A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

32 HISTORY OF THE HIOHLANDS.
lyiug between the Dee and the sea. From Fordun, aDoat four aud a
half miles west-north-west, there was a Roman post at Clattering
bridge, now known by the name of the Green castle, which guarded the
passage tlirough the Grampian mountains, by the Cairn-o-mount into
the valley of the Mearns. This post stood on a precipitous bank, on
the north-east of the Clatteringburn : the area of the part within the
ramparts, measures one hundred and thirty-seven feet nine inches, at
the north-east end, and at the south-west, eighty-two feet six inches ;
the length is two hundred and sixty-two feet six inches. The ditch is
thirty-seven feet six inches broad at the bottom, and the rampai't
which is wholly of earth, is in height, from the bottom of t!ie ditch,
fifty-one feet nine inches. The commanding station at Glenmailen, with
its subsidiary posts, protected and secured the country from the Dee to
the Moray Frith, comprehending the territories of the Taixali and
I he Vaconiagi.
From the details which have been given of the Roman roads, and
tlie different stations selected by the Romans, for securing and defend-
ing their conquests in the north, some idea may be formed of the skill
with which the conquerors of tlie world, carried on their warlike
operations, in the most distant countries ; and of that prudent foresight
by which they guarded against the many contingencies inseparable
from a state of wai-, or insecure and dubious repose. It will be evident
to those who are well acquainted with the different lines and stations,
of the Roman postsbefore enumerated, that at the time we are treating
of, it was not possible to select situations better fitted to answer the
ends, which the Romans had in view, than those we have pointed out
It seems quite unnecessary and unprofitable to enter into any discus-
sion of the historical controversy, as to whether these roads and stations
were constructed in the same age, or in other words, whether the
Roman remains in North Britain, ai-e to be attributed altogether to
Agricold. The fact is, there do not appear sufficient data in history
to arrive at any certain conclusions. Yet it seems scarcely possible, as
some antiquarians have maintained, that all these roads, and important
stations could have been finished during the period of Agricola's
government in Britain. It seems probable, that many roads were
made, and stations erected during the able administration of Lollius
Urbicus.
Whether the Romans had grown weary of keeping up such an extended
line of posts in North Britain, or found it impracticable any
Jonger to retain them, or that they required to concentrate their
strength in the south, they resolved to abandon their conquests to tha
north of Antoninus' wall, and, accordingly in the year one hundred and
seventy, they evacuated the whole of the country beyond that wall
without molestation.
The Caledonians being tnus relieved from the presence of their formidable
foes, now prepared for offensive operations ; but it was not until
the year one hundred and eighty-five, during the misgovenuiient of