Perthshire in bygone days

JAMES SMITH. 423
— backed by Benvoirlich and Benmore, and, in the middle
distance, Crieff and Mnthill, the magnificent woods and
castle of Drummond, the upper valley of the Earn, the
woods of Auchtertyre, and the obelisks to the memory of
Lord Melville and Sir David Baird. On the south, the
green Ochils, from Sheriffmuir to the Wicks of Baiglie,
backed by what Wilkie calls " Mine own blue Lomonds ;"
and in the middle distance, Auchterarder, the woods and
castle of Strathallan, and the richly-cultivated country
stretching from Culdees Castle to Invermay. On the east,
Kinnoull and Dunsinane Hills, with the smoke of Perth
curling up before them ; and on the north, the Grampians
from Benchonzie to Invermark, with Ferntower, Abercairney ,
Balgowan, and Methven, for intermediate distance. All
this while " whistling at the plough." Yet poet James
was not, but he was a pungent satirist, and spread his
epigrams about in profuse abundance, giving full scope to
his not over-scrupulous imagination,
Smith was a tall thin man, rather limply put together,
but volatile and active. When young, he was rather
good-looking, with light brown hair and remarkably large
grey eyes. In temper he was fiery, restless, and impatient
to the last degree.
About 1812, and during the incumbency of the Bev. Mr.
Imrie, of Kinkell, church politics ran very high amongst
the Dissenters of the district. James Smith left Mr. Imrie's
congregation on account of some peculiar theological
dogmas which the reverend gentleman had adopted, and
went to hear the parish minister ; but he speedily returned
to his old love and to his old hatred of Establishments.
The Rev. James Ramsay, at that time minister of
Madderty, was very shortsighted, and being a hard
reader, he never appeared in the pulpit without having
a pair of tortoiseshell spectacles, with very broad brims,
stuck close to his face. Smith, on leaving his congre-
gation, felt naturally desirous to make it known that
neither minister nor people were worthy of his respect — -
the one being stolid and dogmatical, and the other a very
minimum of numbers and respectability. This is how he
lampooned them : —
Upon liis nose he wears a pair
Of leathern spectaches,
Through which he glowers, wi' prudent care
Down on his twa-three wratches.