The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-23
From the Corsair.
JoTTINGs poWN.--TMn TouRsAngNr.

was awakened at an early hour, the morning after
my arrival at Ardfossan, by band Of music in the
street. My first feeling delight at seeing bi, OF
blue sky Of the size OF my garrett skylght and dsz-
cling sunshine on the floor Sslrllng' above all tho
other instruments of the band the Hieland bagpipe
made the air reel with . A. the blue bonnets
| the border and hosting the window above my head,
strained the house leads to get look at the per-
| former A band Of a dozen men, in kilt and bonnet,
were marching up and down, led by piper something
III the face like the heather representations OF Boreas
and long line OF roughly constrL cted ralcais were
piled, three Deep crowd resembling, at first
sight, crushed bed Of tulips Bonnes Of every cut and
colour from the courters green velvet to the shepherds
honey gray, struggled at the top, and the sides
hung red legs and yellow legs, crossbaIrd stockings
and buti boots, bare feet and pilgrims sandals. The
masqucradeTs scoded aud laughed, the boys hallooed
the quiet people Of Arossan stared in grave astonish
ment, and with the assistance Of some brawny should
applied to the sides OF the overdden vehicles, the
unhappy horse got his whimsical load under way for
the Tournament.
Train followed train, packed with the same motley
array. and at 10 o'clock, after clean and comfortable
Scotch breakfast in hosts lutte parlou sailed
forth to try our luck IN the scramble for places After
considerable fight seated, each with man
in his lap, when ordered down by the conduc
tor, who informed that the chief Of the Campbes
had taken the Tor his party, and, with his band IN
the succeeding one, he TO 60 IN state upon rail-
road , TO Esmton. Up swore half-a dozen Glasgow
people, usurpers like ourselves, that they would give
way for no Campbell in the world, and finding stout
hand laid my leg, to prevent yielding to the order
10 quit gave to what might be called pretty bit
OF rebellIous republcanism you would find on the
Mississippi The conductor stormca, but the Scotch
bodies sat firm, and Scot met Scot In the fight was
content to sit it in silence and take advantage OF
the victory. learned afterwards that the Campbell
chieitan was Glasgow manufacturer, and though he
undoubtedly had right gather his clan and take piper
and eagles plume, there might possibly be some jealous
dsapproba,ion at the bottom Of his ,ownsmens rude
ness
Campbell and his party presently appeared, and do
zen twenty very fine looking people they One
OF the ladies', well could through the black lace
veil thrown over her cap and plumes. remar kably
handsome woman, and was very glad when the mat
ter was compromised, and the Carnpbells were distr
buted among our company. We logged on al a slow
pace toward the passing sands Of pedes
TRANS, the all shod and the women all barefoot,
with shoes in their hands, and nearly every one,
accordance with Lord Egmtons printed request, show
ing some touch Of fancy IN dress PLAID over the
shoulder, or Glengarry bonnet, perhaps gooses
feather stuck Jauntiy IN the cap, enough 10 show
the feeling Of the and quito enough give the
crowd, all IN all, most festal I'd Joyous aspect.
The secluded bit Of road between the raltrack and
the castle lodge probably never before disturbed by
moro than two vehicles AT time, was thronged with
press OF wheels closely damned Fleet street at
noon. Countrymens carts, piled with women and
children, like loads of market baskets in Kent; post
chases with exhausted horses, and occupants stainng
their eyes forward for sight Of the castle; carriages OF
the neighbonng gentry with bodkins' and pack
cd dckeys, all in costume stout farmers horseback,
with plaid and bonnet gingerbread and ale carts, pony
carts aud coal carts; wheelnarrows with baggage, aud
por,efs with carpet bags and hat boxes, mixed up
In merry confusion with the most motley throng Of pc
destrans II has been my fortune to Join Ehe var
couured tide poured the open gate Of the castle,
and If had other procession, the long extend
ed mass OF caps, bonnes and pumes, winding through
that shaded aud beautiful avenue would have repaid
for no small proportion OF my subsequent discomfort.
remarked, by the way, that did not hat in the
mile between the porters lodge and the castle
The stables, which lay The left Of the approach "a
large square with and clock very like
your methodist churches dos adOs) presented another
busy and picturesque scene-horses half capars.ned,
men in buff and steel, and the gay livcries of
tho nineteenth century paed by the revived gories Of
the servitade OF more knigy times And this part of
the scene, too, had its crowds Of laughing and wonder
ing spectators.
On reaching the Gothic BRIDGE over the Sucton, we
upon GORDON OF police, who encclcd the CASTLE
turning the crowd off by the bridge, the direction of
the lists Sorry To leave my merry and motley fellow
pedestrians, presented my card Of invitation and pass
ed on alone 10 the castle. The this time
shining with occasional coudngs over, aud the sward
and road alter the two three fine days had had,
were In the best condition for every purpose Of the
tournament Two three noble trees with their To-
lage nearly to the ground stood between Inc and the
front of the castle ascended the slope above the
river, and the lifting of stage could scarce be
more sudden or the scene of drama effectively
composed than the picture disclosed by the last step up
on the terrace. Any Just description OF IT, indeed,
read like paper from the prompter's book" stood
Tor moment exactly where you would have placed
audience. On my left noble CASTLE with four
round towers the hronged with men arms
and busy corners and goeos III every variety of
On the green sward IN front Of the lie luunged three
or four gentlemen archers, Of green silk and
velvet \ clusier OF grooms under an immense tree,
were hitting two or three superb horses with their
our and capaTsons, While beautiful blood palfry
whose fine limbs and delicate veined head and neck
were alone visible under his embroidered saddle and
gorgeous rappngs OF silk, held by two tigers" at
short distance Still farther the right, stood clus-
OF gay decorated tents aud in and out of the loon
edup curtain OF the arthGs passed constantly the light
forms OF lady archers caps with snowy plunles kres
of green velvet, aud petcoats of white SATIN uuvers
their hacks, aud bows their handsome tall and
stately girl ian AYRSHIRE lady Of very uncommon beauty
whose name took some pains TO lnquire) conspicuous
by her grace and dignity above all
The back, ground equally well composed-thc
farther side vi the lawn making sharp descent the
small river which bends around tho castle the opposite
shore hrongcd with thousands Of spectators watching
the scene have described, and IN the distance behind
them the winding rallied m for the procession,
hidden and disclosed by among ihe noble trees Of
the park aud alive throughout It's whole extent with the
nultitudes crowdng 10 the lists. There a chgal-
TIC splendor IN the whole scene which thought at the
Time would repay one for long pilgrimage 10 see it
even should the clouds which by this time CON-
ing up very thrca,enlngy from the horizon put stop
| TO the tournament altogether.
Ga entering the castle hall lofty room hung around
with arms, trophies Of the chase ancient shields and
armour OF every description, found myself in a crowd
| Of very mery merry and rather a motley character-
knights hall armed, esqufes in bull paners halber-
ders' arches and servants IN modern livery, here and
there lady, and here and there spectator ike myself
and in corner by one of the Gothic windows-wha,
think you ia minsrel!-a gray haired harper Ia
Jester Guess again! areputer ofthc Tass With