Ossian Collection > Journal of a tour in Scotland in

78 JOURNAL OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND
bridge over the Don ; it is well placed, having
rocky abutments on both sides. You look
up the river between highish and wooded
banks, down it to the sea, which is within half
a mile. Mr Forbes has a house and grounds
a little way up, which might be made very
beautiful, if the owner regarded anything
more than money ; but he lets the land, up
to his very windows. Large fish were very
active in the river, above the bridge : by the
splash which they made I supposed them to
be salmon.
Left Aberdeen at four in the afternoon, for
Old Meldrum, a place 18 miles distant,
whither we had written to secure beds. For
six miles the road lies by the Inverary^ Canal;
it then crosses it, and the Don soon after by a
wooden-bridge. The canal is a losing concern
to the subscribers ; and Mr Haddon complains
that it draws off* the water from the Don,
to the hurt of his mills ; he is a great
manufacturer, employing 3000 persons ! It
is however a great benefit to the country,
and no small ornament to it, with its clear
water, its banks which are now clothed with
weedery, and its numerous locks and bridges,
all picturesque objects and pleasing, where
1 Inverurie.