The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-03 00:00:00

DALKEITH PALACE.

Dalkeith Palace, the seat of his Grace the Duke of
Buccleuch, stands on a knoll, overlooking the con-
fluence of the north and south branches of the river
Esk, six miles south of Edinburgh. It was built
about the beginning of the last century by Anne,
Duchess of Buccleuch, widow of the unfortunate
James, Duke of Monmouth, natural son of Charles
11. The approach to it, as well as the banks of the
river, are adorned with plantations. The Great Court
between the Palace and the park is very spacious,
and from the gate of the Court there is an avenue
through the park, directly south, of a mile long; and,
round the Palace a terrace, which on the north,
where the front of the Palace is 120 feet wide, over-
looks a precipice to the river as at Windsor. On the
east side is a natural amphitheatre, at the bottom
of which is a flower-garden, and round the side
evergreen slopes.
The estate of Dalkeith has been held by the Buc-
cleuch family, ever since the year 1642. The park,
which abounds in woods, particularly ancient oaks,
consists of about 800 Scotch acres, and is surrounded
by a high wall. The rivers North and South Esk
run through the Park, and unite their streams about
half a mile below the house. His late Majesty
George IV. took up his residence at Dalkeith palace
on his visit to Scotland.

The entrance to the palace, which her Majesty is
now honouring with her visitation, is by a hall paved
with stone, to the left of which is the great staircase,
supported by pllars of marble. Every step is cu-
riously mini with walnut-tree wood. At the top of
the staircaseis a noble room, 40 feet long, and 30 high
and broad. There is also a great room to the north
of the ball. The walls of most of the rooms are
adorned with many very valuable family portraits.
The offices join the town of Dalkeith, which contains
about 6,000 inhabitants.

Te noble family of Scott, of which his present
Grac.: the Duke" of Buccleuch, is the lineal descend-
ant, is not only ancient, but has ever been of great
importance on the borders.

The first of the family ennobled was under the reign
of James 111., and who assumed the title of " Domi-
nus de Buccleuch." Sir Walter Scott, of Branxholm
and Buccleuch, 1492, was a brave and powerful ba-
ron, and Warden of the West Marches of Scotland.
This Sir Walter is celebrated by historians for great
deeds of valour and magnanimity, during the minority
of James V., for an abortive attempt to rescue that
monarch from the control of the Earl of Angus, on
which Sir Walter 'Scott has founded " The Lay of
the Last Minstrel." Another ancestor of this name,
in the reign of James VI., and from whose hands he
received the honour of knighthood, was no way infe-
rior to the bravest of his predecessors in courage and
intrepidity.
Having carried on a predatory warfare against the
English, and boldly rescued one of his attendants, Kin-
flipont. Will, from the Castle of Carlisle, he was deli-
vvred up as a hostage upon an adjustment of the feuds
between the English and the Scots. During his so-
journ in England, family tradition states that he was
brought into the presence of Queen Elizabeth, who
demanded, in her usual arbitrary manner, how he dared
to engage in deeds so desperate and presumptuous ?
" What is it," said the undaunted chieftain, " what is
that a man dares not do ?" Elizabeth struck with this
reply, said to a lord in waiting, " With ten thousand
such men, our brother of Scotland might shake the
firmest throne in Europe."