American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-06-24
From Blechvood's Edinburgh Yungasine.
RECOLLECTIONS.
NO. TIE C.ilIERO. WINS.

For the Cameronians, those reliques of the stern
Enthusiastic CoNenanters- those resoute maintain
ers Of the unbIemsled purity and rights of the
formed chulch-those dwellers on the misty noun
tain tops-I enterta the greatest respect and
erence. Il my lot to pass the early part of my
life in the neighborhood of their hill of worship
often in the company OF their leading men, and most
admired protes> ors-snd all times in the society
Of portion nf heir number. Though the son of a
man they abhorred sinful compiler with estab
ishments which they denounced as destroying the
dignity Of religion, they did demand the price
OF their friendship that should either curse the
iron hand OF patronage, or bcwatl the sntulness OF
THAT state into which the Scottish Kirk had fallen
| in those days Of time serving compliance. They
had lowered for many years about the mountainous
regions Of the parish of Kirkmahoe in Dumfries
shire and as they began to conhde in the kindness
of their less rigid brethren, they commenced des-
cendng, step by step, from large hill to less till
they finally sicarmed on small sterile mount, with
a broomy glen at its foot, beside little village,
which one of their number named & Graceless
IOuarrewood" This settlement chosen with
some skill, and, in the period OF the persecution,
might have done honor to the military tactics of
John Balfour, of Burley Quarrelwood is long
struggling village, built in open hostility to regular
lines, or the graceful curves of imaginary beauty
The cottages which compose it are scattered as 1t
and through the whole stresmlet winds, and kind
4 of road infinitely more crooked than the stream
/ This lane is irnged chiefly by old plum-trees and
Iseeks its way the eastern extremity Of the village
i with difficulty which stranger will soon be sensi
BILE Of should he be hardy to endeavor TO thread
lths Cameronan laybrnth. There is also wild
Wilderness of gardens, hemmed in by strong walls
u Of rough free stone. 1t is very defensibc posi-
ton; and in case OF retreat, the deep channels oil
two scanty streams present direct openings to the
lupand holds and these are covered ways--for the
brooks contriSe to maintain many stately trees
and flourishng bushes on their steep and impasss
ble banks as would do honor 10 mightier streams
Nor is this a fantastic view OF their choice, for
have heard many of the Cameronians declare, they
belieyed the day would come when they might have
TO vindcae their cause with cold steel. To this ru
raj encampment several hu idreds resorted weekly
to hear their PASTORS Instructions and at their grea
! midsummer Festivsl Of the Sacrament, several thou
sands usually assembled, many of them from dlstan
y narts even from Fife and BanH. All around were
objects to cherish their ancient spirit, and reminc
them of other days. The seat Of their bitter per
secntor General Dalze within two shor
miles the grave OF the cruel Laird of LaGg wa
! visible from their mount and IN the yard
> Dumfries, in the nioors of lrongray, and the moo
Fl lands of Nithsdae, were buried under broad ant
inscribed stonts some Of the most renowned ct TIT
martyrs. WITH TWO OF thel' preachers hau VIZ
pleasure of being acquainted; and have also hear'
several of the western professors preach during tn
al continuance Of the sacramen;al holidays OF thei
professors shall endeavor to render some account
nj still remember with reverence, the thin, long
d. snowy hair and bald, shining crown ard primitiv
look of the patriarchal Farely; and il is mpossibl
should ever forget the familiar and ervent elo
ouence Of tina, delightful old pastor. Towards tn
Close of his life, which was unusually long, he wa
accused Of cheering his dccaying spirits with othe
:. beverage thao what cold brooks afforded o. thi
y in6rmty have heard some of the sternest OF hi
anck speak with unlocked for genileness and be
eIeye none Of his fellow preachers chose to rebuk
him for this indulgence from Just dead OF ~
powers for keen, dry sarcasm. He was great Ia
vorite with the Cameronan ladies', old and young
:; and his reputation with them was not a, all dmn
~ shed by the renown he acquired BY his ability IN IN
N, actng the discipline of his sect on fair respasser
An exhibition OF this kind attracted much nouc'