The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-24 00:00:00

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The Queen's Visit to the Borders.

From all points of the eastern Marches we have
accounts of the lighting of the beacons. More rapidly
than the fiery cross sped in olden times did the sig-
nal go forth to kindle the mountain tops ; and the
effect produced was such as had not been witnessed
by the present generation, for it is "sixty years
since" the beacon fires blazed forth, and their pur-
pose then was to call the people to arms to resist an
expected foe. A false alarm it proved on that oc-
casion, and yet a true alarm to the peaceful inhabi-
tants of the vales of the Merse and of the Teviot and
Tweed. On this occasion the first State visit of a
Sovereign to the Border since the days of Mary
Queen of Scots, the signal of war has been converted
into an expression of joy. While in Kelso the people
spent the evening in witnessing the illumination of
the town, the inhabitants of the other border town s
watched from their neighbouring heights the light-
ing of the hills. From Hawick we learn that 22
fires were counted, while fro m Gala Rig it is said
that no fewer than 31 w ere counted. Perhaps 40
or 50 mountain tops in all were a-blaze on the
occasion. By any one acquainted with the scenery
of the Border, the e ffect of such an illumination
will be easily understood. The only regret expressed
is that the night was so clear.
On Thursday, the second day of the Queen's visit
to the Border, the forenoon was spent within the
beautiful grounds of the Duke of Roxburghe, at
Floors. After luncheon her Majesty and the Royal
Family set out at 3 o'clock on a visit to Melrose
and Abbotsford. In the first carriage were the
Queen, the Princess Christian, the Princess Louise,
and the Duchess of Roxburghe ; and in the second,
Lady Charles Russell, the Prince Christian, the
Duke of Roxburghe, and Lord Charles Fitzroy.
The cortge was loudly cheered in passing through
the town of Kelso, which still wore all its effective
decorations. Crossing over Kelso-bridge and
Teviot-bridge, the party entered upon the tongue
of land between Tweed and Teviot, on which the
remains of Roxburghe Castle stand, but from which
all traces of the original county town of Roxburgh-
shire have disappeared. Passing up Tweed-side on
the south bank of the river and leaving Smailholme
tower and Drylough Abbey across the stream, the
villages of Moxton and St. Boswell's, all prettily
decorated, were passed, amid a hearty huzza from
the assembled inhabitants. In the course of the
journey a little delay occurred from one of the
horses of the second carriage getting restive. At
Ravenswood Lodge the Royal party passed the site
of Old Melrose, where existed one of the earliest
religious houses in Scotland, founded by Culdees in
A.D. 635, and at a later date absorbed by Melrose
Abbey. Continuing up Tweedside the little village
of Newstead was reached, and here two triumphal
arches, both surmounted with floral crowns,
greeted the eye, while every house was flutter-
ing with streamers. At Newstead there is a
choice of ways to Melrose, and the Royal route
lay along what is called the Anna-road,
being the nearest road to the Abbey, and it was
in coming up this road that the people of Melrose
first had tidings of the Sovereign's approach. It was,
of course, to be expected that the good folks of Mel-
rose would turn out in holiday array to see the
Queen. But, not very numerous themselves, they
were assisted in their welcome by the inhabitants of
Selkirk and Galashiels, ~who in the afternoon laid
aside their daily toils to hasten southwards and
eastwards on the spot. From Earlstoun also, and
from Lauderdale, large throngs poured in, :while
Teviotdale and the Merse helped to celebrate the holy-
day of Tweedside. From end to end the town was
decorated, just as Kelso had been on the previous
day, scarcely a house in the line failing to contribute
to the display. Triumphal arches were erected at
the heal of Abbey St. Mary, where the Queen was
to emerge, as by a kind of surprise, on the crowded
Market-place, and at the foot of the High-street,
the latter being a stately triple arch, decorated with
flowers. The Queen was expected at Melrose about
half-past 4or a quarter to 5, and shortly before that
time the mounted police and a body of Hussars
formed the dense crowd in the market-place into
opposing lines. The basement of the old cross was
clustered round as bees gather at a hive ; windows
and balconies showed smiling groups, and even the
housetops afforded an opportunity for the adven-
turous. As at Kelso, there was a little tax on the
patience of the loyal throng, for the royal arrival
was three-quarters of an hour later than was gene-
rally expected. On reaching Melrose her Majesty
and the Royal party passed, on their way to the
Abbey, through the Priory, the residence of Mr.
Erskine, Baron Bailie of Melrose. As her Majesty
alighted Mr. and Mrs. Erskine were presented to
the Queen by the Duke of Buccleuch, and Mrs.
Erskine had the honour of presenting a beautiful
bouquet, which Her Majesty accepted with a cordial
expression of thanks, and which she carried with
her in her visit to the Abbey. Her Majesty was
admitted to the Abbey by the Almsgate conducting'
to the cloisters on the north side. The Duke of
Buccleuch, proprietor of the Abbey, had the honour
of conducting the Queen over the structure, which
her Majesty surveyed with evident marks of gratifi-
cation, moving from point to point to catch the ever-
changing view which it presents. Upon the infinitely
varied beauties of Melrose the Royal party had only
too little time to linger. After a hurried glance
at the general aspect of the structure, as seen
from the transept and nave, special attention was
given to thebeautifnl eastern window—the "appren-
tice window" as tradition calls it. The varioustombs
associated with the names of heroes of old, the rest-
ing-place of the Bruce's bad, and many other ob-
jects of interest, crowded upon and in part gained
the attention of the royal party ; and the rich carv-
ings were of course pointed out which Scott has
described as embodying the beauties of nature. But
there was scarcely time to examine all these minutely,
and after some minutes spent inside the ruin, the
Duke of Buccleuch conducted the Queen and royal
party around the edifice, passing from the east to
the south window, thus embracing many of the fine
general effects with which the stately ruin abounds.
Leaving the abbey by the west portal the royal
party proceeded to their carriages. An escort of
hussars were here waiting to conduct her Majesty
through the town, and the Melrose company of the
Roxburghshire volunteers, commanded by Sir Geo.
Douglas, formed the guard of honour. The carriages
proceeded up the narrow way of Abbey-street,
which was kept clear during the royal visit, and was
lined by the Ist and 2d (Galashiels) companies of
the Selkirkshire volunteers.
It was now half-past 5, and, heralded by a run-
ning fire of cheers up Abbey-street, the Queen drove
through the triumphal arch at the head of the street
and into full view of the immense crowd in the
market-place, from whom her Majesty received a
most hearty welcome, loudly expressed by the
huzzas of several thousand voices. All down the
High-street the same cheering was continued, and
by 20 minutes to 6 the Queen bad left Melrose. The
cortege then passed to the old village of Darnick,
where Walter Scott of Buccleuch fell in 1526 in the
hazardous effort to rescue the youthful James V.
from the keeping of the Homes and Douglases.
Here, also, the houses were gaily decorated, and the
inhabitants turned out in large numbers to greet
her Majesty. Two triumphal arches were erected—
one at the entrance, and the other in the centre of
the village. The latter arch was tastefully as well
as artistically got up, being decorated with busts of
Sir Walter Scott and others; and also with shields,
swords, and pieces of ancient armour. Castsbbe from
some of the finest carvings in Melrose A
like-
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a whole, was very effective.
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ford about 6 o'clock, and were cordially welcomed
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by the people who had assembled in the neighbour-
hood.. Her Majesty was received at the principal
entrance by Mr. and Lady Victoria Hope Scott, the
puke of Norl9lk, and a distinguished party, 'she

stay at Abbotsford occupied about an hour, and tea
was served to the illustrious guests. Her Majesty
examined with much interest the numerous antiqua-
rian relics in the museum, and also many pieces of
old furniture collected by Sir Walter Scott.
The Queen left Abbotsford at a quarter to seven
o'clock. Her route homewards was changed from
the right to the left bank of the Tweed, the river
being crossed by the bridge at Darnick Toll, and a
change of hcrses was effected at Gladswood in pass-
ing through the property of Mr. Meiklam. The
homeward route being in the county of Berwick, her
Majesty was received at Leaderfoot by a party of the
Berwickshire Rifle Volunteers. Before the Queen
left Abbotsford it had begun to rain, and the car-
riage had been closed. At her Majesty's desire,
however, it was re-opened, and so continued during
a considerable part of the way. On crossing the
Leader the carriages took the Smailholm-road,
and, keeping all the way on the north side of the
Tweed, the policies of Floors Castle were entered
by Stodrig Lodge. The Royal party got back to
Floors before nine in the evening. By the younger
branches of the Royal family, Prince Leopold and
Princess Beatrice, the afternoon was spent in visit-
ing Kelso Abbey and other places of interest.

EDINB UR GII, Friday.

To-day the Queen visited Jedburgh, about ten
miles south of Kelso. The ancient border town was
*not behind its neighbours in loyal manifestations,
and its decorations were even on a more ambitious
scale. The weather was again favourable, and there
was a large concourse of people at several points in
the route. In the gaily decorated market place there
was a lively demonstration. Provost Deans presented
the Royal Address, which was graciously accepted.
The Queen's carriage slackened its pace in passing
the Abbey, but no further stoppage was made.
After a drive through the grounds of Hartrigge-
house, the Royal party returned to Floors Castle.
In the evening preparations were being made for
departure to Balmoral.

Saturday Morning.

The Queen left Kelso at 11.22 p.m., and passed
Edinburgh this morning at 16 minutes past 1 o'olock.

The Earl Frownlow, who is at his shooting quar-
ters in the Highlands, intends to return to Ashridge early
in October at tho latest, and afterwards to go to Belton.
House, near Grantham, for the winter. _ _

Lord Stanley, M.P., left town yesterday for
Knowsley, tho Earl of Derby's seat near Liverpool, where
his lordship will stay abont 10 days before going to Scot-
land.

The Earl and Countess of Strafford are expected
to leave Cowes to-day for Wrotham Park, near Hadley,
IRAs, after several weeks' yachting.

The Earl Cowper has arrived at his shooting box
in the north of Scotland from Panshanger, Herts. The
Hon. H. Cowper, M.P., his lordship's brother, has gone on
a tour in the United States of America, and will probably
bo absent from England until early in the ensuing year.
RUMOURED VISIT OF M. TRIERS TO ENGLAND.
—The Epoque is "authorised to declare the statement in-
exact which announces that M. Thiers is to visit England
either alone or in company with M. Jules Favre."