The Lake of Menteith. By A. F. Hutchison. (Eneas Mackay,
Stirling.)—Here we have a stout volume of about three hundred and fifty pages devoted to the topography, history, and other interesting features of a single extensive and beautiful district of Scotland, that which, measuring about twenty-eight miles in length from west to east, with a maximum breadth of about fifteen miles, " has for backbone the ridge—mountainous in the west and decreasing in height towards the east—which lies between the basins of Loch Katrine, Loch Achray, and Loch Vennachar and the course of the Teith on the north and Loch Ard and the river Forth on the south." The district is not only a beautiful one, but has played an important part in the history of Scotland. Many of the Earls of Monteith were notable men, while Sir John—otherwise " the fause "—Menteith, who was undoubtedly instrumental in bringing about the capture and execution of the patriot Wallace, is still the typical "traitor" north of the Tweed in spite of attempts to prove that he was in the confidence of Robert Bruce and fought on his side at the battle of Bannockburn. This book, with amplitude of topographical and biographical details, is obviously meant for Scottish readers chiefly. But it is lucidly and carefully written, and will be found interesting by the general reader and invalu- able by the historical investigator.
Previous page
