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to Queensferry (near Hopetoun House) is not to be paralleled for the elegance and variety of its prospects; the whole is a composition of all that is great and beautiful, towns, villages, seats, and ancient towers decorate each bank of that fine expanse of water, the Firth; while the busy scenes of commerce and rural economy are no small addition to the still life. The lofty mountains of the Highlands form a distant but august boundary towards the north-west, and the eastern view is enlivened with ships perpetually appearing or vanishing amidst the numerous isles."

General Graham's circle of acquaintance was very extensive; he was at the same time always delighted to make the acquaintance of those who could understand and sympathize in those feelings which Stirling Castle is calculated to awaken; thus it frequently happened during his residence in the Castle, that visitors became acquainted with him through letters of introduction either to himself or Mrs. Graham; or in consequence of their being more than commonly enthusiastic in examining the locality. Among the letters of this description which have been preserved, the following is from the Great Wizard of the North himself:

Dear Mrs. Graham-May I presume upon your kindness so far, as to say that the bearer is my son, who is taking his first flight from home, and for whom I am

anxious to secure General Graham's countenance, and yours, in passing through Stirling. I should particularly wish him to see what is worth noticing in your Castle, connected as it is with so many noble reminiscences; and I hope I do not trespass too much upon your goodness in hoping you will facilitate his progress. His travelling companion is Mr. Allan, son of Mr. Allan of Edinburgh. I need not say that when you have a friend who wishes to see what lions we have to shew on Tweedside, no one can be so happy to offer some small requital for the honour he now solicits, than, dear Mrs. Graham, your truly respectful, and obedient servant, WALTER SCOTT.

Abbotsford, 24th July.

From the same hand Mrs. Graham received upon another occasion, the following graceful acknowledgment for some small service which she had been enabled to render :

My dear Mrs. Graham-I scarce know a subject (after good morals) on which a father should be more anxious for his son on his entrance into life, than that of securing him good society, and I feel proportionably your kindness in sending me such valuable introductions for Walter to your friends at Cork. He is a bashful lad, as becomes his extreme youth, but I think well

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disposed to profit by your kindness in a matter of so much consequence. He left us on Wednesday to swim with bladders in the great sea of human life, and greatly shall I be obliged to any that will hold up his chin occasionally. You will think I have scarce got free of the technical language of the bath at Mr. Gunn's, but at least I have the pleasure to say, that after a relapse which followed my getting out here, my health has at length mended, and seems now in the way of being quite confirmed. In fact, I am more absolutely free from all sort of stomach complaints than I have been at any former period of my life, only I am still weak, to which the remedy, that is the constant use of calomel, has contributed. Should any wind favourable to us blow you towards this quarter, we should be delighted to see you, the general, and all the family. I will shew you Melrose in great style. Mrs. Scott and the girls offer best regards, and I am ever, dear madam, your obliged and grateful servant, WALTER SCOTT.

Abbotsford, 16th July.

CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH.

Radical Movement-Union Societies-Bonnymuir Prisoners in Stirling Castle-Veteran Battalions.

DURING the great revolutionary war with France, the naval supremacy of England obtained for her a monopoly of the carrying-trade of the world. The requirements of the war, and foreign exports, afforded ample employment to the artizans and mechanics in the country, while the high price of farming-produce was conducive to the interests of the agriculturists.

On the return of peace, this state of general prosperity was succeeded by a state of wide-spread distress and suffering.

At that period the great political convulsions of the preceding century in America and France began first to exhibit visible effects on the institutions of this country.

The prevailing distress, caused by the termination of the war, was made use of by political demagogues to excite a feeling of hostility to all established authority. The sufferings of the people were ascribed to the weight of the national debt, and the tyranny and oppression of