case at the pass of Ballater, near Monaltry, about five miles below Invercauld. My excursions did not lead me so far as this; but I crossed the bridge of Dee, and paid a visit to Dr. Farquharson at Cluny, with whom and Mr. Farquharson of Monaltry, I found much pleasure, in riding through the fir-woods, visiting the Fall of the Garwal, and contemplating the rocky points of Stroan-na-Brock, and the Charter Chest. The latter is so named, from a scarcely accessible cave, in which the family charters were long concealed, during the civil contests of this country. About two miles above the house of Cluny, on the same side of the water, stand the castle and castle town of Braemar, the latter being merely a few huts gathered together under the shelter of the fortress. The castle was originally a patrimonial inheritance of the chief of the Farquharsons, who having exchanged it with the Earl of Mar, it was forfeited by the attainder of that nobleman, and repurchased into the family of Farquharson. They have since leased it to government; and it now forms. one of those petty garrisons, originally intended to keep in order the tumultuous parts of the Highlands. This place was anciently called Cean-dreochat, or bridge-head, from a bridge thrown across the water of Cluny. Many charters of Malcolm Canmore are dated here, and the remains of his royal residence are still visible. The weather was bright, and pleasant; though every night added to the snow of the mountains, whose peaks, at sunrise and sunset, were tinted with the most lively hues of rose colour and crimson. The wild animals began to feel tle approach of winter: the deer descended towards the vallies; even the timid roe approached the house, and crossed the paths without apprehensior; and one morning, as I walked out to take a sketch, I caught in my hand a poor hare, which was to much chilled to escape. Among the plantations may trees already exhibited "those naked shoots, Barren as lances, among which the wind Makes wintry music.” And I was more than once reminded most facibly of that beautifully descriptive passage, in the "ask: "The redbreast warbles still; but is content At this time, Mrs. and the Miss Mackays set off, to proceed directly southward, by the Spitle of Glenshee. They were preceded by several countrymen with spades, to cut away the snow; a precaution |