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ILLUSTRATIONS

OF THE

SCENARY

OF THE

GENTLE SHEPHERD.

NEW-HALL HOUSE.

Act 3. Scene 1.

PROLOGUE.

"Now turn your eyes beyond yon spreading lime,

"An' tent a man whase beard seems bleach'd wi' time; "An elwand fills his hand, his habit mean;

"Nae doubt ye'll think he has a pedlar been.
"But whisht! it is the knight in mascurad
"That comes, hid in his cloud, to see his lad.
"Observe how pleas'd the loyal suff'rer moves
“Thro' his auld av'nues, ance delightfu' groves."

SIR WILLIAM, solus.

"The gentleman, thus hid in low disguise, "I'll for a space, unknown, delight mine eyes "With a full view of every fertile plain,

"Which once I lost,—which now are mine again. "Yet, 'midst my joy, some prospects pain renew,

"Whilst I my once fair seat in ruins view. "Yonder, ah me, it desolately stands."

Act 3. Scene 4.

PROLOGUE.

"This scene presents the Knight an' Sym,
"Within a gall'ry o' the place,
"Where a' looks ruinous an' grim;

"Nor has the baron shawn his face,

"But joking wi' his shepherd leel,

"Aft speers the gate he kens fu' weel.

SIR WILLIAM and SYMON.

"SIR W.-To whom belongs this house, so much decay'd? "SYM.-To ane that lost it, lending generous aid "To bear the head up, when rebellious tail

"Against the laws o' nature did prevail.

"Sir William Worthy is our master's name,

"Whilk fills us a' wi' joy, now he's come hame."

Act 5. Scene 3. and last.

DIALOGUE.

"SIR WIL.(to Symon.)-Kindly old man! remain with

you this day!

"I never from these fields again will stray:

"Masons and wrights my house shall soon repair,
"And busy gard'ners shall new planting rear."

NEW-HALL HOUSE is situated on the south-western confine of Edinburghshire; nine Scots, and twelve

English miles from the metropolis; at the head of the valley of Mid-Lothian; near the foot of the Pentland Hills; and, on the north bank of the North Esk, which runs in its deep romantic woody glen, behind the building.

In front, rises the smooth green wester hill of Spittal, beyond the highway from Edinburgh to Carlops, Dumfries, and, branching off, to Leadhills; with the farmsteads of Friartown, and Patie's Hill, on heights, advancing from the mountain, on the north, and west, and the New House in the middle, likewise on the other more elevated side of the public road. After skirting the opposite descent of this hill to the north-west, the Esk rushes, from behind it, through the bridge under the highway, at the north end of the glen and village of Carlops, about a mile above the house, separating the Turnip and Patie's Hills, and, for several miles, both upwards and downwards, Peebles-shire from that of Edinburgh, and, as may be seen by consulting the map, the lands of Carlops, from those of Spittal, and New Hall. After falling into the pool at Habbie's How, which contains the only cascade in its whole course, it waters the Washing Green behind the house, passes the " Craigy Bield," "Glaud's Onstead," and the Marfield Loch below it, and presses on, eastward, to Brunstoune, Pennecuik, Old Woodhouselee, Roslin, the wild,

its

and grotesque habitation of Hawthornden, Melville Castle, and Dalkeith, where it is joined by the South Esk, from Arniston, Dalhousie, Newbattle, &c. on way to Inveresk, Musselburgh, and the frith of, the Forth. Over the glen to the south of east, beyond the Washing Green, and between and the Harlaw Muir, appears "Symon's House," on the height. A part of it is seen, past the south gable of New-Hall House, in the view from the west, connected with this description.

Besides the glen of the Esk, within a mile to the east of south, there are three others, with each its distinct character, and rivulet, all running parallel to it, and uniting their streams, in succession, below the Harbour Craig, before their confluence into the Esk, at the little haugh, on the other side of the "Craigy Bield," about a quarter of a mile distant from the house. From the principal glen runs up, towards the wester hill of Spittal, a deep dingle, or ravine, called the Fairies' Den, close by the north-east gable of the building, between and the present garden, with the east garden below, at the foot of the ravine. It points, downward, directly over to "Symon's House;" and through it descends a rivulet, making several beautiful cascades, before it enters the Washing Green by the Washing House. The waterfalls, one of which is the Fairies' Lin, issue a constant, whispering noise, from its dark,

and romantic bottom, through the high, and close, and wildly growing trees, with which it is, now, filled. On the other, south-west, side of the prison, chapel, and chapel-yard, adjacent to the house; from the head of the "howm," at the Squirrel's Haugh, climbs up to the lawn, in the direction of the Spital Hill, another dell or ravine, dry and wooded, between and the rustic Hut, Mary's Lin, and Bower, to the right of, and the obelisk almost directly behind, the stand from whence the drawing of the view was taken. To the left, beyond the garden and enclosures on the other side of the eastern ravine, descends Monk's Burn.

This Seat is celebrated, for having been the property of one of our Scotish poets; and the favourite place of residence of another: for having given his title to the former; and affording scenary, and characters, to the most distinguished production of the latter.

At a very early period, an abbey or monastery, over an extensive territory, seems to have occupied the present site of NEW-HALL HOUSE.

In a letter to the proprietor, from the late Mr Tytler, editor of King James's Poems, &c. of date 31st October 1791, from which an extract is pub

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