parts, and loopholes, and parapets, did their best to render the place impregnable. They say the building is so old that it has outlived the traditions of its origin; but the very thought that Charlemagne and the "gude Scots king," Achaius, signed a league there, with sixteen thanes, or chiefs, as witnesses, set my imagination to work at once. The two monarchs were before me, and their witnesses also, but it was but for a moment-the figures of my fancy flitted away and left me alone, among the mouldering remains of former greatness. For some time I chatted with the old ferryman, who put me across the Lochy, for I seldom fall in with one whose brow, like my own, is graven, without reminding him that the running sands in the hour-glass of our lives are but few. I looked with some interest on Loch Jel, where two or three yachts attached to the royal party were riding, and on the running waters of the Lochy across which I had just been ferried, but with still more interest did I regard that great national work of spirit and enterprise, the Caledonian Canal. Where nature spreads her sterner charms, It was a bold and a happy thought to join by a canal the chain of magnificent lakes that fill up, for the most part, the great Caledonian Glen, Glenmorna Albin, thus forming a short north-east passage from the Atlantic to the North Sea. Little doubt is entertained that the Great Glen is the result of some tremendous convulsion, for the opposing fronts of the abrupt and rugged mountains too closely agree to warrant any other opinion. There are eight straths, or smaller glens, that lead into Glenmorna Albin, the four from the west-north-west are those of Glenurquhart, Glenmorriston, Glengarry, and Glen Locharkeg, and the remainder four from the east-south-east are Stratherick, Glenluay, Glenspean, and Glen Nevis. The length of the Caledonian Canal, beginning at Clachnaharry, near Inverness, and ending at Corpach, near Fort William, is a little more than sixty miles, of which distance thirty-seven miles, at least, pass through Lochs Ness, Oich, and Lochy, the first of these being twenty four miles long, and in some places eight | hundred feet deep. The canal, or artificial part, is a hundred and twenty feet wide, and twenty deep, so that a thirtytwo-gun frigate, or a large Baltic ship, can pass from sea to sea; that is, from the North Sea at Norway Frith to the Atlantic at the south end of Loch Linnhe. Between Fort William and Inverness are many objects of an impressive kind, Fort Augustus and the Fall of Foyers are among them. Fort Augustus, consisting of four bastions, with governor's house and barracks for four hundred men, was built in 1730. It was taken by the Highlanders in 1746, and partly demolished. The surrounding scenery is beyond praise, and the hanging gardens of Glendoe, the caves of Inchmacordash, and the Echoing Glen, near the waterfall of Culachy, on the Tarfe, are visited by many an ardent lover of nature with great satisfaction. The Fall of Foyers, with its wonderful and sublime scenery, has few equals in the world. Difficult it is to set forth the specific character of every waterfall in a country wherein cataracts abound, but the Fall of Foyers, in the estimation of many, stands pre-eminent. The river Foyers flows from the lofty summits in the neighbourhood of Boleskine and Abertarff into Loch Ness. The wild and rugged mountains, the wooded sides of the glen, and the black rocks forming á framework of terrific grandeur to the fall, add much to the sublimity of the scene. The upper fall has three breaks, the lower is dashed by a shelving rock into numberless forms, from which rises a snowy spray; it then descends in a stream of perfect whiteness, at least two hundred feet, and is certainly one of the most arresting objects on which the eye can gaze. "Among the heathy hills and ragged woods, As high in air the bursting torrents flow, And viewless Echo's ear astonish'd rends; The hoary cavern, wide-surrounding, lowers; Still through the gap the struggling river toils, And still below the horrid caldron boils." Willingly would I have set my foot on the forehead of Mealfourvonie, which is more than three thousand feet high, but though I saw it I ascended it not. "Meal fourvonie," said I, playfully," we may not always be strangers; according to etiquette, as a new comer into the country, I believe that I am entitled to a call on your part; but as that would involve you in some difficulty, I will set aside ceremony, and, when I can, make a call on you.' Inverness, the capital of the North Highlands, is a royal burgh, standing on both sides of the river Ness. It has some elegant houses, and is surrounded by scenes of romantic beauty. The place is of great antiquity, and was in the sixth century the capital of the Pictish kingdom. An ancient castle once crowned a hill south-east of the town. On Craig Phadric, a steep and rugged hill, more than a thousand feet above the river, stand the remains of what is called, on account of the singular appearance of the stones, a vitrified fort. These forts are not at all uncommon in the north and the west of Scotland. I never look upon a fort without regarding it as a monument of human suspicion, strife, and violence, bearing the inscription-" Here the potsherds of the earth strove together." At the distance of a few miles from Inverness is Culloden House, directly south of which is Culloden Moor, where the duke of Cumberland obtained his decisive victory over the army of prince Charles, on April 16th, 1746. "The graves of those who fell may be distinguished by their verdant surface of grass; and bullets and fragments of arms are still picked up from the heath. At the western extremity of the moor stands the wall, through which the militia of Argyle burst, and aided by the cavalry, attacked the right flank of the Highland army, and threw it into confusion. It is not a little remarkable that prince Charles, who had displayed much personal bravery on former occasions, took no share in this engagement. Disgusted with the dissensions that prevailed in his famished army, and impressed with dismal forebodings, he stationed himself with the corps de reserve, muffled up in a great coat and countryman's hat, and the moment that he saw the right wing give way, he left the field and fled to old Lovat, who cursed him when he saw him approach as a fugitive. "This victory entirely blasted the hopes of the unfortunate prince; but the barbarities which the duke exercised against the insurgent chiefs and their vassals, stamp his memory with indelible infamy." There is that in the spirit of war which must of necessity harden the heart, and render it more or less callous to the feelings of humanity. Aggression excites anger, anger inflicts injuries, the injured seek for revenge, and revenge revels in cruelty. "Whatever may be the opinions now held respecting the rash enterprise which closed in blood on this field, it is difficult for a man of Scottish blood to gaze with a light heart, or laughing eye, on its sterile brow. The moor is as grim and shelterless a waste as vengeance could desire for an enemy's grave. A low hill, on the slope of which the battle was fought, is crowned by a few straggling firs. It slopes gently to the south as far as a small rivulet, beyond which rises, somewhat abruptly, a black mountain ridge. This rivulet ran red with blood after the action." "Long years ago, from o'er the sea, A banish'd prince, of Stuart's line, And succour in his sire's decline. Ambition's toys-his birthright were; And there we saw the checquer'd plaid Its black plumes streaming in the blast: Come blended with the pibroch's strain, Our warriors ranking on the plain." There are many wild scenes in Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness, that I would fain have visited, but north of the Caledonian I did not set my foot. Ben Wyvis is a noble mountain to climb, and Glaschean, Ord of Caithness, and the Scarry Hills, are not to be lightly regarded. Then there are Lochs Broom, Hourn, Stron, and Arkeg, and Shin Fannich, Moir, Shurery, Hope, and Carron, with at least twenty others; but I have an odd occurrence to mention connected with Loch Carron. Most people may have heard that such creatures as rats and mice have been occasionally caught by the close gripe of an oyster, but the fact of so large and crafty an animal as a fox being thus made a captive, is an event of an uncommon kind, and yet, according to a paragraph in the Inverness Courier, such an event, or one similar to it, actually took place. It certainly does appear of humility and charity, and enduring something ridiculous that fierce dogs, the most terrible sufferings, should vanfiery steeds, and stalwart men should quish the pride of philosophers, the tyransally forth, whooping, shouting, and hal-nical power of princes, the rebellious oplooing, to do that which an unaided position of men's carnal lusts, is inconoyster or muscle is able to perform. At ceivable, without the assistance of superArdinisgain, on Loch Carron, muscles of natural agency to convince the most an immense size are found, some of them obstinate enemies that the doctrine was nearly as large as a man's shoe. One of Divine, by the miracles done in confirmathese muscles being left exposed by the tion of it. Besides, that is found here retiring tide, naturally enough opened which wise men in all ages had been its yawning mouth when the sunbeams searching for, namely, the perfection of fell upon it, and in this attitude it was the law of nature, at first engraven in approached by a prowling fox, whose the hearts of men by the Author of it, hunger was sharper than his discretion. but which they sought in vain. For The temptation was too strong for Rey- although philosophy affords some notices nard to withstand; but no sooner had he of good and evil sufficient to check many thrust in his tongue between the accom- notorious vices, yet it is not sufficient to modating shells than they closed upon it, direct men in their universal duty towards and he was thus held fast till drowned by God, their neighbour, and themselves. the returning tide. But the gospel is an instructive light of our complete duty: it speaks to the heart, changes the thoughts and affections, and reforms the life according to the pure and perfect rule revealed in it. But could an imposture produce such a perfection of virtue in the wicked world? The true interpretation of the moral law in the gospel is from God alone. Could such a change have been made without visible miracles? If the Christian religion was planted and propagated without the confirmation of miracles, that were, indeed, the transcendant miracle, the absolutely incredible one! And though we have not witnessed the miracles done by the apostles, yet we see the permanent effects of them in the belief and lives of true Christians. Infidels are apt to reply that if they saw miracles performed to assure them of the divinity of the Christian religion, they would believe it. But it is a vain pretence that men would submit to the power of God declared by miracles, who deny his authority made known in that eminent degree of evidence which he has given in his word: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."-Dr. Bates. It is wonderful what an interest is given to a map, by the circumstance of our knowing the places depicted thereon. Never before my tour did I look on the map of Scotland with half the interest with which I now regard it. It is not merely a chart of shires, cities, and towns, lochs, rivers, glens, mountains, and moors, but a register also of interesting events. Here I was overcome with fatigue, or took shelter from the storm, or drank of the refreshing stream;there I climbed a mountain, or was lost in a bog, or entered a shepherd's shieling; and yonder, I met with a pleasant companion, or gazed on a glowing sky, or felt myself overwhelmed with thankfulness to the Father of mercies for giving me, in my years, the strength and elasticity of youth to prosecute my interesting and agreeable tour. The map of Scotland is to me a history of the past, a remembrancer of difficulties overcome, a diary of delightful days, and a monitor that reminds me of my mercies. PAGAN IDOLATRY ABOLISHED. THE abolition of Pagan idolatry, at the time foretold by the prophets, is a palpable proof that the Christian religion was from the true God. The instruments of this great work were a few fishermen, who had neither learning, nor arms, nor treasures. Patience was their strength, poverty their choice, disgrace their honour. That such men, without any force but that of illumination and persuasion, MONITORS. Ir seems that enemies have been always found the most faithful monitors; for adversity has ever been considered as the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself.—Dr. Johnson. THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. A FEW days after the conversation recently detailed,* Caleb Ford apprized Watkins that he should be happy to see him at his cottage some evening, to meet his inquiries as to the power of parliament; and that he was quite at liberty to bring with him any of his friends who wished for similar information. The cordial invitation was promptly accepted; several of the frequenters of the Red Lion for political discussion agreed to meet, and, at the appointed time, they started from Merston, the party including Watkins and Sims, who have been already described; Clare, the village blacksmith; and Adams, the wheelwright, who was (at least in his own opinion) well acquainted with all public matters, and who was the principal speaker of the political coterie. The walk was well adapted to soothe even a turbulent spirit,-for the evening was calm as any in summer; the silence that prevailed was only interrupted by the occasional twitter of a bird disturbed by some intruder on its quietude, and the voices and tramping of the party as they passed onwards. It would, however, have been clear to any listener that much discontent prevailed as to the management of public affairs; there were not a few violent assertions, thickly sprinkled with strong epithets: men standing high in the councils of the * Visitor for March. APRIL, 1849. country, came in for a share of virulent abuse; and it might have been apprehended that in any discussion respecting them, there would be not a few high words whatever were the force of the arguments employed. But amidst the conversation, if so it might be called, Caleb Ford's dwelling came into view. Its neatly trimmed hedge, with its low green iron gate, topped here and there with trees, caught the eye; while the cottage, with its jasmine and passion-flower trailing over its doorway, in all the beauty of their growth, appeared above, and well accorded with the richly-stocked and nicely-kept divisions of the garden, which gradually became visible in the foreground. Many a traveller paused to look at that pleasant spot, where all the comforts of life appeared to be found; not a few, indeed, envied its possessor; while rarely was it thought by those who have much of this world's good, how comparatively small a portion of it, wisely employed, secured the production and continuance of all its temporal advantages. had The party were received by Caleb in a manner which could not fail to be agreeable to themselves; each one felt neither flattered into obtrusiveness nor depressed into discomfort, but the object of cordial good will; he was therefore perfectly "at home;" and the current of feeling which had been flowing in some bosoms, L so briskly and even violently, subsided | "It is the great virtue of the British constitution that the supreme power of the state is vested in several bodies. Accordingly, the consent of each is required for any legislative act, and no alteration can be made in the laws, without the full and deliberate consent of the three ruling powers. Whatever affects the lives, liberty, or property of the people, must therefore secure the entire concurrence of all. The bill carried through the House of Commons, may be thrown out in the House of Lords; the bill passed in the House of Lords, may be rejected in the House of Commons; and even when both houses are fully agreed, the consent of the sovereign is not less indispensable than their united action." "Then, you see, Mr. Ford, we are left in the hands of the sovereign at last," said Adams. "It is not exactly as you suppose it to be," replied Caleb. "For a long time the crown struggled with the commons to be allowed the right of taxing; repeatedly it assumed the power of imprisoning offenders without bringing them to trial; and, even to a much later period, it tried to suspend laws or to dispense with them at its pleasure; but only to put the crown itself in the utmost peril. So it was found by James II. He violated the constitution by arbitrary authority, but he had to pay the penalty in a total forfeiture of sovereign power. A convention first, and afterwards a parliament, declared the throne to be vacant, and setting aside his children as well as himself, except the two princesses, Mary and Anne, settled the succession to the crown on William and on them; and it was afterwards further limited to the descendants of James 1.'s daughter, married to the elector palatine. It was this arrangement, grounded entirely on the will of the people in a state of resistance to their hereditary ruler, which is the whole foundation of the title by which the house of Brunswick now enjoys the crown. There is no likelihood of another sovereign appearing in England to pursue the course of James; but were it otherwise, his fate would act as a beacon-light, to warn him of the rocks against which even royal power may be wrecked. As it is, the sovereign is supreme, and the royal power, in enforcing the laws, uncontrollable; but it is the constitution, through the legislature, that gives a capacity for sustaining this high authority. The sovereign is the hand of might that executes, the legislature is the power of the heart that affords it vigour.' "That's better than I supposed," said Adams; " a king like James, of whom you have told us, can do wrong; and for my part, I do not like any one to have too much power. Now, do not you think that's the case with the House of Lords? When people get into great difficulty in other places, they talk, you know, of an appeal, and this strikes me as like asking these great folks to settle everything." "The House of Lords is, no doubt," said Caleb, a supreme court of judicature in every matter of civil and criminal law, and a court of general appeal in all suits of equity. But here there is a guard against corruption and oppression. The peers, as a body, have long entirely ceased to interfere in such questions. The whole judicial business is in the hands of some five or six of their number, professional lawyers, who have filled, or continue to discharge, the highest judicial offices in the state. And here we have much for which to be thankful. one of the glories of England that the ermine of our judges is of spotless purity. Were any one so audacious as to utter a charge against them, the libel would be instantly and indignantly repudiated; it could only recoil on the head of the reckless slanderer. As to the power of the House of Lords in other respects, there is an adequate check in that of the House of Commons." It is "What is it you refer to, Mr. Ford ?" inquired Clare, who had been as steadily looking on as if he had been hammering a horseshoe, or fastening on the tire of a wagon-wheel, but who had not till that moment opened his lips. Why, Clare," said Caleb, a check, the value of which you well know. The House of Commons holds the pursestrings. The assembly instituted by Edward 111. was very much unlike that which now meets; but the principle on which it proceeds was established in the |