n remembrance, there are few more
entitled to this honour than Lady Nairne. Nor could a more appropriate
spot have been chosen by Mr Oliphant on which to rear this tribute of
affectionate regard to the memory of his grand-aunt than in the midst
of that beautiful scenery which she loved so well, and which she has
immortalised in her songs. Lady Nairne, however, has reared for
herself a monument far more durable than that of brass or granite, in
her beautiful songs, which, as the inscription truly says, will never
die.

I must here make a brief reference to a native of this parish, who,
although born and brought up in humble life, yet attained to great
eminence in his profession. I refer to Laurence Macdonald, who for
some time wrought as a common mason, but who showed a strong genius for
sculpture. The first piece of work of that kind that he did was the
family coat-of-arms of Garvock House. Mrs Oliphant discerning his
rising genius in this direction, took him to the Continent when the
Gask family removed there in 1822, to afford him better opportunity for
the cultivation of this art. He ultimately settled in Rome, and became
one of the first British sculptors in that city. He was there known as
Lorenzo de Gasco, from his native parish. In recognition of the
kindness he had received from the Gask family, he afterwards sent as a
gift to the laird one of his best works, which now occupies a prominent
position in the House of Gask.

James Blair Oliphant died in 1847, and was buried in the Gask Chapel.
"He was the eighteenth in unbroken male succession from the William
Oliphant upon whom Robert Bruce bestowed the lands of Gask." After his
death the estate was under trustees for nearly twenty years. And
during this period a litigation was carried on as to the right of
succession. Mr Oliphant of Condie was confident that he could
establish his claim to be the nearest male heir. But there was a link
wanting in the chain of evidence, and he failed to realise his sanguine
expectations. The estate then came into the possession of the late
laird's sister's family, when the eldest son, Mr Kington Oliphant,
succeeded to it nearly thirty years ago.

We have briefly traced the history of the Oliphants during the long
period they have been in possession of Gask estate, and while many of
them have been distinguished in different walks of life, none of them
ever occupied the high position which the present Mr Oliphant does