The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-28 00:00:00

THE TOWN OF MELROSE.

The site of Melrose, like all monastic ones, is fine. Tho
Abbey stands on a broad level near the Tweed, but is sur-
rounded by hills and fields of beauty, and peopled with a
thousand beings of romance, tradition, and poetry. South
of the village rise the three peaks of the Eildon hill, bear-
ing afloat the fame of Michael Scott and Thomas the
Rhymer. On the banks of the Tweed, opposite to Melrose
lies Gattonside, buried in its garden and orchards, and still
retaining its faith in many a stet), of the supernatural, and
about three miles westward, on the same bank of the river,
stands Abbotsford, raised by a magician more mighty than
Michael Scott. How is it possible to approach that haunted
abode without meeting on the way the most wonderful
troop of wild and lofty and beautiful beings that ever peo-
pled earth or the realm of imagination ? Scotch, English,
Gallic, Indian, Syrian come forth to meet you. The Bruce,
the Scottish Jameses, Cosur do Lion, Elizabeth, Leicester,
Mary of Scots, James I. of England, Montrose, Claver-
house, Cumberland, the Butcher, The Covenanters
are ready to preach and fight anew, the Highland clans
rise in aid of the Stuart. What women of d.:zzling
beauty—Flora M'lvor, Rose Bradwarine, Rebecca, the
noble Jewess, Lucy Ashton, and Amy Robsart, the
lovely Effie Deans, and her homely yet glorious sister
Jeanie, the bewitching Die Vernon, and Minna and
Brenda Troil of the Northern Isles, stand :radiant amid
a host of lesser beauties. Then comes Rob Roy, the Robin
Hood of the hills; then Balfour of Burley issues, a stal-
wart apparition, from his hiding-places, and of infinite hu-
tnotr and strangeness of aspect. Where is there a band
like this—the Baron of Bradwardine, Dominie Sampson,
Meg Merrilies, Morkbarns, Edie Ochiltree, Old Mortality,
Bailie Nicol.Jarvie, Andrew Fairservice, Caleb Balderstone,
Flibbertigibbit, Norna of the Fitful Head, and tbat fine
fellow the farmer of Liddesdale, with all his peppers and
mustards yaffiing at his heels ? But not even out of
Melrose need you move a step to find the name of a faithful
servant of Sir Walter. Tom Purdie lies in Melrose Abbey-
yard, and Scott himself had engraven on his tomb that he
was " The Wood-forester of Abbotsford," probably the
title which Tom gave himself. Those who visit Melrose
will like to take a peep at the grave-stone of Tom Purdie,
who sleeps amid a long line of the dead, reaching from the
days of Aidan to our own, as alive he filled a little nicho
in the regards of a master who has given to both high and
low so many niches in the temple of immortality.— Ruined
Abbeys and Castles of Great Britain, by William and
Mary .Howitt.

THE STRAND MURDER.—The public will remem-
ber that at the November session of the Central Criminal
Court, a lad, named Richard Reeve, was convicted of the
murder of his sister, a girl 11 years old, by strangling her
in the cellar of the house where they resided with their
parents, in Drury-court, Strand. The jury recommended
the prisoner to mercy, and he was subsequ'ntly respited
during her Majesty's pleasure. Mr. Jonas, the governor
of Newgate, yesterday received a communication from the
Home-office, intimating that her Majesty had been pleased
to grant the prisoner a conditional pardon—the condition
being that he should undergo penal servitude for life. Since
the prisoner has been in Newgate under sentence of death
he has never exhibited any apparent remorse for his crime,
and he has not on any occasion given the least explanation,
or assigned any motive for the commission of the dreadful
crime of which he was convicted. He had evidently quite
prepared his mind that he should receive a severe sentence,
and when the announcement was made to him by the ordi-
nary of the prison, the Rev. Mr. Davis, he did not be-
tray the least emotion, but seemed to regard the result
as a matter of course.

FEUDS AMONG TILE GIPSIES —The Gipsy king-
dom is concentrating in interest as Fastern's-E'en draws
nigh. Prince David, the eldest son of the late King, ab-
dicated his own right, as is already known, in favour of his
sister--the Princess Helen. Helen (Nell Blackboard),
however, was thwarted in her ambition to royal honours
by her elder and widowed sister Esther (Ettie), who re-
sides at Coldstream, and was lately crowned at Yetholm.
Dreadful feuds, caused by aspirations to regality, have rent
into factions the royal family of the Gipsies. The " palace"
is at present occupied by the Princess Helen, who, by the
bye, pays for it a rent cf £1 per annum. About a fortnight
ago Queen Esther visited Yetholm, and as she thought
upon her sister's rivalry, her heart yearned for vengeance.
Accordingly, she armed herself with a heavy and uncouth
cudgel, and in the position of " carry arms," walked sentry
a whole night in front of the palace, with the intention of
having satisfaction out of her sister (Blackboard.) The next
day, when the Queen was hastily taking a little meat in a
house opposite the palace, Nell issued from the royal
abode, and ran, hotly pursued by the Queen, who had
o reat
lie in nowth e looked
e
been eating and watching. Nell was run down by the in-
furiated Queen into a friend's house, where, had it not been.
for timely interference, serious results might have ensued.
forward
wwaer dto stateasd aa day h
tthe ouiteshe
will Fas
be te r
memorable
s
of Yetholm, it being always noted for regal display, and
for the outpourings of devotion to the sovereign regnant.
But at the ensuingliolidaY it is expected that Prince David
w
will declare himself the rightful heir to the Gipsy crown ;
and as the Queen has now kelp at her command to aid her
cause and herself, a contest of bare arms, and of course
bloodshed, is anticipated,—.Border Advertiser.