The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-08-29 00:00:00

TIM IrlAG's VISIT lo SCOTLAND.

IDIMBLIRGH, SUNDAY, AUGUIT 25.

The King dined last night with the Lord Pro-
vost and Corporation of this city, in the Parliament
House. The chamber in which this feast was given
is highly praised here for the extent of its accom-
modation and chase beauty of its •rnamenta. It
is nea►ly an oblong apartment, much narrower and
nut longer them Freensatione-hall, and lighted from
one side ; it it beery in the fßener4 esseroesee of Its
ornaments. The roof is of oak. supported by Gothic
limbs, more stiffly but sot so grotnetrically placed as
throw of Weelmiusier 1 I all, and rendered heavy and
tasteless, by the false glare of gilded ornaments,
which were shown and reflected so as to exhibit in
broken and scattered lights the general illumina-
tion of the room. which might otherwise have had
a good effect. Galleries might hive been remedy
thrown up, so so to ad accomeno.latiogi for ladies,
whose presence would have graced and enlivened
such a banquet. The Lord Mayor of Dublin ;pre-
sided a very different place for the accouitnodetion
of his royal guest, much better adapted in e
respect for the occasion in point of taste, and admi-
niste►iog in a far superior mangier to substantial cot.
',orate apeeite, fur he gave a hot dinner—here the
dinner (except at the royal table) was cold, if we
except soup and a scanty supply of fish. The
arrangements of these festivals are generally unim-
portant ; but when so great • noise has been made
about the preparations as dinned a stranger's ear for
the last fortnight, it is right to strip the corporation
hogipitali•y of all supererogatory claims.
At a quarter past six o'clock all the nobility,
and as large • portion of the gentry as could well be
sccommodated,were seated in the banquetting room.
At half past six o'clock a herald entered, and the
cry was general along the tables " The King is
come." Soon after his Nlojesiy entered in a full
Field Marshal's uniform, and attended by all the
officers of the royal hou•rbold. The anthem of
" God suet the King" was struck up tas his Majesty
entered the room, and when he was conducted to
the head table, Principal Baird, of the University,
said grace. The company were then seated.
The King looked well, but still retained a formal
and rather depressed expression of features. He
saluted several personages whom lie recognised in
the room, am, then took his seat under she canopy
provided fur his Majesty's reception. On the right
of the. King sat the Lord Provost, 011 his left sat
the Ea►l of Errol ; the rest of the nobility belong-
ing to the royal household occupied the principal
table, including the principal Scottish nobility.
The opposite extremity of the room was occupied
by Chantrey's statue of Lord Melville, which had
indeed a ghastly and unusual appearance, unlike
the bold front of the original, °snug to the con-
fused and perplexing rays of light which fell upon
it. Three tables were placed longitudinally from
the royal one, and to the central one. Sir Walter
Scott acted as croupier. or principal steward.
At at quarter before seven o'clock the company
commenced dinner, and this enjoyment of corpo-
rate hospitality lasted moil near eight o'clock.
Age soon as the cloth was removed. /tog Nobis
Domine was performed in an impressive manner
by Mr. Magrath (who directed the vocal arrange-
, Mr. Swift, Mr. Lees, and I amateur.,
who lest their assistance on this °evasion

At a quarter past eight o'clock a gentleman,
attended by two pages, presented oaa his karts a
ewer and napkin to his Majesty, in virtue of some
ancient tenure, the name of which we could not
ascernin, there being no formula prepared of time
ceremony of the feast, aud no means of access open
to learn any particulars.
The LOUD Paovorr then rove to propose the
health of his Majesty, which he prefaced in these
words :

" I hove the honour of proposing the health of his Ma•

jesty. who has this day dose es the high lissome...l Am
presenter, and, together with his most greases tit our
etostry, therehr rn.d. tled • signal mark of &Mocha, we his
geed Non of E.boborgh, which 14 ill sever-1 vesture to say
sever— bephliterated from the eteiwury of she !Wriest pee-
rat loe

His Majesty's health was then drank with the
warmest greetings. . _

The KING rose amid this applause, and his Ma-
jests's altitude commended truniediste silence.
66 I auk" said the King, i• quite rumble in express say
sense of the gratitude a Web I use to the people of this
country; but I beg to ssiere them, that I shall t err remem-
ber as one of the proudest momeuts of my life, the day I
ease issuing them, sod the grelifyisitt reception olekh they
gate me. I reins* yin, my Lord Peuvost, my Lorils nod
Gesikmen, my wannest thsidts for your &stratum Ibis day;
sod I can assure pus grids troth, with emestneve, sod .4
eerily, dust shill error forget loot doleful stlestimi so
spoil my visit to Iteuttesud, sod pertitmliorly the
bays derived from dialogue your Hall Ibis day."
Loud greetings hailed hie Majesty's speech. and
the band played up 66 God sore the filmic," which
was afterwards sung by the vocal gentlemen present.
After his Majesty had for the motorist 'mimed
his scat, lie 'gams rose, and his attitude rtln.lly com-
mended earlier. while he proceeded us follow. :
I lake this oppoiloolly, my Lords and Gentlemen, of
proposing the brush of the Lord Provost. Sir ‘Villiorn Ar.
Baronet, mid the Corps...aims of Edinburgh.'
Upon his Majesty naming the Lord Provost by
the title of lls 00000 et, that 4.lficer dropped on his
korev, amid kiss, d the King's hand, which was held
out to him at the moment. Th s gracious manner
of girit•g rilditionel rook to the chief officer of the
Curpotai ton was also loudly •pplauded by the com-
pany, and Inv Majesty repeatedly bowed au ac-
know Irdginestt.
The health. of the Dukes of York and Clarence,
and 11w Army and:/414sty, followed.
The King soon after rove end said, '6 I have one
mote 'cunt to give, its which 1 trust you will join
me. and it is—

" Health to the Grit ruins and Clans, mid God Almighty
bless the Land of Cakes.—Drink this three limes three, Gen-
tlemen."

His Majesty's command was obeyed with enthu-
siasm; but to the regret of the company, the King
immediately departed at ten minutes past woe
o'clock. His Majesty was loudly cheered as he
withdrew-, and attended to his carriage by the Lord
Provost, and the principal officers of stale. The
Chief Magistrate soon returned, attended by the
chief noblemen; his M•ajesty's seat under the canopy
was removed. and the Lord Provost took the chair,
amid the applause of the meeting.
The Duke of HAMILTON then rose, and was
about to address the company, when
The LORD PROVOST respectfully interposed, and
said, that with his Grace's leave, he had • toast
brat to give, which was—
" The health of his Majesty, who had this day honoured
the Corporation with his 'oversee, and let us beg for his a
lone. prosperous, and happy reign."
This was drank with loud spplsnse.
The Duke of HAMILTON then rase and said,
that when lie had just now obtruded himself upon
the attention of the company, it was with a slew of
seizing the earliest opportunity of congratulating
their Lord Provost upon the distinction so distrvedly
cossferred upon him by his Majesty in their presence
but a ►hort time before.—(Applause.)-11 they con-
sidered that compliment in a convivial light alone,
they were bound to express their gratification at its
most felicitous occurrence at a moment when all
must express gratitude for so handsome • mask
of corpoiate hospitality ; but still more wire they
bound to express their gratification, if they reflected
upon what had been passing within their town dur-
ing the la►t few days. The Lord Provost and Ma-
gistracy had displaj ed the most praiseworthy ar-
rangement's fur the preservation of order. Every
thing (Woe by them war most proper, most quiet,
and most conciliatory ; indeed ►hey had conducted
themselves iu such a way as to do honour to them-
selves, while at the same moment they were reflect.
log upon the city intrusted to their care.—(Loud
applause.)—His Grace concluded by proposing the
health of—
" Sir Willias Arbuthnot, Bart. their Lord Provost."
After the toast was drank with suitable honours:..

The LORD PlovosT rose sod begged to return.
the company his best thanks for the honour they
had just dune him. and lie begged to assure then.
that their approbation must ever *Minnie him to
persevere in thst line of duty which had secured
for him his Sovereign's and their approbation, to
the best of his humble abilities.

The Loan PROVOST then gave " The reinom-
bmnce of the 14th, 15th, and 14th days of August,"
those on which his 51.jr sty arrived, landed, and
dined with the Corporation of Edinburgh. His
Lordship next gave—
" The Conatitution in Church and Slate, and stay it ever
rennin the envy of the world, sad live for ages yet to come."
The LORD PROVOST then said that he had to
propose the health of a Statesman, who was, he re-
gretted to ray, shaent through indiaposition—he
meant the Right Wu. Robert reel, his Majesty'.
Principal Secretary for the Home Department—a
Statesman who executed the impoitritit duties of
the office which lie filled with as much honour to
himself as utility to his country.
Mr. Peel's health was drank with applause.

The loan PROVOST said lie had to propose the
health of another member of his Majei.ty'• Cabinet—
s man who was universally reveri d and respected
for his te virtues ; lie had long acquired the at:
&viol ate fiiendillip of those who had the honour of
kuowing him, and he will equally eminent for the
manner in which he di►charged his public duty,
with firmnes4, mildness, and • utility—He meant
Lord Melville.

His Lordship's health was then drank with great
applause.
Lord Msvrtt.t.g, in acknowledging it. trusted
they would do him credit when he assured them bow
deeply sensible he was of the honour they had con-
ferred upon him. At any time, and under any
circumstances, such an honour would hare been
highly acceptable to him, but at the present mu.
meat the occasion made it doubly grateful to him,
when it was received as coming fr" ..indittsong the

aunt distinguished personages of the laud, and
amid the most illustrious who could confer honer,.
upon any compliment. He begged to re.assu•e
them that he felt the favour high, sod would vt r
entertain • deep ►ense of this distinguished mink f
their attention. He might also beg leave to adtt,
that the comoliment on this occasion b-c one the
more gratifying when he had to reflect upon whet
had not only on the present glorious occasion been
the conduct of this great metropolis in which he fe't
so deep an interest, but also of the immense pops
wh ch had poured into it on the late oecsior,
and whose behaviour, and he begged to speak of it
bath ass citizen of Edinburgh and • Seotchman, was
such as to do them honour and credit.—(Applause.)
—lt in fact appeared from their universal demean-
our. that from the highest Peer to the meanest pea-
sant, but one feeling predominated—namely, the
desire of each individual to manifest his loyalty to
his Sovereign in such a manner es if he felt his own
individual character involved in the credit of the
general conduct of his countrymen.—(Loud ap-
plause.)—Having said this, he how begged leave to
allude to another class of the community—namely,
that high and conspicuous body which had come-
forward so generally, and as might indeed be ex-
pected upon such an occasion as this, to attend
upon the Sovereign ; and he could the better speak
of the Peerage of Scotland, bec•.use he did not be-
long to them himself. At the head of them cattle
forward • Peer of the most distinguished rank. He
could state to them, from the highest and molt il-
lustrious authority, that the impression of their be-
haviour upon the royal mind was one which time
could never efface.—.(Applause.)—His Lordship
concluded by proposing—
" The h,ealt4s of his Grace t►e Duke of Hamilton, and the
Peers of Scotland."

The Duke of HAMILTON then rose and said,
that after the toast which had been proposed, and
the manner in which it had been introduced to their
notice, by their coupling his name with those of the
Peers of Scotland, it was impossible fur him to re-
main silent, although it was painful for him to
I,leak, feeling that he aas incompetent to do jug.
tier to the subject; and that it was at the seine time
difficult for him to express his own sentiment, with-
out perhaps uttering expressions which might not
be felt by others in the same manner in which they
were impressed upon himself. It/ the first place.
he had to return thanks to the company in his
own name, and in that of the Peers who were
a►sociated with him in the toast. for the honour
they hail done him. This it became his duty to
do, although he knew there were othen much better
able to perform it. If, however, there were (as
he was aware) many better, there were none more
noxious than he was to express, with warmth and
sincerity, the cordial feelings which the occasion
called for, and to avow taste idlest readiness to main-
tain a loyal duty to his Sovereign, without arty sub-
serviency of political opinion on the part of himself.
No mat) was more ready than he was to come for.
ward and pay homage to the honour and dignity of
the crown; but at the same time he was not to for-
get the just and jealous care which he was bound to
observe towards the rights and interests of the peo-
ple. under this free constitution. He felt a pride
in showing every respect and honour to whomsoever
wore the crows, of these realms; but in doing r.o,
he repeated, that he must nut forget in honouring.
the King, that he lied also duties to put iii a claim
for. and maintain on the part of the people, which
were interwoven with the best rights and securitits
of the Croon), and which in fact formed the basis of
the true honour and safeguard of the constitutional
glory of the Sovereign.
[lt was remarkable, not ohly that nu applause
followed this loyal and constitutional speech of the
Duke of Hamilton's. but that an expression bor-
dering upon impatience was manifested during its
delivery, though it did not break out loin an actual
demon•tratinn of interruption.]
The healths of the " Duke of Argyll," and of
the " Chorch of Scotland," successively followed.
The Loan PaovosT next gave the health of
" The Earl of Errol," who, in acknowledging this
favour, confined himself to a mere expressiou of his
thanks.

The Earl of STRATHMORE then rose to propose
a toast, but the noise in the room prevented his
Lordship from being distinctly heard.
Sir WALTER SCOTT, however, who was next his
Lordship, exclaimed, " Lord Strathmore gives"
"The health of Lady Arbuthnot, cud the flowers of Elia.
burgh"
This toast Was drank with great applause, end
the music struck up " Here's a health to 'Allgood
lasses."

The Lord Provost then proposed the health of
"The Duke of Athol," who expressed his thsiiks.
His Grace proposed the healths of the Lord Pre-
sident, the Lord Jubilee Clerk, and the Courts of
Judicature of Scotland, declaring at the same time,
that the country at large must feel the greatest bene-
fits which were derived from them by the different
classes of the people, who must feel that these Judges
well deserved all the honours which could be he.
stowed epon them.

Lord President Hors, in returning thanks, said,
that although the Judges ought of all things to re.
train from seeking popular applause in the discharge
of their weighty and important duties, yet it could
never fail to be gratifying to them to learn that their
decisions had obtained the applause of their coml.
tryrneu. That their duties should be discharged in
such a manner as to .give satisfaction to all the
emus of the community, ought always to be a
great object with them; but still it was always their
bounden duty to face every danger in the strict and
uncompromising duty of administering justice,—
(Applause.)
The LORD PRoVosT then proposed the be•ltlta
of the di►ttoguished strangese, who, from England
and Ireland, had honoUred the company w.th their
presence.
The Earl of EssoL nest rose, and proposed the
health of Sir Walter Scott, Bart, who had takco aJ
ietive • part in their arrangements.
WALTIII Scot; iu rcLurawg thanks, said,