Strathspey, though even that part of it would have been better but for the jealousies and rivalries of the Great North of Scotland and Highland lines.

Nothing delighted Mr. Forsyth more than to receive long letters from his grandchildren. It did not matter what it was about. An account of a trip amid Himalayan scenery and the impressions caused thereby, or a disquisition on Indian frontier politics varied with notes on the opium traffic in China; or the horrors of the coolie trade from that country, which had to be regulated some years ago in the interests of humanity and for the credit of Christendom; or the wonders of the Andes, and the intrigues and revolutions of the republics of South America, all found in him an attentive and appreciative reader, and his replies showed the activity of his mind, and the interest he took in the surroundings of his grandsons. Here is an extract from a letter written to one of them in 1855, less than four years before his death, when he was 87 years of age :

"I acknowledge with great pleasure your long and satisfactory account of the journeyings and sight-seeings you have had during your honeymoon. I thank you very much for the kind minuteness you have entered into in your

description of them. I never was in Ireland, which I regret much, so that every step in your progress was new and highly interesting to me and your three aunts. Had you been favoured with steadily fine weather your Irish tour must have been truly delightful. But the sweet and placid light of your own moon, and the sunny brightness that filled your young hearts would more than abundantly compensate for a few cloudy skies and wet roads.

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You have a happy art in carrying me along with you, by selecting the finest and most striking points in the scenery you describe and enriching it with pleasing incidents as they arise. I felt, in tracing your journey through Ireland, Wales, and England, and in the great metropolis, as if one of the party, and derived much enjoyment from everything new to me. While in Wales I regret your losing the beautiful Wye. I have been all my life long anxious to see the course of that wonderful river, and especially Chepstow, but constantly disappointed by circumstances I could not control. Your description of Oxford, the Cathedral, and the metropolis revived early impressions, and brought out many associations that have been slumbering in my mind for ages,

G

with new impressions created since my last visit upwards of thirty years ago.

I

"But after all is told, Home, sweet Home is the lodestone to the traveller, and it only gives rest and happiness. Many, many thanks for the labour you have taken to satisfy a foolish craving in my mind, ever since I was a boy of twelve years, after scenery and adventures. hope the 'Poteen' will reach us by Christmasday, that I may have a flourish about it before the assembled kindred." His correspondent had announced that he had got some in Ireland for him. "Many thanks for so kind a remembrance at such a distance, in an article too that I have always wished to taste, but never had the opportunity. Your health, happiness, and prosperity shall gladden our lips in the first glass." And then he makes the following request, as my brother's house had introduced vicuña into England: "As the 'Poteen' will be coming in a box, if you can find in your counting-house or warehouse any of the soft vicuña wool, which I find so comfortable to my poor ears, I will bless you for half a pound of it; but no more, as, with what remains of my friend James Johnston's present, this supply will certainly carry me to my grave." Mr. Forsyth was stone deaf for rather more than half his life.

CHAPTER VII.

ELGIN CATHEDRAL AND SCHOOLS.

HAND-JOHN

MR. FORSYTH'S GREAT INTEREST IN ELGIN CATHEDRAL-STATE
OF THAT RUIN WHEN HE TOOK IT IN
SHANKS-EXERTIONS OF MR. FORSYTH TO INTEREST THE
GOVERNMENT-HIS SUCCESS-REMOVAL OF ACCUMULATED
RUBBISH—THE RUIN PRESERVED AND PUT INTO ORDER,
AND SOME FUNDS GRANTED FOR ITS MAINTENANCE-
OTHER ANTIQUITIES OF ELGIN-PARALLEL BETWEEN ITS
HIGH STREET AND THAT OF EDINBURGH THE SCHOOLS
OF ELGIN-HIS EXERTIONS IN BUILDING AND SUPPORTING
THEM.

THROUGHOUT his long life Mr. Forsyth took the most persevering interest in the pride and glory of Elgin—the ruin of its magnificent Cathedral. It is the finest ruin in Scotland. Some have compared the church of Melrose Abbey to it, but though the great east window of Melrose may be finer than any window in Elgin, as a whole I think an unprejudiced person would admit there was really no comparison between them. Elgin Cathedral was founded by Bishop Andrew Moray in 1224, and was burned by the Wolf of Badenoch, Alexander Stuart son of King Robert II., in 1330 during the episco

pate of Alexander Barr. This bishop began to rebuild it, but the money came in slowly, and the church was only finished by the alienation of one-third of the episcopal revenues for the purpose, by resolution of the Chapter in 1414. About 1506 the great centre steeple fell down. Next year Bishop Foreman began to rebuild it, and it was finished in 1538, and the height of the tower and spire was 198 feet. The church was entire at the Reformation, and it was not then injured by the Protestant mob which has been unjustly credited with its destruction. It was the Privy Council of Scotland which began that work by the following Act of 14th February 1567-8. "Seeing provision must be made for entertaining the Men of War (soldiers) whose services cannot be spared until the rebellious and disobedient subjects be reduced: Therefore appoint that the lead be taken from the Cathedral Churches in Aberdeen and Elgin, and sold for sustentation of the said Men of War. And command and charge the Earl of Huntly, Sheriff of Aberdeen and his Deputes, Alexander Dunbar of Cumnock, Knight, Sheriff of Elgin and Forres and his Deputes, William Bishop of Aberdeen, Patrick Bishop of Moray, &c. That they defend and assist Alexander Clerk and William Birnie and their servants in