The Sun.
London, England, 1828-08-02 00:00:00

RESIDENCE OF THE EARL CAWDOR.

The residence of the Earl Cawdor, in the county
a of Nairn, is one of the most ancient and en-
tire bronial residences in Scotland, and in point of
natural situation is no less beautiful than striking and
singular. The tower is built partly on a rock, the
surface of which serves for a floor to the lower
apartments, and in the midst is an old hawthorn
tree, springing from the rock, an
d shooting its leaf-
less spiral stem from the vault into the interior of thr
building. According to popular tradition, this sin-
ular appearance is thus explained :---A certain
Thane of Cawdor, not the one immortalized by
Shakspeare, but a Chief of the Fourteenth Century,
whilst meditating the erection of the Castle, was
told in a dream to build it round a hawthorn tree, on
the hank of the brook, and believing the suggestion
to proceed from some guardian power, he obeyed
its dictates.

Another version of the story, however, gives a
less poetical origin to the Tower. It is said that
the Thane being in doubt where to fix the site of
his building, loaded an ass with an iron coffer full of
gold, and resolved to erect his mansion with the
treasure contained in the coffer, and on the precise
spot where the animal should stop.
Asses are seldom entrusted with such important
missions, being, as every honest midget knows to his
cost, a stiff-necked and unruly generation. The ass
of Cawdor, however, proved himself to be an excel-
lent arbiter, and a lover of the picturesque. He
made the tour of a fine level holm, girt with wood
and water, and having described the boundaries of
the Castle, round three large hawthorn trees, be
stopped at the centre one, conscious, no doubt, of
having discharged his duty to his master. The
latter was so well satisfied Nvith the taste and dis-
cretion of his " surveyor," that he built the
tower around the third hawthorn tree, enclos-
ing the precious stem, and there it still re-
mains, after the lapse of above three centuries, a
memento of the sagacious donkey and his employer.
The building thus singularly begun is a strong feu-
dal structure, guarded with moat, drawbridge, and.
battlements, and " bosomed high and tufted trees.'
The walls are above eight feet in thickness, and the
different niches and embrasures of such gigantic
dimensions, that each might, on a pinch, serve far
the accommodation of a whole gipsy encampment.
The massive walls, dark passages, and narrow wind-
ing staircases, strongly remind the visitor of times
happily long gone by, when might too often usurped
the place of right, and a successful foray was more
esteemed than a clear conscience. About twelve
years ago a fire broke out in the castle, and con-
sumed its most valuable relic—the bed on which
King Duncan slept when murdered by Macbeth
There arc some old family portraits in the castle,
and One of the apartments is hung with tapestry
worked by Lady Henrietta Stuart, in the sixteenth
century, with her own hands. Among the paint-
ings is a good likeness of the brave Montrose, and
some female portraits, evidently by a coarse imitator
of the style of Sir Peter Lely. On the roof of the
castle is a small recess, called Lovat's Hole, being
the spot where that arch traitor concealed himself
for some time after the " rising" in " forty-five."
The present Earl has made vast improvements in
the castle and estate of Cawdor, and is entitled to,
the especial thanks of all lovers of " out-door nature,'
as the Cockneys term it, for the excellent walks he
has made on each side of the burn, and for
the quiet nooks and glens,
embel-
lishing and opening up its romantic scenery to all
and sundry who ehose to wander on its banks. And
what higher enjoyment can there be, mow that. the
larch has " hung its tassels forth," and the birche3
are full of ltaf and fragrance, when our northern
skies are almost as clear and cloudless as those of
Italy, and our warm heathery braes, redolent of bees
and honey, thau to ramble on the banks. of the roar"-
ing Linn, full .50 fathoms above its rocky bed—or
of poverty or misery
forgetlotere ourselves e livi
ne
her nest, and the clear
poplin' springs. fre! en tie green sward ? At
Calder, tOO, tills enjo) inent may be shared without
to mar the be!uty of the picture. The cottages arc
clean,
clean, tidy whitewashed buildings,
nir of neatness and comfort spread
which bespeaks tie presence of •
and there is an
the village,
which _ ,
at-
tentive landlord.— cbwaienropulent and Inverness
alloy, for there are no scenes
Isieanrigds 1

The CIIA EQUER
of
the
Exc H
eu-
tertriutii
the Cabinet Ministers to dinner on Wednesday,
at his, residence in Downing-street.
Marquis de PALMELLA and Viscount
STII,ANGFOAD had interviews with the Earl of Arizanr:r.:.
Ye'rclay, at the Foreign Office, Downing-street.
Mr. PRILL [PS, Under Secretary of State for
the Horne Department, left town yesterday morning for the
continent
The skrecn which had been erected around
Mr. PLAYFAIK'S monument has just been removed, the
necessary inclosare being completed ; and the whole effect
of the southern elevation of that beautiful structure, coin-
Lined with the magnificent wall of the Observatory, is now
hid, open to view. It forms a very grand object lions the
great thoroughfare of the North Bridge, from whence it is
best seen, and will combine with great effect with the portico
4.f the Parthenon, which is now tar advanced.—Edinburglt
Evening Courant.