Miller Castle, the favourite retirement of Queen Mary, when in love with Bothwell. Proceeding on my way, the first sight of Dediston small lake and house, much pleased me; and, indeed, the whole walk, from Dediston round to the Abbey, afforded me much pleasure; and a pleasant view towards Preston Pans; the Barracks; the Forth; the Bass; and the mountains of Fifeshire.
In my way to Dalkeith, I passed very near Crag Miller Castle; the view of it after I had passed it, was by far the best, but nothing striking. At the bridge, at Dalkeith, I again crossed my beautiful friend the North Esk River, where its broken banks are sweetly covered with wood. The town of Dalkeith, is a dirty, shabby place; and the Duke of Buccleugh has done wisely to build a bridge very near his house; by which the approach to it will be, and I suppose now is, far handsomer than that I arrived at, through the town. I did not go to Scotland to see fine houses, nor dressed places. The simple beauty of nature, is my hobby-horse; and where can a hobby-horse of that breed find greater scope than in Scotland? particularly in the Highlands. I did not attempt to enter the house at Dalkeith, but contented myself with seeing the pleasure grounds, park, &c.
