OF THE

NORTH MAIL-COACH,

WITH THE TIME OF ITS ARRIVAL AT THE different STAGES, IN GOING FROM AND RETURNING TO EDINBURGH.

ROUTE II.-EDINBURGH, PERTH, INVERNESS, AND

THURSO.

A very little calculation is necessary to enable Travellers to ascertain the arrival of the Mail at intermediate places.

THE mail-coach road from Aberdeen to Thurso shall now be briefly described; the portions of the road from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, and from Perth to Inverness, having been already noticed.

KINTORE, twelve miles from Aberdeen, is one of the most ancient royal burghs in Scotland. It joins Banff,

Elgin, Cullen, Inverury, and Peterhead, in sending a member to Parliament. The superiority of the burgh has been for more than 150 years vested in the head of the Kintore family, but, like all others, was affected by the Reform bill.

INVERURY, Sixteen miles northward of Aberdeen, is a royal burgh, and joins with other four towns in sending a member to Parliament. Its ancient castle, in ruins, is encircled by the river Urie; and near the town terminates the canal from Aberdeen. Its manufactures consist principally of such articles of necessity as the inhabitants require.

HUNTLY, about 38 miles from Aberdeen, is a burgh of barony under the Duke of Richmond, as heir of the late Duke of Gordon. It is a neat clean town, and is in a most thriving condition; the country around exports large quantities of pork, butter, eggs, &c. to London. In the immediate neighbourhood, on the opposite side of the river Deveron, is Huntly Lodge, a beautiful seat which belonged to the late Duke of Gordon; and on a peninsula formed by the river, is the old Castle, affording an ample proof of the ancient grandeur and hospitality of that noble family.

KEITH, a burgh of barony, about ten miles from Huntly, is composed of three towns. Its situation is very pleasant, lying on the banks of the Isla. The old town is of very ancient origin; but Fife Keith, and New Keith, are of modern erection. It has four annual fairs and a weekly market, and does considerable business. The population, including the parish, is about 4000.

FOCHABERS, nine miles from Keith, is a burgh of barony, the Duke of Richmond superior. It is rising fast into importance, from its proximity to Gordon Castle, decidedly the finest edifice in the north of Scotland, and the princely residence of the Duke of Richmond. Every traveller whose time will permit ought to visit the Castle, which, besides its magnificence, contains one of the most valuable collections of pictures, statues, and busts in Scotland. Near the town is an elegant bridge across the Spey. ELGIN, nine miles from Fochabers, is a royal burgh, famed for its ancient cathedral, one of the most magnificent of its kind in Scotland. The new county rooms,

and other modern buildings, are remarkable for the neatness of their architecture. A day spent in seeing the antiquities, and other objects of interest here and in the neighbourhood, will amply repay the tourist for his trouble. It is a place of considerable business; its society is enlightened and refined, arising from the number of literary and benevolent institutions it contains. It joins Kintore, Cullen, Inverury, Peterhead, and Banff, in sending a member to Parliament.

FORRES, twelve miles from Elgin, is a royal burgh, of considerable antiquity, and joins Inverness, Nairn, and Fortrose, in sending a member to Parliament. It has weekly markets, and several annual fairs, at which considerable business is done. Findhorn, three miles distant, may be considered its sea-port. Forres is immortalized by Shakspeare, as being the scene of the greater part of his tragedy of Macbeth. No person should leave this neighbourhood without visiting Tarnaway Castle; the great hall is said to have been capable of containing 1000 armed men, and it is altogether one of the most remarkable of its class in Scotland.

NAIRN, eleven miles from Forres, is an ancient royal burgh, the capital of the county of that name, and sends a member to Parliament, as mentioned in the SECOND STEAM-BOAT TOUR. In the neighbourhood is Cawdor Castle; the scenery around which is peculiarly adapted to the pencil of the artist; many interesting legends are connected with it. It is situate upon an eminence overlooking the Calder water, and was once a place of great strength. The whole of Cawdor Castle is particularly calculated to impress the mind with a retrospect of past ages, feudal customs, and deeds of daring. Its iron-grated doors-its ancient tapestry hanging loosely over secret doors and hidden passages-its winding staircases—its rattling drawbridge, all conspire to excite the most gloomy imaginings in the mind. From the battlements of the Castle is seen in the background a thick forest, old beyond history or memory, and solemn beyond imagination. Tremendous rugged rocks appear emerging from the wood; on one side are the chasm and drawbridge, on the other the river Calder, dark in its colour, and devious in its course, howling, groaning, and boiling