The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-15 00:00:00

EILEAN AIGAS, BY KILMORACK.

to the river Glass, near Kilmorack, is a small
picturesque island, on which Lord Lovat has
erected a handsome house, the residence of two
gentlemen, descendants of Prince Charles E.l••
ward Stuart, who wear the Highland costtErw,
and are animated with true Celtic enthusiasm.
Their collection of Highland antiquities rivals that
of Captain Grose, so humorously described by
Burns, and adds not a little to the interest with
which their solitary mansion, with its rustic
bridge and foaming waterfall, is viewed in the
midst of scenery the most -splendid for variety,
richness, and magnificence. The island contains
about fifty acres—rock, wood, and field—and is
composed, like the whole of the rocks of this
river, of a mass of conglomerate. It is bounded
on the north by lofty crags which overhang one
branch of the river, which flows thro►►gh the deep
gorge on that side, and on the east by similar
eminences, but of less height, where the bridge,
which communicates with the main land, is placed.
On the south and west the sides slope to the
river, which, from a rock above the bridge called
Craig Dhonnaich (Duncan Crag), forms a deep
still sheet of water, with scarcely any current, as
far as Erchless Castle, the seat of the Chisholm,
about five miles distant. This calm flow of the
stream forins a fine contrast with the succession of
broken falls and rapids which continue, without
intermission, from the island to Kilmorack.

The island is generally wooded with birch and
oak, and at one period it was covered with very
fine oaks, some of which were of large girth, mea-
suring about twenty feet in circumference. These
were all exchanged with the Laird of Struy for some
houses in Inverness, and cut down about forty
years since. Several of the third-rate class of their
progeny still, however, exist. The soil is so favour-
able to the growth of the oak (which is indigenous.
to -the glen), that some of the young trees, after
being thinned, were found in 1838 and 1839 (as
we are informed by Mr. Stewart, from specimens
cut by himself), to have grown in one season about
five feet. On a small point of land at the western
extremity of the island is a green knoll, surrounded
by the ruins of a wall, which marks the spot
where the Lords of Lovat had a sheiling . from a
very early period ; and there Alexander, the sixth
Lord (who was of a retired and studious character,
and infirm constitution), spent his last days, and
died in 1557. Hi:, house was called Tigh Eilean
Aigas, the house of the island Aigas. When the
well-known Simon, Lord Fraser, after marrying
the Dowager Lady Lovat, was apprehensive of an
attack from her brother, the Earl of Tullibardine, he
retired with the lady into this retreat, which was only
accessible by boat. In tire pursuit which was raised
at the instance of the Athol family, a herald was
sent north from Edinburgh to summon Lord Simon
to appear in Court; but such was the dread of the
officer for the still remaining feudal power of a
Highland Chief, that he dared not enter the island
to deliver the charge, but left it exposed in a cleft
stick on the north bank of the ricer, in sight of the
house. At the disarming, after the battle of Cul-
loden, several of the arms of the clan Fraser were
buried at the foot of the rock homing the house
of Mr. Fraser of Eskadale, which is still called
" Craig nan Arm," or the Craig of the Arms.
The island is much frequented by roes, anti oc-
casionally by red deer ; of the former as many as
eight or ten may sometimes be seen together from
the walks, and even from the drawing-room win-
dows of the present house. Partridges, pheasants,
and a few woodcocks breed in it. There was for-
merly a rabbit warren in the low parts of the island,
but the rabbits were all destroyed by a flood about
40 years ago. During the late frost, however,
they made an entrance over the ice, and several
hares avail themselves of the same crystal bridge to
gain access to the island. Some fine walks have
been cut by the side of the young oak and ash
trees, and the beautiful birches, which form the
finest and most beautiful accompaniment 'to our
Highland scenery and these winding pathways,
conduct the visitor to the most picturesque points,
where the river is seen dashing away between piles
of gray rock and masses of foliage, which in sum-
mer present every combination of form and colour.
The spot is altogether a fairy's land—a nest of
romance ; and its present inhabitants, with their
flowing Highland costume, may not unaptly be de-
nominated island kings; for their are, in some de-
gree, " monarchs of all they survey," and trace
their descent from a long line of prince s.—lnver-
ness Courier.

- - -
THE CHILDREN OF THE POOR.

(From Tait's Magazine.)

" Children were the first charge committed to
the charge cf Adam, after his fall, to enable him to
work back his way to the favour of the Maker he
had offended. Children are the holiest trust dele-
gated to our mortal hands ;—children are the ob-
jects whereupon we are permitted to exercise an
authority approaching nearest to the power of the
Creator over the created. Our responsibility is
nowhere greater than in our entreatment of these
hostages of God.

" Yet how audaciously do we abuse our powers !
—not as regards the children of our loins ; for if
they are flogged too hard, their roaring disturbs
us ; if they are starved, there is the undertaker's
bill. Seriously speaking, our personal comfort is
too closely embarked in their well-doing to admit
of closing our hearts against their claims. But, for
at least one half of the human race, these helpless
beings—these chartered victims of selfishness, care-
lessness, and cruelty—the children of the poor, are
of no more account than if they were so many
earthworms crawling forth to be trod on. The
children of pride contemplate the children of the
poor as Pharaoh regarded the plague of flies and
other abominations infesting his kingly chamber.
" We confess there are more of them in -the
world than the world, as at present:apportioned, Can
well provide for. The anti-population question
we leave. lo the abler hands of Malthus and Miss
Martineau. But from the moment the children
encumber the earth, we hold them to be entitled to
our good offices. The children—the children—
we lift up our hands and voices in intercession for
the children ! The penal legislation of this moral
realm is duly severe upon mothers found guilty of
assisting out of the world of woe the infants they
assisted into it ; and even to conceal the birth of a
child of shame passes. for an act of criminality
-still more shameful. When are we to direct o:Ir
retribution against the authors of the death that
dies daily ?'—against the concealers of the suf-
ferings of the still unmurdered child? When
shall we have to punish the parents who suffer
their children's features to sharpen with want,
while they infest the gin-shop—their children's
frames sicken in filth and squalor, while they pur-
sue the easy vocation of the street-beggar ?"

" EVER SINCE HE WAS A Puppy."—There
was a coffee-room at the principal inn where Sterne re-
sided, about the time he wrote "'Tristram Shandy," where
gentlemen who frequented the house might read the
newspapers. One of the greatest enjoyments of Sterna's
life was spending an inoffensive hour in a snug corner of
this room. There was a troop of horse at that time quar-
tered in the town ; one of the officers was a gay young
man, spoiled by the free intercourse of the world, but not
destitute of good qualities. This young gentleman was
fblig
schdoctkoin heargto
t e
remarkable for his freedom of speech, and pointed reflec
tions on
couldtli
the clergy.
app approve, Yorick
dconversations w as oten o
tosses _
sliesey, and w
the ear of , as frequently under Vie neces-
sity of retrieving his seat or pretending deafness. The
Catitains resolving this conduct should no longer
avail him, s'etted himself b; Yorick, so as to pre-
vent his retreat, and immediately ,i,egan a profane, in-
decent tale, at the expense crthe clericalr fession with
his eyes steadfastly fixed on Yorick, who pretes,ed not to
notice his ill manners; when that :became impOSs.e lie
turned to the military intruder and gravely said, 6,
tell you my story. Aly father is an officer, and
brave himself, that he is fond of everything el,c the t is
brave, even his dog. You must know we have at this
time one of the finest creatures of his, kid in the world,
the most spirited, and the best natured that can he hos-
gined ; so lively that he charms everybody ; but he has a
cursed trick that throws a shade over all his good quali-
ties." " Pray, what may that be?" interrogated the
officer. "He never sees a clergyman, but he instantly
flies at him," answered Yorick. " How long has he had
that trick?" Why, Sir," replied the divine, " tver since
he was puppy !" The man of war for once blushed, and,
afer a pause, said, " Doctor, I thank you far your hint
give me :your hand, I will never rail at a parson again."
THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE.-011 Friday
last the anniversary of the Sabbath Schools connected with
the congregational denomination of Dissenters in this toan
was held, when an interesting address was delivered to
them by their beloved pastor, tie Rev. W. H. Griffith,.
B A. ; after which they were plentifully supplied svTa
plum-cake and tea. The day was spent in the most inte-
resting and delightful manner. Considering the smallness
of the town, and the tyrannizing, persecuting
spirit of the
State Church, the number of children is truly astonishing,
there being 580 scholars and 70 voluntary teachers I !!
Chard, April 1.