said to be the richest and the most nutritive that can be made, yet I confess, as I happened to see it cooked, and the feathers, &c. &c. skimmed from it, I did not like it.

While at St. Cyrus, I observed men pursuing different tracks, yet having the same end in view. Here I met, if I may use the expression, a religious quack in the inn, haranguing the people on the abstruse points of divinity, that neither they nor he understood, in order that he might wheedle a little money from them; and, at the same time, a pedler at the door, who, while he exhibited his baubles and trinkets, took an opportunity to shew the young people obscene prints and books, some of which he sold here at least five hundred per cent. Naked prints and fashions are too much the taste of the day. The ladies carried modesty, perhaps, too far in the days of Oliver Cromwell, when they got it enacted, that men should not be allowed to wear nankeen breeches; but people run now into the opposite extreme, and the dresses, particularly in the opera, are certainly too immodest, which is perhaps the reason why Mr. Rowland Hill styles the opera and the play-houses the hot-beds of the devil. At the shews of gladiators, the Romans prohibited women from being present, as they fought naked. Though good moral lessons are sometimes taught by the drama, yet not only in the opera house, but also at our theatres, the language, dress, and some of the actions of the actors, are such as cannot be beheld, even by a man, without inconveniency and blushing.

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Having left St. Cyrus, I passed through Inverbervie, a small burgh, where there is but little trade, and scarcely any manufactories, on my way to Dunnotter, which is an old castle, where immense ruins shew what it has one day been. It is well known that Dunnotter belonged to the earl marshal of Scotland; and that, till gunpowder was discovered, it was thought impregnable. It is situated on a high perpendicular rock almost surrounded by the sea. On the part where it is accessible, which is very narrow, there are three gate-ways within each other, and to each was formerly affixed a portcullis. But though Cromwell reduced this fort by means of his cannon, yet he was disappointed in not obtaining the crown jewels lodged there, which was what he wished. Sir David Carnegie, being a staunch loyalist, was appointed keeper of this castle in the days of Charles I. and the crown jewels were carried there, from Edinburgh Castle, as a place of safety. When Dunnotter was likely to submit, Sir David's lady obtained leave from Oliver's commanding officers to retire. They examined her trunks, paraphanalia, &c.; but, as it was fashionable for the ladies in those days to spin, she packed the crown jewels among her spinning wool, or in the centre of clues of yarn rolled round them, and this was suffered to pass without being examined. By the assistance of friends she could trust, she buried them till the time should come when they might be presented to her lawful sovereign. The unmarried ladies in England are styled spinsters to this day, referring to the way in which ladies used to amuse themselves. It

was no uncommon thing to see the late countess of Leven in her carriage, while out an airing, with a neat little brass spinning-wheel that hung at her belt. Between Inverbervie and Stonehaven the road runs all the way on cliffs by the sea-side,

STONEHAVEN.

The situation of this town struck me greatly, as being uncommonly picturesque, and at the same time excellently adapted to commerce. It consists of two streets, extended on the coast of a small bay, with a rocky bottom, at the foot of some high cliffs, covered on the top with verdant turf, near the old castle of Dunnotter. The harbour is good, and well sheltered. It has manufactures of sail-cloths, osnaburgs, brown linens, knit worsted and thread stockings. But I wonder that it has not a trade, and a very great trade too, in corn, as it is so well situ, ated for an outlet to the corn of the Mearns. Perhaps some one, with a proper capital, and spirit of mercantile adventure, may avail himself of this hint. There is a great deal of fishing at Stonehaven.

Adjoining to the town is a new, large, and regularly built village, called also STONEHAVEN, built by Mr. Barclay, of Urie, a gentleman who unites, with a happy rural economy, polite manners, and manly virtues.

When I had arrived at the inn at Stonehaven, I was ushered into a splendid coffee-room, where I found two gentlemen in close conversation, which my company seemed to interrupt. Not wishing tq

discommode them, and being in a corner, however rude it might appear, I pretended to sleep. From their conversation I found that an exceedingly handsome young man, who, having lived some years on the continent, as companion to a nobleman, and made in that employment about twenty thousand pounds, had taken a house in the neighbourhood, where he meant to reside; and to shew his hospitality, and become acquainted, he had issued circular cards, inviting the gentlemen and ladies in the neighbourhood to a ball and supper at his house. Though there were ill-natured whispers and surmises as to some parts of this gentleman's conduct, yet many returned a polite answer, inti mating that they would attend. However, Mr. D-, a gentleman of considerable landed property, and influence, being in a public company, asked an acquaintance if he was going to that scoundrel's ball. In consequence of what was said by Mr. D. in this company, many of the invitation cards were returned, with letters, intimating, that though they had promised, yet they found they could not attend. The stranger, learning the cause of the return of so many cards, came to Stonehaven; and finding that the gentleman, who had mentioned him so disrespectfully, was with many others in the coffee-room, went into it, and coming up close to him, said, "Are you Mr. D. Being answered in the affirmative, he immediately, with much seeming composure, took Mr. D. by the nose, kicked him in the rear, and then bowing to the company, retired. Being summoned for an assault and battery, as the lawyers term it, before the justiciary court at Aber

deen, the stranger was fined an hundred pounds. sterling for what he had done. This he immediately paid, saying, with a bow to the judges, that he would willingly give another hundred for an opportunity of doing the like again. Though this young man's first ball was not numerously attended, there have, it seems, been many well attended balls in his

house since.

From Stonehaven to Aberdeen the great road is, without exception, among the very best in Britain. The roads about London are, no doubt, smooth and level, but they are not better, nor many of them so good, and the direction of the new is infinitely preferable to the old line of road between Stonehaven and the bridge of Dee: over the Denburn, a rivulet running through a den, where you enter Aberdeen from the north, there has been lately thrown a fine bridge, consisting of one stupendous arch. This arch is the grandest of any in Britain.

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Among the various improvements of the present day, there is none of more importance than that of carrying a road round the projection of a hill or high ground, instead of forcing it over it.

ABERDEEN

Consists of two towns, the old and the new; but the new, which is the sea-port and harbour, and by far the largest, is the daughter of the old. The two cities of Aberdeen contain about twenty-five thousand souls, and there are about five thousand in the suburbs. The trade of Aberdeen, which is in a very flourishing state, is chiefly to Hamburg, Hol