n Forfarshire, Kincardine,
Caithness, and Haddington. One of the younger branches of the Oliphant
family purchased from his spendthrift cousin the lands of Gask, which
have ever since continued in the same family.

Laurence Oliphant was, in the year 1650, knighted by Charles II., when
that monarch was at Scone. He for a capricious reason disinherited his
eldest son, Patrick, and gave the lands of Gask to his second son and
his heirs. About fifty years thereafter the estate of Gask, from the
failure of heirs in the younger branch, came into the possession of
James, the eldest son of the disinherited Patrick.

While James Oliphant resided at Williamston, before he succeeded to
Gask, he devised and carried out a great practical improvement in that
locality. He along with some others applied to the Scotch Parliament
in 1690 for an Act to compel all the adjoining proprietors to
contribute their share towards the expense of cutting a channel
sufficiently deep and broad to carry off the water, which at that time
must have frequently flooded the fields, and thus reclaimed much
valuable land. About forty years ago a considerable sum was expended
in still further deepening and broadening the Pow, and that stream
never overflows its banks now unless in very rainy seasons. As the
estate of Gask is bounded by the Pow on the north side, it shared in
the benefits resulting from that improvement. Mr Oliphant succeeded to
Gask in 1705, and would doubtless display the same practical sagacity
in carrying out improvements on the estate which then came into his
possession. He probably planted some of those noble trees which still
surround the mansion-house, and which are undoubtedly of great age.

At the Revolution in 1688, when James II. was driven from the throne
of Britain, the Oliphants still retained their steadfast allegiance and
devoted loyalty to the exiled monarch, and regarded his successors as
usurpers. Cherishing these sentiments, we can well imagine they would
hail every enterprise that had for its object the restoration of their
hereditary king. An opportunity soon occurred. In 1715, a "Rising"
took place to accomplish this end. The laird of Gask, though strongly
favouring the movement, yet with great prudence remained at home, and
saved his estate from forfeiture. But he sent his two elder sons to
join the standard which the Earl of Mar had reared for the restoration
of the Chevalier St. George, the only son o