unproductive; and the eye, however fatigued by the uniformity of barrenness and sameness of an ocean-view, finds little relief by being permitted to turn towards a dismal and forlorn cemetery, the only object that breaks the monotonous character of the view, where all things rank and gross in nature wave over the melancholy emblems of mortality that strew the unapproachable enclosure.

The establishment of a religious house at this place is dated at a very early period : legend attributes its dedication to the pious character who has bequeathed her name to the mighty promontory which projects into the ocean, and shelters the hope or haven of Eyemouth. The monks of this "Mount Athos" of North Britain, being one day occupied in witnessing the heavings of the ocean, and reflecting upon the causes that made "the waters rage and swell," when they observed a little boat, evidently bearing two figures, surrounded by the foaming billows, yet holding on its course with undeviating steadiness for the sandy beach beneath the Kirk-hill, where alone a landing could be effected with safety. The monks descended hastily to the landing-place, where they found a female, of the fairest face, most graceful form, and splendid attire, extended on the sands, apparently exhausted by recent fatigue; but the boat and second figure were nowhere to be seen. With all becoming humanity, they removed the weary stranger to their home, and used every means to restore her strength. As soon as she became capable of replying, the monks inquired for her companion, and were inconceivably surprised at her declaration, that she had not been accompanied by any one. She added, that she was daughter of a Northumbrian prince, that misfortune had obliged her to fly from her country, and that she had trusted herself to the treacherous element that bore her thither, without any guide or protector but a kind Providence. On her voyage a storm arose, yet, in the midst of all the horrors of a tempestuous sea, without rudder, sail, or pilot, she felt no fear, and escaped, as they saw, to thank the Being that preserved her. The monks assured her that they had seen a figure seated at the helm, guiding the bark to the accustomed haven, and that they felt convinced it could have been none other than an angel deputed especially to conduct her to their home; and her preservation, they concluded, was an obvious miracle. The princess herself was amongst the first converts to this belief: the impression of her miraculous voyage, escape, and reception shed their influence over her mind, and induced her, in gratitude, to devote herself ever after to the service of her all-merciful Protector. She immediately took the veil, became subsequently abbess of the priory that stood on the highest point of the promontory; and after her death, which happened in the seventh century, was admitted amongst the then rapidly increasing catalogue of saints.

3

THE LINKS OF WOLF'S HOPE.

"Who thundering comes on blackest steed,

With slackened bit, and hoof of speed?
The foam that streaks the courser's side,
Seems gathered from the ocean tide.
Though weary waves are sunk to rest,

There's none within his rider's breast;

The rock is doubled, but the shore

Shakes with the clattering tramp no more."

BYRON.

[Tales of my Landlord, (3d series,) Bride of Lammermoor, Vol. II. pp. 367-368.

"Caleb hastened to the eastern battlement, whence he could easily see his master riding towards the sands as fast as his horse could carry him. The prophecy at once rushed on his mind, that the lord of Ravenswood should perish on the Kelpie's Flow, which lay betwixt the tower and the links, to the northward of Wolf's Hope. He saw him accordingly reach the fatal spot, but he never saw him pass further. Colonel Ashton, frantic for revenge, was already in the field, pacing the turf with eagerness, and looking with impatience towards the tower for the arrival of his antagonist. The sun had now risen, and showed its broad disk above the eastern sea, so that he could easily discern the horseman that rode towards him with speed which argued impatience equal to his own. At once the figure became invisible, as if it had melted into the air. He rubbed his eyes as if he had witnessed an apparition, and then hastened to the spot, near which he was met by Caleb Balderstone, who came from an opposite direction. No trace whatever of horse or rider could be discerned; it only appeared that the late winds and high tides had greatly extended the usual bounds of the quicksands, and that the unfortunate horseman, as appeared from the hoof-tracks, in his precipitated haste, had not attended to keep on the firm sands at the foot of the rock, but had taken the shortest and most dangerous course. One only vestige of his fate appeared: a large sable feather had been detached from his hat, and the rippling waves of the rising tide wafted it to Caleb's feet. The old man took it up, dried it, and placed it in his bosom.

"The inhabitants of Wolf's Hope were now alarmed, and crowded to the place; but their search availed nothing. The tenacious depths of the quicksand retained its prey."

The village of Eyemouth, in Berwickshire, was the original of our author's Wolf's Hope, or Haven. It is an ancient little sea-port, seated at the embouchure of the river Eye, about seven miles from Berwick, and early enjoyed the distinction of a burgh of barony. Its proximity to England encouraged a contraband trade here for many years; but this unenviable notoriety has been gradually diminished, by the assimilation of laws, by more energetic conduct on the part of the revenue servants, and by improved habits of society generally. Eyemouth now enjoys an honourable and profitable export trade, and affords a safe and sheltered asylum to shipping, against which all other ports along that line of coast may happen to be closed by either tide or wind. "The town, however, has still a dark, cunning look, is full of curious alleys, blind and otherwise; and there is not a house of any standing, but seems as if it could unfold some tale of wonder." A stranger would form an erroneous estimate of the magnitude of this place, if derived from its superficial contents alone, for it is supposed that "there is as much of the town below as above ground." The villa of Gunsgreen, occupying the site of Restalrig's Castle, on the opposite shore of the Eye, built from the profits of smuggling, is peculiarly suited to the continuance of that trade, and was alluded to in parliament as an illustration of the success of illegal commerce in North Britain. Eymouth Fort, which once gave importance to the vicinity, stood a little north of the harbour, or Hope. It was first erected by the Protector Somerset, demolished by the Scots, rebuilt by Mary of Lorraine when regent, but a second time razed to the ground at the instance of the English. It occupied the summit of a promontory in the German ocean, and hung boldly over the waters: extensive grass-grown hillocks, and mounds, still indicate its site with sufficient certainty.

The consummation of the misfortunes of Ravenswood, as indeed the whole legend of Lammermoor, is founded on fact, although it is uncertain whether the prototype of the "last heir of Ravenswood" perished in the links of Eyemouth, or elsewhere. It is generally believed that the principal events or facts in the tale are derived from the story of Lord Belhaven, a protegè of the duke of Hamilton: others, with much confidence, assert that the family of the earl of Stair are the true claimants to the melancholy notoriety which such a narrative confers; but that the author himself was fully persuaded of the truth of the principal events in the novel, there is every reason to be convinced of.