New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-25
81. Andrews Festival.
WASHINGTON, ID. C.

At the annual festival Of st. Andrews
Society, Washington city, the lst instant,
General George W. Balloch, president, in
tcrcsting remarks were made by Messrs. Bal
loch, Clephane, Hume, Tullock, Saunders,
Smith and others, and the meeting was en-
livened by Scottish songs, sung by Messrs.
Balloch, Small, Rothwell. Smith, and Hem
derson. During the evening the president
was surprised by the presentation of sleeve
buttons, studs, &C., made of the famous
Cairngorn stone, which elected pleasant re-
marks. In response to the seventh regular
toast, "Auld Scotland, we love thee STILL"
Hon. Thomas l.. Tullock being called upon,
spoke as follows:
Until very recently had no intention OF
speaking this evening, but | cannot well de-
cline the very polite invitation of our worthy
president. What Imay have to say will not
be new to many of you, and some Of it may
seem little tinged with egOtism; but think
my audience love their native land too dearly
not to be interested even in a :" thrice told
tale of natural and historical glories, and
will willingly pardon my personal references,
for the pleasure | hope to give them in re-
calling to their minds some of the MURAL
beauties and noble moral and intellectual
traits of their tather-land.
Ny recent visit to many of the most in
teresting portions of Scotland and the glo-
rious highland welcome" | everywhere re-
celvcd, suggest my experience ami Observa
ton as theme that may serve to contrib
ute to the pleasure of this delightful social
reunion of the sons Of the land Of Scott and
Burns and Knox and Bruce and Wallace.
Permit me to say, then, that after an ex-
tended trip on the continent of Europe, we
returned to London in the latter part OF July,
and arranged for a tour in Scotland.
Arriving at the beautiful city of Edin-
burgh, we visited Cation Hill and Salisbury
Crags, Holyrood Palace and Abbey and
Edinburgh Castle; we viewed with interest
its noted churches and far-famed University
and Hospital, its quaint old houses and ele-
CANT public and private edltices; its grand
monuments and heroic statues; its Anti
quarian Museum and Gallery of paintings
and statuary; its fine parks, elegant squares,
well-paved streets, and durable bridges,
which span the ravne which divides the old
from the new portions of the city; we paused
before the heart of Midlothian and the
grave of Knox; entered the cemeteries and
the church-yards where repose the remains
of departed greatness, and gazed with emo
insignia Of its once royal family. Suffice it
to say, we were intensely interested in that
picturesque and substantial city.
Thence BY steamer to the Orkney Islands;
stopping among other places at Aberdeen a
sufficient time to drive about that thrifty and
well-built city. The herring fishery was at
its height, and the waters were covered with
vast fishing fleet with dark-cOlored sails
bearing the number Of their respective crafts,
manned with a hardy crew, all busy in their
avocation on the waters; while their wives
and daughters were intent on the shore in
curing the catch they had landed.
While on the passage, noticed the name
of Tulloch in Il book entitled Art Rambles
OF Shetland" and was greatly amused or
reading from page Is, as follows LET US
iorsake the coast for while, in order that
we may visit the ruins, or rather the site
where once stood Cross-Kirk, noted edi-
flee, much visited in by-gone times by re-
ligious devotecs. The snails that frequented
this sacred editice used to be dried, pulver-
lied and drank as a cure for the jaundice."
The old burying ground is still in use; and
among the tomb-stoncs there is one bearing
plain speaking epitaph, setting forth that the
death Of donald Robertson, to all appear
ances sincere Christian, was caused by the
stupidity OF Lawrence TullOch who sold him
niire instead of epson salts"
Arriving at kirkwall, Orkney, the most
prominent feature of the place proved to be
the spacious old Cathedral of St. Magnus, in
n wonderful state of preservation consider
ing its antiquity, and now used by the estab
lished church of Scotland. Here we found
the tomb of Bishop Thomas de Tulloch, who
was also Earl of Orkney, a man of celebrity,
in whom the sovereign and the people had
the utmost confidence. History alludes TO
him as prelate great distinction early in the
18th century, and he was held in such esteem
that the earldom was committed to him. and
in the honorable government OF the same
for several years, he was greatly respected
and beloved for his fidelity TO his trust and
his success in maintaining among the people
contentment and tranquility.
His cousin, William Tulloch, succeeded
him in the Bishopric. and with several other
noble personages, about the year l4Cs, went