FYYIE.
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North, previous to the Battle of Culloden, Lord Lewis Gordon being then a distinguishedofficer under the banner of Prince Charles Edward . The Countess of Aberdeen, but a fewmonths a widow, placed herself on the road side, accompanied by her eldest son, to see thepassage of his army. The Duke addressed her, and asked her name; her answer was, “ Iam the sister of Lord Lewis Gordon” !! a reply characteristic of the firmness, as it was ofthe loyalty, mistaken, or otherwise, of this noble lady. General Gordon was succeeded byhis only son, in 1816. During his possession of the Estate he greatly improved not only theinterior of the Castle , but the extensive Park by which it is surrounded, and while he alteredand decorated the apartments, he avoided any external deviation from the architecturalgrandeur, which characterises this truly baronial residence.
Upon his death in 1847, the Castle and Estate became the property of Captain CharlesGordon, the eldest son of Lord Rockville by the Countess Dowager of Dumfries. CaptainGordon is married and has three sons,—Captain William Cosmo Gordon, late of the MadrasArtillery; Captain Alexander Henry, of the Bombay Navy; and Captain Charles William,late of the Madras Cavalry.
The most ancient part of the present Castle is the South-eastern or “ Preston Tower.”The centre of the South front, and over the former great-entrance, is the “ SetonTower.” The “ Meldrum Tower” at the South-west angle completes the southern line of thisregal edifice. In the latter is contained a secret, and for many years unopened chamber!The mysterious character of this apartment will be best preserved by abstaining from investi-gation ; and if there are evil spirits domesticated in this dark abode, they have continued quietand orderly for such a length of time, that it would be cruel and injudicious to disturb them.At the north-west angle of the Castle is situated the “ Gordon Tower” erected by the lateGeneral on the ruins of the ancient chapel, and in good keeping with the architecture of theearlier portions of the building.