"THE LORD OF THE ISLES."
ITo vas EDITOR or TH1 -srxcTrroa.") SIR,—On September 5th you quoted a letter of Scott's which expressed in simple words his readiness to devote everything
• Droit International, Sec. 39.
he possessed to his country's needs. May I now remind your readers of the outburst of his feelings when the crisis seemed past F--
"O who that shared them ever shall forget
The emotions of the spirit rousing time, When breathless in the mart the couriers met, Early and late, at evening and at prime ; When the loud cannon and the merry chime Hailed news on news, as field on field was won,
When Hope, long doubtful, soared at length sublime,
And our glad eyes, awake as day begun, Watch'd Joy's broad banner rise to meet the rising sun !
Oh these were hours, when thrilling joy repaid
A long, long course of darkness, doubts, and fears!
The heartsick faintness of the hope delayed, The waste, the woe, the bloodshed, and the tears That tracked with terror twenty rolling years, All was forgot in that blythe jubilee ! Her downcast eye even pale Affliction rears, To sigh a thankful prayer, amid the glee That hailed the Despot's fall, and peace and liberty."
It is a hundred years ago almost to a month since Scott wrote "The Lord of the Isles." Surely there is coincidence and prophecy as well as inspiration in a poem whose very name
has its appropriateness.—I am, Sir, &c., J. PARKER SMITH.
Linburn, Kirk-newton, Midlothian,
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