Of this improvidence no other account can be given than that it probably began in times of tumult, and continued because it had begun. Eftablished cuftom is not eafily broken, till fome great event shakes. the whole fyftem of things, and life seems to recommence upon new principles. That before the union the Scots had little trade and little money, is no valid apology; for plantation is the leaft expenfive of all methods of improvement. To drop a feed into the ground can cost nothing, and the trouble is not great of protecting the young plant, till it is out of danger; though it must be allowed to have fome difficulty in places like thefe, were they have neither wood for palifades, nor thorns for hedges.

Our way was over the Firth of Tay, where, though the water was not wide, we paid four fhillings for ferrying the chaise. In Scotland the neceffaries of life are easily procured,

procured, but fuperfluities and elegancies are of the fame price at least as in England, and therefore may be confidered as much dearer.

We ftopped a while at Dundee, where I remember nothing remarkable, and mounting our chaife again, come about the clofe of the day to Aberbrothick.

413

The monaftery of Aberbrothick is of great renown in the hiftory of Scotland. Its ruins afford ample teftimony of its ancient magnificence: Its extent might, I fuppofe, eafily be found by following the walls among the grafs and weeds, and its height is known by fome parts yet ftanding. The arch of one of the gates is entire, and of another only fo far dilapidated as to diverfify the appearance. A fquare apartment of great loftinefs is yet ftanding, its ufe I could not conjecture, as its elevation was very difproportionate

to

to its area. Two corner towers, particuTarly attracted our attention. Mr. Bofwell, whofe inquifitiveness is féconded by great activity, fcrambled in at a high window," but found the stairs within broken, and could not reach the top. Of the other tower we were told that the inhabitants fometimes climbed it, but we did not immediately difcern the entrance, and as the night was gathering upon us, thought proper to defift. Men fkilled in architecture might do what we did not attempt They might probably form an exact groundplot of this venerable edifice. They may from fome parts yet standing conjecture its general from, and perhaps by comparing it with other buildings of the fame kind and the fame age, attain an idea very near to truth. I fhould fcarcely have regretted my journey, had it afforded nothing more than the fight of Aberbrothick.

MON

MONTROSE.

Leaving thefe fragments of magnificence, we travelled on to Montrofe, which we furveyed in the morning, and found it well built, airy, and clean. The townhouse is ઢ handfome fabrick with a portico. We then went to view the English chapel, and found a fmall church, clean to a degree unknown in any other part of Scotland, with commodious galleries, and what was yet lefs expected, with an organ.

At our inn we did not find a reception fuch as we thought proportionate to the commercial opulence of the place; but Mr. Bofwell defired me to observe that the innkeeper was an Englishman, and I then defended him as well as I could.

When I had proceeded thus far, I had opportunities of obferving what I had ne

ver

ver heard, that there are many beggars in Scotland, In Edinburgh the proportion is, I think, not lefs than in London, and in the fmaller places it is far greater than in English towns of the fame extent. It muft, however, be allowed that they are not importunate, nor clamorous. They folicit filently, or very modeftly, and therefore though their behaviour may strike with more force the heart of a stranger, they are certainly in danger of miffing the attention of their countrymen. Novelty has always fome power, an unaccustomed mode of begging excites an unaccustomed degree of pity. But the force of novelty is by its own nature foon at an end; the efficacy of outcry and prefeverance is permanent and certain.

The road from Montrofe exhibited a continuation of the fame appearances. The country is still naked, the hedges are of stone, and the fields fo generally plowed

that