Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-24
Letter from Scotland.

there remains but little 10 marx llS former mag
nificence. 1t consisted of nave still standing II
the ruins of the present chapel-royal, with tran
sept surmounted by lofty tower and choir
The western front was surmounted by turrets sup,
ported on pointed arches, aud the doorway is still
preserved with sufficient perfection to give us
some idea of the grandeur Of this sacred house
arch with arch, being reared in style of massive
strength and beauty that is not now attempted.
"It is curious fact, that even to this day the
spacious grounds about this palace are refuge tol
debtors land man who can outrun the Sheriff and
step over the ine,s safe from arrest so long as ne
stays and he may leave for the whole OF Sunday
and return again at IL on Monday. My time In
Edinburgh was largely spent in social intercourse
with its cultivated people. 1t is well compared
to Athens both for situation and its classic spirit
| asked gentleman what Edinburgh relies upon
for its support, for it has no commerce nor manu-
factures. He said, Its literature This is in a
great degree true. The Scotch are reading peo-
pie, and Edinburgh is great place for making
| books. One of her great publishers entertained
me at handsome dinner He lives in the house
formerly occupied by the monkey Lord Monbod-
do, and the dining room had been the scene of for
mer festivities, in which Burns, and afterwards
Walter Scott and all the literary celebrities of the
| 81 rode out to military review in the Queens
Park. | shall not trespass, trust, on my rule OF
propriety, when say that in the carriage with
me were the mother, the sister, the brother, and
the daue hter of Mar L,md:c Duncan, whose me-
moirs have made her dear to thousands In Amerl-
ca. Our ride extended round the Salisbury Crags,
and gave us some views that are impressed on my
mind in lines of beauty not soon to be effaced.
greatly admired the perfection of military dscip-
| line displayed in the review of this regiment by
Gen. Napier. All the evolutons of the battle
| field were performed with precision and energy
very imposing, and when the army left the field,
| the band ceased playing and the whole regiment
broke out in one of their national songs, making
the field echo with their lusty voices. All over
Great Britain and Ireland the preparation for war
is going on; l2 900 soldiers to- day are to be re-
viewed on the Park in Dublin. The state OF
things away in the East is the pretext, but the
real cause is nearer home. Louis Napoleon has
his eye upon England, and he remembers Water
loo There may be fight on sudden, and ev-
cry public meeting held here, every debate IN par
lament, and the constant talk of the people show
that they are looking out for it. 1t Is also graft
| fying to me to hear it always added, 'lfwe do
have fight with France we expect help from A
merica' Then let us love one another while we
/ are dt pedce, II VIC 0ApSS'SS w
when war comes.
sIt was a very pleasant excursion from Edn-
burgh to .Melrose Abby more famed in poetry and
romance than any other, and revealing evidences
of architectural skill and perfection of detail that
no other ruin presents. Our ride there was one
of rare beauty. The fine scenery of Scotland, ri
sing into grandeur as we had not seen it in Eng
land, was now constantly under the eye. But e.
ven this fair picture was fouled by scene that
still stands sadly in my sight. In the fields the
women were at work among the men aud the
cattle. digging with hoes in the earth, pitching
manure with dung forks performing all the serv-
ces and repulsve labor that belongs to the most
mental and degraded class of men. confess
was panied to my heart, and cried out 'Women
of Scotland, your sisters are spreading manure on
your hill sides, and toiling like American slaves,
while YOU are in luxury o rouse yourselves,
and no longer let women he the field hand, but
make her keeper and comfort of the home
But was going to Melrose.
"Abbottsford the residence of this great novel
lst, TScott1 is but five miles off, and the ride Is
delightful over the ground Sir Walter so often
traversed over the hill on which he always halt
ed, when riding, to survey the vale ofthe Tweed.
Ga this spot the old horse which was drawing the
remains of his master to their tomb stopped in the
midst of the funeral procession, and the incident
deeply affected his friends who were following, ss
they were thus strikingly reminded Of his habit,
and looked out on the scene in which he took SO
much delight. | cannot say that admired the
situation, or the style of architecture of Abbotts
ford. 1t stands low, and the grounds are arrang-
ed with little taste or effect. The Tweed flows
near and there is neatness and colntolt about the
place. but no beauty such as we looked for in the
home of Walter Scott, The entrance HALL Is hung
with old armor and the banners OF the several
Scottish clans, with store OF curloses from all
parts of the world. Presents from princes adorn
his study and library where the desk IS still stand
ing on which he wrote his books.
'SMore sacred far, TO my mind was the room In
which Chalmers was found one morning in the
sleep Of DEATH | visited it while in Edinburgh.
The Doctors brother, a gentleman strongly re-
sernbling him. resides in Che hoase adjoining lie
received me and my friends with great courtesy,
and invited us to walk over to the house in which
the great theologian lived and died. He led US
to the study, to the library, to the drawing room
showed us marble bust of Chalmers which he
said was perfect likeness and then in silence he
opened door and we stood in q room where the
couch and the furniture told US in an instant that
here was
The chamber where the good man met his fate,
Privileged beyond the common walks vi lie,
Quite on the verge of heaven
1t stands as it was when the body was born away
from it to its present chamber in beautiful GEM
etery near the city. Mornihgside, the name the
DIR. rave to his residence, looks out on the Pent-
land Hills, and rests in quiet beauty, sweet spot
for the calm abode of one who was never out oi
the worlds conflicts while he lived but who need
ed such place as this in which to refresh his
spirit. and rrd himself for the field. He was fond
Of his garden, and his brother walked with us
through its flowers and shrubbery which the same
hand planted that wrote the Astronomical LIS
courses, and the Lectures on the Romans"
GETTING INTO CHANcERY.,-A London cores
pondent Of the Boston Post gives the following IL
Illustration of the glorious uncertainty of the Eng
lish chaucery laws:
"A fine Illustration ofthe uncertainty ofthe law
has recently been discovered on the chancery dock
ct. In the year l756 Scotch gentleman be-
queathed to his poor relations the sum of20, ,00C
pounds. In effect he left them chancery sdit
which has renamed in the family ever SINCE In
the first place. the next of kin disputed the valid
itv of the bequest, but it was established by Lord
Chancellor Camden. and 1853 persons made out
their relationship. Thereupon, in the year 100
bill was filed for the distribution of the money
among them which has not been effected to this
day. To help the process orders were obtained
for amending the bill, which was amended accord
ingly but this only made matters worse. 30 OF
Thursday, the 18th Of July, 1858. an application
was made to Lord Kindersley to take the amend
ments off the file and discharge the orders to a
mend this was done, which looks like moving
backwards The original parties to the snit af'
or, s;nco in tbeir graves The poor relations are