of every part, and entertained by Sir Eyre Coote, the governour, with
such elegance of conversation as left us no attention to the delicacies
of his table.

Of Fort George I shall not attempt to give any account. I cannot
delineate it scientifically, and a loose and popular description is of
use only when the imagination is to be amused. There was every where an
appearance of the utmost neatness and regularity. But my suffrage is of
little value, because this and Fort Augustus are the only garrisons that
I ever saw.

We did not regret the time spent at the fort, though in consequence of
our delay we came somewhat late to Inverness, the town which may properly
be called the capital of the Highlands. Hither the inhabitants of the
inland parts come to be supplied with what they cannot make for
themselves: Hither the young nymphs of the mountains and valleys are sent
for education, and as far as my observation has reached, are not sent in
vain.




INVERNESS


Inverness was the last place which had a regular communication by high
roads with the southern counties. All the ways beyond it have, I
believe, been made by the soldiers in this century. At Inverness
therefore Cromwell, when he subdued Scotland, stationed a garrison, as at
the boundary of the Highlands. The soldiers seem to have incorporated