weakest of the series, have a special interest for us as affording points
of comparison with the Waverly novels. "The Castles of Athlin and
Dunbayne" is the narrative of a feud between two Highland clans, and its
scene is the northeastern coast of Scotland, "in the most romantic part
of the Highlands," where the castle of Athlin--like Uhland's "Schloss am
Meer"--stood "on the summit of a rock whose base was in the sea." This
was a fine place for storms. "The winds burst in sudden squalls over the
deep and dashed the foaming waves against the rocks with inconceivable
fury. The spray, notwithstanding the high situation of the castle, flew
up with violence against the windows. . . The moon shone faintly by
intervals, through broken clouds, upon the waters, illumining the white
foam which burst around. . . The surges broke on the distant shores in
deep resounding murmurs, and the solemn pauses between the stormy gusts
filled the mind with enthusiastic awe." Perhaps the description slightly
reminds of the picture, in "Marmion," of Tantallon Castle, the hold of
the Red Douglases on the German Ocean, a little north of Berwick, whose
frowning towers have recently done duty again in Stevenson's "David
Balfour." The period of the action is but vaguely indicated; but, as the
weapons used in the attack on the castle are bows and arrows, we may
regard the book as mediaeval in intention. Scott says that the scene of
the romance was Scotland in the dark ages, and complains that the author
evidently knew nothing of Scottish life or scenery. This is true; her
castles might have stood anywhere. There is no mention of the pipes or
the plaid. Her rival chiefs are not Gaelic caterans, but just plain
feudal lords. Her baron of Dunbayne is like any other baron; or rather,
he is unlike any baron that ever was on sea or land or anywhere else
except in the pages of a Gothic romance.

"Gaston de Blondville" was begun in 1802 and published posthumously in
1826, edited by Sergeant Talfourd. Its inspiring cause was a visit which