capable of
repair. Of the rest of the convent there are only fragments.

Besides the two principal churches, there are, I think, five chapels yet
standing, and three more remembered. There are also crosses, of which
two bear the names of St. John and St. Matthew.

A large space of ground about these consecrated edifices is covered with
gravestones, few of which have any inscription. He that surveys it,
attended by an insular antiquary, may be told where the Kings of many
nations are buried, and if he loves to sooth his imagination with the
thoughts that naturally rise in places where the great and the powerful
lie mingled with the dust, let him listen in submissive silence; for if
he asks any questions, his delight is at an end.

Iona has long enjoyed, without any very credible attestation, the honour
of being reputed the cemetery of the Scottish Kings. It is not unlikely,
that, when the opinion of local sanctity was prevalent, the Chieftains of
the Isles, and perhaps some of the Norwegian or Irish princes were
reposited in this venerable enclosure. But by whom the subterraneous
vaults are peopled is now utterly unknown. The graves are very numerous,
and some of them undoubtedly contain the remains of men, who did not
expect to be so soon forgotten.

Not far from this awful ground, may be traced the garden of the
monastery: the fishponds are yet discernible, and the aqueduct, which
supplied them, is still in use.

There remains a broken building, which is called the Bishop's house, I
know not by what authority. It was once the residence of some man above
the common rank, for it has two stories and a chimney. We were shewn a
chimney at the other end, which was only a nich, without perforation, but
so much does antiquarian credulity, or patriotick vanity prevail, that it
was not much more safe to trust the eye of our instructor than the
memory.

There is in the Island one house more, and only one, that has a chimney:
we entered it, and found it neither wanting repair nor inhabitants; but
to the farmers, who now possess it, the chimney is of no great value; for
their fire was made on the floor, in the middle of the room, and
notwithstanding the dignity of their mansion, they rejoiced, like their
neighbours, in the comforts of smoke.

It is observed, that ecclesiastical colleges are always in the most
pleasant and fruitful places. While the world allowed the monks their
choice, it is surely no dishonour th