10 SEPTEMBER 1842, Page 5

SCOTLAND.

Before carrying on the history of the Queen's progress in Scotland, some notable events of the voyage and the arrival remain to be told. Where the historians are so many, it would be hard if their researches did not dig up something worthy of record after the event.

Incidents of the Voyage.

The courtly Post recommences at the beginning, the voyage down the river ; which was more eventful than we had supposed, inasmuch as the passage was beset by festive and well-intentioned Beans-

" On more than one occasion her Majesty was greatly alarmed at the dangerous state of some of the river steamers, which followed the Royal squadron to the embouchure of the Thames; the passengers having all rushed towards those sides of these vessels which were nearest the Royal yacht ; and repeatedly was her Majesty annoyed by the firing of small cannon, muskets, and fire-arms of all descriptions, from these vessels at a short range, and with a point-blank aim ! There is no doubt that the individuals who fired them off acted to the best of their judgment in a loyal and affectionate manner ; but they appeared altogether to forget that their Queen was a woman, with all a wo- man's feelings, though with far more than a woman's firmness and mag- nanimity. " * • More than once in the former case was her Majesty terrified by seeing vessels filled with her subjects dipping their gunwales under water, [threatening a suicidal waste of " my people,"] so great was the pressure of the crowds with which they were freighted ; and her Majesty had to express her dissatisfaction in the hitter to Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, the captain of the royal yacht, and that noble and gallant officer had to hail them off, in consequence of the zeal and perseverance with which the parties fired off their respective arms. It is but justice to her Majesty, however, to state that her anxiety and alarm were not for herself, but for those who accompanied her, and more especially for her beloved spouse Prince Albert ; and it should be added, that when Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence hailed the parties to desist, he did BO in the mildest form of phrase which the naval vocabulary allows, (that should have been recorded for its curiosity,] at the express command of her Majesty." The plain-spoken Edinburgh Witness assumed that the Queen would be "sea-sick "; and the event justified the prophecy of the acute and clerical editor; but that event can only be told in the delicate language of the Post- " All through this day—the Monday—her Majesty adhered to her usual habits when on shore; that is to say, she had her breakfast at half-past eight or nine o'clock, her luncheon at two, and her dinner at eight p. m. Her Ma- jesty slept well during the night. "On the morning of the Tuesday, her Majesty breakfasted at her usual hour, half-past eight or nine, and took her luncheon at two o'clock. Her Majesty continued in good health all through the day, although she did not partake of much dinner. Her Royal consort Prince Albert, however, was not so well nor in such good spirits; for the pitching of the royal yacht, caused by the double pull of the two steamers which towed her, rather discomposed his Royal High- ness.. His Royal Highness was not, in strict truth, sick, but he was uneasy, and incapable of enjoying the voyage, in consequence of that most merciless of all human inflictions sea-sickness; and though he bore up against it like a man, [why, is he not a man, and moreover a field-marshal ?] was more than once Obliged by that universal leveller to betake himself to the sofa. About two o'clock on Wednesdey morning, her Majesty began to feel the effects of a rising swell and a cross wind; and notwithstanding that her Majesty, like the Queen of a people who claim for her the sovereignty of the seas, and support that claim with the best blood of their hearts, struggled nobly against their awkward in- fluence still she was by no means in a perfectly easy position. " Tlie illness of her Majesty during the night of Tuesday and the morning of Wednesday did not prevent her from partaking of her accustomed nzatutinal meal; nor did it influence her at any time through the after-part of the day, for she had her luncheon and her dinner at the usual times. It is true that her Majesty partook but slightly of the latter meal ; but she made a hearty luncheon, which compensated for the deficiency. Not so, however, his Royal II ighness Prince Albert ; who was considerably indisposed, though not abso- lutely sick, and who, in consequence, scarcely partook of any refreshment whatever. The voyage this day was very tiresome; for notwithstanding that there were two steamers towing the royal yacht, on some occasions her Majesty did not make more than three miles an hour. About five o'clock on the even- ing of this day, the royal squadron was off St. Abb's Head ; and having doubled that point of the coast and entered the Frith of Forth, her Majesty, what with the land-breeze, which blew freshly off the coast of Fife, and what with the smoothness of the water, which was so great as to make the sea seem like a great mirror, almost recovered her pristine health and strength."

The Scotsman says, that during Wednesday the Queen "suffered severely " from sea-sickness ; and that it was contemplated to remove her from the yacht to a steamer, in order to finish the voyage the sooner ; but as the weather was very rough, it was not thought prudent to attempt the passage from one vessel to the other in a boat.

An officer, in a letter by way of journal of the voyage, tells an anecdote of Tuesday morning, before the sea had asserted its " awkward influence": the time was nine o'clock- " The sea, during the whole of this time, was calm as a mirror, and her Ma- jesty and the Prince were early on deck enjoying the morning air. Shortly after breakfast, a telegraphic message announced that 'her Majesty and the Prince were perfectly welt'; a message which, I need not tell you, was receivedl by the whole squadrcn with three hearty cheers. A signal was then made, by command of her Majesty, to inquire after the health of the ladies, the Dutchess of Norfolk and Miss Paget, who were on board the Black Eagle : the answer was, With duty to her Majesty, quite well.' A similar question was made to the Lords in Waiting, &c., who were on board the Rhadamanthus: the answer to which caused general merriment throughout the squadron—' All well, and the Lord Steward eating monstrously.'"

Courtly phrase does not disguise a really pleasing trait-

" Her Majesty's spirit had not, however, at any time departed from her. Although occasionally ill herself during the voyage, she always showed the gentleness of her nature and the considerateness oilier character, by declining all aid from her attendants, except such as was absolutely necessary, and by relieving them upon every occasion she could of the trouble of waiting on her." The squadron entered the Frith with the crews of the Edinburgh steamers dancing ; and the sailors of the royal yacht also danced. Which gave the example, or whether it was merely an extraordinary coincidence, we cannot pronounce on conflicting testimony ; but the Post gives the most circumstantial account of "a scene which will find a place in history, as long as history shall record the voluntary abnega- tion of state, and a sympathy with the enjoyments of the lowliest of her subjects, among the proudest traits in the character of a Sovereign "— " Her Majesty, while lying on a couch on the quarter-deck of the royal yacht, as the squadron progressed up the Frith of Forth, having expressed a desire to see the sailors dance, 'all hands' were passed up to partake in that exhilarating exercise ; and, hear it, ye would-be great ones of this world the Queen of England—the powerful monarch of a realm upon which, like the Spanish dominions of old, the sun never sets '—the monarch of the affections as well as of the institutions of the freest race of men in the world as well as the boldest—was pleased with the amusements of a body of sailors, and satis- fied to listen to the music of a single fiddle played by a small boy, and a tam- bourine beat by one of the crew, the only band which the royal squadron at that time could muster. What a picture does this single fact present of the goodness and the greatness of our beloved Queen! of patience under physical suffering, of her tolerance, and generally of the goodness of her heart and the kindliness of her gentle nature! '

The Frith of Forth.

Scotland was illuminated as the royal squadron made the Frith of Forth- " At nightfall on Wednesday," says the Courant, "the bonfire on the summit of Arthur's Seat was set on fire by order of the authorities. Though her Majesty had not arrived, it was judged prudent not to delay that portion of the rejoicings, especially as several other hills, out of sight of Arthur a Seat, hail received express directions to illuminate, which could not be recalled. The bonfire on Arthur Scat was of great size, covering an area of about forty feet in length, and of proportionate breadth. Owing to the judicious arrangement of the pile, it was soon in a complete blaze, and shed a flood of light over the surrounding heights and the valley below, giving an aspect of wild grandeur to the romantic scenery. The blaze, however, was scarcely so effective as many had expected. This beacon-flame was speedily answered by similar fires on all the heights in the neighbouring counties. The Braid, Blackford, Carbery, Soutra, and three of the Pentlands, were lighted up in Mid-Lothian ; Lammer- law Trapane, North Berwick Law, Ninewar, and Garleton, in East Lothian ; Daimahoy, and Binny Craigs, in Linlithgow. In Fife, there were Kelly Law, Largo Law, the two Lomonds' Dunearn, Raith, and Dysart ; in Clackmannan, and in that direction, Saline, Tullibotly, Tulliallau, Benartie, and Fossaway ; while far in the South, Tintock was discernible, contributing her quota to the national welcome. Besides those we have enumerated, there were a great many others ; upwards of fifty fires being visible from the eminences of the city. "In the course of the evening, some boys set fire to the whine growing at the side of the Calton Hill next to the High School. This afforded, for a short time, much enjoyment to the youths and a crowd of spectators. A large and beautiful balloon was also let off from the South side of the city ; which took its course over the fire on Arthur's Seat, and alighted in the sea."

The display had its full effect with the English visiters. Thejoarnal- izing officer who accompanied the squadron says-

" The breeze freshened from the north-west; but the flood-tide enabled the squadron to make good headway. 'When off Dunbar, besides the illumination of that town, and a royal salute from the Castle, the magnificent sight burst upon us of beacon-fires lighted on all the conspicuous Scottish hills, and was impos- ing in the extreme. The night was quite dark, but clear: astern, were all the lights of the several steamers, bending like a crescent around the royal yacht in the centre ; while on the coast around, in East Lothian, in Mid-Lothian, in Linlithgow, in Fife, and Clackmannan, bonfires blazed on all the remarkable heights, all announcing the cordial welcome that awaited her Majesty from Scotland and her Scottish subjects; while in Edinburgh, the summit of Arthur's Seat seemed a blaze of fire, shedding a flood of light over the sur- rounding heights and valley below, and giving an aspect of wild grandeur to all its romantic scenery. " It has fallen to my lot to witness beautiful illuminations in various parts of the world. 1 have seen the cities of Rio de Janeiro, of Lima, and of Santiago, lighted up in all their splendour; the city and all the shores of the Bay of Naples, and even the dome of St. Peter's at Rome : but I never remember any thing that has made so deep an impression as our passage up the Frith of Forth on this occasion. The beautiful expanse of water, the brilliant lights around, the rapid speed of the vessels, throwing off the phosphoric waves on either bow as we passed along—the recollection of the precious freight intrusted to our charge, and the feeling that through the merciful providence of God we had been enabled to bring our voyage to a happy end—all combined to render the scene one of thrilling interest far beyond my powers of expression."

The Landing—Thursday.

It seems that it was not the Queen's fault that the civic authorities were not ready to receive her : they relied too implicitly on the arrange- ment which they themselves had made being carried out-

" As the royal squadron progressed up the Frith of Forth, her Majesty was much delighted with the manifestations of joy on the part of her Scottish sub- jects; and, not to be outdone by them in courtesy, she despatched one of the steam-ships which formed part of the royal cortege on to Leith, to announce her arrival to the Duke of Buccleuch, with the view that his Grace should communicate it to the local authorities ot Edinburgh; which was done, accord- ing to her Majesty's desire, without a moment's delay."

After her strange reception in Edinburgh, the Queen proceeded to Dalkeith Palace, the Duke of Buecleueh's princely residence ; which had been prepared for the Royal guests. In the afternoon, although much fatigued, the Queen walked in the grounds attached to the Palace. The illustrious party, among whom were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Liverpool, the Earl and Countess of Cawdor, and Sir Robert Peel, sat down to dinner at eight o'clock.

Repose at Dalkeith—Friday.

Friday was a day of rest from state toils. At an early hour, Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duke of Buceleuch, went to visit Arthur's Seat. At three, Sir Robert Peel and the Earl of Aberdeen strolled out of Dalkeith Palace, to see the old parish-church. In the afternoon, a large crowd collected in the hope of seeing the Queen going out for her customary ride. They were not disappointed : at four o'clock, the Queen and Prince appeared in a carriage and four, with the Dutchess of Buccleuch and the Dutchess of Norfolk ; the Duke of Buccleuch and Colonel Bouverie riding by the side of the carriage. Both the Queen and Prince looked extremely well ; and they graciously acknowledged the loud cheers that saluted them on their ride through Dalkeith to visit Dalhousie Castle.

In the evening, Edinburgh was illuminated : a grand sight, natu- rally, from the peculiarities of the situation and fantastic forms of the buildings lighted up, but little improved by the arts of design—the devices generally consisted of the initials V. A., crowns, Prince of Wales's feathers, and stars. The rain could not keep the admiring multitude within doors.

The Public Entry—Saturday.

This, the day of the Queen's promised public entry into Edinburgh, dawned clearly. At a very early hour the crowds began to assemble in the city. Scaffoldings were erected at every convenient spot in the line of the Queen's route ; the windows were filled ; every high place, wall, and tree, was surmounted by living beings. Near the Exchange was erected a strong palisade, to give colour to the ceremony of sur- rendering the city-keys; and here the Corporation took their station, headed by the Lord Provost. Public bodies who joined the procession of the municipal authorities to and from the barrier, assembled in va- rious quarters, and joined in at stated points on the line of march. Political associations were excluded ; and the display of political ensigns was forbidden. Our narrative of the proceedings is compiled from descriptions " by various bands"— The Royal party quitted Dalkeith about half-past ten o'clock, with an escort of the Enniskillen Dragoons; and arrived at the bottom of the Canongate at about twenty minutes past eleven. Their arrival was immediately an- nounced by a salute of twenty-one guns from the Castle. Here the body- guard of Archers, under the command of Lord Elcho, fell into the procession, i and took their place around the royal carriage ; the Dragoons riding n advance, six abreast, and clearing the way, (which, as they proceeded, was no very easy task,) and another guard of the same regiment following. The Fifty-third Regiment was also employed to keep back the pressure of the multitude, and was placed at intervals along the street. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness

Prince Albert were in an open phaeton. Her Majesty was wrapped round by a

shawl or scarf; [some accounts call it a plaid of Stuart tartan,] and wore a white silk bonnet and feathers. His Royal- Highness was in aplain brown coat. They both looked remarkably well; and returned the enthusiastic shouts which arose from thousands of throats immediately as they entered the city, and by which they were accompanied throughout their whole passage, with their usual affability and condescension.

The cortege, consisting of a long line of carriages, in which were to be seen the Dutchess of Buccleuch, the Dutchess of Norfolk, the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Robert Peel, and others in attendance on her Majesty, proceeded, amidst the usual demonstrations of loyalty, to the barriers; where the royal carriage was met by the Lord Provost and the members of the Council, in full civic -costume. His Lordship at this point of the passage advanced to the royal car- riage and presented the keys of the city to her Majesty, addressing her at the same time in the following words- " May it please your Majesty—Ott the part of the Lord Provost. Magistrates, and Council of the city of Edinburgh, I beg to congratulate your al.desty on your auspi-

cious entrance into this ancient metropolis, now graced, fur the first time for ages. with the presence of a Queen. These keys, committed to us by your predecessors, have beeu fondly retained by us among the vestiges of those warlike times when walls and gates defended against hostile inroads. Under the protection, however, of salutary laws firmly administered by a succes,ion of Illustrious monarchs, from whom your Ma- jesty is sprung, we no longer require such shelter. We have the happiness to confide the security of this Northern capital to a brave and orderly population, united in their allegiance to their beloved Queen, and dignified by the possession of' that pure and peaceable wisdom which is at once the ornament and bulwark of our times. And now, with all humility. I deliver into your Majesty's hands the keys of our city."

The Queen immediately replied with much dignity, mingled with kindness of manner, "I return the keys of the city with perfect confidence into the safe keeping of the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council." This ceremony having been concluded, the royal cortege proceeded on- wards towards the Castle amid the cheers of the beholders, and entered the esplanade about five minutes before twelve o'clock ; where they were received by the Commander of the Forces, Sir Niel Douglas. Her Majesty was handed out of the carriage, which drew up at the Castle Gate, by his Royal Highness Prince Albert; and was received at the entrance by Sir Neil Douglas, the Go- vernor, Lord Robert Kerr, Sir George Murray, the Fort Major, and several other officers of distinction. Escorted by the Governor and the Fort Major . on either side, and holding on the arm of his Royal Highness, her Majesty, followed by Sir Robert Peel, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Liverpool, the Duke and Dutchess of Buccleuch, the Dutchess of Norfolk. the Duke and Dutchess of Argyll, Lord John Scott, and several ladies, thridded her way lightly up the acclivitous slopes, and through the narrow passages which lead to the upper part of this famous fortress, and proceeded to view all that it contained of isa. velty or interest. The national anthem was played in the most spirited manner by the excellent band of the Fifth-third Regiment as the Royal party passed into the Castle, The various objects of historical interest in the fortress were quite familiar to her Majesty; and she seemed at once gratified and surprised at the sight of Mons Meg,' whose fortunes she appeared perfectly well ac- quainted with. After examining this great piece of ordnance, her Majesty and her cortege next visited the Crown Jewel Office, where are deposited the re- galia of Scotland, and greatly admired those ancient insignia of royalty, so strangely preserved and so singularly discovered. Her Majesty, after express- ing her gratification at all she had seen, proceeded towards the royal carriage, with the purpose of leaving. Her Majesty still held his Royal Highness Prince Albert most affectionately by the arm. Thus they proceeded to the gate; where the Queen and Prince reentered their carriage ; and the royal proces- sion returned out of town by the Mound, Prince's Street, Charlotte Street, Queensferry Street, and the Dean Bridge. About this time a Scotch mist began to fall ; having conveniently waited till the close of the pageant.

It is said that Sir Robert Peel was hissed : the Scotsman asserts the fact most positively, as having occurred opposite the office of that Whig journal ; and at the same time mentions that Mr. John Learmonth, a Tory, tried to get up some cheers : perhaps he helped to provoke the hisses opposite the Whig journal-office. The Whig but candid Glasgow Chronicle says, that "while a few hisses rose here and there as he passed, nothing took place worthy of being particularly noticed " ; and "the throwing of a stone into his carriage at the Dean Bridge was the mere frolic of a boy."

The party proceeded to Dalmeny Park, where the Earl of Roseberry had provided a sumptuous dejeuner. Covers were laid for twenty-two persons. It had been arranged, that after the Meaner the Queen should walk in the grounds, which command a view of the Forth, the islands which stud and the heights which bound it; but the rain now fell thick. A great number of persons, however, had been admitted to the lawn, and the rain did not drive them from their ground ; and in order not to disappoint them, the Queen went to the library, where the windows opened upon the lawn, and advancing to the open window, remained there for some time, "amidst the most rapturous demonstrations of loyalty." At four o'clock, the party left Dalmeny Park for Dalkeith, passing through Leith. Here a triumphal arch was erected in Grand Junction Street ; where the authorities, reinforced by the Fifty-third Regiment and the Royal Archers, received the Queen with an address, delivered by the Provost, all the Magistrates attending, in court costume ; and the royal cortege was escorted through the town by civic officers in pro- cession.

Dalkeith Palace was reached in time for dinner.

While the Queen was viewing the Castle, Lord Frederick Fitz- clarenee, Grand Master Mason of Scotland, assisted by the Earl of Buchan, Mr. Patrick Maxwell Stewart, and other masonic officials, and three hundred brethren, laid the foundation-stone of Victoria Hall and the building intended for the accommodation of the General Assembly. The Queen passed the spot coming and going, and noticed the Grand Master "in an especial manner," repeatedly bowing to him, and waving her hand.

The day did not pass off without accident. Besides some minor hurts arising from the crush of the crowd and of carriages, there was a serious break-down among the scaffolding. A scaffold was erected in Prince's Street at the end of the Mound, capable of containing five hundred persons; and it was crowded. A person who was on it tells the story-

" /ler Majesty appeared on the battlements of the Castle, and in ordeg to see her more favourably a rush was made to our scaffolding by many of the mob. As they were very orderly, we were not very much annoyed ; and soon after the royal cortege was seen winding round the hill to pass our stand. A slight stoppage of the Queen's carriage caused the mass of the people near us to rush to the front. The stoppage was occasioned by one of the Royal Archers, who walked by her side, being jammed between her carriage and another. He was hurt, and the Queen patted him on the shoulder—which must have con- soled him a little. The cheering at this moment was immense, and I shall never forget the sight. As she passed, the space seemed a fluttering mass of white handkerchiefs. While she was yet in sight, Mr. — beckoned me down the stairs in a manner which said he must be obeyed. I consequently followed him ; but before I had descended many stairs, I saw the whole mass before me, with, I am sure, two or three hundred persons, go down with a crash. It was so instantaneous that not a voice was heard for some seconds. I never shall forget my feelings at the moment. Enormous beams threatened to kill =as they fell. Fancy masses of people falling, the beams on them; then more people. It was horrid. The place where we had been a few minutes before was the beginning of the catastrophe : as it was, we were obliged to jump over the sides of the stairs to avoid the ruins falling on us. Mrs. — had the most narrow escape : she turned her bead for an instant, and the next moment her immediate neighbour had vanished with the rest of the people. The scene that followed was sickening. We did not remain on the spot longer than pos- sible, but saw enough to know how dreadfully they must have been hurt. I saw several legs broken, faces bleeding, people carried pick-a-back, on planks, or by any means. Several, I heard, were killed; but of course it has too re- cently happened for accurate accounts, flow much reason have I and my party to be thankful to the Almighty for his gracious protection. "The guns were firing, and the shoats of the people still rent the air, when so many fellow-creatures were suffering. It seemed to make the scene more shocking."

Other accounts say that only 150 persons fell. Fifty persons were hurt. Only two, however, were killed. Among those who escaped un- injured, was a woman with a child, who fell from the highest part, not less than twenty-five feet. Herr Diibler and his wife were on the scaffold, and are said to have escaped "miraculously "—that is, by magic.

The Churchgoing—Sunday. Notwithstanding the Queen's presence, Sunday in Edinburgh passed with its usual sombreness ; the levee and drawing-room of the following day being the enlivening subject of conversation. The Queen did not attend Divine service in any of the city churches, but at a private chapel in Dalkeith Palace; the Reverend E. B. Ramsay, of St. John% Episcopal Chapel in Edinburgh, officiating on the occasion. The Queen and Prince Albert afterwards walked in the gardens of the Palace ; and in the afternoon the Queen was driven in a pony-phaeton by the Dutchess of Buccleuch ; Prince Albert, the Duke of Bacclench, and the Earl of Liverpool, accompanying them on horseback.

The Queen's devotional retirement did not escape animadversion ; and the zealous Witness is loud in its accusation— "Our readers will generally have been prepared for the announcement that the Queen was not at the High Church on Sabbath. They could scarcely have anticipated the arrangements actually made by her Majesty's advisers for her devotions on that day. Coming to Scotland so far on a public visit as to be attended by her Prime Minister, her Secretary of State, and several of the Great Officers of her Household, her subjects naturally expected that she would have paid that public respect to their national established religion which . had not been withheld by any of her predecessors. If, however, in order to secure to her Majesty greater privacy, and to avoid the assembling of a crowd on the Lord's Day, it had been deemed expedient that she should not attend any place of worship in the metropolis, her advisers might have recommended more than one other course which would have been capable of some other in- terpretation than that of a marked and positive slight to the church and people of Scotland. She might have been advised to attend the parish-church at Dalkeith ; or, had family worship been preferred, the attendance of one of her Majesty's Chaplains of the Scottish Establishment might have been com- manded on the occasion. Neither of these courses, which would have evinced respect for the form of worship of the Scottish nation, was adopted; but arrangements were made for having service conducted according to the Episco- pal form." The Witness extracts even a more "positive slight" from the facts— "Had one of her Majesty's Chaplains of the English Establishment been de- sired to accompany her Majesty in order to officiate, it might have been said that her Majesty being a member and indeed the head of the Church of Eng- land, no slight could be intended by her employing the services, even in Scot- land, of one of her Chaplains of that Establishment : and, however little satis- faction this course might have given, it would at least have admitted the possi- bility, of which we doubt not her subjects would willingly have availed them- selves, of explaining it in some other way than as an insult to the people of Scotland. Her Majesty's advisers by their arrangements, have excluded this possibility. They have so managed that she neither attended the metropolitan church nor the parish-church; that she had neither a Chaplain of the Scottish Establishment nor a Chaplain of the English Establishment to conduct her devotions, but that the party called to officiate was the minister of the Scottish Episcopal Church—the church of a handful of the nation; a church which, whatever be the character of its present members, is still marked by the semi- Popish principles of its founder, Laud; which has at all times in Scotland been anti-national ; and which is indissolubly associated in the history of Scotland, and in the feelings of its inhabitants, with intolerant bigotry, with the cruellest persecutions, with the persevering support of despotism in the state as well as in the church, and the bitterest hatred of civil and religious liberty. However much they have misled her Majesty in order to attain their object, they must have known well that they could not have inflicted a deeper wound on the na- tional feelings of Scotland—of Presbyterians of every class, Dissenters as well as Churchmen; and they cannot be Ignorant that a still more serious character than a slight or an insult would be attributed to it from the circumstance, that at the present moment the successors of Land, both in England and Scotland, are openly avowing their hopes of erecting an Episcopal church on the ruins of that Establishment which the Queen has sworn inviolably to preserve and maintain."

The newspaper prophet of evil hints that the Queen is "serving her- self heir to the house of Stuart," but hopes that the results will not follow of which the event seems ominous !

The Presentations—Monday.

The Qaeen held a drawing-room at Dalkeith Palace on Monday. Some desirable state accessories were brought from Holyrood Palace for the occasion—a richly carved and gilded throne-chair, and a superb canopy that had been prepared for the levee and drawing-room there. They were placed in the gallery, which was constituted the throne-room. The presentations were very numerous. The carriages reached from the entrance of the Palace back for a distance of three miles. One re- porter [who must be a Cockney adherent of the Lord Mayor] says that the carriages generally were not remarkable for elegance, but those of the Lord Provost and Magistrates "made a very dignified appearance." It is computed that they were four hundred in number ; and that the number of persons presented at "the reception " was fifteen or sixteen hundred. The company was rather miscellaneous, and few of the dresses were remarkable for elegance : there were varieties, however—plenty of Highland dresses, military uniforms, and civic and professional cos- tumes. Among the first persons presented were Dwarkanauth Tagore, the Marchioness of Riario Sforza, and Mesdemoiselles di Riario Sforza. Many addresses from public bodies were presented to the Queen and Prinoe Albert ; the first to arrive being that from the Edinburgh Corporation. Among them was one from the General Assembly ; who, after all, could not abstain from covert allusions to the Church question- " It has been highly satisfactory to successive General Assemblies to receive annually from the representatives of every Sovereign since this Church was finally established by law, the etrongest assurances that it will be secured the possession of all its rights and privileges; and we entertain the earnest hope that your Majesty will ever extend your Royal protection to an ecclesiastical establishment which is acknowledged to have been productive of the most sub- stantial national benefits."

On the whole, the ceremony was well arranged ; and it seems to have given satisfaction to the exhibiters.

Early in the morning, Prince Albert visited some of the public insti- tutions. In the Museum of the University, he "occasioned much sur- prise by his profound knowledge of various branches of natural history, particularly of ornithology, mineralogy, and geology." In the model- gallery, he pointed out the various remarkable objects in the scenery around Mont Blanc, "and showed the arduous path by which he him- self had reached the Jardin across the Mer de Glace, in his Alpine ex- cursions." The Royal Institution and the Museum of theAntiquarian Society were also visited by the Prince.

Off to the Highlands—Tuesday. The morning was pleasant ; the carriages were at the Palace at nine o'clock ; and the Queen, with her husband, the suite, many of the chief guests, and her host and hostess, set out for Perth. The road to Qneensferry was thronged with loyal spectators. The Earl of Hope- tonn, Lord-Lieutenant of the county, Mr. Hope, M.P., Sir Niel Douglas, the Magistrates of Queensferry, and a multitude of all classes, assem- bled about the quay ; down which the Queen walked leaning on the Prince's arm ; the Lord-Lieutenant walking uncovered on her right hand; Sir Robert Peel, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Liverpool, and others of the suite following. The Queen and Prince, and two ladies, were soon on board the Queen Margaret steamer; the nature of the shore forbidding the use of a royal steamer. Sir Robert Peel humbly took his place in the bow of a boat which bore the royal car- riage ; but presently he was beckoned to the Queen Margaret; and the little fleet left Lothian for tha opposite shore of Fife.

Landing about noon, the party again took to their coaches. In the journey northward the inhabitants of every town and village came forth to pay homage to Royalty. About three miles from Dupplin, the travellers turned aside to visit the Castle of that name ; where the Earl of Rinnoul had prepared a Meaner. Here several presentations took place and addresses were presented to the Queen and Prince from the an- thorities of the county and city of Perth. Proceeding on the journey, on Moncrieffe Hill,—where, we are told, the invading legions of Rome ex- claimed in delight, " Ecce Tiber! eece Campus Martins ! "—Victoria and her attendants paused to survey the landscape.* They descended into Perth by the avenue across the South Inch, one of the spacious city parks. The Perth folk had prepared for giving the travellers a fine re- ception— " Outside the Smith Port, and close to it on one side, the Lord Provost, Ma- gistrates, and Town-Council occupied a platform ; and on the other side, the ministers and elders of the Presbytery of Perth bail similar accommodation— the ministers dressed in their gowns and bands. Multitudes thronged the road, within and without the gate, riding and on foot. As the Queen approached, the Lord Provost, in elegant Court attire, and making a suitable address, pre- sented the keys of the city ; which were graciously received and returned by the Sovereign. An address and the freedom of the city were also pre- sented to Prince Albert The gates of the city were now thrown open ; and her Majesty and retinue passed through under a magnificent triumphal arch, which had been erected for the occasion. The Magistrates and Council, in carriages guarded by the high constables, in a handsome uni- form, escorted the Sovereign and retinue through the city ; passing through Prince's Street, St. John's Street, and George Street, to the bridge. Throughout the entire line, the streets were occupied by various incor- porations, trades, and professions, in distinguished uniforms and liveries. The high constables and peace-officers, aided by 1,000 operatives, each bearing a white rod, preserved admirable order throughout. Every opening in the streets was fitted up with platforms, and every window crowded with a well- dressed and joyful population. As her Majesty passed along, the densely- thronged multitudes rent the air with their deafening cheers; and the waving of handkerchiefs from the casements indicated the universal joy. Her Majesty appeared in excellent spirits, and received and returned the gratulations with much condescension and grace. The multitude which passed into Perth from all quarters, during the night and throughout the course of the day, was beyond all precedent. Not fewer than from 40,000 to 50,000 strangers were added to the population."

The tourists dined at the Earl of Mansfield's residence, Scone Palace, and passed the night there.

At Perth, in the evening, five hundred gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous banquet in the County-Hall, in honour of the occasion; while bonfires and coloured lights blazed on the neighbouring hills.

The Edinburgh Town-Council met on Tuesday, and their proceedings were amusing. First a letter was read from Prince Albert's Secretary, expressing his willingness to receive the freedom of the city, which it was proposed to confer upon him. Treasurer Drysdale proposed that the freedom should he presented in such way as to avoid the expense of going to Dalkeith. [Is not this the same gentleman that said he should be unable to retain his hold on the purse-strings during the Queen's visit, so regardless did he then feel of expense ?] Mr. Ro- bertson also objected to the expense. Mr. Black said, that, no doubt, they were a very important body, yet it would be too much to appoint the time and place for conferring the honour on the Queen's consort. Mr. Grierson retorted on Mr. Robertson, that no one could accuse him of extravagance—he had not put himself to a sixpence of expense; and was he to come and accuse them of extravagance, "while he had not spent one sixpence on the Queen?" Mr. Robertson declared, that he had "neither time nor inclination, like some gentlemen present, to search out for old buckles." The Lord Provost put a.stop to the con- versation, by suggesting that they should ask Prince Albert, " when and where he would receive it—whether he would receive it in person, or whether it should be sent to him ? " [Whether he would come and fetch it, or whether it should be sent "to his address," as shopmen say.]

It was also agreed to present the freedom of the city to the Duke or Buccleuch, the Earl of Aberdeen, and Sir Robert Peel.

But the grand proceeding of the day was the reading of an exculpa- tory statement, to show that the civic authorities had not been to blame in the disappointments of last Thursday. It was voluminous, but the material facts may be told in few words. Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Bucclench, and the Earl of Aberdeen, received the deputation on the Wednesday very courteously. When they told Sir Robert Peel that it was impossible the Queen's entry could be private, he expressed his con- fidence that the Queen would conform to any arrangement for the gra- tification of the citizens : he thought that the Queen would delay her landing, should she not arrive till Thursday morning ; and it NM un- derstood that the municipal authorities would have notice of it. Bailie Richardson was sent to Granton Pier on Thursday morning; Sir Robert and the Duke went on board ; the Queen landed imme- diately; and the two Ministers then "intimated to Bailie Richard- son that her Majesty found it necessary to proceed immediately to Dalkeith; consequently, instead of giving previous warning to others, he [the Bailie] followed her Majesty to Edinburgh." Some Coun- cillors, however, still blamed the Lord Provost and Bailies for not keeping a look-out for themselves : it was asked, "was there not an observatory ? " It was proposed to refer the subject to a committee of inquiry ; but in the heated conversation that arose, it was remarked that all parties exhibited too much excitement to be able to conduct an inquiry : besides the officers of the fleet, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Aber- deen, and even the Queen herself, would be necessary witnesses! At length the ridiculous discussion was quashed by "the previous ques- tion."

The Queen's visit to Edinburgh, and especially the incidents of Thursday, have given rise to many effusions in verse ; more numerous,

• The anecdote of the R01:01111 soldiers is matter of course—a guide-beak commonplace, always lugged in when a visit to Perth is in question. Perhaps the erudite Antiquarian Society of Perth will enlighten the literary world as to the authority on which it rests : did the Roman soldiers take the Tay for the Tiber, and the South Inch for the Campus M.artius ? however, than felicitous. The idea of one was well enough—a parody on "Hey, Johnny Cope, are ye waukin' yet."