The Beauties of Scotland: Containing a Clear and Full Account of the Agriculture, Commerce, Mines, and Manufactures; of the Population, Cities, Towns, Villages, &c. of Each County ...

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Thomson Bonar and John Brown [and 7 others], 1808 - 547 pages

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Page 477 - Compared to this, what are the cathedrals or the palaces built by men! Mere models or playthings, imitations as diminutive as his works will always be when compared to those of nature. Where is now the boast of the architect! Regularity, the only part in which he fancied himself to exceed his mistress, nature, is here found in her possession, and here it has been for ages undescribed.
Page 478 - ... from without, and the air within, being agitated by the flux and reflux of the tides, is perfectly dry and wholesome, free entirely from the damp vapours with which natural caverns in general abound. We asked the name of it. Said our guide, The cave of Fhinn. What is Fhinn ? said we. Fhinn Mac Coul, whom the translator of Ossian's works has called Fingal.
Page 479 - ... the centre ; on the other, they are in general laid down flat, and in the front next to the main, you...
Page 406 - I am covered with the drops of heaven ? The time of my fading is near, the blast that shall scatter my leaves. To-morrow shall the traveller come ; he that saw me in my beauty shall come. His eyes will search the field, but they will not find me.
Page 477 - The mind can hardly form an idea more magnificent than such a space, supported on each side by ranges of columns ; and roofed by the bottoms of those, which have been broke off in order to form it ; between the angles of which a yellow stalagraitic matter has exuded, which serves to define the angles precisely; and at the same time vary the colour with a great deal of elegance, and to render it still more agreeable, the whole is lighted from without...
Page 467 - ... or burnt out of the ear, instead of being thrashed: this is performed two ways; first, by cutting off the ears, and drying them in a kiln, then setting fire to them on a floor, and picking out the grains, by this operation rendered as black as coal.
Page 409 - Macdonald demanded whether they came as friends or enemies, he answered as friends, and promised, upon his honour, that neither he nor his people should sustain the least injury. In consequence of this declaration, he and his men were received with...
Page 407 - Macdonald at court as an incorrigible rebel, as a ruffian inured to bloodshed and rapine, who would never be obedient to the laws of his country; nor live peaceably under any sovereign. He observed that he had paid no regard to the proclamation, and...
Page 75 - The contents were accordingly such as might have been naturally expected in such a gloomy mansion. None of those things which have been discovered in similar places were found here ; but the earth at the bottom of the cells, as deep as it could be dug, was of a dark colour...
Page 444 - ... foundation of the Castle is on a mass of breccia. It is still among the number of royal castles, and gives the office of keeper to the duke of Argyll. The Castle is said to have been founded by Edwin, a Pictish monarch — contemporary with Julius Caesar — who, in honour of himself, called it Evonium. Whether this account be true or not, it is certainly a place of great antiquity. Down to the commencement of the present century part of the ancient regalia was preserved, but at that period,...

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