The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 269
These people, however, are content, and wonderfully sagacious
—All of them read the Bible, and are even qualified to dispute upon
the articles of their faith; which, in those parts I have seen, is
entirely Presbyterian. I am told, that the inhabitants of Aberdeen-
shire are still more acute. I once knew a Scotch gentleman at
London, who had declared war against this part of his countrymen;
and swore that the impudence and knavery of the Scots, in that
quarter, had brought a reproach upon the whole nation.
The river Clyde, above Glasgow, is quite pastoral; and the
banks of it are every where adorned with fine villas. From the sea
to its source, we may reckon the seats of many families of the first
rank, such as the duke of Argyle at Roseneath, the earl of Bute in
the isle of that name, the earl of Glencairn at Finlayston, lord
Blantyre at Areskine, the dutchess of Douglas at Bothwell, duke
Hamilton at Hamilton, the duke of Douglas at Douglas, and the
earl of Hyndford at Carmichael. Hamilton is a noble palace,
magnificently furnished; and hard by is the village of that name,
one of the neatest little towns I have seen in any country. The old
castle of Douglas being burned to the ground by accident, the late
duke resolved, as head of the first family in Scotland, to have the
largest house in the kingdom, and ordered a plan for this purpose;
but there was only one wing of it finished when he died. It is to be
hoped that his nephew, who is now in possession of his great
fortune, will complete the design of his predecessor—Clydesdale
is in general populous and rich, containing a great number of
gentlemen, who are independent in their fortune; but it produces
more cattle than corn—This is also the case with Tweedale,
through part of which we passed, and Nidsdale, which is generally
rough, wild, and mountainous—These hills are covered with
sheep; and this is the small delicious mutton, so much preferable
to that of the London-market. As their feeding costs so little, the
sheep are not killed till five years old, when their flesh, juices, and
flavour, are in perfection; but their fleeces are much damaged by the
tar, with which they are smeared to preserve them from the rot in
winter, during which they run wild night and day, and thousands
are lost under huge wreaths of snow—’Tis pity the farmers cannot
contrive some means to shelter this useful animal from the in-
clemencies of a rigorous climate, especially from the perpetual
rains, which are more prejudicial than the greatest extremity of
cold weather.