Blantyre Priory, suggesting the story of "Lennox's love to Blantyre." One of the last scenes of the novel is at the "Black Linn of Linklater." There Balfour of Burley found refuge after violent dealings in public affairs, and acts that complicated those of Henry Morton and of some of his friends; and thither the stern Covenanter carried, for concealment and custody, many title-deeds and family papers, and other important documents of the Bellendens, that he had seized while fortunes of war had given him access to Tillietudlem Castle. Thither, consequently, went young Morton, lover of Edith Bellenden and protector of her rights. This linn is a representative of a form of scenery shown in several places in the southern part of Scotland, and rather peculiar to the country, unless the stupendous cañons of Western America are considered of the same style in its most enormous development. At one of these linns, travellers can imagine the interview that is represented to have occurred between the two men of this story. In an open extent of wild region a deep ravine will be found, unexpectedly opening with sides of precipitous crags, rough and shrub-grown, and a cascade and dashing stream that render access to its recesses very difficult. The Covenanters, not infrequently, found a refuge in such places; and in such the stern and desperate Balfour is to be imagined hiding in a cavern. The usually reputed original of his retreat is Crichup Linn, said to have been really a hiding-place of Covenanters. It is situated a few miles from Closeburn village, and a station a dozen miles from Dumfries (page 151). A stream plunges eighty-five feet into a dark, rugged, red sandstone chasm, wild and picturesque enough to interest a visitor, apart from associations that render it attractive. At some distance below the cascade, the water has worn in the rock a long, deep passage, so narrow that it might almost be crossed by a single leap of an active man. This "peculiarly romantic linn," says an old account, "inaccessible in a great measure to real beings, was considered as the habitation of imaginary ones; and at the entrance into it there was a curious cell or cave, called the Elf's Kirk, where, according to the superstition of the times, the imaginary inhabitants of the linn were supposed to hold their meetings." This cave has been made a quarry for building-stones. There is a curious, natural, chair-like seat, also in the chasm, called "the Sutor's seat," where a covenanting shoemaker found a concealed resting-place. "Nothing [says the account already quoted] can be more striking than the appearance of this linn from its bottom. The darkness of the place, upon which the sun never shines; the ragged rocks, rising over one's head, and seeming to meet at the top, with here and there a - blasted tree bursting from the crevices; the rumbling of the water falling from rock to rock, and forming deep pools, together with some degree of danger to the spectator, whilst he surveys the striking objects that present themselves to his view, all naturally tend to work upon the imagination. Hence many fabulous stories are told, and perhaps were once believed, concerning this curious linn." In this neighborhood, closes the action of the story,—its episodes of love and of private fortunes ending with its delineations of public affairs, and of the vicissitudes of members of that remarkable combination it so distinctly portrays. In scenery associated with the characteristics, the trials, and sufferings of the Covenanters, we may accordingly, in an appropriate manner, turn our attention from Scott's remarkable representation of them, and of effects that he shows they produced upon the history of the Bellendens and of Henry Morton; while we yet cherish in memory the great novelist's story, and the rare and touching devotion of the humble hero who has supplied for it his own quaint title,-"Old Mortality." XXIII. "CASTLE DANGEROUS." Thirty-second and last Novel of the Series; Time of Action, 1306–7; Published at the close of November, 1831; Author's Age, 60. THE chief interest of this novel may be in the fact that it is the last of the Waverleys. As a literary composition it does not possess the highest excellence; and it is evidently inferior to many of the series to which it belongs. Yet it has an interest and a value perhaps superior to even literary value, important as that is; for it is the work of one of the world's real heroes, when severe illness was irremediably fixed upon him, and when body and mind - were failing under unremitted and gigantic labors that were wearing away, while they glorified, the latter years and months of his eventful life; for this is the work of a knight not only peerless in the domains of Romance, but unsurpassed by any in practical chivalry of business honor and of daily life, his final work while he was falling, dying, in manly devotion to honesty, in courageous conflict with cruel adversity. And although this composition is less splendid than are the works of his full strength, still let us honor and love it for the record it forms in the noble story of his character. The scenery associated with this novel is chiefly that of Douglas Dale, a region not yet seen by the writer, but described as most readily accessible from Lanark, either by walking or by public or private carriage. Castle Dangerous is the ancient castle of Douglas, situated eleven miles from Lanark. One round tower, ruined and ivy-draped, is said to be the only portion of it remaining; and even of this tower quite a large part of the wall is broken out, from foundation upwards. Near the ruin is the stately modern Castle Douglas, surrounded by magnificent grounds. A town, bearing the name of the great family, and about a mile distant, is said to be a small, decayed place. A portion is preserved of its ancient church of St. Bride, containing monuments to members of the Douglas family, and described in the novel. The vale of Douglas has not only associations with turbulent mediæval times illustrated in this story, but also with the Covenanters, some of whom found secure refuge within it. The scenery is generally attractive. The upper portion of the vale is rather elevated, "and flanked with high moorish or pastoral hills; but afterwards" it becomes "a fine strath, flanked with sloping ascents, and extensively clothed with plantations; and at last it becomes a rich dale, expanding far in fertile haughs, and rising sideward into fine wooded banks and swells." There is a sad and peculiar interest associated with this region, chief natural scene in the last novel of Sir Walter Scott; for to it, during the latter part of July, 1831, he made his last long excursion in Scotland, through the fair and storied land he loved so well. His allusion to this visit, in the preface of the novel, is indeed pathetic in its quiet narration, and its history; for he sent it, in February, 1832, from Naples, where he was in vain seeking alleviation or arrest of disease already growing fatal. "The author," he says, "before he had made much progress in this, probably the last of his novels, undertook a journey to Douglasdale for the purpose of examining the remains of the famous Castle, the Kirk of St. Bride of Douglas, the patron saint of that great family, and the various localities alluded to by Godscroft, in his account of the early adventures of good Sir James; but though he was fortunate enough to find a zealous and well-informed cicerone in Mr. Thomas Haddow, and had every assistance from the kindness of Mr. Alexander Finlay, the resident chamberlain of his friend, Lord Douglas, the state of his health at the time was so feeble, that he found himself incapable of pursuing his researches, as in better days he would have delighted to do, and was obliged to be contented with such a cursory view of scenes, in themselves most interesting, as could be snatched in a single morning, when any bodily exertion was painful.” Mr. Lockhart (in chapter lxxx. of "The Life") has left a very interesting account of this "journey to Douglasdale," during which he accompanied Sir Walter. "We set out," the biographer wrote, "early on the 18th [July], and ascended the Tweed, passing in succession Yair, Ashestiel, Innerleithen, Traquair, and many more scenes dear to his early life, and celebrated in his writings,” — including Drochel Castle, Biggar, the inn of Douglas Mill (where he spent a night), Douglas Castle, the Church of St. Bride near it; and, during the return, Milton-Lockhart, seat of Mr. Lockhart's brother. Scott retained much of the humor and feeling of his best years. He frequently repeated passages of poetry,- often long, and among these, at an appropriate moment, "without break or hesitation, Prior's verses to the historian Mezeray. That he applied them to himself [wrote his biographer], was touchingly obvious." One of these verses is so applicable to him, and so terse and expressive, that it should be quoted, and scarcely another can form a more proper close to this brief mention of the last long pilgrimage of Sir Walter Scott to shrines of the story of his native land, ever shrines of his affections: "Whate'er thy countrymen have done, In thee is faithfully recited; And all the living world that view At once instructed and delighted." XXIV. "A LEGEND OF MONTROSE." THE REGION OF THE TROSACHS, AND THE WEST COAST. Ninth Novel of the Series, written 1819; Published June 10, 1819; Time of Action of the Story 1645-6; Author's Age, 48. VISITS ISITS to scenery of this interesting story lead us from Glasgow, and regions described in the last three chapters, to that portion of Scotland where the Highlands join the Lowlands near Callander, and thence through the country of "The Lady of the Lake," to central portions of the western coasts. Thence, the route of this tour extends to scenes of "The Lord of the Isles" (pages 103-116), and to Orkney and Shetland in the distant north. After departure from Glasgow the first stop may be at Stirling. There will be found much that is associated with the long course of Scottish history, and, from the famous old castle, so interesting in the fortunes of "The Lady," Ellen Douglas (pages 69-75), may also be found one of the most extensive and noble landscapes in Britain. Not far from Stirling is Bannockburn, glorious in history and in the romance of "The Lord of the Isles (page 119). In another direction, and in sight from Stirling, is the Abbey Craig, over five hundred feet high, bearing a monument to tower two hundred and twenty feet above it, built in the baronial style of Scotland to her hero, Sir William Wallace. The many natives of other lands who honor his memory, will cordially say of it, with his countrymen, and with her (C. E. Norton) who has written so well of the memorial and of the patriot, "While the great rock he watched from shall endure, His monument is sure. Build low-build high The great name cannot die !" And while we look from the stately walls of the castle upon the wide panoramic view they command, we may see, in long array northward, the majestic and beautiful mountains of Perthshire, that appear always inviting us to explore their picturesque scenery, to which the pathway of travel, as well as our inclinations, will conduct us. |