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and discharges its waters into the loch, forming a picturesque water-fall. Here is the scene of Wordsworth's poem to the "Highland Girl."

"Sweet Highland girl, a very shower

Of beauty is thy earthly dower.

And those grey rocks, that household lawn,
Those trees, a veil just half withdrawn,—
This fall of water, that doth make
A murmur near the silent lake,—
This little bay, a quiet road,

That holds in shelter thy abode,-
In truth, unfolding thus, ye seem
Like something fashioned in a dream.
For I methinks, till I grow old,
As fair before me shall behold
As I do now, the cabin small,
The lake, the bay, the water-fall,
And thou, the spirit of them all!"

Loch Lomond. This magnificent expanse of water stretches from north to south for nearly thirty miles. At the northern extremity it narrows to less than a mile in breadth; but, as we proceed southward, it again gradually widens to eight and ten miles. It is calculated to cover a space of 20,000 Scots acres, and varies in depth from 20 to 100 fathoms. On both sides it is hemmed in by precipitous mountains. On the north-east especially Ben Lomond rears its craggy sides and towering summit.

If to the wild grandeur of these heath-covered mountains, which throw a deep and rich purple hue over the landscape, we add the green luxuriance of foliage with which the numerous bays and valleys of the Loch's winding shores are clothed, and the soft and delicate beauty of its numerous wooded isles, we may certainly pronounce this, as a whole, the finest and most gorgeous scene in Britain, or perhaps in Europe.

In a future tour we shall describe the western shores of Loch Lomond as viewed from the carriage-road, and shall at present confine our remarks to the most remarkable objects seen in the steam-boat sail along the lake. The steam-boat leaves Balloch every morning, taking up passengers from Dunbarton and Glasgow, and makes the complete circuit of the lake, calling at Luss, Rowardennan, Tarbet, Inversnaid, and from thence sailing to the northern head of the Loch, and returning to Balloch the same evening.

Embarking, then, at Inversnaid, a turn is taken by the boat to the north end or head of the Loch; there the waters are narrowed and hemmed in by the neighbouring mountains, which are rather barren, and possess less beauty than the other bulwarks of this sheet of water. Here, however, among these dark and barren recesses, the outlaw Rob Roy lurked with his followers; and here are placed some of the localities of the novel of this name. Rob Roy's rocks are pointed out among the wooded recesses of the south-western crags of Benlomond, where they overhang the lake.

A cave or hollow fissure of the rocks, said to have been one of his places of concealment, is also to be seen on the eastern banks of the lake, a little to the north of Inversnaid. Glenfalloch is seen at the nor thern termination of the lake, and the curiously-peaked mountain called the Cobbler. Sailing southwards, Tarbet Inn is passed on the right; directly opposite, a splendid view of Benlomond presents itself,-its base richly wooded to the water's edge. Still proceeding southwards, a projecting headland is seen on the right, where is the ferry of Inveruglas. Directly

opposite is Rowardennan, from whence those wishing to ascend Benlomond usually start.

Ascent of Benlomond. There are two tracts by which the summit of this mountain may be gained,one directly opposite Tarbet, which is the shortest but steepest and most difficult, the other from the Inn of Rowardennan. This is the easiest ascent, the whole distance being about six miles. Guides are to be had at the inn. A dry serene day should be selected, as, in a moist state of the air, there is little chance of having an unclouded view from the summit. The mountain towers 3168 feet above the lake, and about twelve feet more above the sea level. It is composed of primary rocks, granite being visible on its summit, and mica-slate on its sides, with beds of jasper. Its most perpendicular aspect is to the north and west; to the south-east it slopes away into the neighbouring valleys. The guides divide the ascent into three stages or resting-points. The first presents the best view of the lake, its islands and shores studded with groves and villas. At the second, the country opens up more to the view; the valleys of the Leven and Clyde, with the towering rock of Dunbarton, are seen to the south; and, when the summit is gained, a prospect of unrivalled extent and diversity meets the eye on all sides. Eastward, the Forth is seen discharging its waters into the German Ocean. The plains of Mid-Lothian stretch in the extreme distance, amid which is seen conspicuous the brow of Arthur's Seat and the towering Castlerock and range of the Pentlands, while Stirling Castle is a prominent object in the fore-ground. Glasgow and the vale of the Clyde are seen to the south—

the hills of Ayrshire-the islands of Bute and Arran, with the Craig of Ailsa isolated in the ocean; beyond are the blue mountains of Cumberland, and the shores of Ireland and Isle of Man. The western islands lie scattered like purple specks in the gleaming ocean; and, when we turn our gaze to the north, a wilderness of mountains raise their blue tops, one above another, like the waves of a vast ocean. Here are conspicuous Ben-Lawers and Ben-More in Perthshire, and BenNevis, with its summit of eternal snow, on the borders of Inverness-shire. Ben-Cruachan, in Argyleshire, raises its huge massy head, and the light rounded Paps of Jura and Goatfell, in Arran, bound the distance.

Here, at the summit, the lake and its tiny isles are diminished to an inconsiderable space, and lose much of the landscape beauty which they presented below.

On the whole, if the day be fine, the lover of nature will look upon this view as one not readily to be forgotten, and amply sufficient to repay all the toils of the ascent.

Islands of the Lake.-To resume our sail in the steam-boat, after passing a wooded promontory about the middle of the lake, the waters now begin to expand in breadth, and a full view is obtained of the numerous islands studding the silvery expanse :

"The fairy crowds

Of islands, which together lie
As quietly as spots of sky

Among the evening clouds."

Inch Lonich is the first of these of any magnitude; it is covered with wood, and stocked with deer. Nearly opposite this island, in a beautifully sequestered

vale, is the village and church of Luss. On one of the islands, Inch- Cruan, is seen a building which was formerly used as a retreat for lunatics, and a church once stood on Inch-Caillach.

Inch-Morren, the most southerly of these isles, is also the largest; it is well wooded, and the wild deer with which it is stocked, occasionally seen on its green margin, impart a lively interest to this beautiful scene. The steam-boat now returns to Balloch, from whence it started; a coach is waiting to convey the passengers to Dunbarton; and from thence another steam-boat lands them in Glasgow the same evening.

The sail along the lake is decidedly the best manner of viewing its beauties, for, by this means, the scenery on both sides is at once visible. In a calm day, the easy gliding motion of the boat, and the cool air of the water, are peculiarly grateful to the tourist, and allow his fancy to expatiate on the fairy scenes around.

ROWARDENNAN TO LOCH ARD AND STIRLING.

After having ascended Benlomond, there is a footpath from the inn of Rowardennan which leads across the base of the mountain,

to

Loch Ard. This is a small lake, or rather two lakes connected by a stream, beautifully situated amid a fertile valley. At its western end is a water-fall, and a narrow pass leads along its northern rocky margin, the former celebrated in Waverley, and the latter the scene of the rencontre of Bailie Nicol Jarvie and the soldiers.

Aberfoil, a clachan or country village, lies half way between Loch Ard and Lake Menteith.

Lake Menteith is a beautiful piece of water, about five miles in circumference, and fringed with luxuriant trees. Two small islands run up the centre, on one of which is a very ancient ruin of the priory of Inch Mahome, founded by Edgar King of Scotland. In this place the infant Queen Mary was kept before she was sent to France to be educated. On its northern margin stands the church.

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