Kings & rulers > More leaves from the journal of a life in the Highlands from 1862 to 1882

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the sea (we could, however, see it but faintly because
of the haze). We passed close to the house, a hand¬
some one, half Elizabethan, with small Scotch towers,
and a very pretty terrace garden, but did not get out.
Driving on through the park, which reminded me of
Windsor and Windsor Forest, we again came upon the
high road and passed by Whitekirk, a very fine old
church, where numbers of people were assembled, and
very soon after we saw through the haze the high hill
of North Berwick Law, looking as though it rose up out
of the sea, and another turn or two brought us to
Tantallon, which is close to and overhangs the sea.
We drove along the grass to the old ruins, which are
very extensive. Sir Hew Dalrymple, to whom it be¬
longs, received us, and took us over the old remains
of the moat, including the old gateway, on which the
royal standard had been hoisted. Lady Dalrymple (a
Miss Arkwright) received us. No one else was there
but Sir David Baird, who had joined us on the way
on horseback. Sir Hew Dalrymple showed me about
the ruins of this very ancient castle, the stronghold
of the Douglases. It belonged once to the Earl of
Angus, second husband to Queen Margaret (wife of
James IV.), and was finally taken by the Covenanters.
It was unfortunately so hazy that we could not
distinguish the Bass Rock, though usually it is quite
distinctly seen, being so near; and all the fine sur¬
rounding coast was quite invisible. There was a tele¬
scope, but we could see nothing through it; it was,
besides, placed too low. Seated on sofas near the
ledge of the rock, we had some tea, and the scene
was extremely wild. After this we left, being a good
deal hurried to get back (as it was already past six),