The New York herald., 1871-08-10
The Celebration in Edinburg an Over
whelming Success.
Ranquets, Speeches and Illu-
limitations.
DeputatiOns from All English-Speaking COun-
tries in ChriStendom.
A Procession Represent ting Char
acters in ScOtt's Novels.
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.

EDNBURG, August o, 1871.
The national festival In celebration Of the cen
tenary OF Sir Walter Scott, which, Dy preconcerted
arrangement, is taking place to-day instead Of on
the 18th instant the anniversary OF the birth of the
great novelist, Is an eminent success.
The city Is Overwhelmingly full and the hotels
and lodging houses are compelled to turn away
large numbers Of patrons. There are proiuse de-
corations in all the streets of the CITY, and flags ana
flowers and Dusts of Scott are to be seen every
where.
There were some illuminations last night. The as
semblage at the banquet this afternoon will include
number OF lords lieutenant and conveners OF coun-
ties. nobemen OF Scotland, and the sprovosts of
many Of the towns, besides ladies and gentlemen
well known IN art science and literature.
Deputations will be present from the corporations
of several OF the towns of the north of England,
and also from the Caledonian Societies OF London
and Liverpool. The Speculative Society of the Uni.
versity of which Walter Scott was Secretary will
be represented by deputatlon.
Replies will be made for the foreign visitors by
gentlemen from the United States and other cOun-
tries who have been deputed to attend the ceebra.
ton. The Very Rev. DR.. Stanley, dean Of Westmin-
ster, will take part in the proceedings.
Sir J. Noel Patton has executed and presented to
the committee an elaborate design for memorial
card for the celebration The card Is be presented
to each member Of the company on retiring, In eX-
change for the ticket of admission, with the view Of
being framed and kept as memento Of their pres
ence at the festival.
THE CELEBRATION AT GLASGOW.
The celebration at Glasgow to-day is also very
interesting and noteworthy affair.
The centenary observances In other parts of the
United Kingdom will be held on the 18TH Instant
A GENERAL HOLIDAY IN ,EDINBURG-A BANQUET
PRESIDED OVER BY THE EARL OF DALKEITH.
To-day mas been general holiday, and the city is
yet alive with festivities that the streets are I'm.
passable. 1t is thought that quarter Of million
strangers are in town. Scotch airs were chimed by
the bells or all the churches and salutes were fred
at daylight, and sunset various parts Of the
city,
The celebration inaugurated by the Centenary
Committee OF the City Councils and the general
public consists Of banquet in The Corn Exchange,
a .Ioan exhibition" and public procession. The
procession, which was Of immense length, started
at noon, accompanied by bands dressed to repre-.
sent the character In Scott's novels, and marched
through the principal streets OF the city. The mon.
uments were festooned with evergreens and flowers
The American flag and the motto of the Scott family,
'Watch Well," were displayed everywhere.
THE BANQUET
The Earl OF Dalketh, eldest son OF the Duke OF
Buccleuch head Of the Scott family presided at the
the evening in an immense building, which, like all
the rest OF the city, was decorated with nags
and portraits, and seated 1000 guests. The
toasts included 1.-THE Queen" "The Memory OF
Sir Walter Scott" "The city of Edinburg"
"Abbottsford," 'The University OF Edinburgh
and "Sster Celebrations" The replies to the toasts
were made by the Dean of Westminster, Baron Law
renee, Sir John Bernard Burke. the Earl of Dakeitb
Lord Jerviswoode, the Earl Of Dahouse, Sir Henry
Craufurd-Pouk ami the Lord Provost, Right Hon.
William Law. Similar celebrations were held at
Glasgow and Aberdeen. The Earl OF Dalkeith for.
warded from the banquet hall various complmen.
tary messages to America and elsewhere through.
out the world, to which many complimentary replies
were received.
Races took place during the afternoon for the
"Waverley Handicap, "the" Centenary Gift, and the
"AbbOtsord Goblet" All the time -hOnored Scottish
games were also played and participated In by many
OF the athletes of the country At the theatres the
music played for several days will be exclusively
Scotch.
The weather, though hot, was delightful through
out the day.
ORIGIN OF THE PROJECT OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
SENTATIvES FROM THE UNITED STATES
The project, originating with number OF noble
and noted Scotsmen, to recognize the centenary OF
the birth OF Walter Scott by solemn festival at
Ednburg, met everywhere, on its announcement
with hearty, and, indeed, enthusiastic reception
1t early became known that representatives from
all Engsh-speaking countries In Christendom
would be in attendance, and on the occasion itself
there would be at the extremity OF every telegraphic
wire or cable these unable to be present who
faithful dcvotees OF the author of 'waverleyn
would give back by lightning sentiments responsive
to those of the more fortunate VINO sat at the BAN
quet in "Auld Reekie.n
HOTELS AND LODGING HOUSES OvERCRowpEp
Scottish hospitality renewed and strengthened
itself for the unprecedented OCCASION. EXertion
was needed. Hotel space to the last attic was at
once at premium. In and about Edinburg each
housekeeper had his upper chamoers-how far up
the visitor OF the old town can alone conceive
swept and garnished for the odgment Of those lte
rary magi VINO should come from the uttermost
East and West to honor the memory OF that greater
wizard of the North whom they agree in veneratng
the incarnation OF national character and intel
lect and the expression Of Wholesome and genial
humanity
Many days In advance OF the anniversary
strangers, evidently from far countries might |
have been haunting the many places adorned and |
consecrated by the genius or the romancer. Lordy
Apbotsford. which he created-tne then panta. |
tons are now stately forests; Melrose Abbey which
is to be rightly seen only by moonlight Dryburg |
Abbey, where he lies buried; Norhams castled |
steep, Rokeby, Tantalon, Teviotdae, Eskdae, |
Preston, Loeb Katrine, Inverary, the island do |
nlinions OF which Lorn Is the lord, and the tnou-
sand other spots immortaized In his writings had
been dutifully visited by these pious palmers, |
whose scolop shells, brought proofs of pilgrimage
devoutly done, were relics more or less genuine, |
procured at each stage OF their itinerary.
SIR WALTER SCOTT IN AMERICA.
II Is needless to say how many OF these votaries
were Americans. For In the United States the
memory OF Scott and the popularity of his writings
are as fresh as ever, while 1t Is admitted by those
shrewd udges-the ebooksellers-that the market for
the novels and poems, while 1t still exists quietly in
Europe possesses none of the activity which marks
the transatlantic trade, which, while absorbing sew
era local editions, yet calls freely for the issues or
Messrs A. c. Black. or the reprints Of Bandry and